We have been exposed to so many shows lately that it is hard not to be influenced by that. To read the ELVIS is in a good mood and reading Lex' positive review makes me feel that this will be my next purchase (plus reading glasses - smile). Thanks Lex.
When I opened this article for the first time and took only a short look at the cover I thought FTD played with Photoshop and copied Elvis' head from a '68 comeback photo and pasted it on the '75 jumpsuit :-))) The show seems to be an "average" May/June 75 show, of which are may available. 25 years ago I held the "Elvis Live In Dallas" LP in my hands and it was the first time I heard recordings from that tour. Back then, it was amazing!
Well for (Lex) this MUST be taken as a 'positive review'...what he didn't say in words(but in his 'way above par '8/10 sound rating) is that in FACT the sound is extremely 'good' without making Elvis sound 'Nasal' and much more on a level with the excellent Dallas show on the 1980's box set.Sure Zero surprizes in the show or set list, but our Man KNEW he was in Shreveport and WAS clearly enjoying himself -which all adds up to an enjoyable Elvis experience all round!~`Is it ONLY the same days A/S and the opening tour show that we DON'T have on Soundboard from this tour now??
I find Lex's review to be very well balanced. Actually, his review confirms what I suspected, that this is a good summer of 75 show, not unlike the many others already available on CD. I think the "Shreveport" connection made by FTD was a marketing ploy. Before this release, I never once heard that Elvis held special admiration in his heart for Shreveport, and frankly, I don't think that he did. I'm sure Elvis enjoyed performing in all the Southern States more than anywhere else. For me, I already have multiple soundboards from this era, the best of which is the June 10 show in Memphis, so I'm going to pass this one by. I really don't need "just another Saturday night" CD.
Lefty,....it was no "marketing ploy"..it was a spondaneous idea to release a show from where it all began. I had several other options but I thought this one would fit perfectly for the reason above....also Ernst agreed from the first moment on. Saying Elvis didn`t care about Shreveport isn`t true..I also heard the AS of this day and there Elvis honestly said it was a shame they never played in Shreveport since 1956...he also asks if they still do the radio show etc..he is pretty concerned..so..please.
The concert is solid and standard..no surprises ..but entertaining in any case..and the sound is really good. Elvis, his band and the crowd had a happy evening on stage for sure with highlights like TROUBLE, a fantastic How Great Thou Art and others..just pick your faves. Two more shows remain unreleased on SB from this tour btw ..Huntsville May 30, ES (bad sound, only available on cdr) and the AS of Shreveport June 7...only available on import as audience recording (but incomplete).
The show in question was only available as a bad sounding and incomplete cdr before...the location and the release as SB makes it a must-have for collectors..any other fan of "The Concert Years" will be pleased, too...I am sure.... Of course..one can say..that he already has enough SBs from this tour....I think..without this show the collection has a gap.. Shreveport is something special. All in all I think Ernst and I have done a good job with our first release..looking already forward to the next project ..;-)
Ciscoking, I'm looking forward to your next project too. May you have great success with this project and all future FTD collaborations.
I have to say it's one of the best shows released on cd lately. It's enjoyable to listen too in a very good sound quality. I'm glad we Elvis fans have a chance to get this kind of material on cd in this quality. The beatles and stones fans don't have this. Keep up the good work.. THANKS for making it possible
Bravo Ciscoking: keep on the good work!
I absolutely second the last 3 postings ! Always El.
Thank you, friends...much appreciated..
I agre, I love this cd in fact, i dont usually much listen to june 1975 shows anymore except houston and huntsville and memphis. i listened to the others as well but not much anymore. But i think this show together with the memphis show are the best ones i've heard thanks cisco for deciding this release!
CiscoKing obviously is the strong impetus FTD needed. A new look at the legacy in the hands of FTD will bring us music we have been waiting for and possibly even gems we (or at least I) did not know or wasn't aware about.
i'm glad that more people appreciate your work Ciscoking. One question for you though: I know its a very old and always coming back discussion; but can you put your influence on bringing the upgrated FTD-version of Elvis in Concert june 1977? That would make me very happy :-)
Cisco, you've chosen a great concert. Please concentrate on unreleased soundboards in the naar future! Good Luck, Cisco.
I will do my very best...promised....;-)
Cisco - nice start to your input on the FTD releases. Wish they had broungt you on board a few years back - pehaps then I wouldn't have the "America" and "New Haven" turkeys in my collection. lol Anyway, thanks for your efforts on behalf of all of us die-hards throughout the world.
Oh, Lex - you are right on "Burning Love" is a killer. Quite an enjoyable Saturday night.
A few questions. Why arent all soundboard releases 2cd sets? putting the memphis june 10 show with this unreleased show woulde have been nice. Why is ftd ignoring the on tour material? and please not more of were waiting on mgm remarks. If you know fans want something then give it to them. I lost interest in the label and because of that am selling most of my colllection,hect i have many ftds i have never opened. As someone has said ftd has outlived its usefullness to me. One more thought is why is there no communication between ftd and the fans,no website! For those who still dig ftd and there releases then rock on.
mature: your questions..my answers..
"Why arent all soundboard releases 2cd sets? putting the memphis june 10 show with this unreleased show woulde have been nice"
Would we release 2 cd sets..the question would be.."why no triple sets"...having used the Memphis show would have raised questions like.."too well known"..see no matter what you do..it`s always wrong..
