Title: Not To Sweet (released in 2005)

Label: SR records

Date: September 1, 1972, Las Vegas' Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada, Midnight Show, except track 24, September 4, 1972

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

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

Tracks: 1.Also Sprach Zarathustra 2.See See Rider 3.Johnny B. Goode 4.Until It's Time For You To Go 5.You Don't Have To Say You Love Me 6.You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' 7.Polk Salad Annie 8.Dialogue 9.What Now My Love 10.Fever 11.Guadalajara / Love Me 12.Blue Suede Shoes 13.Heartbreak Hotel 14.Love Me Tender 15.Hound Dog 16.I'll Remember You 17.Walk That Lonesome Road (performed by J.D. Sumner and The Stamps Quartet) 18.Suspicious Minds 19.Band Introductions 20.My Way 21.A Big Hunk O'Love 22.You Gave Me a Mountain 23.Mystery Train / Tiger Man 24.Can't Help Falling In Love (Duration: 58 min. 51 sec.)

Package: Absolutely marvelous work, as in case with their previous release (see Trying To Get To Memphis). Though using mostly known photographs (we have seen them so many time on the internet as well) it doesn't spoil this package.

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

Highlights: The newer songs (such as You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' , What Now My Love, My Way, etc.) get a joyful treatment, while the rock'n'roll tunes (besides Johnny B. Goode and A Big Hunk O' Love) are uninspired.

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 release features the September 1-st Midnight show. A previously unreleased audience recording in a somewhat less than average quality. The Ampex's No Fooling Around CD, for example, featured a concert from the same season in mediocre quality, but somewhat clearer.

The concert starts with a fine rendition of See See Rider - still not as much regular as it would be in the following years, so Elvis seems concentrated. Unexpectedly, Elvis throws the band into a great rendition of Johnny B. Goode. And even when you understand that those 69' versions are unmatchable regarding the roughness of Elvis' voice and the energy, still the great James Burton's impromptu solo in the middle and Elvis' inspiration make this rendition outstanding. Until It's Time For You To Go is a fine song, but for whatever reason is not too good for the live act. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me is a song that makes us feel great since Elvis' voice is powerful, the following You've Lost That Loving Feeling has some minor mistakes by Elvis in the very beginning but he makes it up during the rest of the performance which is fantastic, coming close to the 70-s versions rather then the 72-s.

A somewhat rushed rendition of Polk Salad Annie follows with a long intro, Jerry's solo in the middle is very interesting. Having his breath caught back Elvis throws the band into What Now My Love. The song is as beautiful and carefully performed as possible, Elvis' voice is very strong. Fever is so much unexpected by the audience that they begin clapping along the rhythm having already greeted it warmly. "I'd like to do a medley of... Spanish folk song," Elvis announces before throwing one line from Guadalajara, followed by the standard segment of the show featuring some not too inspired renditions of Love Me, Blue Suede Shoes, Love Me Tender and Hound Dog. I'll Remember You is very gentle, a really fine performance, followed by J.D. Sumner and The Stamps Quartet's rendition of Walk That Lonesome Road. Suspicious Minds is a standard 1972 performance.

Elvis continues his show with a great rendition of My Way. A Big Hunk O' Love gets a very good feeling, this song is followed by You Gave Me A Mountain - a personal song no matter what Elvis was telling others and as a result - very emotional. Mystery Train / Tiger Man medley is a rushed rendition, followed by the closing Can't Help Falling In Love.

This release features a fine (even if a somewhat regular) show, it could have been a nice addition to any fan's collection had it been a soundboard, but since it is an audience recording and not of high quality, we can only recommend it to die-hard fans.

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