Once again the 'Music-On-CD' label are re-releasing the old SONY / RCA / Legacy recordings for 2022. This time the 2010 double RCA-Legacy version of 'On Stage'.
The publicity notes... Back in 1970 ‘On Stage’ was an important step in Elvis’ live album releases and his musical back-on-stage renaissance. Elvis showed that he could find great country-funk-rock songs like stunning versions of Tony Joe White’s “Polk Salad Annie”, John Fogerty’s “Proud Mary” and Neil Diamond‘s “Sweet Caroline” while at the same time Elvis put his very soul on the line with an amazing “Release Me” and “Let It Be Me.” While the previous ‘Elvis In Person’ marvelously captured the stunning dynamite of a resurrected Elvis, ‘In Person’ is basically an album of old rock-n-roll hits, a stunning look-back with a slight look forward with ”Suspicious Minds” and “In The Ghetto”. On both albums Elvis is accompanied by James Burton, The Imperials and The Sweet Inspirations.
From 'Music-On-CD' - MOCCD-14178
Format: 2 CD - priced at £21 = US$28
To be released May 6, 2022.
I am still playing the legacy cd here and then. Good material as start for an new fan. Love this music.
Elvis's August 1969 Las Vegas performances were terrific - some cheesy backing vocals didn't get in the way of vintage Presley classics and other rock tunes - such as 'Johnny B. Goode' and 'My Babe' - being genuinely edgy and entirely in keeping with the King's plan to relaunch his career as a serious artist. A selection of the recordings were gathered for 'Elvis In Person'. But that fabulous 'live' collection was soon eclipsed by the LP 'On Stage - February 1970', culled from songs taped at the singer's first Vegas engagement of the new decade. RCA Victor had learnt how to better produce Elvis's showroom releases and the more contemporary material included feisty compositions such as 'Polk Salad Annie' and 'Proud Mary'. This Legacy release sees that hugely popular 1970 album fronting a double-set in which it's been twinned with its predecessor, both expanded with bonus material. Good though 'On Stage' is in parts, it did contain signs that Elvis's judgment was infected by the cabaret showroom setting - 'The Wonder Of You', 'Release Me' and 'Sweet Caroline' were nobody's idea of cutting-edge popular material. In short order, the King held extensive countrypolitan recording sessions in Nashville that marked the end of any ambition to keep himself at the pinnacle of sophisticated modern pop. By the time of Elvis's next Vegas season in the summer his classic hits were dispensed with jokily while he sang with far greater conviction limp country ballads such as 'Make The World Go Away' and 'There Goes My Everything'. There's a generous helping of great music on this Legacy 2-CD set but 'On Stage' does presage Elvis's imminent artistic decline.
I have the first version of this CD, particularly, I prefer the album on starge to in person. and I agree with Gladyzlove, "Good material as start for a new fan"
