Bicentennial Superstar - TNT Records (Import news)

Bicentennial Superstar - TNT Records (Import news)

Welcome to TNT Records´ fourth CD release. Again with a little help from our friends at “Audionics” - probably THE premium and still active label when it comes to rare recordings in best possible sound - we decided to take a closer look to the extremely busy Elvis in the Summer of 1976. As we all know it was a time when Elvis actually should have cared a lot more for himself than for his fans. Money might also have been some kind of reason to continue restless touring and the quality of his performances were in many cases merely a shadow of the past. Still Elvis´ popularity was tremendous and it seemed so easy to sell out every single show. And so he did on the two nights featured in this 2 CD set.
Show #1 took place on June 30th, and the 16000 fans at the Coliseum in Greensboro absolutely loved Elvis´ show although they experienced that “the pelvis didn´t move quite the way it used to” and that “Elvis Presley is in his forties now” and “has put on some weight in the midsection”. While the fans on the one hand didn´t bother that much regarding Elvis´ weight the press did. Anyhow the reviews were still okay and the reporters finally had to admit that the “Elvis magic” still turns ém on! Thankfully the concert has been recorded from the soundboard and for this kind of recordings it has fantastic sound! Plus it reveals that Elvis delivers at least a decent and entertaining show. Show #2 is from August 31, and by this time Elvis´ health problems were visual even for his most dedicated fans. On this late August/early September tour The “King” had a very bad start with terrible performances in San Antonio, Houston, Mobile and Tuscaloosa. Collectors most likely do own the released CDs with the shows from August 28 and 30 so they can judge for themselves. Elvis “Super-Fan” Brenda Dymock was a witness on every show of the tour and she wrote in a 1976 article which she sent to UK´s Rex Martin: “Well I don´t know what happened with Elvis between Tuscaloosa and Macon but Boy! What a difference. He was in a great mood and really put on a great show.”
Well, whatever Brenda has experienced: Just listen yourself on yet another great sounding soundboard recording!

CD1 - Greensboro 30.6.76: 
01. Also Sprach Zarathustra 02. C. C. Rider 03. I Got A Woman / Amen 04. Love Me 05. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) 06. You Gave Me A Mountain 07. All Shook Up 08. Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel 09. And I Love You So 10. Blue Suede Shoes 11. Fever 12. America (The Beautiful) 13. Band Introductions 14. Early Mornin' Rain 15. What'd I Say 16. Johnny B. Goode 17. Drums Solo (Ronnie Tutt) 18. Bass Solo 1 (Jerry Scheff) 19. Bass Solo 2 (Blues, Jerry Scheff) 20. Piano Solo (Tony Brown) 21. Electric Piano Solo (David Briggs) 22. Love Letters 23. School Day 24. Love Me Tender 25. Hurt (1) 26. Hurt (2) 27. Funny How Time Slips Away 28. Hound Dog 29. Can't Help Falling In Love 30. Closing Vamp / Announcements

CD2 - Macon 31.8.76: 
01. Also Sprach Zarathustra 02. C. C. Rider 03. I Got A Woman / Amen 04. Love Me 05. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) 06. You Gave Me A Mountain 07. All Shook Up 08. Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel 09. And I Love You So 10. Jailhouse Rock 11. Fever 12. America (The Beautiful) (with reprise) 13. Band Introductions 14. Early Mornin' Rain 15. What'd I Say 16. Johnny B. Goode 17. Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt) 18. Bass Solo (Jerry Scheff, incomplete) 19. Electric Piano Solo (David Briggs, incomplete) 20. Love Letters 21. School Day 22. Hurt 23. Hound Dog 24. That’s All Right 25. Blue Christmas 26. Mystery Train / Tiger Man 27. Can't Help Falling In Love 28. Closing Vamp

Source: Elvis Collectors