VOA标准英语2010年-Landmark Concerts Sound Better Than Ev

Elvis Presley once said, "My favorite part of the business is a live concert."  After a long break from touring, Elvis made a triumphant¹ return to the stage that confirmed his status as one of the era's most exciting live performers.  Those landmark² concerts sound better than ever on the newly re-mastered CD set, "Elvis Presley On Stage."

 

There were some tough acts to follow in 1969.  It was the year Richard M. Nixon became the 37th President of the United States; Apollo 11 made the first-ever landing on the moon; and, as rock fans on the East Coast traveled long and winding³ roads to the Woodstock Music Festival, Elvis Presley was back on stage at the new International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, his first series of live performances in eight years. 

Elvis had spent most of the 1960s in Hollywood making movies.  By the end of the decade, he was anxious to play live again.  The success of his 1968 "Comeback Special," taped before a studio audience and seen by millions on television, planted the seed for his dramatic return.

By June 1969, Elvis was topping the charts again, following the release of his critically-acclaimed album, "From Elvis In Memphis."  It included the hit singles "Suspicious Minds," "In The Ghetto⁴, "Don't Cry Daddy"" and "Kentucky Rain."

Next was his historic run of 57 shows before a nightly crowd of 2,000 in the International Hotel's lavish⁵ showroom.  Once Elvis overcame opening night jitters⁶, he gave a concert so moving that Rolling Stone magazine suggested that Elvis had singlehandedly resurrected his career. 

Elvis returned to the International Hotel in early-1970 for another series of groundbreaking concerts, later released on the album "On Stage."  To date, "On Stage" has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.

The re-mastered "Elvis Presley On Stage" contains additional recordings⁷ from both sets of concerts at the International, as well as nine bonus tracks and a rehearsal⁸ take of his hit single, "The Wonder Of You."

Elvis continued to have success in the 1970s, but his abusive drug habit and a grinding tour schedule soon caught up with him.  Elvis Presley, only 42 years old, died at Graceland Mansion⁹ in Memphis, Tennessee on August 16, 1977.

Of course, many who witnessed Elvis at the International still remember him giving the performance of a lifetime

Looking back, singer Tom Jones remembers, "That was Elvis at his peak; his voice was still as strong, he looked great, he performed great, and he was Elvis Presley once again."
 

1 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

2 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

3 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

4 ghetto   

n.少数民族聚居区，贫民区

参考例句：

• Racism and crime still flourish in the ghetto.城市贫民区的种族主义和犯罪仍然十分猖獗。
• I saw that achievement as a possible pattern for the entire ghetto.我把获得的成就看作整个黑人区可以仿效的榜样。

5 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

6 jitters   

n.pl.紧张(通常前面要有the)

参考例句：

• I always get the jitters before exams. 我考试前总是很紧张。
• The whole city had the jitters from the bombing. 全城居民都为轰炸而心神不宁。

7 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

8 rehearsal   

n.排练，排演；练习

参考例句：

• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
• You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.排练可以让技巧更加纯熟。

9 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。