"Why is ftd ignoring the on tour material? " My job lies in the soundboard releases..not multi tracks..ask Ernst,..please..
"I lost interest in the label and because of that am selling most of my colllection". That`s a pity..I am sure many fans out there are hunting FTD..your goodies will soon get good new homes..
"One more thought is why is there no communication between ftd and the fans,no website!" A website is under construction.
"As someone has said ftd has outlived its usefullness to me". So you won`t have the pleasure to listen to the recently discovered 1973 stage rehearsal and many unheard SB shows to come..pity..
"For those who still dig ftd and there releases then rock on." . Thank you... .we will..be assured..;-)
Good response, Cisco. I don't own all of the FTDs (can't afford to buy them all), but the ones I do own I cherish and really enjoy. My most recent is Amarillo '77 which is fantastic with outstanding bonus songs. I took a leap of faith and preordered the new 1973 rehearsal FTD that is coming out in July. Soundsboards and stuff like the '73 rehearsal release are what FTD is all about and I say keep 'em coming. Especially more '77 shows.
More '77 shows? Good Lord. I guess FTD will always have a taker or two.
Bring on Binghamton and Chicago 1977, as well as Macon and Savannah 1977. And Elvis in Concert for that matter. Part of the appeal of FTD is the historical context and not just the entertainment context.
I'm not going to get in a debate about the 70's concerts, especially 1976-77. To me, all the concerts were the same after 1972 anyway, but Amarillo '77 was a horrible release and all the songs weren't even from the same show, How anyone can want more releases like this is beyond me. As the review in Man & His Music states, this CD is not worthy of circulation and I'd rather hear a vacuum cleaner than to listen to this again. Please don't ruin the legacy by releasing any more sub-par concerts. There's enough of them out there that may get into the wrong listener's hands already. I've seen used FTDs in collectors shops. An uneducated consumer can be taken in.
Steve - no hard feelings, my friend. We can agree to disagree. I personally enjoy the Amarillo CD, especially the bonus songs. How can anyone not love Austin version of Steamroller? That CD is worth buying for that song alone in my opinion. There's also a good Help Me, and a solid How Great Thou Art. TCB!
Also - if you look on Youtube or listen to audience shows it's clear that Binghamtom 1977 was a good set of shows. I'd welcome a FTD of those two shows.
We will get back to 1977 but it is in the distant future..it belongs to the legacy of Elvis Presley as does 1970. Just because it was a sub quality concert year we cannot ignore it.
Movie soundtracks rehearsals classic albums concerts from 69 to 77 and everything inbetween. FTD I want it all as far as I am concerned there is no way I would be able to obtain all of that without them. I will support this label until its final hour may it continue for a very long time. They may make the odd mistake sure but the good far far outweighs the bad and for a fan of over 30 years I would say we have never had it so good ad this label deserves our support.
The legacy means nothing as long as the cash keeps rolling in. As shown on here some people will buy it no matter what. I don't buy FTD releases anymore as i think they've lost their way. Just whose dream are we following here?
The last FTDs I bought were the Jailhouse Rock ones , music that I love and I hardly even play those. To buy every single soundboard or concert that comes out , well I just dont get it. Surely you cant love all these shows enough for them to get constant spins, or do you? I always felt that for some folks on this website time stood still after August 16, 1977 and no other artitsts exist. How else then would someone prefer Amarillo '77 to a good CD by another artist. I'm not putting it down, I just dont get it. The Elvis machine was always about the bottom line and I see many fans still supoort that theory no matter what the product. Hey even I bought Elvis Sings For Children LP back in the day. Thank goodness I dont do things like that anymore. I also feel like Andy , that FTD lost their way quite a while ago and now just throw product out (some shabbily at that) to make a buck. And they ARE expensive, too much so, but they sure know the fan base I'll give them that.
Like I said, I don't buy them all but I cherish the ones I own, including Amarillo '77. I have preordered the '73 rehearsal FTD and am looking forward to that. I enjoy other artists. I was at Neil Diamond's show just last night and listen to some of his stuff. But I listen to Elvis at least 90% of the time. And I say that with pride.
Even Amarillo 1977 is part of the history...and the show filled a gap on the collectors shelves...it was a never- before- in -any- form-released concert..and what is FTD..?..Right..a label for collectors..my dream was to get this show..as a collector..now I have it..it is not the best show..granted...anyway..a collectors dream come true. Should FTD stop releasing outtakes of bad Elvis songs..?..Well...then we wouldn`t have most of the movie session FTD. But they are also part of the history...so I don`t get the complainers..
Though I skipped a few FTDs I value their efforts to release whatever there is at hand. It is our choice to buy or to skip. Of course there are flaws that could be prevented and price-related one may 'complain' about that. On the other hand it is a luxury problem as there is so much available now-a-days. In the early days we could only dream of all this. And yes, not everything is high quality or the best ELVIS did. However, when I look at the bootleg LPs in my possession (and the high prices back then), these were (mostly) even more hopeless package and information wise. So all in all, as a die-hard fan and collector I am quite grateful and extra pleased that CiscoKing is board. As I stated before I will get this FTD. Looking forward to the SUN package too.
Every FTD release is carefully chosen..to please the wishes of both fans and die-hard collectors..however you can`t please 50.000.000 Elvis fans at once ..so there is always room for complainers ..natural..and I have no problem with it..
Listening to Elvis 90% of the time just about says it all. No need to continue discussion.
keep on the good work Ciscoking!
