FLEETWOOD MAC - MIRAGE

Forty years ago today (18 June) Fleetwood Mac released Mirage, the follow up to Tusk, and to celebrate I am looking back at the recording, release and success of the album.

Rumours had sold over 40 million copies worldwide, spent months on the charts in the USA and was a number one in many countries including Australia, Canada and, of course, the UK and USA. The follow up, Tusk, was a complete departure and from the record companies point of view was a flop, despite selling over 15 million copies and reaching the top spot in the UK album charts. It couldn't repeat the success of Rumours in the US where it stalled at #4.

Following the release of Tusk some members of the group had followed their own career paths, releasing solo albums.

Stevie Nicks had written a large number of songs which had not made it onto any Fleetwood Mac release. This was due to having three strong songwriters in the band and the impossible task of picking the best from each of the three for inclusion.

Released in July 1981 her solo debut album, Bella Donna, was a critically acclaimed success reaching number one in the USA and selling more than four million copies.

Lindsey Buckingham's first solo album, Law And Order, could not repeat the success of Bella Donna and only reached #32 while Mick Fleetwood's solo effort, The Visitor, just scrapped into the top 50. In no way is this a reflection of the music, as all three artists would go on to release more solo albums and, in the case of Buckingham and Nicks, have very successful solo career.

No doubt there were songs on their solo albums that could have been held over for the next Fleetwood Mac project. From Bella Donna there was Edge Of Seventeen and Outside The Rain while Law And Order had Trouble and That's How We Do It In La.

When it came time to record a new Fleetwood Mac album the decision was made to travel to France and the Chateau D'Herouville. Located in the village of Herouville near Paris it was built in 1740 from the remains of an earlier 16th-Century chateau. Among its previous occupants was composer Frederic Chopin and it's association with music would continue in the 1960s. The chateau was purchased by film composer Michel Magne to use as his own personal workspace, although the place needed a lot of restoration work. In 1969, with funds available to begin restoration, he decided to incorporate a recording studio into the property. In the 1970s several big names in the pop world recorded at the studio including Elton John, who recorded three albums between 1972 and 1973, Honky Chateau, Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Other artists to use the facilities were David Bowie (Pin Up and Low), Pink Floyd (Obscured By Clouds) and Cat Stevens (Catch Bull At Four).

In an interview Christine McVie talked about the decision to go to France to record the new album, "We decided we wanted to be outside of Los Angeles because we wanted to be without any distractions. We wanted to be just the five of us, and work something out."

Stevie Nicks had good memories of France, as she recalled in the liner notes to the expanded edition of the album, "When I think of Mirage now I think of living in the castle  and visiting Paris. I think of white fishnet stockings, red high heels and going to get my hair done and having five different hairdressers working on me." She also talked about the Chateau, "I also remember living in the Chateau, which was romantic, though I remember for some reason there was no ice. And they thought it might be haunted because there were strange sounds in there. So to me, the Mirage sessions were beautiful and insane."

Sessions in France were held between May and June 1981 with all the backing tracks laid down. Lindsey Buckingham produced the sessions which were engineered by Buckingham along with Richard Dashut and Ken Caillat.

Full details about the recordings are not available, and while some vocals may have also been recorded in France, following the sessions the band returned to Los Angeles where, between June and December, they overdubbed their vocals and finished the album at Larabee Sound and The Record Plant.

Released on 18 June 1982, in both America and the United Kingdom, the album saw the group return to the top of the Billboard 200 for the first time since Rumours back in 1977. With five weeks at #1 and 18 weeks in the top ten, it would eventually be certified double platinum for sales of over two million copies. In the UK it peaked at #5 selling more than 300,000 copies and certified platinum.

The album cover featured Lindsey with Christine and Stevie while the back featured Mick and John, taken by George Hurrell. The insert included the lyrics to all the songs, credits and a painting by Mac James. 

The album opens with Love In Store, the first of four songs Christine McVie contributed. Others were Only Over You, for which she credits ex-lover Dennis Wilson for the inspiration, Hold Me and the albums closing track Wish You Were Here.

