Gravelroad Music (GRM) returns with yet another great package like ELVIS: GOOD TO BE BACK, this time it's SPANISH EYES: BY REQUEST, Elvis live at the Sahara Tahoe in May 1974. This absolutely excellent tape, from the Friday, May 24, 1974 MS, was the very first available soundboard recording from Lake Tahoe, released in 1995 by Fort Baxter. At this show Elvis was heard taking a personal request for "Spanish Eyes," not something he did too often...
Now the performance is presented by GRM at the correct speed, with improved sound and in a super-deluxe package. Along with a booklet filled with Tahoe '74 facts, photos and detailed liner notes, there is also a reproduction of the rare May 1974 Sahara Tahoe reservation postcard with the color photo of Elvis on back, and another menu-sized, "Your Personal Invitation" card with the invite on the flip-side. Both of these collectables are very hard to find, and suitable for framing.
GRM would like to consider this YOUR personal invitation to the May 24, 1974 midnight show at the SAHARA TAHOE. For new fans the show will be a thrill and for longtime fans, an absolute rediscovery. This show captures Elvis being happy and giving his best.
Here is the track list: 01. C. C. Rider 02. I Got A Woman / Amen 03. Love Me 04. Tryin' To Get To You 05. All Shook Up 06. Love Me Tender 07. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me 08. Hound Dog 09. Fever 10. Polk Salad Annie 11. Why Me Lord (with reprise) 12. Suspicious Minds 13. Introduction of singers, musicians, orchestra 14. I Can't Stop Loving You 15. Help Me 16. Bridge Over Troubled Water 17. Let Me Be There 18. Spanish Eyes 19. Big Boss Man 20. Funny How Time Slips Away 21. Can't Help Falling In Love 22. Closing Vamp
Approximate running time: 62:00
All tracks are 24-bit restored and remastered for a fresh, high fidelity sound.
For longtime fans this will be an absolute disappointment: nothing new here. For new fans: maybe a dream comes true.
Spanish Eyes, Blue Spanish Eyes, and now Spanish Eyes By Request. Once, doubled, tripled? Indeed something for those who missed the earlier ones (though Blue Spanish Eyes is rather recent). Or am I missing something?
This is THE BEST LABEL !!!
If your a 'new' fan this would be a great CD to own!~
Ronaldv i suggest you read the announcement above again a little better,this cd will not even close to be a dissapointment..it's not even out yet, and GRM hasn't dissapointed us yet so far,just think about their latest outing ''Good To be Back" that release gave us everything they announced,can't see why this release would be any different,i sure wil get this release.
As promised by GRM, I really hope the sound will be at the correct speed, as the '95 version was a quite slow. Otherwise, this concert is very good and very much plan to buy this new release from GRM, who are a fine label.
For those who missed the orignal a must-have ...for sure...also for those who want the ultimate release of this show.
Mastered directly from the old Baxter CD, as has been The Return Of The Prodigy ? Go for it, completists !
Matthias Kuenzer, you might have this show/cd, but not everyone does, so please have mercy on folks that dont, which I assume might be a whole lotta mighty!!!
Hi Ronaldv, I can understand your statement, knowing you don't mean to critisize . But , even nothing new contentwise, the correct speed is an improvement, and, like you wrote, for those who missed the previous release,(and I'm one of them) worthwhile to get hold of this. Always El.
Thanks for the additional info on the speed. I was already wondering why this is an improvement. I overlooked that remark in the newsitem.
Well I for one will be getting this as soon as my seller gets it on his ebay store. I didn't have the chance to purchase the 95 version of this, but correcting the speed is a bonus.
For those of you who have everything i congratulate you?...for those of us who want quality import label's and what they offer then this release should be in your collection......even if it has already done the rounds in previous years. GRM has not let us down before like some import label's who promise so much and deliver very little!!..........i am sure this will be as good as the press release states and why don't we all make our point's of view known AFTER we have it in our hands.
Hi Jesse. I think you're missing my point here: this release offers nothing NEW for longtime fans. Soundwise it's a great release. But I know that already since 1995. Correct speed? Nothing wrong with the old fort baxter release. Would fans buy this show again when it's re-released in 2025?
This is a great show! Elvis sings "Spanish Eyes" for Linda Thompson- it was her birthday. I just played this CD again. My ears may not be the best, but I think the speed is just fine on the original. No doubt the packaging on the new release will be superb, and the sound will probably be improved as well, but the original is terrific. IMO.
