Recorded Live in Stage at Memphis is the one I’m most likely to play. It might not be the best one but that’s my favorite.
I came across this. Can anyone speak to it's sound quality? Elvis - A Golden Celebration (1984) (RCA – CPM6-5172) (Elvis 50th Anniversary Series) (Mono Box Set) CD-1 The Sun Sessions - Outtakes • Memphis, Tennessee • 1954 And 1955 01 - Harbor Lights [2:37] 02 - That's Alright [Alternate Take] [2:13] 03 - Blue Moon Of Kentucky [Alternate Take] [1:05] 04 - I Don't Care If The Sun Don 't Shine [Alternate Take] [3:40] 05 - I'm Left. You're right. She's Gone [Slow Version] [2:36] 06 - I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') [Alternate Take] [1:05] 07 - When It Rains It Pours [Alternate Take] [4:04] The Dorsey Bros. Stage Show • New York, N.Y. • 1956 08 - Shake Rattle and Roll / Flip Flop and Fly [2:43] 09 - I Got A Woman [3:17] 10 - Baby, Let's Play House [2:29] 11 - Heartbreak Hotel [2:38] 12 - Blue Suede Shoes [2:14] 13 - Heartbreak Hotel [3:01] The Dorsey Bros. Stage Show • New York, N.Y. • 1956 14 - Tutti Frutti [2:33] 15 - I Was The One [2:57] 16 - Blue Suede Shoes [2:28] 17 - Heartbreak Hotel [2:34] 18 - Money Honey [2:46] 19 - Heartbreak Hotel [1:55] CD-2 The Milton Berle Show • California • 1956 01 - Introductions [1:07] 02 - Heartbreak Hotel [1:58] 03 - Blue Suede Shoes [2:17] 04 - Dialogue [2:28] 05 - Blue Suede Shoes [1:00] 06 - Hound Dog [2:42] 07 - Dialogue With Milton Berle [3:44] 08 - Dialogue [1:37] 09 - I Want You, I Need You, I Love You [3:32] The Steve Allen Show • New York, N.Y. • 1956 10 - Dialogue With Steve Allen [ 1:51] 11 - I Want You, I Need You, I Love You [2:51] 12 - Dialogue With Steve Allen [0:19] 13 - Hound Dog [1:45] The Mississippi-Alabama Fair And Dairy Show • Tupelo, Mississippi • September 26, 1956 - Afternoon Show 14 - Heartbreak Hotel [2:43 ] 15 - Long Tall Sally [2:33] 16 - Introductions And Presentation [2:36] 17 - I Was The One [3:19] 18 - I Want You, I Need You, I Love You [2:52] 19 - Elvis Talks [0:34] 20 - I Got A Woman [2:53] The Mississippi-Alabama Fair And Dairy Show • Tupelo, Mississippi • September 26, 1956 - Afternoon Show (Conclusion) 21 - Don't Be Cruel [2:05] 22 - Ready Teddy [2:15] 23 - Love Me Tender [2:58 ] 24 - Hound Dog [2:47] The Mississippi-Alabama Fair And Dairy Show • Tupelo, Mississippi • September 26, 1956 - Interviews 25 - Vernon & Gladys Presley [1:44] 26 - Nick Adams [1:42] 27 - A Fan [2:25] 28 - Elvis [1:52] CD - 3 The Mississippi-Alabama Fair And Dairy Show • Tupelo, Mississippi • September 26, 1956 - Evening Show 01 - Love Me Tender [1:50] 02 - I Was The One [2:48] 03 - I Got A Woman [2:50] 04 - Announcement [1:45] 05 - Don't Be Cruel [ 2:12] 06 - Blue Suede Shoes [2:34] 07 - Announcement [1:03] 08 - Baby, Let's Play House [2:43] 09 - Hound Dog [3:53] 10 - Announcement [1:50 ] The Ed Sullivan Show • California And New York • 1956 - September 9, Hollywood 11 - Don't Be Cruel [2:41] 12 - Elvis Talks [0:41] 13 - Love Me Tender [2:41] 14 - Ready Teddy [2:38] 15 - Hound Dog [1:09] The Ed Sullivan Show • California And New York • 1956 - October 28, New York 16 - Don't Be Cruel [2:18] 17 - Ed Sullivan [0:29] 18 - Love Me Tender [3:20] 19 - Ed Sullivan Introduces Elvis [0:54] 20 - Love Me [3:24] ] 21 - Hound Dog [1:53] 22 - Elvis' Closing Remarks [0:44] The Ed Sullivan Show. New York, N.Y. • January 6, 1957 23 - Introduction [1:08] 24 - Hound Dog [1:00] 25 - Love Me Tender [1:17] 26 - Heartbreak Hotel [1:39] 27 - Don 't Be Cruel [2:17] 28 - Too Much [2:52] 29 - Elvis Talks [0:47] 30 - When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again [2:13] 31 - Ed Sullivan Speaks [0: 50] 32 - (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me) [1:38] 33 - Ed Sullivan Speaks [1:08] CD-4 Elvis At Home • Germany • 1958-60 01 - Danny Boy [3:33] 02 - Soldier Boy [1:48] 03 - The Fool [5:07] 04 - Earth Angel [2:36] 05 - I Asked The Lord (He's Only A Prayer Away ) ) [2:41] Collector's Treasures • Discovered At Graceland - Date Unknown 06 - Excerpt From An Interview For TV Guide [5:04] 07 - My Heart Cries For You [2:45] 08 - Dark Moon [6:17] 09 - Write To Me From Naples [2 :12] Elvis • Burbank, California • June 27, 1968 10 - Suppose [3:02] 11 - Blue Suede Shoes [1:35] 12 - Tiger Man [2:37] 13 - That's All Right [3:03] 14 - Lawdy Miss Clawdy [1:47] 15 - Baby What You Want Me To Do [Alternate Take] [1:44] 16 - Love Me [2:27] 17 - Are You Lonesome Tonight? [3:24] 18 - Baby What You Want Me To Do [Alternate Take] [1:43] 19 - Blue Christmas [3:01] 20 - One Night [2:30] 21 - Trying To Get To You [2:51] +++
