Lightning Strikes Twice In Portland!
From „The Rick Rennie master tapes“ Vol. 2
Wednesday, November 11th, 1970 & Friday, April 27th, 1973, Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR

Coming out soon is the new Straight Arrow's double-digipak CD release, called "LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE IN PORTLAND!", featuring the November 11th, 1970 and April 27th, 1973 Portland shows. These shows may well represent some of best of Elvis Presley live in the 70s. The Nov. 11th, 1970 recording really captures the raw excitement and electricity of those early tours. Elvis delivers a high octane performance that drives the audience in a frenzy. In parts he sounds a bit unfocused, but overall both Elvis and his audience are having such a ball that any criticisms of his performance are nothing more than nitpicking. The April 27, 1973 concert in the same city may well be his best show of the year, and is a serious contender for "Elvis' best concert performance in the 70's". Compared to the '70 show, his performance here is tighter, more focused and far more varied. Elvis is vocally strong and he delivers the goods in a knock-out performance.

Both shows were first released by the Live Archives label (1991) using slightly incomplete and inferior sounding copies of original Rick Rennie tapes. Memory Records issued those shows in 2004 („ON THE ROAD AGAIN“ and „SHINING IN PORTLAND“ CDs). Those Memory Records releases were engineered and mastered using now obsolete hardware and software. 10 years have passed, and it is right time for the ultimate re-release of these special recordings - in a new, crisp, dynamic sound. Straight Arrow’s release of the November 11th, 1970 show appears - for the first time - totally complete. The Opening Vamp and the famous "Elvis has left the building" announcement at the end of show were restored. The 1970 show is taken directly from the original stereo master tape. The 1973 show is taken from better of two existing 1st generation copies made back in 70s (the master tape got lost thru the years). Original tape transfers made in March 2004 have been used. Every second was digitally restored from scratch to achieve optimal listening pleasure. Ask your local dealer for samples. As with every Straight Arrow’s release, this beautifully designed double-digipack edition is limited to 500 copies. If you enjoyed „A NEW DECADE, A NEW SOUND“, you will enjoy "LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE IN PORTLAND!" too. These shows never sounded better!

Tracklist:
CD1
01. Opening Vamp
02. That's All Right
03. I Got A Woman / Amen
04. Monologue (incl. „I Walk The Line” and „Tiger Man” excerpts)
05. Love Me Tender (with false start)
06. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
07. Sweet Caroline (short version)
08. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
09. Polk Salad Annie (short version, with impersonations)
10. Instrumental Intermezzo
11. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra
12. Johnny B. Goode
13. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra continues (incl. „Blueberry Hill” excerpt)
14. How Great Thou Art
15. The Wonder Of You (short version)
16. Heartbreak Hotel (with 2 false starts, and „How Great Thou Art” fragment)
17. Blue Suede Shoes
18. Hound Dog
19. Bridge Over Troubled Water (with 4 false starts)
20. Suspicious Minds
21. Funny How Times Slip Away
22. Can't Help Falling In Love
23. Closing Vamp / Announcements
24. Rick Rennie & friends „after” show chat.

CD2
01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra
02. C. C. Rider
03. I Got A Woman / Amen
04. Love Me Tender
05. You Gave Me A Mountain
06. Steamroller Blues
07. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
08. Love Me - 09. Blue Suede Shoes
10. Heartbreak Hotel
11. Little Sister / Get Back
12. Help Me Make It Through The Night
13. Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
14. I'm Leavin'
15. Hound Dog
16. Fever
17. What Now My Love
18. Suspicious Minds
19. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra
20. I'll Remember You
21. I Can't Stop Loving You
22. An American Trilogy
23. A Big Hunk O' Love
24. Can't Help Falling In Love
25. Closing Vamp / Announcements.

Quelle: www.elvis-collectors.com

__________________
Elvis: Colonel, ich will unbeding nach Europa!
Parker: Nee Elvis, dort gibt es nicht so schöne Turnhallen wie hier.

bestellt für gnadenlose 13,-!

Die 1970 Show rockt richtig. Auch wenn Elvis hin und wieder einige Songs zu schnell singt oder überdreht wirkt (Blue Suede Shoes etc.). Im Jan. 71 ging es so dann weiter in den Tempo. Auch das Aggressive in Elvis Stimme, teilweise schreit er manche Songs einfach heraus. Aber er scheint Spaß zu haben und es gibt auch einige Lacher. Hin und wieder kriegt der gute sich wieder ein und singt einige gut vorgetragende Songs (How Great Thou Art etc.).

Die 1973 Show klingt dagegen wie eine Schlaftablette. Auch wenn sie einige Starke Songs beinhaltet (I´m Leavin etc.). Elvis ist zwar locker drauf aber er klingt eher Solide vom Gesang wie ich finde.

Insgesammt machten mir die Shows aber Spaß vor allen die erste
Sound ist auch Okay für AR´s.

Verglichen vom Sound habe ich sie aber noch nicht mit den alten Veröffentlichungen.

In dem Buch ELVIS ON TOUR 1970 - VOLUME II von Kiran Davis habe ich gelesen, dass seinerzeit die Vermutung angestellt wurde, Elvis sei während der Portland-Show high gewesen. Auch seine Musiker haben dne Auftritt wohl als unprofessionell angesehen.

Als ich die Show zum ersten Mal gehört habe, empfand ich Elvis' überdrehtes Verhalten auch als eher unangenehm. Die 1973er Show ist deutlich professioneller und gefällt mir auch von der Set List her gut.

Zur Neuauflage von Straight Arrow kann ich nichts sagen, da ich die Ausgaben von Memory Records besitze und damit zufrieden bin.