Released by the Audionics label is the CD “Keep the Fire Burning”, we ask ourselves the question is it still burning?
Design
The designers did an o.k. job, regarding the material they had to work with. Unfortunately the designers chose the worst two shots of our man as the illustrations for the front and back of the booklet, it looks like Larry Geller had an off-day preparing Elvis’ hair for this show. Why not use one of the many the much better (looking) shots of Elvis they used in the booklet? Overall the booklet looks great with many pictures from this tour, the liner notes are an informative read.
Content
The show is a second-generation soundboard with Elvis’ live performance from May 07, 1975 recorded in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
The show opens as we are used from our man. Elvis does the rounds while singing "Love Me Tender”, but the girls in the audience take over. Fortunately he picks up the show with a quick “All Shook Up” and “Teddy Bear / Don’t Be
Cruel” medley, but these are sung on autopilot. With “The Wonder Of You” we get one of the better performances on this CD. Elvis keeps it up with “Burning Love”, even with Elvis doing it fast forward the song still stands.
Although the band introductions give Elvis time to catch his breath, six minutes of band introductions is too long for our liking especially when the solo songs are throw-a-way versions. Usually Elvis delivers good performances on “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, but not during this show, it sound like he doesn’t reach all the notes he wants to.
Elvis is in a jolly good mood, resulting in a too loose version of his new single “T.R.O.U.B.L.E.”. On “I’ll “Remember You” he tries, but doesn’t reach all notes too, and interacts with the enthusiastic audience too much, something that doesn’t fit in a ballad like this.
The southern anthem “An American Trilogy” is well received in the southern state Tennessee, and Elvis delivers an o.k. performance of one of his best known and liked showstoppers. But an “o.k.” version is one of the highlights of this concert. “Funny How Time Slips Away” is a flat performance; even the light man has troubles turning on the house lights.
Elvis ends the show by thanking the audience for turning up and tells them he and the band didn’t have time to say hello to each other, they just met on the stage and didn’t take the time to rehearse. Being in the shape he was that is a brave, but not so smart, choice. You can actually hear the “automatic pilot” during this performance.
Conclusion
Although the audio quality is good and the package well designed this CD is one of those releases that is nice to have, but not a CD you’ll pick from the cabinet to play for fun, Elvis simply isn’t in the shape you want to hear him. The fire is still glowing at moments, but someone should have "kept the fire burning" for this performer.
Keep The Fire Burning
April 13, 2005 | Music
Ton Bruins wrote on
April 13, 2005
I agree with this review. Elvis on the automatic pilot and nothing new. Singing the old songs night after night. It's just boring as a matter of fact. The audio quality is not that good, rather flat. Dixieland Rocks from FTD is far better. Just like the CD Elvis Goes El Paso this are releases just for my collection and I will not listen to it again. About 20 years ago I would be thrilled with those releases but nowadays I am getting spoiled I think. In the future I will hold on to the FTD releases (except for the movie soundtracks) to buy and will skip those kind of soundboards. I can only blame myself that I did buy this one.
Sidewinder wrote on
April 14, 2005
I sometimes think why do people carry on dredging when the surface music is so magnificent and should be highlighted at every opportunity. I constantly advise people to purchase "The Sun Sessions", "Elvis Is Back", "From Elvis In Memphis" and "Elvis Country" and they go out and buy the first thing that comes to hand (like this effort) and their view on Elvis is tarnished forever. Let's, as Elvis fans, focus on the best of the King and not promote the latest novelty item, that no matter how desirable for the completist, is totally wrong for the new generation of Elvis fan to gauge his awesome talent and will probably sour Elvis for life in their eyes. Elvis didn't want this released so why should we?
You Dont Know Me wrote on
April 14, 2005
Hey at least you guys should get the correct date for this concert - i.e. 7th May 1975!!
Raymond wrote on
April 14, 2005
Why is everyone always so negative?? This is not the best you can get on import. But after listening it is good to have for completists. We should be glad that our artist is getting this much attention and most of it is now on the "market" to have. BMG/SONY don't release much new. I collect all the FTD cd's but most of it is old cause it is already out there. Be pleased to have importlabels. But I don't say this is the best soundboard there is. But when you can get it, buy it. It is good sound and worth listening to.
Adam S wrote on
April 14, 2005
The problem of this CD is the sound quality. 15 years ago you could call it very good but now after all these great sounding soundboards you can only call it fair or average. Especially when you compare this to Dixieland Rocks, KTFB makes a pain in ... As I wrote here some time ago the only reason to release amateur or poor soundboard recordings is unusual song in the concert's setlist. And this is not the point here. Sorry. I am a soundboard completist but just like Ton Bruins wrote I will not listen to it again.
Ton Bruins wrote on
April 14, 2005
Dear Raymond, I wouldn't use the word negative, but maybe realistic. Besides it's just my opinion. I just hope you will enjoy this CD and play it a lot, but I will not, that's all. It's just the that I think that it is obvious now for the fans that Elvis most of the time did song the same old songs night after night. One for the money, two for the show. The people who were there that night enjoyed the show of course because they are fans and saw our man in person. I would be thrilled also. But now after 30 years it's just boring for me to listen to see see rider, all shook up, teddybear, the wonder of you etc. for the millionth time in this pour sound quality. I do not blame the bootleggers for that of course but I am just tired of those soundboards without any surprises in the tracklist.
Raymond wrote on
April 14, 2005
Dear Ton and Adam, You are both right in your way of course. I am in those words also tired of the same old songs. But that was just the Elvis show. The people just wanted these songs. The sound is good, but there is a lot better. You are right on that. I just read your opinions maybe wrongly. I thought it was complaining. But maybe I am a litlle easy in this. I just want it when I see it and you guys are (maybe luckily) beyond this point and only accept better than this. Than I will do that maybe too later and save a few bucks
Ton Bruins wrote on
April 14, 2005
Raymond, I know what you mean. I also had that time when something "new" came out I would react with I want it, I want it, I want it...lol.
CD King wrote on
April 14, 2005
To me, this is a good soundboard. The sound is good enough and as a completist this CD is worth collecting and has a place in my Elvis Import Library..
You Dont Know Me wrote on
April 14, 2005
Thanks Elvis news for putting the CORRECT DATE for the concert up. I will add 1 comment about the 'sound quality' agreed it isn't the 'best' , but better than the man in white vol 1 show and despite being a bit 'falt/lifeless' its obvious it was a very enjoyable show for those fans present. Given the choice of hearing this show complete or NEVER hearing it- i'd take KTFB CD without question!~
Tony C wrote on
April 15, 2005
I quite enjoyed listening to this CD, although Elvis' ad-lib during "An American Trilogy" made me go cold. I agree that the sound is not up to the standard of some other soundboard CD's, but the producers have admitted that their source was a second generation cassette. Presumably the master is in BMG's archive. I may not listen to this concert for another ten years, but I would rather know that I have it in my collection than not.
the colonel wrote on
April 23, 2005
i remember a time when we were only to happy to have a cd released in this quality, remember back in the late eighties all those dismal releases that truly sucked. well i sure do i also remember our saving grace bilko and the best of all baxter's just pretend cd it was and is still one of if not the favorite of mine. i can remember how extatic we all were when we read that there was more releases to come in that quality.just remember that elvis wasn't even aware that all these shows were recorded and anyway they were mainly to be used for refrence for both the musicians and technicians, and elvis was human everyone has an off daythis is true but i do believe he was honestly bored and lost the creative spark as early as the april tour of 72. i have my own super 8 mm film of at least the 11 tours that i followed.