From Vegas To Macon

Rock Legends CD 1008

Las Vegas, NV. August 21st 1970  dinner show

Macon, GA. April 24th 1975 evening show

Track listing :

CD 1: August 21, 1970 Dinner Show:That's All Right / I Got A Woman (with half-tempo ending) / Tiger Man / Love Me Tender / I Just Can't Help Believin' / Sweet Caroline / You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling / Polk Salad Annie / Introductions / Johnny B. Goode / Happy Birthday James Burton / Introduction of Neil Diamond, and Elvis'grandmother / The Wonder Of You / Heartbreak Hotel / One Night / Blue Suede Shoes-Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On / Hound Dog / Bridge Over Troubled Water/ Suspicious Minds / Can't Help Falling In Love.

CD 2 : Soundboard recording* live in Macon, Georgia, April 24, 1975: Dialogue / Love Me / If You Love Me Let Me Know / You Don't Have To Say You Love Me / Big Boss Man / It's Midnight / Promised Land / Fairytale / Burning Love / Introductions / My Boy /T.R.O.U.B.L.E. / I'll Remember You.

* The show is incomplete

Review :

A few weeks after the release of " Double Dynamite ", Rock Legends put out another double CD set. Once again this one contains an August 1970 show recorded from the audience and  an incomplete soundboard from the opening show of the April- May 1975 tour in Macon.

Most of my thoughts concerning the August 21st 1970 dinner show would be quite similar to what I wrote on " Double Dynamite ". This show is very good and one of the highlight would be the rockin' version of the medley " Blue Suede Shoes/Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On/Blue Suede Shoes ".

I'd equally have the same comments about its sound quality and although the back sleeve says " First Class Audience Recording ", it's quite similar to both shows of August 19th 1970 re. Double Dynamite. My guess would be that it was written on the cover this time because it was coupled with a soundboard recording, which comes evidently in a much better sound quality.

The opening show of that April/ May '75 tour isn't the best I've heard from that year although I couldn't say it's totally bad either. My main concern was that the show is incomplete, which really doesn't help for judging the overall performance,still I've heard better from that same period.

The sound quality of this mixing desk recording is almost the same than the CD " A Damn Fine Show " recorded the following day in Jacksonville. Basically the sound isn't bad at all but we get to hear Elvis way up front into the mix along with the backing vocals,while the music itself sounds farther on the back. I must say here that it's nice to hear " It's Midnight " that way or even " You Don't Have To Say You Love Me " and " My Boy ", however the rock songs suffer a bit from that as it made them sound very ' flat ', almost without life. Obviously, a more balance sound would enhance what we hear and possibly the general opinions about this show would be certainly better.

It was the very first time that Elvis was performing " T.R.O.U.B.L.E. " and you have no doubts about that fact as Elvis is more hesitant on this when compared to live versions from later in the tour or else, versions from subsequent tours.

This double CD is recommended to every fans who wants to own all the soundboard recordings on the market, or else want to have everything. If the sound quality isn't a major concern re. the August 1970 show, then " Double Dynamite " could be a better choice.

Back to CD Reviews