SOLID AS A ROCK

(2-CD DIGIPACK STRAIT ARROW SPECIAL PRODUCTS)  

CD 1 – INTERNATIONAL HOTEL, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA, 27-08-1971 DINNER SHOW

CD 2 – INTERNATIONAL HOTEL, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA, 27-08-1971 MIDNIGHT SHOW

Audience recording

Straight Arrow is very pleased to bring you, as a first for the label, two concerts from 1971: The Las Vegas August 27th, 1971 dinner & midnight shows. And what a delight it is to get fresh tapes from this year, and from this season, and in rather decent sound too - a rarity for early Vegas seasons. The August 27th, 1971 Dinner and Midnight Shows are taken directly from an original audience recorded master tape Straight Arrow team is always looking for rare, unknown or seemingly lost recordings. Once again, the labels researchers were successful - the Aug. 27, 1971 D/S is a completely new show, even for die-hard Elvis fans. It has never been in circulation - in any form!

The Aug. 27, 1971 M/S was previously released from an awful sounding source. This release have nothing to do with Straight Arrow’s independently taped version! It's an added bonus that these shows are in rather pleasing sound, which is somewhat rare for 1971. This is also a year which is still a bit "under the radar", so any new recordings and insights from that year are most welcome.

Elvis' previous engagement there had shown clear signs of his high performing standard slipping, but here it sounds like he's back on track again. Both shows are tight, no-nonsense affairs with Presley in good voice and in strong form. He performs with focus and professionalism, and he sings a fantastic variety of music. It's interesting to note that already in '71, the difference between the dinner and midnight shows was becoming noticeable. Elvis sounds a tad low-key during parts of the dinner show, but he's firing on all cylinders a couple of hours later - the midnight show is truly sensational! This release is presented in a de-luxe double digipack, collection of photos taken in Del Webbs Sahara Tahoe hotel and at the Las Vegas International hotel in July and August, 1971. Some 1971 candid shots have also been added.

At a time when most labels are perfectly happy to keep on reissuing stuff that you already have in your collection, you can at least count on Straight Arrow to go that extra mile and bring you something new. And this fine release is yet another good example of that.

CD1 - Friday, August 27, 1971 Dinner Show
01. Orchestra Intro - 02. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 03. That’s All Right - 04. I Got A Woman - 05. Proud Mary - 06. Sweet Caroline - 07. Polk Salad Annie – 08. Instrumental intermezzo / Elvis talks - 09. Johnny B. Goode - 10. It’s Impossible - 11. Love Me - 12. Blue Suede Shoes / Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On / Blue Suede Shoes - 13. Heartbreak Hotel - 14. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don’t Be Cruel - 15. Hound Dog - 16. Suspicious Minds - 17. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra - 18. I’m Leavin’ - 19. Love Me Tender - 20. Lawdy Miss Clawdy - 21. Can’t Help Falling In Love - 22. Closing Vamp / Announcements

CD2 - Friday, August 27, 1971 Midnight Show
01. Orchestra Intro - 02. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 03. That’s All Right - 04. I Got A Woman - 05. Proud Mary - 06. Sweet Caroline - 07. Polk Salad Annie - 08. Instrumental intermezzo / Elvis talks - 09. Johnny B. Goode - 10. It’s Impossible - 11. Love Me - 12. Blue Suede Shoes / Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On / Blue Suede Shoes - 13. Heartbreak Hotel - 14. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don’t Be Cruel - 15. Hound Dog - 16. Love Me Tender - 17. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra - 18. Introduction of singer Vic Damone, actress Diahann Carroll and actress Jill St. John - 19. I’m Leavin’ - 20. Bridge Over Troubled Water (with reprise) - 21. Can’t Help Falling In Love - 22. Closing Vamp.

The Straight Arrow label has released some fine CD's in the past few years with some nice CD cover art. However, this one is very strange. The cover art looks as if someone made it at home in photoshop. This is the worst cover art I've ever seen from this label.