Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #145959 in Music
• Released on: 2002-05-27
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live

Customer Reviews

purely for collectors
If you're a big Elvis fan, as I am, then this is an absolutely essential purchase. BMG have finally released some rare live tracks from 1977! Unfortunately this is where the good news ends. Tragically, these tracks reveal the extremely fragile state of Elvis' voice, and seem to show a man who knows he's living on borrowed time. On many of the songs Elvis seems bored or out of tune, or a combination of both. This isn't helped by the limited budget for this release, which didn't allow for any remixing or remastering of the tracks. If you are a casual fan, but feel the need to buy a late-period Elvis album, then I would recommend either Elvis in Concert or Moody Blue. However, if like me, you have to buy everything released, then of course it's an essential purchase!

The Master, Still In Charge, Still The King.......Essential!
Yes, at last one of the most anticipated Elvis CDs is here. The spring tours of 1977, and the first full release from 1977, since Elvis in Concert, 25 years ago.

This is fantastcic, and it's a huge pity that this is not a general release, as it would certainly quash the nonsense that Elvis was washed up and past it by 1977.

This is so good that RCA/BMG, in a press-release, actually seemed surprised about the content and the excellent performances.

The fact is, that sure Elvis had his problems, but he gave very very few poor shows. As a singer and an artist, he was always in tact; never really equalled by anyone, and at any stage of his career, as this CD easilly proves........... so what do we have?

Kicking in with a superb version of Elvis first song; "That's Alright", this really moves, with some excellent acoustic guitar, presumably from Elvis. Perhaps the best track on the CD, Elvis still had one foot firmly in Sun studios, doing justice to the ultimate classic, perhaps even bettering his version from the 68 Special.

The entire CD is very raw, yet polished. The huge ballads and grandoise takes a backseat to rock, blues and country; yet still a towering "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "My Way" and "Unchained Melody" are not out of place.

"Heartbreak Hotel"; Elvis first smash hit from 1956 is excellent. This great great version perhaps is more bluesy than the original; I think if BB King, Muddy Waters or perhaps Arthur Cruddup ever sung "Heartbreak...", this is how it would sound: perhaps above all, Elvis was a blues man!

Elvis delivers big time with his earlier material here, with a blistering "Mystery Train/Tiger Man"; this, the last time he ever sang this medley...and damn, it rocks.

The likes of "Blue Christmas", "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", "Trying To Get To You" are all from the 50s, and are splendidly performed.

"Help Me", Larry Gatlin's country/gospel favourite is always a pleasure to hear, as is "Big Boss Man", a pre-comeback treasure that finds new life here.

Another standout is "Polk Salad Annie"; this dynamite chunk of southern funk is wild; different from the version from That's The Way It Is, this is fab; no spoken intro here,
just Elvis really getting down with a funky backing from JB, Ronnie Tutt and especially some cool bass from Jerry Scheff.

Incidentally, "Unchained Melody" is the version from the "Moody Blue" album, here it is, undubbed and totally mesmorising. "Little Darlin'" is also from Moody Blue.

This utterly splendid CD should have been released to a wider audience; it is awesome and like I said, would put the record straight about Elvis final concerts and later years; I'm sure of that.

The sound is excellent too, nice packaging, though some information would have been nice. But it's the great music that counts, and this is a gem, and a definate essential purchase.

Elvis, whether live or in the studio is untouchable, by anyone, and I mean anyone..........I give this CD, ten out of ten, 100%, five stars and a gold medal!

Thank's FTD....It's About Time!
Follow That Dream deliver big-time, with this fab CD from Elvis spring tour in 1977.

Elvis, still on top form after a mesmorising short tour over late december 76 (note to Ernst & Roger...Release material from this).

Elvis News slaughtered this CD; are they listening to the same disc or what? This is immediately a favourite of mine. Songs such as "My Way" and "Unchained Melody" are given his finest performances here.

He delves deep into his vast reportoire and delivers a smokin' "Mystery Train/Tiger Man", slower than what we are used to, but a killer version. "Big Bossman" is also great, Elvis really sparkling on this great song.

"Lawdy Miss Clawdy" is a favourite here, and almost everytime he sang it. Slightly different arrangement here and a small lyric change make this is gem.

It's been mentioned before in a review; and yes! I also get a huge kick out of Elvis goofing off and messing up "Are You Lonesome Tonight."

"Fairytale" tops the albume version, whilst "Hearbreak Hotel" oh so bluesy and brimming with attitude.

I highly recommend this CD, too often Elvis later work is criticised, and why? because Elvis in the 70s delivered consistantly strong material that, as a whole is far superior to anything the Beatles done individually or Dylan for that matter. And live.......untouchable, Elvis, Springsteen, James Brown and Johnny Cash as live artists cant be topped.

Anyway; 5 stars, excellent!