Near the start of his US tour, on 3rd March 1974 Elvis made a major appearance at one of the biggest venues, The Astrodome in Houston Texas, entertaining in excess of 88,000 fans that day.
MRS' ‘Live At The Houston Astrodome 1974’ release contains Elvis’ performance and for the first time ever, this recording is presented in stereo.
The Houston show is a truly important performance since there was no room for the usual orchestra and so it was just Elvis, the TCB band and backing-vocalists.
The recording is totally unique, demonstrating that in 1974 Elvis could still play with just his core musicians to create that 'Presley Magic' for that massive Texas crowd.
EIN's Piers Beagley provides an in-depth review of this recent MRS release
Compilation produced by Joseph Pirzada,
design by Kev Reape. DES Remix, audio Restoration and Remaster by Studio D.
In 1974 Elvis focused on a hard touring schedule and never once went into a recording studio.
After re-vamping his set-list at the earlier January 1974 Las Vegas season, Elvis' first tour of 1974 kicked off with two dates in Tulsa and then performed at the massive Houston Astrodome on March 3, 1974. Playing on a stage in the middle of the huge Astrodome and without any orchestra back-up this was a challenging concert. It was also the last time Elvis would ever perform at the Astrodome.
In 1974 Elvis added the new songs 'Help Me', 'Let Me Be There' and ‘Why Me Lord’ to his regular set-list and the old SUN classic ‘Trying To Get To You’ would also become a regular feature. Not only that but Elvis started working on that old 'Polk Salad' again having left it off the set-list for the whole of 1973!
Elvis’ 1974 show at the Houston Astrodome has always been an important concert for collectors since it was performed with only Elvis’ band and backing-singers and with no orchestra. This made the concert completely unique with Elvis not only having to be truly focussed – there were no kiss-the-girls interruptions – and the whole team had to produce a powerful sound, big enough to impress the distant crowd in the massive stadium.
The concert has been released several times on bootleg ('The 8th Wonder Of The World', 'Livestock Live 74', 'Event Number 8') while FTD also released it back in 2023.
The disappointment with the FTD release - 'Elvis: Houston, Fort Worth, Baton Rouge 1974' - was that the 2023 audio was basically identical to the Madison bootleg ‘Event Number 8’ released in 2000. It was still the same great performance but with just the same audio impact.
Luckily for collectors the UK MRS label have truly raised the bar with an outstanding (DES) STEREO version of the same concert. Now you can really hear how Elvis and the band put in a truly focused performance to impress the fans.
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The Package
Following on from their ELVIS: On Tour 1974 California this MRS set continues the slim Book / CD combo package.
The 40-page booklet is a stunner, packed with great photos and memorabilia.
The set includes 20 photos of Elvis at the afternoon concert, eight from the evening show and eight showing Elvis backstage. A few that look new to my eyes.
Seeing the massive size of the huge auditorium you can only wonder what on earth the audio sounded like to his loving fans who were all so far away. No wonder Elvis has to tell the crowd "This is the largest audience I have ever sung to and it makes one a wee bit nervous!"
A couple of pages of "Rodeo" memorabilia also set the scene.
As the sleeve notes explain,"On March 3rd 1974 Elvis played two shows at the Astrodome, entertaining no fewer than a record 88,498 fans. In every respect, the setting could not be more different from a Las Vegas or Lake Tahoe showroom, for, although he and the band were the big attraction, they were also part of an even bigger event 'The Livestock Show and Rodeo', causing an amused Elvis to remark to the afternoon crowd, "I'm Event No. 8!"
The memorabilia shows that Conway Twitty and Vikki Carr played the same weekend with The Jackson 5 and Sonny & Cher performing the weekend before.
On a minor note, the musicians list indicates Emory Gordy on bass for some reason, but of course it was actually Duke Bardwell.
Audio Quality.
With a regular concert, featuring an orchestra and cheering audience, a
lot of the minor sound-artifacts that can be generated by the use of DES
are easily hidden.
With this stripped-back performance it would take a lot of time and dedication to create a realistic stereo mix. MRS did indeed note that the ‘Studio D’ audio engineer stated that this was the hardest concert he ever had to work with.
