Elvis in Concert - The Later Years

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Ranked #859 in Music, #24,016 overall

Elvis Presley on Stage from 1974 - 1977

Whilst Elvis Presley's later years may have been troubled by ill health and personal problems he continued to perform a huge number of live concerts in Las Vegas and embarked on numerous gruelling tours across the United States.

His final shows recorded in 1977 for the TV documentary Elvis in Concert are often difficult to watch but are nevertheless a moving tribute to the man's indomitable spirit and extraordinary voice.

This lens takes a closer look at the period beginning 1974 until Elvis' final concert on 26th June, 1977, looking at both performances which were officially recorded by RCA for album releases and shows which were taped by members of the audience or recorded by sound engineers (soundboard recordings).

For the years 1969 - 1973 please visit Elvis in Concert.

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1974 - Desert Storm 

Fort Baxter 2200 - released 1996

Without doubt the closing night concert recorded on 2nd September 1974 at the Las Vegas Hilton and nicknamed Desert Storm because of Elvis' outbursts during the show is, without doubt, the bootleg with the greatest notoriety out there! Even the most casual Elvis fan has probably heard or read about how Elvis let rip that night and ranted about recent drugs accusations against him, the tabloid press and magazines in general, as well as rambling on with some, frankly, excruciating dialogue addressed to Priscilla - from whom he'd recently been divorced - who was sitting in the audience that night.

What has often been overlooked, however, is the staggering quality of the song performances that night. It's Midnight and You Gave Me A Mountain are some of the finest of his career and heartbreakingly felt. This is raw, messed up and very human Elvis - unmissable!

(Microphone Dialogue)
I Got A Woman/Amen
(Karate Dialogue)
Until It's Time For You To Go
If You Love Me
It's Midnight
Big Boss Man
You Gave Me A Mountain
(Priscilla Dialogue)
Softly, As I Leave You
Hound Dog
American Trilogy
O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never
(Band introductions)
Bring It Back (sung by Voice)
Aubrey (S. Nielsen lead vocal /Elvis backing)
(Band and Celebrity Introductions)
It's Now Or Never
Let Me Be There
If You Talk In Your Sleep
(Drugs Dialogue)
Hawaiian Wedding Song
(Jewelry Dialogue)
Can't Help Falling In Love

Lead Guitar: James Burton
Rhythm Guitar: John Wilkinson
Bass: Duke Bardwell
Piano: Glen D. Hardin
Drums: Ronnie Tutt
Acoustic guitar: Charlie Hodge
Backing vocals: The Sweet Inspirations (Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell , Estelle Brown)
Backing vocals: JD Sumner & The Stamps Quartet (Bill Baize, Ed Enoch, Dave Rowland )
Backing vocals: Voice (Donnie Sumner, Tim Baty, Sherrill Nielsen)
Highvoice singer: Kathy Westmoreland
Orchestra: Joe Guercio orchestra
Orchestra conductor: Mr. Joe Guercio

Review 

Desert Storm
Reviews by Michael Cheah, Daniel Slate, Morgan Sjoberg, David F. Willson and Brandon Matsler

It's Midnight from Desert Storm 

Elvis clearly says "Listen Cilla"...

It's Midnight (listen cilla)

curated content from YouTube

Elvis Presley Concert Ticket Stubs on eBay 

A very special piece of music memorabilia!

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1974 - Official Concert Releases 

It's Midnight

It's Midnight

From the European Elvis Fanclub-only 'Follow That more...0 points

I Found My Thrill

I Found My Thrill

Recorded Live at the Las Vegas Hilton, January 27t more...0 points

Dragon Heart

Dragon Heart

Another Live Fan Club Recording, this One from Sou more...0 points

Nevada Nights: Recorded Live At The Las Vegas Hilton - August 1974 by Elvis Presley

Nevada Nights: Recorded Live At The Las Vegas Hilton - August 1974 by Elvis Presley

This 2 CD FTD Records live release from the Las Ve more...0 points

1975 - Let Me Take You Home 

DAE 3595 - 2 - released 1995

There's always something special about hearing Elvis play to his home crowd and this end of tour Memphis performance on 10th June, 1975, is no exception. Elvis is in great voice and having fun on stage. The mix on this CD is excellent and the gatefold sleeve with photographs of Elvis in his white Indian feather jumpsuit is another bonus. A personal favourite!