I listen to Elvis 90% of the time I listen to music. But there are 711 Masters alone, not to mention soundboards, rehearsals, and outtakes. It's not like listening to 30 #1 hits over and over. If you listen to just 2-3 master take songs a day during the weekdays, you hear every master song only once per year. If you listen to 4 to 6 songs a workday, you hear every Elvis master only twice a year. Keep up the good work, Cisco. It's always great having new, fresh recordings to enjoy. Again, including Amarillo with the oustandings bonus songs.
Being labelled a complainer is exactly what's wrong with threads like these. Like Steve V i don't wish to harp on about the quality of the concerts from 76 AND 77 and i have no problem with people who enjoy them and like to collect them but just because i think that releasing concert after concert is lazy and unimaginative and does the legacy of Elvis and his music no good whatsoever i'm called a complainer. No, i just have a difference of opinion. People will say ok then what will thay release if they don't release these, well i would say release nothing. It wouldn't hurt as the saturation has done more harm than good and Elvis credibility as an artist is rock bottom because of it.
I used to buy most things FTD but am now very selective. That's due to mainly the price, duplication and sometimes that i just don't want it. I've 5 or 6 shows from this tour. They're all pretty much the same. I never play them. So won't buy this. However i think it's great that the label put out this kind of stuff for people to consider purchasing. It's all about choice. I don't think there is really anything left that's going to interest me but will interest plenty of others. Whislt we are trotting out the percentages, Elvis probably accounts for 10% of my musical listening.
Andy its simple.many elvis fans think every thing elvis did was fine,no matter how silly the song,just like ftd,no matter how silly the release,less is more,and all of these bad concerts do nothing but line the pockets of people out to make money,its really that simple. Cisco how is anyone a complainer? my points are valid and no all releases are no carefully chosen. Why has ftd done nothing with the opening and closing shows from jan & feb of 1970? Why no on tour shows? I have very little interest in the label,but id buy the opening & closing night show from 1970 and i guess id still buy the on tour shows though im no longer excited about those shows. I want quality and to mean that means multitrack shows and some soundboard that are interesting. If you can sit through titles like america and feel you got a great product then good for you.
And yes if you listen to elvis 90% of the time then you love everything ftd and clamour for every ftd and import release.
So no really a fair conversation if that description fits you.
Your point is valid..in YOUR point of view..I appreciated your opinion..no question. But the minute you say Amarillo is crap..the other minute another fan says it`s fine. as I said earlier..you can`t please all fans at once..now I am aboard FTD and you can be assured that we will release some goodies...I have also Vegas 1970 on the radar.. I exactly know what is looked for..believe me..
One more point cisco,my questions are valid and you tryed to mock them,kinda like ernst. I said why not release all soundboards as 2 cd sets,i didnt say 3 cd sets,2 cd sets are more value for fans hard earned money. And no i dont have a problem with releasing shows that were on bootleg,didnt ernst say hes not interest in whats been put out on bootleg? is that not how he feels now? I call alot of what you say double talkin jive. Are you saying the memphis 75 show will not be released on ftd? Another saturday night should have been a 2 cd set,there plenty of shows to choose fro june 1975.
Answer me these questions,will ftd release the opening and closing night shows from 1970 that the madison label put out? Will another saturday night be the last release from june 1975? Again why cant elvis fans have a adult conversation? Dgirl and andy are right,thats the way it is!!!!!!
Cisco,you got your message out as i was typing,i just like quality. But lets have these talks with respect for eachother, thank you!!!
Good Afternoon All I Have Some Interesting News. After Close Examination Of This Show It Reminded me Of Another Show. Released Some Years Ago On The Elvis Aron Presley Silver Box Set Cd 4. The Concert Years And To My Suprise After Listening To Both Cds I Was Shocked To Find It's The Same Show!!! Except For The Memphis Tracks So I'm Wondering Why Release The Same Show Yet Again And Claim It's Unreleased. Am I Wrong In My Conclusion ? Just Wondering if i Have Been Taken Yet Again Bye Sony/RCA/FTD Thanks.
mature..I already said I did respect your opinion..if you feel offended. I am sorry..not intended by me..
I'm not hugely excited by more shows from this season as they seems quite samey to me so I'll give this one a miss. But I love that Ciskoking - one of the good guys on this forum in my view and someone whose opinion on shows I find useful when deciding what to buy - is on board with the live shows now. Hopefully socks will be blown off soon with some of his up and coming choices. Nice to have a fan on the inside TCB'ing.
I have an idea and it may not be original, but here it goes...Why not make all the concerts that exist as a soundboard recording or an above average audience taping available? FTD could make a website and allow the fans to download which shows they would like to have. They could charge $15-$20 for each concert downloaded and the only thing we would be without is the "artwork" (most people could make a CD cover that would be the equal to most of the FTD covers that have been released). This way those who want more concert CD's can have as many as their budget can afford and those who have no interest can look forward to more imaginative CD's from FTD. This would also effectively end the bootlegs except for people who want to pay for elaborate packaging.
