Elvis in Concert
Encyclopedia
Elvis in Concert is the title of the soundtrack album
released in conjunction with the television special of the same name
which featured some of the final performances of Elvis Presley
. Videotaped and recorded in June 1977, both the special and album were broadcast and released on October 3, 1977, (the single "My Way"/"America the Beautiful" was also released that day too) two months after Presley's death. The album peaked to #5 on the Billboard chart in the fall of 1977. It was certified Gold and Platinum on 10/14/1977 and
3x Platinum on 8/1/2002 by the R.I.A.A.
The show was recorded over two days at concerts in Omaha
on June 19 and Rapid City, South Dakota
on the 21st. According to Elvis: The Illustrated Record by Roy Carr and Mick Farren, the shows were taped with the intent of producing a television special, but Presley's deteriorating physical condition put the project on hold. After his death, they write, it was decided to go ahead with the special as a tribute. Although both the June 19th and 21st concerts are the last official live professional one's ever recorded of Presley alive, Vernon Presley, Elvis' father, recorded a message that was broadcast at the end of the special and included on the soundtrack album, in which he erroneously states that the performance featured was his son's last appearance; in fact Elvis made five more concert appearances after the filming of the special. Elvis' last concert was in fact on Sunday, June 26, 1977 at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana. No professional recording of this last performance has ever been issued, but bootlegs of amateur recordings have.
During the special, Presley performs a selection of his hits, along with songs not normally associated with him. Although it was a regular part of his repertoire for years, Presley requires a lyric sheet when he performs Paul Anka
's "My Way" (noted for its opening lyric, "And now the end is near/And so I face the final curtain"). He also loses his train of thought during "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", although Darrin Memmer's book "Elvis Presley - The 1977 CBS Television Special," published in 2001 by Morris Publishing, makes a strong case that Elvis regularly played around with the words during the spoken portion of the song when performing it on stage, rather than it being a case of poor memory. Indeed a concert recording of Presley similarly joking around during the monologue section of "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" dating from 1969 has been issued by RCA on numerous occasions (dubbed the "Laughing Version", it even made the UK charts after Presley's death), and he also poked fun at the song during his 1968 Comeback Special.
The soundtrack album was issued as a 2-LP package, including a second disc of performances that were not included in the TV special. It was also released on 8-track. On May 22, 1992, the special saw its first release on a single-disc CD.
Soundtrack album
A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television program. In some cases, not all the tracks from the movie are included in the album; however there are rare cases of songs in the trailers that do not appear in...
released in conjunction with the television special of the same name
Elvis In Concert
Elvis In Concert is a posthumous 1977 TV special starring Elvis Presley. It was Elvis' third and final TV special, following Elvis and Aloha From Hawaii. It was filmed during Presley's final tour in the cities of Omaha, Nebraska, on June 19, 1977, and Rapid City, South Dakota, on June 21, 1977...
which featured some of the final performances of Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. Videotaped and recorded in June 1977, both the special and album were broadcast and released on October 3, 1977, (the single "My Way"/"America the Beautiful" was also released that day too) two months after Presley's death. The album peaked to #5 on the Billboard chart in the fall of 1977. It was certified Gold and Platinum on 10/14/1977 and
3x Platinum on 8/1/2002 by the R.I.A.A.
The show was recorded over two days at concerts in Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
on June 19 and Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
on the 21st. According to Elvis: The Illustrated Record by Roy Carr and Mick Farren, the shows were taped with the intent of producing a television special, but Presley's deteriorating physical condition put the project on hold. After his death, they write, it was decided to go ahead with the special as a tribute. Although both the June 19th and 21st concerts are the last official live professional one's ever recorded of Presley alive, Vernon Presley, Elvis' father, recorded a message that was broadcast at the end of the special and included on the soundtrack album, in which he erroneously states that the performance featured was his son's last appearance; in fact Elvis made five more concert appearances after the filming of the special. Elvis' last concert was in fact on Sunday, June 26, 1977 at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana. No professional recording of this last performance has ever been issued, but bootlegs of amateur recordings have.
During the special, Presley performs a selection of his hits, along with songs not normally associated with him. Although it was a regular part of his repertoire for years, Presley requires a lyric sheet when he performs Paul Anka
Paul Anka
Paul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
's "My Way" (noted for its opening lyric, "And now the end is near/And so I face the final curtain"). He also loses his train of thought during "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", although Darrin Memmer's book "Elvis Presley - The 1977 CBS Television Special," published in 2001 by Morris Publishing, makes a strong case that Elvis regularly played around with the words during the spoken portion of the song when performing it on stage, rather than it being a case of poor memory. Indeed a concert recording of Presley similarly joking around during the monologue section of "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" dating from 1969 has been issued by RCA on numerous occasions (dubbed the "Laughing Version", it even made the UK charts after Presley's death), and he also poked fun at the song during his 1968 Comeback Special.
