I'LL REMEMBER YOU - BMG 88697 40711 2
1. Review by Oven Egeland |
Las Vegas, February 3 1973 (M.S.)
See See Rider
I Got A Woman/Amen
Until It's Time For You To Go
You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
Steamroller Blues
You Gave Me A Mountain
Fever
Love Me
Blue Suede Shoes
Love Me Tender
Johnny B. Goode
Hound Dog
What Now, My Love
Suspicious Minds
Band Introductions
I Can't Stop Loving You
American Trilogy
Can't Help Falling In Love
Sweet Caroline (*)
I'll Remember You (**)
(*) Las Vegas, February 2 MS 1973
(**) Las Vegas, February 3 DS 1973 |
All in a days work
(Review by Oven Egeland)
There sure was a lot of confusion about the content of this CD before it eventually came out! First it was reported that "I'll Remember You" would feature the February 3 dinner show from Las Vegas 1973. What?! We have that show in super sound already, first made available in 1993 on It's A Matter Of Time, then re-released in slightly different sound on Vegas Rhythm last year (2007) [Both bootlegs].
Luckily, FTD got them self together and released the midnight show from the same day (Feb. 3rd), in other words a previously unreleased concert. Something else would have been a strange choice and quite frankly a bummer, I think.
Regarding the content, there is little to report. It's like an Aloha-show, but on less steam. And it is quite similar to the dinner show released on "It's A Matter Of Time". Even though midnight shows often were better then dinner shows, I really can't say that this applies here. In general it is a fair show, with no surprises. Elvis gives what is expected of him and stays focused on the songs and the singing. In other words; little fooling around. A bit out of the ordinary, though, is a longer then normal version of 'Suspicious Minds'. At this time of Elvis career 'Suspicious Minds' was normally more of a run-through than a performance. However, he gives a little extra this day.
The sound quality is very good. As suspected! The before mentioned dinner show has almost pristine sound, and "I'll Remember You" from FTD also shines. While Fort Baxter added quite some reverb on their release of the dinner show, FTD stays loyal to the recording as it is. In other words a little dryer (some say more boring) output. A wise decision, in my view. People can add effects later on. As long as you have the original you can always alter and then go back to basic, when you find out that this - after all - is best...:-)
As was common before - less now - are digital flaunts on the FTD releases. Unfortunately this new CD has several. It has been poorly mastered, easy as that!
In addition, two bonus cuts are included. First out is 'Sweet Caroline' taken from the midnight show February 2nd (Earlier released on Don't Think Twice as January 29 dinner show). This song comes in MUCH better sound than on the bootleg release. This does not apply for the second bonus cut. Taken from the dinner show on February 3, the song 'I'll Remember You' is hissy as seldom heard. On the bootleg release it is close to perfect (though with added reverb). It must feel like a let-down not to be able to be equal or better than bootleggers.
The artwork is standard delivery. It probably takes 10 minutes or perhaps a little more to create a standard FTD cover.
All in all, this new CD is fine. We now have an official release from this Las Vegas season, the sound quality is good and the show is decent. There is nothing spectacular about it, but all the same probably on the good side of the quality meter as these Las Vegas shows went on.
©
, Norway, December 2008
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