Inflatable feet in Vegas

This posting was supposed to be about Elvis' concert in Dallas, December 28, 1976. But before I signed in I made my daily visit to ElvisNews.com where the content of the two upcoming FTD releases Nevada Nights and Elvis Country were announced, so I'll write about that instead.

It was already known that the 2 CD Nevada Nights would include the Opening Night Show, which is an interesting concert in itself. Turns out I was right in my guess that the other CD will contain another concert from this engagement: the track listing is for the August 21 Midnight Show.

Just for the fun of it I compared it with the one already released by FTD under the name It's Midnight from the August 24 Midnight performance. Not very surprisingly they are nearly identical: exclusive for Nevada Nights is an incomplete version of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" whereas "Spanish Eyes," "How Great Thou Art" and "Early Morning Rain" are featured only on It's Midnight.

But I don't mind as the concert seems an interesting one. According to both Stein Erik Skar's book The Concert Years and Lee Cotten's Did Elvis Sing In Your Hometown, too? Elvis went over to J.D. Sumner during "Why Me Lord" wearing a pair of huge inflatable feet with black toe-nail polish. As you can probably guess, poor J.D. couldn't continue singing while Elvis doubled over with laughter.

Also, the introduction should be something out of the ordinary. And I for one certainly don't mind hearing Elvis belting out great songs such as "Big Boss Man," "It's Midnight," "I'm Leavin'" and "If You Talk In Your Sleep." Bring 'em on!

As for Elvis Country, no big surprises, with an equal part of outtakes (many of them already released, the majority on A Hundred Years From Now: Essential Elvis Volume 4 and Nashville Marathon) and undubbed masters. Proof that not many "new" unreleased takes exist is the inclusion of three undubbed masters actually belonging on That's The Way It Is and Love Letters ("When I'm Over You," The Next Step Is Love" and "Love Letters").

If we'll get the original album with the parts of "I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago" between the songs or not, is unclear to me. I for one would have preferred to have the songs first with the snippets and then without.

Nevertheless, just like the recenty released TTWII and Love Letters, it will be great to have all what's available collected on 2 CD's. But like someone commented on ElvisNews.com: "What seems to be missing is the long version of Whole Lot-ta Shakin' Goin' On WITHOUT the added horns." Why is that?

PS: My next posting will be about Elvis' concert in Dallas, December 28, 1976. I promise.