[vegas 74]

Before Darkness Falls

Sunday, August 26, 1973 Dinner and Midnight Shows, Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, NV.

Label: Straight Arrow Special Products SA/SP 2011-04-02



Elvis' 1973 "Summer Festival" was his ninth month-long stand in Las Vegas since July-August 1969. Reviews noted his excess weight and half-hearted performances. But, despite bad press, health issues and a 1967 marriage that would soon end in divorce, Presley slowly warmed to his always-thrilled fans.



The songs here, from his Sunday shows on August 26th, 1973, are a good example of this warmth. At both shows Elvis welcomed the presence of Lisa, his beloved daughter, then just five and-a-half years old. Obviously, she provided additional inspiration for her dad. In fact, there are several rare highlights, including "A Big Hunk O' Love," "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "Release Me" and "How Great Thou Art." And for fans of legendary bass player Emory Gordy, Jr., these would be among the last dates he would ever do with Presley.



Both the Dinner and Midnight sets are taken from a 24-bit digital transfer of the first-generation copy of a privately-recorded 120-minute cassette. The sound was painstakingly restored for your listening pleasure.



The August 26th, 1973 Dinner show is previously unissued, while the Midnight show was released in substandard mono by Memory Records in 2002 ("Caught In The Act"). Straight Arrow presents both shows in superb, "two-mike live ambience" stereo sound.



Like its predecessors from Straight Arrow Special Products mini series, this new release will be presented in a beautiful digipack with all the necessary information as well as a collection of photos taken during the September 1st, 1973 dinner show.



Tracks:



CD 1 - August 26, 1973 Dinner Show



01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. Steamroller Blues - 06. You Gave Me A Mountain - 07. Blue Suede Shoes - 08. Medley: Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On / Your Mama Don't Dance / Flip, Flop And Fly / Jailhouse Rock / Hound Dog - 09. Love Me Tender - 10. Fever - 11. Bridge Over Troubled Water - 12. Suspicious Minds - 13. Introduction of Vocalists, Musicians - 14. Introduction of daughter Lisa - 15. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - 16. I Can't Stop Loving You - 17. An American Trilogy - 18. A Big Hunk O' Love - 19. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - 20. Can't Help Falling In Love - 21. Closing Vamp / Announcements.



CD 2 - August 26, 1973 Midnight Show



01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. Steamroller Blues - 06. You Gave Me A Mountain - 07. Blue Suede Shoes - 08. Medley: Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On / Your Mama Don't Dance / Flip, Flop And Fly / Jailhouse Rock / Hound Dog - 09. Love Me Tender - 10. Fever - 11. What Now My Love - 12. Suspicious Minds - 13. Introduction of Vocalists, Musicians - 14. Release Me - 15. An American Trilogy - 16. Introduction of daughter Lisa - 17. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - 18. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - 19. Johnny B. Goode - 20. How Great Thou Art (with reprise) - 21. Can't Help Falling In Love - 22. Closing Vamp / Announcements.

Attached File(s)

 cd_before_darkness.jpg ( 23.85K ) Number of downloads: 3

 

[colonel snow]

Both concerts are in good sound quality available; perhaps better improved now?.


colonel snow

[NightRider]

MUCH improved sound (IMG:style_emoticons/default/notworthy.gif) ...and nice packaging too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/winking0001.gif)

[Unchained Melody]

These shows from August of 73 are really good to listen too, despite what some fans may save, Elvis still brought the heat.

[NightRider]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/winking0001.gif)

 POSTER.jpg ( 1.24MB ) Number of downloads: 6