This LP was a nice find!!
I never knew it existed till I ran across the auction on e-bay!!
“ Big Boss Man ” is the title as it appeared on the CFR 1-0793 label. It contains the Opening Night show from August 19, 1974 in
Las Vegas. A fantastic show, as we
all know from the Fort Baxter 2094 “ If You Talk in Your Sleep ” release
from 1994.
That CD was in fact the first import CD I ever bought.
When I was in college, a friend of mine was a fan of the Swedish band
Roxette and was putting in an order of import CDs from a store in Europe
somewhere and there were a few select Elvis titles, the only other of which I
remember was “ Opening Night ’69. ” I
don’t know why I chose “ If You Talk In Your Sleep. ”
I think it was because I wanted to hear something from 1974 in Vegas.
The CD sleeve photo is one of my favorites as far as the CDs go.
I remember not being terribly impressed with the sound quality because I
had never heard a soundboard before and was used to the mixed multi-track
recordings of RCA. However I did
enjoy the song selection and as I became more of a collector, I realized how
good the sound quality really is from this soundboard source!!
And of course 1996’s “ From Sunset Blvd to Paradise Road ” 2 CD set
on the DAE label gave us Elvis fans selections from the rehearsals as well as
the concert again remastered!! What
a fantastic set!!
However, before 1994 I suppose this LP was one means of
having this concert in one’s collection. It features a beautiful full color LP sleeve with very nice
photos front and back…slightly blurry though from having been blown up so much.
The record labels are dark green with silver printing and state “ Made
in Italy. ” There is no year anywhere on the package, so it is anyone’s
guess. Dig the little “ Elvis
Fish with a crown ” graphic in the bottom left of the cover, cute :>)
The LP does feature an audience recording of the show,
which of course gives more of the audience feel, but still the sound quality is
enjoyable, and of course this is a great show.
The track listing for the show is as follows, however the titles in red
are not on this LP version due to the fact that the entire show may not have
been recorded from the audience in its entirety, or most likely the whole show
wouldn’t fit onto the LP:
Big Boss Man
Proud Mary
Down in the Alley
Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues
Never Been to Spain
It’s Midnight
If You Talk in Your Sleep
I’m Leavin’
Let Me Be There
Softly As I Leave You
If You Love Me, Let Me Know
Love Me Tender
Polk Salad Annie
Band Introductions
Promised Land
Elvis introduces Telly Savalas
My Baby Left Me
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Fever
Hound Dog
Can’t Help Falling in Love (incomplete in soundboard)
Closing Riff (not on the soundboard)
Ernie Boyes Jr.