Title

Title: LOVE LETTERS FROM NEVADA

Label : Sundial Productions SP 601 (released 1995)

Date: December 4, 1976, 9 P.M. dinner show, Las Vegas, Nevada)

Sound rate: ***/*****
Show rating: ****/*****

TRACKS: Also Sprach Zarathustra / See See Rider / I Got A Woman Amen / Monologue /Love Me / If You Love Me (Let Me Know) / You Gave Me A Mountain / Jailhouse Rock / It's Now Or Never / Trying' To Get To You / Blue Suede Shoes / Fever / America (The Beautiful) / Bridge Over Troubled Water / What Now My Love (spoken version) / Band Introductions / Early Morning Rain / What'd I Say / Instrumental solos/ Love Letters / Introductions / Hail Hail Rock And Roll / Hail Hail Rock And Roll (2nd) / Introductions of Engelbert Humperdinck, Roy Orbinson, Vernon Presley and Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis one line of Orbison4s It4s Over / Hurt / Hound Dog / How Great Thou Art / I Can't Help Falling In Love / Closing Vamp.

REVIEW:
Between December 2.-12. , 1976, Elvis gave his very last Las Vegas engagement and some of 15 performed shows weren't among his best ones, as you can hear on recent "RUN ON" 7.12. 1976) soundboard release where he was in strange mood , very likely drugged and sounds tired. The opening show from 2nd December was very good and one of his longest , Elvis takes requests like I JUST CAN'T HELP BELIEVING this song was sung last time ever here and brings very 1970 hat4s The Way It Is feel, and he was in great mood. Following concerts were good too, until 5.12. show, where Elvis hurts his ankle and he often sat on chair throughout the show. Elvis was more tired as season went on and he got bad reviews occasionally.

About four years ago I've seen amateur footage from this show (and also 3. 12. 76 dinner show) on bootleg video called " ELVIS - PRE HOLIDAY CONCERTS ". The picture quality was very rough but still about watchable and sound is original , however many songs are sloppily edited. Both concerts seemed to be good (4.12.a bit better, more energetic) and here I've heard spoken version of "What Now My Love" and I was caught in this piece very much. In following years I tried to get better recording of it and in 1995 was released this "LOVE LETTERS FROM NEVADA" CD.

The 4.12. 9PM (dinner) show appeared on this CD is probably one of best ever from this short season. Firstly , the sound quality of this disc is really very good for an audience recorded concert, one of the best for this kind material I've ever heard , better than "AULD LANG SYNE" and "ADIOS" CDs and almost comparable to above mentioned worse "RUN ON" soundboard. Sound is full, deep and soft with very little hiss in quiet parts, only sometime bit distant, but not flat as from "phone call" as many others are. Also, is it the best release from "SUNDIAL PRODUCTION" ever, without a doubt. Packaging is impressive include 8 clear color photos from actual show, nice one is on the back, and Elvis wearing beautiful 1974 "Inca Gold Leaf" jumpsuit.

Now I will try to describe the show. Elvis seemed to be in very good mood throughout, in superb rich voice, singing with joy, passion and energy. After standard opening you can hear conversation with some woman in first
row and on video you can see how Elvis changed one of his scarves for great bunch of flowers and kissed her. "Love Me" is, as usual, uninspired, walk-through version, not more than background music for scarves presentation. "If You Love Me" and "Mountain" are both strong performances and also " It's Now Or Never" is great (still without Sherrill Nielsen "Italian" verse). "Trying' To Get To You" sounds almighty and also "Blue Suede Shoes" isn't so bad, sounds more impressive, however now we have better version and in excellent sound on MY IT`S BEEN A LONG LONG TIME bootleg. These songs are far better than usually sloppily performed "All Shook Up" and "Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel" medley - weakest part in many of Elvis after 1975 shows. Before "America" you can hear interaction with crowd and song itself is one of the highlights. Following "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is sang with feeling and ending is very powerful, this song is quite rare for 1976/77 period, video you can see Elvis body movements very similar to TTWII 1970 version. Elvis also read words of this song from lyrics sheet (in other shows from fall 1976 onward he read lyrics of My Way, Bridge and Funny How Time Slips Away very often, along with his overweight condition it was sign of troubles during last months of his life).

Without pause Elvis went straight into biggest highlight of this night, spoken version of "What Now My Love" , performed here after more than three years , unrehearsed and also for last time ever. Is it incredibly beautiful, emotional piece, you could hear tinkle of glasses in first rows during this song. Introduction follows with solos, on video you can see bombastic Ron Tutt drums solo, he got great applause. Elvis sang nice "Love Letters" - the title song, and two versions of " Hail! Hail! Rock'n'Roll ", during second run James Burton gave great solo on his pink Telecaster with golden design. Elvis then introduces celebrities in audience with the words: " ...Please Release Me Let Me Go - never ever sang it ... like Engelbert Humperdinck !" and "... another of the finest singers of the all times, Roy Orbison !" and sang one line of Orbisons' "It's Over" ( they're meet backstage after show ) and introduces father Vernon and daughter Lisa. "Hurt" sounds differently with "Vegas" arrangement and is good too. "Hound Dog" is bad and apart "Love Me" only other criticism I have. "Thank you , ladies and gentlemen , the show will be complete , I'll do a gospel song we did in sixty seven, it features the Stamps Quartet , How Great Thou Art". This penultimate number is another great highlight and at the end Elvis falls on his right knee in familiar pose like on cover photo of 70's Masters box set ! Typical gasversion with strong strings section of "I Can't Help Falling ..." close this concert.

After Elvis died, Roy Orbison told reporter of ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE about their December meeting:

"I last saw him last December in Las Vegas. Had a fantastic visit, oh, almost two hours, from the time he became off to time he went back on. We talked about the early days and the recent days. We talked about the people we admired each other, and people who tried to really perform from the heart, with soul, as opposed to trying to make commercial records. I hope people remember the impact, its not only historical fact, but its definitely lingering fact". (published in October 1977 issue of the Rolling Stone magazine)

In short , this is great performance, especially for this period, far better than 7.12.76 , and in very listenable sound, beautifully packed and it's worth buying a copy of this CD, recommended to all collectors.

Reviewed by Oto Meszaros, CZECH REPUBLIC.