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I’m a Steamroller Baby!
Elvis Presley’s March ’74 concerts are well documented with the excellent AS RECORDED LIVE ON STAGE IN MEMPHIS FTD a high water mark for the King – now there’s another – ELVIS 48hrs To Memphis FTD 7” release captures the King on blistering form in RICHMOND – delivering a quintessential seventies set-list and performance. Elvis’s usual brio is taken up a notch on this FTD CD, and it’s a delight to hear.
The sound is close to sensational for a soundboard recording and it's quite something – from the first opening crack of Ronnie Tutt’s snare drum on opener “See See Rider” –– through to Elvis’s off-mike comment during “Fever” – this show recorded 2 days before the aforementioned ‘As Recorded’ cuts the mustard with flying colours... The powerhouse “Steamroller Blues” is exemplary blues heaven as Elvis sings, “I’m a steamrolling snake” –– Elvis means business here on a superb version! Subtle tumbling drum fills start “Love Me Tender” before he kicks into high gear for the rock ‘n’ roll medley, and it’s very enjoyable.
More standouts include: a very solid “Polk Salad Annie,” and the always impeccable and patriotic, “Trilogy.” This show is the equal of the MEMPHIS show 2 days later and it’s all wrapped up in a superb 7” package with informative notes by a fan who attended the shows, and additional unseen photos.
According to the classy booklet tickets for the shows were of high demand and there were 4,000 bookings for tickets each day to see the King - when usually 400 to 500 a-day was the norm; of course Elvis was no ordinary entertainer...
The CD label is a copy of the original ‘lost’ 16-track tape labelling which is a thoughtful touch. Three bonus songs round out the CD but the main show here is the meat and gravy, and in stunning clarity. It’s one of the best FTDs of the year and the great cover has Elvis in his Aqua Blue Vine suit; sure to get Elvis 1970s fans drooling... Highly recommended.
Originally Posted by Fair Dinkum
