' live albums from the early '70s contain a substantial store of quality material -- dinner-show horn charts, strings, grandstanding vocals, and all. This 1970 offering from Las Vegas proves to be one of his best (it's actually the soundtrack to ' documentary of ' summer run at the International Hotel). Acting on his affinity for figures like and , especially shines on the slow to mid-tempo ballads (both seamless blends of glitz and contemporary elements). And to provide the requisite amount of sweat for those nightly towel giveaways, the King works out extra hard on showstoppers like Throughout the album, sounds as commanding and powerful as he ever would and gets optimal backing by well oiled, Nashville-to-L.A. session luminaries like guitarist , bassist , and drummer ( 's '60s backup singers, , deserve special mention as well). Also available as a deluxe three-disc set (including expanded concert highlights and rehearsal takes), is essential listening for fans, both die-hard and casual. [A Digital Legacy Edition was released in 2014.] ~ Stephen Cook