Stevie Nicks wrote three songs, That's Alright, which dated back to her Buckingham Nicks days, Gypsy and Straight Back. Written after her break-up with Jimmy Iovine, Straight Back, can also be seen as a statement on the problems she encountered leaving a successful solo career to rejoin Fleetwood Mac. Gypsy, a typical Nicks song, is definitely the highlight on the album.

The remaining five songs were written by Lindsey Buckingham, three with co-producer Richard Dashut, Book Of Love, Empire State, the 1950s pastiche Oh Diane and two solo efforts, Can't Go Back and Eyes Of The World. The latter was the closest Buckingham gets to the kind of song he contributed to Tusk.

Lindsey Buckingham felt Mirage was a step backwards, "We should have progressed but instead we just reacted against Tusk. It was pleasant but much too safe. Mirage was quite reactionary after Tusk. I think, because forces within the band and without were saying to me 'You went to far on Tusk'. That was kind of hard to deal with, taking the flak over Tusk."

There are some interesting lyrics in his song Can't Go Back which might be his own personal opinion and mixed emotions on the songs they were recording... "Standing in the shadows, The man I used to be, I want to go back" are the opening lyrics and are answered by a mix of male and female voices declaring, "Can't go back."

Looking back on the album he said, "It was hard to know where to go at that moment when you had just gone somewhere in one direction that felt right - then to have to sort of reel it back in a more forced way felt difficult. But I understood that I was only one member of a group so what was I going to do?"

Mick Fleetwood understood his concerns, "I think Mirage was more preconceived as a kind of band record organically representing where we left off with Rumours. So in retrospect it wasn't as daring an album as Tusk which understandably would leave Lindsey with some trepidation."

Several tracks were lifted for single release. Hold Me backed with Eyes Of The World was the first single, released the same month as the album, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 but failed to chart in the UK.

A video was filmed to promote Hold Me featuring the band in a surreal scenario. They are seen in a desert where John McVie and Mick Fleetwood are dressed as archaeologists, complete with khaki shorts and pith helmets, where they find the desert covered with pieces of broken mirror. Other scenes show Christine McVie, surrounded by paintings, looking through a telescope and searching for Lindsey Buckingham. Stevie Nicks is featured relaxing on a chaise-longue when Buckingham sees her and paints a portrait of her. All very surreal and typical Fleetwood Mac from the time.

Issued in August, Gypsy was coupled with a non-album track, Cool Water, as the second single in both the USA and UK where it charted in both territories at #12 and #46 respectively.

Once again a promo video was filmed which was shot in colour with sepia toned and black and white footage both used to good effect. Directed by Russell Mulcahy, at the time it was the highest-budget music video ever produced. It was also the first 'World Premiere Video' on MTV. Many locations, costumes and dancers were featured in the video. The filming of the video wasn't without its problems, as both Buckingham and Nicks were hardly speaking and in the video they are seen dancing together. Nicks recalled in an interview, "We weren't getting along well then. I didn't want to be anywhere near him. I certainly didn't want to be in his arms." She went on to say, "If you watch the video, you'll see I wasn't happy. And he wasn't a very good dancer." Just another day in the Fleetwood Mac drama.

A third single was issued in November in the USA bringing together Love In Store and Can't Go Back which peaked at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100. Although not issued at the time in the UK Can't Go Back was issued with That's Alright in April 1983 but stalled at #83 in the charts.

The UK had an additional single release when, in December 1982, Oh Diane was coupled with Only Over You and became the bands highest placed single from Mirage when it reached a respectable #9. Whether based on the success of the song in the UK it did finally receive a US release in February 1983 but failed to chart. Interestingly, the picture sleeve featured the Penguin logo for the first time in several years.