In the previous mono version the musicians - Ronnie Tutt’s hard work on the drums, The Sweet Inspirations cheers, Glen D Hardin’s keyboards – were often hidden behind the general mix. But in this stereo mix you can hear the dedicated hard work that they all added towards this huge event.
And while not perfect - (the original cassette had limitations) and it definitely sounds better on loud-speakers rather than ear-buds - I am super-impressed with the result.
Check out this amazing 'Why Me Lord' audio sample >
Remember that it came from a mono cassette!
To be honest I have played this concert so many times in the past since its release on bootleg but have never enjoyed it as much as this stunning new 2025 remaster.
The Music - 50 minutes.
One wonders how long the band had to play the intro-vamp as Elvis approached the stage in his jeep - but the tape is a straight fade into ‘See See Rider’.
Immediately the new stereo mix impresses with rhythm section punching from the middle (clean and effective Duke Bardwell bass), backing vocalists right and guitar / piano left channel. JD’s lovely low-bass has him standing with the Sweet Inspirations on the right channel.
Elvis’ voice is super-clear with James Burton’s guitar driving the sound. Ronnie Tutt’s percussion is also super crisp with lots of top-end.
When the track ends you can hear the huge appreciative crowd in the distance. With the nearest fans over 50 meters away it meant that Elvis could either take it easy or try and put in some extra effort make an impact. In this new stereo mix you can truly appreciate the energy Elvis and the band had to put in to compensate for there being no orchestra.
”Good evening, Ladies & Gentlemen, I’m event number 8” Elvis jokes. This would not be his usual kiss-the-girls performance and all the songs are better for being tightly focussed, even the usual throwaway oldies!
‘I Got a Woman / Amen’ is clear and strong with only the one ending (J.D's dive-bomber tight on the right channel) is short and sweet it’s great to hear Elvis playing alone with his rhythm section.
By 1972 Elvis usually started played around with his loving fans during ‘Love Me’ and so with his fans out of reach tonight we get a fine and very straight version. Glen D Hardin’s piano is clear on the left channel. Beforehand Elvis notes, “We hope you enjoy our part of the show this Afternoon”
‘Trying To Get To You’, without the usual explanatory intro, is again an extremely good version. Even better in stereo with The Sweets adding some supportive cheers and handclaps and Elvis sings it very enthusiastically putting power into every word. One of the best.
In stereo on ‘All Shook Up’ you can also hear Elvis actually concentrating on doing a better version (he stumbles on some lyrics!) than the usual throwaway. Its similar with ‘Love Me Tender’ where Elvis notes “I would like to sing a little bit of it for you, a very little!”but instead of the usual “joke false-start” again he performs a delightful version, well sung and not rushed. Without the orchestra this has a very different feel.
“Take it down to Louisiana, ohhh, Lay it on me” Elvis asks and again ‘Johnny B. Goode’ is a truly excellent version, “play it son, arrghh” full of drive and feeling more like 1970 than 1974. The clean stereo J.B guitar, backing vocals right, and even Charlie Hodge’s vocal placed behind Elvis sounds excellent.
‘Hound Dog’ with its very short ‘tease’ intro the routine crowd-pleaser.
And while ‘Fever’ is a fairly routine ‘74 version in stereo, with the huge audience cheering in the distance, the Sweet Inspirations finger-snaps right and lovely separated rhythm section it sounds excellent. It’s obviously a real audience favourite.
‘Polk Salad Annie’ is sincere with Elvis rocking out to impress the crowd. Without the usual horn-arrangement the band have to work extra hard. This includes great hand-claps and shouts of encouragement from The Sweets (right channel) along with deep JD “gator’s got your granny”. Elvis sounds full of energy “sock a little, sock a little” and rightly exhausted afterwards. It must be very weird throwing in karate action on a podium in the middle of a huge field.
Elvis then asks his "bass singer, JD Sumner and The Stamps Quartet” to sing ‘Why Me, Lord’. This is absolutely stunning and with no joking tonight. Glen Hardin’s piano is hard left channel (and now I notice some organ “strings” added by him to the mix) plus JD Sumner’s solo deep voice hard right, it is super impressive. And this means that when Elvis joins in the chorus (in the centre) you can truly hear how the harmonies blend and also how much energy Elvis was putting in at this show.
