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Rockin’ Across Texas – CD Only Re-issue

By ElvisNews.com/ Kees, November 12, 2009 | Music
The collector’s label re-issued several titles; the latest CD re-issue is “Rockin’ Across Texas”. 

Design

 The original release was a great 270 pages book; ninety percent on the fifties and a remaining ten percent on the seventies showing Elvis in a not so good shape. It is extra sad to see those images when you’ve just seen our man in his prime. I always thought it was a strange combination adding two concerts from the seventies to that content. 
 
But the label outdid itself with this release; damn! it is really ugly. This must be the worst CD cover of all time (and I have some very bad budget covers from the nineties in my collection!). And the discs, I don’t know what color of jelly was uses to print these discs, but they must be glowing in the dark …
 
It was a strange package I received from the postman today. Besides the great looking vinyl re-issue of “The Jungle Room Sessions” which received a lot of attention from the designers I got the “New Haven ‘76” CD which shows that a designer made an effort and “Rockin’ Across Texas” which must have been made by the concierge of the Sony building where the FTD label resides.
 
A need to make one positive remark; the designer used a handful of images I could not find in the book and presented them without the ugly burned paper border. So the set brings something new after all :-). 

Content

We originally reviewed the two discs in 2005 when the original book / CD version of “Rockin’ Across Texas” here it is:
 
CD 1 - Amarillo, June 19 1974
 
On this recording of Elvis’ performance from Amarillo our man is in a good mood, he says he’ll do two to three hundred songs and to make the round again later for the girls. But does he deliver?
 
The sound of the recording is very flat, unfortunately so does Elvis; there is not too much variation in his singing, and only a few times he shows some of his vocal capabilities. The CD closes with an interesting interview with Elvis and The Colonel, not too much material exists of the last one (probably due to the fact that he charged $ 25.000 up front for an interview). 
 
CD 2 - Ft. Worth, July 3 1976
 
The CD opens enthusiastically, but Elvis falls into his routine almost right after the opening. The audience is very active and reacts on our man; especially the ladies trying to get a kiss and the complete audience on his rendition of “America The Beautiful”. And Elvis reacts on that too, he has a bit more spirit on “Polk Salad Annie” that we have heard during this performance. When Elvis changes the lyrics in "Polk Salad Annie" from "Down In Louisiana" to "Down In The State Of Texas" the crowd goes wild. 
 
The thirteen minutes of band introductions with a few vague versions of the “introduction songs” and David Briggs trying to re-create the soundtrack for a laser fight from Star Wars on his keyboard are too much for us. We’d rather hear Elvis, and on “Love Letters” he and David actually made an effort. For a 1976 show Elvis is in good mood and delivers some fair versions. The sound quality of this show is better than the Amarillo show on the first CD.  

Conclusions

In our original review we considered the CDs a bonus to a great book; now the CDs have to stand on their own. These concerts with this design  … I don’t now if these will ever get one vote on our FTD Top 40.

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HangLoose wrote on November 13, 2009
For those who don't have the "Rockin’ Across Texas” book it's a good opportunity to buy these shows. The cover in indeed ugly,though... The burned paper border makes no sense. It looks dated.
GeertFromNl wrote on November 13, 2009
Not my cup of tea. I already have the book,the concerts are ok,but nothing special. I won't re-buy it. You're right,Kees,the front cover is terrible.
Orion wrote on November 13, 2009
I didn't order it as I was one of those who paid the big $$ for the book. Anyway, as far as the burned paper - I think I get it. It's kind of a take-off on the western theme since these shows are from Texas. For those in the states, remeber the burning map that opened the show Bonanza. It's that kind of burned, branded, etc. images that go along with the western part of the US. It doesn't mean it's good, but it shows some thought went into the design. How much.. ? well, you all can debate that. I did order "New Haven" - what's your thoughts on the sound of it, Kees ?
Lex wrote on November 13, 2009
Ugly already is in this case the understatement of the century. You insult the concierge! It must have been done by a professional (of course subsidized) artist, only they get paid for rubbish!
Natha wrote on November 13, 2009
By now we all know that the big bulk of the covers of ELVIS lps singles cds and dvds are rush jobs without much fantasy. I got used to it. Here they tried something new. With the same mediocre result. Obviously they don't have the right people there. And the ones that are good, are copied by many others. Hence I focus on the content and ignore the looks.
sitdown revamped wrote on November 14, 2009
doesn't burned paper relate to the old west? aren't they still wearin' stetsons down there, aren't some of them still going to church in justin boots, so if the idea was to relate to this context, then we are fine...if not they should send the concierge on a 15 days leave at least...;-)
Lefty wrote on November 16, 2009
I received my copy this weekend. The Old West look would've fit well with a Willie Nelson CD, but seems bizarre for an Elvis concert, even from Texas. The 76 show, albeit in decent sound and not a total wash, is miles behind The Final Homecoming in every sense of the word. The imports continually exceed my expectations, while FTD never fails to disappoint. The official label needs a shakedown. They either need to start over from scratch, or they need to shut it down.
I am Buffalo-Horn! wrote on November 16, 2009
No, they don't 'need to shut FTD down' They are releasing stuff most of us do not have & it is impossible to please everyone all the time. As for the cover, its 'Reward Poster' style is relevant to the Texas Old West area, even if not everyone likes it! What does bother me is the cost of these CDs.
Linda Kovalcik wrote on November 21, 2009
The cover is ugly as hell.
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on November 29, 2009
Will if you prefer the book/cd set.i still have one sealed that im looking to sell,as i am getting this new cd only set!
I Saw the Light wrote on November 30, 2009
I guess I'm the only one who actually like this cover.
KTemple wrote on December 04, 2009
I like it, best thing people who dont like the cover can do is make their own and send it to the boys in FTD and let them see what ye are talking about.