Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden was issued in June of 1972. While this album only reached Number 11 on the Billboard charts, it would go on to sell more than 3 million copies. This album was also a recording of a complete concert rather than a pieced together affair. That fact gives the listener an accurate feel of an actual 1970’s Elvis concert.
When “Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme From 2001: A Space Odyssey)” blasts from the speakers you know that Elvis Presley is about to perform. “That’s All Right” and “Proud Mary” immediately engage the audience as Elvis roars through both of this tunes. Elvis shows that he can still rock when he puts his mind to it.
Elvis slows the pace down with a superb version of Three Dog Night hit, “Never Been To Spain.” Elvis places the right vocal emphasis on each stanza as the song builds to its conclusion. His hit, “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me,” is another ballad that builds and is a good vehicle for Elvis to show off his vocal range. “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” finishes off this trilogy of slow songs.
“Polk Salad Annie” is always a highlight of any Elvis performance. Elvis would always seem invested when performing this song. His deep vocal interpretation would enable him to appear sincere when singing this song of his southern roots.
The middle part of the concert was given over to a number of his early hits. There is both good and bad here as by this time Elvis would be more alive and energetic when performing newer songs. These were the songs that were important to the fans and as such Elvis would always include them. “Love Me,” “Heartbreak Hotel” and a medley of “Teddy Bear/Don’t Be Cruel” are performed merely to satisfy the audience.
Article comments
1 - Anthony
Hi David
A good review. An interesting sidebar is that this show was recorded the evening of June 10, 1972 and was pressed, packaged and released to the public only 8 days later on June 18 - that must be one of the fastest album releases of an event in Rock history. Also worthy of mention is that the Afternoon show on June 10 was also recorded, it was released back in the 90's on CD. There are many fans (including me) that site that as the superior performance. It certainly has been mixed and mastered better than the evening show.
Also, I am curious as to why you not only skipped reviewing the LP "Elvis Now" but also his third and final gospel album "He Touched Me" - both of these were releasd in early 1972 prior to Madison Square Garden.
"Elvis Now" isn't essential, but "He Touched Me" is.
thanks
Anthony