Title: DallasSeventyFive

Label: Lone Star A-456

Date: June 6, 1975, The Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, TX

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

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

Tracks: 1.I Got A Woman 2.Love Me 3.If You Love Me, Let Me Know 4.Love Me Tender 5.All Shook Up 6.Teddy Bear 7.Don't Be Cruel 8.Hound Dog 9.The Wonder Of You 10.Burning Love 11.Band Introductions 12.T-R-O-U-B-L-E 13.Why Me Lord 14.How Great Thou Art 15.Let Me Be There 16.American Trilogy 17.Funny How Time Slips Away 18.Little Darlin' 19.Mystery Train / Tiger Man 20.Can't Help Falling In Love 21.Closing Vamp 22.Elvis Has Left The Building

Package: Unfortunately, not too many pictures are available from this great show and the producers of the CD did not hinder themselves to buy some. They simply took the pictures from July-August 1975 period and put the color ones on the back and front sides and the b&w photos inside the cover. Not the best decision..

Elvis: This is one of the best shows from this tour. Elvis was very talkative and joking. More deep review below.

Highlights: This CD is something, which was previously released on Elvis Aaron Presley 4-CD set, except for 2 songs: T-R-O-U-B-L-E and Why Me Lord? The first one was not included for the reason that Elvis said "I smell D-A-L-L-A-S" (with the "ass" emphasis). The other was considered too funny, since Elvis was fooling with J.D. and said "Sing it dirty J.D." As for the deficiencies of this CD we got to say that Burning Love was not indicated in the tracklist on the CD and the songs starts two times not because of false start, but because of the mistake on the matrix CD.

However the show is fantastic, and as I said earlier, the best from the May 30 - June 10, 1975 tour. The sound quality is not too bad also, and the listening is quite satisfying.

Review by Christopher Brown (witness of the show). The review is taken from his book On Tour With Elvis: "Finally, the houselights dim, and the orchestra plays ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA. The overture ends and the opening vamp begins. But I don't see Elvis. He holds back for a few seconds, for effect -- to raise the anticipation level, as if that is needed.

Entering the auditorium from the right side of the stage, Elvis passes by the back-up vocalists. He's wearing the beautiful white jumpsuit”

With a black eagle emblazoned across the front and back -- the same Jumpsuit as the night before! Crossing the stage, Elvis acknowledges each section of the arena, including those seated behind him. Taking his guitar from Charlie.

Elvis walks over to the lone microphone standing in the center of the stage, and opens with SEE SEE RIDER. Tearing into this number, Elvis " obviously still enjoys performing it. Striking a pose with his guitar"” as the song ends, Elvis thrusts his guitar towards The Sweet Inspirations, and concludes the song.

"Whooh. Thank you very much. What are you all screaming about? WeUrti well well well well, well well well well, well well, well well well. That's it, thank you very much ...".

As the crowd responds to Elvis' teasing, he quickly begins I GOT A WOMAN. This song blends into a short verse of AMEN. Elvis holds the last 'Amen' at the first syllable, and thrusts out one leg, then the other, then one right after the other, as Ronnie plays an almost striptease-like beat on the drums. "C'mon, get raunchy. That's |enough. Gettin' dizzy. Meeennnn ..." Elvis sings, then says "... go Iget it, J.D. ..." as he commands J.D. to take the song down. Elvis, Standing at least five feet from the microphone is very pleased, as he can be heard saying, "Yeahi"

Following J.D.'s building-shaking low notes, Elvis returns to the microphone, completes the tag ending of 'I Got A Woman,' takes the guitar off from around his neck, flings it back and forth in the air to the beat of the drums, and finally tosses it over his shoulder to Charlie.

Charlie removes the stand, gives Elvis a microphone to hold, and returns to his place next to Jerry.

"Thank you very much. Good evening. Ladies and Gentlemen. Oh, you're a good crowd. You know I can tell when, I can tell when I walk in a building if you're going to be good or not, you know. I mean, the car pulled in ..." Elvis pauses for effect, "... and I could hear people breathing. Huuh huuh huhhh ..." Elvis says as he imitates some heavy breathing. "So I can tell, you know."

"We hope you have a good time this evening. We're, we're gonna do a lot of songs. Old ones, new ones, in-between. You know what looks funny, is these people with binoculars, they look like frogs to me. And then people ask me about the flashbulbs, and about the lights, and I say -- I can't see anything man ..." this last line is drawn out, being said slowly for effect. "I'm telling you."

