Post by Minty on Feb 10, 2009 15:36:19 GMT -5
The upcoming CD-release by the Southern Comfort / Audionics "team-up" is entitled "APRIL FOOL'S DINNER", and it contains the excellent April 1st, 1975 dinner show. Import collectors first heard this recording via the 1980 vinyl release "Rockin' with Elvis April Fool's Day." This was later dubbed directly from vinyl for its 1992 CD debut, complete with pops and clicks. This new release marks the first time since the original LP that the original audience master tape has been used - and naturally it has received a significant upgrade using topnotch industry equipment. This stellar show is also now complete: "Can't Help Falling In Love" and "Closing Vamp" from this show were actually on the original tape. These were restored to the best of our abilities, and are now included, warts and all. On the original LP and CD, these songs were borrowed from RCA's 1974 "Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis" album. The April Fool’s Day performance shows Elvis at his best – a far cry from the problematic October ’74 shows – he’s in excellent voice, and he performs a solid mix of classic songs and recent additions. Elvis is both entertaining and witty, and actually sounds like a seasoned Vegas pro. April 1st also marked the final day for bassplayer Duke Bardwell, who in all did 181 shows with Elvis, despite the fact that their relationship often was a bit strained. Duke had experienced some great highs and some terrible lows with Elvis, but at this stage he was fed up with it all and relieved that it would soon be over.
The first two Midnight Show bonus tracks are from a booth tape and the other 4 tracks (first heard on "Rocking With the King April's Fool Day" Vol. 2.) are from a decent quality audience tape. The prior release of the closing show was de-noised in a rather destructive way, and has been restored to optimal quality for the Elvis connoisseur.
All accompanying photographs were taken in March - May 1975 at the Las Vegas Hilton hotel and on the subsequent concert tour. The CD will be presented in a beautiful 3-panel digipack and is scheduled for late February '09.
Tracks:
01. Opening Vamp / C. C. Rider - 02. I Got A Woman / Amen - 03. Love Me - 04. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - 05. And I Love You So - 06. Big Boss Man - 07. The Wonder Of You - 08. Burning Love - 09. Band Introductions - 10. What'd I Say - 11. Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt) - 12. Bass Solo (Duke Bardwell) - 13. Piano Solo (Glen D. Hardin) - 14. Electric Piano Solo (David Briggs) - 15. School Day - 16. Celebrity Introductions: Roy Clark, Conrad Hilton / The Great Pretender (excerpt) - 17. My Boy - 18. I'll Remember You - 19. Let Me Be There - 20. Celebrity Introduction: actor Hugh O'Brian - 21. How Great Thou Art - 22. Hound Dog - 23. Fairytale - 24. Can't Help Falling In Love - 25. Closing Vamp.
Bonus Tracks (highlights from Las Vegas, April 1st, 1975, Midnight show - Closing night):
26. Big Boss Man* - 27. It's Midnight * - 28. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - 29. An American Trilogy - 30. Help Me Make It Through The Night / Mickey Mouse March - 31. Steamroller Blues
* taken from booth tape