Title: An Afternoon At The Garden (released in 1997)
Label: BMG
Date: June 10, 1972, Matinee Performance
Digital Remastering Rating: * * * * * / * * * * * +
Concert Rating: * * * * * / * * * * * +
Tracks: 1.Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra 2.That's All Right 3.Proud Mary 4.Never Been To Spain 5.You Don't Have To Say You Love Me 6.Until It's Time For You To Go 7.You've Lost That Loving Feeling 8.Polk Salad Annie 9.Love Me 10.All Shook Up 11.Heartbreak Hotel 12.(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel 13.Love Me Tender 14.Blue Suede Shoes 15.Reconsider Baby 16.Hound Dog 17.I'll Remember You 18.Suspicious Minds 19.Introductions By Elvis 20.For The Good Times 21.An American Trilogy 22.Funny How Time Slips Away 23.I Can't Stop Loving You 24.Can't Help Falling In Love
Package: Really well done, with great comments by Colin Escott and awesome photos. I guess that since this release, RCA launched a new packaging strategy, followed on Aloha From Hawaii.
Show: The concert is, in some points, better than the famous evening show. Elvis is more relaxed, comparing to evening, but more precised than usual. He is aware that the concert is a historic one, but at the same time he knows that the serious concert (i.e. evening show) is ahead of him. This is a similar case with the dress rehearsal of Aloha.
Review: 1.Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra 2. That's All Right - this is a rocking number, 2 times faster than the original, according to the notes. Elvis sounds perfectly, you clearly hear all the instruments, much better mix than in almost every bootleg and official release also!
3.Proud Mary - this song in Elvis' repertory since 1970 till 1974 was always performed great. Here Elvis does a really rocking version.
4.Never Been To Spain - a powerful song, which is in Elvis' repertory since the Vegas opening in January of the same year. Elvis is making a very good version.
5.You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - a serious version of this beautiful love song, which is my favorite version.
6.Until It's Time For You To Go - a version with Elvis probably giving scarves, because of the shouts that can be heard.
7.You've Lost That Loving Feeling - I like this version even more than the most popular 1970 version. Elvis sounds better.
8.Polk Salad Annie - "Take it out, Jerry!" Elvis says and rushes a "It woke me up anyway", in his own words, version.
9.Love Me 10. All Shook Up 11. Heartbreak Hotel 12. Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel 13. Love Me Tender 14. Blue Suede Shoes - songs that made the audience remember the good old days. Still, they are better than many others from the later years.
15.Reconsider Baby - maybe a live jam? At least the group follows Elvis, without the first chord, usually played by Glen D. Hardin before almost every song. Great!
16.Hound Dog - it begins slowly and ends fast. Nothing special.
17.I'll Remember You - a beautiful version of this often performed in this period song. Great!
18.Suspicious Minds - one more version of the most popular Elvis' song.
19.Introductions by Elvis - no comments!
20.For The Good Times - a great version of this great song. Always a joy to hear Elvis performing this song. It looks like he's giving some scarves, because there are to much shouts.
21.An American Trilogy - always an emotional moment. As great as always.
22.Funny How Time Slips Away - another song, sung to please the audience - nothing special.
23.I Can't Stop Loving You - as always - a great version.
24.Can't Help Falling In Love - a "farewell" song, without any emotions.
A BMG / FTD releases index