Also Sprach Zarathustra
See See Rider
I Got A Woman/Amen
Love Me
If You Love Me
Love Me Tender
All Shook Up
Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel
Hound Dog
Fairytale
Burning Love
Introductions
Johnny B. Goode
Introductions/Drum Solo/Bass Solo/Piano Solo
School Days
Introduction of Vernon and Dr. Nick
T-R-O-U-B-L-E
Why Me, Lord
How Great Thou Art
Let Me Be There
Funny How Time Slips Away
Little Darlin'
American Trilogy (*Jackson, June 9 1975)
Mystery Train/Tiger Man (*Jackson, June 9 1975)
Can't Help Falling In Love (**Shreveport, June 7 1975)
Closing Vamp (**Shreveport, June 7 1975)

Lead Guitar: James Burton
Rhythm Guitar: John Wilkinson
Bass: Jerry Scheff
Piano: Glen D. Hardin
Drums: Ronnie Tutt
Acoustic guitar: Charlie Hodge
Backing vocals: The Sweet Inspirations (Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell , Estelle Brown)
Backing vocals: JD Sumner & The Stamps Quartet ( Bill Baize, Ed Enoch, Ed Hill)
Backing vocals: Voice (Donnie Sumner, Tim Baty, Sherrill Nielsen)
Highvoice singer: Kathy Westmoreland
Orchestra: Joe Guercio orchestra
Orchestra conductor: Mr. Joe Guercio

1975 Newspaper Concert Review 

Memphis Press-Scimitar Review - June 11, 1975
He Rocks 'n' Puffs Along While Fans Love Elvis Tenderly by Henry Bailey

Elvis in the Dark Blue Aztec jumpsuit - 1975 

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

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1975 - Official Concert Releases 

Dixieland Rocks

Dixieland Rocks

This Follow That Dream release features an unrelea more...0 points

Big Boss Man

Big Boss Man

A Soundboard Concert Recording from a 1975 Dinner more...0 points

Dinner at Eight (Dig)

Dinner at Eight (Dig)

Live Fan Club Recording from the Las Vegas Hilton more...0 points

Elvis Presley in 1975 - Concert Photographs on eBay 

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1976 - Burning in Birmingham 

2001-05 - released 1998

Another personal favourite, this soundboard recording of an adrenalin-charged Elvis was made in Birmingham, on 29th December, 1976. The king's love of Christmas and the holiday period is well documented and certainly on this recording and the New Year's Eve show a few days later he sounds like he's really enjoying himself. The sound quality is reasonable too.

See See Rider
I Got A Woman/Amen
Love Me
Fairytale
You Gave Me A Mountain
Jailhouse Rock
O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never (incomplete)
Tryin' To Get To You
My Way
Polk Salad Annie
Band introductions
Early Morning Rain
What'd I Say
Johnny B. Goode
Band solos
Love Letters
School Days
Funny How Time Slips Away
Hurt (w/reprise)
Hound Dog
For The Good Times
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Unchained Melody
Mystery Train/Tiger Man
Can't Help Falling In Love

Lead Guitar: James Burton
Rhythm Guitar: John Wilkinson
Bass: Jerry Scheff
Piano: Tony Brown
Electric Piano: David Briggs
Drums: Ronnie Tutt
Acoustic guitar: Charlie Hodge
Backing vocals: The Sweet Inspirations (Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell , Estelle Brown)
Backing vocals: JD Sumner & The Stamps Quartet (Ed Enoch, Ed Hill, Larry Strickland, Garry Buckles)
Highvoice singer: Kathy Westmoreland
Orchestra: Joe Guercio orchestra
Orchestra conductor: Mr. Joe Guercio

Review 

Burning In Birmingham
Reviews by James Devereaux and Morgan Sjogren

New Year's Eve 1976 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

The legendary concert captured on 8mm film by a fan

Runtime: 244
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1976 - Official Concert Releases 

New Year's Eve 1976

New Year's Eve 1976

Digitally Remastered Double Disc Document of One o more...0 points

America by Elvis Presley

America by Elvis Presley

This live release was recorded at the City Auditor more...0 points

1977 - Moody Blue & Other Great Performances 

Fort Baxter FB 2097 - released 1995

When I first started collecting Elvis concert soundboards what most surprised me was how enjoyable they are even when Elvis isn't at the peak of his powers. Even in some of the patchier shows there will suddenly be a track that is outstanding, moving or incredibly rare which suddenly makes the CD a must-have! The rarity value on this 21st February, 1977 soundboard recorded in Charlotte, is provided by the track Moody Blue, which is the only live version recorded of this song, whilst the magic is provided by Elvis's first live performance of Where No One Stands Alone.

Are You Lonesome Tonight
Reconsider Baby
Love Me
Moody Blue
You Gave Me A Mountain
Jailhouse Rock
It's Now Or Never
Little Sister
Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel
My Way
Release Me
Hurt
Why Me, Lord
Polk Salad Annie (Montgomery, Feb. 16)
Where No One Stands Alone (Montgomery, Feb. 16)
Unchained Melody (Montgomery, Feb. 16)
Can't Help Falling In Love (Montgomery, Feb. 16)
Closing Vamp (Montgomery, Feb. 16)

Extra track - Telephone Conversation from 1971 (!?)

