Elvis Presley – 12:00 AM | 2-CD

Las Vegas – August 27, 1974 – Midnight Show
Elvis Presley – 12:00 AM is a fascinating 2-CD collector's release from the Ragdoll label, presenting the complete August 27, 1974 Midnight Show from Las Vegas. Released in 2016 under catalogue number RD 2016-01, the set features a newly remastered live audience recording with very good sound quality.
What makes this concert particularly enjoyable is the combination of a varied setlist and plenty of interaction between Elvis, his musicians and the audience. Throughout the evening Elvis talks about his health, his fans and karate, jokes with the musicians and even introduces his father to the audience.
Elvis in Las Vegas – August 1974
Before Elvis takes the stage, CD 1 opens with an approximately eight-minute warm-up performance by Voice. The main show then begins with Also Sprach Zarathustra and See See Rider.
Elvis briefly discusses feeling unwell before launching into an extended I Got A Woman / Amen. From there, the concert offers an excellent mixture of established favourites and material that was relatively fresh in his 1974 live repertoire.
Songs including It's Midnight, Big Boss Man, If You Talk In Your Sleep, If You Love Me Let Me Know and Let Me Be There firmly place the concert in Elvis' 1974 Las Vegas period.
At the same time, there is plenty of classic material, including Fever, Love Me Tender, All Shook Up, Hound Dog, Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel, Hawaiian Wedding Song and It's Now Or Never.
More than just the music
One of the attractions of 12:00 AM is that the spoken moments have been retained. Rather than presenting only the songs, the release allows collectors to experience much more of the atmosphere of the complete performance.
The band introductions alone run for more than nine minutes. Elvis also talks about his 8th degree black belt, corrects J.D. Sumner's singing and introduces his father. According to the original release information, the show also includes an unusual introduction of Red West, during which Elvis mentions several of West's songwriting credits.
The second half contains several substantial performances, including You Gave Me A Mountain, An American Trilogy, Why Me Lord and Softly As I Leave You, before the concert eventually concludes with It's Now Or Never and Can't Help Falling In Love.
Complete concert on two CDs
Ragdoll presented the complete show across two discs and packaged the release with an 8-page booklet featuring rare photographs. For collectors interested in Elvis' Las Vegas engagements, it offers both the musical performances and the informal moments in between.
CD 1
1. Voice – Warm Up Performance – 8:11
2. Also Sprach Zarathustra – 1:07
3. See See Rider – 3:18
4. Elvis Talks About Being Unwell – 1:09
5. I Got A Woman / Amen – 8:24
6. Love Me – 1:27
7. If You Love Me Let Me Know – 2:46
8. It's Midnight – 3:12
9. Big Boss Man – 2:41
10. Elvis Corrects J.D.'s Singing – 0:54
11. Fever – 3:34
12. Love Me Tender – 2:02
13. All Shook Up – 1:01
14. Elvis Talks About Kissing Girls And Gifts – 0:59
15. The Wonder Of You – 2:09
CD 2
1. Softly As I Leave You – 3:25
2. Hound Dog – 2:13
3. You Gave Me A Mountain – 3:01
4. An American Trilogy – 3:59
5. Band Introductions – 9:25
6. If You Talk In Your Sleep – 3:33
7. Elvis Mentions His 8th Degree Black Belt – 1:28
8. Why Me Lord – 3:44
9. Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel – 2:02
10. Hawaiian Wedding Song – 2:03
11. Let Me Be There – 3:20
12. Elvis Introduces His Father – 3:01
13. It's Now Or Never – 2:56
14. Can't Help Falling In Love / Closing Vamp – 3:36
Product Details
Artist: Elvis Presley
Title: 12:00 AM
Format: 2-CD
Label: Ragdoll
Catalogue Number: RD 2016-01
Released: 2016
Recording Date: August 27, 1974
Performance: Midnight Show
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Recording Type: Live Audience Recording
Sound: Very Good
Packaging: 2-CD set with 8-page booklet
Elvis Presley – 12:00 AM captures an entertaining Las Vegas performance with a varied setlist, extended audience interaction and plenty of spontaneous moments. With highlights such as It's Midnight, Big Boss Man, An American Trilogy, If You Talk In Your Sleep and Hawaiian Wedding Song, this is an interesting addition to any collection devoted to Elvis' live years.
Available from your Elvis specialist Bennies Fifties and the online Fifties Store.