Following deluxe editions of both Rumours and Tusk, Warner Brothers released the 3-CD, 1-LP and DVD Mirage Deluxe Edition in 2016. The set included a remaster of the original album, thirteen live tracks and a selection of outtakes, early versions and previously unreleased songs. There was also a vinyl copy of the album and a DVD-Audio disc with 5.1 surround and 24/96 Stereo mixes of the original album. They missed the opportunity to include a DVD of the live concert that was issued on VHS back in 1983, which has never had a DVD or Blu-Ray release in the United States or United Kingdom.

The outtakes/early versions included two songs, Goodbye Angel and Teen Beat, which had previously been issued on the 25 Years: The Chain box set. Making their first appearance were alternate and early versions of most of the tracks that made the album along with several that didn't... If You Were My Love, Smile At You, Put A Candle In The Window and a jam on the old Fats Domino classic Blue Monday. A nice addition was the extended version of Gypsy that was used in the video.

There was also a 2-CD expanded edition with just the original album and outtakes discs.

For Record Store Day 2017 an album, Alternate Mirage, was released in a limited run of just 6,500 copies. Featuring twelve tracks, early versions and outtakes, that were originally released on the deluxe edition they were making their first appearance on vinyl.

Following the release of Fleetwood Mac (White Album), Rumours and Tusk the band toured the world promoting the albums. However, with Mirage the band only toured for two months, in September and October 1982, with just twenty-nine concerts in the United States.

Two of the final concerts in Los Angeles were filmed and released on VHS in 1983. The over two hour show was edited to just 80 minutes and the running order was also altered. As mentioned earlier the Deluxe Edition of Mirage included a third CD with live recordings from the concert. In 2021 the Fleetwood Mac Live Deluxe Edition featured three more songs from the concert, Second Hand News, Brown Eyes and Hold Me.

As John Milward wrote in the August issue of Rolling Stone, "Fleetwood Mac have never pretended to be heavy thinkers. But like E.T. or baseball's pennant race, Mirage is another of 1982s sunny entertainments: it sounds great in the morning and fine over a sunset with wine."

D-DAY LANDINGS IN NORMANDY

Having already been on two Leger Battlefield Tours, Tunnellers on the Western Front - The Underground War in 2015 and France Under The Jackboot - SOE, SAS & The French Resistance in 2017, I booked a third, D-Day Landings In Normandy. On this latest blog I look back on my recent trip, highlight some of the most memorable moments and include just a few of the hundreds of photos I took.

Following two cancellations due to COVID in 2020 and 2021 finally, in May this year, I was picked up locally in Worthing for the journey down to Folkestone and the Eurotunnel to Calais. It was then a 3.5 hour drive to Caen and my hotel for the next four nights. A refreshing pint was followed by preparations for the next few days of the tour and a nights sleep.

An early start saw us heading the short journey to Pegasus Bridge, originally the Benouville Bridge, the site of the first action of D-Day.

Led by Major John Howard, a force from the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and a platoon of Royal Engineers, landed in fields close to the bridge in three Horsa Gliders at 00:16 on 6 June. The defending Germans were taken by surprise and within ten minutes the bridge was in Allied hands. 

Reinforcements from the 7th Battalion Parachute Regiment soon arrived. One member of the regiment was actor Richard Todd who would go on to play the role of Major Howard in the film The Longest Day.

The bridge was renamed Pegasus Bridge in late 1944 in honour of the operation and the name was taken from the shoulder emblem worn by the British Airborne Forces, Bellerophon riding the winged horse Pegasus.

The original bridge was replaced in 1994 and is now housed in the grounds of the nearby museum along with a replica Horsa Glider.

Inside the museum you can follow the story of the capture of the bridge with hundreds of items related to that first attack including uniforms, equipment along with scores of photos and information boards.. A very interesting museum that would take several hours to read and view every item.

Our first cemetery visit was to the Ranville War Cemetery where there are 2,236 commonwealth graves including Private Emile Servais Corteil. Serving with the 9th (Essex) Parachute Battalion, 19 year-old Corteil parachuted into Normandy on 6 June with his dog Glenn.

