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Elvis 1977

September 22, 2013 | Music

Due for release is the import CD "Elvis: February 1977: Still The King".

The press-release:
We have for you something very special. This release is not aimed at the collector - it is for those that love good music .... February 1977 and Elvis is in good form, the sound quality is top notch, and we have included a few extra tracks to make this a very enjoyable listen. A very complete testament to the fact that Elvis still was king in 1977.
As an example of the quality of the sound, we were able to simply insert the stereo master of 'I Really Don't Want To Know' - as it is so good - and it fits seamlessly with the other tracks with no conflict in sound quality.
Of note, 15 of the 26 tracks are from February 21, 1977, FTD released the CD, 'Unchained Melody' featuring mainly tracks from February 20, why god only knows as the CD is a disaster - from track 1 Elvis is clearly out of form. And to make matters worse they add the wonderful performance, 'Where No One Stands Alone' from Feb 16 as a bonus, as we do, however they used a version with awful sound faults. We don't !

So ... Kicking off with a great version of 'Big Boss Man' [April 29] then in to February 21 starting with 'Are You Lonesome Tonight' while Elvis does forget the words it is another classic with Elvis' banter with Estelle of the Sweets. 'Reconsider Baby' shows he is still the best white blues singer. Moving on we have a ultra rare 'Moody Blue' and it is a good and full version, not a one liner, 'Hurt' has us reeling like anyone at the opera such is the performance, as does 'How Great Thou Art'. We have included a few tracks from outside February '77 to make this a unique and fulfilling concert experience, 'Blue Christmas' from March '77 is excellent but then we have used 'Softly As I Leave You' the 1975 recording that was issued as a single, beautiful, but here we have the full recording with Elvis starting with an informal 'Welcome To My World' before commencing which makes this special. [Why? because it works!!!]

Then from 1976, the majestic 'America The Beautiful'. [Same here] This really is wonderful, perfect sound and a great performance. Note that we did not use the 1975 single release version as it is inferior and also has a lot of distortion!!! Shame RCA picked that for release.
We then have the above mentioned master of 'I Really Don't Want To Know' as good in its own way as the 1970 studio cut, which is an Elvis classic. 'If You Love Me (Let Me Know)' is the original recording overdubbed for use on the 'Moody Blue' LP, here again we give you the full recording with Elvis starting out with 'Fairytale' before stopping and then going in to what you know is a great performance of 'If You Love Me (Let Me Know)'.
Now, the rarest of recordings, and performed so well, and here is perfect sound quality, 'Where No One Stands Alone' with Elvis playing piano, then into a single release worthy performance of 'Unchained Melody'.
Just before this there is the 'Striptease', you can hear what this is on the disc but also we include a photo.

Tracks:
Big Boss Man (04/29/77) Are You Lonesome Tonight? (02/21/77) Reconsider Baby (02/21/77) Love Me (02/21/77) Moody Blue (02/21/77) You Gave Me A Mountain (02/21/77) Jailhouse Rock (02/21/77) O Sole Mio / It's Now Or Never (02/21/77) Little Sister (02/21/77) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel (02/21/77) My Way (02/21/77) Release Me (02/21/77) Hurt (02/21/77) Why Me Lord (02/21/77) How Great Thou Art (02/20/77) Blue Christmas (03/26/77) Blueberry Hill (02/14/77) Love Letters (02/14/77) Softly As I Leave You [With Welcome To My World] (02/13/75) America The Beautiful (03/21/76) I Really Don't Want To Know (06/21/77) Fairytale / If You Love Me (Let Me Know) (04/26/77) Elvis Talks / Striptease (02/16/77) Where No One Stands Alone (02/16/77) Unchained Melody (02/16/77) Can't Help Falling In Love (02/16/77)

Source:ElvisDayByDay.com
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on September 22, 2013
Oh my,no thanks,a shame ftd screwed up the unchained melody release,and it also should have been a 2 cd set.
sunrecords56 wrote on September 22, 2013
All of this junk keeps on coming. Out there are the safe tapes of Sept 1957 Christmas sessions in stereo and all shook up sessions, but nobody wants to pay the price of admission. George Klein brags he has Elvis and Carl Perkins singing Blue Suede shoes again Elvis Pal holding out for Big Bucks. Give us something new and different.
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on September 22, 2013
Junk it sure is.
Lefty wrote on September 22, 2013
Isn't this a reprint of the Moody Blue cd from Ft. Baxter, or something close?
You Dont Know Me wrote on September 23, 2013
absolute rip-off and rubbish~!
Jerome wrote on September 23, 2013
What a great release. Fantastic tracklist. And I love that touching picture of Charlie holding the microphone for his friend.. His troubled friend. And deep down in his heart he probably knew that it was going downhill and therefore he hold the microphone extra carefully so E lvis would net get mad and fire him as well...
Jamie wrote on September 23, 2013
So are you going to buy it, Jerome?!
Jerome wrote on September 23, 2013
Definately. As a tribute to Charlie..
Natha wrote on September 24, 2013
But . . . Jerome . . . there is no Old Shep
Jerome wrote on September 24, 2013
Pretty positive that Elvis would have tried Old Shep in his new tour he planned in August 1977.. Song selections from that time proof that. Think of Unchained Meldoy and My way.. Old Shep is in that line as it is also a song about life, loss and tragedy and goes with the same deep emotions. And Charlie knew and felt that. Look at the way he held that microphone, such concentration and dedication. Although he laughed a lot- a bit too much now and then- he was world class in holding a mic or pass scrarves. In the end, I think Old Shep symbolizes teh relation between Elvis and Charlie. Okay, he did not shoot him. But there was that companionship between them. I have tears while writing this..
alanfalk wrote on September 24, 2013
But he did punch him , (when he started to argue with Elvis because he felt that Elvis should have given HIM a car, insted of giving one to Kathy), so it it is close.
Jerome wrote on September 25, 2013
True. But there was a big misunderstanding back then. As Charlie was a pretty small fellow he needed a customized car. The drivers seat needed to be extra large and also the required a ladder to step aboard. Look at the picture, Elvis is while sitting down almost as tall as Charlie. But he had a big heart. You can tell from the way holds that microphone.. I have goose bumps while writing this..
Dazman wrote on October 02, 2013
Jerome: justifiable sentiment. As much as we disdain the easily amused Charlie Hodge and his strained harmonies, he was not only a true friend of Elvis through thick and thin, he was a true professional as his stage manager. When things went wrong on the odd night Charlie took control admirably. He also had good music knowledge too. Something he had more of than what we (even El) gave him credit for.