Review : On Stage 1970 CD

This 1999 reissue of On Stage 1970 contains seven bonus tracks not on the original release.

I am so excited about the new CD 'On Stage'. I just got it today and was no less than thrilled as I listened to it for the first time. I was just expecting some 'unreleased' songs thrown into the mix, but was I surprised! The entire CD has been remixed, or should I say 'unremixed', the songs sound a lot different without all the tampering that RCA did for the original release in 1970. Even the bantering in between songs has been 'changed' (for a lack of a better word). I am assuming that it has been 'restored' to the original tape and not edited and Elvis' 'comments' just inserted in between songs as were done in the original release. (Elvis even introduces Fats Domino in this new release as well as the classic 'kissing segment' slightly changed), all the mixes in the songs are quite different than the original release, and I was very pleased with what I heard. This is probably the original mixes done live and have now been graciously given to us to hear unaltered!, and this is just the songs that we have heard before, (by the way, the un-fixed version of 'The Wonder Of You' is clearly heard on this gem of a release).

It is very refreshing to hear all the new material on this now complete retrospect of Elvis' first appearances in Las Vegas, the unreleased songs, held back from release in 1970 for obvious reasons then, now bring to light the real raw power that Elvis brought to the stage those first few years in Las Vegas. The early live versions of 'Suspicious Minds' and 'Don't Cry Daddy' are classic 'Elvis live'! and the supercharged energy on 'Long Tall Sally' clearly portray the excitement and energy of what Elvis was like on stage . This is the kind of releases that all the fans are screaming for.

I find it very disturbing that there are still some 'gimmick' releases still coming from RCA. The other new CD's that came out today are not, I repeat, not in my collection in this new form, nor will the ever be. I find it insulting when these type of 'old hash' compilations' are released when there are still so many 'gems' still left to be released like the 'On Stage' CD. This CD was done so well and is truly 'collectors gold'.

Most of the time, since Ernst took 'over', the releases have for the most part made good sense, and than they throw us a curve with these re-re-re-release in new 'packaging'. bmg should keep the good stuff coming like 'On Stage', we sure could use a great new 'Elvis In Concert-1977' compilation CD set with all the 'fans comments' removed and all the unreleased songs put back into a release that will satisfy all die hard fans.

Well. enough bashing, the Elvis releases and the state of his catalogue for the new millennium looks very bright. Keep it coming'. I would recommend to anyone who does not have the new 'On Stage' CD, run, don't walk to grab one, and you will be very pleased. You will sit back and think to yourself with a sigh of exhilaration, ahhhh, this is what it's all about, this is what makes it all worth while!!

See See Rider - Release Me - Sweet Caroline - Runaway - The Wonder Of You - Polk Salad Annie - Yesterday / Hey Jude - Proud Mary - Walk A Mile In My Shoes - In The Ghetto - Don't Cry Daddy - Kentucky Rain - I Can't Stop Loving You - Suspicious Minds - Long Tall Sally - Let It Be Me

Take care, Dan Siciliano - Las Vegas
Edited by David Troedson May 19, 1999

Buy On Stage 1970

© Copyright 2024 by www.elvis.com.au & www.elvispresley.com.au

https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/reviews/cd-review-onstage.shtml

No part of any article on this site may be re-printed for public display without permission.