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Elvis Australia : Official Elvis Presley Fan Club


Review - All Shook Up FTD CD


By Geoffrey Mc Donnell
Source: Elvis Australia
August 24, 2005

Review

All Shook Up FTD CD
All Shook Up FTD CD
The first proper release of this live 1969 material was on the fantastic FTD album, Elvis at the International, which showcased Elvis' August 23rd midnight performance - which was 'pretty good!' Disc 1 on Live in Las Vegas was the first entire concert (24.8.69 D/S) released from this engagement, and received only a mediocre reception. Of course the fan-favourite In Person, originally released in 1969, is a great album featuring a lot of material from August 25, but only gives the listener an abbreviated glimpse of what Elvis was all about live on stage. So considering Elvis was very much in his prime on stage in 1969, it only makes sense that BMG release at least one more show to showcase this great era of Elvis' career.

For the second proper release of this material, FTD/BMG has released All Shook Up with Elvis' August 26th midnights show. Of the 3 complete shows released, I feel this CD is clearly THE BEST!

The CD is fantastic with a great running time of 75 minutes and a typically great 1969 cover shot too, nothing has been 'cut out'! The great piano riff segues into 'Blue Suede Shoes' and has Elvis sounding at his best - 'raw and enthusiastic!' After even the 1st song he starts laughing, an indication of his mood tonight! During 'I Got a Woman' he sounds in fine voice, after the familiar 'Here I go again + Army references' Elvis gives us a decent & solid 'All Shook Up'. Piano fans will simply LOVE the mix on this CD! Plenty of dialogue about 'Gatorade' before 'Love Me Tender', which is 'just ok'. Good medleys follow much funny dialogue and a great sound to 'Jailhouse Rock' - "should have heard that son-o'bitch sing". An excellent 'Don't Be Cruel' follows, 'Heartbreak Hotel' is good and bluesy and so is 'Hound Dog' after a laughing start. 'I Can't Stop Loving You' is perhaps the weakest song so far and I have heard much better endings. More dialogue follows and also the first reference of the evening to 'squirrels'. 'Mystery Train/Tiger Man' rocks and is 'Great!'

The 10-minute monologue is up next and is my favourite one as it's REALLY hilarious! As Elvis tells his side of the story, the audience can be heard quite well and you hear just how much THEY are loving this show. Next Elvis considers doing 'Rubberneckin' before turning in an excellent 'Baby What You Want Me To Do'. 'Runaway' + Del Shannon introduction is well done (good to hear the piano in one channel and the guitar in the other) before the next track which we are ALL familiar with - the infectious laughing version of 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?' Elvis then runs through a long false start to 'Rubberneckin' (we certainly didn't hear this on Collectors Gold!), this performance is a rare highlight. 'Yesterday/Hey Jude Medley' is well done before the Introductions and a sincere 'In the Ghetto'. 'This is the Story' is exactly the SAME as 'Collectors Gold' and 'Suspicious Minds' is yet another great version! Not surprisingly, already having noted the length of his show, Elvis closes with 'Can't Help Falling In Love'.

Well what a brilliant release, what an experience and having already played it over a dozen times, I still enjoy it. Of the 3 'official' complete concerts from this 1969 Vegas season, the sound + concert on this release HAS to be the best so far! All Shook Up is one concert that truly captures Elvis' magic and is thoroughly recommended! It will probably be some time before BMG release another complete concert from 1969, but hopefully 'All Shook Up' is not the last. (I'd like the 25.8.69 M/S next please) 1969 was a major year in Elvis' music career and his return to live performances possibly never matched the energy from these Las Vegas shows again.

Buy All Shook Up FTD CD (August 26, 1969 - Midnight Show)

Available 1969 Concerts

CD White Knight In Vegas (August 23, 1969 - Dinner Show)
CD All Shook Up FTD CD (August 26, 1969 - Midnight Show)
CD Elvis At The International (August 23, 1969 - Midnight Show)
CD Viva Las Vegas 2 CD Set : International Hotel in Las Vegas, August 21, 1969 (Sony)
CD Elvis In Person FTD 2 CD Classic Album

More Elvis Stereo Concerts as released by FTD


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