Straight Arrow Special Products SA/SP 2023-70-02

Following the remarkable success of our "IN THE GHETTO" CD, it is time to move on to yet another exciting project.
Straight Arrow decided to re-release the Las Vegas, December 2nd, 1975 Opening show, which was previously released in 1996 on "Season's Greetings From Vegas - Christmas Opening '75" (now a very rare CD) and never re-released since then. 27 years later, Straight Arrow was fortunate enough to obtain an old audience recorded tape used for the original release and release this show again, using today’s sound restoration technology.

Elvis December 1975 engagement was meant to make up for his abbreviated Summer festival in August, cancelled just after 3 days and five shows. Starting on November 30th, for the following 3 days Elvis had stage rehearsals in the Las Vegas Hilton showroom.

The only really new song added to the set list was "America (The Beautiful)." Bobby Hatfield from The Righteous Brothers and Elvis' old friend, the legendary Liberace attended this concert and they met with Elvis after his show. Surprisingly, Elvis performed the song "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" for the very last time - definitely due to Bobby Hatfield's presence!

Every second of the tape was enhanced in the renowned Sound & Vision studio to achieve the optimal listening experience. The sound was remastered to the correct speed. If you have enjoyed our previous improved releases i.e. "HERE COMES THE STARS" CD in 2009, we sincerely believe that you will love this one as well. Ask your local CD vendor for teasers! This special Christmas release is presented in de-luxe digipack inspired by December '75 Las Vegas Hilton Hotel menu, accompanied with Variety press review and liner notes. All images used for this project were taken on stage during Elvis' 1975 Las Vegas December Opening Night.

Straight Arrow is planning several releases for 2024 including more volumes of the "From John Herman Tapes" series and a special 3CD set with previously unreleased shows. Stay tuned! The Straight Arrow team is always looking for new, unreleased audience-taped shows or for improved versions of the previously released recordings. If you have such unique tapes, even damaged or broken, do not hesitate to contact us through your local dealer. Special thanks to those who supplied them in the past! It is YOU who made many of our projects possible!

Tracklist:
01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Elvis monologue about his August hospital stay - 05. Love Me - 06. Fairytale - 07. Big Boss Man - 08. It's Midnight - 09. Early Morning Rain - 10. And I Love You So - 11. Tryin' To Get To You - 12. All Shook Up - 13. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - 14. Hound Dog - 15. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - 16. Blue Christmas (with long false start) - 17. Polk Salad Annie - 18. My Boy - 19. How Great Thou Art - 20. Mystery Train / Tiger Man - 21. Softly As I Leave You (with Sherrill Nielsen) - 22. America (The Beautiful) - 23. Can't Help Falling In Love - 24. Closing Vamp



Sound Sample (56kb)

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