Title: No Fooling Around (released in 2003)

Label: Ampex

Date: August 4, 1972, Las Vegas, Nevada (opening show) + bonuses (different dates, see below)

Sound Quality (Concert): * + / * * * * * +

Sound Quality (Rehearsal): * / * * * * * +

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

Content Rating: * * * * * / * * * * * +

Tracks: 1.2001 Theme 2. C.C. Rider 3.Big Hunk O' Love 4.Never Been To Spain 5.You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling 6.Love Me Tender 7.Mystery Train / Tiger Man 8.What Now My Love ? 9.Love Me 10.Little Sister / Get Back 11.Blue Suede Shoes 12.One Night 13.You Don't Have To Say You Love Me 14.Hound Dog 15.My Way 16.My Babe 17.Elvis introduces Sammy Davis Jr. and Paul Anka 18.Can't Help Falling In Love 19. Closing Vamp. Bonus live tracks: 20.Steamroller Blues (August 7, 1972 m/s) 21.For The Good Times (August 13, 1972 d/s) Bonus rehearsal tracks: 22.The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 23.My Way 24.My Way 25.My Way 26.Fever 27.I've Got To Go (above mentioned songs recorded in July / August, 1972) 28.Portrait Of My Love (August 1973) 29.I'm Leaving It All Up To You (January 1972)

Package: I guess, this is one of the best covers I have ever seen. Great photographs from different 1972 concerts and nice liner notes. Hey, you people at the BMG, why don't you take some lessons from the bootlegers at Ampex?

Elvis: He is very concentrated, he seems to enjoy himself and his work.

Highlights: Among the highlights I would mention What Now My Love?, My Way One Nigh and My Babe

Review: 1972 was a very busy year for Elvis - two Las Vegas seasons, the filming of Elvis on Tour in April, the 4 sold-out concerts at Madison Square Garden... When Elvis got back to Vegas in August, he was very concentrated on his work, but still, much more relaxed than on the previous tours. The program, mostly, remained the same, though some of the songs were changed in place, but Elvis didn't seem bored by what he was singing.

This CD features the August 1972 opening show. I have to say, that it is a very nice show, but it doesn't come close to most of the other opening shows.

First of all about the sound quality - it is an average audience recording. There is too much hiss and it doesn't make the listening a very big pleasure.

After the already usual 2001 theme, we get to hear C.C. Rider, for the first time since the April tour. A nice version, though James Burton's Solo isn't as great as it's been before. Next comes a surprise of A Big Hunk O' Love. It is a nice version, and probably this is the first time when the back-vocalists add the line "That's Right, That's Right" in the end of the of the piano solo. Without saying any word Elvis goes into a nice version of Never Been Spain. It has a different phrasing in the beginning of the song, but in overall, it has the same arrangement. Also, I have to note that there are three bars before the last note without the orchestra. Usually they held the E note while the rhythm section played the last three bars. After thanking the audience, the group goes strictly into a nice rendition of I've Lost That Loving Feeling. Next is Love Me Tender, which is just a show pleaser, nothing special here. Next is the Mystery Train / Tiger Man medley, probably, performed for the first time since the previous Vegas season. "Fast train" Elvis says, after the trombone plays the usual sound of the train "coming on 'round the bend" in one octave higher. With no announcements, Elvis goes into the first premier of the evening - his own rendition of What Now My Love. The song is just outstanding!

Next are a few oldies. Love Me is yet to become faster, though already doesn't make Elvis feel happy. Anyway, Elvis stops the group after the line "I Would beg and steal" because he misses it :-) The Little Sister / Get Back medley is very close to the early 72' versions - nothing special here. Next is a very fast Blue Suede Shoes. Next is a nice One Night - probably, the only highlight among the oldies. Next is a nice rendition of You Don't Have To Say You Love Me, followed by Hound Dog. My Way is the second premier of the evening. Elvis forgets the words in one place, but it's obvious that the audience likes the result anyway, as I do too! Next is My Babe - it's faster than the 1969' version, but still it's nice to hear it back at least for one show. A few minutes later Elvis closes the show with Can't Help Fallin' In Love.

The first two bonus tracks are two more audience recordings - Steamroller Blues, which is always a joy to listen, though Elvis messes up the words. For The Good Times is very nice rendition too.

But the real highlights are next in line - the rehearsals for this particular season. The quality makes me wonder about the way they were recorded. Probably, simply a recorder has been placed somewhere in the show room. It's a pity that the sound is very bad. Still it is very interesting and brings me the hope, that more of this material will be released soon.

However, the January recording of I'm Leaving It All Up To You is of much better quality, though the recording method seems to be the same. I hope that we'll get to hear the complete rehearsal yet.

As a conclusion I can say the following: if you are ready to live with the pretty low sound quality of this release, than it is a must have for you. The rehearsal recordings alone are worth buying this CD.

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