What is the best Elvis live album?

Have been buying Elvis vinyl since finishing the two volume Guralnick biography - Last Train to Memphis & Careless Love. (Recommend the books BTW).

I bought Elvis is Back (found a DCC pressing from our host on eBay - wow!), From Elvis in Memphis, Elvis Presley & 24 Karat Hits. Now I am ready to move to the best live album(s) and could you use your thoughts.

 

I like On Stage (february 1970)

 

I have a soft spot in my heart for....

 

One more vote for Aloha From Hawaii. On Stage is fantastic aswell.

 

I also love in '68 Comeback Special, particularly the leather in the round set.

 

I’m not the biggest Elvis fan, but Aloha From Hawaii is a remarkable live album

 

Straight regular albums
On Stage
That's The Way It Is (live/studio)

Concert video
That's The Way It Is bluray
68 Comeback special - the two sit down shows

 

Madison Square Garden

 

I have always been found of both of the MSG shows from Prince from Another Planet, but Aloha is one of the greatest albums ever IMHO

 

I like them in the following order -

Madison Square Garden
Memphis 1974
International Hotel
On Stage
Aloha From Hawaii

Aloha is a fantastic concert, I think it’s a little over hyped as it was really the last time that we got to see Elvis looking healthy and giving his all, but I think vocally he sounds a little tired.

Madison Square Garden in my opinion is the best as it show Elvis and the band in top form and showed how great he was at singing everything from rock to country and it’s recorded very well.

Memphis for me is the last great live commercial recording we got, it shows Elvis relaxed, in a good mood and singing at top form and not rushing through.

The Las Vegas albums are energetic and sound great, but unfortunately were edited from different shows and don’t depict a full show, but they do give us a great insight of what Elvis sounded like when he returned to live performing.

 

Another vote for MSG '72 - my personal preference is the afternoon show.

 

If you need an actual "album" from the '68 special, there's only one choice:

Elvis Presley - Tiger Man

This is the second (8pm) sitdown show, after they laid some carpet down on the little square stage so the stomping is more felt, less heard. Elvis is in fine form after a quick break between shows, and Scotty and company are absolutely slaying it.

 

I have a sentimental attachment to the Memphis 1974 album, as it was the first album I bought with my own money (on August 17, 1977).

But a close second for me, just for the power in his voice, is Aloha From Hawaii. Not just a great live Elvis album, but a great live album on it's own.

 

That reminds me that I need to get a copy of this!

 

For the record, I do really enjoy watching the Aloha video, and it is a great concert, I just prefer those other two vids

 

Elvis as Recorded at Madison Square Garden (1972)

Avoid the Prince From Another Planet Release (bad remix), go for the Legacy Edition that features the original 1972 mix remastered by Vic Anesini.

https://www.amazon.com/Elvis-Record...n+square+garden+legacy+edition,aps,153&sr=8-3

 

The '69 Vegas shows are my faves. For contemporaneous releases I'd go with with
Elvis In Person At The International Hotel Las Vegas, Nevada set from From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis....maybe better yet, the Follow That Dream release of the August 23, 1969 midnight show -- Elvis: At The International

The '70 and '71 stuff is good too -- I'd go maybe with That's the Way It Is and On Stage

For early live Elvis I've always thought the Louisiana Hayride stuff is essential. Amazing hearing not only Elvis emerging but a whole genre of popular music emerging. There was a Complete Louisiana Hayride Archives two-CD set out at one point.

Has anyone heard the Bloch Arena/Pearl Harbor set from '61 that FTD put out?

 

I'd go with "Aloha From Hawaii", although "On Stage" is a close second.

 

Most are so wildly different that to me there are many that are essential.

ALOHA is my desert island disc.
MSG (Prince From Another Planet)
Live in Memphis 74
On Stage

Those are my must haves. The 68 Comeback obviously is on the mount Rushmore of rock & roll moments but I always think of that as a visual event and not an album.

 

Now there's an album title! Are you listening, Sony/BMG?

 

Having Fun on Stage With Elvis

-or-

Elvis Having Fun on Stage


-or-

Having Fun With Elvis On Stage

 

1969 Vegas shows
That't the Way It Is video (the bd is a bit different from the older dvd)
MSG 1972

 

There are plenty of complete shows available now in archival releases from FTD. This one was always my fave '69 one-off release:

 

Wow - thank you guys for the ideas. Not sure I have put so many items on my Discogs wantlist at once….

Follow up question. Just noticed that most US pressings of Aloha from Hawaii are quadrophonic. Any thoughts on sound quality of a quad vs stereo pressing (on a two channel set up)?

 

International Hotel is great short quick fast my favorite......James Burtons guitar work is some of the very best rock and roll I have ever heard....he rocks....my fav Johnny B Goode!