So very sincerely, and without any joking, it is an absolute treat and afterwards Elvis rightly comments, “outta' sight!”
‘Suspicious Minds’ is again more impressive in stereo even if Charlie Hodge is rather high in the mix. Elvis had to work super-hard at this show,and the Sweets sing their lungs out right channel. Ronnie Tutt’s drums are nicely placed in this mix, his cymbals ringing out, and he throws his all into the power ending.
The ‘Introductions’ are delightfully short and straightforward with Elvis nicely noting “back here in a cage is Ronnie Tutt”.
Straight into ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’ (you can hear the crowd’s approval) which is nicely done with lots of hard work from Glen Hardin and James Burton - and sounds all the more interesting for being TCB Band only. One of the very best later versions, Elvis adds a power-ending to good effect.
‘Help Me’“A new song we just recorded” is lovely treat as with no orchestra it has more of a jam-session feel and makes The Stamps have to work extra hard on the harmonies.
Two great Col Parker images, ever watchful and on a donkey!
With no orchestra present Elvis had to drop the usual ‘An American Trilogy’ from the set-list and instead added ‘How Great Thou Art’. This was the first time he had sung it on stage since September 1973.
“Another one of my favourite gospel songs, this features The Stamps Quartet, is ‘How Great Thou Art’” Again without the orchestra everyone has to work harder tonight to create the usual impact of this hymn. With Glen Hardin left, Elvis centre and Stamps right it is very impressive. There was always some peak-distortion on the original cassette tape but it’s less annoying here. Elvis sounds more emotionally involved than usual and it gets a well-earned reprise. Afterwards Elvis says, ‘Whoo - Lord. That’s Beautiful, outta sight, thanks very much.’
‘Let Me Be There’ adds a more contemporary song to the set-list and again it bounces along very nicely in stereo. Not my favourite Elvis song, it is actually a good change of pace – great chickin-pickin’ guitar from JB and is a nice addition. Again it gets a fine reprise.
With the audience so far away Elvis doesn’t get a chance to relax and chat to his fans and so he goes straight into ‘Funny How Time Slips Away’. Burton’s guitar is lovely and clean in the mix, as are the Stamps and The Sweets. A focused performance, with no kiss-the-girls and with a cool ‘J.D’ ending it is a rather fine version.
Elvis then thanks the people of the Astrodome for “inviting me back again this year” and “Most of all. I’d like to thank you, because of the energy crisis and everything your drove all the way to see us and the cowboys and the rodeo. I’d like to thank you very much”.
This gets a huge applause from the crowd.
Elvis follows noting, “I’d like to tell you something else, this is the largest audience I have ever sung to .. it makes one a wee bit nervous, I’ll tell you”..
He then closes with ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ – again interesting as Elvis takes it seriously with a lovely stereo mix and with no swirling orchestra it’s a treat.
Then the lengthy Closing Vamp - you can imagine Elvis driving away in the back of the jeep - and one of the most fascinating Elvis performances is over.
Overall Verdict: I have always enjoyed this special concert and even with the pressure of being his “largest audience ever” it’s a brilliant and focussed performance. In stereo you can truly hear how much energy both Elvis and the musicians had to put in to impress his huge audience. With no “kiss-the-girls” and no real throwaways, this is super-important concert from 1974 every track is superbly performed and it has never sounded better. MRS have done an excellent job getting it out to the general public in this neat and stylish 40-page package.
Of all the Elvis performances that MRS have released so far in DES STEREO this Houston concert is one of the most impressive, along with 'Elvis at 3am Sahara Tahoe 1973' and 'Opening Night 1972'. All of these performances remastered in STEREO truly demonstrate the excitement and power of Elvis in concert that had previously been hidden in their earlier lesser quality mono-cassette-audio releases.
