Rippin’ It In Cincinnati
The second 2018 release from Straight Arrow is entitled Rippin’ It In Cincinnati from March 21st 1976 (2:30pm show).
It was the 1st tour of 1976 and some of Elvis’ key musicians were replaced. Unexpectedly, the result was a surprisingly fresh sound, with keyboards and drums prominent. During this rather short tour, Elvis performed 8 solid and entertaining shows in 4 cities.
The Cincinnati show is previously unreleased. Once again, this show was not available in acceptable sound thus far. The only existing tape in circulation was in poor quality. This was the show where Elvis ripped the seat of his blue Bicentennial suit during Polk Salad Annie, and finished the show dressed in the Rainfall suit. It is one of the very few shows where Elvis left the stage for awhile (another example is Baltimore, May 29, 1977, released on our 2xCD Breakdown In Baltimore).
This recording has been taken directly from a first generation copy of a previously unreleased original audience-recorded cassette. This concert was recorded by Elvis super-fan John Herman, who also taped the legendary Pittsburgh 1976 New Years Eve show, widely released by bootleggers and by the official FTD label.
As usual, this release is presented in a deluxe 6-panel digipak with collection of photos taken in Cincinnati and local press reviews. A couple of unpublished John Herman snapshots were added, too!
Tracklisting…
Introduction / Also Sprach Zarathustra / CC Rider / I Got A Woman – Amen / Love Me / Let Me Be There / You Gave Me A Mountain / Steamroller Blues / All Shook Up / (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear – Don’t Be Cruel / Love Me Tender / Polk Salad Annie – Elvis leaves the stage to change the jumpsuit / Introductions Of Singers, Musicians And Orchestra (by JD Sumner) / What’d I Say (James Burton, instrumental) / Drum Solo (Larry Londin) / Bass Solo (Jerry Scheff) / Elvis returns / Piano Solo (Shane Keister) / Electric Piano & Clavinet Solo (David Briggs) / School Day / And I Love You So / Hurt (with reprise) / Burning Love / America The Beautiful / Funny How Time Slips Away / Heartbreak Hotel / Hound Dog / Can’t Help Falling In Love / Closing Vamp / Announcements.
Philadelphia Freedom
The first Straight Arrow release in 2018 is entitled Philadelphia Freedom and contains the June 28th 1976 show at the Spectrum.
It’s the summer of 1976, and America is celebrating its bicentennial. What could be more patriotic than seeing America’s greatest entertainer in the city where the countries’ Declaration of Independence was formed and signed? The Straight Arrow team has been looking for a recording of this particular concert for a long time… and they finally succeeded.
Compared with July and August 1976 concerts, performances in June were of a much better standard and the Philadelphia concert is no exception. Elvis did a fine show that night. The Philadelphia show is previously unreleased. Until now, this show was not available in acceptable sound, and the only existing tape was in horrible quality. This release has been taken directly from a previously unreleased, original audience-recorded cassette. This concert was recorded by an Elvis fan from Pennsylvania.
This release is presented in a deluxe six-panel digipak with a collection of photos taken during the concert. There’s also some interesting liner notes written by the fan who taped the show.
Tracklisting
Part of pre-program: Gonna Fly Now (theme from Rocky – by Joe Guercio & The Hot Hilton Horns) / Black Sunday (by The Sweet Inspirations) / If You Leave Me Now (by Sweet Inspirations). The Elvis Presley show: Introduction / Also Sprach Zarathustra / CC Rider / I Got A Woman – Amen / Love Me / If You Love Me (Let Me Know) / You Gave Me A Mountain / All Shook Up / (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear – Don’t Be Cruel / And I Love You So / Jailhouse Rock / Fever / America The Beautiful / Introductions Of Singers, Musicians And Orchestra / Early Mornin’ Rain / What’d I Say / Johnny B. Goode / Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt – incomplete) / Bass Solo (Blues – Jerry Scheff) / Piano Solo (Tony Brown) / Electric Piano & Clavinet Solo (David Briggs) / Love Letters / School Day / Hurt #1 / Hurt #2 / Hound Dog / Funny How Time Slips Away (with reprise) / Can’t Help Falling In Love / Closing Vamp / Announcements.
(The pre-program was taped in Philadelphia, PA, May 28th, 1977 by the same guy who recorded the 1976 show. Straight Arrow planned to release the May 28th, 1977 show too, but another label released it recently from another tape source.)
Yes¬! 
