ALBUM DETAIL

WELL THIS CD BROUGHT BACK SO MANY MEMORIES OF ENGELBERT IN HIS YOUNGER YEARS .I REALLY ENJOYED IT .HE SURE KNOWS HOW TO GET A CROWD GOING .I LOVE HIS SENSE OF HUMOR AND HIS RICH VOICE.

Recorded over the course of a month at the Riviera during June and July of 1971, this is a fascinating time capsule of that era, that Super Seventies where clothes looked more like costumes, and what was thought of as risque quite tame by today's standards. 
Despite the rather shallow and tinny audio quality, Engelbert still sounds wonderful, and what is startling is his speaking voice; though I have all his currently available concert DVDs, hearing the spoken word without the visuals makes one aware of what a spectacular voice it is, speaking as well as singing. 

There's the bit where Engelbert brings a girl from the audience on stage to sing to (this one is apparently wearing very short "hot pants"...a garment we ladies used to wear back in those days...usually with boots !), he does an imitation of Tom Jones singing "Delilah", and sings a lovely variety of songs, including many that I have only heard on this disc, like "My Prayer", "It's Impossible", the beautiful Rodgers and Hammerstein "You'll Never Walk Alone", and a number I remember as if it were yesterday on his short-lived but terrific ABC variety show in 1970, "My Wife the Dancer". 

Backed by Laurie Holloway and his band, and the singing trio The Three Degrees, this is great showmanship, Las Vegas style, up there with the best of them, and will be of 5 star interest to Engelbert fans, and perhaps 4 stars for everyone else, because of the less than perfect sound. The foldout insert has a short Engelbert history for liner notes, and the total playing time is 45'59. 

I picked this recording up without any expectations. I was delightfully impressed with Englebert, who I already knew to be one of the biggest names in show business. He had a wonderful personal rapor with the audience, beginning the album by bringing an audience member on stage to serenade. His voice was full, masculine and dynamic,(not unlike my stomach) and he carried on a humorus banter with the audience throughout. I found "My wife the dancer" to be very entertaining, and his medley of hits is a great mix which shows Engy's range and talent. The recording gives the listener the audio image of truly being present, in the front row, that night. If you like the Vegas lounge singer type of music this is the best I've heard. Wayne Newton, eat your heart out!