Lead Guitar: James Burton
Rhythm Guitar: John Wilkinson
Bass: Jerry Scheff
Piano: Tony Brown
Electric Piano: David Briggs
Drums: Ronnie Tutt
Acoustic guitar: Charlie Hodge
Backing vocals: The Sweet Inspirations (Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell , Estelle Brown)
Backing vocals: JD Sumner & The Stamps Quartet (Ed Enoch, Ed Hill, Larry Strickland, Garry Buckles)
Highvoice singer: Kathy Westmoreland
Orchestra: Joe Guercio orchestra
Orchestra conductor: Mr. Joe Guercio

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1977 - Focus on Elvis in Concert 

A CBS television special and RCA soundtrack album

When Colonel Tom Parker announced plans at very short notice that Elvis would be filmed live in concert during June 1977 for a forthcoming CBS television special just about everybody close to Elvis was taken aback. Elvis was in poor health, puffy and overweight and on some nights could barely manage to get through an entire show - what was the Colonel thinking!? Claiming that Elvis needed a challenge he stubbornly stuck to his guns and the special was made.

As it happens, when the CBS cameras rolled on 19th June in Omaha, NE and 21st June in Rapid City, SD history was once again made. These would be the final Elvis concerts ever recorded officially (although not the final concert itself as if often thought and mistakenly indicated by Vernon Presley in a moving statement added to the end of the special). Although clearly unwell there are moments of sheer magic when against the odds Elvis pulls off some amazing show stoppers such as How Great Thou Art, My Way and Hurt. The astounding scene when Elvis sits at the piano and plays Unchained Melody was cut from the special but has often been seen in documentaries about him.

The 1977 television special Elvis in Concert was shown a couple of times on network television and pops up now and again as clips only in documentaries. There seem to be no plans to release it on DVD...although copies are readily available online from unofficial sources.

RCA also recorded the concert and it contained several tracks from both concerts.

CD Tracks
Omaha: Fairytale, Little Sister, Teddy Bear - Don't Be Cruel, And I Love You So, How Great Thou Art, Can't Help Falling In Love

Rapid City: See See Rider, I Got A Woman - Amen, That's All Right, Are You Lonesome Tonight, Love Me, If You Love Me, You Gave Me A Mountain, Jailhouse Rock, O Sole Mio - It's Now Or Never, Trying To Get To You, Hawaiian Wedding Song, Teddy Bear - Don't Be Cruel, My Way, Early Morning Rain, What'd I Say, Johnny B. Goode, I Don't Really Want To Know, Hurt, Hound Dog

The TV Special Set List
Elvis Fans' Comments/Opening Riff
Introduction/Also Sprach Zarathustra
See See Rider
That's All Right
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel
Elvis Fans' Comments
You Gave Me A Mountain
Jailhouse Rock
Elvis Fans' Comments
How Great Thou Art
Elvis Fans' Comments
I Really Don't Want To Know
Elvis Introduces His Father
Hurt
Hound Dog
My Way
Can't Help Falling in Love
Closing Riff
Message From Vernon Presley

Lead Guitar: James Burton
Rhythm Guitar: John Wilkinson
Bass: Jerry Scheff
Piano: Tony Brown
Electric Piano: Bobby Odgin
Drums: Ronnie Tutt
Acoustic guitar: Charlie Hodge
Backing vocals: The Sweet Inspirations (Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell , Estelle Brown)
Backing vocals: JD Sumner & The Stamps Quartet (Ed Enoch, Ed Hill, Larry Strickland, Garry Buckles)
Highvoice singer: Kathy Westmoreland
Orchestra: Joe Guercio orchestra
Orchestra conductor: Mr. Joe Guercio

My Way from the CBS TV Special 'Elvis in Concert' - 1977 

Right up to the very end Elvis still had it.

Runtime: 261
80095 views
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curated content from YouTube

Unchained Melody - Rapid City SD, June 21 1977 

From the CBS tapes for the TV Special 'Elvis in Concert'

Runtime: 147
902728 views
748 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

1977 Newspaper Review of Elvis Presley's Last Concert 

The Indianapolis Star Review of Elvis Presley's Final Concert
Elvis performs in true Presley style before 18,000
By Rita Rose

Adios - The Final Concert in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 26, 1977 

The final time Elvis sings Hurt on stage

Runtime: 120
80974 views
109 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

1977 - Official Concert Releases 

Spring Tours '77

Spring Tours '77

Limited Edition CD on the official Elvis collector more...0 points

My Favourite Elvis Concert Links  

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