Ronald - you made me laugh when you asked "would fans buy this show again when it's re-released in 2025?" Elvis fans have been buying reissues since Col. Parker's heyday with Camden and Pickwick reissues. In light of this, you can call me crazy, but I'm picking this one up for the update of a booklet and the better design of the packaging. I never cared for any of the paper-thin cardboard issues that Ft. Baxter released. This should satisfy me until I see what 2025 brings - joke !!!!!
Hi Ronaldv and i guess you missing my point too, i agree with Orion because thats exactly what i'm talking about.
GRM is a great label...Their work reminds me of the late Madison label, which raised the bar about as high as it could go! I thought Good To Be Back was one of the best import CD's ever, and the "folio" was a delight!! (I co-authored a review of Good To Be Back for EIN, so if you skipped buying it, take a look at the review to see what you missed.) Anyway, Spanish Eyes sounds very promising. Of course it's not new, and I find myself bemused by old time fans expecting new material so far down the road. Importers can't possibly have that much to work from. For that matter, how much "new" material is in the official vault? The Hampton Roads Concert from On Tour hasn't been released, officially, and even that could be argued as something older fans already have. And before the older fans get all lathered up about my comment, please know that I'm an older fan too. I bought my first bootleg LP in 1978, so I've been around. That being said, I'm glad to get the new and improved stuff. Like the ad says, it's rediscovering the music. I say keep 'em coming!!
Lefty - we must be brothers from different mothers. lol I'm in perfect agreement with your sentiments. I, too, will be picking this one up for the overall improvements to the design, the sound, and the extras. I did that with "Prodigy", "Good to Be Back", and now this release. Some of the earliest "imports" deserve these upgrades, and in doing so they become the utimate package. Thus, making them essential purchases. This, too, comes from an "older" fan. My first "import" was purchased around the same time Lefty got his. I saved my money from mowing lawns to send a money order to Vic Colona - aaah those were the days.
Anyway, like you said "keep 'em coming!!" I'll skip the ones that I have or that seem to be an excellent package for what is on the disc. I'll do this without complaining about its release.
I'm gonna skip this one, nothing is wrong with my 'Spanish Eyes' cd. I gave it a spin tonight, the speed is fine, and even if it's little bit slow as they say - I can't notice it. Essential purchase for the new fans, anyway.
Lefty, Orion : cristal clear postings ! Let me join both of you in the section "older fans",sharing your vision about these (re)releases, yes indeed "keep 'em comin'" ! Best regards. Always El.
i saw the light you missing very essential points concerning this new release,for instance the artwork etc." Good To Be Back" was also an improvement in comparison to the old release,it was a definite improvement, and this new release will have the same treatment no doubt,just look at the cover-art alone.
I saw the light: you're so right, I agree with you! Don't be fooled. The GRM label does not even come close to the great Madison label: Madison had mostly previously unreleased material. I'm not critical, I'm a REALIST ! Like I said before: for the newer elvis fans: this show is great.
Gravelroad is the Queen of re-packaging old material....awesome. They all have become collectors items.
Ok madison WAS great..but doesn't exist anymore, again you totally miss why this is released again, it's because this time it's released in the correct way as it is was supposed to be. You will hear the difference with the old release once this cd is released (i don't doubt that for a minute) GRM doens't say that for the fun of it.And with their former release they didn't dissapoint us either. that's why that release is completely sold out, they don't lie.And Look at the artwork for crying out loud. awesome! just like ''Good To Be Back"
And i agree with you Cisco ; )
Indeed, well said Ciscoking: re-packaging old material, you've nailed it.
By the way, tonight I read on the backside of the Fort Baxter Spanish Eyes release: from the mastertapes, so it was released in the correct way, crystal clear sound, back in 1995.
Think I'll wait for the 2020 release. I know there is a new label working on it right now for all the tried and true fans who want the best re-release possible.
Steve wait as long as you want if you like, and to you again Ronaldv FB could print anything on those one-sided covers
but that doesn't prove anything as far as i'm concerned GRM has proven ( and i say it again) with their latest release that they deliver what they promise as always,and ( again) this release will not be any diffrent and Ronaldv i have the strong feeling you ignore other fans reactions on this topic and thinking that you r the one who is right on this topic, i'm affraid not,these cd's of GRM are very much wanted among friends and therefore collectors items,anyone should be proud to own one of these GRM outings.
