FTD brought a “real” FTD in their last batch. Material not released before of subpar sound quality (according to the warning on the cover), especially for the fans: rehearsals for Vegas on January 25, 1973.
Design
If not the sound, then the design is subpar. The compilation of live pictures looks very messy and the fonts and lay-out of the text could have been better too.
Content
The sound quality is not superb, but comparing to a lot of stuff released before it isn’t at all that bad and very listenable. The rehearsal contains merely songs you might expect in this period of Elvis’ career.
Something is one of my personal favourites and also this version is no disappointment. There’s a powerful Steamroller, I’m So Lonesome and Welcome to My World with some lyrics changing are pretty good too. The version of I’m Leavin’ It All Up To You is after some hesitation tight, but very short. Faded Love is a bit messy…. Then it’s time for the highlight(s) of the CD: Separate Ways. Both the version with the orchestra and the one without (which I prefer a little above the other) are very good. It’s a sin Elvis decided not to do the song during the engagement or later shows. A more than decent version over Bridge Over Troubled Water precedes a messed up Can’t Help Falling In Love.
Conclusion
A pleasant surprise by FTD. Only the two versions of Separate Ways are enough to make this release worthy… all other songs are a nice bonus!
WOW Lex likes it......and if HE 'likes it' then i KNOW I'm gonna LOVE IT!~
It was asked recently if FTD have hit the bottom of the barrel, i think this release confirms this, the sound is very poor and the design not worthy of a boot label, maybe the end is nigh for this label anyway ?
A big letdown due to poor sound but this release is what FTD is all about.....but just not something I will enjoy. Ok first listen but wont play it again unfortunately. Those who like audience recordings and soundboards will most likely enjoy this cd....a lot. Gi blues 2 disc and this cost the same but the difference in content and packaging is lightyears in difference.... Gi blues is great value for money :)
An unreleased rehearsal which i guess a lot of us didn't even know existed and its called 'bottom of the barrel' Words fail me....
My copy hasn't arrived yet so I am still waiting on it and thus cannot say anything about the content. But I can say that to me this is the type of thing FTD was created for and I am excited about this release.
This indeed is what FTD was created for, collector type stuff unavailable anyhwere else. Think of all the bootlegs that have come out over the years with bad audio but rare unreleased stuff. The aim of FTD was to target that audience, and with this release it's nice to know they are still trying. I won't be buying it since I no longer play such releases more than once, but enjoy.
Arrived 2 days ago and nothing wrong with this release at all. It's historical interesting and as the review states the sound quality is very reasonable. This fills a nice gap amongst my collection and releases like this in the future will be very welcome.
I 100% agree with you "MR COOL" An unreleased rehearsal which i guess a lot of us didn't even know existed and its called 'bottom of the barrel' Words fail me....
A comparison between this beauty and GI blues regarding value for money? That's sad, because then you are not aware what being a die hard Elvis fan is all about. Better listen to Britney Spears in the future?
This is a great release. I really enjoy it. Although the sound is not very good, the warmth of Elvis voice comes through. This release will for sure not gather dust on my shelf. Thank you Ernst for bringning it out!
I have to say that I am not impressed...not soundwise and not impressed by Elvis' performance..sorry, don't shoot the messenger...:) Not even by his versions of "Seperate Ways", but maybe I am wrong and other fans will like it...for historical reasons it's interesting I guess...typical january 1973 Elvis voice and the sound is not all that good...as a matter of fact it sounds boring to me...Elvis was back in Vegas again after his succesfull "Aloha Hawaii" show and I don't get the impression that he is very motivated...automatic pilot...right now I can't say with what FTD or Bootleg the sound could be compared..I think about it, but the sound is not that good to my ears anyway. It's a REHEARSAL and recorded unprofessional with a NOT motivated Elvis (half asleep)...that's why I am not impressed (to say the least) with this release. I guess the only reason to release such CD is the "historical reason"...I listened to it one time and that will be it...Of course I understand why the FTD label released it because it's an Elvis fan label, nothing wrong with that...it's for the "die hard" Elvis fans..but yet again, for me it's a very boring release...
