A couple of weeks ago this CD on the Audionics label was released, claiming to be created “straight from the 1st generation soundboard tapes”.
Design
There has been taken care of the design, but to be honest, you can’t really get a high level cover and booklet with an Elvis in this shape. Sometimes we do understand EPE's picture policy.
Content
Although not too fond of 1976 shows, we gave this “1st generation soundboard” a try, only to find out that the brand of the original tape must have been pretty obscure. The sound on this release was not really enjoyable. Way too high, and a strange distortion makes it sound like it was recorded in a metal tunnel or something like that. Therefore we decided to give up halfway “See See Rider” and put something more enjoyable with Elvis’ name on it in our player. Fortunately we have enough to choose from.
Conclusion
Probably we are spoilt by now, and we might have enjoyed this release 15 years ago, but with all the better quality material (both content and audio) available we filed this release to our archive as “cabinet filling”. For completists only.
Tracklist:
Hartford, Connecticut, 28.07.1976 (8:30 P.M.)
(Approx. running time: 47:33)
01. Also Sprach Zarathustra / 02. C. C. Rider / 03. I Got A Woman / Amen (medley) / 04. Love Me / 05. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) / 06. You Gave Me A Mountain / 07. Band Introductions / 08. Early Mornin' Rain / 09. Chickin'Pickin' / What'd I Say (medley) / 10. Johnny B. Goode / 11. Drums Solo (by Ronnie Tutt) / 12. Bass Solo #1 (Blues - by Jerry Scheff) / 13. Bass Solo #2 (Battle Of New Orleans - by Jerry Scheff) / 14. Piano Solo (by Tony Brown) / 15. Electric Piano Solo (by David Briggs) / 16. Love Letters / 17. School Day (Hail Hail Rock'n'Roll) / 18. Happy Birthday (to "Kitten" Kahane, daughter of comedian Jackie Kahane) / 19. Hurt (with last part reprise) / 20. Hound Dog / 21. Can't Help Falling In Love / 22. Closing Vamp / Announcements.
23. Jackie Kahane speaks out in Jim Neighbors TV show, 1978 (03:00)
Pine Bluff, Arkansas, 08.09.1976 (8:30 P.M.)
(Approx. running time: 06:15)
24. My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me (sung by Kathy Westmoreland) / 25. Mystery Train / Tiger Man (medley).
Jackson, Mississippi, 05.09.1976 (8:30 P.M.)
(Approx. running time: 07:17)
26. Blue Christmas (Elvis on acoustic guitar) / 27. Jingle Bells (instrumental, by the band) 28. How Great Thou Art / 29. Monologue / 30. Can't Help Falling In Love (incomplete).
Highlights from Dayton, Ohio, 06.10.1974 (8:30 P.M.)
(Approx. running time: 14:07)
31. Big Boss Man / 32. The Wonder Of You / 33. Lawdy Miss Clawdy / 34. That's All Right, Mama (with false start, Elvis on acoustic guitar) / 35. Hawaiian Wedding Song (with last part reprise) / 36. Johnny B. Goode
Total CD running time: 77:53
Across The Country Vol. 1
August 27, 2005 | Music
Ton Bruins wrote on
August 28, 2005
This is not a review. How about Elvis' his vocals ? Anything special ? Hurt or How Great Thou Art ?
Loesje wrote on
August 29, 2005
Really Ton, I heard just 30 seconds of it and I said: there is no way I am gonna listen to this for 77 minutes. It's like a very old and cracky carradio in a tunnel. Elvis'vocals?? Are they on it then???
You Dont Know Me wrote on
September 16, 2005
This is a 100%'outrageous' so called review(which isn't even a review because the listener couldn't be bothered with it!!) Why this makes me hopping mad and i'm even taking time off from my holiday(with the producer of this CD) to comment here! OK so the sound may not be the best, nore is the content Elvis at his 'very best' either,but his Voice is OK and no-where near as bad a sound as some people maintain!, HOWEVER it should be remembered that the compilation here DOES contain soundboard material AND not heard before. Indeed their are some 'strong performances' on this CD and HGTA is a fine example.It captures part of the best show(Hartford 28.7.76) from that tour and above all else Elvis's Humour during that show is 'perfect/brilliant' to my ears.I have listened to this CD around 14 times now and it's 'enjoyable' how enjoyable is it for example to listen only to the multitude of 'average' audience recorded CD's we are currently getting? Maybe a CD for 'completists' but then i like this CD and my collection wouldn't be complete without it!!!!"¬
Pachakuti! wrote on
September 16, 2005
When writing a review, one should listen to the entire performance in order to be able to give a realistic comment. I think that 1. the sound quality isn't brilliant 2. Elvis wasn't in his physical prime. On the other hand, his voice was pretty mature by this time and some songs contain so much passion. That is something we, Elvis fans, should keep in mind.
Loesje wrote on
September 17, 2005
Well, 'you don't know me' and 'pachakuti', why won't you write a so called 'real' review then? I bet the editors will be pleased very much with the income from such realistic fans :-)
Lex wrote on
September 17, 2005
Although I used to be a completist too, I am getting tired of releases like this. Of course it is another concert, and probably I would have been happy with it 10 years ago... but now it is just another boring one, Elvis in poor shape, and worse of all it is a mediocre sound quality: way too much hiss which makes it very unpleasant to listen to. Still it is the quality of the performance of my idol that makes it unwanted for me, compared to e.g. the recently released "A Legendary Performer #6", which soundquality isn't always top notch too... I know which one to play and which one to leave in the cabinet. One gives me listening pleasure and the other one... well, not.
buyep01 wrote on
September 29, 2005
I think we have all been spoiled a little to read all these comments. I enjoyed the CD personaly, I have without a doubt heard a lot worse. I don't reach for it every time I want to hear an Elvis cd. To be fair the quality varies from different points on the CD and I get the impression that maybe more blame should be allocated to the first people who recorded this material. I can tell you it is better than Audience recordings, I have ordered not to sweet and I am waiting for it to come in and from now on it is all soundboards for me, even the best Audience recordings does not compare to a poor soundboard. I do have to agree on some things though I have 20 Cd's and if you didnt look at the title you woud never know the difference, even the jokes are the same. This cd at least gave us some variety of something different. My advice to people on the fence about buying it if it looks like you would want it get it and make your own decision.