Fans, seated behind the stage are heard to scream 'neither can I.' So Elvis turns around, and looks at them and says, "O.K. What?" Imitating the sound of all the flashbulbs going off, he says "... chau chau chau chau ..."

"Treat me like a fool, treat me mean and cruel, ah yeah but LOVE ME ..." Elvis sings. During the song, he sings " ... I would beg and steal, just to ah, it's a high stage ..." as he has to get right down on the floor to give a fan a kiss.

When Elvis sings "... I'll be sad and blue ...", he imitates someone crying, and later, while giving out some scarves, he sings "... just to feel ..." and pleads, "... wait a minute! ..."

As Elvis has crossed the stage several times, he finds himself tangled up in the microphone cord, and sings, "... darling I'll be oh so, oh so, damned wrapped up in this cord ..."

Holding the last note, Elvis watches the back-up singers turn blue, and seems to really enjoy it. "What are you doing, J.D.? ..." he asks as the song finally ends, and J.D. seems to have been a little too close to his microphone as it feeds back a bit.

"Thank you. Thank you very much. Ah, I'd like to tell you something. The people that got kissed, ah last night I kissed, kissed somebody, and I caught the Creeping Crud. Ha ha. And if I got it, honey, you got it, I don't care what it is, you know. Ah, O.K."

Walking over to the back-up singers, Elvis starts the next song, "... you came when I was happy in your sunshine, I grew to love you more, quit hiding Ed, each passing day ... AND I PRAYED YOU'D LOVE ENOUGH OF ME TO STAY ..." Elvis forcefully sings the last line, letting his beautiful voice fill the auditorium.

At the instrumental break, Elvis instructs James to "... play it, J.B. ... the arms that open wide to hold me closer, sing it straight, fellas ..." Elvis says as he looks at Voice. On the next line, "... the hands that run their fingers through my hair, kkkccchhhh ..." dramatizing someone roughly running their fingers through his hair. Elvis does his little side-step as he sings the title line, and receives a very good response as the song ends.

"Thank you very much. Thank you. Sorry, I almost stepped on you! Ah, my first movie was 'Love Me Tender', so I'd like to sing a little bit of that for you." The music starts, but Elvis has the band stop. "I just said I'd like to, but I don't really feel like doing it 'cause I've done it so much before, I'm tired of the song. No, I'll do it!"

Finally, Elvis starts "... LOVE ME TENDER, love go, how old are you kid, you have made, how old? love you so ... all my dreams fulfill, I'm just for my darling, she's gotta start somewhere, ha ... tell me you are mine, ha ha, ah don't jump . ha, wait a minute honey, one at a time ... love here ... tell me you are mine ..."

At this point, James plays a very unusual guitar lick, which after repeated listening, is quite memorable. Continuing, "... I'll be yours through all the years, till we, we lose our minds ..." Nice finish to a song Elvis mostly ad-libs through.

His comment about not wanting to sing 'Love Me Tender,' in jest, though, is not lost on the fans who want to hear new material. Elvis is tired of the old songs. But he must continue to sing them. Some of the rarer, old songs, that he would sing from time to time, were enjoyable for him -- for example, 'Tryin' To Get To You.' But 'Hound Dog,' 'Love Me Tender,' etc., etc., are sung as convincingly as possible for the five hundredth time.

"Thank you ..." and Elvis is quickly into a short version of All SHOOK UP. Elvis laughs and seems to mumble his way through the first verse.

At this point Elvis is totally lost in his discussion with this fan, a” can't figure out what song he's singing. "What am I singing? Ha ha. What am I singing?" At which point Charlie and the back-up singers sil 'put a chain* and Elvis joins in with "... chain around my neck, thank' you, and lead me, ha ha ..." Priceless! (I was so, so pleased that was able to release a composite concert from this tour.)

On the next song in this medley, Elvis sings "... if you can't come around, at least please telephone, what do you want?" At the instrumental break, Elvis tells the fans, "... wait a minute ..." as obtains another scarf from Charlie.

"O.K. Thank you very much. You ain't ..." long pause, "... heard nothin' yet ..." and following another short pause, "... nothin but-HOUND DOG ..." During the song, Elvis says, "... you ain't nothin' I a hound, it's O.K. ..." to a fan wanting something, and then asks, " whatcha gonna do now? ..." Elvis adds the "... chang chang ..." end but the band carries most of it.

"Thank you. I'd like to ask, I'd like to ask you a question, Ladies and Gentlemen. How many of you saw that movie last night on television?..." Elvis asks somewhat shyly. The crowd responds loudly. "Then why did you spend your money to come out here tonight? It's the same thing, you know, just ... except all these people got a little older up here on stage, except me, you know."

