The Elvis Presley Show - Holding Down The Fort

The Madison label will soon release a double CD set titled " The Elvis Presley Show - Holding Down The Fort, " featuring the much-heralded Fort Worth, Texas concert from June 3, 1976. About five years ago Madison issued portions of this show, unfortunately far from complete and in lesser sound quality. However, this 2006 collection will be taken from a first generation soundboard recording in excellent sound quality.

The recording is not without any flaws as there are quite a few feedbacks during '' C. C. Rider '', a tape stretch at the end of side A damaged "Jailhouse Rock," and the recording of "Hound Dog" was stopped early on. These have been replaced by the same tunes done just one month later in the same building. However, the incomplete June performances are included as a bonus for the "soundboard collector" in all of us. And the packaging will include a 16 page, illustrated booklet with relevant text. But there's more!

For the first time, this " 30th Anniversary Edition " will feature all the music from the " pre-show, " with Joe Guercio and the Hot Hilton Horns, J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, and The Sweet Inspirations. All these performances will be as presented that night in Fort Worth. Highlights from the first CD include " When The Saints Go Marching In " and "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the Stamps, and the Sweet Inspirations energetic vocals on " Philadelphia Freedom, " " Lady Marmalade " and a medley of Stevie Wonder hits. The stand up comedian Jackie Kahane's set was not recorded and will not appear on this release.

Elvis' concert itself will feature all the tracks previously released on Madison's Cajun Tornado, but this time in much better sound quality from the first generation soundboard recording and in unbroken running order. Some of the previously unreleased performances will include " If You Love Me (Let Me Know), " " Heartbreak Hotel, " " Help Me " and many more. Don't miss the dynamic 1976 return of The Elvis Presley Show to Cowtown!!!

CD1: The Pre-Show

01 - Guercio Introduction / Theme From S.W.A.T. / Love Me Tender 2:32 ; 02 - Stamps Introduction / Your First Day in Heaven 1:44 ; 03 - You'll Never Walk Alone 2:41 ; 04 - Operator 3:03 ; 05 - When The Saints Go Marching In 2:58 ; 06 - Inspirations Introduction / Philadelphia Freedom 3:42 ; 07 - Lady Marmalade 3:15 ; 08 - Introduction of Musicians 2:25 ; 09 - Stevie Wonder Medley Boogie On Reggae Woman ("Party ... Stevie Is A Wonder") / For Once In My Life / You Got It Bad Girl / Superstition / You Are The Sunshine Of My Life / Livin' For The City / All In Love Is Fair / Higher Ground / Closing Announcement 7:40

Total time = 30:07

Track 1: Joe Guercio and the Hot Hilton Horns ; Tracks 2-5 : J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet ; Tracks 6-10 : The Sweet Inspirations

All tracks previously unreleased

CD2 : The Main Event

01 - Introduction Also Sprach Zarathustra 0:47 ; 02 - C.C. Rider 4:40 ; 03 - I Got A Woman / Amen 7:39 ; 04 - Love Me 2:34 ; 05 - If You Love Me (Let Me Know) 3:22 ; 06 - You Gave Me A Mountain 3:24 ; 07 - All Shook Up 1:05 ; 08 - Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel 1:58 ; 09 - Heartbreak Hotel 1:52 ; 10 - Help Me 2:38 ; 11 - Jailhouse Rock 1:36 ; 12 - Fever 3:11 ; 13 - Polk Salad Annie 3:51 ; 14 - Introductions by Elvis of vocalists, band 3:07 ; 15 - Early Morning Rain (John Wilkinson) 102 ; 16 - What I'd Say? (James Burton) 057 ; 17 - Johnny B. Goode (James Burton) 055 ; 18 - Drum solo (Ronnie Tutt) 1:27 ; 19 - Bass solo (Jerry Scheff) 1:36 ; 20 - Piano solo (Tony Brown) 1:17 ; 21 - Electric piano solo (David Briggs) 1:00 ; 22 - Love Letters 2:43 ; 23 - Introductions by Elvis of vocalists, orchestra 0:25 ; 24 - School Day (Joe Guercio Orchestra) 1:18 ; 25 - "Happy Birthday" to Bruce Jackson 0:26 ; 26 - Hurt 1:53 ; 27 - Hurt (full reprise) 1:57 ; 28 - Hound Dog 2:58 ; 29 - Funny How Time Slips Away 4:36 ; 30 - Can't Help Falling In Love 1:42 ; 31 - Closing vamp and announcements 2:26 ; Bonus tracks : 32 - Jailhouse Rock (incomplete) 0:54 ; 33 - Hound Dog (incomplete) 0:21

Total time = 71:54

Tracks 5-10, 14, 16-21, 23-24 and 32-33 previously unreleased ; Tracks 11 and 28-31 recorded at the same venue, on July 3, 1976

 

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