Check your local dealers or find it at Amazon UK (go here)
3rd MARCH 1974 Astrodome, Houston Texas
1. See See Rider
2. I Got A Woman/Amen
3. Love Me
4. Tryin’ To Get To You
5. All Shook Up
6. Love Me Tender
7. Johnny B. Goode
8. Hound Dog
9. Fever
10. Polk Salad Annie
11. Why Me, Lord?
12. Suspicious Minds
13. Band Introductions
14. I Can’t Stop Loving You
15. Help Me
16. How Great Thou Art
17. Let Me Be There
18. Funny How Time Slips Away
19. Elvis Talks
20. Can’t Help Falling In Love
21. Closing Vamp
'ELVIS: On Tour 1974 California' MRS CD Review: The new MRS 3CD Deluxe-set contains three performances from Elvis’ five-day tour of California in May 1974, during which he performed in front of 60,000 fans, including an attendance by the legendary British rock band, Led Zeppelin, whom he met afterwards.
The pack includes 66 live tracks plus Bonus Tracks the ‘Home Recordings’ of 'Spanish Eyes' and 'Let Me Be The One'.
For the first time ever the shows are presented in stereo and with the tape speed correct. The accompanying booklet includes rare photographs and memorabilia dating from this short tour.
The 3CD set includes Elvis' performances from May 11 Inglewood Forum L.A, May 12 afternoon show Fresno and also May 13 San Bernardino.
The speed correction and new stereo mix breathes new life into the shows and the result is very impressive indeed, capturing Elvis still performing with a real energy.
'Las Vegas: On Stage Feb 1973' MRS CD Review: The new MRS 4CD Deluxe-set contains three performances recorded in February 1973, during Elvis’ eighth engagement in Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas shows took place weeks after the historic satellite TV show, Aloha From Hawaii, was filmed and broadcast on 14 January.
All shows are presented in stereo for the first time ever.
All shows are presented in stereo for the first time ever.
A bonus CD of remastered rehearsal tracks that were recorded the day before Opening night is also included.
The accompanying booklet includes rare photographs, memorabilia and liner notes which set the scene.
... This latest release from the Memphis Recording Service is an interesting one and manages to shed new light on the post-Aloha Elvis Las Vegas season that many fans have largely dismissed.
MRS CAMDEN ‘Made in Germany – Private Recordings’ Review: From the budget MRS Camden label this CD features personal recordings taken from a recently discovered tape made by Elvis while stationed with the US army in Germany in January 1959.
What is so fascinating about this period is that, although The Colonel stopped Elvis recording anything professionally in Germany, Elvis was still bursting with music. Elvis was jamming at home on multiple songs that he would later record professionally for RCA. These original jams on songs such as ‘His Hand In Mine’, ‘Like A Baby’, ’I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen’, ‘I Will Be True’, ‘Danny Boy’, ‘The Fool’ even an attempt at ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’ plus ‘There’s No Tomorrow’ are totally enthralling.
Historians always talk about Elvis vast knowledge of every musical genre and here is proof of his influences.
A lot of fans, including myself, would truly appreciate a “Best Of” these home-recordings and just in time for Christmas 2024 the budget label ‘MRS Camden’ have done exactly that. EIN's Piers Beagley checks out this new budget release just in time for Christmas.... - Buy it TODAY for Christmas! (CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
'ELVIS: At 3am Sahara Tahoe 1973' MRS CD Review: This Deluxe 2CD set features two shows from Elvis’ May 1973 engagement at The Sahara Tahoe in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Included is a rare 3am charity performance as well as the midnight show from the previous night. Both shows for the first time are presented in stereo.
The accompanying booklet includes memorabilia and rare photos along with liner notes that set the scene.
Despite having to perform three concerts in the one evening, Elvis was feeling inspired and although it was 3am he still treated the ‘Mother’s Day’ benefit more like a Closing Night performance. Elvis was in extremely jovial spirits, teasing the band and adding some crazy lyrics. He also added unique live versions of ‘My Way’, ‘Faded Love’, ‘Funny How Time Slips Away’ and a rare ‘It’s Over’.
With the cassette hiss removed, the musicians and backing-vocals in stereo and Elvis’ vocal raised to the correct level, this MRS release sounds just like an RCA recorded multi-track and is the best representation of the “real Elvis” live in 1973 that fans could hope for. Go here as EIN's Piers Beagley checks out a sensational STEREO Elvis double-pack. (CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
'ELVIS: Closing Night 1972' MRS CD Review: This MRS 2CD set features a live performance recorded on 4 September 1972,during the last night of Elvis’ seventh engagement in Las Vegas at the Hilton Hotel.
