American Crown Jewels

A record that most fans would probably recommend. Crown jewels on a string. The band is tight and Elvis certainly does everything to squeeze everything out of the material. It's good to hear the songs without the overdubs and there is an intimate feeling to Elvis' voice. Like in "Any day now", when he sings: "When the clock strikes GO!" - it won't get much better than that!
And it's always good fun to hear Elvis improvise and being naughty, like in "Only the strong survive". He would probably have gone berserk had he known these recording would ever surface.
The question is...what could have happened if Elvis was allowed to remain with Chips for a couple of more albums?

Auld Lang Syne

What can I say? This two-CD set should have its place in every solid Elvis collection! From the very beginning you can tell that Elvis is inspired. "I got a woman" hasn't sounded this good since 1972, and it just continues. Listen to "Big boss man" - Elvis' good mood is catching on and the band is absolutely cooking! "Polk salad Annie" is as heavy as lead, light-years from the swamp sound from seven years earlier.

If you have seen the bootleg video from this evening, you know that Elvis is flat on his back during the reprise of "Hurt". There is one highlight after the other, such as "Reconsider baby", "Little sister", "Rags to riches" to name a few.
It's FANTASTIC hearing Elvis this good, just six months prior his death. What if CBS had been scheduled for this evening instead...

The Brightest Star on Sunset Boulevard vol. 2

If you are planning to buy just one of the two albums from Culver City, July 24th, 1970, I'd say that you should spend your money on volume 2. This is where the action really gets interesting. Elvis' voice is about to pack it in for the day and it's constantly on the verge of cracking up. Still, he's giving it all and "Suspicious minds" and "Johnny B Goode" are no less than magnificent. Long live the King!

"I take a piss in every fountain...", just as far as his tonsils would keep up - not to mention "Make the world go away". I can not imagine Elvis as hoarse as this before, or after. Dead exciting!
Are you a fan of the blues version of "Stranger in my own hometown" from "The Essential 70's Masters"?, well here it is - without the cuts!

A Profile On Stage vol. 2. CD 2

I believe that most fans would be somewhat surprised finding College Park, September 28th, 1974, among my personal favourites. Elvis continues the road he had set out on when finishing his Vegas stint 25 days earlier. High as a kite and his normal control gone with the wind. BUT, I like it intensivly! Actually, I prefer this Elvis to the rather stiff Elvis from "Aloha" and there after.

And indeed, Elvis gets the show off the ground and he doesn't hesitate to improvise around some of his tunes. I have read that Elvis' voice is weak and strained during these shows, but I beg to differ. Listen to his powerful utterence when he howls "well well well WELL" before singing "I got a woman".

The show is pretty long and the completion is to be found on "A Profile On Stage vol. 2", CD 3.

Double Dynamite

August 1970 is excellent! Elvis is more versatile and more experienced compared to his previous Vegas visits - but more importantly, he still looked upon Vegas as a challenge.

Both shows are of highest class. It's a delight to hear Elvis jump into action at the dinner show by starting off with "Tiger man".

The midnight show is even better - you can tell that Elvis is enjoying himself on stage and in the rock numbers it's clear that he is putting a little extra...dynamite into his performance.

I've always liked "Blue suede shoes", and this is undoubtedly the best version I have ever heard him do. And you have hardly regained your breath before he is ripping his voice to shreds in "Hound dog". Unsurpassed!

Gyrating Asheville

They say that Elvis was having several outbursts of temper throughout the summer of '75. Be that as it may, he was still able to give one of his best tours ever. In fierce competition with the tours of 1970 and the tour of April 1972, July 1975 is my favourite tour.

From the first note it is evidently clear that this concert will be extraordinary. From the first "I said C" in "CC Rider" Elvis absolutely bursts of energy. All songs are performed amazingly well. "Turn around look at me" is unusual and surprisingly good and "Shake a hand" is a real treat - a mystery why he didn't sing this song more often. One of the better versions of "Mystery train/Tiger man", and by the time you reach "Promised land", you are completely knackered!

The sound is OK, but it would be thrilling to hear a soundboard from Cleveland, July 18th.

Here I Go Again

It's no less than fascinating! Two shows a night... The voice is as powerful as a pneumatic drill and he has a drive in the songs that no other singer has ever been able to produce.

I prefer this CD to RCA's "In Person", which in comparison stands out as being incomplete and not representative for the shows that Elvis gave in 1969. How could they overlook gems like "Jailhouse rock/Don't be cruel", "Heartbreak hotel" or "What'd I say"? RCA's (lack of) strategy never ceases to amaze me.

Moreover, "Here I go again" is also superior to "Opening Night '69" - I think that Elvis sounds more sure of himself, and the band has gotten their act more together. Last, but not least, James Burton sounds remarkably sharp!

...And the King for Dessert

I am well and truly a big fan of Lake Tahoe, May 1974. I have still to hear a mediochre show from this period. I rank this CD just as high as the excellent "Spanish Eyes".

It's a dinner show, and as usual, Elvis starts off slightly hesitant, but he is working his way to the top. By "Trying to get to You", he is in top form and his voice is cutting glass.

Good action in "Suspicious Minds", but the real climax comes in "An American Trilogy" - after having his "Disneyland joke" he gives a tremendous performance. This version is among my favourites of this spine-chilling number.

A Profile On Stage vol. 2. CD 4

Majestic and magnificent! Back in Vegas after his hospital stay, and after all those cruel "Fat and Forty"-headlines. And he really came to sing this time. The long and slurry monologues are all gone - he is sharp and focused in talking as well as in his singing.

Listen to "CC Rider", he is singing from his guts and the voice has never been so full of expression! Not to mention the ending of "And I love you so", and in "It's Midnight", as he half screams Good God I miss You...it gives me nothing but a bad case of goose pimples!

The energy level is on an all time high. For instance, without breathing after "Big boss man", he spurs on the band: "Quick, give me the next song"!

Neon City Nights

I agree! The sound leaves a lot to be desired! Still this is a fun album to have, and it's visiting my CD-player quite frequently.

Imagine the surprise when right after "CC Rider", Elvis goes straight into "Can't help falling in love", followed by "Closing vamp". I'm sure this sudden and amusing prank is a result of the budding Vegas boredom. Anyway, this is a good show, and it's nice to hear "Can't help faling in love" in a version closer to the original, than what's normally the case.

"Polk salad Annie" is outstanding with a little extra havoc towards the end. The value of the record is even higher with bonus songs like "I just can't help believin'" from ´76, and "Snowbird" from ´71.