Last week the new FTDs arrived, first up is Sold Out!, which contains 2 shows from 1974.

Design

The 2CD set is in the 7”format, with the usual booklet. I said usual, but this time it is more than usual. The liner notes are well researched and the presentation of it is great. Many live shots from the March and June tours of 1974 combined with memorabilia are presented tasty.

Content

The first CD from the March 1 show in Tulsa has great sound. A good balance between instruments and Elvis makes it pleasant to listen too. Unfortunately Elvis’ voice is not as strong as later during that tour. Don’t get me wrong, it is not bad, but just not as strong. Especially a powerhouse like Tryin’ To Get To You suffers from it a bit, and during Help Me the singing saw sounds louder than Elvis. The show has a normal set list for the time, but it misses the rock’n’roll medley (sniff).

The Cleveland show from June 21 has a much, much stronger Elvis voice. The balance between instruments is a little less compared to the first CD. Elvis is very focussed, does hardly talk (in opposite to the rambling he did 2 months later in Vegas) and gives hell of performances.

Conclusion

Olivia Newton-John already sung it in the seventies: Never Enough. We have always something to complain. I like the sound of the first CD better, but Elvis’ performance on the second is way stronger. Still, in my book this is one of the better live CDs on FTD.