Victrola just released April 14 1972 Greensboro containing the well-known Greensboro show (On Tour). As a bonus there’s a CD filled with other material from the movie: rehearsals and some tracks from Hampton Roads (April 9).
Design
The design is very tasteful, black and white with a kind of purple glow over it. The inside has some (technical) information and behind the CDs are full colour photos of the actual show and an rehearsal (known close up with TCB glasses). There’s another live shot with some tickets from the show and at the back is the track listing.
The booklet has mainly full colour shots from the show and some candids from the rehearsals, there is also an excerpt from an original review and some more memorabilia. The liner notes describe shortly what can be found on the CDs and an overview what is supposed to exist on 60 reels.
A little minor is the bashing of other labels (one in particular), a quality product like this does not need that.
Content
Some people already have made up their mind and say it’s an altered version of the Madison release of the same show. I really doubt that, if it is possible to enhance sound like this on a PC, I can put in some requests. The difference between the Madison release and this one is not as big as the step forward Madison made from the Vicky release, but still. Just played some of the tracks back to back and this one certainly comes close to (if not equals) RCA / BMG / Sony releases of live material. Especially the blending of the voices with Charlie is nice, like on Never Been To Spain or Proud Mary.
The 2nd CD gives a varied overview of the rehearsals, with a bit too much JD Sumner gospel for me (I’m an Elvis fan, not a JD Sumner fan) and some more live tracks. Again all in superb quality, during the rehearsals you’ll hear voices that you never noticed before. There’s also some more banter during the rehearsals, even compared to the Amigo release. The Hampton Roads material sounds great too, but somehow the This Is Elvis overdub of Trilogy sounds like ‘the strange duck in the bite’.
Conclusion
A must for completists and those that want the best possible sound quality. If you don’t belong to the first group, have the Madison release and are happy with it, you can stick to that…. If you have the slightest doubt, go for it!
Tracklisting
CD 1
1. Also Sprach Zarathustra
2. CC Rider
3. Proud Mary
4. Never Been To Spain
5. You Gave Me A Mountain
6. Until It’s Tim For You To Go
7. Polk Salad Annie
8. Love Me
9. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear
10. Hound Dog
11. Heart Break Hotel
12. A Big Hunk O’ Love
13. Bridge Over Troubled Water
14. Suspicious Minds
15. Love Me tender
16. Introductions
17. For The Good Times
18. An American Trilogy
19. Burning Love
20. Release Me
21. Funny How Times Slips Away
22. Can’t Help Falling In Love
CD 2
01. Johnny B. Goode (Takes 1 - 3)
02. Always On My Mind (Rehearsal, with extra dialogue)
03. Separate Ways #1 (With Extra Dialogue - Raw outtake)
04. Separate Ways #2 (With Extra Dialogue)
05. Time Has Made A Change In Me (J.D Sumner & The Stamps Quartet)
06. I Should Have Been Crucified (J.D Sumner & The Stamps Quartet)
07. I John
08. Bosom Of Abraham - You Better Run
09. Lead Me, Guide Me
10. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus - Nearer My God To Thee
11. Sweet Sweet Spirit (By J.D Sumner & The Stamps - Rehearsal)
12. When It's My Time (By Bill Baize & The Stamps)
13. All Shook Up (April 9, 1972)
14. Teddy Bear - Don't Be Cruel (April 9, 1972)
15. Are You Lonesome Tonight (April 9, 1972)
16. I Can't Stop Loving You (April 9, 1972)
17. How Great Thou Art (April 9, 1972)
18. For The Good Times (April 9, 1972)
19. An American Trilogy (April 9, 1972 - This Is Elvis Overdub)
20. The Lighthouse (One-liner) - Hound Dog (April 5, 1972 - Rehearsal)
21. Bridge Over Troubled Water (April 5, 1972 - Rehearsal)
22. Funny How Time Slips Away (April 5, 1972 - Unedited)