Title: Trying To Get To Memphis (released in 2005)

Label: SR Records

Date: August 11, 1971 (dinner show), Las Vegas, NV

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

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

Tracks: 1.Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001 Theme) 2.That's All Right Mama 3.Proud Mary 4.You Don't Have To say You Love Me 5.Sweet Caroline 6.Polk Salad Annie 7.Intermission 8.Johnny B. Goode 9.It's Impossible 10.Love Me 11.Blue Suede Shoes / Whole Lotta Shakin' On 12.Heartbreak Hotel 13.Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel 14.Hound Dog 15.Memphis Tennessee 16.Trying To Get To You 17.Suspicious Minds 18.Band Introductions 19.I'm Leaving 20.Lawdy Miss Clawdy 21.Impossible Dream 22.Bridge Over Troubled Water (with reprise) 23.Canīt Help Falling In Love Bonus: 24.Jailhouse Rock 25.It's Over 26.You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (Duration: 69 min 29 sec)

Package: The package contains an 8 page booklet, however they used only well known photos from August-September 1971 Las Vegas season. Inside there are interesting comments by Steve and Ray. Big minus is for the unclear fonts used for the track listing on the backside of the package.

Elvis: The year 1971 is very low covered with import and official releases. Only a few soundboards were released from January-February 1971 gig and none from August-September 1971. However, many audience recordings circulated from August 1971, except for this particular show. It became available for the first time for all collectors only with this release. Of course this is a great addition to the collectors vaults. The sound quality is quite satisfactory for an audience tape.

Highlights: We must say that Elvis' 1971 show program is almost perfect. Here you can find the unique and first [complete] live performance of Memphis Tennessee and fantastic versions of Impossible Dream and It's impossible. The show is not complete and the producers added two last songs from August 12, 1971 MS. As a bonus you can find 3 songs from August 10, 1971 dinner show.

Review: When Elvis came back to Vegas after two months of rest in January of 1971 it seemed clear that the problems begun to show - the rushed manner in which Elvis had treated only old songs before became regular for all numbers. Despite being very energetic, the concerts became very short (most of them ended at about 35 minutes from the start). Elvis was heavily working in studio during spring and early summer in order to fulfill his obligations to RCA, and having completed the Sahara - Tahoe gig he came back to Vegas in August. The 71' Summer Festival in Vegas seems to be better than the winter stay - Elvis is clearly more focused and the show is longer. When talking about this particular release - Elvis is great and we can only guess how great the following midnight performance should have been.

The opening Also Sprach Zarathustra is still to be polished, but there is clearly nothing to polish in the following opening number - That's All Right Mama. "Well that's it," Elvis declares having the intro played, but suddenly jumps into this old song, which is a good performance. Proud Mary lies somewhere between the 1970' and the 1972' versions regarding Elvis' phrasing, but musically is very close to 1972 versions, Elvis manages to miss the right time to get in after the intro, but otherwise the performance is very good. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me becomes stronger and stronger with every single note that Elvis hits and is a good performance as well. Sweet Caroline gets a very good treatment, really a joy to listen. Polk Salad is next, the spoken intro is present on this version as is Jerry Scheff's bass' solo, but the man seems confused this evening as he clearly hits a few off-key notes. During the following intermission, Elvis having thanked the audience declares: "Let me walk around and sweat a little bit." Johnny B. Good still shows a rough edge in Elvis' voice and James' solo in the middle is great. The following newly added It's Impossible begins with Elvis trying to figure out when to start which brings laughter to both Elvis and the audience. Following are a series of oldies starting with Love Me, which is clearly better than almost all the following year's versions, but already lacks the charm of the previous years' performances. Blue Suede Shoes / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On is still a fine rocking number, Heartbreak Hotel is as bluesy as ever, and we can hear the hysteria on the following Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel medley. Hound Dog features a prototype of the slow / fast versions that he would do next year, but the greatest moment of the concert is the following impromptu version of Elvis' "lost hit single" Memphis Tennessee (though the ending seems to be rehearsed), Elvis remembers only half of the words, but this doesn't spoil the moment at all - this version is more than two minutes long. The first live version of Trying To Get To You (excluding the 68' comeback special versions) is preceded by complain from somebody in the audience: "You are good Elvis, but your band is much too loud," to which Elvis masterfully replies "C'mon, man, your ears are too old." The song itself is great, the lack of the orchestra (contrary to what we are used to with the later versions) is a better decision. The following Suspicious Minds is a fine rendition. Surprisingly, Elvis begins the band introductions by introducing James Burton, and not The Imperials, and having the intros completed Elvis announces "I have a new record called I'm Leaving," and goes into a very emotional and close to master rendition of the song. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy is a yet another great addition to the set list. Impossible Dream is slower and more gentle than any 1972 version, and that's the point at which we jump to August 12 performance as the tape of the main concert ends here. Bridge Over Troubled Water is very accurately phrased, the performance is stunning, and Elvis seems so much inspired that he decides to make a reprise of the ending, and displays fantastic voice control. Can't Help Falling In Love is close to the 1970 versions and brings a great concert to an end.

The bonuses (after almost 20 seconds of silence) begin with a great rendition of Jailhouse Rock (with Elvis singing by paper, as he doesn't the words), and it's a big question why it didn't become a part of the regular program at the time. It's Over is next, a very good performance and the CD is brought to an end by a terrific You've Lost That Loving Feeling.

If you want us to think of a minus in the concert - well, we'd be glad if it lasted two or three times more. All kidding aside, the performance is great, and if you don't hesitate listening to audience recordings, this CD will find it's way into your player regularly.

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