But before I get comments about my reaction...and that I am complaining please enjoy this release when you like it, it's just my opinion...don't shoot me :)
If you bought it,then why would anyone get upset at you? The problem with some fans,such childish behavior,i myself cant imagine this release being anything but boring. Im Sure someone will buy it from you,and you wont loose too much money unless you sit stuff on the shelf and leave it. I no longer do that,if it dont get played it dont stay.
I think the sound is quite acceptable. I would be surprised if this is actually a soundboard. It sounds more like someone set up microphones on both sides of the showroom and captured this with a tape recorder. So Elvis is quite clear but it has a cavernous, kind of hollow sound. When Ronnie Tutt hits his drums too hard, it can be harsh when listening on your headphones. That said, if this was a bootleg, rather than an FTD, I think we would all be praising this release. For the moment, I am going to give FTD the praises it desrves for releasing this material. They have really trumped the bootlegers here. This is really some great suff - the tryouts of Separate Ways really are very interesting to listen to. Elvis is really working through it, finding his way with the song and how to present it to a live audience. The Steamroller Blues is also really good - it seems to start slower than you might remember from other versions, and Elvis keeps increasing the pace as it goes along until he is going all out. There are some places where Elvis feels disinterested (the Whole Lotta Shaking / Flip Flop Fly medley is a good example) but I think Elvis is otherwise keeping his energy in reserve for the upcoming shows. He seems in a good mood. I will be listening to this again and again. I have been listeniing to this over and over already. I think this is absolutely essential to have and a very welcome release. Again, I am usually very critical of FTD and many of their releases but this time I am giving props to FTD for putting this out. Thank you FTD !!!
I am still waiting on my copy. I preordered it a month ago and it still hasn't arrived. From a sample I heard on youtube the sound was outstanding for an informal cassette tape recording. I have cases of audience shows in much worse sound.
Shame 2 songs was left out due to copyright issues.
hotdogCyrill, we agree, it's a very boring release. Elvis is bored and yes he was not in good spirits that time in 1973. The sound doesn't help either. But I don't think it's a rip off, because the FTD label is here to release such CD's...besides there is not much "new" to release anyway because our hero is dead since 1977...but again, we agree, this is a very bad, boring release...but we are all free to skip such a release...that's why I downloaded it for free...:)
This release should have been titled, 'The Beginning Of The End' because that is what post Aloha really was. I think this release shows that to be the case exactly.
I'm still waiting on my copy. It should ship tomorrow. Anybody in the United States received a copy yet? It seems it's delayed getting to the US. I remain optimistic about this release.
Shopelvis has them,but id not buy from them,your item might arrive in 3 pieces,the worst customer service ever. I think i might get mine in 2 to 3 years,well the way things are going. I got a few to trade,i dont wont one for myself.
Well it took forever to get here but I finally got my copy today, along with a copy of Dixieland Delight that I ordered, and I am very pleased with both. I really enjoy From Hawaii to Vegas. The sound is great for a non-traditionally recording. It's somewhere between an excellent audience recording and a moderate quality soundboard. The overall feeling and vibe is very intimate and warm and a little more laid back than a live show, although it takes a few songs until you stop expecting to hear applause after the songs. Elvis seems relaxed, is in great voice, and he seems in command of the set. Steamroller and I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry are real standouts, along with Separate Ways, Bridge, and Faded Love. 1973 is one of my favorite Elvis years, as is 1975, and to me this CD is an essential companion to Aloha from Hawaii, I'll Remember You (FTD), Closing Night (FTD), and one of my personal favorite FTDs - Taking Tahoe Tonight (FTD). This is a great example of what a FTD release should be and I appreciate Ernest and everyone for releasing it. TCB!
