GOING BACK TO MEMPHIS (Pure Platinum) (This is a CD-R ONLY!!)
 Taken from Let Me Take You Home
Taken from Guaranteed To Blow You Mind
Focus On Elvis In June 1975
Memphis Press-Scimitar article
Review by Bjørn-Arild Bertilsen
Review of Let Me Take You Home
Content: 5 Sound: 5- Artwork: 5+ |
Memphis - June 10 1975
Opening Theme "Love Me Tender"
Al Dvorin introducing "Voice"
Keep It Going
Going Back To Memphis Tomorrow
Announcements, by Al Dvorin
Warm Up
Also Sprach Zarathustra
See See Rider
I Got A Woman/Amen
Love Me
If You Love Me
Love Me Tender
All Shook Up
Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel
Hound Dog
Fairytale
Burning Love
Introductions
Johnny B. Goode
Introductions
Drum Solo
Bass Solo
Piano Solo
Introductions
School Days
Introduction of Vernon and Dr. Nick
T-R-O-U-B-L-E
Why Me, Lord
How Great Thou Art
Let Me Be There
Funny How Time Slips Away
Little Darlin'
American Trilogy (*Jackson, June 9 1975)
Mystery Train/Tiger Man (*Jackson, June 9 1975)
Can't Help Falling In Love (**Shreveport, June 7 1975>
Closing Vamp (**Shreveport, June 7 1975)
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Review by Bjørn-Arild Bertilsen
Here's a release from the Pure Platinum label, and let me add, it's a good one. Here we get the (almost) complete concert from the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, June 10th 1975. The cover says it's the complete soundboard recording of that concert in its entirety. But, I've later discovered that the last three songs were taken from other concerts of that June '75 tour. In fact, I did yet another little discovery; this CD is just a combination of Guaranteed To Blow Your Mind (opening acts) and Let Me Take You Home (the concert). But, it's great to have this CD, where the two parts finally have been put together.
As we already know, Elvis delivered some rather strong performances during his June 1975 tour. Ever since I first heard the 1975 live recordings on the Elvis Aron Presley box, I've wanted to have a complete concert from that tour. And, for a long time, I thought I had finally got one. But though the last three songs are from other concerts, the disc is so well mixed and edited that you don't notice. Elvis seems to be in a good mood, and goes through a lot of his greatest hits. There are very few surprises during this concert, but it's great to have the inclusion of the announcements, Voice warm-up and intervals. The CD runs for 79:40 minutes, and gives the listener a great Elvis experience. And, as I've already mentioned, the sound quality and mixing is great. This CD sounds even greater than some of the RCA live albums (i.e. Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden). Also, the cover is great. It comes in a DVD cover, with color pictures from the concert on the front, and on the back. The only thing one could wish for is a booklet with some more pictures, and information about the concert and the songs (i.e. that the last three songs were not from the Memphis concert).
The CD starts out with the opening theme, 'Love me tender'. And following is Al Dvorin introducing Voice, who delivers two great numbers. The first one is 'Keep It Going', and following is the rocking 'Going Back to Memphis'. After listening to these two songs you almost want to hear one more. But, following is intermission time, and we get to hear how Al Dvorin announces for the Elvis souvenirs. And following we get to hear the TCB band's warm-up. These are two tracks that you probably don't play separately, but it really helps creating the right concert feeling, and if you close your eyes, it's just as if you're in the coliseum yourself, just waiting for the King to come on stage. And, after a few minutes, the light goes down, and 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' starts booming out of the speakers. This is the same version that was used on the Elvis Aron Presley box. Then Elvis steps on stage and after a little while, grabs the microphone and starts a fair version of 'C.C. Rider'. Maybe not the most rocking version I've heard, but after waiting for Elvis through the long intermission time and the opening riff, it's great to hear his powerful voice.
After the usual "well, well" routine, he heads into the 'I Got A Woman /Amen' medley. This time, he only sings the 'Amen' chorus once, making the medley a little shorter than usual. Except from that, there's not very much to say about this track. Then he makes the girls scream as he announces that he's going to do a lot of songs, walk around, and kiss people. As usual, he goes through 'Love Me' and 'If You Love Me (Let Me Know)'. There's not much to say about those songs except that I think the sound quality and mixing of the latter is even better than the officially released version on the "Moody Blue" album.
It's now time for Elvis to go through some of his 50s hits, starting with 'Love Me Tender'. This one's followed by 'All Shook Up', 'Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel' and 'Hound Dog'. It's no secret that Elvis got tired of doing these songs over and over, and it shows, as there are no great surprises during these songs, it's more like a run-through, just to please the fans. Then he sings 'Fairytale', a song recorded for his latest album, "Today". This is a nice version, even ending with the original lyrics; "and realize that good men are hard to find". After this country song, he heads back to rock 'n' roll, by doing his smash hit from 1972, 'Burning Love'. This is a great and rocking version.
Then it's about time to introduce the members of his group. Elvis jokes with the band members, and we get to hear all the solos. It's especially fun to hear the piano solo from Glen Hardin, as we usually only hear the piano solo from Tony Brown. After the Joe Guercio Orchestra has played 'Hail, Hail, Rock 'n' Roll', Elvis introduces his father and Dr. Nick. Then he heads back to the "Today" album for one of my favorite songs, 'T-R-O-U-B-L-E'. Elvis gets all the words right, and it's a strong, powerful version.
