'Bringing It All Back Home'

The first CD contains the matinée performance of March 16, 1974, his first live appearance in Memphis since 1961. The source used was the first generation soundboard tape for optimum sound quality. The second CD features the only performance of Elvis at the Mid-South Coliseum in 1975. For the first time EVER this concert will be as complete as possible with the inclusion of ‘’An American Trilogy‘, and you’ll be able to hear this show as recorded that night, without any addition of revere or any other sound gimmicks. This release comes in a beautiful full color, hardcover book with many pictures and liner notes, spread over 132 pages. 2010 was a hectic year for EIN with overseas journeys and difficult workloads. As we head into 2011 we look back and check out a few fine releases from last year... Piers Beagley reviews one of our favourites.

2010 was a hectic year for EIN with overseas journeys and difficult workloads.
As we head into 2011 we look back and check out a few favourite releases from last year.
In March 2010 'Venus Productions' released the Book/double CD combo Bringing It All Back Home which focused on two concerts recorded in Elvis hometown.

The first CD featured Elvis matinée performance of March 16, 1974, his first live appearance in Memphis since 1961. The second CD features the only performance of Elvis at the Memphis Mid-South Coliseum - in June 1975.
Both concerts are still NOT officially released.

Although both shows have been previously bootlegged, Venus have created a high-quality production with a delightful 132 page book. Plus the bonus that the concerts are now as complete as possible and with nicely improved audio (That old added reverb has been removed!)

The notes say that the source used was the "first generation soundboard tapes" and it sure sounds like it! Both concerts are in GREAT quality and deserve to be released by FTD!
(Note 'Venus Productions' previously released the fine book 'Black Angels in Vegas')

The Book. The book is full-colour, pocket-size, hardcover, and is packed full of great pictures along with some great text, spread over 132 pages. The story starts with some great 1974 Astrodome shots to set the scene and a delightful story of Elvis giving a little girl his diamond crucifix (in Munroe March 8th) It's these little details that make this such a charming package - along with a pile of great photos. There are five detailed chapters - with two each focusing on the specific tours (some great Huntsville shots from the same 1975 tour) represented by each CD including concert reviews, tour list and interesting text. The section on Elvis' June 10th 1975 concert is sub-titled "Splitting his pants In Memphis" which indeed Elvis did during the concert and kept referring to it in a very amusing way! It is at this concert that Ed Bonja took that iconic photo that graced Elvis' 1976 album 'From EP Boulevard' as well as the 'Hurt/For The Heart' single.

It's great to see other action shots from the concert, and being Elvis' only concert in Memphis it is also a great concert to have in your collection.

The final chapter 'Fat and Forty' is a splendid pictorial essay of over 40 full-page colour photos demonstrating that Elvis was, in fact, anything but fat & forty during this period! (See below)

Looking at this book it is perhaps a little sad when you realise how fast Elvis went downhill after the beginning of 1976.


CD 1 Memphis, TN March 16, 1974 2.30pm matinée - 59 minutes

The first CD of the complete March 16, 1974 matinée is in excellent sound quality, one of the best quality soundboards with a great audio mix, the audience having a good presence.

Of course was the final show of March 20th 1974 that RCA recorded for the Live On Stage In Memphis album so the set-list has to be very similar and this version is not a multi-track recording. However being the first concert of the series, as well as Elvis first show back in Memphis since 1961, it is fascinating to hear. It is also very unlikely that FTD will ever release this soundboard officially.

Even the build-up for the Also Sprach 2001 intro sounds great and you cane feel the tension and excitement in the air. The band musicians, Elvis and the orchestra are mixed just right all the way through. You can even hear John Wilkinson's rhythm guitar that all to often left out of the mix. While Elvis takes a couple of verses of 'See See Rider' to warm up (it is an afternoon show after all) it is obvious that Elvis and the band are full of energy and ready to put on a great show, the rhythm section pushing the excitement along. After 'See See Rider' Elvis greets the hometown crowd with an affectionate "Hello Memphis"! A fine 'I Got A Woman' follows without the later drawn-out ending, and Elvis tells the audience, "It's a real pleasure to be home again. We're here for the first time in a long time". The crowd responds and it's obviously a Memphis reunion for one & all. Other highlights are a powerful 'Steamroller Blues' with Elvis enthusiastically edging the band along and which has a fabulous audio mix, nice & clear piano.

Tonight Elvis also sings a rare word-for-word 'Love Me Tender' not throwing it away for a change, as well as a rocking 'Polk Salad Annie' - one of the very best versions from 1974 - "That got my blood going anyway" Elvis adds afterwards.

Elvis announces 'Trying To Get To You' as "About the third song I recorded for Sun Records" and it is a treat (new to Elvis' regular set-list since that January).

The interesting 1974 set-list continues with a soulful 'Why Me, Lord' and 'Suspicious Minds', the delightful 'Help Me' plus 'An American Trilogy' all being very committed performances.

