As Recorded Live in Las Vegas (CD - ECF, 2014)

Title:

As Recorded Live in Las Vegas

Label:

Elvis Concert Fan [005]

Format:

CD

Number of tracks:

41

Running time:

79:00

Type of album:

Concert

Linked to:

Unofficial discography

Year:

2014

Recording date:

December 7, 1976

Release date:

2014

Singles:

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As Recorded Live in Las Vegas is a bootleg CD by the Elvis Concert Fan label. It covers the full Las Vegas concert on December 7, 1976.

1976 had been a year of more ups than downs and Elvis was happy with how things were going. His desire to record was still low, but the sessions at Graceland's Jungle Room were fun and very productive. He no longer seemed interested in Las Vegas, and Vegas was reciprocal, causing the Colonel to cast him for just one season from December 2-12 at the Hilton. Rather than the dry air of the Nevada desert, the King of Rock chose to do just one more season in Lake Tahoe between April 30 and May 9, 1976.

By the middle of that year, it didn't look like Elvis had returned to his old form or that that was possible. His performances were still erratic, and he would be slow and sometimes confused at the start of the concerts. But in fact, the singer would greatly improve his performance starting in June, culminating in the great show of December 31, 1976 in Pittsburgh, but it was clear that he no longer had that flame that burned in his core.

Concerts in July through September were also a clear sign of his tiredness with everything. October would see a little improvement in Chicago on the 14th and 15th, but the season would unfortunately be inconsistent throughout.

This ups and downs in his performance would begin to stabilize by the end  of October. His concerts in Fort Worth, Indiana, and Dayton, Ohio, on the 25th and 26th, respectively, were somewhat akin to those in March 1974. The tour closing on the 27th in Carbondale, Illinois, saw a wide awake, well rested Elvis.

Before his last Vegas season and the great Pittsburgh concert on December 31, Elvis did a small 7-day tour by the West Coast. Undoubtedly, those were amont the absolute best concerts of those days and it would only get better by December in Vegas. 

Below is the review of this CD.

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- 1.  See See Rider: As with many post-1974 soundboards, this one doesn't include "Also Sprach Zarathustra". The audio is quite bad but it's no problem, taken that this is a bootleg release and FTD has officially released worst sounding soundboards (such as the November 28-30, 1976 concerts). Elvis' rendition is quite good.

- 2. Elvis Talks: The King welcomes the audience to the show, as usual.

- 3. I Got a Woman / Amen: The medley repeats all of the usual moves, comments and quips of the time. The audio is quite dry at the beginning and bleeds a lot at the end, but it's an overall good version.

- 4. Elvis Talks: Elvis does the usual comments and interactions with the audience.

- 5. Love Me: The 1956 hit is quite well done, with Elvis  starting his scarf-and-kiss routine.

- 6. If You Love Me (Let Me Know): One of Elvis' favorites, it has a special place in the audience's hearts too.

- 7. You Gave Me a Mountain: This emotional song is just amazing here, despite some problem with the microphone that produces a scratching sound and makes Elvis laugh and lose focus.

- 8. O Sole Mio / It's Now or Never: "I'll tell you what... Instead of doing 'Jailhouse', let's do 'O Sole Mio / It's Now or Never'." This is a nice version that distances itself from the pattern of the time.

- 9. Blue Christmas: "I'll tell you what I'd like to do... If you don't mind, I'd like to, you know, since it's close to Christmas time now, to bring the guitar out and do 'Blue Christmas' and a couple of things that we do." Elvis sits down on a chair and talks about his style of guitar playing while doing some chords from "Reconsider Baby". The 1957 hit gets a cute and very well done version.

- 10. That's All Right: "The first record that I recorded was called 'That's All Right Mama'. And, gosh, you know... It was at least two or three years ago, at least that. But anyway, the only thing that we had was a rhythm guitar, an electric guitar and an upright bass, and a shaky leg." Elvis sings wonderfully in this version of his 1954 hit and the audience really appreciates it.

- 11. Are You Lonesome Tonight: The audience reacts in awe to the annoucement of the 1960 hit. Elvis is in a kidding mood and starts doing his "do you gaze at your bald head" bit after getting some lyrics wrong. The "gay couple" routine is also very funny, but subtle.

- 12. Softly, as I Leave You: Elvis introduces the song and Sherrill Nielsen as he always did when he sang this poem. Overall, it's a very smooth and emotional rendition with Tony Brown doing an amazing job on the piano.

- 13. Elvis Talks: Elvis comments about the previous song and interacts with the audience. A fan makes him laugh while trying to give him a toy cow as a gift.