The soundtrack album was issued as a 2-LP package, including a second disc of performances that were not included in the TV special. It was also released on 8-track. On May 22, 1992, the special saw its first release on a single-disc CD.
Track listing
- Elvis Fans Comments (Pt. 1)/Opening Riff
- "Also Sprach Zarathustra"
- "See See RiderSee See RiderThe song is generally regarded as being traditional in origin. Ma Rainey's version became popular during 1925, as "See See Rider Blues." It became one of the most famous of all blues songs, with well over 100 versions. It was recorded by Big Bill Broonzy, Mississippi John Hurt, Lead Belly,...
" - "That's All Right"
- "Are You Lonesome Tonight?Are You Lonesome Tonight? (song)"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" is a popular song with music by Lou Handman and lyrics by Roy Turk. It was written in 1926, first published in 1927 and most notably revived by Elvis Presley in 1960 ....
" - "Teddy BearTeddy Bear (song)" Teddy Bear" is a popular song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music. It was written by Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe and published in 1957 by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company...
"/"Don't Be CruelDon't Be Cruel-Legacy:"Don't Be Cruel" went on to become Presley's biggest selling single recorded in 1956, with sales over six million by 1961. It became a regular feature of his live sets until his death in 1977, and was often coupled with "Jailhouse Rock" or "Teddy Bear" during performances from 1969.Many...
" - Elvis Fans Comments (Pt. 2)
- "You Gave Me a MountainYou Gave Me a Mountain"You Gave Me a Mountain" is a song written by country singer-songwriter Marty Robbins during the 1960s. It has been recorded by many artists, including Robbins himself, but the highest-charting version of the song was by Frankie Laine in 1969...
" - "Jailhouse RockJailhouse Rock (song)"Jailhouse Rock" is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller that first became a hit for Elvis Presley. The song was released as a 45rpm single on September 24, 1957, to coincide with the release of Presley's motion picture, Jailhouse Rock...
" - Elvis Fans Comments (Pt. 3)
- "How Great Thou ArtHow Great Thou Art (hymn)"How Great Thou Art" is a Christian hymn based on a Swedish poem written by Carl Gustav Boberg in Sweden in 1885. The melody is a Swedish folk song. It was translated into English by British missionary Stuart K. Hine, who also added two original verses of his own composition. It was popularized by...
" - Elvis fans comments (Pt. 4)
- "I Really Don't Want To KnowI Really Don't Want to Know"I Really Don't Want to Know" is a popular song with music was written by Don Robertson and lyrics by Howard Barnes. The song was published in 1953....
" - Elvis Introduces his Father
- "HurtHurt (Roy Hamilton song)"Hurt" is a 1954 song by Jamie Crane and Al Jacobs. "Hurt" was originally performed by Roy Hamilton, whose version peaked at number eight on the R&B Best Seller chart and spent a total of seven weeks on the chart. The song is considered to be the signature hit of Timi Yuro, whose version went to...
" - "Hound DogHound Dog (song)"Hound Dog" is a twelve-bar blues written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and originally recorded by Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton in 1952. Other early versions illustrate the differences among blues, country, and rock and roll in the mid-1950s. The 1956 remake by Elvis Presley is the best-known...
" - "My WayMy Way (song)"My Way" is a song popularized by Frank Sinatra. Its lyrics were written by Paul Anka and set to music based on the French song "Comme d'habitude" composed in 1967 by Claude François and Jacques Revaux, with lyrics by Claude François and Gilles Thibault. Anka's English lyrics are unrelated to the...
" - "Can't Help Falling in LoveCan't Help Falling in Love"Can't Help Falling in Love" is a pop song originally recorded by American singer Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company. It was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss. The melody was based on "Plaisir d'Amour" but with a different...
" - Closing Riff/Special Message from Elvis's Father
- "I Got A WomanI Got a Woman"I Got a Woman" is a song co-written and recorded by American R&B/soul musician Ray Charles and released as a single in December 1954 on the Atlantic label as Atlantic 45-1050 b/w "Come Back Baby." Both sides later appeared on his 1957 album Ray Charles .-Origin:The song builds on...
/AmenAmenThe word amen is a declaration of affirmation found in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Its use in Judaism dates back to its earliest texts. It has been generally adopted in Christian worship as a concluding word for prayers and hymns. In Islam, it is the standard ending to Dua and the...