Both were killed later in the day, found together and buried at Ranville. In the church graveyard, next to the cemetery, is buried Lieutenant Herbert Denham Brotheridge. Mortally wounded crossing the Benouville Bridge during the opening assault it is believed he was the first Allied soldier to be killed in action on D-Day.

Heading back to Pegasus Bridge it was time for lunch at the appropriately named Three Gliders Cafe. Despite the awful weather there was still a chance to take a few more photos including the Cafe Gondree.

Located on the west bank of the Caen Canal, back in 1940 it was run by Georges and Therese Gondree who, as part of the French Resistance, passed on information about the German defence of the bridge to British intelligence. Now run by their daughter Ariette, it is still a popular cafe and visited by many of those who visit Pegasus Bridge.

Following lunch, and an improvement in the weather, it was time to visit the British and Canadian Beaches. Our first stop was Sword Beach, a five-mile stretch of the coast that was the objective of British troops.

A statue of Piper Bill Millin stands on the shoreline. The personal piper of Lord Lovatt Fraser, whose commando brigade landed on Sword Beach, Millin was the only soldier to wear a kilt on D-Day.

Although he was officially not allowed to play the bagpipes it was Fraser that asked him to play while the landings took place. He followed his orders and marched up and down the beach playing The Road To The Isles. A sitting target, apparently the Germans did not bother to fire at him as they thought he was mad!

A brief visit to the Canadian beach, Juno, was followed by one of the most emotional parts of the trip, The British Normandy Memorial at Ver-sur-Mer, inland from Gold, the second British beach. Unveiled on 6 June 2021 it is dedicated to the 22,442 soldiers, from more than 30 countries, who died under British command during the landings. The centrepiece is a bronze statue of three soldiers coming ashore on the beaches. It was so peaceful and beautiful and a fitting memorial to all those who gave their lives.

The memorial was partly funded by the British Government although a substantial amount was also made from charitable donations. Over £50,000 was raised by Harry Billinge MBE, a Normandy veteran, who collected in his hometown of St Austell. Anyone who saw him interviewed on Breakfast Television a few years ago will know how much the Memorial meant to him. Although he passed away in April 2022 he did get a chance to visit and he must have been so proud.  

At Arromanches, situated on the western end of Gold Beach, we viewed the remaining sections of the Mulberry Harbour. The temporary harbours were constructed to enable troops, vehicles and supplies to be bought ashore following the successful landings and until the capture of Cherbourg.

The various sections were floated and towed across the channel by tugs and when constructed made up almost 7 miles of piers and jetties. More than two million men, 500,000 vehicles and four million tonnes of supplies were bought ashore before the harbour was abandoned. Various sections can still be seen along the beach and out to sea.

A second harbour was built at Omaha Beach but a violent storm wreaked havoc resulting in most of the caissons being destroyed forcing the harbour to be abandoned after a few days. 

Our first day ended at the Bayeaux War Cemetery for a short visit before heading back to the hotel for dinner and a well-deserved rest.

Day two was centred around the American beaches of Omaha and Utah. Our first stop was the Normandy American Cemetery, overlooking Omaha Beach, where 9,387 are buried.

A semi-circular memorial features a statue representing 'The Spirit of American Youth' and a path from the ornamental lake leads to the graves. All the crosses face west towards their native land. The opening scene of the film Saving Private Ryan was filmed at the cemetery.

We had the chance to walk around the cemetery or walk the short distance to the beach, I chose the latter.

Omaha Beach became known known as 'Bloody' Omaha due to several things that went wrong that day. Although the airborne assault dropped more than 12,000 bombs, many missed their targets as did the naval bombardment meaning the German defences remained virtually intact. Due to the bad weather and rough seas many of the landing craft were blown off-course resulting in troops landing all over the beach and not where originally planned. There were also plans to use converted Sherman tanks that were amphibious and would be bought ashore to clear a path. Unfortunately many were sunk before even reaching the beach. 

