After "Chaos In The Park" the Straight Arrow label releases a concert with chaos on the stage.
Design
The designer from the Straight Arrow releases knows his craft; bringing us a stylish modern looking designs with a classic touch. As we became to expect from the Straight Arrow, the liner notes are well researched and place the concert in an historic perspective on both Elvis private life (divorce from Priscilla) and his career (caged back in Vegas just after his career highlight, “Aloha From Hawaii”).
Content
This escape from Straight Arrow contains Elvis’ midnight show as recorded from a booth on February 18, 1973 in Las Vegas. Including the bonus material the running time is 64 minutes. A so-called booth recording was made by someone who probably had “friends” in Elvis’ entourage, and therefore didn’t have to worry about hiding the microphone. Resulting in a pretty fresh and good sounding recording.
If you know the “Aloha” show you pretty much know what to expect. Especially the big show stoppers like “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me”, “Steamroller” and the dramatically “You Gave Me A Mountain” and “What Now My Love” stand out from the rest. James Burton does his thing on “Johnny B Goode” which is, together with “Suspicious Minds” one of the up-tempo highlights. The bonus material contains a handful of songs from later the same week. The “talking” version of “What Now My Love” is not as good as other “talking” versions I’ve heard, Elvis is too lose from the band.
The title of this release captures one of the highlights – if you can call it that -of this release “Elvis kicking an attacker from the stage”. After “Suspicious Minds” Elvis is attacked on the podium by four men, probably showing off for their girlfriends”. Elvis takes charge and kicks one of them from the stage using his karate knowledge while his entourage takes care of the other three “attackers”. I can only listen to it, but can’t make up my mind how big the rumble on stage was. I think I hear someone from the audience scream “kill him” but on the other hand, the band just keeps playing a background tune … very strange. When Elvis picks up the show and apologizes to the audience (“for not breaking his goddamned neck!”) he finishes the show pretty much like nothing had happened with "Can't Help Falling In Love" (although probably not sung to one of his "attackers").
Conclusion
An attractive package in good audio quality with a special show. Not too special for the set–list performances as for the “attack” on our man.
Track listing:
01. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme from "2001 A Space Odyssey") - 02. Opening Vamp / C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen (medley) / Big Boss Man (one line) - 04. Love Me Tender - 05. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - 06. Steamroller Blues - 07. You Gave Me A Mountain (with reprise) - 08. Fever - 09. Love Me - 10. Blue Suede Shoes - 11. Johnny B. Goode - 12. Hound Dog (slow & fast) - 13. What Now My Love - 14. Suspicious Minds - 15. Instrumental Intermezzo / Elvis attacked on stage - 16. I Can't Stop Loving You - 17. An American Trilogy - 18. Can't Help Falling In Love - 19. Closing Vamp.
Special bonus:
20. * C. C. Rider - 21. Steamroller Blues - 22. You Gave Me A Mountain - 23. Fever - 24. * What Now My Love (with reprise).