Last week FTD released High Sierra and Showtime! Let’s have a closer look on the first one.
Design
Sit down and fasten your seatbelt, so you can’t fall off of your chair. This regular release has a booklet, a thin one, but still… it has a booklet. The booklet contains the basic info on the CD and some (amateur) pictures of the engagement. All together it is a nice gesture and finally something extra for the buyer.
Content
The main show sounds a bit smothered at the start, as if there’s a huge blanket over the stage, but I was either used to it fast or it did improve soon. Elvis does sound a lot more tired and has less fire than during the shows only 2 months earlier. Especially songs like Steamroller Blues and Tryin’ To Get To You suffer from it. On the other hand the set list is quite varied and as a matter of fact, from I Can’t Stop Loving You on the show gets a lot better. Bridge Over Troubled Water and Help Me (certainly not my favourite) get a fine treatment by Elvis and the band, but highlight of the main show to me is a beautiful rendition of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
The six bonus songs are all from the same engagement and a nice addition to the main event, and Spanish Eyes live is more or less a rarity, certainly to those that do not own imports.
Conclusion
It is not Elvis at his very best, but still an entertaining show and thus CD.
I guess I agree, because I skippped this one...lol..more of the same...a regular 1974 show of our man which I have allready a lot...
Why do you list the main show as DS..?
Cisco, Huh? :-) Just kidding, guess it was in the original press release listed as such. Thanks!
No prob..Lex..NOW it looks fine..you really confused me.....:-)))
I thought tracks #1-21 were from the Dinner Show of 5/21/74. Why does it say M.S. on the above track listing? Is this an error, or am I wrong?
:-) According to the CD they are MS
Yes it has been 100% confirmed that in fact the show here on 21st May 1974 IS the Midnight Show. In fact before this FTD ever came out an audience recording of this show was in circulation.Fantastic to have it HERE in 'soundboard' I have YET to listen to this CD myself, but certainly am looking forward to it as early as next week?.Well done ftd FOR COVERING THIS SEASON officially!~
Thanks, Lex & You Don't Know Me, for setting me straight.
This is a very good release,i'm glad that i've bought it. Love,Erika
Hi Koenfan :I think you can trust Erika's posting. She knows what she's talking about ! Always El.
Yes Dallas + Birmingham are basically better + more 'exciting' shows, but High Sierra is also 'nice release' whilst its more 'routine' still well worth getting though and 72 minutes in length.
This is a very enjoyable CD from start to finish. When you add in the fact that the sound is quite nice for a nearly 40-year-old cassette and the accompanying booklet (yes, it seems that FTD has been listening to our complaints), I think this one is a complete winner. I don't think you'll be disappointed with this one or "Showtime." As for that one, both sound quite good as well with Dallas bordering on excellent for a soundboard. Again, the booklet adds a nice touch of class to the release. I say well done to Ernst & co. This will keep me happy until the next release - make it "Promised Land" or "From Elvis Presley Boulevard" - pleeeese....
Just a couple of other thoughts. First, the version of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is amazing. I took this CD on my drive yesterday, and replayed this one at last 4 times. It's that good. Second, I applaud Ernst for going the tapes from that seson in Tahoe to select bonus songs NOT already released on "imports." To me, that (and the booklet) shows that quite some time was spent preparing this release. Last thought, I know that Sherrill has gotten his share of negative comments through the years, but this CD really shows how tight his harmony was with Elvis - especially on "Help Me" and "Spanish Eyes". The two of them on "Help Me" is almost as tight as the harmony of the Everly Brothers. This CD really made me appreciate the work of Sherrill. As I already stated, the sound is very good and the show is very enjoyable - I think this one will stay in the car for awhile. Well Done FTD !!
Agreed,this is a very enjoyable release. Well done,FTD! Good show,good bonus tracks,good sound quality,long running time, nice cover and for a change even a booklet! What else do we want? It's perfect as it is.
Agree with Mr Edge, all the way. Yet, until I've actually heard it myself, I am not convinced Elvis was in good spirits
then... or am I wrong? Can anyone confirm to me he was enthusiastically singing on Sierra in Tahoe ? Both other shows
too much intros...which I don't care for (except Hail hail to R'n'R). Dallas/Birmingham any good but short shows ?? Is
there a write up from Lex or Loes ?