"Ah, this is a song that we did about, wait a minute." Elvis is at the edge of the stage now, looking up into the balcony, and says, "... what, wait a minute now. Honey, don't you jump off of that balcony, and don't lose anything either, you know."

"Ah, here's a song we did about two, three years ago, called 'The Wonder of You.' THE WONDER OF YOU ..." Elvis says again, almost as if the band wasn't sure of when to begin playing. Elvis does a great job on this, and finishes strongly with the back-up singers ably supporting him.

"Thank you very much. Thank you. Take it on ..." Elvis commands, as the band begins BURNING LOVE. This version is full of fire, and the audience is pleased Elvis is singing this. Good drum ending.

"Thank you very much. I'd like to ah, hello sweetheart, I see you. What do you want? What do you want? C'mon." At this point the band begins playing the background music used during the tour, over which Elvis would introduce the members of his band. "O.K., I'll get you next. O.K.?"

"What do you want, honey? You want a scarf? You been waiting twenty years for a scarf? For me? You's was only fourteen, don't kid me. Ha, ha. Honey, you'll never see thirty-five again, don't kid me." Elvis gives her a big kiss, and standing up, says, "next! Ha, I mean ah. I didn't mean that. Yeah, you, c'mon here ..." Elvis says as he points at another fan. "Now this girl is an old friend of mine."

Startled by Charlie's arrival to give him another scarf, Elvis says "Charlie, warn me when you're gonna do that, son, I don't know. What do you want, honey? Oh, you don't want anything. What are you doing down here? ..." Elvis asks in a very surprised tone. "Oh you don't want anything, O.K." Elvis says, almost resigned to the fact that she doesn't want anything. But the female fan says, 'No, I'll take anything' "You'll take anything?" Elvis echoes. "Woohoh'l" Elvis says, exaggerating the significance of her offer. "O.K., I'll just give you this. You got it, O.K."

"Now I can't come up there. There's no way I can get up there' I'd like to introduce you to the members of my group." Turning and looking at the band, who have been playing the introduction for quite some time now, Elvis says "... you guys don't play so loud, I'm, I'm yelling man."

"Ah, I'd like to introduce you to the members of my group before I go any further. Ladies and Gentlemen. First of all the young ladies, or they used to be, ah ha ha, ha ha, ha ha. They've been with me for about five years, I think they're fantastic. The Sweet Inspirations. The Sweet 01' Inspirations."

"The gentlemen back here, they've ah, well J.D., no wait a minute, wait a minute. Ah, one of the finest gospel quartets in the nation and some parts of Africa, J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet. Let me see that hand, J.D. Look at that ..." Elvis says, as he holds J.D.'s hand up, which is covered with rings. "He's got more than I do man, you know."

J.D. can be heard saying, 'you gave them to me'' "I've only got one, son. You've been in Texas too long, that's what's wrong with you. I'd like to introduce these guys individually to you, but ah, it's not worth it, really, ah, ha ha."

"The little girl that doeSr ha ha, does our high-voiced singing, ah, her name is Kathy Westmoreland." Taking her hand, Elvis forces her to stand up. "Kathy."

"On the rhythn” guitar, from Springfield, Missouri, is ah, John Wilkinson. John. Still don't trust me, do you John? After all these years, have I ever harmed you? No way, have I? First time for everything, son."

"Ah, on the lead guitar, from Shreveport, Louisiana is James Burton. Play something ..." which prompts James to play JOHNNY B. GOODE. Elvis sings most of the verse that is played, and during the "go go" part, really holds one of the "go's." Great. "O.K. Thank you, James."

"On the drums, from Dallas, is hard-working Ronnie Tutt." Ronnie performs a fantastic solo, as Elvis stands by admiring Ronnie's talent. "Yooh ..." Elvis screams as the solo really assaults the senses. This is the only time on tour that Elvis does not say from 'Dallas, Texas' -- for obvious reasons.

The solo ends, and Elvis, looking at Ronnie as if he'd done the weirdest thing in the world, says, "... Good grief Put him back in his cage

"On the fender bass, from up in Canada, is Jerry Scheff. Play the blues." Jerry performs a slow, bluesy solo. When it ends, Elvis says, "... thank you. Jerry." Looking at the audience, he continues with "... he didn't get any sleep last night, because he was up in the corridors all night." Responding to the continual screams, Elvis turns and says, "I love you too, honey, but don't fall out of that balcony, I told you."

