Totally unexpected the announcement of the boxset On Tour – Deluxe Edition by Amiga International showed up just before last Christmas. My first thoughts were “again??”, now did those thoughts change after I have seen and heard the product?
Design
The design is beautiful, the book has 130 pages of delight for the eyes. Everything looks perfect: the paper quality, the printing quality, the font choice, the balance between text and pictures and the colours. The book comes in a box-sleeve which has one little minor: the front of the book gets a bit pale because of the sliding. The first four CDs are attached to the front cover and the back holds the four live shows. The CDs are attached firmly and doesn’t fall out all the time. The 9th (bonus, interview) CD is attached to the last page, another little minor, because the page got a bit puckered by it.
Even with those little minors this is one of the best presented Elvis-products I have seen, EVER.
Content
Amiga International did release On Tour material in the early 1980s on vinyl, there is even a picture of it in the book. I don’t know if it are the same people behind it, but they did fit the shoe!
The book
The book starts with an intro (write-up) of the movie and then all the material gets into the spotlight chronologically: the (mock) recording session, the rehearsals in LA and at “The Rendezvous”, all decorated with pictures and memorabilia.
After these “introductions” the main content fires off: every single show is listed and not only with basic information like location, attendance, showtime, suit, setlist and musicians. Every shows has pictures of Elvis in action, memorabilia like tickets, announcements and newspaper clippings and reviews from the time.
Among the pictures there were quite some I never saw before (but then again, I am not a “picture tiger” like some others, but my memory still serves me well).
As dessert we get an interview Tony Prince did with John Wilkinson during the “Destination USA” tour of the British fanclub in September 1972, the tour map with pictures of all venues, some more newspaper clippings and an overview of the cast and crew.
The audio
The material is almost all well known by most of us. The sound of the mock up studio session and LA rehearsals is great. There is no new material here. There is some unreleased material in the Buffalo rehearsal: Hound dog, Bridge over Troubled Water and A Big Hunk. The sound of this rehearsal is way less, especially when you listen it straight after the first few CDs. After a bit you get used to it and it turns out to be not bad after all. All the goofing and fooling around is fun to hear and in between Elvis did some serious work too.
It sounds like Amiga did pump up “the highs” a little bit, which gives the concerts a clearer feel. The Madison releases (Richmond, Greensboro) were my favourites among the many outings of these shows over the years. I played parts of them back to back with the versions on this set and that was about the difference I heard. It is only a slight difference, but it depends on personal taste whether you think it’s better or not.
Conclusion
All together I can only make a very deep bow for the people behind this product. It is a dedicated work of art, indeed long overdue. I saw people complaining about the price already, saying they’ll wait for a product like this by FTD. I can assure you this: if FTD will release a product like this, they won’t level it and it will be at least as expensive as this one. It is a 130 page book with 9 CDs after all!
To answer my question from the first paragraph: Yes my thoughts changed. I for one am happy that Amiga International took the time to collect this wonderful material in one product! Verdict: 11 out of 10!
