Customer Reviews

On Stage

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Currently the single best "mature" live Presley album, this would be rated five stars if it simply drew from tunes recorded at his Memphis '69 sessions or more of Elvis's own classic back catalog. Despite the preponderance of covers from this Jan/Feb'70 session in Vegas (just Presley's second visit, I might add), his vocals and the band's performance are both superb. The is the last time Presley would sing with the "fire" in his voice first heard in his 1968 TV Special rebirth. At this point in his career he is a valid and creative artist, just coming off of a number one single and an amazing album release of his 1969 Memphis sessions, 'From Elvis In Memphis.' And, as bodyguard Sonny West notes, he's "thinner than a rake and handsomer than ten movie stars." The decline wouldn't set in for a few more years, and this is how I want to remember Elvis in the 1970's.

This album was recorded live in February, 1970 at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. This version of the CD is the originally released version, and you should consider buying the newer CD with added tracks which wouldn't fit on an LP (hence the original configuration.) Most of the songs are performed with energy, but some of the songs Elvis chose to perform left me scratching my head, especially "Yesterday," the loathsome "Sweet Caroline," and "Proud Mary" all hits for others that would have better been left alone by Elvis. The highlight of the CD is without question "Release Me." I think this is the strongest performance of this song that I have ever heard. Also strong are "C.C. Rider" and the amusing food-inspired "Polk Salad Annie," a song which is simultaneously funny yet cantankerous.

On balance, I think "Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite" is a better Elvis live album, but this one is worth listening to, especially for the unbelievably powerful version of "Release Me."

Far from your standard Elvis live album, ON STAGE eschews umpteenth performances of "Hound Dog," "Heartbreak Hotel," et. al and offers up Presley's exquisite interpretations of some of the most popular songs of the 20th Century. Key tracks: a propulsive "Proud Mary," massive hit "The Wonder of You," and a gorgeous "Let It Be Me." His enthusiasm for the songs herein is obvious throughout, and Presley's in top form vocally -- he even manages to pull off a rockin' re-working of Engelbert Humperdink's "Release Me!"

I bought the original vinyl of this l.p. back in '70 and in '00 (via CD) it still holds alot of enjoyment - it was and still is fun to hear Elvis in kind of "non-Presley" territory, material-wise. Naturally, Elvis makes contemporary pop such as "Proud Mary", "Walk A Mile..", "Polk Salad Annie", etc. his own, validating the presumed album concept of presenting a forward-thinking superstar, in touch with the times and not an "Oldie But Goodie" (which would have been OK with me - the previously unreleased "Long Tall Sally" from 1956 and "See See Rider", probably from around 1856!, are the highlights). This approach yielded okay but decidedly secondary treatments of "Sweet Caroline" and "Runaway" back in '70 and now the unearthed "In The Ghetto", "Don't Cry Daddy", and "Kentucky Rain", all big hits for Elvis at the time and presumeably not used originally because of the tacit theme, have a let's-get-'em-out-of-the-way feel. The prev. unrel. "I Can't Stop Loving You" is excellent but too similiar to El's '69 live track to warrant reflection on its useability on the original "On Stage". Another entry understandably left off the first issue is the brief bit with Elvis explaining to a fan why he can't do all the songs he's requested to do, etc. RCA does have a habit of providing, in these high-minded high-tech. extended reissues, spontaneous studio and concert dialogue which benefit only those who must have every recorded Elvis utterance. (For me, it's gotta be his every recorded utterance just from 1953 to 1960). So for the student of his Memphis-Vegas era wants to hear knockout Elvis, stick with FROM ELVIS IN MEMPHIS and parts of many other albums, including THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

I have been a devoted Elvis fan for more than 20 years and own over 600 recordings by Elvis and this album is one of his best. Every Elvis fan should own this one. I listen to this album over and over and never tire of it. This was Elvis at his best vocally, physically, and emotionally and he really shows it off on this album. Each song is done to perfection. You will NOT be disappointed with this one.

I bought this album in the late 70's the original didn't have the bonus tracks and although it was one of his shorter albums it compensates easily with a beautiful collection of songs that you want to listen to over and over again (and that's what I did till it was lost when moving house 6 years ago) I'm thrilled to find it's available thru Amazon as I have had no success in obtaining it in Australia. Any Elvis fan will love all the songs on this album (Sweet Caroline should have been written for him he does it so well) The Wonder of You will bring tears to your eyes and you'll smile to yourself when he says "Now that's Poke..... Salad.

An Eternal Aussie Fan

This album captures Elvis at his live best-encapsulating a combination of Elvis putting forth a maximum effort yet also very confident and in control.Elvis never wrote his own songs so he had to rely on others' songs-no matter,he always seemed to make them his own,usually bettering the original,such as this album's "Polk Salad Annie", "Release Me" and others. OK,well maybe he didn't better the Beatles on "Yesterday" but his version can certainly stand on its own. Sound quality on this CD is very good,even allowing you to hear some of the fans' comments,such as "you're just knocking yourself out to make everyone happy" gushed by one female fan as Elvis tried to catch his breath after "Polk Salad Annie". My only negative to this CD is that it doesn't have the opening and closing riff which would help it "feel" like a whole concert, but that's a small negative.Also,if you're looking for Elvis' treatment of some of his standards, you won't find many here,but there's plenty of that on other albums-this album is very unique in the line-up of Elvis' live albums,and is a must buy.

The performances of runaway,sweet caroline,yesterday,the wonder of you,walk a mile in my shoes and let it me be are the best versions i have ever heard,including the originals.Add outstanding performances like proud mary and release me, and you have a terrific cd.

Yes, this *is* your parents' Elvis Presely: a mature perfomer in a new role. This is early enough in Elvis's "comeback" phase so that you hear his finest performances filled with the energy and newfound confidence that came with his revived career. Some regard this as his best live album. In any case, it features a mature, powerful performer at his prime.

Every song on this album has become a Presley classic. This is Elvis "Live" at his very best with one of the world's greatest rock & roll bands.