Review : 48 Hours To Memphis Concert CD from FTD


By: David Troedson
Source: Elvis Australia
November 13, 2011

Review

Elvis Presley : March 18, 1974
Elvis Presley : March 18, 1974
48 Hours To Memphis is a live concert recorded on March 18, 1974 in Richmond Virginia, two days before Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis.

It is derived from what must have been a full professional 16-track multi track recording, and as promised in the pre-publicity, 'the sound is absolutely great, and Elvis is in top form'. While the sound is actually not stereo it is of a very high quality and it compares very well with normal stereo releases.

The tape was originally obtained by Robert Frieser in 1990, although he could only listen to it on a cassette tape given to him at the same time as he did not have a reel-to-reel tape recorder. Thinking it was only a very good 'soundboard' and there being no retail market for such recordings at the time it has remained for the past 20 years for his enjoyment only.

A few years ago a friend made a new transfer revealing a much higher fidelity - and it was clear they had something special. And then, thankfully FTD were contacted and we have this CD for all Elvis fans to enjoy.

The concert offers something of everything for everyone. Featuring the usual combination of rock 'n' roll, blues, ballads and gospel. Elvis is completely at ease, unlike the Memphis concert two days later.

It is not known why the concert was recorded, I think most likely as a test run before Memphis concert, but we do know it was recorded on multi track by RCA, apart from the obvious markings on the tape and the tape itself, Glenn Clark, whose father took the photos that adorn the booklet in this set, was at the concert and saw RCA's mobile recording studio at the Coliseum.

As for the sound, FTD in their press release expressed how good it is but I can vouch for the claim after enjoying listening to the concert many times over the past few days. I describe the sound as basically the same as a stereo release only as if mixed to one channel. So it has all the hi-fi quality and so compares perfectly with normal stereo releases we are used to. This may not be a correct technical description but it is what I can best come up with to describe my opinion of the recording to you. For example I was recently given a Johnny Cash concert that had come direct from the soundboard DAT tape and it took me a month to notice it was not stereo; I was just enjoying what I was hearing. This is the same with 48 Hours To Memphis.

When I asked FTDs Ernst Jorgensen about the sound quality he told me it has been released 'as it was except for some minor EQ adjustments and level issues' and that a repair was needed on I Got A Woman as a bit of the tape was damaged. Apart from that 'they did not mix anything'. He went on to remind me that 'Elvis preferred mono and wanted reverb on his voice' and suggested that 'this might have been experimental, trying for a different sound to Madison Square Garden and Aloha From Hawaii, but this was mainly for reference'. 'Joan Deary did supervised MSG and ALOHA and I think Felton [Jarvis] may have wanted to prove a point'.

48 Hours To Memphis Concert CD

Whatever the reason for the recording, this is a concert CD not to be missed with top notch sound quality and Elvis in particularly good form. The booklet is full of great pictures from the actual show and informative notes.

The CD comes in a 7" digi format with a 16 page booklet.

If I had to make one complaint, I would say why add the 3 bonus tracks? Ernst, sometimes 'less is more'.

Buy Forty-Eight Hours To Memphis | Richmond, Virginia | March 18, 1974
Buy Elvis : Recorded Live On Stage in Memphis

View all in the FTD Classic Album Section along with many other of Elvis' albums.

48 Hours To Memphis Concert CD from FTD

Elvis Presley Photos Tickets to see the King
Elvis Presley Photos Joe Esposito with Elvis Presley at the Memphis airport : March 18, 1974
Elvis Presley Photos Elvis Presley : Live on stage at the Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia : March 18, 1974

Elvis Presley CD, Book and DVD Reviews Review : He Touched Me : FTD Special Edition 2 CD

Track listing

Track listing

  1. Also Sprach Zarathustra
  2. See See Rider
  3. I Got A Woman/Amen
  4. Love Me
  5. Trying To Get To You
  6. All Shook Up
  7. Steamroller Blues
  8. Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel
  9. Love Me Tender
  10. Medley: Long Tall Sally/Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On/Your Mama Don't Dance/Flip, Flop and Fly/Jailhouse Rock/Hound Dog
  11. Fever
  12. Polk Salad Annie
  13. Why Me Lord?
  14. Suspicious Minds
  15. Introductions by Elvis
  16. I Can't Stop Loving You
  17. Help Me
  18. American Trilogy
  19. Let Me Be There
  20. Funny How Time Slips Away
  21. Can't Help Falling In Love
  22. Closing Vamp

    Bonus cuts

  23. Sweet Caroline
  24. Johnny B. Goode
  25. That's All Right

Tracks 23-25 are from cassettes tapes recorded through the mixing console.

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Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.

This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.

The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.

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