The Rainbow Records import label released Elvis’ May 24, 1977 performance as recorded in Augusta, Maine with the title “Once And For All”. Is it the final release on this concert?
Design
The design is very nice, Elvis – a few months before his untimely death – even looks decent on the picture on the cover while in real life he had severe health and weight problems. The liner-notes are well written and the memorabilia, newspaper clippings and original concert review complete the booklet. There is a great shot of Elvis throwing out a scarf into the audience from the original concert review.
Content
To be honest, this show resided besides my computer for a while; Elvis Presley in 1977 isn’t really my thing. But playing this show I was positively surprised at some points; it didn’t sound half bad. O.k. Elvis isn’t the rocker who had returned to live performances nearly a decade ago, but it was entertaining background music while updating the site.
Despite his physical problems Elvis tried to improve his performances over the previous tour, and succeeded at moments, singing with a clear and strong voice. “My Way” is the highlight of the show. This may be Frank Sinatra’s signature song, but our man “lived” the song. Elvis can’t keep up on the real rockers like “What ‘d I Say” and “Johnny B Goode”. The introductions are long; Ronnie Tutt gets two minutes of playing time. Following the introductions he does an average version of “Hurt”, clocking at little over two minutes, but this takes so much energy that the band blows him away during “Hound Dog” which he tries to mask gearing up the band even more in stead of singing the song. Before you know it the end theme starts and it is all over.
The producers have been able to locate the original audience-recorded tape and - using a 24 bit audio transfer - they created a nice sounding CD.
Conclusion
Elvis’ performance from May 24, 1977 has been documented very nicely, once and for all.
Tracklisting
- Also Sprach Zarathustra
- See See Rider
- Never Been To Spain
- I Got A Woman / Amen
- Love Me
- If You Love Me (Let Me Know)
- You Gave Me A Mountain
- Jailhouse Rock
- O Sole Mio / It's Now Or Never
- Little Sister
- Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel
- My Way
- Heartbreak Hotel
- Band Introductions
- Early Morning Rain
- What'd I Say
- Johnny B. Goode
- Drum Solo
- Bass Solo
- Tony Brown Solo
- Bobby Ogdin Solo
- School Days
- Hurt
- Hound Dog
- Can't Help Falling In Love
- Closing Vamp / Final Announcement