Hey Orion and Benny Scott! Glad to see some of us older guys are still around!! I sure do appreciate your comments. I'm glad to read that Ciscoking and Jesse Garon appreciate GRM for being a great label too. They indeed do a good job. And to the fans that think re-released material is a rip-off, I get your point of view. Seriously, I do understand. You'll probably be passing up a lot of newly released CD's in the days ahead. To each his own, as the old saying goes. Keep your fingers crossed and hope that FTD pulls something new out of the vault. Rumor has it that there are still plenty of unreleased soundboards under Ernst's control, along with the unreleased On Tour recordings, and of course the infamous CBS material from 1977. Maybe someday that stuff will find it's way to the legitimate market. Until then, we get what we can when available. And with FTD re-releasing soundboards like Live In LA, you may find yourself waiting quite a long time for "new" material.
I'll buy this one for sure. I only have a downloaded copy of the FB release. The Good to be Back GRM cd is on it's way to my letterbox. Pleasing to look forward to.
Hi Steve V, I do understand and respect your (little sarcastic) reaction. But I'm sure you'll understand people buying this release because they missed the previous FB. I missed a lot of "imports", released in the past by some really good labels, due to the fact I didn't know where to get them then. So now I'm trying to catch up, being glad I now have a second chance to get hold of some good sounding concerts. I'm not a completist, but for those who are: nothing wrong with it IMO, there are thousands of things one can collect, and as long as this hobby gives you joy: go for it! Take care. Always El.
Jesse, everyone on elvisnews.com can have their own opinion, no problem at all. But yeah, you're right on this topic. Wait a minute, what day is it today?
Once again I have to agree with SteveV a voice in the wilderness. But you must remember Steve now that the live releases are drying up they can still make $ by re releasing the same shows stating better sound. And if they make the packaging attractive enough like this release the die hards will eat it up.
And thats exactly what this label is doing giving us a better sound and superb packaging,and i don't even have the old FB anymore. Once again these releases are collectors items, you cannot argue with that, and to ronaldv, don't know exactly what your aiming at with your reaction,but it has no influence on me whatsoever,the facts or there and that's all i need to know.
Jesse, maybe you are a bit too positive about GRM. And Scudder, you're right, it's all about the money.
And maybe you are a bit too negative about GRM , and offcourse you agree with Scudder( why am i not surprised) and the way you think about GRM doesn't make think likewise, the Releases GRM has made so far are anything but ripp-offs( not for nothing they are collectors items) , if you don't wanna buy it ?...then leave it alone.. simple, i will never regret having all the releases of GRM,not anything you ( or anybody else) say is going to change that.. don't even try ,and i'm not alone in this,just read the other positive reactions on this release.
Wow, take it easy Arnold, it's the beginning of the weekend.
I'm beginning to think Jesse Garon may own or at least have stock in GRM. Lighten up remember there is a lot more to worry about in this world then my opinion, Steve's or Ronald's.
This stuff is so meaningless in this world. To make this such an important part of one's life is just strange. A performance nearly 40 yrs ago thats been released already and by a guy who really never changed his show. Geez. And this is not a collectors item in my opinion. They are bootlegs. Big deal. A collectors item? Try Sun 209, Sun 215, SPD-22, 23, a mint 1957 Christmas LP, Now your're talking. Enjoy the Spring, smell the roses.
There is a lot more to worry about ? well i can really relate to that that's why i hold on to things that also means a lot to me, first off all my mother is diagnosed with cancer,me myself i am suffering from severe brain-damage after a car a carr-accident i had back in 2007, and do you think i only collect cd and bootlegs? well..YOU Ms dgirl smell the roses big time i collect many more things vinyl etc,also bootlegs and the recordings that go with it are part of Elvis's legacy wether you like it or not, to me these cd's and other things concerning are something to keep me out thinking for a while about my situation concerning my mother and me.. and dgirl? these releases ARE collectors items and if you can't see that? it's your opinion. and to mr Scudder "Mr (so-called) voice of reason" i do not own a stock of GRM releases, i only have what they have released so far, and i 'm proud of that, i don't have to answer myself to you or dgirl or anybody for that matter on that occasion, i'm collector,and being a collector of elvis stuff?...it gives me strenght in life in the situation i'm living in right now, it keeps my my mind of things when things are tough in life..is that a crime?
A guy who really never changed his show?? plain obvious to me that you never listened to any Elvis concerts that much And is collecting any Elvis cd or bootlegs for that matter a strange thing to do? and defend releases such as the one above? the way you lead your life does not mean that anyone thinks and does it exactly like you do,you have your opinion and i have mine.
