Im reviewing The July,1 1974 show Released on the FTD Label.
I always thought of what i saw by footage the show was very good!. then ftd came around with the soundboard show and i was suprised! the sound of this show is very good!
The CD stars right away into See See Rider with no intro and no 2001 intro. This version is very good and belongs to one of the best versions i have heard elvis seems to be in a good mood after the show he talks and jokes some and that is very enjoyable, after some ''Welling'' elvis starts I Got A Woman/Amen which is a very good version to!. elvis jokes a little in the middle of the song by singing ''Never on the streets Turn around'' and continues giving a powerful version away something that would in later years become less. Amen sounds also very good Although no dive bomb by JD. Elvis shakes his legs and says he's been doing that when he got started by just shaking his legs, and takes time to talk about what he did on the ed sullivan show where ed called him a son of a b*tch, then quickly ends the song and says thank you to the audience, and giving amen a reprise with now a JD bomb dive, and elvis says thats what suppose to happen earlier, and forgot the first part of the show already, but says its all part of the show. He says hello to a fan asking her if she wants a scarf and gives her one. Then love me starts. its a short (less then 2 minutes) version, Not to rushed and sound energetic although its by now part of the routine.elvis jokes a little bit near the ending singing ''Darling i be so, oh so Crazy, lonely'' then ends it powerfully. he announces the next song and jokes some and Trying To Get To You starts a song that elvis start performing quiet often from 1974 till 1977. A very good version once again so far the show, shows a energetic elvis who is in good mood tonight. All shook up gets it usual treatment although not as weak as later versions. Elvis jokes around saying his first movie was gone with the wind,nah love me tender so he likes to sing a bit of gone with the wind. then again he says its love me tender and the song starts, Giving a beautiful version done a bit to fast but that shouldnt bother the fans.elvis says thank you and starts a very rushed Hound Dog, which doesnt last longer (Just over a minute) Not bad but also not the best, elvis giving his shaking solo in it and ends it quite energetic.then fever starts and this version is really good! and the crowd starts clapping with the song, this is one of the better versions i heard,althought he jokes a little near the ending. next up is Polk Salad Annie, Not rushed and elvis giving a great version away here! One of the best versions i heard from 1974,the bass the drums,the guitar everything is giving some extra power to this song tonight, then a goin down sequence with great horns, this version runs for about 4 minutes! then elvis askes the stamps to do a gospel song with him, Why Me Lord,a beautiful sincere version with no joking (Something elvis would do from 1975 on out)
I also notice some violins on it which makes it even more beautiful! Even though on some parts u can't hear elvis in the mix,the song ends and elvis asks to do the last part again,now we can hear elvis a little louder. He thanks every member of his group saying he could do the song allnight.
Then suspicious minds starts it's a bit rushed but more enjoyable then some of the 1972 versions i heard! after a minute elvis gives it some more energy,a very since ''Don't Let The Good Thing Die'' with no joking! the song continues quite energetic,ronnie really bringing out his drums out by now! after the song ended elvis introduces his group,with no 10 minute introduction but just a short 3 minute introduction.Elvis says ''You Know What I Can't Do'' giving the que to I Can't Stop Loving You, which sounds very good althought a bit weaker then other 1974 versions i've heard this one is very enjoyable,it gets a bit more power towards the middle with a very strong long ending, longer then other versions i've heard,which makes up for the little weak start. Elvis jokes around some again talking to the audience.now a performance i really like starts You Don't Have To Say You Love Me, a song not performed much in 1974, Elvis gives a very beautiful strong version away, with a very strong ending! Elvis singing his new song Help Me,a very sincere and beautiful version,not rushed and sung with true emotion. Elvis says take it on and james starts the intro of american trilogy elvis stops the song and says its his mistake apologizing for it and tells the band to start Bridge Over Troubled Water, A sincere version and one of the best versions i have heard,that could easily top out some of the 1975 versions that i have heard,Elvis ends this song very strongly! and this is a must-listen to version!
Let Me Be There starts a song that i also always liked elvis sings it strongly and not rushed,elvis thanks the audience says Wahoo, and reprises the ending. Elvis says to turn the houselights up, so that elvis can see the audience, and says that its the first time he saw them coz the light blind him, with the turnaround gang joke. elvis says he got 1 scarf left and says there 22 people there who want it and goes eenie-mini-myne. Funny how time slips away starts and is sung good, althought other versions where performed better then tonight. the song ends elvis thanks people and reprises the ending once again, and elvis jokes around giving us a one liner of I'll Be There, and then ends the song.
Big Boss Man is performed then and sounds great! elvis is full of energy on it, with great drumming by mr.Ronnie Tutt,this versions is also one of the best ones i have heard from 1974.
Elvis thanks the audience,that they been fantastic for the 3 shows elvis and his band been there, he says that there are probably some questions that he really can't answer. elvis says he really had a fun time as the audience could see. and that if they made the fans happy it really was worthwhile. Can't Help falling in love starts, and fades out after 40 seconds, just before it fades out u can hear elvis saying ''Don't Fall,Don't Fall''. The bonus song on here is steamroller from the day after this show, performed in Salt Lake City,In Utah. A awesome version, very powerful and gives a nice bonus(Wondering if there is more from this concert in FTD's Vaults).
I hope you enjoyed my review,and i wanna thank you for taking the time to read this!
I also got a youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/ElvisDinnerShow2013, where u can find me to.
Look out for my second review containing CD 2 of this 2CD set.
