Spring Fever

This "Spring Fever" release is the first real CD release on the Unicorn CD-R label, pick it up or skip it?

Design

Most previous Unicorn releases looked home made, so does this one: you can see the brush they used to edit the pictures. Although we must say they selected a great shot for the cover and matching pictures in the rest of the cover art. The booklet contains liner notes by Barb D, who with her husband recorded the show. Personal memories of fans visiting Elvis are always great to read, and a fan sharing her private audience recording with other fans on CD can only be applauded.

Content

This "Spring Fever" is the first real CD release on the CD-R label Unicorn and contains Elvis' May 22, 1974 midnight show recorded at the Sahara Tahoe Hotel, Stateline, Nevada.

Elvis is in a good mood and he delivers several good performances on a further standard show. It is a really vocal show, not only is Elvis very up front soundwise, but he is really showing off. "I Can't Stop Loving You" is a good version with some very strong vocals during the finale, and the short reprise. He does a forceful performance on "Bridge", "Let Me be There" and "The Wonder Of You". Even "Big Boss Man" gets a big reprise. JD Sumner has already done the same on "I Got A Woman/ Amen" and "Love Me", but he is blowing away our speaker set while Elvis almost enters the room.

"All Shook Up" is a quickie as several others, but rocks, and so does "Hound Dog", followed by a mellow "Fever" which could have been a bit more sweaty, to the theme of the song. Unicorn added this song from the May 21st, 1974 Midnight Show (unheard before, too) to make it a complete concert feeling. Also "Help Me" was slightly damaged on the master tape so producers added this song as one of the bonus tracks from the May 21st, 1974 as well.

There is a small cut and paste job in the middle of "Help Me", probably because it was halfway in the show, and thereby tape? But otherwise the CD is a good recording to listen to, it deserves at least a 7 on the scale of 10. We can only say we enjoyed this release and the performances by Elvis.

The bonus tracks are great additions, and since these are available, that gives hope for more :-)

Conclusion

Perhaps not the most interesting set list, but a very enjoyable show with one gem and an upbeat Elvis in good audio quality. This first real CD release from the Unicorn label is a CD to pick up when it comes by.

Track listing Spring Fever

Instrumental Intro / Also Sprach Zarathustra (A 2001 Space Odyssey Theme) / C. C. Rider; 03. I Got A Woman - Amen (medley) / Love Me / Trying To Get To You / All Shook Up / Love Me Tender / You Don't Have To Say You Love Me / Hound Dog / Fever / Polk Salad Annie / Why Me Lord / Suspicious Minds / Band Introductions / I Can't Stop Loving You (with last part reprise) / Help Me (incomplete) / Bridge Over Troubed Water / Let Me Be There / The Wonder Of You / Big Boss Man (with last part reprise) / My Way / Can't Help Falling In Love (21.05.1974 MS) / Closing Vamp (21.05.1974 MS)

Bonus tracks (Lake Tahoe, May 21, 1974 Midnight show):

You Don't Have To Say You Love Me / Help Me / Bridge Over Troubled Water / The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face