Tracklisting
CD1 - The Mock Up Studio Session (March 30, 1972) RCA´s Studio C, Hollywood, California
01 Burning Love (take 1) / Here We Go Again (one liner) (Linde) 3:07
02 Burning Love (take 2) (Linde) 3:25
03 Burning Love (tk 3) / The Lord´s Prayer (one liner) 3:22
04 Sweet Sweet Spirit (one liner) (Akers) 0:19
05 For The Good Times (reheasal) (Kristofferson) 2:51
06 For The Good Times (take 1) (Kristofferson) 2:51
07 For The Good Times (rehearsal) (Kristofferson) 3:01
08 For The Good Times (take 2) (Kristofferson) 3:39
09 For The Good Times (tk 3, false st) (Kristofferson) 0:26
10 For The Good Times (take 4) (Kristofferson) 6:22
11 Anytime (one liner /dialogue) (Unknown) 1:47
12 For The Good Times (take 5) (Kristofferson) 3:30
13 For The Good Times (take 6) (Kristofferson) 3:02
14 For The Good Times (take 7) (Kristofferson) 4:12
15 Dialogue / El Paso (one liner) (Robbins) 1:31
16 Johnny B. Goode (take 1, false start) (Berry) 1:05
17 Johnny B. Goode (take 2, false start) (Berry) 0:45
18 Oh, How I Love Jesus (one liner) (Whitfield) 0:56
19 Johnny B. Goode (take 3) (Berry) 3:43
20 A Big Hunk O´ Love (false start / dialogue) (Schroeder/Wyche) 4:37
21 Always On My Mind (rehearsal) (Carson/Christopher/James) 3:02
22 Always On My Mind (take 1) (Carson/Christopher/James) 2:35
23 Always On My Mind (take 2) (Carson/Christopher/James) 5:09
24 Separate Ways (take 1) (West/Mainegra) 4:09
25 Separate Ways (take 2) (West/Mainegra) 3:41
CD2 - Rehearsal at RCA´s Studio C Hollywood, California. March 31, 1972. Part 1
01 Proud Mary (Fogerty) 2:46
02 Never Been To Spain (Axton) 4:33
03 You Gave Me A Mountain (2 false sts) (Robbins) 1:40
04 Until It´s Time For You To Go (Sainte-Marie) 5:46
05 Polk Salad Annie (White) 2:56
06 Love Me (Leiber/Stoller) 2:37
07 All Shook Up (Blackwell/Presley) 2:25
08 Heartbreak Hotel (Axton/Durden/Presley) 1:59
09 Teddy Bear / Don´t Be Cruel (Mann/Lowe) (Blackwell/Presley) 1:56
10 Hound Dog (Leiber/Stoller) 1:55
11 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (2 false starts) (McColl) 1:01
12 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (McColl) 4:20
13 A Big Hunk O´ Love (Schroeder/Wyche) 2:52
14 A Big Hunk O´ Love (Schroeder/Wyche) 2:33
15 See See Rider (Traditional) 3:17
16 For The Good Times (Kristofferson) 3:43
17 For The Good Times (2 false sts) (Kristofferson) 2:12
18 For The Good Times (Kristofferson) 2:58
19 Studio Rehearsals 3:24
20 Funny How Time Slips Away (2 false sts) (Nelson) 1:00
21 Funny How Time Slips Away (Nelson) 4:20
22 Burning Love (Linde) 2:47
CD 3 - Rehearsal at RCA´s Studio C, Hollywood, California. March 31, 1972. Part 2
01 Burning Love (Linde) 3:58
02 Help Me Make It through The Night (Kristofferson) 3:14
03 Can´t Help Falling In Love (Peretti/Creatore/Weiss) 2:14
04 Young And Beautiful (rehearsal) (Schroeder/Silver) 3:10
05 Young And Beautiful (Schroeder/Silver) 1:59
06 Lawdy Miss Clawdy (Price) 2:46
07 Release Me (Miller/Pebworth/Yount) 2:32
08 I´m Leavin´ (partial), Studio Talk (Jarrett/Charles) 4:06
09 See See Rider (Traditional) 2:42
10 Proud Mary (Fogerty) 3:32
11 Never Been To Spain (Axton) 3:35
12 The Lighthouse (Hinson) 5:31