"Ah, on the piano from Lubbock, Texas is Glenn Hardin." Glenn plays a great solo, and the audience really participates by clapping with the beat. Elvis throws in several "yeahs" and "hey heys." "Thank you, Glenn. Yeah." (Mote: I continue to be angered by RCA's editing of these solos from the 1980 release. They are very enjoyable.)

"The guy that gives me my water and scarves, and sings harmony with me, he's from Decatur, Alabama. His name is Charlie Hodge. Yeah."

"The fellas that opened our show tonight. Ha ha, they're from Nashville, I call them Voice."

"Our conductor is from Las Vegas, Mr. Joe Guercio. Maestro. Fantastic Joe Guercio Orchestra ..." at which point they play a short, rousing version of HAIL HAIL ROCK AND ROLL which Elvis sings slightly off-mic.

"Thank you. Gentlemen ..." Elvis says, looking at the orchestra. Turning to face the audience, he says, "... we have a new record out, Ladies and Gentlemen. It came out about ten days ago, it's called T-R-O-U-B-L-E, and it's got an awful ..." Elvis stumbles as he tries to figure what to say. "It's got a lot of words in it, and I don't know it, so if I miss it, ah, I'll just have to forget it, 'cause I can't go back and get it, you know. But we'll try it. Take it on"

"Well I don't miss much that ever happens on a dance hall floor, mercy'. ..." Elvis sings in his high Geraldine voice, while looking at Voice and laughing. Cracking up a bit, Elvis mumbles through the second verse, laughing while he tries to catch up to the tempo of the song, and then lets out a loud "... yoohl1 ..." Great piano, guitar, and drum ending.

"O.K. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, ah, what did we do last night, next? I, I'd like to ask the Stamps to do a song. Ladies and Gentlemen, called ah, WHY ME, LORD?" J.D. leads off this gospel song written by Kris Kristofferson.

As J.D. sings 'what did I ever do,' Elvis quickly ad-libs with, "... not much ..." Joining in on the chorus, Elvis helps improve J.D.'s warbling. "Sing it, J.D. ..." Elvis says in his high Geraldine voice. Putting a scarf over his head, Elvis walks over to try and distract J.D. and make him laugh.

"Sing it now ..." Elvis repeats over and over as J.D. tries to sing the second verse. Kidding J.D. more, with some additional ad-libs, J.D. is laughing hard now. Elvis, in fact, helps J.D. complete the song by singing "... on my way back to you ...," all in his high Geraldine voice. The song finishes strongly, but it has been totally destroyed by Elvis' antics.

"Thank you very much. I thought you laughed really good on that, J.D. I'd like to do ah, a serious gospel song. This features the Stamps, called HOW GREAT THOU ART." Following the first verse by Elvis, he looks at the Stamps and says, "... sing it ..."

The Stamps sing one verse as Elvis stands by and admires their talents. Returning to center stage, Elvis picks up the rest of the song, holding the line "... and there proclaim, OH MY GOOOODDDDD HOW GREEAATT THOU ART ..." The audience applauds wildly, and continues to, as Elvis finishes the song. He really enjoys singing about his God, as he often puts more energy and focus on this song than any other during the show. The crowd rewards Elvis with a standing ovation as he hits the last few notes.

"Thank you ..." Elvis says, almost embarrassed as the applause goes on for a lengthy period of time. "Thank you, ha. Thank you. O.K. I'll go back to the part ..." he stops, and has the band pick it from "... then I shall bow, in humble adoration, and there proclaim, OH MY GOOOOODDDD HOW GREEAATT THOU ART ..." Elvis really reaches for, and hits the notes he wants. Fantastic!

"Yeah! Thank you” Ladies and Gentlemen. You're fantastic. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. That makes it all worthwhile. Thank you very much. Take it on!"

Elvis goes into a great version of LET ME BE THERE. Elvis' voice booms through the speakers as he emphasizes several of the lines, "... let me CHANGE WHATEVER'S WRONG and make it right, LET ME TAKE YOU TO THAT WONDERLAND that only two can share ..."

"Yeah. I said a-let me be there in your morning ..." Elvis sings immediately following the conclusion of the song. Before the audience begins applauding, Elvis repeats the chorus, revealing his pleasure in performing the song.

"Thank you very much. Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen. I tell you what I ... O.K., c'mon. Here we go. Just a second here. Can you, can you jump up any higher than that? Ha ha. O.K. You got it! Remember that! O.K. Trilogy."

