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Elvis Presley - Elvis In Houston (4 CD-set) [rockabilly Empire RBE-056]

Label: Rockabilly Empire RBE-056 (Released: 2015)

Tracklisting:

CD 1 - March 3 - 1974, Evening Show:

01 - See See Rider
02 - I Got A Woman / Amen
03 - Love Me
04 - Trying To Get To You
05 - All Shook Up
06 - Love Me Tender
07 - Johnny B Goode
08 - Hound Dog
09 - Fever
10 - Polk Salad Annie
11 - Why Me Lord?
12 - Suspicious Minds
13 - Introductions
14 - I Can't Stop Loving You
15 - Help Me
16 - How Great Thou Art (with reprise)
17 - Let Me Be There (with reprise)
18 - Funny How Time Slips Away
19 - Elvis Talks
20 - Can't Help Falling In Love
21 - Closing Riff

Concert: This show is unusual because the Joe Guercio's orchestra wasn't there, it's only Elvis , his rhythm band and his back-up singers. Given the above this soundboard recording has a warm feeling of a very small venue since you cannot hear the crowd too much (they were quite far from the stage). You'll certainly understand what I mean while listening to "Help Me" which sounds almost like an undubbed studio version. You can also feel James Burton , Ronnie Tutt and the other members giving little extras for making it a fuller sound. Most of the performances are excellent but some of the highlights would be Trying To Get To You , Johnny B. Goode , I Can't Stop Loving You , Help Me , Let Me Be There. All in all a very good show from a very good tour.

CD 2 - June 4 - 1975, Evening Show:

01 - Amen / I Got A Woman (incomplete)
02 - Love Me
03 - If You Love Me (Let Me Know)
04 - Love Me Tender
05 - All Shook Up
06 - Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel
07 - Hound Dog
08 - The Eyes Of Texas (one line)
09 - The Wonder Of You
10 - Burning Love
11 - Band Introductions
12 - Johnny B. Goode
13 - Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt)
14 - Bass Solo (Jerry Scheff)
15 - Piano Solo (Glen D. Hardin)
16 - School Days
17 - T-R-O-U-B-L-E
18 - Why Me Lord?
19 - How Great Thou Art
20 - Let Me Be There
21 - American Trilogy
22 - Funny How Time Slips Away (with reprise)
23 - Little Darling (with reprise)
24 - Mystery Train / Tiger Man
25 - Can't Help Falling In Love
26 - Closing Vamp

Concert: A solid, dynamic 1975 show with Elvis being in top shape vocally and having a lot of fun with the audience.

On some occasions Elvis isn't too pleased with the sound (engineers) , after "If You Love Me Let Me Know" you can hear Elvis saying off mic something like "one more feedback and this goes up your asshole". Probably holding up his microphone.

CD 3 - June 5 - 1975, Evening Show:

01 - Amen / I Got A Woman (incomplete)
02 - Love Me
03 - If You Love Me (Let Me Know)
04 - Love Me Tender
05 - All Shook Up
06 - Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel
07 - Hound Dog
08 - The Wonder Of You (with false start)
09 - Burning Love
10 - Band Introductions
11 - Johnny B. Goode
12 - Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt)
13 - Bass Solo (Jerry Scheff)
14 - Piano Solo (Glen D. Hardin)
15 - School Days
16 - T-R-O-U-B-L-E
17 - Trying To Get To You
18 - How Great Thou Art (with reprise)
19 - Let Me Be There
20 - You Gave Me A Mountain
21 - American Trilogy
22 - Little Darling (with reprise)
23 - Mystery Train / Tiger Man
24 - Funny How Time Slips Away
25 - Can't Help Falling In Love
25 - Closing Vamp

Concert: Another powerhouse performance from an outstanding tour. I am running out of words !!

CD 4 - August 28 - 1976, Afternoon Show:

01 - C. C. Rider (incomplete)
02 - I Got A Woman / Amen
03 - Love Me
04 - If You Love Me (Let Me Know)
05 - You Gave Me A Mountain
06 - All Shook Up
07 - Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel
08 - And I Love You So (with false start)
09 - Jailhouse Rock
10 - Fever
11 - America The Beautiful (with reprise)
12 - Polk Salad Annie
13 - Introductions by Elvis of Singers, Musicians
14 - Early Morning Rain (John Wilkinson)
15 - What'd I Say (James Burton)
16 - Johnny B. Goode (James Burton)
17 - Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt)
18 - Bass Solo (Jerry Scheff)
19 - Bass Solo (Jerry Scheff)
20 - Piano Solo (Tony Brown)
21 - Electric Piano & Clavinet Solo (David Briggs)
22 - School Day (Joe Guercio Orchestra)
23 - Hurt
24 - Funny How Time Slips Away
25 - Can't Help Falling In Love
26 - Closing Vamp / Announcements

Concert: Unreleased in any form before therefore a must-have for collectors.
Elvis is very medicated throughout the show and it seems he was half asleep during the first part. In the middle section he slowly awakes and a few songs like America or Hurt get an almost fair treatment.
There are many rumours about the show. Now we have the definite audio proof about the real story there in Houston. Decide for yourself.

Incl. covers