Dixieland Rocks

All in all this FTD release is a perfect time filler while we are waiting for the "Live in Las Vegas"-set.

Design We can be very brief on the design. The image is chosen well regarding Elvis wardrobe, but the image is from Las Vegas. The quality is poor, mainly because they used some kind of "water-painting" effect. A little on the front, some more on the inside picture and way too much on the back. Content The start is very familiar, not only because of the songs, but also because of the versions. Indeed, the start was already available on "Live in Dallas" (Silver Boxset ). It's audible that Elvis is enjoying himself too, so even the predictable first few songs are delivered in a satisfying way. "You Don't Have To Say" was not done too often in the later years, but not very rare either for most collectors. The interaction with the audience is great and the goodies like "All Shook Up", "Teddy Bear" and "Don't Be Cruel" are received very well by the audience, together with the scarves. "The Wonder of You" was back on the list in the summer of 1975 and in this show it precedes a heavy version of "Polk Salad Annie". Jerry Scheff is very up front in the mix, and during the finale it almost gets irritating because you hardly hear anything else. James Burton is showing why he is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during a marvelous Johnny B. And Jerry plays a great solo, "about five minutes too long", according to a joking Elvis. After the intros it's time for the specialties in the show "My Boy", "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" and "I'll Remember You" get a real nice treatment and this block is without any doubt among the best things on the FTD label so far. JD Sumner is victim once again during "Why Me Lord". "Let Me Be There" and "Trilogy" are as usual, while "Fairytale" is slower than the usual live versions, pretty close to the studio tempo. After "Fairytale" the May 6 recordings are followed by the May 7 ones. A light hearted version of "Little Darlin'" and the usual "Funny How Time Slips Away" leads to the usual closer, "Can't Help Falling in Love". Elvis says they'll be back tomorrow, while a couple of minutes earlier he knew it was the last night of the tour, which May 7 indeed was. So either Elvis was really lost, or BMG has been uncareful (once again) while using a pair of scissors. Since it is a compiled show already it looks a bit strange to add two bonus songs after the closing: a powerful "Bridge over Troubled Water" and a funny version of "Love Me Tender". But the concert feeling is lost a bit, since Elvis didn't do encores as we all know. Anyway, it's better to have them this way than missing them… All in all this FTD release is a perfect time filler while we are waiting for the "Live in Las Vegas"-set.

CD

ElvisNews review

Tracklisting