Track Listing

1. Blue Suede Shoes
2. Johnny B. Goode
3. All Shook Up
4. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
5. Hound Dog
6. I Can't Stop Loving You
7. My Babe
8. Medley: Mystery Train/Tiger Man
9. Words
10. In the Ghetto
11. Suspicious Minds
12. Can't Help Falling in Love

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #143403 in Music
• Released on: 1992-10-27
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live

Amazon.com
When Elvis Presley's late-1960s comeback is discussed, talk generally centers on two events--his 1968 NBC-TV special and the recordings made in Memphis at American Studios shortly thereafter. There was actually a third key event--Presley's first Las Vegas engagement in 13 years (he flopped the first time), which kicked off at the brand-new International Hotel on July 31, 1969. The event is downplayed now since Vegas has become so synonymous with the King's decline--but this was a revitalized Presley, and, for the most part, he rocked. The white jumpsuits and "My Way" would come later; for this show, Presley wore a black karate suit and was backed by one of the hottest rockabilly bands on earth, with the legendary James Burton on lead guitar. Presley does early hits, Sun stuff, a Willie Dixon blues tune, and his latest singles ("In the Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds"). The furthest he steps outside his oeuvre is a cover of the Bee Gees' "Words." If only he'd continued in this vein. As it is, this stands with Onstage, February 1970 as his finest live recording. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews

The Comeback Continues
Elvis' first legitimate live album remains one of his best. The seven-minute version of "Suspicious Minds" surpasses the studio recording. Another highlight is a rare performance of Willie Dixon's "My Babe." Though abridged, "In Person" displays a revitalized Presley in triumphant form.

It's Rock 'n'Roll All The Way
When Elvis returns to play before a paying audience in late July 1969, after a eight year, four month layoff to make Hollywood movies, he does so with a vengence. The shows taped in August 1969 capture a 33 year old legend who wishes to remind his audience that the fire still burns. This album is ample evidence of that fire, with an eight minute version of his soon to be number one single "Suspicious Minds" that astonishes. Some of the ballad arrangements are, admittedly, weak and pedestrian, but no fault can be found with the vocalist or musicians. One listen to Elvis's rather ironic version of "Johnny B. Goode" tells the story: they rock the house! Perhaps someday RCA/BMG will see fit to issue a single, complete performance from this engagement, but until then this serves as the best example of the "mature," rockin' Elvis Presley. (Note: two Aug'69 tracks snuck onto the following year's 'On Stage' album, "Yesterday" and "Runaway." The latter, a Del Shannon cover, harbors an amazing James Burton lead guitar solo and Elvis's stunning vocals turn the song from one of longing and regret to triumph. Check it out!)

Bless my soul!
This is Elvis' first live album, and his best. It doesn't feature one single show, but rather highlights from several shows from his August 1969 engagement in Las Vegas. Elvis was really fired up here. He put his all into every song, even the older songs that he tended to sleepwalk through at later concerts. Four songs made their first recorded appearances here, "Johnny B. Goode", "I Can't Stop Loving You", "My Babe" and "Words". For some reason, they used a version of "Johnny B. Goode" where Elvis forgets to sing the second verse, and instead sings the third verse twice. It still rocks, though. The rest of the songs are live versions of songs Elvis had previously recorded. They are all good, especially the epic seven minute version of "Suspicious Minds". If you only get one Elvis live album, it should be this one.