Elvis eventually asks for the house-lights to be turned up and gets his first proper look at the packed Mid South Coliseum, telling the crowd that he didn't realise how big it was.

Finally 'Funny How Time Slips Away' (rarely performed since June 1972 and only added to the setlist since earlier that month) and 'Can't Help Falling In Love' bring this excellent Memphis performance to a close.

CD 2 Memphis, TN June 10, 1975 8.30pm - 71 minutes

- "Of all the time and places to rip my pants!" Elvis - Memphis, June 10 1975

A year later, Elvis has weathered his Desert Storm period and is back doing top-notch performances once again - and back in Memphis but this time for a one-night stand.

The second CD features Elvis' final performance from his May/June 1975 tour and while one sometimes thinks that Elvis didn't vary his concert setlists, tonight he would do seven new songs not performed in the concert the year before. See FTD releases Dixieland Rocks - May 6 1975, Southern Nights - April, May, June 1975 This is the concert that gave us the great cover photo for the From Elvis Presley Boulevard album (so you know Elvis was up for a good time!) yet sadly the concert is unlikely to be ever officially released! This was a great 1975 tour (see FTD releases) and Elvis is in fine spirits. Being an evening concert Elvis doesn't need to 'wake-up' and an energetic 'See See Rider' with its playful, soulful ending shows him firing from the start. 'I Got A Woman/Amen' is again the punchy short version and Elvis is having fun. Throwing off his guitar Charlie Hodge misses catching it. "That's the first time he missed that" teases Elvis.

It's during a kiss-the-girls 'Love Me' that Elvis bends over too far, "I think I ripped my suit" he comments mid-song and afterwards, bending towards a woman in the audience, noting "That's a far as I can go, honey!"

It is a great theme that Elvis keeps mentioning throughout the concert to much amusement, making this Memphis show even more memorable.

After 'All Shook Up' he tells the audience, "I gotta confess that when I bent over earlier I ripped the seat out of this suit!". Elvis then jokes with Glen D Hardin, "It's not that bad is it, Glen? - But it did go!" After the audience-pleasing tear through the oldies, Elvis gets into the serious part of the concert, with two songs from his new album plus 'Burning Love' back on the setlist. He announces 'Fairytale' as being "From my new album that's been out 2 or 3 weeks" and it is one of the better versions, as is the later 'T.R.O.U.B.L.E.' which is a cracker rocking version with Elvis having no troubles over the "lotta words".

'Burning Love' would be a real treat for Memphis, again dropped from Elvis' set-list since January 1973 and the only time Elvis would sing it on stage in Memphis. It is another enthusiastic version with a great power-ending, plus this soundboard has a good bass mix and by now Jerry Scheff was back in the band.

Elvis demonstrates his good mood during the Introductions. He announces that the vocal group Voice, "I found them working under a truck!" Vernon had a heart-attack earlier in the year but was there to see Elvis perform. Elvis shows his feelings by telling the audience, "My father was very ill, but he's up and about and here tonight" he then even introduces "My father's doctor, Dr Nick." Elvis continues his good humour teasing JD Sumner during 'Why Me, Lord' even going so far as "Kiss Me" which definitely throws J.D. off track. 'How Great Thou Art' is a truly majestic performance for Memphis and gets a huge applause with Elvis adding the reprise. As he modestly notes, "That makes it all worthwhile"

After 'Let Me Be There' Elvis asks for the house-lights up, "My goodness gracious!" he comments on seeing the packed crowd.

After some more great Kissing Moments - "Don't go crazy, Don't go completely nuts!" - Elvis worried notes, "Oh God. There goes the pants leg!"

A fine 'Funny How Time Slips Away' with Elvis reprising the ending line so that JD can hit "A low flat", is then followed by the silly fun of 'Little Darling'.

While the crowd love 'American Trilogy' here the emotion is slightly messed up by Elvis still laughing with the crowd, but all is forgiven with a great 'Mystery Train/Tiger Man' (brand new this tour since 1973) - and finally 'Can't Help Falling In Love.'

Note that a very good tape edit is used for the last two songs from Jackson, MS June 9, 1975 since the Memphis soundboard tape ran out.

Overall Verdict: Bringing It All Back Home beautifully showcases these two important tours with great quality soundboards plus a lovely 132 page book. The concerts both have a great song line-up and tightly packed shows with plenty of fabulous performances - and Elvis is in fine humor singing to his hometown crowd. Presented in quality packaging along with great photos and interesting liner notes, this is one of the best recent bootleg releases from 2010.
While FTD have now started including 8-page booklets with their digipacks, this pocket-size book raises the bar even higher for quality packaging of double-soundboards. If you get a chance, grab it!

Review by Piers Beagley
-Copyright EIN February 2011
EIN Website content © Copyright the Elvis Information Network.