Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The concept of this CD is to make you feel as if you're there, springnight in Midwest, watching Elvis on stage. This illusion is created by the tracks that are mixed (though not always perfectly, mind you) like it's a real one-night concert.
First of all, I'd like to point at the incredible sound of the recordings. And that's not surprising: all of them were professionally recorded (not taken from occasinal soundboard) at various venues by Elvis' producer, Felton Jarvis, who was desperately hoping to record something interesting for a new LP since it was impossible to bring Elvis to studio (indeed, some of these recordings did surface overdubbed on Moody Blue, Elvis' last album).
Now we all know that 1977 was the year the King of Rock'n'Roll died, that he had had health problems, that he exhibited no interest in making new music, etc. From that perspective the album is rather unique and impressing due to the opportunity for the compilators to represent the best recorded performances of the period.
There are strong numbers that Elvis delivered the way only that man could: My Way (perfect), Blue Christmas, Fairytale, That's All Right, Blue Suede Shoes (this one is very good, suprisingly for that period), Unchained Melody, Trying To Get To You. "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" would be perfect had Elvis not fooled around, as always he did with this song on stage, but it's still nice to hear. A lot of oldies here don't sound worn out. Elvis was obviously in the mood. One would wish there would be more "unusual" songs recorded.
In a way, SPRING TOURS '77 makes up for another 1977 live record, ELVIS IN CONCERT, which was taped a few months later for a CBS TV special. The CBS project turned out to be a disaster, for it unfortunately caught Elvis not in good time and mood. Now we only could wish Elvis had been filmed just a bit earlier on those small tours in the spring 1977.
For any Elvis fan this CD is a musthave (thus 5 stars). For a casual music fan, if he/she would like to hear what Elvis Presley was like near the end of his life, this would be the best, too (from that point of view I would give 3 stars - just for interest).
Last note: most of the recordings had never been released officially before.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Spring Tours
Limited Edition CD on the official Elvis collector's label, Follow That Dream/BMG Denmark,comes in a digipak sleeve. Recorded five months before his death, these recordings prove that Elvis still had the power, emotion and excitement in his performances up until the very end.Features the King running through some of his greatest hits including 'Are You Lonesome Tonight', 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Little Sister', 'Jailhouse Rock' and 'Blue Suede Shoes' as well as live favorites like 'Little Darlin'', 'Fairytale', 'Unchained Melody', 'My Way' and more.
0 comments:
Post a Comment