After a longer wait than expected - the products were announced for November 2014 - the latest Gravel Road Music’s outings are there: Love American Style and Vegas Rhythm. Let’s have a closer look on the first one, which is a re-release of “In Dreams Of Yesterday” by the Czech Memories label. It contains the June 28, 1974 E.S in Milwaukee.
Design
The book exists of nearly 100 pages high quality print, mainly filled with photographs from the actual concert. Most of them are from the same source, looking at the angle, not all new, not all as sharp as can be, but all together a great collection.
The liner notes of the original are re-used. Certainly great for those who missed the original (or could not read over the fold), since Arjan Deelen’s text is enjoyable and well researched.
The only minor on the design is that the CD is in a paper sleeve that is not attached to a page, so it falls out easily. Gladly mankind invented glue for cases like this.
Content
First of all I can’t compare the sound quality with the Czech release, since it is not in my half of the property settlement. Knowing the often louzy sound of those releases, reading back the review and most of all knowing GRM’s quality, I suspect the sound has improved. Still it is far from a great sounding SB-recording. Sometimes it sounds muffled, then again there are way too much highs. Well, if the source is pour, you can only do so much to upgrade it.
The drive Elvis had makes it still an enjoyable listen, all relatively of course. It is nowhere as good as Elvis in the early 70s, but far from the bad shows he did during the final 2 years. The show contains a funny one-liner of Turn Around, Look At John.
My favourites of this show: a solid Tryin’ To Get To You, Polk Salad Annie (although I prefer the earlier versions above these ‘wall of sound’ versions), Suspicious Minds, a swinging Big Boss Man and Steamroller Blues. Bridge Over Troubled Water needs a honorable mention too, again not as good as most earlier versions, but it raises the standard of the show!
Conclusion
The strange format, the many pictures and an enjoyable show makes it worthwhile in my opinion. Once again Gravel Road put a lot of effort in a release!