Hi Jesse, I know what Elvis means to you, and I also know your life wasn't that easy untill now. dgirl, Oldscudder and many others are, just like you, true and loyal Elvis-fans too, but maybe they do not know what you've been through . Elvis means so much to you in your life, that for some other fans maybe it comes over as "a bit (too) heavy". Be sure of this : you have the full right to be so dedicated to Our Man, but I'm a 100% sure the people I mentioned have nothing personal against you ! Nothing wrong with opinions from both sides, as long as it's " a discussion" and not "a dispute", which IMHO is really not he case. So to you and all the other true fans : all the best, and "Keep On Rockin' ". Take care buddy .Have a nice weekend everybody . Always El.
Thnx Benny i really needed your reaction i agree with everything you say, i know the fans you mention have nothing against me, and i do not have anything against them either is a matter a fact, but due to my disease i react the way i do at that particular moment. yes Elvis is everything to me, been to his mansion many times together with my mum.. I know my reactions are sometimes a bit heavy..sometimes i cannot help myself,but don't forget my disease is big part of this too. Hopefully the fans you mentioned do understand me a little bit better now. again thnx benny Always El.
Hey there Jesse, I'm sure they will ! And by the way : this GRM-release has to be part of my collection too. Great packaging and without any doubt good sound. As I missed the original FB I think I'm in for a treat now. Always El.
Jessie I am sorry to hear about your mother & your accident. I had no idea. The comment I made about you owing stock in GRM was just a flipent remark. I do not like what is going on with bootlegs so my comments are often negative towards the product. I do not know you so I have no negativity towards you personally. I must agree with Dgirl that Elvis never did change the show that much. With all the great songs to pick from, not only from his catalogue but others in general it was basically the same show. I would have liked him to sing Jackie Wilson's Lonley Teardrops, Jerry's Whole Lotta Shakin, Rickey,s Believe What You Say, some Johnny Cash or Carl Perkins. Sadly he never did.
Yes folks, these are all just opinions, so there are no hard feelings. My best wishes also to you Jesse. My opinion seems more along the line of scudder & dgirl however. Never mind Jackie Wilson or Perkins. Elvis had a HUGE back catalog to choose great songs from. It would have been nice to throw in 5 new songs each new tour once in a while instead of Spanish Eyes, Mountain, MyWay, Olivia NJ and other songs he did. Rock fans of Elvis didnt dig this at all. Sometimes Springsteen does songs from an album he hasnt performed in years. Ditto Brian Wilson. Elton, & McCartney still do 3 hours of their catalog. This is what I would have loved Elvis to do. To be honest with you , Elvis' live shows after 1972 quite bore me they are so predictable and some so uninspired. I also agree with the collectors item aspect. As a dealer of Elvis (and rock in roll in general) for the past 40 yrs, I can tell you that bootlegs never retain their value. Remember Behind Closed Doors, The Hillbilly Cat Live, etc? Once mighty players to collectors, you can barely sell them today. With CDs its much the same especially if FTD gets around to releasing the same material. Ive seen it time & time again. CDs are dead as it is, never mind bootlegs. I dont want to work anyone in a lather but I speak from experience. And in the last 4-5 years The Beatles have been outselling & outpricing Elvis drastically as far as what I have seen & dealt with on the ebay market and in person record shows.
Speaking of Hillybilly Cat Live, when it came out I traded two Elvis maroon label Ep's for it. I wonder what # of the people on this site remember the maroon Ep's?
And I regret that trade to this day.
oldscudder - I do. Maroon EP's are true collectors items still today. Sorry for your trade. That was one bad sounding LP and proves my point totally. Not only is that LP worthless today (only 100 copies pressed when it first appeared!) , but we have gotten official top notch sounding shows from the Aug 1970 Vegas season which that LP represented.
Steve V - I think you're right. Elvis didn't change the format of his concerts very much at all after 1972. It seems to me that "Aloha" was the last time that he went all out to prove himself on stage. There was that brief moment in 1974 when he tried to do something different, but it didn't last but a night. Over the years, I have had many thoughts that start with "It would've been so great if Elvis had....." Singing more of his "back catalog" had not crossed my mind, but indeed, that would've been phenomenal! Yet, as typical as the post 72 shows are, I enjoy most of them very much. Elvis was so incredible....I was listening to the show from June 10th, 1975 just the other day, and I was loving it. A typical show, yes, but a great one!! Elvis was on fire that night. I could go on and on about liking Elvis concerts, and the bootleg market has been generous in giving us the best of what is available. I could care less about their market value. I buy stock when I want to make money. I buy Elvis CD's for one reason only, because I enjoy them.
