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Chicago Double-Strike

November 25, 2012 | Music

Out next week is the new Straight Arrow release “Chicago Double-Strike”, which contains both Chicago 1977 concerts from a newly uncovered audience recordings which have not been in distribution previously (completely different tapes from previous Chicago ’77 release). The sound-quality is surprisingly good and you will feel that you are right in the middle of the crowd, cheering Elvis on as he delivers two solid, no-nonsense shows with plenty of highlights. His voice was strong and he was particularly impressive on songs like ‘Fairytale’, ‘Trying To Get To You’, ‘My Way’ and ‘Hurt’, with his voice really soaring on the high notes. Whatever the reason may have been for Elvis ‘upping his game’ on those two nights – some have suggested that it may have been due to the presence of several CBS execs – the Chicago ’77 concerts now stand out as genuine highlights from those final, sad months in the life and career of Elvis Aaron Presley. Both recordings have a tremendous ‘you are there’ feel to them. Presented with the professionalism that you have come to expect from us, don’t miss this terrific release that will bring you back to those final glimpses of greatness of the greatest entertainer ever.

CD 1 / Sunday, May 1, 1977, 8:30pm, Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois

01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider / When The Saints Go Marching In (excerpt) - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. Fairytale - 06. You Gave Me A Mountain - 07. Jailhouse Rock - 08. O Sole Mio (Sherrill Nielsen) / It's Now Or Never - 09. Tryin' To Get To You - 10. Little Sister - 11. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - 12. And I Love You So - 13. My Way - 14. Introduction of vocalists, musicians - 15. Early Mornin' Rain - 16. What'd I Say - 17. Johnny B. Goode - 18. Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt) - 19. Bass Solo (Battle Of New Orleans theme, Jerry Scheff) - 20. Piano Solo (Tony Brown) - 21. Electric Piano Solo (Bobby Ogdin) - 22. School Day - 23. Hurt (with reprise) - 24. Introduction of Joe Esposito - 25. Hound Dog - 26. Can't Help Falling In Love - 27. Closing Vamp / Announcements.

CD 2 / Monday, May 2, 1977, 8:30pm, Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois

01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. Fairytale - 06. You Gave Me A Mountain - 07. Jailhouse Rock - 08. O Sole Mio (Sherrill Nielsen) / It's Now Or Never - 09. Little Sister - 10. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - 11. My Way - 12. Polk Salad Annie (with false start) - 13. Introduction of vocalists, musicians - 14. Early Mornin' Rain - 15. What'd I Say - 16. Johnny B. Goode - 17. Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt) - 18. Bass Solo (Blues theme, Jerry Scheff) - 19. Piano Solo (Tony Brown) - 20. Electric Piano Solo (Bobby Ogdin) - 21. School Day - 22. Hurt (with reprise) - 23. Hound Dog - 24. Can't Help Falling In Love - 25. Closing Vamp / Announcements.
 

Source:For CD Collectors Only
Gorse wrote on November 25, 2012
Both visually and from an audio perspective I always found these concerts, along with Binghamton, Indianapolis, and Rapid City, the highlights of 1977. He showed that he could still pull off a damn good concert even at this stage of his career.
Ciscoking wrote on November 25, 2012
When you add few shows from spring this year..I agree..
Jerome wrote on November 28, 2012
"Both recordings have a tremendous ‘you are there’ feel to them".. does that mean the sounds is awful?...
Ciscoking wrote on December 09, 2012
The sound is really great ..considering the source..
Dazman wrote on December 13, 2012
I have only 3 live boots and not one of them is an audience recording but boy I'm tempted to get this one. I'm also hoping FTD will release the soundboards from these shows as 'Chicago Stadium II'