Ciscokings’ Corner

Elvis performed two shows on this date.

This CD features the afternoon show, while the evening show can be found in soundboard sound on "Running For President".

Just by hearing the first few notes it’s easy to realize that this is not a great audience recording.

As the concert progresses the sound quality improves, but there’s still a lot of hiss and some overload in the recording.

The audience is a big part of this CD, being upbeat and noisy throughout, giving the recording a great atmosphere.

On "CC Rider" Elvis sounds distant and you can barely hear the band. The sound improves a little with "I Got A Woman/Amen".

As it had become the common practice at this stage, Elvis has J.D. Sumner do the dive bomb at the end of the song twice, with some banter in the middle, making the song go on for more than eight minutes.

"Good evening ladies and gentleman....uh...good afternoon...it’s a pleasure to be here...when was the last time we were here? (the crowd roars)...3 years, right?"

By the time "Love Me" begins the CD becomes listenable, but it’s still not among the best audience recordings.

A lot of audience interaction during this song almost drowns the band.

No doubt Elvis had the crowd at the palm of his hand in Charlotte.

"Let Me Be There" has Elvis fully awake by this point and it’s an entertaining version.

Elvis explains that they keep all the gifts they receive at the concerts in a trophy room and "You Gave Me A Mountain" finds him reaching for very high notes on the chorus.

By this point the sound quality becomes clearer and actually, enjoyable.

"Steamroller Blues" has a long intro and judging by the crowd roar, Elvis is busy doing some kissing.

More audience interaction leads to "Until It’s Time For You To Go", which is nice to have for it wasn’t performed often in 1976.

Sadly too much fooling around makes Elvis lose focus a couple of times during the song but it’s a decent, enjoyable performance.

"All Shook Up" has a couple of seconds missing in the middle, and the song lasts for just a minute.

"Polk Salad Annie" has a lot of energy and is very entertaining, even though it pales when compared to the versions performed earlier in the decade.

As was usually the case during the later years, Elvis uses the extended band introductions to catch his breath back after a physically demanding song.

Elvis says "The little girl that does the high voice singing...she’s from Kathy Westmoreland and she’s Los Angeles" and about 10 minutes of band introductions follow. Luckily the introductions are shorter than later in the year.

On the drums is Larry Londin, and he plays in a different style than Ronnie Tutt and that makes some songs sound a little unusual to what we’re used to hearing in Elvis concerts when Ronnie is behind the kit.

Also new but at the piano is Shane Keister replacing Glen Hardin. Tony Brown would take his place a few weeks later.

Elvis takes "And I Love You So" seriously and delivers a great version.

The audience cheers in places but for the most part they pay attention.

Larry’s drumming is great on this number from "Elvis Today".

"We have a new record we’d like to do for you... and it’s ’Hurt’", which Elvis would introduce as a "new" or "latest" record until his last show, but this time it is really new, the band plays it at a much slower pace than later in the year and it’s a great version, even though Elvis doesn’t go for very high notes in the ending like he would in later versions and there’s no reprise.

"Burning Love" has a false start because Elvis forgets the lyrics to it...as was fairly often the case in 1976.

On the second attempt he forgets again the text after just 1 line and stops the song.

He nails it by the third attempt and it’s a good version by 1976 standards.

"America, The Beautiful" is next and is also played at a slower pace than later in the year.

It is followed by "How Great Thou Art", which has Elvis asking Larry to play the "thunder" part on the drums.

This gospel song is the highlight of the concert and has Elvis in fine voice and going for the high notes at the ending.

Before the usual "Can’t Help Falling In Love" concert closer Elvis decides to do "Hawaiian Wedding Song" and it’s a good version, with no fooling around.

If you are looking for a representation of this tour, get the "A New Kind Of Rhythm!" and "Runnin’ For President" soundboards.

If you have to have it all, "Steamrollin’ Charlotte" is a decent audience recording with a good concert, at least when compared with the tours that would follow in mid-76.