Add to this the fact that the German defences were much stronger than anticipated with mines, strongpoints and several obstacles on the beach. More than 2,000 troops lost their lives on Omaha but, following fierce fighting, the beach was eventually secured.

At the Overlord Museum there was a chance to view many artifacts, both Allied and German, used during the Battle of Normandy. The collection was originally assembled back in 1971 by Michael Leloup and exhibited in Falaise. In 2013 it was moved to its new location at Colleville-sur-Mer. Amongst the many items are several armoured and military vehicles, all displayed in realistic scenes.

Our lunch stop was at St Mere Eglise, a lovely village that was the first liberated by air. The capture, by the 82nd Airborne, was strategically important as it was located on the main road between Carentan and Cherbourg, a supply route for the Germans.

A fire in a house, caused from the flares dropped by the Pathfinder squadron, meant that the parachutists were illuminated and sitting targets for the German gunners. Local townspeople formed a line with buckets to douse the flames and save the house which was across the square from a church that had it's own story to tell. 

A paratrooper, John Steele, was left hanging when his parachute became entangled on the steeple, leaving him there while the fighting continued below. He was eventually cut down by the Germans and taken prisoner. There is some dispute as to how accurate the story is but today an effigy of Steele hangs on the steeple and is a popular attraction.

Following lunch we continued the story of the US Airborne forces with a visit to the site of the Richard Winters Leadership Memorial. Winters was the commanding officer of Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division on D-Day.

He led a thirteen-man attack on fortified gun positions which had been shelling the US troops on Utah Beach. We visited the location of this action. The HBO mini-series Band of Brothers told the story of Easy Company.

Our final beach visit was Utah, the westernmost of the five landing areas of the Normandy Invasion. The beach, which covered an area three-miles wide, was secured with less casualties and was far more successful than at the neighboring Omaha Beach.

There are several memorials in the area, bunkers and gun emplacements as well as a museum. The museum is actually built around the remains of a German strongpoint. Like other museums in Normandy this one features vehicles, uniforms, armaments, historic documents and much more. A panoramic view of Utah Beach can be viewed from inside the museum and a glass extension houses a B-26 Marauder bomber. I enjoyed all three museums we visited during the tour and only wish I could return one day  and spend more time at each one reading all the information boards and taking a longer look at the exhibits.

The day was bought to a close with a visit to the German cemetery at La Cambe. The largest German cemetery in Normandy it contains over 21,200 military personnel. Initially German and American dead were interred in neighbouring fields at La Cambe but the Americans were later returned to the USA or buried at the Normandy American Cemetery. After the war 12,000 German dead were moved from various sites to La Cambe.

We visited the graves of Michael Wittmann who was a Waffen SS tank commander known for his ambush during the Battle of Villiers-Bocage on the British 7th Armoured Division on 13 June 1944.  During the attack 14 tanks, 15 personnel carriers and two anti-tank guns were destroyed. He was killed, along with the rest of his crew, on 8 August 1944 and he is buried with the other four crew at La Cambe.

Another busy but interesting day and it was time to head back to the hotel and dinner.

In the evening I headed by tram from our hotel into the centre of Caen for dinner and I want to take this opportunity to thank Mark and Karen Evans, David Ross and Andrew Ross who were happy for me to tag along. Caen is a beautiful city and I'd love to visit again one day and spend more time looking around.

On our third day we headed inland to visit the sites of battles in the Bocage countryside including Tilly-sur-Seulles and Fontenayle Presnel.

Our first stop was at the Abbaye d'Ardenne located in Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe. It was here on 7 June, Canadian troops were held prisoner by the SS under the command of Kurt Meyer. Later that night eleven prisoners were taken into the garden and shot in the head. The next day a further seven were executed and two more a few days later.

The atrocity was treated as a war crime and Meyer was tried. He was sentenced to death although his sentence was reduced to life imprisonment. He only served nine years!