Elvis' epic performance of AN AMERICAN TRILOGY begins, with Elvis kidding during his performance of 'Dixie' by singing "... look away, look away, look away, look away. Dixieland ha ..." Elvis has sung one two many "look away's," and has to throw 'Dixieland' in quickly, and laughs about it. Immediately following this, Elvis tells the Stamps to "... sing it ..." in his high Geraldine voice.

The Stamps sing, 'oh I wish I was in Dixie' which prompts Elvis to respond, "... you are, you dodo ..." Picking up 'Dixie' again, Elvis, while looking at the Stamps, sings, "... oh Dixieland, where they were born ..."

In the 'Battle Hymn of the Republic,' Elvis sings "... glory glory, hallelujah, take it baby, c'mon ..." prompting the band and singers to put their all into this performance.

The tender song, 'All My Trials' begins, and Elvis sings "... so hush! hush little baby ...," the first hush is said to the fans he wishes were, and whom he also requests to be quiet in the line, "... don't you cry, shuuh ..." And then, somewhat irritated, Elvis goes on to sing, "... you know your daddy's ..." but angrily inserts, "*.. what? ..." However, in the next line Elvis laughs a little and sings, "... bound to die, but all, ha ha ha, my trials Lord, thank goodness, will soon be over ..."

Elvis steps back out o? the spotlight, which is now focused on the trumpet soloist. The buildup of instruments begins, as the trumpets blare out 'glory, glory hallelujah.' Elvis seems a little frustrated, as he says, "... it's too late! ..." Elvis hits the last note, and then slides up another octave by using his falsetto.

"Thank you very much. You're a fantastic audience. Ladies and Gentlemen. Ah, let's do LITTLE DARLIN' ..." Joking and laughing along with the lyrics, Elvis uses his falsetto several times, to wonderful effect.

"Thank you. Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen. Do you realize what that song says? I mean, that song's been around for a long time. Wait, just a minute. Le-le-le-lefc me talk for a minute. That song goes la la la la la, hoopa hoopa hoopa, no-awella, that's my lova, la la la, no was just ..." and then he has the nerve to go on and introduce the next song as a very serious song.

Elvis performs a dynamite medley of MYSTERY TRAIN/TIGER MAN, with the horn section exaggerating the sound .of a train whistle. Just before the instrumental break, Elvis turns to James and says "... take it with you, James ..."

Still thinking about 'Little Darlin',' Elvis throws in three, high-pitched "la la la's" during this break. At the next break, during 'Tiger Man,' Elvis instructs James, to "... take it down, J.B. Yeah, Lord, hooh!" Elvis gets really involved in this song, shaking and jerking his head from side to side, as the strobe lights strike the stage, accentuating his hand and hip movements.

"Whooh. Ladies and Gentlemen, now that you've had a chance to see us, I'd like to turn the houselights up, so that we can look at you. Turn the houselights up, please." As the lights come on, the screaming and yelling increases as the fans try to get Elvis' attention. "Thank you, dear. I saw you back there, I tried to get these guys to move, but they wouldn't do it. No. Well hello there ..." Elvis sings all of a sudden, as the band picks up on FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY.

Elvis uses his great falsetto on the lines, "... well that's the same thing you t-o-l-d m-e ...", and "... I remember what I told y-o-u ..." As the song concludes, he sings "... ain't it funny how time, slips right on, slips right on, away ..." with J.D. hitting the last low note.

"Thank you. Hey wait a minute. You deserve it. I wanna do just the last line of that song ... listen to our bass. Listen to our bass singer, he goes down to a low, where do you go? ..." Looking at J.D., he tells Elvis a 'low flat.' Not really sure of what he said, Elvis looks back at the audience and says, "... ha, he goes down to trouble."

"Ain't it funny, ha ha, see how fun it is, how time, really I'm not kidding you, he disappears, he goes so low, slips right on, don't get tickled J.D., cause you'll never make it, right on, aaa, way, way ..." and finally J.D. hits the last note, perhaps a little lower this time?

Very quickly, Elvis says, "... thank you. You're a fantastic audience. Ladies and Gentlemen, and I'd like to thank you very much. Wise men say, only fools, only fools rush in, but I, but I, I CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE ..." Elvis really goes up and hits the last note, ending the song with a strong and long held falsetto.

Putting his microphone down onto the stage floor, Elvis crosses the stage several times, thanking the crowd for their response, managing to shake a few more hands while giving out the last few scarves. Returning to center stage, Elvis waves goodbye, and leaves the stage. He's escorted down a short flight of stairs by his bodyguards, and disappears from sight."

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