Deano1 i dont think your idea will happen,i do like having liner notes,which was one of my gripes with ftd, so many releases were released with no liner notes, a big no no for a collectors, label. Cisco shows like the opening and closing night jan/frb 1970 belong on ftd so all fans have a chance to hear elvis in his prime with lots of energy dont you agree? If Ftd releases this,it should be a set,with a nice booklet,these are the type of shows that have quality that with a nice package is what fans want. As for multitracks ftd should and im sure will release the 2 shows left from aug 1970. And on tour is a subject ernst needs to look at now not later. Fans expected a 30th anniversary set then it didnt happen. Now ernst wants to wait on mgm,sure fans can have a delux dvd edtion so lets give them no on tour cd set. Sorry but i dont see the logic in this,fans have said it over and over,release the shows or at least release a show. I know you have nothing to do with multitracks but im sure you have discussed the on tour material with him. Again i think ftd is too hush hush. I respect your vews cisco ,can we just not use the complainer line its been way overused. Have a great weekend!
I'm all for the On Tour shows to be released officially, even though I own the beyond excellent Madison releases and the best import ever, "The Hampton Roads Concert" by Triangle. My only fear is that if FTD hands the project to Lene for mastering, then we're doomed once again. Time will tell. I know the whole "Turner owns the rights" argument, but if that were true, then how is it that the entire San Antonio concert made it to Disc 4 of Elvis Close Up ? Where was Turner when Sony released that show? On another note, I'm perplexed by Ciscoking's role in all of this. The poor guy is getting hammered like he's the head of FTD. It's cool that he's doing some projects with FTD, but I don't think he's running the company. That being said, I do agree with just about every negative comment regarding FTD's handling of Elvis material. It seems that they disappoint far more than amaze.
Lefty rca ftd sony whoever own the audio for the 4 shows recored for on tour mgm owns the footage. You brought another issue with ftd if they really were all about the fans they would never ever let lene touch anything. Listen to the fans,no excuses,as for cisco no he doesnt run ftd,but since ernst is so quiet i guess fans feel like cisco might be more talkative, cisco is fine by me, just remember all fans dont want just anything,give us quality.
I am not the head..and I will never be....lol...but I am involved in the SB releases and I want to collect opinions and I can answer the most important questions...that`s it..I am NOT responsible for the final decisions. ...that`s Ernst..I am helping to choose the most appropriate shows cause I know what`s already out and not.. and since this is our first project ..I am talking about it..I am not responsible for mastering..multi tracks..On Tour..etc..
Cisco - Hopefully there are some more good Lake Tahoe shows out there. I love the vibe of the Tahoe shows. Now I know some folks won't agree but I'd love to see a SB of the Tahoe 1976 shows, including May 9th 1976. And Tahoe 1971. Keep up the good work.
Ciscoking do you agree that opening & closing night jan & feb 1970 belong on the collectors label. Or should fans miss out who didnt buy the imports?
Congrat Cisco! Good to know that you are on the FTD-team. Looking forward to the next releases from FTD. There are still a lot of goodies to expect. Thanks to Ernst and the team. They have all in all done a very good job with the Elvis-material that still are in the velvets.
Elviskid80: Sorry but after listening to my copy that arrived just today, you are wrong to say that its the same show from that appeared on the EAP Silver Box. All tracks from 4-22 inclusive are all unreleased especially the last 4 songs in which there's been quite a bit of dispute over. Before the closing number (track 22) El says 'if you want us back in Shreveport, just give us a call', which is not on the 'Concert Years' CD and there's many more differences too numerous for this space. All seems legit to me!
Did you ever doubt it....;-)
Keep on the good work Ciscoking!
Cisco: not in the slightest, but when people make controversial claims that discourage others, I couldn't help but check out the truth myself. My verdict on ASN: It's good to see FTD (with you on board) raise the bar on SB releases. I find this both a solid and satisfying concert, Elvis giving proper attention to all the important songs, apart from a little crack up on track 10. He surprisingly gives an undistracted performance on track 7, although no big deal. Track 19 maybe trashed but the genuine fun he has with the front row makes you wish you were there. To be honest of some of the songs, there are better versions elsewhere, but also vice-versa. Either way still good all the same and the differences are only minor so those who are undecided will not be disappointed.
Please Ernst and team release the Nassau July 19,1975 shows on 1 cd. I have plenty of live shows, these are the only shows that would really thrill me. Even a audience recording, Please !
With 'Ciscoking' (aka Joachim Bernecker as credited in the sleeve notes) for this FTD we are in 'good hands' as he KNOWS the 'live' shows better than anyone and whatever he helps choose next will surely be worth listening too as well!~
I have, for a while now, not ordered or purchased FTD releases, being quite selective now about what I buy. As far as concerts are concerned Elvis got 'lazy' about his concerts and started doing songlists that took little effort and numbers he could sing without too much effort. The result wasthat most of his latter day concerts were an absolute bore and performed badly come to that. He had such an enormous song list he could select from (I mean his own, not other artists) there was no need to put in those awful sterile ballads and forget the lines of some of his classic numbers! . We could have all devise alternate songlists for him that would have sent the audience wild huh? But he was lazy and during the Elvis on Tour movie, remember him saying he has to remind the band, it's a new venue, they have never seen them before .. yeah right, he didnt practice this himself half the time, certainly after '74 anyway. Personally, after 74, I lost interest in what he was doing and never bought another LP after Aloha.....Samey I think the phrase is!
Irrespective of the 'highlights' on this CD, we all probably have better copies of individual tracks in our collections. I would say this is more of a collectors item, rather than a Fans. Need to ask cisco a question, I cannot find any details on elvisnews re the '73 stage rehearsals, has anything been posted, it doesn't come up in a search. Did I miss it? Can someone post details of what this is all about?
Go to "FTD in June" on this site or go to Elvis In Norway site / there..BMG news and "From Hawaii To Vegas".
