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Big Boss Man

May 04, 2005 | Music
Another soundboard on the FTD release, pushed a bit to the back because of the other two releases - "Rockin' Across Texas" and "Elvis Is Back" at the same time.

Design

Nostalgia rules with the good old 3D Elvis-logo. The pictures are nice, but unfortunately a bit grainy. All together a fitting cover with a nice 70’s taste. The track information is as usual, including composers and band information.

Content

The investigators from the Elvis Is Still Active In Norway website did their work and discovered that this show is not the dinner show from March 30th as claimed on the cover, it is midnight show of March 28th 1975. The give-a-way was the introduction of Barbara Streisand who attended the show on March 28th. She met Elvis backstage after the show and offered him a role in "A Star Is Born". Apparently Ernst Jorgensen is aware of the mistake by now, and has admitted to the date on the cover being wrong.

Back to the show. The sound is a typical soundboard from Elvis' 12th season in Las Vegas (March 18th - April 1st 1975). The orchestra is hardly audible, as are the backing vocals.

During the opening theme we hear a guitar very upfront, giving this theme a different sound than the orchestral version we expected.

On the first few notes we were afraid Elvis was hardly audible too, but gladly he found his mike soon enough.

The show has no quick medleys but only full performances of interesting songs like the rare "Promised Land", "My Boy", "And I Love You So". For an Elvis show there is pretty much variety, with only a handful of oldies. One of the highlights is without any doubt “My Boy”, during which Elvis really let go, another contender for the highlight of the CD is a beautiful rendition of “I’ll Remember You”. All together it is a very listenable live show, with a good mix of up tempo and ballads, most of them pretty new at the time.

Unfortunately the show is ruined by the introductions. Especially that David Briggs guy, who was playing electric piano according to the information, but it sounded more like a horny cat.

The last three tracks have been released before on Baxters "Profile vol. 2 CD 4" and "Green, Green Grass Of Home" and "You're The Reason I'm Living" were released before on the Las Vegas 4CD box.

Conclusion

Certainly one of the better soundboards released on the FTD label so far, at least show wise.

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asd123 wrote on May 05, 2005
I love the show, and i'm glad to have it. The soundquality is very good, Elvis' show as well.
dirklandwehr wrote on May 07, 2005
I like that show, too. Elvis is in good voice, the performed songs are great (none of these terribly sung oldies) and the design of the cover is great (that happens only once in a lifetime with ftd records).
Coronel Parker wrote on May 07, 2005
Great show and great sound!
Renan Augusto wrote on May 07, 2005
One of the best soundboards for sure and Elvis is in great mood and voice. Good sound and I loved "Little Darling" with the orchestra participating in a bits of the song. In "An American Trilogy" Elvis teaches how to sing man! Great release and thanks for that Ernst..
John_Burrows wrote on May 07, 2005
I first wondered whether this release would be on par with the fourth CD of Fort Baxters boxset "A profile - the king on stage, Vol 2", which contains a show from March 22, 1975. But I was delighted to find that the FTD (containing the midnight show from March 28) is at least just as good. And it even contains as bonussongs the highlights of March 22 ("Green green grass of home" and "You`re the reason I´m living") which Elvis did not perform on March 28! This way you don`t miss anything! (This was not the case with the FTD "Dinner at Eight" which unfortunately did not contain certain highlights of Fort Baxter`s rival "Just Pretend". Seems like FTD is eventually learning how to best get people away from bootlegs ...)
You Dont Know Me wrote on May 08, 2005
Superb release just the photo's being slightly less than 'sharp' and the sound on the 22.3.75 M/S songs sounding like the oxide is wearing off of the tape- apart from that it's 'great!' also nice to have such great rarer bonus songs(from this season) from the 31.3.75 M/S greatly adds to the coverage of songs Elvis performed this season- surely this is the BEST representation so far of our man in this March 75 Vegas Season?
Tina S wrote on May 09, 2005
70s no thanks
JerryNodak wrote on May 10, 2005
Tina S: I'm curious. Do you really enjoy Elvis' music? Every post I've seen from you has been negative unless it dealt w/ the ALLC re-mix. Or you one of those fans who has bought into the John Lennon crap that Elvis died after the Army? Just curious.
Ton Bruins wrote on May 10, 2005
Yes, I am curious about Tina too. But JerryNodak she will not react. I think she only likes Elvis 50's and begin 60's and maybe 1970...ha,ha,ha, that's funny. About Big Boss Man: good show from Elvis with a good soundquality. Sound is better than on Baxters Profile vol.2. That's why the last 3 tracks the soundquality drops a bit because the last 3 tracks are from Baxters Profile. I like the tracklist of this show. Thank god no songs like All Shook Up, Teddy Bear, Don't Be Cruel. Very strong version of It's Midnight. Good release.
cathyreno wrote on May 11, 2005
I love elvis in any era he was genius in 50's 60's and 70's. these shows are rare gems and show what a great performer he was . long live the king
newyorknewyork wrote on June 04, 2005
"Big Boss Man" arrived in my letter box this morning and I'm listening to it on my pc as I'm writing this note. I think it's fantastic, but then I would as I'm biased. "I'll Remember You" is beautiful, it's playing now. I love everything that Elvis did, even his terrible films. I think that's what I would call a real fan. Elvis must be excepted as he was. And his whole career from beginning to end was extremely fasinating. I wouldn't have missed any of it for the world. God Bless Elvis.