Autumn 1974

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**Elvis In Late Summer And Autumn 1974**

Elvis In Autumn 1974
Elvis In Autumn 1974
Elvis In Autumn 1974
Late summer and autumn of 1974 is perhaps the most special of all "sections" Elvis' life can be divided into. At least when it comes to Elvis' own feelings about himself, his role in life and his development as a person and an entertainer. Deep? Yes, but still try to figure out what went through his mind these days from August to October 1974.

Elvis decided to update his concert program, and to make his show more contemporary. Maybe more than earlier in the 70's, surely more than for a long time, he struggled to do so. He rehearsed often and the selections of songs were vast and included several new songs. Elvis especially focused on 'If You Love Me'. On a rehearsal on August 16 he sung this repeatedly, mainly because he was not satisfied with the ending of the song. J.D. Sumner did not attend these rehearsals, therefore there were no "deep voice" available. Surely, Elvis was missing J. D. 's vocal at this rehearsal-session.
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In addition to the above, Elvis runs through two versions of 'Down In The Alley' on August 16. This was a song he had sung 8 years earlier in studio. Elvis also tried out 'Just Pretend' this day. He sang it quite regularly in 1970. At the end of the song Elvis says: "How soon we forget..." He did not use 'Just Pretend' this season, and it was first re-introduced in December 1975 in Las Vegas. By the time Elvis reached 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' his voice was almost worn out. All this is documented in the great double bootleg called From Sunset Blvd to Paradise Rd released by DAE in 1995. This rehearsal was also released officially - finally in 2009 - on From Sunset To Vegas by FTD.
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Perhaps most interesting from this rehearsal - in retrospect at least - is the song 'The Twelfth Of Never'. From different sources we have learned that Elvis had this song on his mind already in 1969 and that it was on the rehearsal list for possibly addition to the Aloha Special. However, the song was never used on stage. The rehearsal version is nice and was even released as a single some years ago.

It is quite evident that Elvis wanted to get out of the pattern his concert had taken through the years. He was ready to put all into his Las Vegas engagement number 11, starting out August 19 1974.

The opening concert reveals much of Elvis' willing to do it different. The concert, I think, is good but reports say that the response he got from the audience was mediocre. The day after, the concert program fell into the old pattern except from a few new songs that changed from concert to concert.

Elvis starts the show on August 19 very differently. When everyone expected Joe Guercio to initiate 'Also Sprach Zarathustra', Ronnie Tutt instead started banging on his drums. Elvis enters the stage and begins to sing 'Big Boss Man'. Right after Elvis jumps into 'Proud Mary', just like he did in many concerts in 1972. Elvis hadn't sung this song for a "long" time. After 'Proud Mary' it was time to introduce himself, before another rarity, 'Down In The Alley', is accomplished. Allegedly, this song was not met with huge applause. It was the only time Elvis ever performed it on stage. 'Good Times Charlie's Got The Blues' is performed very well. Personally', I prefer this one to the studio version. Follows does 'Never Been To Spain', also a classic 1972 song. This version is great!

Another new song, not recorded long time ago was next. The song, 'It's Midnight', became a regular song on Elvis' show for almost a year. 'If You Talk In Your Sleep' was also a new song, recorded at the same session as 'It's Midnight'. However, this one didn't survive as long as the first mentioned. The same goes for 'Promised Land'. Elvis never quite got the right spirit with this song on stage. Elvis never got tired of 'Polk Salad Annie', however. He sang this song from 1970 to 1977. As the years went by Elvis changed the song quite noticeably. On August 19, Elvis sang a typical "1974-version", to put it that way.

For the first time Elvis introduced the Vegas audience to 'Softly As I Leave You'. Although Elvis recited the lyrics on one occasion in Las Vegas September 3, 1973, this is the first real attempt to move the audience with this "hold your breath" - song. He succeeded, and the song became a regular number in his Las Vegas shows for over a year. Only one time did Elvis sing this song outside Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe - in Memphis July 5 1976. Click for more info

At the end of the concert Elvis also does a solid version of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'.

The concert was released by FTD in 2008 on their double CD release Nevada Nights, which also contained the "almost" complete midnight show from August 21.

Elvis In Autumn 1974
Las Vegas, August 29th 1974
As said above, Elvis went back to the regular pattern already the day after. Nevertheless, some of the new songs survived through the autumn. BMG released 11 songs from different shows on their Live In Las Vegas. They were all taken from soundboards recorded between Aug. 19 and 27.

Click for more info BMG released the August 24 midnight show on their FTD label. It also contains some selections from the dinner show on August 29. This is an acceptable show, nothing more. Elvis is in a fair mode and sings several of the new songs, like 'It's Midnight', 'Softly, As I Leave You' and 'If You Talk In Your Sleep'. He even throws in a version of 'Spanish Eyes' and 'Early Morning Rain' (Aug. 29).

By August 30, however, Elvis had started to focus on other things than just singing songs and entertain. He used lots of time on stage to talk about karate and also mentioned his frustration about the press and their stories about him using drugs.

