Is an amateurish look a deceiving look??
Design
When I first saw this release I thought it was an home-made CD-recordable, but it was an actual silver disc release. The track information is complete, that’s what matters.
Content
This release contains a compilation of live performances, taken from various soundboard releases. According to the booklet released for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the passing of Elvis Presley, but it could be for the quick buck too, as there are no new tracks on this CD.
On the positive side I must admit this disc contains a good selection of live performances by our man. From the opening track “Big Boss Man” with a tropical sounding drum – and “Promised Land” from the same concert remembering me to put the original concert on again – through rocking versions of Ray Charles’ “I Got A Woman” (1969) and classics like “Steamroller Blues”, “Trilogy” and rarities like “The Eyes Of Texas Are Upon You” (1975) and “Where No One Stands Alone” (1977) I thoroughly enjoyed this compilation.
Contrary to the BMG live compilations, which usually contain smooth performances, this CD sounds different. A lot of tracks feature either a drummer going wild, a guitar-player picking’ or slapping his strings differently or sections of the orchestra more up-front than usual. Even Elvis joins in with some different sounding vocal performances; his version of “Trouble” from September 3, 1973 illustrates this.
Audio-wise the compilation sounds good too. It is not a faked concert with tracks running smoothly over into the next one, the editing is – like the design – a bit amateurish at moments.
Conclusion
A nice set because of the compilation of live performances, nothing new for the collector’s among us with the exception of the June 26, 1976 performance of “Hurt” which was previously only available on CD-recordable.
Tracklist
Big Boss Man (19/8-74) (Alternate source)
I Got A Woman (24/8-69) (Unprocessed)
You Gave Me A Mountain (3/9-73) (Spoken version)
Bridge Over Troubled Water (7/5-74)
Promised Land (19/8-74) (Alternate source)
What Now My Love (3/2-73)
Steamroller Blues 15/10-76)
Help Me Make It Through The Night (13/12-75) (Alternate source)
Trouble (3/9-73) (Alternate source)
Jailhouse Rock/Don’t Be Cruel (24/8-69) (Unprocessed)
My Boy (25/4-75)
An American Trilogy (30/8-74) (F… You version)
One Night (10/11-71)
It’s Over (10/4-72)
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (27/5-74)
That’s All Right/Blue Christmas (6/9-76)
The Eyes Of Texas Are Upon You (4/6-75)
I’m Leavin’ (10/11-71)
Just Pretend (13/12-75) (Alternate source)
Danny Boy (1/6-76)
Little Sister/Get Back (11/8-72)
It’s Midnight (3/9-74)
Hurt (26/6-76) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
Where No One Stand Alone (16/2-77) (Alternate mix and improved sound quality)
Unchained Melody (16/2-77)
Can’t Help Falling In Love (30/3-77)