Not only is it damaging to Elvis’ legacy, which EPE intends to protect, but LMP is protective of her father, and does not want to see him publicly ridiculed. The EIC footage is likely very painful for her, a brutal reminder of what happened to him. And none of that changes that EIC happened and that it is part of the historical record, but again, acknowledging history does not require a party to commercially release a project at retail.
It probably started with TTWII, culminating with Aloha (the mannerisms, poses, “thank you very much” commentary, etc.). Then EIC raised it to another level — it ushered in an era of disgusting slobs dressing up as Elvis and promoting unflattering cliches.
Actually, Elvis nudges Charlie to start doing this "act". You can see it at the 2:14 moment (Elvis touches Charlie's hand first):
Some observers look at it as if Elvis is indicating to Charlie to knock it off and not to go there this time around. Either way, it is telling that Carlie is no where to be found in Rapid City during this song. And what appalling and extremely sad footage; Elvis is completely stoned. As with much of the show, he keeps his eyes closed, embarrassed and wanting to be anywhere but there, later apologizing to Gary Smith for such an atrocious effort.
That looked to me like Elvis was just adjusting the mic. Then he gave Charlie an elbow for not having it in the right place. I certainly don't think he was starting any "routine". It always looked silly for me to have Charlie hold the mic, like they couldn't afford a mic stand. Even on Unchained Melody, you couldn't get a mic for the piano?
I agree. As harrowing as the 1977 TV special is to watch - and I agree that it is largely to blame for the stereotypes about “fat Elvis” and “the jumpsuit era” - Elvis still somehow achieves moments of transcendence on stage. At a time when he had hit rock bottom in every other aspect of his life, music was still to some degree a safe place he could go to to rise above his problems, even if just for a moment.
I kid about Charlie Hodge but I have mixed opinions about him. He was a "flunky". I don't think Elvis was really kidding when he said that in the Aloha band introductions. He had been the designated laughing boy and microphone stand since the 1968 special. Charlie could have stood up for himself but chose not to. On the other hand, he once held a place of respect from Elvis. Charlie worked with Elvis while they were in the army to help Elvis expand his vocal range and improve his breathing while singing. That sweet voice on EIB is due to those improvements. He is one of only a few that actually got to record a duet with Elvis in his lifetime (a very cool thing). I know very little about Charlie Hodge except that he had a small theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee that hosted an Elvis "and others" tribute show in Charlie's later years.
Teddy Bear/ Don't Be Cruel Here we start off pretty well, but about half way through Teddy Bear Elvis sounds like he loses a bit of energy, he gets a little pitchy, and without panting, sounds a little breathless ... The performance seems reasonably enthusiastic, but it is a sub par kind of performance. There are some little improvisational vocalisations, that suggest he was into it, but the vocal suggests, he wasn't quite up to it. It isn't awful, but it isn't up to Elvis' standard.
Elvis Fan Comments II I think this is the correct one .... We get these someone pointless interjections, that I assume were supposed to reinforce the love his fans had for him ... I don't know, but it sounds a little pointless and desperate. Anyone with half a clue, even these days, knows that Elvis was hugely popular, even if they don't like him. To think Elvis wasn't one of the biggest things that ever happened to popular music, is merely to be caught in delusion and ignorance.
You Gave Me A Mountain For whatever reason, this is one of my favourite Elvis seventies live cuts. Here we have a solid and committed performance. Even with a couple of words kind of sung over or through, Elvis is into this. Even so you can hear that he is struggling ever so slightly.