- 14. Fever: This is a very welcome song in the set and a nice rendition, but the audio quality really doesn't help us to hear how much the female fans went crazy with Elvis' hip movements.

- 15. All Shook Up / (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel: It's time for another tiresome and routine medley with the usual kiss-and-scarf moment. Perhaps to try and end with E's misery a little faster, the tempo is quite upbeat.

- 16. Band Introductions: Elvis introduces The Sweet Inspirations, JD Sumner and The Stamps Quartet (individually), Sherrill Nielsen and Kathy Westmoreland.

- 17. Early Morning Rain: John Wilkinson does his solo and Elvis sings along.

- 18. What'd I Say: "On the lead guitar, from Shreveport, Louisiana, is James Burton." James only does one of his usual two solos. Elvis sings along.

- 19. Drum Solo: "On drums, from down in Dallas, Texas, is hard working Ronnie Tutt." Ronnie does a small solo.

- 20. Bass Solo: "On the Fender bass, from Los Angeles, is Jerry Scheff." Jerry plays the Blues.

- 21. Piano Solo: "On the piano, from Nashville, is Tony Brown." Tony does his solo while Elvis does bass notes.

- 22. Electric Piano Solo: "On the electric clavinet, is David Briggs." David does his solo.

- 23. Love Letters: "The first time that David and I worked together, it was his first recording sessions. We did a song called 'Love Letters', I'd like to sing it." A good version, standard for the time.

- 24. School Days: Elvis introduces Charlie Hodge, Joe Guercio and his orchestra. The orchestra solo features a solo from their guitar player.

- 25. Hurt: "Our latest record, as far as I know, is called 'Hurt'." This version features a very pronounced orchestra doing an amazing job while Elvis pours his heart and talent over the song.

- 26. Hound Dog: The audience asks for the 1956 hit and Elvis obliges. It's a purely throwaway version just to please the fans. 

- 27. Hawaiian Wedding Song: "We did a movie called 'Blue Hawaii', and in that movie was a song called 'Hawaiian Wedding Song'. So I'd like to do a part of that." Fans go wild for Elvis' attention and beg for a scarf or kiss. The version is very cute and smooth.

- 28. You Better Run: "There's something I wanna do before I leave here, we've never done this before. If you don't mind, I'd like to do a couple of spiritual songs for you." Elvis actually got it wrong, as it'd be the second time he'd present this and the next song on stage (the first time was in Uniondale, NY on July 19, 1975). The singer calls JD and The Stamps to help and they do a fairly good version.

- 29. Bosom of Abraham: After a false start, we also get a fairly good, improvised version.

- 30. Elvis Talks: The King of Rock thanks the audience and apologizes for his "pinched nerve in the leg". "UntIl we meet you again, may God bless you and take care."

- 31. Can't Help Falling in Love: Elvis performs his 1961 hit while distributing the last scarves and kisses to fans.

- 32. Closing Vamp: The final fanfare takes us to the end of the show.

- 33. Christmas Souvenir Announcement: A previously recorded message announces the Christmas souvenir sales at the stands in the hotel's main lobby.

BONUS

- 34. Such a Night (December 12, 1976 CS): All the bonuses in the last 8 tracks of this CD are from audience recordings.

It's the last Vegas show ever and Elvis decided to take an audience request for this song that was never done on stage in the 1970s before. He and the band start shaky, but it seems that it was there in everyone's head just waiting to be performed since the last time it appeaed in a show in 1961.

- 35. Rip it Up (December 11, 1976 DS): Despite being asked countless times throughout the 1970s, this is the only time when Elvis actually tried to sing the 1958 recording released the next year in the LP "Elvis' Gold Records, Vol. 2".

- 36. One Night (December 3, 1976 DS): An always welcome song in concert, the 1957 hit is well done.

- 37. Blue Suede Shoes (December 11, 1976 DS): Elvis has some fun this one of his favorites.

- 38. Elvis Talks About His Birthstone (December 12, 1976 CS): A small dialog about how the singer found out his birthstone is a black diamond.

- 39. Happy Birthday to Charlie Hodge (December 12, 1976 CS): Elvis and everybody sing Happy Birthday to Charlie Hodge.

- 40. Until Then (December 11, 1976 MS): The King of Rock announces that he's about to sing "Blue Christmas", but a fan request makes him start improvising a small bit of "Until Then". This is the only live rendition of the song.

- 41. What Now My Love (December 4, 1976 DS): A fan request makes Elvis bring back to the stage a song that had been out of his repertoire for more than three years. This is a powerful rendition which features Elvis reciting the lyrics to make it even stronger before launching into an explosive last verse. This is the last live renditon ever.