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Vegas Variety, Volume 5

March 01, 2011 | Music

Here is the press release for Rainbow's new release Vegas Variety 5 containing the September 6, 1970 3 A.M. (?!) show.

Press release

Rainbow Records is back with a brand new release and it is the 5th volume in the popular "Vegas Variety" - series. You won't believe what you´ll hear – expect the unexpected!

Question: How many concerts do you know where Elvis performed a medley of "Hound Dog - I've Lost You - Hound Dog"? You don't have to answer. Just let us know if you can imagine a Tom Jones-, Engelbert Humperdinck- and Glen Campbell- impersonation by Elvis on "Polk Salad Annie" (at a later part of the song) where he finally says “Me”, impersonating himself and receiving rapturous applause. Or a totally crazy version of “You´ve Lost That Lovin´ Feelin´” where Elvis changes the lyrics like this: “You Never Close Your Legs….”. And probably an even more crazy short, funny and much to fast version of “Love Me Tender”.

Not to mention that hearing another mindblowing "Blue Suede Shoes - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On - Blue Suede Shoes" Medley from 1970 is simply breathtaking. It´s also really a surprise that Elvis is able to do such an incredible rundown on "Bridge Over Troubled Water" just a couple of minutes later. But be sure, there are even more unusual and most interesting moments to discover on the new release from Rainbow Records.

You may still wonder what makes this concert so special? Well, obviously the fact that this show has happened and until now all the Elvis books did not know about it and have miscalculated the total shows for Elvis 3rd Vegas engagement. The fan who recorded this show labeled the tape as "September 6, 1970 - 3 AM" being the 3rd Show of that day. We have no reason to doubt this.

It's pure Elvis. He's raw and wild, crazy and weird but funny all the time. It seems he's just enjoying whatever he is doing on stage. Rainbow Records was able to work from the original tape from the fan who also recorded the previously released November 12, 1970 show called "The Essence of Energy". So you know what to expect soundwise - but anyhow the content will blow you away!

As always you can expect a high quality 20 pages booklet with never before seen memorabilia from the International Hotel, with rare photos and an interview with "That's The Way it Is" producer Denis Sanders.

Tracklisting:
1. Orchestra intro
2. Opening Vamp / That's All Right
3. I Got A Woman / Amen
4. I Walk The Line (excerpt) / Elvis talks
5. I've Lost You (false start only)
6. Love Me Tender
7. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
8. Polk Salad Annie
9. Band Introductions
10. Johnny B. Goode
11. Band Introductions continued
12. The Wonder Of You (with false start)
13. Heartbreak Hotel (2 false starts only)
14. Blue Suede Shoes / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On / Blue Suede Shoes
15. Hound Dog (false starts) / I've Lost You (part only) / Hound Dog (with break)
16. Bridge Over Troubled Water
17. Can't Help Falling In Love
18. Closing Vamp
 

Source:Email
Ciscoking wrote on March 01, 2011
The show is unique and for AR collectors a must have. No matter what.
ryanking wrote on March 01, 2011
look intresting looking forweared to getting this
Monster wrote on March 01, 2011
I had to check the date there and make sure today is the first of March and not the first of April. Can it really be the case that there was an extra 3am show in this most prominent of seasons and nobody knew or remembered it when researching and compiling the numerous book on Elvis? Nobody mentioned it to anyone in over 40 years? Makes me wonder what else there might be out there that we don't know about..... The sound on Essence was good but a little far away. Hope the source sat a little bit closer to the speakers at this show. Looking forward to it!
al shookup wrote on March 03, 2011
Sounds as though it could be good...where do you buy it in the UK though?
ElvisCriticsSuck wrote on March 04, 2011
Elvis did his "Jones,Englebert & Campbell" bit in several shows I recall. Somewhere on one of my old Audio Cassettes he is performing this in Portland, Oregon in November of 1970. In 1976, Glen Campbell would do a tribute to Elvis during his show stating: "His outfit consists of a suit with a 12" Fly (Zipper) that's it!". Of course Glen was wearing a Wide-Studded Belt and scarf as part of his Stage wear at that time (as a lot of singers were).