Live Memories 1970

Released by the WRL label is the DVD “Live Memories 1970“. A nice trip down memory lane?

Design

The title is “Elvis Live Memories 1970” and the cover shows us Elvis in his mid thirties, and some TTWII shots, but this only partially covers the content. A nice three panel digipack, but with very grainy pictures and no other information than the track listing.

Content

This 2006 release contains a DragonHeart production from 2004. It has been available on the World Wide Web as DVD-recordable. Looking at the effects and music used for the intro we can clearly see it was a home made home movie compilation from a fan. So you know what to expect video and audio wise.

What remains is one and an half hour of Elvis live on stage, and we must say, an enjoyable one and a half hour. We see Elvis on stage doing his thing. These are the images we would like to see listening to the bootlegs.
Contrary to the Aloha or TTWII live shows Elvis was less aware of the (film) cameras and we see him perform more natural. He does his songs, some good, some bad, but the most important thing you see is Elvis doing his show, the suits, Elvis interacting with the audience, joking (wearing big glasses, exchanging a scarf for a boa) and introducing his band. Each member gets his signature song. Fun to see Elvis and John Wilkinson – always on the background – getting his 2 minutes in the spotlight, and James Burton playing his guitar behind his head.

Something we really miss is the details of the performances we see, no single date is given for the main program, we only get details on the bonus material, but those are picture slideshows, and no home movies. Not being a jumpsuit junkie or being able to date a picture just by the way he did his hair this compilation is a kind of a puzzle. The other thing that is a big minor is that many performances are incomplete.

Conclusion

With material like this you always have to decide for yourself. This is what is available so if you want to see Elvis perform some other songs than the few official live performances that are available this is your only option.

Track listing:

CC Rider / I Got A Woman / Big Boss Man / Love Me / You Gave Me A Mountain / Jailhouse Rock / It's Now Or Never / Trying To Get To You / One Night / Little Sister / Heartbreak Hotel / Bridge Over Troubled Water / Steamroller Blues / America The Beautiful / Hurt / And I Love You So / Polk Salad Annie / Suspicious Minds / My Boy / T.R.O.U.B.L.E / How Great Thou Art / Mystery Train/Tiger Man / One Night / Early Morning Rain / What'd I Say / Johnny B.Goode / I Really Don't Want To Know / Love Letters / Hail! Hail! Rock & Roll / If You Love Me (Let Me Know) / Teddy Bear - Don't Be Cruel / Hound Dog / Reconsider Baby / That's All Right / Blue Christmas / Are You Lonesome Tonight? / Fairytale / Blue Suede Shoes.

Special features (audio with picture slideshow):

You'll Never Walk Alone (Uniondale, NY 19-07-1975) / What Now My Love (Spoken Version Las Vegas 04-12-1976) / Loving You (Las Vegas 19-08-1975) / Crying In The Chapel (Las Vegas 19-08-1975) / Wooden Heart (Las Vegas 13-12-1975) / Turn Around Look At Me (Ashville, N.C. 23-07-1975) / Bosom Of Abraham/You Better Run (Uniondale, NY 19-07-1975) / Roses Are Red - I'll Be There -You're The Reason I'm Livin' (Las Vegas 22-03-1975) / Such A Night (Atlanta, CA. 30-12-1976)