I agree with Bestoftherest8301's assessment. It seems like Aloha was the last attempt Elvis made at greatness. Afterward, he settled in to a regular pattern of recycling the basic same show right until the end. Not that there weren't moments of brilliance. I have some favorites from 1974 through 1976 that I wouldn't trade for the world. That being said, I would categorize myself as a fan and not a collector because having more of the same doesn't appeal to me. I think it's ironic that Elvis, as great as he was and so far ahead of everyone else in Rock N Roll, died without meeting his full potential.
Less is more,and to me when you have so much stuff,alot of it below par and down right boring,it takes away from the truely great stuff. Ftd in all honesty has put out so much stuff that its overkill,too much of anything is not good. I now will only buy what i know i will play time and again,no more cd's that sit on the shelf because i think i got to have it. Dont get me wrong,i like elvis but his live shows were more about the image,they were short and many were down right uninspired and boring. Its funny when you get older,you look at things differt. There are some good shows for sure,but there now is very little from sony,ftd that i will buy. Among them are the opening and closing shows jan/feb 1970,the 2 ttwii shows and the remaining on tour april 72 shows. Soundboards should always be 2 cd sets. Many fans have become bored with ftd and think they lost there way as pointed out by others.
The reason FTD lost their (not there) way is because the way is no more. What can anyone expect anymore for a guy who has been gone a lifetime? There is nothing new to release anymore except a new live show. I totally have no interest anymore in hearing the same old shows, ad-libs, JD's foghorn impersonation, etc. But its all they can do, so either you buy it or you dont. I have a feeling more people every year will not and FTD will slowly fade away. But so what if all they can offer is this stuff? By the way, Elvis did reach his full potential. It was before he got drafted. Never again was he as creative in various styles and growth and in acting. He made some great records in 1960-61 and again in 1969-70 but that was as close as he came to his creative process of the 50's. The Colonel made sure of that.
Me thinks.. I am on a wrong site..is this for Elvis fans..?
Thanks for the grammer lesson steve lol. indeed its their not there. Yes its a elvis,and i agree thats there not much exciting stuf left but ftd has sure milked this. FTD's are not as popular as they once were,cd's like silver screen stereo were cute cd's although more thought should have gone into them and the studio sets could have been 2 cd sets with best alternates. But as a buyer i got tired of buying what i had,collectors want to add to there collection not rebuy it,and on top of it all bad mastering.
No Cisco, you're on the correct Elvis site...It just so happens that some of us fans have grown weary of the same old thing. I can't speak for anyone else, but as for me, I will continue listening to the Elvis music I cherish for the rest of my life. I simply jumped off the merry-go-round of buying more and more of virtually the same thing. Like others, I hold out hope that someday Sony/FTD will release the On Tour shows, at least on CD, and that's only because 1972 is my favorite Elvis era. Even if they do, it will be a bittersweet experience because the importers and have already surpassed my greatest expectations in that regard. And one can only hope that FTD will match their quality. Sadly, of that no one can be sure.
While I love the 1950s Elvis, it's the 1970s era that I listen to the most and enjoy the most. I think Elvis was as good if not better in the 70s, and I'd put up the 1972 Elvis on Tour shows up against any of his career. One of the best shows ever was in Birmingham, AL 1976. I think all years had their highlights - 1970 in Vegas, 1971 in Boston Garden, 1972 Elvis on Tour, 1973 Aloha special, 1974 in Memphis and Richmond, Huntsville 1975, Birmingham and Pittsburg 1976, and surprises like Steamroller Blues in Austin 1977 and Unchained Melody 1977, or even Hurt from Rapid City 1977. I like some shows better than others, but I have never listened to an Elvis show and felt bored or uninterested. I've found magic in them all. And I appreciate FTD for releasing these performances. I don't buy them all simply because I can't afford to buy them all. But as I've said, I have a good collection of FTDs and enjoy them all very much. I was listening to Nevada Nights today and enjoyed both shows. I would have loved to have been at the August 19, 1974 show.
Steve V, it's (not its) all they can do. There are other fans who do like what they are doing. CiscoKing, yes this is an ELVIS site. Remember 50.000.000 fans (and counting) cannot have the same preferences. And not all will like everything. Fans don't have to like it all, so as you have already stated it is hard to please everyone. I agree with LonElvis when he stated that every show has its special charme. One is more enjoyable than the other, but hey, who has ever been consistent all year(s) around! I have been giving lectures for as many years Elvis sang. I know how hard it was to always have the same high standard and to meet the high expectations. SO no complaints from my side about that. We all know that nothing new would come up (apart from a very few discoveries) and that the shows are what they are. No need to repeat that time and again. Collect them or not. FTD is doing a great job. A few bloopers every now and then may be annoying to read, yet for me the thrill of listening to ELVIS every day lingers!
Yes Natha I am extremely lazy with apostrophes and there is no spell check here. Anyway to your point, I no longer listen to Elvis everyday so maybe I am not qualified to be on this site. I'm down to about once a week. My tastes in music run from classical to jazz to pop, to some of today's with my fondess of course for rock and roll 50's & 60's. So there is much to listen to and I dont need these FTDs to get an ELvis fix. Also some of the people that have turned me on to different music I have also turned on to some of my favorite Elvis (non-hits) music like Elvis Is Back, The Memphis album, his 1st & 2nd albums etc. So I feel I have a good and balanced listening cycle and Elvis is in there but not as much as he used to be. Someone on here said he listens to Elvis 90% of the time and I can only think of how much other music that person is missing in his life.
