Elvis In Person at the International Hotel Las Vegas, Nevada

Release Date- November 1969

Peak Chart Position-  # 12 (US) # 3 (UK)

Track Listings-  Blue Suede Shoes / Johnny B. Goode / All Shook Up / Are You Lonesome Tonight / Hound Dog / I Can't Stop Loving You / My Babe / Mystery Train - Tiger Man / Words / In The Ghetto / Suspicious Minds / Can't Help Falling In Love /
 
Recorded- August 22-26 1969 at the International Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada.

Musicians-  Guitar:  James Burton, Charlie Hodge, John Wilkinson
                        Bass:  Jerry Scheff
                        Drums & Percussion  :  Ronnie Tutt
                        Piano & Organ :  Larry Muhoberac
                        Vocals:  The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations, Charlie Hodge, Millie Kirkham .
 
 

  Not only is this a great album in it's own right, it's also the album that set the stage for all of Elvis' great live albums of the 70's and really of his live performance period during that period.  Loose, uninhibited and free.  This is Elvis at his most relaxed and carefree and it makes for one of his breeziest and lightweight albums.  The NBC TV special seemed serious, with purpose, Aloha was maybe a bit nervous and In Concert more somber.  This one stands above because it best represents what the Elvis live show was supposed to be about.  Elvis having fun on stage, performing all his hits and just being there to please his audience (which he seems to be doing very well in these performances listening to the high shriek content.)  On this there is no "American Trilogy", no "My Way", really this is an entirely different set list from all the others.   Instead of "See See Rider" the album opens with Elvis tearing through "Blue Suede Shoes" and right on to "Johnny B." before you notice.   He doesn't forget the words on "Are You Lonesome" as he always tended to do and the song sounds great when done right.  "Hound Dog" is terrific (as is Elvis intro to the song) and "My Babe" is done perfectly.   The "Mystery Train/Tiger Man" medley is absolutely fabulous as is "Words" (written by The Bee Gees!).   A very sincere version of "In The Ghetto" follows and then the highlight of the show, the seven minute version of "Suspicious Minds", which many consider to be Elvis' best song.  "Can't Help Falling In Love" closes the show as it would on most of Elvis' shows.  But this version is better that most that followed, sticking to the slow version, just like the song is supposed to be done.  This is a perfect show.  Actually it's pasted together from 4 different shows, but that really doesn't matter at all.  The songs are so good that one doesn't even notice.
 
***** out of *****
 
Thanks For Reading !
If you have comments, suggestions or reviews of your own, email me at
mmandziuk@hotmail.com
 
 
This page created with Netscape Navigator Gold.  Netscape is nice.