" - Elvis Talks
- "Love MeLove Me (Leiber/Stoller song)"Love Me" is a sentimental song composed by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and popularized by Elvis Presley in 1956. Conceived as a parody of a country western music, it was initially interpreted by R&B duo Willy and Ruth in 1954 , then by Georgia Gibbs the same year...
" - "If You Love MeIf You Love Me"If You Love Me" is a single by Brownstone released in the fourth quarter of 1994. It was the lead single from the album From the Bottom Up. It is their biggest hit peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles chart as well as #2 on the Billboard Hot R&B songs chart...
" - "'O Sole Mio'O Sole Mio"O sole mio" is a globally known Neapolitan song written in 1898. The lyrics were written by Giovanni Capurro and the melody was composed by Eduardo di Capua. Though there are versions in other languages, "'O sole mio" is usually sung in the original Neapolitan language...
/It's Now or NeverIt's Now or Never (song)"It's Now or Never" is a popular song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company, in 1960. The melody of the song is adapted from the Italian standard, "'O Sole Mio", but the inspiration for it came from the song, "There's No Tomorrow", recorded by...
" - "Trying to Get to YouTrying to Get To You“Trying To Get To You” is a song performed by Elvis Presley in 1955 on his Sun recordings.It was written by Rose Marie McCoy and Charles Singleton, also known as Charlie Singleton. It was originally recorded by the rhythm and blues outfit The Eagles in 1954 and released in mid-1954 on Mercury...
" - "Hawaiian Wedding SongHawaiian Wedding Song"Hawaiian Wedding Song" is a 1926 love song written by Charles King for his operetta, Prince of Hawaii. It was originally entitled "Ke Kali Nei Au" - Hawaiian for "Waiting Here for You"...
" - "Fairytale"
- "Little SisterLittle Sister (Pomus/Shuman song)"Little Sister" is a rock and roll song written by Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman. It was originally released as a single in 1961 by American singer Elvis Presley, who turned it into a #5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100...
" - "Early Morning RainEarly Morning Rain"Early Morning Rain" is a song composed and recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot. The song appears on his debut album Lightfoot! and in a re-recorded version on the 1975 compilation Gord's Gold...
" - "What'd I Say"
- "Johnny B. GoodeJohnny B. Goode"Johnny B. Goode" is a 1958 rock and roll song written and originally performed by American musician Chuck Berry. The song was a major hit among both black and white audiences peaking at #2 on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sides chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song is one of Chuck Berry's...
" - "And I Love You SoAnd I Love You So (song)"And I Love You So" is a popular song written by Don McLean and released on his 1970 debut album, Tapestry. The song has been recorded by many artists in the years since McLean's original version, and it was a 1973 hit for singer Perry Como on his album of the same name, And I Love You So.Como's...
"
Professional reviews
About.com gave the album a positive review, but conceded that "this album is not a standout Elvis concert. What it is, however, is a vitally important piece of Elvis lore." AllMusic panned the album, giving it only one out of a possible five stars. Their review went on to say that the record is "Elvis Presley's least effort, as well as his last."Chart performance
| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 5 |
| Canadian RPM Top Albums | 4 |
Certifications
| Region | Provider | Certification(s) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | RIAA | 3x Platinum |
Personnel
- Elvis Presley - vocals, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - James BurtonJames BurtonJames Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame...
- lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... - John Wilkinson - rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
- Charlie HodgeCharlie Hodge (guitarist)Charles Franklin Hodge , better known as Charlie Hodge, was an American singer, vocal coach and musician who was a confidant and associate of Elvis Presley.- Early music career :...
- acoustic guitar, vocals - Jerry ScheffJerry ScheffJerry Obern Scheff is an American bassist, perhaps best known for his work with Elvis Presley in the early 1970s as a member of his TCB Band and his work on The Doors' final recordings....
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Ronnie Tutt - drums
- Tony BrownTony Brown (record producer)Tony Brown is an American country music record producer.He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina.Brown played piano for Elvis Presley. He toured with the TCB Band for much of Presley's final two years and was a part of the 1976 "Jungle Room" recording sessions at Graceland...
- piano, keyboards - The Sweet Inspirations, the Stamps Quartet and Kathy WestmorelandKathy WestmorelandKathy Westmoreland is an American singer.After growing up in Abilene, Texas, the daughter of a professional singer and a professional dancer , she moved to California in 1962 with her sisters and brother Brent...
- vocals - Joe Guercio - orchestraOrchestraAn orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...