Kicking & Rolling

KICKING & ROLLING
The forthcoming release from the "Straight Arrow" label is titled "KICKING & ROLLING" (SA 2007-6-02), and will feature the Las Vegas February 18th, 1973 Midnight show taken from a so-called "booth tape". The midnight show from February 18th, as presented on this CD, could be called quite typical for this season, if not for an extremely unusual incident which happened during this show, and which has made this show one of his most controversial concerts ever. Elvis had been practicing karate since his army days and got his black belt in '60. On this particular night in early '73, he got an unexpected chance to use his martial art against some aggressors.

This concert includes great performances of songs like "An American Trilogy", "What Now My Love", "Steamroller Blues", "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" or "I Can't Stop Loving You". This recording comes from an early generation copy of the original "booth tape" and for an off-line recording, the sound quality is very good. The audio was restored in a professional studio to achieve the best possible results. "Booth tapes" were made from a "booth" or table at the edge of the stage, close to the speakers, by someone who was part of Elvis' organization. Unlike the usual audience recordings, "booth recordings" were made by someone who was known by Elvis' security force, and who did not have to worry about concealing the recorder and microphone. The sound quality of such tapes is noticeably better than a typical audience recording.

As a bonus, five tracks recorded in February 1973 under the same circumstances were added. Just like previous releases from this label, this new CD will come in a deluxe package with a 16-page booklet, containing a collection of live and candid photographs from February - April 1973, Las Vegas memorabilia, informative liner notes with an "Elvis in early 1973" overview, as well as details about Elvis' Las Vegas 1973 Winter season. This CD is set for release in late May.

Note: this release has nothing to do with the poor quality audience recording of the same show which in circulation under titles like "I'll Whoop His Ass" and "Fight Night".

Tracks:
01. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme from "2001 A Space Odyssey") - 02. Opening Vamp / C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen (medley) / Big Boss Man (one line) - 04. Love Me Tender - 05. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - 06. Steamroller Blues - 07. You Gave Me A Mountain (with reprise) - 08. Fever - 09. Love Me - 10. Blue Suede Shoes - 11. Johnny B. Goode - 12. Hound Dog (slow & fast) - 13. What Now My Love - 14. Suspicious Minds - 15. Instrumental Intermezzo / Elvis attacked on stage - 16. I Can't Stop Loving You - 17. An American Trilogy - 18. Can't Help Falling In Love - 19. Closing Vamp.

Special bonus:
20. * C. C. Rider - 21. Steamroller Blues - 22. You Gave Me A Mountain - 23. Fever - 24. * What Now My Love (with reprise).
* taken from Las Vegas 23.02.1973 Closing Show
Approximate running time: 63:45

<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>Quelle: Elvis-Collectors.Com</span>

Anfangs war ich skeptisch, da es diese Show ja schon seit Jahren als CDR gibt.
Zum Anderen gibt es schon an die 10 Shows aus dieser Vegas Saison als Import.
Nun hatte ich die Möglichkeit, mal vorab in dieses Konzert rein zu hören und ich bin wirklich begeistert. Es wurde eine völlig andere Quelle verwendet und der Klang ist echt gut.
Relativ klar und in der richtigen Geschwindigkeit, macht richtig Spass. Im Vergleich dazu schneidet die verrauschte, viel zu schnelle CDR eindeutig schlechter ab.