Elvis back in Vegas
Johnny Heering | 07/13/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After Elvis Presley's comeback in Las Vegas back in 1969, and his subsequent engagements in various venues in "Sin City" it was a generally agreed upon fact that no entertainer in history (past or present) has ever electrified this city like Elvis Presley. "Dinner at Eight" is an imported album, and highlights the December 13th 1975 concert from the Las Vegas Hilton.Although well past his prime of the late 60's and early 70's, Las Vegas always seemed to bring the best out of Elvis, and this concert was no exception.Songs performed during this concert includes: See See Rider, I Got a Woman/Amen, Love Me, Help Me Make it Through the Night, Trying to Get to You, And I Love You So, All Shook Up, Teddy Bear/Don't be Cruel, Wooden Heart, You Gave Me A Mountain, Polk Salad Annie, Intros by Elvis, How Great Thou Art, Softly as I Leave You, America, Mystery Train/Tiger Man, Blue Christmas, Can't Help Falling in Love.Highlights of this CD for me included a version of "Wooden Heart" (which I had never heard Elvis do in a live concert), a stirring version of "You Gave Me a Mountain", and at the request of audience members, "Blue Christmas."Although it is evident that much of Elvis's energy and vitality has dissipated, (especially compared with such earlier Vegas recordings as "Elvis On Stage 1970", or "Elvis Live at the International Hotel")his voice is still holding up extremely well, and his power to captivate his audience was still intact.Although not the greatest live performance Elvis ever recorded, true fans will appreciate this CD for what it is, The greatest entertainer of all time, giving his all to make his fans happy."
Christmas in Las Vegas
Johnny Heering | Bethel, CT United States | 01/09/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is a rather typical Elvis concert, from December 1975. I would rate this concert as slightly above average, as Elvis seems to be in better spririts than he often was during this time period. Elvis performs many of the same songs he performed over and over again in concert, but there are a couple of surprises. He sings an obviously unrehearsed version of "Wooden Heart", and performs "Blue Christmas" by audience request. Elvis concerts tended to have a sameness to them, and you don't really need to get this CD unless you are an Elvis completist, like me."
Painful
sp | Glasgow, UK | 05/11/2004
(2 out of 5 stars)
"This is painfully grim. I hate to say, as I'm a big fan of Elvis. It's the usual, CC Rider, Polk Salad Annie, etc. A few highlights are You Gave Me A Mountain, Blue Christmas. Wooden Heart - no wonder he didn't sing this too often. It has to be among the worst of the songs he recorded, really terrible.He sounds tired, irritable, bored and spaced out. The difference between this and the early 70s recordings is stark. He should have been tucked up in bed going through some much needed drug withdrawal.The usual intros to the band are given. This is a man who was working on automatic pilot. I'm amazed the buying public put up with it. I hate to say it, but this is pants. What a shame. It's not the way he should be remembered. Usually a fan of the FTD releases, this is really scraping the bottom of the barrel."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1