The Fifties Easy Reference guide Elvis Presley the Albums and Singles Thread * 1959 - Feb 10 1964 - Reference guide - Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt2 The Sixties April 1964 - Sept 1967 Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt2 The Sixties October 1967 - December 1969 Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt2 The Sixties January 1970 - March 1974 Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt3 The Seventies
Reference Guide May 2 1974 If You Talk In Your Sleep/ Help Me Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt3 The Seventies July 1974 Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt3 The Seventies track 1 See See Rider Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt3 The Seventies track 2 I Got A Woman/ Amen Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt3 The Seventies track 3 Love Me Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt3 The Seventies track 4 Tryin' To Get To You Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt3 The Seventies track 5 Medley Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt3 The Seventies track 6 Why Me Lord Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt3 The Seventies track 7 How Great Thou Art Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt3 The Seventies track 8 Blueberry Hill/ I Can't Stop Loving You Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt3 The Seventies track 9 Help Me Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt3 The Seventies track 10 An American Trilogy Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt3 The Seventies track 11 Let Me Be There Elvis Presley - The Albums and Singles Thread pt3 The Seventies track 12 My Baby Left Me track 13 Lawdy Miss Clawdy track 14 Can't Help Falling In Love Oct 1 1974 Promised Land/It's Midnight Oct 1974 Having Fun With Elvis On Stage Jan 8 1975 Promised Land 1 Promised Land 2 There's A Honky Tonk Angel 3 Help Me 4 Mr Songman 5 Love Song Of The Year 6 It's Midnight 7 Your Love's Been A Long Time Comin' 8 If You Talk In Your Sleep 9 Thinking About You 10 You Asked Me To Jan 1975 My Boy/Thinking About You Mar 1975 Pure Gold Apr 22 1975 T-R-O-U-B-L-E/Mr Songman May 7 1975 Elvis Today 1 Trouble 2 And I Love You So 3 Susan When She Tried 4 Woman Without Love 5 Shake A Hand 6 Pieces Of My Life 7 Fairytale 8 I Can Help 9 Bringin' It Back 10 Green Green Grass Of Home Sep 24 1975 Pieces Of My Life/Bringin' It Back Home Dec 1975 Double Dynamite Jan 1976 Legendary Performer vol 2 Harbor Lights Interview - Jay Thompson I Want you I Need You I Love You take 15 Cane and a High Starched Collar Award Presentation thanks @ClausH Such A Night Mar 21 1976 The Sun Sessions 1976 From Elvis Presley Blvd 1 Hurt 2 Never Again 3 Blue Eyes Cryin In The Rain 4 Danny Boy 5 The Last Farewell 6 For The Heart 7 Bitter They Are Harder They Fall 8 Solitaire 9 Love Coming Down 10 I'll Never Fall In Love Again Nov 1976 Frankie and Johnny (Pickwick) Nov 29 1976 Moody Blue/ She Thinks I Still Care Mar 1977 Welcome To My World June 6 1977 Way Down/Pledging My Love July 18 1977 Moody Blue 1 Unchained Melody 2 If You Love Me 3 Little Darlin' 4 He'll Have To Go 5 Let Me Be There 6 Way Down 7 Pledging My Love 8 Moody Blue 9 She Thinks I Still Care 10 It's Easy For You The King Is Dead Oct 3 1977 Elvis In Concert Part 1 Part 2
Elvis' vocal on Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel is pretty bad, but I love the arrangement so much that I'll put up with it. This is one of those songs that I never skip when I listen to an Elvis concert. (Shrug.) You Gave Me A Mountain is one of the highlights of Elvis' live work, and this is the best of the three big official versions for me (the others being Aloha and the 1972 "master"). Whereas he sounds polite and mannered on the 1972/1973 versions, here he cuts loose a bit more and really conveys the painful melodrama of the lyrics. I came here fully intending to rip into Jailhouse Rock, but listening to it again, I think I agree with Mark that it's actually pretty convincing, particularly during the first minute. Not a great performance by any means, but an enjoyable enough bit of fluff after the intensity of You Gave Me A Mountain.
The original Jailhouse Rock is one of Elvis' greatest recordings. The 68 Special version is pretty good. But the inflection Elvis usually used for "rock" on "let's ROCK, everybody let's ROCK" in the 70s ruins it for me, regardless if the performance is otherwise good or not. He is singing it just like everyone else sings it when it comes to this inflection. It may as well be The Flintstone Theme. To explain, in the 57 recording he has a downward inflection on the word "rock". In the 70s he does what others do when singing it, with an upward inflection on the first "rock" and a somewhat downward inflection on the second one. The last time I have ever noticed his 50s voice on songs like Hound Dog or Jailhouse Rock were parts of King Of The Whole Wide World. That rock n roll voice of the 50s was never hear of again. The voice of the 68 Special was certainly a raw and rockin' voice, but still far from that 50s voice that no one else on the planet could do as well. I mean holy cats, my going back to review his 50s and late 60s performances of Jailhouse Rock REALLY puts this 77 performance into perspective. I recall when I was a new and fresh fan, I would make excuses and create fantasies (like it was Elvis who played guitar on Guitar Man single). By 1972 I was over that! Now I see comments here about how many of these performances on EIC are not that bad or pretty good, I just shake my head. If this were the ONLY record Elvis ever put out, and we had not the experience of his history. I am betting NO ONE would have one good thing to say about this LP. I think we are in as much denial as Elvis was about his drug problems. If many of us can admit that Aloha was mediocre and Elvis was detached and somehow affected by his drug taking, what in the hell can we REALLY say about EIC? EIC makes Aloha look and sound like a masterpiece. Imagine a world where EIC came first and then a few years later we see Elvis as he was in Aloha. We would be astonished and very happy he had started a recovery of sorts. EIC is like walking into a hospital and saying out last goodbyes to an old friend and LYING to him about how good he looks. Just as it is my opinion we are lying to ourselves talking about this LP.
It has to be seen to be believed. Really cringeworthy stuff. More than one woman over 50 must have left that concert with bodily injury fighting for a scarf.