Just got my copy this week. This provides for an enjoyable listening experience considering its not professionally recorded 'cause there are still some highlights to be enjoyed such as a slightly restructured version of 'Steamroller Blues', a 2-verse Faded Love, a violin accompanied 'Separate Ways', 'Love Me is just as good as the 'Aloha' version with no audience to distract and a fun moment immediately follows when the orchestra blurts out a few bars of the American national anthem. 'I'm So Lonesome...' has some extra verses too but it's hard to appreciate in this quality 'cause it's harder to follow. Otherwise this release really live up to both it's blurb on the back cover as well as its press release
Exactly what FTD was made for. All hail FTD
I got my copy in the mail and "hate it" ...all the way. Such materials should NOT be released unless they warn fans that this is a rehearsal session (low key) .... but should not have been proclaimed a top FTD release...or great new unpublished material... FTD better releases non-released Vegas/Tahoe shows or 1973 Concerts !(like the one on June 1 in Nashville or others that are good with an Elvis in great mood) like bootleggers have done, again.
I don't understand how anyone could hate this release. I think it's a top FTD release and very enjoyable. I just listened to it completely again tonight and really enjoy it. To each their own I guess. There is a warmth and a genuineness to it. Again, it's almost like Elvis at a small night club like Troubadour.
Wish they had at least a few rehearsal tapes from each Vegas season. Wishful thinking mode off. This is more intresting than 66 outtakes of Dominique ;-)
I too would question how anybody could hate this CD, it is a previously unknown rehearsal. To then state that FTD should have stated that this was a lo-fi rehearsal is crazy, they did all along. Most people were surprised about how good the audio is, the warnings had made them expect much worse. The writer then goes on to say that FTD should concentrate on other recordings which have been bootlegged and are, of course, audience recordings!
Please continue ith these kinds of releases. A true fan like myself finds it's very appealing
Hello, if there is a demand for amateur recordings in poor quality like this, FTD/Sony should have the decency to charge no more than around £5 (c. $10) for it - it's shabby and exploitative to release this rubbish on an elite brand label. Shame on them.
Jamie - FTD is hardly an elite brand label but is a collectors label, and this is the perfect type of release for such a label. This is a great release in good sound (all things considered).
Hello, I don't want to have a debate regarding FTD being an elite brand label or not - the cost of their products compared with Sony's releases speaks for itself. When paying big money I don't want the music to sound good, "All things considered." If a caveat of that nature is necessary the product should be on Sony and it should be cheap...if it should be released at all. This is a poor quality recording of a rehearsal given a release on an expensive product to generate revenue from a devoted fan base.
Jamie - to each their own I guess. The price of FTD isn't for quality but for the rarity of the recordings (note the abundance of soundboard shows on FTD). They charge more for rare recordings that issued in limited quantities. If they didn't charge more it wouldn't be worth their time and effort to release CDs in such limited amounts. To me it seems logical that a rare, never heard before rehearsal would be released on the FTD collectors label. It's one of my favorite releases and I've heard soundboard recordings in worse sound. It's a very enjoyable sound quality. No hard feeling. TCB!
Fans explaining why ftd's are expensive lol,what was so special about another vegas season? What is so special about this boring rehearsal? On Tour shows,get to it!!!
I am so disappointed to having bought this FTD ! Won't even give it away...people may get the wrong idea/opinion of Elvis' performance or mood ! This should have been released like a second (add-on) CD together with a real good
Vegas or Tahoe show !! Not as a seperate CD. Bad choice of guru Ernst&Rogers. When can we have the real TTWII soundtrack (the original movie+outtakes of the Special Edition as bonus with it) ??? And without studio versions pls. !
This one From Oahu to Vegas is a throw away folks !
LonElvis, you better get used to some people criticising every FTD release, they have decided that FTDs products are to expensive (I think that is some BS), and therefor they do all they can to find something to complain about, so don´t take them too serious I certainly don´t. TCB, and enjoy your cd.