After such a tongue-twisting song, it can be nice to relax a bit, and so he asks J.D. Sumner & the Stamps to do 'Why Me Lord?' But, Elvis shows his joking side, and has J.D. burst out laughing several times. And, following this nice song; a really strong version of 'How Great Thou Art'. I don't think I've ever heard Elvis do a bad version of this one, but I must say that this is one of the greatest versions I've heard. Elvis even repeats the last verse and chorus. After that, he changes the setting by doing 'Let Me Be There'. Surprisingly, he doesn't repeat the chorus, but turns the house lights up instead. After having the house lights turned up, he does 'Funny How Time Slips Away', repeating the last line, so the audience can hear how low J.D. goes. Then he does 'Little Darlin'', a funny song that I don't think Elvis ever sang with seriousness. But, then he jumps into a more serious song, 'An American Trilogy'. Even after hearing this song a hundred times, I'm still impressed to hear how Elvis sings the last "Glory, glory, hallelujah" part.
Then, it's back to the less serious side again, as he launches into the 'Mystery Train / Tiger Man' medley. After this song, he ends the show quickly by saying, "Ladies and gentlemen. Until the next time we see you, be careful going home, and God bless you", and does 'Can't help falling in love'. Not long after, Al Dvorin's low voice is back in the speakers, telling the audience that "Elvis has left the building. Thank you and good night".
The show itself may not be very remarkable and outstanding, but it's great to have the warm-up part in the beginning, and with the excellent sound quality, this is a great CD to have in your collection. It contains a lot of different songs, and would be a great CD to play for a person who doesn't know very much about Elvis, but wants to hear what an Elvis show was like. This kind of sums up Elvis' career, and it's a great show.
Bjørn-Arild Bertilsen, Norway, August 25 2001 |
Review of "Let Me Take You Home".
This is one of my favorite releases, indeed. This bootleg features Elvis's closing tour concert in Memphis, June 10 1975. Tour number 14 since 1969 (May 30 - June 10) is the most covered period of all when it comes to soundboard releases. Even BMG did release a soundboard from this tour, mainly focusing on the concert on June 6 in Dallas, Texas. In addition to this, Rock Legend released the June 2 concert in Mobile (Sold Out In Dixie), while King Record's released the June 3 concert in Tuscaloosa on their Deep Down South. Finally the June 9 concert in Jackson, was released by Pegasus on Cut 'Em Down To Size.
All of these releases have great quality, but none - BMG's included - can match this specific release from DAE. DAE is better in both artwork, sound and overall dedication! |
Elvis In Memphis, June 10 1975 |
Elvis In Memphis, June 10 1975 |
Elvis is in high spirit this day, as he was on most of his concerts this specific tour. An energetic 'See See Rider' sets the pace. A lot of fun during 'I Got A Woman/Amen' assures the listener that this will be one helluva evening. 'Love Me' is performed more seriously than Elvis used to do, a welcomed change, indeed. And there is no doubt that Elvis simply loved the Olivia Newton song 'If You Love Me (Let Me Know)'.
'Love Me Tender' is of course a 2 - 3 minutes of giving away scarves, kissing girls and shaking hands, more than a piece of music, but then again who could blame him? 'All Shook Up' is also a real run-through, while 'Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel' is surprisingly dedicated. I think it lies in the selections of tempo. Too often Elvis would rush through this medley. This day, however, it is performed quite slowly. |
It is not often you get to hear Elvis promoting his own records. But this day he makes it quite clear that the next song he is going to perform can be found on his new album, called "Elvis Today". The way Elvis performs 'Fairytale' is also something of a promotion. This is one of the best versions I have ever heard of Elvis doing this song. Perhaps only beaten by a version he did some months before in Las Vegas March 22, 1975). It is full of conviction, and Elvis' voice is steady and strong as many times in 1975 and years before.
In general these words also applies for 'Burning Love'. A splendid mixture of Rock and Pop delivered with suitable style!
The introduction of the band is by now beginning to take more and more time, but still it is not as boring as it would be later on. Elvis kicks off a fair version of 'Johnny B. Goode' during the presentation of James Burton. After the band is introduced, Elvis also presents his father, and his doctor! This is Elvis in a nutshell; no one could feel certain of not being introduced by Elvis while he was on stage...
Before 'T-R-O-U-B-L-E', Elvis again find it appropriate to inform the audience that this song recently has been released on a record. 'T-R-O-U-B-L-E' this day is really a great version. Sometimes Elvis had problems with the lyrics and the overall arrangement of the song. Not this day!
'Why Me, Lord' is mixed with some typical Elvis humor, and 'How Great Thou Art' is getting more and more majestic. Still not as great as it would be later (the best version I have heard is from Las Vegas, December 13 1975.), but definitely better than versions from 1972 and 1974.
This does not account for 'Let Me Be There' and 'Funny How Time Slips Away' and certainly not for 'American Trilogy'. Elvis was obviously a bit tired of "Trilogy". Still he does good versions of the song, but the commitment is less than before. 'American Trilogy' and 'Mystery Train/Tiger Man' are taken from another concert, and not from Memphis. You can hear both these versions in quite a different sound mix on the bootleg from Jackson, June 9 Cut 'Em Down To Size. The two last tracks on "Let Me Take You Home" are taken from yet another concert, this time from Shreveport, June 7. Diamond Anniversary has managed to put these songs together so well; that you can hardly notice that it is not from the same concert. Splendid work! I have heard other bootleggers failed to do this, even with an easier task.
This bootleg will always be one of my favorites. In general it is Elvis at his almost best...and in good sound! The packing is dedicated and the overall content is interesting. What more can you wish for?
Reviewed by Oven Egeland, Elvis In Norway - May 1 2000. |
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