Steve V, I really do think you belong here. I always enjoy your responses. My preferences are basically 50s and I listen to some of the other artists too (all fifties). I don't feel any enjoyment listening to other music (so I know for me I'm not missing anything). Apart from the fifties I enjoy ELVIS 60s and 70s (apart from gospels) basically because he had such a wonderful voice. I can easily drift away listening to his voice, while others are quickly boring me. Anyway, I listen to concerts (while driving alone) just to get that feeling. I do understand your point completely and I grasp the sense behind it. You are a great fan. I was happy you did not turn your back on us here. To be critical and stand for one's view on things without looking down on others is a strand that you often follow. And I appreciate that!
I was the one who taught her...no wait. What I was trying to say was I am the one who said I listen to Elvis 90% of the time. I, like Natha, don't feel I am missing anything, especially in today's music world. While I got to concerts often and have seen everyone from Smokey Robinson to Styx to John Fogerty to Tom Jones to Tony Orlando and Neil Diamond, and I have their music in my CD collection, it's Elvis music that I listen to the most. Period. I think the vastness of Elvis music - both in terms of the total quantity and the differences is why that's true. I listen to Elvis 90% of the time. And I go through stages where most of that is concerts. Sometimes I listen as Natha mentioned to get the vibe while other times I listen almost as a historian. Elvis' last Memphis show is a great example of a show I listen to often for a mixture of the vibe and the historical context, as is Elvis' last concert. FTD is a great thing because it offers a mix of musical listening pleasure and historical context -- such as the upcoming 1973 rehearsal CD that I am looking forwarded to hearing.
Well to each his own. I feel variety is the spice of life in everything from food to music and if I listened to Elvis that much, I certainly wouldnt feel I was as well versed in different music. I used to be an absolute Elvis fanatic , but looking back at his career now, it really does disappoint me how he wasted his talent. I feel maybe 50% of his recordings are worth listening to, the other 50% no. His concerts all seem similar to me, I find nothing new in any new one I happen to hear except the city he is performing in. I am certainly not alone in this assessment, (well maybe on here I am). And yes, I do feel his creative peak was the 50's. I think most music critics agree with that as well.
I just want to clarify that I listen to Elvis 90% of the time not because I'm not well versed in music but because I am. I have an extensive collection and awareness of music, especially American popular music. I've seen the greats like Frank Sinatra and Andy Williams in person, and have an extensive amount of their music. I enjoy new age music like Mannheim Steamroller, especially during the holidays, and I listen to everyone from the Three Tenors to Lindsey Buckingham and Jackie Wilson and Brook Benton and Robert Flack (whom I also saw live) and Marvin Gaye. . I've seen Dionne Warwick, Little Anthony, Engelbert, Wayne Newton, Johnny Mathis, and most of the big names in music. I enjoy music as a whole - including non-Elvis music - but none of it ever touches me like listening to Elvis. I could listen to songs like There Goes My Everything, We Can Make the Morning, Kentucky Rain, Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall, and I'll Never Fall in Love Again over and over and over. I listen to Elvis because he's the best and his music touches me more than the others. Sure the others are great. There are few albums better than Sinatra and Jobim. That's classic stuff. But while it's enjoyable it doesn't touch me like hearing Elvis sing, "Now the love that kept this old heart beating has been shattered by the closing of the door..."
I'm glad that I am not the only fan that listens to other music! I won't run through the litany of music types I listen to, other than to say that the 60's and 70's were the best twenty years in American music. Fortunately, many of the folks I listened to from the 70's are still around, and I've seen more than a few of them: Simon & Garfunkel, Elton John, James Taylor, Carole King, and so forth. Next month I will see Los Lobos, and hopefully I'll catch Paul Simon's Graceland tour if he comes to town. Of course, Elvis is someone I wish I could have seen....I got close, having attended the "Elvis The Concert" a few years back in St. Louis. I guess the bigger question is, What defines an Elvis fan? If you listen to Elvis at all, you're a fan in my humble opinion. There should never be a measure of degree.
Lefty - Carol King's "It's Too Late" is one of my all-time favorite songs. I would love to have heard Elvis and Carol duet that together live.
Steve i like you,was once everything elvis,but with age,i have decided theres so much more to life than having everything he ever did. Alot of his 70 shows to me are depressing and i feel like i was living in a bubble. I have found theres so much to enjoy,so much just sat on my shelf,ftd helped me decide this with there release polocy which seems to be figure out as they go. The outtake cd's were fine,but once the classic series started,things changed,and with that said no one realy needs a clambake special edition.
LonElvis - That's a great song. Carole King is very energetic on stage, very talented. She was on tour with James Taylor when I saw her. They did some fine duets together. I started to think of all the concerts I've been to over the years after my last post, and there are too many to count! I did get to see on of the original masters of Rock N' Roll---Chuck Berry. That was in 2009. Last I heard, he still performs once a month at Blueberry Hill (a jazz club) in St. Louis. For a guy that's pushing 90, he still rocks. I was totally enthralled and impressed. I got to meet him after the show. He's really a nice guy.