Found an absolutely pristine RCA Quadradisc pressing of Aloha from Hawaii this past week at the local record shop. Playing it now, loud, while working. No pops or anything. Even though I'm not set up for the Quadradisc playback, it even sounds nice on my regular stereo. All for the exorbitant sum of $8.00.
A great CD! One I play quite often. He really does belt out "Trying To Get To You" - one of the early songs that he seemed to treat with respect throughout the 70s. "Tiger Man" is another excellent performance. Shame he couldn't remember all the words to "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" - perhaps this would have been replaced by the dire "Blue Christmas" had he remembered the words and it was his fav xmas song. So glad this CD was put together it's all you need from this 68 TV special. Was never in favour of the stand up segment with the orchestra behind him just didn't work well on some of the songs imo.
Which one is better of the two for the 1961 Pearl Harbor concert, FTD - Rock Around The Bloch or MRS - Such A Night In Pearl Harbor?
Madison Square Garden, both afternoon and evening show, june 11 1972. However I reckon the MSG concerts will be soon replaced by one of the four Elvis on Tour concerts (possibly Hampton Roads) on the soon-to-be official SONY music released box set.
The sound quality varies. It is really a remarkable box set in terms of what it largely represents, which is an alternate view of the ascent of Elvis Presley in the 1950's, showcasing the audio from his dynamic television performances, plus some rare live concert performances and demos. The Burbank '68 tracks have been superseded in completeness, but they were a nice addition at the time. Not an essential box set in 2022, but still a very good one, and the only place to get all the audio of the 1950's television broadcasts.
My friends, much as i love the '68 T.V. special i really don't see how you could define it as live album because it was filmed before a small, limited audience, what with two 30 minute stand-up (29-6-1968) and two 50 minute sit-downs (27-6-1968), with some studio production inbetween and not as a fully-fledged live concert.
Not all of the ‘68 Comeback Special is live (e.g. the production numbers), but the small combo jam sessions are “live” regardless of the size of the audience, and therefore the aforementioned Tiger Man is a live album.
Agree,never liked the aloha shows…elvis voice,the band,the mix,the tcb band…..almost all other shows is better imo
My main problem with these 68 stuff is the overall poor sound quality. Mono sound doesnt work for me simple as that.
Oh man. I don't think I've ever made such a 180... After listening to the FTD Aloha mix just recently I'll have to retract my previous statement. I can hear now what others probably heard all this time: it truly is an amazing show...but the sound was always just so flat. This new mix brings out everything that I didn't like in the original. This is a whole new show and as mentioned throughout the thread, one of Elvis' finest. The weight of this show was immense. Truly was a triumph. If you can't get the FTD wait for the Legacy release next year. Boy it's a stunner.
I will never understand why some rate the Aloha show so high. To me its one of the weakest Elvis shows,especially if just listening to the audio. Things like Suspicious Minds is simply awful….one of the worst versions ever.