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On this concert Elvis performs 'Help Me', a song which was omitted on August 19. The same goes for 'American Trilogy'. Before 'American Trilogy', one girl in the audience says to Elvis that she loves him. Elvis replies "Thank you", and then starts to explain that he really appreciated this comment, as he didn't take anything for granted. Before Elvis finished this comment a man in the audience shouts out; "I hate you, Elvis", to which Elvis promptly responded, "Fuck you!"

Although the comment from Elvis (or the man in the audience) was not to be taken seriously, it reveals something not being there before. Elvis had never before replied this way. Rock Legends released this concert on their Night Fever In Vegas in 1996. It was re-released in 2009 on Black Angels In Vegas.

On September 2 - the closing show - Elvis could not control his temper anymore. It was a tragic concert. Not musically, he did some great versions, but the tragic lies in what Elvis said in between the songs. Fort Baxter released this show on Desert Storm (2CD).

Elvis couldn't focus just on singing songs. Almost every song is more or less "screwed up". Not always to the bad, but to the strange. In between songs, he talked about everything from karate to divorce settlement, in addition to rumors concerning his drug-abuse.
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Elvis In Autumn 1974
Las Vegas, September 2 1974
In the beginning of 'It's Midnight' Elvis says, "listen Cilla", and 'You Gave Me A Mountain' is sung directly to Priscilla. Here Elvis screams out "...she took my reason for living!!!" Although Elvis right after tries to explain that this song has nothing to do with his personally life, I guess that very few believed him.

It is on this concert that Elvis held his infamous drug-speech. It started out pretty gently when Elvis talks about a book from John O'Grady. He explains that this book has some pages about himself, before launching in to rumors about drug abuse.

He let the audience know that he was not talking to anyone in the room, but if he found out who said these things, "I'm gonna break your goddam neck, you son-of-a-bitch. That rumor is damaging to myself, to my little daughter, to my father, to my friends, my doctor, to my relationship with you up here on stage...I'll pull your goddamn tongue out by the roots!"

The audience must have been shocked, although Elvis also got applause for this "performance".

After this Elvis had a short break before the next tour (Tour 12). He would start in College Park on September 27. And we are about to enter one of the absolute low points in Elvis' career. The only thing that had changed from the last Vegas concerts and up until now seemed to be that Elvis had lost all steam.
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Elvis In Autumn 1974
College Park, September 1974
There is a story that when Elvis arrived College Park on September 27 he simply fell out of the car. Lying on the ground he refused to accept help from any, and from here he struggled to the stage, shaky as never and almost without any power in his voice. Barely capable to talk, it was a shock for the audience in Maryland. Not just incapable to talk, but moreover - incapable to sing. It was a horrifying show. Joe Guercio said: "He is done. I remember crying". The management of College Park said that they didn't wanted Elvis back in the Park...

However, the next day Elvis performed on the same stage, now much better, but still very bad. This concert was released together with three others in a box called A Profile Vol. 2. As quite typical for Elvis 'See See Rider' sets the standard. I think this must be the worst version ever of the song. Elvis almost runs out of voice, and tries to compensate with some change of rhythm-pattern during the song. I have heard this attempt one other time, in Omaha on June 19 1977...

Right after closing 'See See Rider', it was time to talk. "I love show-buiness...business!" Elvis obviously tries to explain how much he is enjoying the life on stage...

In short you can say that not a single song on this concert was performed well, although I rather like 'Blue Christmas'. Performed like Elvis is on low battery, but still there is something about it. 'Heartbreak Hotel' on the other side finds Elvis forgetting the lyrics, and because of this he has to stop the song.

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The days after were up and down, though mostly down. BMG released the show from South Bend on October 1 on their Dragonheart. This is in general a poor concert, although Elvis is in a quite upbeat mood.

In Indianapolis on October 5, Elvis after the matinee-concert told the staff that this probably was his worst concert ever... In Dayton October 6, Elvis again held two shows. The matinee show was released on A Profile Vol. 2. This is not an outstanding show, but compared to the College Park concert on September 28, it is great. The show reminds very much of the last shows in Las Vegas one month earlier. Elvis is attacking the songs, most clearly heard on 'Big Boss Man'. Also in this period Elvis focus much on changing rhythm-pattern to songs. Just listen to 'Lawdy, Miss Clawdy' and you'll see what I mean. He also stressed that the band should play something different than they have done earlier on their solos.

One of the better live versions of 'Promised Land' was performed on this concert. Not comparable to the master take of this song, but still good.

Later the same day Elvis held his second concert in Dayton. This show is released on the bootleg Breathing Out Fire. Elvis is even more frenetic at this concert. Opening with a strange 'See See Rider' and continuing in the same pace. 'That All Right' was rarely performed in 1974, but Elvis does a nice version here. Also 'Johnny B. Goode' is well delivered!
Elvis In Autumn 1974
Indianapolis, October 5 1974

It was fall 1974, and it was a temporary fall for Elvis too!! Luckily, he came back in Las Vegas in March 1975 - in many ways as a better singer than ever - and a man full of humor and confidence.

Pictures are taken from different sites, including Crazy Canuck's Page. I bet you'll find some of the great photos of Bob Heis here too!

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