Lefty - that's great that you saw Chuck Berry. He's certainly one of the "masters" of rock and roll without a doubt. Even greater that you got to meet him, too. That's awesome. I never got to see Carol King, and I've read where she's retiring so I guess I will have to rely on video footage. While not a rock and roll master, I was lucky enough to see Frank Sinatra twice - in 1991 and 1993. That was amazing for me. The 1993 show I was on row 11 and could really see him and hear him very well. It's sad that the greats are getting old and dying or have died. Not many of them left today. I think of Elvis everytime I go to a show. It's really such a shame we didn't have him longer. I saw Neil Diamond most recently and he has Ronnie Tutt as his drummer and it was a great show. But I thought about how Elvis isn't that much older than Neil and what a shame we can't go see Elvis and Ronnie.
Glad to read & hear that people DO listen to a lot of different music. I have seen a lot also, Chuck, Fats, Ray, Bo, Everlys, Jerry Lee, Little Richard, Ricky, James Brown. Most of the early legends except Buddy , Cooke, Vincent. Of course also Elvis ( a few times) and most of the 60's & 70's superstars including The Beatles, Beach Boys. Stones, & Dylan. While I looked forward to Elvis the most, it was not the Elvis I grew up admiring. I never got the whole jumpsuit image after the first few years and the shows were good but nothing spectacular. It was more 'being there' and basking in his stage personna as opposed to anything great musically. Guess thats why soundboards dont do it for me. The 68 comeback show and the 1961 Hawaii show were a lot more the Elvis I liked. A pity the 60's were wasted on movies. With all these shows , nothing came close to the sheer hysteria of The Beatles at Shea. I couldnt hear them much but it was something I never exerienced again. After that show I was so hoping Elvis would at least make a TV appearance in between his movies, if not tour. The offers were certainly there and pop music was exploding all the tube.
Steve V - First off I am impressed by your list of shows - including Elvis and Ricky Nelson. I'd love to hear more about those shows as I would have loved to have seen both of them. I think you are on to something with your post. Elvis to you is the 1950s era Elvis or the 1950s like Elvis (which is what the 1968 special alluded to with its song choice and rawness). I was born in the 70s and although just a kid when Elvis died, my reference point for Elvis is the 70s. And I personally prefer the 70s Elvis and his peers of the time such as Tom Jones, Engelbert, Andy Williams, and even Wayne Newton from that period. And my favorite rock bands are from the same time - from Styx (my favorite) to Boston. So I said all of that to say your take on sound boards makes sense from your perspective while fans with my perspective (the 70s perspective) would prefer soundboards to recordings of 1950s concerts. I have several 1950s concert recordings and Hayride recordings I seldom listen to as I prefer the 70s Elvis. So if FTD was releasing multiple 1950s shows I would have your same opinion on those that you have on their releasing of 1970 soundboards. Makes sense.
Thanks LonElvis. Yes 50's FTD soundboards would be great, if only they existed! I also forgot to mention Roy Orbison. I saw Roy in 1983 & Ricky in 1984 and I was very impressed with each show. They did all their hits (full versions) and gave the audience what they came for. It's what bothered me most about Elvis. He had the greatest number of hits and his classic songs were the best of any artist and he rushed through them like a freight train and performed one of his favorite songs (according to him) Dont Be Cruel, in a medley yet did a full blown version of The Impossible Dream with screeching chorus! Unforgivable in my opinion. Thats the main reason I cant get into soundboard of the 70's. I know whats coming all too well, lol. Out of the artists you mention, I am also a big Tom Jones & Sinatra fan. Seen Frank 3 times and Tom once. There are probably others. Oh yeah ,Carl Perkins & Johnny Cash. Both great shows if you dig their hits. It's also a shame Elvis didnt tour overseas. Euro fans have to be the most loyal on earth.
Don't get me wrong. I'm an Elvis fan since I was a little boy of 9 years and that's 30 years ago now. While I thought that everything Elvis did was great when I was a kid (I loved the movies!) I look different on his career and his work today. Elvis openened the door for me to get to know different types of musicians and music. No need to discuss Elvis' masterpieces. Each fan has his own favoutites. A favorite thing about Elvis for me became his concerts from 1968-77. I used to be excited about each release which was available. But as the years went on and my collection of concerts grew bigger I wondered how "lazy" he was. I understand that people went to his concerts to herar their (youth) favourites. But nevertheless, there was enough room to create more interesting set lists. But those were the times - we can't change it.
Elvis also introduced me to Bruce Springsteen when I was a teenager in the mid-80s. I became a big an of him. Since then, I saw Bruce & The E-Street Band several times in concert and was amazed every time. Last time I say him three weeks ago in Frankfurt playing a fantastic 3 1/2 hour set of 30 songs. A few day later he played in Cologne and changed 12(!) songs! That's a real challenge for him and the band. IMHO Elvis and the band also played a lot of uninspiring shows in the later years because you can't play the same songs over and over with enthusiasm - often twice a day! That's why the LV August 19, 1974 opening show is amoung my favourites. The only time Elvis broke the routine. Unfortunately, it was the one and only time during his concert years.
To me ..every show has its own merits.
I agree with Cisco. I've never listened to any Elvis show and felt bored or unimpressed. Sometimes the strength of the show is entertainment value while other times it's historical value. And often it's even humanistic where you see the human side of Elvis (sometimes struggling or asking if he can say something ("should I raise my hand") and seeing him trying to maintain some level of control over the audience and the environment that sometimes seems to over take him. You hear him singing beautifully and yet hear fans screaming "I want your belt" (which you can clearly hear in a 1975 Houston show) or yelling at him while singing The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face in Birmingham where he's trying to sing while the fans are yelling like crazy and not really listening. There's a lot of human and even psychology in those shows. Collectively it makes for a great experience. I'm trying to say that listening to Elvis soundboards is multi-dimensional and not just entertainment.