Most of our visits on this day told the story of the Battle of the Falaise Pocket. Fought in August 1944, and following the Allied landings and breakout from the beaches, the German forces were encircled in a pocket south of Falaise. Over several days the Germans attempted many counter-attacks to breakout to the east and while many did escape more than 50,000 were captured. With the collapse of the German positions in Normandy the allies were free to move eastward and eventually liberate Paris.

At Hill 112, high ground that overlooked Caen and the surrounding area, we visited the memorial to the servicemen of the Wessex Regiment who fought and took the hill. Also located here was a Churchill Tank.

We then moved onto the Polish Memorial at Hill 262 (Mount Ormel Ridge) which commemorates the actions by the Polish 1st Armoured Division to defend the important position. The Germans launched fierce attacks but, despite heavy losses for the Polish troops, were unable to overrun the position and it resulted in the collapse of the German position in Normandy.

The final encirclement of the Germans took place in what has become known as 'The Corridor of Death.' With the Americans attacking from the south and west, Canadians and Poles from the North and the British from the North-West the Falaise Pocket had been sealed at enormous cost to the Germans. Men, horses and equipment littered the area and pilots of the Typhoons overhead would say they could smell the death rising up into their cockpits. The area looks so peaceful now but with the help of old photographs the reality of what happened was clear to see.

The last remaining German Tiger 1 tank left in Normandy can be found at Vimoutiers where it was abandoned by the retreating German Army. On our journey back to the hotel this was one of our final stops on the tour.

Our tour finished at another War Graves Cemetery where our guide Terry played a recording of a poem and The Last Post. Standing in the graveyard listening and looking around all the graves couldn't help but bring a tear to your eyes and an appreciation of all those that gave their lives so we could enjoy the freedom we have today. A very emotional end to the day.

The following days coach journey home was a chance to reflect on everything we had seen during the tour.

I must thank our guide Terry Whenham and coach drivers, Nicola Spencer and Mark Robinson, who all did an amazing job throughout the tour and made it even more special.

This has been a brief look at my trip and only scratches the surface of what happened during those days in June 1944. There are many books on D-Day and for a more detailed look at the events of 6 June 1944 it is worth checking them out. Of course I also recommend the films The Longest Day and Saving Private Ryan along with the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers all of which are available on DVD/Blu-Ray.

Like the previous tours this latest trip was at times, sad, emotional but definitely educational. I'd have no hesitation in recommending Leger Battlefield Tours and hoping to book another trip soon.

PRINCE FROM ANOTHER PLANET

Mid-1972 and despite his popularity and following across the entire United States Elvis had never played an actual concert in New York City, although he had made television appearances back in the 1950s. However, that would change on 9 June when he undertook his second tour of the year. On this, the fiftieth anniversary, we look back at the concerts and the albums that have been released over the years.

The tour, promoted by Jerry Weintraub in association with RCA Record Tours, would open in New York at the famous Madison Square Garden. Originally only three concerts were scheduled, an evening show on Friday 9 June and afternoon and evening shows on Saturday 10 June.

Tickets went on sale on 8 May and even before the box office opened there were 2,000 people lined up ready to purchase their tickets.

However, due to demand an extra evening show was added on Sunday 11 June. As with the previous tour in April the ticket prices remained at $10, $7.50 and $5.

Elvis was the first artist to sell-out four nights at the Garden with a total of 80,000 tickets sold. There were no 'freebies' and everybody had to buy a ticket, including Bob Dylan, George Harrison, David Bowie and all the members of Ten Years After. It was alleged that John Lennon also attended one of the shows but he would later deny this.

A few hours before the opening show Elvis held a rare press conference in the Mercury Ballroom at the New York Hilton. Arranged by Colonel Parker, the idea was to win over the New York media, many of whom had criticised him back in the 1950s. A very small part of the press conference would be included in the Elvis On Tour movie.

His boyish charm and sense of humour was evident in many of his responses. When asked why did he think he had outlasted every other entertainer he joked, "I take vitamin E" before saying, "I just enjoy the business. I like what I'm doing."