Boy as usual we get the + and - views on new import release's and the debate between old and re-vamped imports will always bring together the older fans who have the original's and the fans who want the 'NEW' re-packaged,much better version (according to GRM) cd's,for me re-packaging Elvis Presley release's is as old as time itself,how many vinyl versions of the early RCA singles and albums were available in different covers etc and then through the years re-packaged versions have been released with all sorts of sound upgrades so the concept of re-packaged/upgrades are not only confined to Elvis early import's against new 'upgrades'.
Although i do think the import market has found itself in a bit of a stale mate and we have had a lot of 'upgrades' over the years.....not really a bad thing if you have not got the first time release but i do wish we had new concerts to the market to satify the most stubborn of Elvis fans.......for those like me who buy all imports keep going my friends and those who again have everything i salute you because you are the fans who were there and have the knowledge we younger fans don't??? I just can't wait to see the reaction's to Venus's (E.P) next release (already out)..........boy it's great to be a Elvis fan.
drjohn, well said ! Always El.
Steve V and theoldscudder thnx very much friends for your respect, feels good to hear that from you guys, if i ever gave you guys the feeling that i didn't like you guys... then i'm sorry. you r true fans in heart and soul just like me.I respect everyones opinion and so do i respect yours, again thnx very much. and i agree with you Benny Scot( hi buddy): well said drjohncarpenter0117 i agree with you every step of the way, nice reaction too also Lefty, indeed Elvis tried several stuff in his concert ,diffrent songs etc, and he listened to his audience responses,nevertheless i still enjoy every concert of Elvis, i also buy every Elvis cd's ( bootlegs) also for the simple reason i enjoy them very much, Always El.
First, let me say to Jesse that I applaud your honesty in sharing with the group what is and has been going on with you. I hope things continue to improve in all areas of what you have going on. I hope that you haven't ever felt that anything that I've said has been a personal attack. Second, I like your loyalty to Elvis. I understand it completely. He has been a important area of my life for nearly 40 years, and I'm sure he and his music will continue to be until I draw my last breath. That shows when I continue to pick up these re-releases / upgrades of previous issued imports.
As far as Elvis never really changing his shows, IMHO it seems that we've been treated to far too many shows being released. If you took 8-10 of the best shows from each year from '69-77, I'm sure you see a lot of variety. In '75 alone, he did T*R*O*U*B*L*E, Green Green Grass of Home, My Boy, Burning Love, I'll Remember You and others that never or rarely appeared in '76. Likewise in '74 he did It's Midnight, If You Talk in Your Sleep, Help Me, and others that never reappeared in '75. His shows did change more that most realize - it's just we have soooo many of the shows from particular tours that it make us think every show was the same.
Lefty, You mentioned a moment in 1974 when he changed the show for a day. What is the name of the cd that came out many years ago that this show was on?. I had that cd & lost it.
Well....Las Vegas, August 19, 1974 OS..friends ..please..please let the fans collect whatever they want. Every show,..may it be good or bad has its own merits..I have over 650 different concerts and I wouldn`t give away one of them..
theoldscudder - The show was originally released on the DAE label, titled "From Sunset Blvd To Paradise Rd." It's now of FTD's "Nevada Nights" Ciscoking is absolutely correct....It was the August 19, 1974 OS.
Lefty, Thanks for the info. If I am recalling the correct show it was one of his best performances.
Thnx Orion for your words and respect
theoldscudder - You're welcome. I don't know if it was one of his best shows, but it certainly was a step away from the routine. Opening the show with Big Boss Man was cool, and he dropped the run-through songs like Hound Dog. It's certainly worth purchasing, and now that it's on the FTD label, it's reasonably priced and a two CD set. The second CD is a show from August 1974.
oldscudder - there was also another old cd with this show, I think on Fort Baxter called Opening Night 1974. Sound was very good. You may have had that one.
or maybe Bilko. But the title was Opening Night 1974 if I remember correctly.
For your info: FB: If you talk in your sleep is the correct title.
Thanks. My memory is shot. I had it a long time ago.
GRM really knows what they're doing.This one will be another classic release.
Help! where can I get this & how much is it?