The show is presented in stereo. A bonus CD of remastered rehearsal tracks, recorded days before the engagement began, is also included.
While Elvis is perhaps not as full-blast as on the 'Opening Night' here MRS's 'Studio D' engineer has done some brilliant audio remastering, removing the bad cassette-tape-hiss of all previous releases. Emphasising the instrumentation with this "Stereo remaster" not only elevates Elvis and the musicians' performance but also places the listener right into the audience.
This night Elvis rocked into 'Johnny B. Goode' and even performed the golden-oldies with some real respect. It's a great show. Go here as EIN's Piers Beagley discovers something new in this re-release - the near perfect bookend to MRS' examination of Elvis’ 1972 Summer Festival.
(CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
MRS CAMDEN reviews: The UK MRS label have re-released 3 CD titles on its new alternate budget label 'MRS CAMDEN'. - One Night In Pearl Harbor 1CD
- Elvis On Television 1956 - 1960 2CD
- The Complete 1950's Live Recordings 3CD
All three were released late November 2023.
The releases on MRS CAMDEN are scaled-down budget versions priced for the mainstream market. The titles have slight changes from the original MRS deluxe versions and now come in a Digi-Sleeve packs with small booklets.
There are minor upgrades on each release but they still all pack a punch and cover important sections of Elvis' historical journey. Going from 1954 to 1961 it is one incredible rockin’ trip. EIN's Piers Beagley checks them out as possible Santa bonus treats...
If you are in the UK and order them on Amazon you can still get them delivered by Christmas Day! (CD Reviews; Source: ElvisInformationNetwork)
'ELVIS: Opening Night 1972' MRS CD Review: Elvis’ first 1972 Las Vegas season ran from January 26th through February 23rd, 1972. Elvis was in great shape both physically and vocally, and he was once again serious about performing.
While a large number of fans think that Elvis started losing inspiration and impetus after the power-year of 1970, his rejuvenation of his first live performances in 1972 demonstrate another more positive aspect. Introducing the new songs 'You Gave Me A Mountain', ‘I'll Remember You’ , 'A Big Hunk O'Love' and the brilliant 'An American Trilogy' would enrich Elvis’ live shows for the rest of his career. So while Elvis collectors may have heard the bootleg recording multiple times before, you have never truly enjoyed this concert, or appreciated its importance, until this sessional MRS audio Remaster.
Elvis was in superb form and this set-list - along with the new MRS audio remaster - is truly sensational. Check out EIN's detailed review here
(CD Reviews;ElvisInformationNetwork)
'Las Vegas Summer Festival 1972' MRS CD Review: This 4CD set contains a varied selection of live performances drawn from Elvis’ seventh engagement in the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel during Elvis’ summer festival in the month of August 1972.
It features the 11 August Dinner and Midnight Show plus 12 August Dinner and Midnight Show. For the first time ever these performances are released in "Stereo". Bonus rehearsal tracks, recorded days before the engagement began, are also included.
The accompanying 40-page booklet includes rare photographs, memorabilia and liner notes help set the scene.
Key songs include My Way, Fever, Its Over, Until It’s Time For You To Go, American Trilogy, What Now My Love, Little Sister/ Get Back, Never Been To Spain, For The Good Times and A Big Hunk O' Love'.
Elvis was in superb form and with more new songs in his set-list sounding even better with the new MRS audio remaster it is a power-packed set.
MRS presents 'ELVIS: September 1970' in-depth Review:MRS's new 2CD deluxe set features a new previously unreleased soundboard from 2nd September 1970 and a bonus CD that covers the final rehearsals at the International Hotel on August 10th before the start of the summer festival.
In September 1970 Elvis was still excited to be back on stage and performing for his fans. Newspaper reviews of his concerts wrote about the excitement and fun Elvis was having back on-stage.
This brand-new previously unknown concert captures Elvis feeling 'loose-as-a-goose' yet still performing with a real intensity. His live versions of ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’’, 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' were truly exceptional this evening.
The accompanying 40-page booklet of the CD deluxe includes rare photographs and memorabilia taken during these engagements along with introductory notes.
