...From Sunset Blvd To Paradise Rd...   dae3595-6/7 / 1996

Track Listing
CD-1 :  If you love me (let me know) / Promised land / Down in the alley / It's midnight / Your love's been a long time coming / Good time Charlie's got the blues / Softly, as I leave you / I'm leavin' / The first time ever I saw your face / Proud Mary / If you talk in your sleep / If you love me (let me know)  
CD-2  :  The twelfth of never / Faded love / Just pretend / The twelfth of never / Big boss man / Proud mary / Down in the alley / Good time charlie got the blues / Never been to Spain / It's midnight / If you talk in your sleep / I'm leaving / Let me be there / Softly as i leave you / If you love me (let me know) / Love me tender / Polk salad annie / Band introductions / Promised land / My baby left me / Bridge over troubled water / Fever / Hound dog / Can't help falling in love

Unfortunatly the last release of the DAE label, which gave us beautiful soundboard-releases, though this last one is a little bit discussed, claimed to be ripped from the 1994 Fort Baxter release 'If You Talk In Your Sleep - Opening  Night 1974', which contains the same show. I'd rather believe there were 2 tapes and DEA didn't steal it from the Fort Baxter people. But who cares anyway, for this is a nice release on both labels. I personnaly consider the mix on this release  a little bit better, although the sound is not as good as what we are used to. The rehearsel brings us some beautifull tunes, give insight in the way Elvis prepared for a new engagement. The sound quality is only fair, but Elvis giving the songs a more than decent treatment. I'm Leavin' really stands out, and Elvis can be heard discussing the arangement with the band. Disc 2 continues with 3 more songs from the rehearsels, whereafter you can hear a remix from The Twelfth Of Never with overdubbs done by David Briggs. Beautifully done.! The show is something else, starting without Also Sprach Zarathustra, but instead with a drum-roll  from Ronnie Tutt went on in Big Boss Man. After this Proud Mary is back in the song line-up, followed up by the first strange gem of the night: Down In The Alley. After a weak audience respons (they must have been totally perplexed by the strange opening) Elvis continues with a lot of very well performed songs in what seems to be a totally new show. Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues, It's Midnight, If You Talk In Your Sleep, I'm Leaving is back in the line-up. He must have knocked the audience down with song-wise probably the strongest show he ever gave. What a pitty he went back to the usual repertoire the next night.  wonder if he took is as a failure, taking the strange shows and the drugrumours spreading around later this season in consideration, and what impact this had on the man Elvis Presley. It must have been very hard labour.! Anyway, the show as a whole is a document which displays Elvis vocal quality's once more. Bridge Over Troubled Water is one of the best performed versions I've ever heard.

 

Review:     Hans / Elvisbay

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