With the squared-in stage (in the stand-up show), E looks caged and jaunty, but he slowly starts playing to the audience, busting a move, taking it in, testing the waters after 29 pictures, limbering up to performing again — and hence there’s a sense of personal turning point, a return to real audiences and immediate jubilation (or screams). And he does this through vocal performance alone, not moves — this is some of his most committed singing. Considering the ease with which E could sing, and the boredom and laziness he wallowed in if allowed, this is probably one of the few live times where the vocals mattered most to him (and it shows). After days of intense singing he hardly even loses his voice. I challenge any current pop singer to match this three-day heavy intensity, this sheer rock and roll energy.

Always lived [a] very quiet life
I ain't never did no wrong
Now i know that life without you
 Has been too lonely too long…

The only downers are the production numbers with the dancers and bordello scenes and neon streets — these are terribly dated, shockingly archaic 60s television values. For our jaded media eyes, the wholly lo-cal state of the production concept (variety family musical fun informal performance spectacle with lotsa dancers) smacks of cheap televisual and saccharine smarm. If it had been just E doing rhythm/blues and gospel tunes this would've blown the world away, this could’ve been a momentous album. It aims at slickness but ultimately comes across as camp and cornball, or merely competing with Ed Sullivan (send in the spinning plates and animal acts). Thank God the music carries the show.

Also, the offstage TV-band is wrong somehow — E needs the ride and bounce of a big, projecting live band. The screaming girls are almost unnoticeable now, after all these years and viewings (call it the Nicholas Cage/Wild at Heart effect). Charlie Hodge keeps cropping up all over the place too; it was a mistake giving him a mike in the first place — he only hacks into it. It’s funny how every man looks ugly, unnecessary around E.