Title: Caught In The Act (released in 2003)

Label: Memory Label

Date: August 26, 1973, Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, Midnight Show

Sound Quality: * * / * * * * * +

Concert Rating: * * * * / * * * * * +

Tracks: 1.Theme 2001 2.See See Rider 3.I Got A Woman / Amen 4.Love Me 5.Steamroller Blues 6.You Gave Me A Mountain 7.Blue Suede Shoes 8.Medley: Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On / Mama Don't Dance / Flip, Flop & Fly / Jailhouse Rock / Hound Dog 9.Love Me Tender 10.Fever 11.What Now My Love ? 12.Suspicious Minds 13.Band Introductions 14.Release Me 15.American Trilogy 16.Elvis introduces his daughter Lisa Marie 17.Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel 18.The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 19.Johnny B. Goode 20.How Great Thou Art (with reprise) 21.Can't Help Falling In Love 22.Closing Theme

Package: It is nicely done, with some small but color photographs inside, a very nice picture disk and informative liner notes by Arjan Deelen

Elvis: Not to say that he is great, but not bad at all. He sometimes seems tired, but mostly he is very concentrated and tries to repeat the success of the Aloha Special. The program is similar but just a bit more interesting.

Highlights: I guess every time that How Great Thou Art makes it's way into the song list it becomes a highlight. This show is no exception. Other highlights are What Now My Love, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Steamroller Blues.

Review: First of I'd like to say that this concert is interesting because on the bass is Emory Gordy, who tried to make his way into the TCB band since the 1972 rehearsals for the Elvis On Tour filming and appearing on such classic recordings as Burning Love and Separate Ways. When Jerry Scheff decided to leave the group because of divorce problems, the substitution was not hard to find. However, after 1973 Emory decided to concentrate on studio recording and that's how his relationship with Elvis ended.

Talking about this particular Las Vegas season, we know that it started good, with live renditions of Raised on Rock and the introduction of Trouble to the set. There are still no soundboard releases from this season, and it is a big shame, because this concerts are interesting and pretty enjoyable. Mostly, they are all very predictable, but still a joy to listen. We know for sure that at least a part of the scandal closing night (during which Elvis came out on Lamar Fike's back, and threw many risky comments to the Hotel's management) was recorded on soundboard. Three songs (the Mystery Train / Tiger Man medley, Help Me Make it Through the Night and the rare solo version of Softly, As I Leave You) were released as bonus tracks several years ago by 2001 label on the Opening Night - 1972 CD. It is a very important historic document, and though some fans don't it to be released, because in their opinion it would damage Elvis' image, I sincerely hope that it will be released on soundboard sometime.

However, back to the review. The sound quality of this release is not of highest class but still not bad at all for an audience recordings.

The concerts starts with See See Rider which is a pretty good 1973 version. I Got A Woman is pretty boring, uninspired version. "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. I hope you enjoy the show, we're gonna do a lot of songs walk around. Hope the belt not falling off" and then Elvis goes into Love Me. These days it is not yet that bad. Next is Steamroller Blues, which has already some elements of the funky versions of next year. It is a fantastic rendition. Emory Gordy also does a fantastic job on this particular song, it is clearly heard during the solo. Closer to the end, Elvis forgets the words, but still this song is fantastic. Next is You Gave Me A Mountain, which is very well delivered. "I'd Like to do a medley of some of my records for you" Elvis says and goes into Blue Suede Shoes. It is a yet another standard rendition - nothing special. Next is a long medley of different Elvis' hits. I think that it was a great idea to get rid of so many old songs in one time. Though the performance itself is below average. Next is a rendition of Love Me Tender. Though not being a fantastic rendition, it is much better performed than the previous song. Following is a wild rendition of Fever, with the audience applauding in the rhythm of the song and going crazy when Elvis jokes and moves. Next is What Now My Love. After this Las Vegas season the song left the regular song list and rarely appeared in concert. Elvis pays all his attention to this song, accurately seeking for the right phrasing and the result is fantastic - a very pure and stunning performance, with Elvis pouring all his soul into the song. Suspicious Minds (always a fan's favorite) is very funny this time with Elvis laughing in the middle slow part.

During the following introductions, Elvis introduces Emory Gordy as Emory Blueser Gordy, and it can't be better said. Next is Please Release Me, which can't match the beautiful 1970' versions. However the strings sound beautiful, this version has more of a country feel than a bluesy. Next is An American Trilogy. For some reason Elvis begins laughing during the first seconds of the song and in the funny mood sings "Look away, stay astray" to the laughter of the musicians. However the audience doesn't appreciate any jokes in this patriotic number. In the middle of the song some clips appear - probably the master tape was damaged. After the song Elvis says that he wants to sing a song for his daughter and he sings the Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel medley. Before going into the next song Elvis says: "I'd like to tell a little story first, ladies and gentlemen, about the orchestra and the members of my group up here. I can change songs and we do at least 50 songs and I'll turn around and tell them and they can just hear it and pick it up" which makes the audience applaude. "I'd like to do a song for Linda, this is the first time..." And the group goes into a beautiful version of this song. The line that hasn't been added to the studio version - "and the first time ever I lay with you..." - is so dramatically sung that you feel how the man sings it from the bottom of his heart. Next is Johnny B. Goode, which features great "chicken-picking" guitar playing from James Burton. Before ending the concert, Elvis decides to spoil us with an out of sight rendition of How Great Thou Art, including a reprise. Closing the show is the standard Can't Help Falling In Love With You.

What can I say as a conclusion? This is a pretty good concert, though it gives a "work-out" feeling. There are some really fantastic renditions. But if you are not a fan of audience recordings, I guess that you skip it and wait until a soundboard from this season finally arrives. If you don't care what kind of sound quality you are treated with, you have to obtain it for the good quality show.

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