I would recommend 2 complete and unedited shows on the FTD label: Live In Las Vegas and Hot August Night….great show and sound mixes. Much better than the mix on the 69 box set from 2019 IMO
To answer the OP, my favourite live albums from 1968 onwards would be as follows.... Complete '68 Comeback Special (4 x CD Set) The Return To Vegas (FTD) Viva Las Vegas (Live Collection 1969 - 1972) [Including 21st August 1969, Midnight Show] (2 x CD) Elvis In Person [Including 22nd August 1969, Dinner Show] (FTD) Elvis Live At The International [23rd August 1969, Midnight Show] (FTD) Hot August Night [25th August, 1969 Midnight Show] (FTD) Live in Vegas August 1969, [26th August 1969, Dinner Show] (FTD) The On Stage Season (FTD) On Stage February 1970 (FTD) Off On Stage (FTD) That's The Way It Is (8 x CD 2 x DVD) For the period beyond 1970 I struggle to listen to complete shows, this is largely due to the rushed 1950's medley's and great songs such as Suspicious Minds that Elvis has quite obviously lost interest in performing. That's not to say there aren't great songs and performances in the period up until 1974, there are, but I struggle to get through complete shows just to hear those songs. My solution was to create my own four disc set containing some of the best performances between 1969 and 1974..... Elvis On Stage - August 1969 - April 1974 Discs 1 - 3: Recorded at The International/Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada 1969 - 1972 Disc 4: Recorded On Tour 1972 - 1974 Disc 1: (79:00) 1. Blue Suede Shoes (8-25-1969 MS) 2. I Got A Woman (8-25-1969 MS) 3. All Shook Up (8-25-1969 MS) 4. Elvis Monologue (8-25-1969 MS) 5. Love Me Tender (8-25-1969 MS) 6. Jailhouse Rock - Don't Be Cruel (8-25-1969 MS) 7. Heartbreak Hotel (8-25-1969 MS) 8. Hound Dog (8-25-1969 MS) 9. Funny Haw Time Slips Away (8-25-69 DS) 10. I Can't Stop Loving You (8-25-1969 MS) 11. My Babe (8-25-1969 MS) 12. Mystery Train - Tiger Man (8-25-1969 MS) 13. Johnny B. Goode (8-24-69 MS) 14. Life Story (8-25-1969 MS) 15. Memories (8-21-69 MS) 16. Baby, What You Want Me To Do (8-25-1969 MS) 17. Runaway (8-25-1969 MS) 18. Are You Lonesome Tonight (8-25-1969 MS) 19. Inherit The Wind (8-26-69 DS) 20. Words (8-25-1969 MS) 21. Yesterday - Hey Jude (8-25-1969 MS) 22. Band Intros (8-25-1969 MS) 23. Rubberneckin' (8-26-69 MS) 24. In The Ghetto (8-25-1969 MS) 25. This Is Story (8-26-69 MS) Disc 2: (75:00) 1. Suspicious Minds (8-25-1969 MS) 2. Reconsider Baby (8-23-69 MS) 3. What'd I Say (8-25-1969 MS) 4. Can't Help Falling In Love (8-25-1969 MS) 5. That's All Right (8-13-70 DS) 6. Men with Broken Hearts (8-11-70 MS) 7. See See Rider (2-18-70 MS) 8. Release Me (And Let Me Love Again) (2-18-70 MS) 9. Sweet Caroline (2-16-70 DS) 10. The Wonder of You (2-18-70 DS) 11. Don't Cry, Daddy (2-19-70 MS) 12. Polk Salad Annie (2-18-70 MS) 13. Proud Mary (2-16-70 DS) 14. Walk a Mile in My Shoes (2-19-70 MS) 15. Let It Be Me (Je t'appartiens) (2-17-70 MS) 16. Kentucky Rain (2-19-70 MS) 17. True Love Travels on a Gravel Road (1-26-70 Opening Night) 18. You"ve Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (8-13-70 DS) 19. The Next Step is Love (8-10-70 Opening Night) 20. Long Tall Sally (2-18-70 MS) 21. I've Lost You (8-11-70 DS) 22. Patch It Up (8-12-70 DS) 23. Make The World Go Away (8-13-70 DS) Disc 3: (55:17) 1. One Night (8-13-70 DS) 2. It's Now Or Never (2-23-70 Closing Night) 3. Love Me (8-12-70 MS) 4. Don't Be Cruel (8-11-70 MS) 5. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me (8-10-70 Opening Night) 6. Just Pretend (8-12-70 MS) 7. I Just Can't Help Believin' (8-13-70 DS) 8. I Was the One (8-12-70 MS) 9. Little Sister/Get Back (8-12-70 MS) 10. There Goes My Everything (8-12-70 MS) 11. Twenty Days and Twenty Nights (8-12-70 DS) 12. Stranger In The Crowd (8-13-70 DS) 13. Bridge Over Troubled Water (8-13-70 DS) 14. An American Trilogy (2-16-72 MS) 15. Never Been To Spain (2-16-72 MS) 16. You Gave Me A Mountain (2-16-72 MS) 17. It's Over (2-17-72 DS) 18. The Impossible Dream (The Quest) (2-16-72 MS) 19. A Big Hunk O' Love (2-16-72 MS) Disc 4: (54:13) 1. How Great Thou Art (Convention Centre, San Anotonio, 4-18-72) 2. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy (Coliseum, Richmond, MA, 4-10-72) 3. Until It's Time for You to Go (Madison Square Gardens, Afternoon Show, 6-10-72) 4. I'll Remember You (Madison Square Gardens, Afternoon Show, 6-10-72) 5. For the Good Times (Madison Square Gardens, Afternoon Show, 6-10-72) 6. Burning Love (Convention Centre, San Anotonio, 4-18-72) 7. Something (International Centre, Honolulu, 1-14-73) 8. Steamroller Blues (International Centre, Honolulu, 1-14-73) 9. My Way (International Centre, Honolulu, 1-14-73) 10. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (International Centre, Honolulu, 1-14-73) 11. What Now My Love (International Centre, Honolulu, 1-14-73) 12. Fever (International Centre, Honolulu, 1-14-73) 13. Trying to Get to You (Mid South Coliseum, Memphis, 3-20-74) 14. Why Me Lord (Mid South Coliseum, Memphis, 3-20-74) 15. Help Me (Mid South Coliseum, Memphis, 3-20-74) 16. Medley: Blueberry Hill/I Can't Stop Loving You (Mid South Coliseum, Memphis, 3-20-74) 17. Welcome To My World (International Centre, Honolulu, 1-14-73) 19. My Baby Left Me (Mid South Coliseum, Memphis, 3-20-74) 20. Let Me Be There (Mid South Coliseum, Memphis, 3-20-74) 21. Closing Vamp (Coliseum, Greensboro, 4-14-72) This Set has largely been constructed using vintage mixes, or mixes done in the same vintage style by Vic Anesini. There some more recent mixes by other engineers but these are only used where there was neither a vintage nor Anesini mix available. Thankfully, with the exception of two songs mastered by Dennis Ferante, Vic Anesini did the mastering on all of the material, so no loudness wars style mastering here. With regards to the track listing, there are no repeat songs, the set includes only one performance of each song, the idea being that it runs like one complete live performance, albeit one that clocks in at around Four hours and Twenty minutes.
I want to give you a Huge Thank You for sharing with us your knowledge of these live recordings. You have done a fantastic job of doing the heavy lifting for us.
Thanks for the kind words, it's something that I've been working on for a few months as and when I could find the motivation. I'll probably make some tweaks at some point and swap out one version of a song for another, particularily on the 69 era recordings but that's just me nitpicking. To begin with it was a stop and start process that began with me isolating the best songs from 1972 - 1974, this was due to my disatifaction with all the uninspired performances that permeated every post 1970 live recording. Initially I tried making a compilation of those songs along with a few other favourites from 1970, unfortunately that wasn't entirely satisfying so I had a rethink and decided to put together my ideal Elvis show from the best officially available recordings. I tried numerous ways of compiling this collection but nothing seemed to work, that was until I hit on the idea of picking two of the best shows from 69 & 70 and using those as my base. These were the "Hot August night" and "The Wonder of You" FTD releases. Once I'd done that I was able to build everything around those two shows by adding in the one version of every song recorded during that 5 year period. Overall it was a long, frustrating and time consuming process, but one where the end result made all the time and effort worthwhile.
Awesome list. Loved the compilation you put together. I pretty much feel the same way about the concerts after 1970. To me they felt more rushed and Elvis had a different feel like he was just going through the motions especially towards the later years. As far as the list you have I love it but I would just change a tiny bit and maybe add a couple. But that is just me. Tiger Man - 68 Comeback Special/Sitdown portion (RCA/BMG) instead of the complete 68 Comeback Special Elvis - Prince From Another Planet [MSG - both shows - June 10, 1972] (FTD) Also have both RCA/BMG single releases Elvis Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis [March 20, 1974] (FTD) Have not heard the Legacy edition As far as compilations these are what I pop in my CD player once in a while. I like these both as they give the feeling of a complete show even though they are compilations from various concert years. Elvis Presley - On Stage Different On Stage, this one was a Graceland exclusive CD Elvis Presley - The Concert - 1999 World Tour
