Title: Dinner At Eight (released in 2005)

Label: FTD

Date: December 13, 1975, Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada

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

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

Tracks: 1.CC Rider 2.I Got A Woman / Amen 3.Love Me 4.Help Me Make It Through The Night 5.Trying To Get To You 6.And I Love You So 7.All Shook Up 8.Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel 9.Wooden Heart 10.You Gave Me A Mountain 11.Polk Salad Annie 12.Introductions 13.How Great Thou Art 14.Softly As I Leave You 15.America 16.Mystery train / Tiger man 17.Blue Christmas 18.Cant help falling in love. (Duration: 65 min. 9 sec.)

Elvis: After quickly leaving Vegas during his usual summer festival because of health problems, Elvis was called to pay his duties for the Hilton Hotel during the "dead season" - in December. It is a known fact that there were practically no big names playing in Vegas in December - none of them could fill the capacity of the venues. But Elvis was not a regular performer and as always his concerts were a sell-out. He seems tired, but taking in account his health problems some three months earlier this is not strange at all.

Highlights: Elvis was probably saving the best for the evening, as this show seems shorter, though similar to his midnight performance (see Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 4). Trying To Get To You (despite Jerry Scheff's mistake during the first chorus) is a masterpiece, and the same goes for America.

Other: Until this release we only had one complete soundboard from this particular Vegas season - namely the midnight show from the same date (Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 4). BMG made it clear that they poses the December 6-th concert (by releasing a few tracks from the show on their Live In Las Vegas box set), but it was held up until another time. The show featured on this release once again proves that Elvis' dinner shows were of a lower quality than the midnight ones.

This show circulated on CD-R in an average audience recording, mainly because of the rare Wooden Heart performance. The sound quality on this CD is in many ways similar to the above mentioned Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 4. Our guess is that an identical setup was used on the mixing console, and the tape quality seems to be of the same level (too much noise).

This is a strange period in Elvis' life, a sort of a turning point. 1976 would be mostly depressive, while 75' still was a very good year for Elvis (at least until August). This season shows a mix of two Elvises - the inspired Elvis of 1975 and the uninterested and tired Elvis of 1976. The energy is still there, the emotions are also present on a few numbers, but the magic is gone. The concert seems slow-motioned. But it is unexplainably charming.

FTD is living to it's aim - providing us with important historic documents. And we appreciate their work. This CD is recommended for any fan that considers himself a serious collector. And of course for those who can't live without every soundboard release.

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