Steve - I would love to have seen Carl Perkins. What a great show I am sure that was. I saw Tom Jones 3 times - in 1993, 1995, and 2011. 1993 was the best show in that he did a mixture of his hits and oldies in general. It was a rocking show. He started with "I Can't Turn You Loose" which just set the tone for the entire show. 1995 was good but the show focused on The Lead and How to Swing It songs. He basically did the entire new album plus some of his hits. I was on the first row in 2011 and although that show focused primarily on his new gospel album, it was still a dynamic show. Of course he didn't really move aroun dlik ehe had in 1993 and 1995, he demonstrated that his voice is as strong as ever. Some fans left disappointed, however, that he didn't do all of his hits and didn't move that much. I guess being an entertainer is hard as you can't please everyone all of the time.
I'm not so sure there's much value in repeatedly stating a viewpoint on aspects of Elvis' career. Every news item or article provokes the same responses from the same people. It's becoming as repetitive as these soundboards!
Comparing an Elvis concert to a Roy Orbison or a Ricky Nelson concert from the 80's is a bit unfair. Elvis was still a flourishing recording artist who was trying to sell albums and singles and receive airplay on top 40, country and easy listening stations. Elvis didn't just want to be an oldies artist (ironically the point of Ricky Nelson's 1972 hit "Garden Party"), he wanted to try different types of music, more adult music. That is why he did snippets of his hits and complete beautiful versions of "My Way", "What Now My Love", "You Gave Me A Mountain", etc, etc, etc. I can understand the frustrations of those who grew up with him and wanted him to do his 50's hits, but he was exploring himself as an artist (especially through the '74 shows).
It is true that a lot of his shows were similar, but we have to keep in mind that the shows were being done for a different city and crowd. They were never meant to be released as albums. Heck, RCA even deleted songs from the 1974 live LP so the content would not be duplicated from the "Aloha" LP. Now that there isn't any new Elvis music we are left with the soundboards and alternate takes to feel the void. I like Steve V have explored other music since there isn't anything "new" from Elvis. I have bought several Beatles CD's and have music from everyone from Dean Martin to the Monkees. Elvis is still my favorite and always will be. Even if only 50% of Elvis music was good, that is a tremendous amount of music (over 350 songs).
It is amazing that someone with the success of Elvis still left a lot of unfulfilled expectations. He was guilty of going on auto-pilot in the 60's with the movies and with the concerts from 75-77. He never realized his dreams of being a great actor (although he was a darn good one) and there were times his LP release were lackluster (some movie LPs and "Raised On Rock" come to mind). That said there is nothing he did that doesn't bring me some enjoyment (ok, "Barefoot Ballad" and "Yoga Is As Yoga Does" are pushing the envelope) and that is the magic of Elvis Presley.
No one will ever replace him or be like him and I miss him everyday.
When we talk about Elvis' shows and setlists, we cannot dismiss 1975. He had a great set list in 1975. I particularly loved the set of shows in Atlanta in April and May 1975. That's a great mix of old and new. 1975 was a good year in a lot of ways in terms of quality shows. You had the great shows in the South - including the long shows in Asheville. And the solid shows in Uniondale. He also had some different and unique stage outfits in 1975 along with some of his best jumpsuits as highlighted in Huntsville.
Also Vegas 1975 was great with December 1975 being one of the best seasons ever..LOVE 1975.
LonElvis - If you want to hear some really cool Tom Jones, pick up 2003 cd called Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues-Red White & Blues. Tom Jones does 4 cool tracks with Jeff Beck on guitar, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Love Letters, Goin' Down Slow, and Hard Times. Othe tracks by others (like Lulu )are good also but the TJ tracks are outstanding.
Thanks, Iray. I'll check those songs out.
Hey - today I was listening to Adios Elvis (the final show) since today is the 35th aniversary, and I had almost forgotten what a great crowd he had that night. We get used to the soundboards where Elvis and the band sound better (obviously), but the audience shows themselves have a distinct charm in that you get to hear the other half of the equation and that's the screaming fans. While not on par with Burning in Birmingham, Elvis' final show was nevertheless a good show with some good songs - including Release Me. I Can't Stop Loving You, and Bridge over Troubled Water. He seemed to be in a good mood. It's sad to listen to as you hear someone with more shows inside of him to perform, not someone doing their last show. TCB! Elvis forever.
Very happy with this release and hope we will get more releases from concerts on tour in the period 1970-1973, but understand there are not good tapes existing most likely.
BTW, somewhat surprised about the relevance of listening to other music a lot or not. I do listen to other music quite a lot, but no one is getting close to Elvis in my opinion both as singer and performer. Elvis had good rhythm and wild performance in the 50's, excellent studio work in the periods 60-62 and 69-71, an exciting new style of concerts that very much developed and changed throughout the period 69-74. His career is almost perfect, both artistically and to maximize his popularity, if the NBC TV Special had been one year earlier and Elvis would have gone on would tour in 1974, it is not clear to me what could have been better, except for some missed chances regarding single releases in the 60s.
On a trivial note, even though it's credited in the booklet as "circa June 1975", the shot on the digipacks front cover is from the Oklahoma City gig on July 8 '75. How do I know? It's on page 21 of the JAT book "Starring in Oklahoma".