13 When it´s My Time (Unknown) 5:09
14 I, John (Johnson/McFadden/Brooks) 2:10
15 Bosom Of Abraham (Johnson/McFadden/Brooks) 0:52
16 You Better Run (with false start) (Traditional) 2:11
17 Lead Me, Guide Me (Akers) 3:35
18 Sweet Sweet Spirit (Akers) 2:55
19 Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone (partial) 1:54
20 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus / Nearer My God To Thee (Lemmel) (Adams) 4:30
CD 4 - Rehearsal in Buffalo, NY “The Rendezvous“ at the Hilton Statler Hotel, April 5, 1972
01 Studio Talk 2:25
02 Burning Love (Instrumental) (Linde) 2:32
03 Burning Love (Linde) 2:06
04 Studio Talk 1:16
05 Burning Love (incl. false start) (Linde) 3:37
06 Cattle Call (Owens) 0:33
07 For The Good Times (Kristofferson) 3:08
08 Somewhere Over The Rainbow (one liner) 0:36
09 See See Rider (Traditional) 2:02
10 Studio Talk 0:35
11 Never Been To Spain (partial) (Axton) 0:24
12 You Gave Me A Mountain (Robbins) 3:01
13 I´ll Remember You (rehearsal) (Lee) 1:41
14 Until It´s Time For You To Go (Sainte-Marie) 2:08
15 Polk Salad Annie (White) 2:21
16 Love Me (one liner) (Presley/Matson) 0:06
17 Hound Dog (Leiber/Stoller) 1:17
18 Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon) 3:51
19 A Big Hunk O´ Love (Schroeder/Wyche) 2:12
20 I Can´t Stop Loving You (incl. 2 fls starts) (Gibson) 2:51
21 American Trilogy (Newbury) 5:07
22 Funny How Time Slips Away (with reprise) (Nelson) 3:52
23 The Lighthouse (Hinson) 0:31
24 I John (Johnson/McFadden/Brooks) 1:55
25 I Need Your Lovin´ Everyday (Gardner/Robinson) 0:29
Tracks 17,18,19 previously unreleased.
CD 5 - Hampton Roads, Virginia (April 9, 1972, Hampton Coliseum, Evening Show)
01 Also Sprach Zarathustra (Strauss) 1:25
02 See See Rider (Traditional) 3:06
03 Until It’s Time For You To Go (Saint-Marie) 2:31
04 Polk Salad Annie (White) 3:07
05 Love Me (Leiber/Stoller) 1:37
06 All Shook Up (Blackwell/Presley) 1:05
07 Medley: (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don’t Be Cruel (Mann/Lowe) (Blackwell/ Presley) 2:12
08 Are You Lonesome Tonight? (Turk/Handman) 2:41
09 I Can’t Stop Loving You (Gibson) 2:26
10 Hound Dog (Leiber/Stoller) 1:30
11 Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon) 4:08
12 Suspicious Minds (James) 5:20
13 For The Good Times (Kristofferson) 3:07
14 Introductions by Elvis 1:30
15 An American Trilogy (Newbury) 4:58
16 Love Me Tender (Presley/Matson) 2:39
17 A Big Hunk O’Love (Schroeder/Wyche) 2:10
18 How Great Thou Art (Boberg/Hine) 3:02
19 Sweet, Sweet Spirit (Performed by J.D. Sumner & The Stamps Quartet) 2:34
20 Lawdy, Miss Clawdy (Price) 2:09
21 Can’t Help Falling In Love (Peretti / Creatore / Weiss) 1:42
22 Closing Vamp 1:05
Bonus songs:
23 I Got A Woman – Amen (Charles) (Hairston) 2:37
24 You Gave Me A Mountain (Robbins) 3:18
CD 6 - Richmond, Virginia (April 10, 1972, Richmond Coliseum, Evening Show)
01 Also Sprach Zarathustra (Strauss) 1:16
02 See See Rider (Traditional) 3:00
03 Proud Mary (Fogerty) 2:42
04 Never Been To Spain (Axton) 3:37
05 You Gave Me A Mountain (Robbins) 3:14
06 Until It’s Time For You To Go (Saint-Marie) 2:32
07 Polk Salad Annie (White) 3:14
08 Love Me (Leiber/Stoller) 1:35