Asked if he agreed he was a shy, humble, wonderful human being, he stood up opened his jacket and said, "Oh, I don't know what makes them think that, I got, you know, this gold belt."

Photograph: Bob Gruen

The subject of more concerts was bound to be asked and he responded by saying, "There's so many places I haven't been yet. Like I've never played New York. I've never been to Britain either." Pressed to give his thoughts on visiting Britain and a world tour he responded, "I'd like to, yes sir. I'd like to very much. I'd like to go to Europe. I'd like to go to Japan and all those places. I've never been out of the country except in the service."

He dealt with questions on his image, early criticism for his long hair and gyrations, rock 'n' roll music and why he didn't record many rock songs. Wisely he avoided questions about politics and draft dodgers.

The press conference was bought to a close when Colonel Parker announced, "I'd like to live up to my reputation of being a nice guy, this is it, folks."

Meanwhile Elvis went back to final rehearsals for the opening show. Backing Elvis on the New York shows and rest of the tour were the same musicians as on his previous tours... James Burton (guitar), John Wilkinson (rhythm guitar), Jerry Scheff (bass), Ronnie Tutt (drums), Glen D. Hardin (piano), Charlie Hodge (guitar) and vocalists J. D. Sumner & The Stamps, The Sweet Inspirations and Kathy Westmoreland. The Joe Malin Orchestra was conducted by Joe Guercio.

Opening Show - 9 June 1972

The set-list for all four concerts was similar to those on the April tour with a few songs dropped, a few added and a different opening song. Following the 2001 theme Elvis went straight into his first record, That's Alright, Mama and followed with a mix of his hits and covers including Love Me, Heartbreak Hotel, Blue Suede Shoes, Suspicious Minds, Proud Mary, Never Been To Spain, You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' and You Don't Have To Say You Love Me.

Afternoon & Evening Shows - 10 June 1972

Any fears he had about the shows and the reception by the media were unwarranted, the press had nothing but praise with the New York Times heading their review with, "Like A Prince From Another Planet". Reviewing the Opening Friday night concert, Chris Chase, wrote, "He looked like a prince from another planet, narrow-eyed, with high Indian cheekbones and a smooth brown skin untouched by his 37 years." He continued, "It was a lesson in dominance; we had just seen the comic who couldn't control anybody, not even himself, and that had got us nervous; now Elvis made it all right again."

The review continued, "Once in a great while, a special champion comes along, a Joe Louis, a Jose Cabablanca, a Joe DiMaggio, someone in whose hands the way a thing is done becomes more important than the thing itself. When DiMaggio hit a baseball, his grace made the act look easy and inevitable; whether it turned into a pop fly or a home run, it was beautiful, because he did what he did so well. Friday night, at Madison Square Garden, Elvis was like that. He stood there at the end, his arms stretched out, the great gold cloak giving him wings, a champion, the only one in his class."

There is no doubt that during the four concerts over three days Elvis won over his New York Critics and delighted the 80,000 fans in attendance.

Following the New York concerts the tour continued with shows in Fort Wayne (Indiana), Evansville (Indiana), Milwaukee (Wisconsin), three shows in Chicago (Illinois), Fort Worth (Texas), Wichita (Kansas) and wound up in Tulsa (Oklahoma).

Released just eight days after the concert, Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden, featured the complete evening show from Saturday 10 June. One reason given for the quick release of the album was to beat the bootleggers. Featuring the whole show it has been mentioned that it was sped up slightly to accommodate every song on a single album rather than making it a double-album, with a higher selling price. However, I have never really noticed this. 

Featuring a complete concert rather than being pieced together from several shows, like previous Elvis live albums, this one gives the listener an actual feel of a 1970s concert.

Due to the the fast turn around of the album, the cover had already been designed and was the one planned for the cancelled Standing Room Only album. It featured a photo of Elvis live in Jacksonville, Florida during the previous tour in April rather than an actual shot from the the New York concert and all that needed changing was the wording on the front. In my opinion it is one of the best Elvis live album covers ever.