'Summer Festival 1970: The Rehearsals' In-Depth Review:MRS's new triple-CD set 'Summer Festival 1970: The Rehearsals' was released last month.
The CDs contain rehearsal highlights from one of the most memorable periods in Elvis’ career - his captivating performances at The International Hotel Las Vegas in the summer of 1970. With remastered audio and accompanying 40-page booklet the package is aimed at the general public, plus Elvis collectors who could not afford last year's FTD fan club deluxe release.
Elvis’ glorious rehearsals on 24 July at RCA studios are the real key to this release. Twenty seven classic performances and with Elvis not only rehearsing the familiar songs we would all come to know from the MGM movie but also songs he would never perform on stage.
MRS 'Elvis:Back In Living Stereo' in-depth Review: The new MRS set contains 6CDs of essential 1960-1962 master recordings, plus rare alternate outtakes - including plenty of officially unreleased material - and all of the personal home recordings Elvis made during the 1960s.
The 100 page book, with text from Gordon Minto, includes rare unpublished documents and photographs, supported by a comprehensive text discussing each of Elvis’ RCA studio (non-film) recording sessions held during 1960-62.
Musically the packed cds - over seven hours - present a stunning look at Elvis recording in the early sixties before the shine wore off. The "Master" sessions nicely contrast with the looser "Outtakes" discs and with Elvis getting even more uninhibited on the Home Recordings. - Very unihibited with a certain Nancy Sharpe!
But with so much thrown into the mix, and some tracks in poor audio quality, have MRS packed "Too Much" into the one release.
'Elvis - Made In Germany’ In-Depth Review: The new MRS 'Elvis - Made In Germany – The Complete Private Recordings’ 4CD set contains more than 3 hours of the private recordings Elvis made while off duty in Germany when he was serving as a soldier in the US army during the 1958 -1960 period and, includes rare tracks from a recently discovered tape comprising over an hour of unheard personal recordings. The 152-page hardback book contains rare photographs and documents plus a comprehensive text provided by Gordon Minto, which discusses each of Elvis’ RCA studio (non-film) recording sessions held during 1957-58, before focusing on the private recordings he made in Germany.
The BONUS CD features the essential RCA studio masters from 1957-58.
With such an expansive book, along with hours of Elvis jamming with his friends in Germany, there is plenty to discuss as well as finding out what extra material this set contains over the official releases.
'The Complete ‘50s Movie Masters And Session Recordings' In-Depth Review:This MRS 'The Complete ‘50s Movie Masters And Session Recordings' 5CD/Book combo pays tribute to Elvis Presley’s complete music recordings made for his movies during the 1950s.
The 5CDs contain the complete works of the master and session studio recordings made for each of Elvis’ movies during the 1950s, and all tracks have been remastered.
The 200-page book focuses on each of the recording sessions held for the four motion pictures made between August 1956 and March 1958.
The comprehensive text is complemented by rare and previously unseen photographs and documentation.
So what surprises will collectors discover in this new set, what is in this new collection that FTD have missed and how good will the audio sound.
‘ELVIS: Studio Sessions 1956' In-Depth Review: MRS newest release, a massive 3CD/172 page book compilation "Elvis Studio Sessions ‘56 The Complete Recordings". The 172-page book, with text by Gordon Minto, focuses on each of Elvis’ studio recording sessions during his first year of national stardom - from the first one in January, held in Nashville, then later in New York, before finishing his final session of the year in Hollywood in September. The full and comprehensive text is complemented by rare and previously unseen photographs and pieces of documentation. The 3CDs contain the complete archival master and session studio recordings of Elvis Presley from 1956, along with bonus interviews. All 90 tracks have been remastered and restored. Also for the first time on CD is the complete ‘The Truth About Me’ from an original US 45rpm flexi-disc. Also included are all the out-takes from this interview.
Once again MRS release a first putting all of Elvis' key 1956 Studio Session masters onto one disc, with the addition of two other fully-packed cds of 1956 material and a stunning 172 page book. But what does this set offer over other previous releases Go here as EIN's Nigel Patterson and Piers Beagley check out this new volume from MRS to find what is on offer. Includes stunning example photos & a detailed audio investigation. (Book Review: Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