09 All Shook Up (Blackwell/Presley) 1:01
10 Medley: (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don’t Be Cruel (1:50
11 Heartbreak Hotel (Axton/Durden/Presley) 2:04
12 Hound Dog (Leiber/Stoller) 1:22
13 Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon) 4:12
14 Love Me Tender (Matson/Presley) 1:43
15 It’s Over (Rodgers) 2:16
16 Suspicious Minds (James) 4:45
17 Introductions by Elvis 1:58
18 For The Good Times (Kristofferson) 3:07
19 I Can’t Stop Loving You (Gibson) 2:22
20 An American Trilogy (Newbury) 4:15
21 Lawdy, Miss Clawdy (incomplete) (Price) 2:15
22 Funny How Time Slips Away (Nelson) 2:40
23 Can’t Help Falling In Love (Peretti/Creatore/Weiss) 1:40
24 Closing Vamp 0:22
CD 7 - Greensboro, North Carolina (April 14,1972, Greensboro Coliseum, Evening Show)
01 Also Sprach Zarathustra (Strauss) 1:17
02 See See Rider (Traditional) 3:10
03 Proud Mary (Fogerty) 2:44
04 Never Been To Spain (Axton) 3:38
05 You Gave Me A Mountain (Robbins) 3:15
06 Until It’s Time For You To Go (Saint-Marie) 2:38
07 Polk Salad Annie (White) 3:14
08 Love Me (Leiber/Stoller) 1:37
09 All Shook Up (Blackwell/Presley) 1:01
10 Medley: (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don’t Be Cruel 2:27
11 Hound Dog (Leiber/Stoller) 1:32
12 Heartbreak Hotel (Axton/Durden/Presley) 1:50
13 A Big Hunk O’Love (Schroeder/Wyche) 2:02
14 Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon) 4:14
15 Suspicious Minds (James) 4:49
16 Love Me Tender (Matson/Presley) 1:35
17 Introductions by Elvis 1:24
18 For The Good Times (Kristofferson) 3:08
19 An American Trilogy (Newbury) 4:44
20 Burning Love (Live Debut) (Linde) 2:45
21 Release Me (And Let me Love Again) (Miller/Yount) 3:06
22 Funny How Time Slips Away (Nelson) 2:50
23 Can’t Help Falling In Love (Peretti/Creatore/Weiss) 1:41
24 Closing Vamp 1:05
CD 8 - San Antonio, Texas (April 18, 1972, Convention Center Arena, Evening Show)
01 Also Sprach Zarathustra (Strauss) 1:18
02 See See Rider (Traditional) 2:51
03 Proud Mary (Fogerty) 2:32
04 Never Been To Spain (Axton) 3:35
05 You Gave Me A Mountain (Robbins) 3:12
06 Until It’s Time For You To Go (Saint- Marie) 2:30
07 Polk Salad Annie (White) 3:03
08 Love Me (Leiber/Stoller) 1:38
09 All Shook Up (Blackwell/Presley) 1:00
10 Medley: (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don’t Be Cruel (Mann/Lowe) (Blackwell/Presley) 1:46
11 Heartbreak Hotel (Axton/Durden/Presley) 1:49
12 Hound Dog (Leiber/Stoller) 1:24
13 How Great Thou Art (Boberg/Hine) 2:50
14 I Can’t Stop Loving You (Gibson) 2:29
15 Love Me Tender (Matson/Presley) 1:37
16 Suspicious Minds (James) 4:20
17 Introductions by Elvis 1:17
18 For The Good Times (Kristofferson) 3:21
19 Burning Love (Linde) 2:02
20 An American Trilogy (Newbury) 4:46
21 Funny How Time Slips Away (Nelson) 3:09
22 Can’t Help Falling In Love (Peretti/Creatore/Weiss) 1:42
23 Closing Vamp 1:07
CD 9 (Bonus CD) -Interviews recorded for the movie Elvis On Tour
01 Interview with Elvis #1 (March 31, 1972 - Hollywood, CA) 11:10
02 Interview with Vernon (March 31, 1972) 7:10
03 Interview with George Klein (March, 31 1972) 4:36
04 Interview with Elvis #2 (Date unknown) 42:13