In his review of the album, in Rolling Stone, Bob Palmer wrote, "This is a damn fine record, friend, and you're going to like it whether you like it or not.There's Wagnerian bombast, plenty of your favourite songs, some jukebox music and some Las Vegas lounge music. There's even some old fashioned rock 'n' roll. And most of all there's lots of Elvis, doing what he does best, strutting his stuff before his adoring fans." He also had nothing but praise for the band, "Every great rock and roll singer needs a great rock and roll band, and Elvis has one.

The album reached #11 on the charts and sold over 500,000 copies within the first couple of months of release and would go on to be awarded triple-platinum status for sales of over three million.

It soon became clear to fans that both shows were recorded on Saturday 10 June and this was confirmed in the many recording session books that appeared over the years. However, it would be twenty-five years before the other concert would gain a release.

In 1997 the afternoon show was released on CD with the appropriate title An Afternoon In The Garden. Unlike the previous album this one failed to chart.

Featuring an almost identical song list there were a few surprises, most notably a great version of the blues track Reconsider Baby, which had first appeared on his 1960 album Elvis Is Back. The 1972 live version had previously been released on the A Legendary Performer Volume 4 album in 1983 along with I'll Remember You. Another song from the show, I Can't Stop Loving You, also had an earlier release, this time on the compilation Welcome To My World, released in 1977.

The live version of Reconsider Baby was a contender for the Elvis (Fool) album and at the time paperwork showed the title as A Blues Jam, a mistake or an attempt to persuade buyers to buy the album thinking they were getting a new song. Whatever the reason, it did not make it onto the final release.

Although I always loved Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden, I feel that An Afternoon In The Garden has the edge. 

To celebrate the fortieth anniversary in 2012 of the concerts Sony/Legacy released the deluxe set Prince From Another Planet, taking its title from one of the press reviews of the time.

The set featured both concerts from 10 June,  along with a DVD that included amateur footage taken at the opening show on 9 June, interviews with TCB Band members James Burton, Glen D. Hardin and orchestra leader Joe Guercio. Also included was the complete New York press conference. The live footage was edited, cleaned and synched to the sound and although it only features parts of songs, due to the person filming having to change film regularly, it is fascinating to watch.

Mixed by Michael H. Brauer and mastered by Vic Anesini the sound on this release is amazing.

The 52-page booklet included an introduction by Ernst Mikael Jorgensen and Roger Semon, an essay by Lenny Kaye, from the Patti Smith Group, and scores of photos (from the press conference and all four shows), press reviews, adverts, record sleeves, labels and other memorabilia. There was also a complete transcript of the New York Press Conference.

In May 2023 the Follow That Dream label released Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden, a three-CD set that included both the Saturday 10 June afternoon and evening shows along with a third disc that featured the complete 9 June press conference held in the Mercury Ballroom, New York Hilton. Although a year late it was issued to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the concerts.

Packaged in the same style as the 'sessions' series, in an 8" x 8" slipcase with the CDs housed in a three-panel insert featuring illustrations of the original tape boxes, the audience and a great photo of Elvis from the afternoon show.

The 20-page booklet included an introduction by Ernst Mikael Jorgensen, a transcript of the press conference, liner notes from Phil Gelormine, from 2017, entitled, 'Remembering Elvis In New York' and full details of tracks, musicians and credits. Photos from the press conference, both shows along with memorabilia are also featured.

This new release was mixed by Matt-Ross Spang, whose previous work included Elvis On Tour, From Elvis In Nashville and Back In Nashville, and mastered by Jan Eliasson.  Sound is obviously subjective and everybody will have their own opinions on which version they prefer, but for me this latest release is my favourite.

Talking years later about the shows Glen D. Hardin commented, "I'm sure Elvis never sang better than he did at Madison Square Garden... he turned on the power, and powerful it was." It's hard to disagree.

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Back in 2002 Carole and I visited New York to celebrate our twentieth wedding anniversary and one of many highlights was our visit to Madison Square Garden. Here are a few images from that visit.