Boston Garden vs Madison Square Garden

[vivaelvis]

Inspired by the previous thread, which show would you consider to be more superior?

As Recorded At Boston Garden '71


An Afternoon In The Garden '72



For me, as much as I love the NY show, I have to go with the remarkable and energetic Boston show. He's really lose and full of electric energy from the moment he comes on stage to the finale. He is in full control. Sure he goofs up some but that brings out the excitement of a live concert and not too serious. The fans are also really into this show and approving of his performance. The instrumental break is also a highlight for me.

Highlights include:
That's All Right (different from the '72 version)
Proud Mary
You' Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
Polk Salad Annie (my all time favorite version)
Blue Suede Shoes
One Night (rare)
I'm Leavin'
Bridge Over Troubled Water (love the reprise at the end)
Suspicious Minds ( the last great rockin' version)

[Brian Quinn]

Inspired by the previous thread, which show would you consider to be more superior?

As Recorded At Boston Garden '71


An Afternoon In The Garden '72



For me, as much as I love the NY show, I have to go with the remarkable and energetic Boston show. He's really lose and full of electric energy from the moment he comes on stage to the finale. He is in full control. Sure he goofs up some but that brings out the excitement of a live concert and not too serious. The fans are also really into this show and approving of his performance. The instrumental break is also a highlight for me.

Highlights include:
That's All Right (different from the '72 version)
Proud Mary
You' Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
Polk Salad Annie (my all time favorite version)
Blue Suede Shoes
One Night (rare)
I'm Leavin'
Bridge Over Troubled Water (love the reprise at the end)
Suspicious Minds ( the last great rockin' version)

Viva,

The November 1971 Tour shows were fantastic and that includes the one in Boston. Like you say, as much as I love AAITG the Boston one takes preference for me. Elvis was in top form physically and mentally and the TCB band were really 'cooking'.

Brian

[Albert]

The performance of Elvis on Boston Garden is far superior over Afternoon In The Garden performance. I've compared all songs track-by-track to find out that even though Elvis was on top of his game during those 1972 shows, his voice was better (more dynamic and sharper) during the Boston show.

Too bad the soundquality makes it almost impossible for me to listen to that show. I prefer a lesser show with good soundquality over better shows with lesser soundquality.

So as which CD is better: I'd go for Afternoon in the Garden.

[vivaelvis]

I personally LOVE the sound quality on ARABG. The drums and bass are far better sounding on that show than on AAITG. Listen to the dynamics and punch in Tutt's drumming in Boston compared to that in NY.

[AHM1977]

For me, it all depends of my moods, the Madison show is more a routine show without the very sharp edges, and the Boston show much has sharp edges and a more "natural" Elvis.