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Augusta – Once And For All

By ElvisNews.com/ Kees, February 15, 2009 | Music

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

  1. Also Sprach Zarathustra
  2. See See Rider
  3. Never Been To Spain
  4. I Got A Woman / Amen
  5. Love Me
  6. If You Love Me (Let Me Know)
  7. You Gave Me A Mountain
  8. Jailhouse Rock
  9. O Sole Mio / It's Now Or Never
  10. Little Sister
  11. Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel
  12. My Way
  13. Heartbreak Hotel
  14. Band Introductions
  15. Early Morning Rain
  16. What'd I Say
  17. Johnny B. Goode
  18. Drum Solo
  19. Bass Solo
  20. Tony Brown Solo
  21. Bobby Ogdin Solo
  22. School Days
  23. Hurt
  24. Hound Dog
  25. Can't Help Falling In Love
  26. Closing Vamp / Final Announcement
Ronaldv wrote on February 15, 2009
These rainbow records guys released an acceptable show from the king. We must not forget, he was in a lousy condition these days in may 77...But they released an unknown concert in decent audio quality for the fans. (let's forget about the cdr releases) That sounds great to me, because we get flooded by all those easy quick buck re-releases these days!
dgirl wrote on February 15, 2009
If you have the book 'The Concert Years' and read the reviews from this tour, why would you want to suffer listening to Elvis this way? We all know he should not have been on stage at this point. When My Way is the highlight of the show, that kind of says it all to me. Uneeded release.
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on February 15, 2009
I agree,for me spring tours and unchianed melody from Ftd along with Elvis in concert are enough of 77 for me,and the import moody blue & other great performances,there much better stuff to focus on than this!
Ciscoking wrote on February 15, 2009
It is one of the three ultimate releases of Elvis live 1977 ....you can hardly make it better...good booklet..good sound....good show..one of the best from this year....well done..
genedin wrote on February 15, 2009
dgirl? what would rather have as as highlight from this show? little sister? i think when one of the hard songs is a winner it should mean a good show dont you think?
Mofoca22 wrote on February 16, 2009
i wish they would re-release elvis in concert give it a great update. like put the 2 shows in there entirety make it a 3 cd set have the original, and then the 2 shows
dgirl wrote on February 16, 2009
genedin - No I dont think that would mean a good show, quite the opposite. My Way is the ultimate Vegas lounge song and every 2nd, 3rd and lower rate singer has attempted. Why on earth would I want this to be a highlight of an Elvis Presley concert? Now, if he gave a kick-ass version of Little Sister as you mentioned, yeah I would like that 100 times better.
elvis sweden wrote on February 16, 2009
I agree with ciscoking and will add that the sound to me is one of the 10 best out on the market when it comes to audience recordings :-)
mholdr wrote on February 16, 2009
all the shows/pictures/concerts from 1977 just make me sad :( RIP my friend.
mature_elvis_fan75 wrote on February 21, 2009
The only shows from 77 i have any interest in being releases are from Elvis in concert,and the last show,i want Elvis in concert mostly for the rapid city show!
Paul Sweeney wrote on February 28, 2009
FYI - Never Been To Spain is an excerpt only
marco31768 wrote on April 05, 2009
This is a great show !