TRYING TO GET TO YOU
This is the tenth release by Straight Arrow and features the show
performed in
It comes with a 16 page booklet, which includes an overview of concerts
from the period, together with a generous selection of colour photos from the
actual show. The design of the artwork is both striking and different from their
previous issues, but attractive nonetheless.
The sound quality is much clearer than we have had before, with better
definition and improved bass. However, due to the noisy crowd and the echo of
the auditorium, the sound can sometimes seem a bit harsh, leaving some of the
dialogue hard to make out. That said, the great crowd atmosphere effectively
conveys the excitement of the occasion, making it a worthwhile and enjoyable
experience.
The show starts with the 2001 introduction, where several female fans
close to the recorder appear overwhelmed by the excitement of the occasion. See
See Rider follows which has some unusual improvised vocalising where Elvis holds
one note for four bars and repeats other words for effect. Clearly he was in the
mood to perform tonight. Afterwards, he comments on the amazing crowd
atmosphere, saying, “A wild bunch on Saturday Night.”
I Got A Woman ends with a four verse Amen chorus and two vocal slides
from J.D.Sumner during which Elvis remarks, “He hasn’t had the time to get
warmed up and neither have I. We’re working off each other….like firecrackers.”
Afterwards, the crowd are so excitable that his welcoming address is difficult
to hear. Love Me is next, where fans close-by can be heard going mad in their
efforts to obtain a scarf. He even calls out, “They’re all nuts,” at one point.
If You Love Me is followed by You Gave Me A Mountain, then Jailhouse Rock
where he messes up the ending calling out, “C’mon, let’s do it again” awkwardly
at the point he would normally finish it. It’s Now Or Never has the usual O Sole
Mio prelude sung by Sherrill Neilson, with an edit afterwards, during the
dialogue leading up to Little Sister. This is followed by the Teddy Bear / Don’t
Be Cruel medley, where he can be heard laughing and changing the lyrics,
although it is very difficult to ascertain what he says.
Trying To Get To You is introduced as ‘a record he recorded seventeen
years ago,’ which leads to a powerful and committed performance. However, the
effort obviously tires him as he then asks Sherrill Neilson to sing Danny Boy
and a gospel song called Walk With Me. This serves as a cue for fans nearby to
start talking amongst themselves, perhaps giving us an indication of how this
section was received by those in attendance. Whilst Sherrill does a pretty good
job on these songs, it’s obviously a huge disappointment that it wasn’t Elvis
singing them.
Afterwards, he asks the audience what they want to hear, before selecting
One Night as the next song. This turns out to be one of the last live
performances of this song and a rare inclusion for shows this year. It has him
commenting “Not true,” after the line, ‘I ain’t never did no wrong’ and ends
with him calling out, “That’s it, it’s lovely.” My Way follows, which is
introduced with the remark, “I don’t know the words, so I have to read this
thing every night.” It proves to be a great version regardless, with an
impressive reach on the ending.
The group introductions are next, where Ed Hill is introduced as
‘Blueberry Hill’ and Ed Enoch is credited with doubling for him in the stage
set-up. It features the usual snatches of Early Morning Rain and What I’d say,
with a request for James Burton to play the guitar at the back of his head
during Johnny B. Goode. Further entertainment is provided by Bobby Ogden, who
when asked to play something crazy on his clavinet, obliges with a short burst
of syncopated ragtime and the orchestra solo, which has Elvis joining in
enthusiastically on the ending.
Hurt is introduced as his latest record, which leads to another assured
performance, resulting in extended applause and whistles. Hound Dog is next,
where he sounds to be enjoying himself, judging by his extra effort in the
build-up to the ending. After this, he thanks the audience and without further
ado, closes the show with Can’t Help Falling In Love. The closing vamp is
followed by the after-show announcements to round off this CD.
In conclusion, this is a good show for this period, where Elvis’ health
was variable and impacted on his performance. However, on this occasion he is in
good spirits and even accepts a request, resulting in a rare performance of One
Night. Apart from this surprise inclusion, it is inevitably very similar to all
other shows performed during this year, so each collector should judge the
merits of this particular release accordingly.
SOUND RATING
**½
Reviewed by Mike Sanders (