I know most of us have seen Elvis's concert in Kansas 18/6/77 before but this restored version by The Remaster Group is very good. They have done a good job on this.
It's not a great show but this Super 8 footage is good and quite close up and notable that it's the last time Elvis wears the 'King Of Spades' jumpsuit. One of the memorable points on this show is seeing Elvis cracking up on 'Are You Lonesome Tonight'! This is the version on the Sold Out DVD series but I think it looks better here.
I’ve seen this footage before and to me he looks like he’s wearing some kind of a girdle under the jumpsuit or it’s just that the suit is way too tight. It seems to actually restrict his singing. He may have been testing it to see if it would help his appearance for the taping of the upcoming TV special the next night.
His comment about the suit being slightly narrow is a bit sad.
In pictures later in the show, you can see that he unzipped the suit more to relieve some of the pressure. I’m wondering why he didn’t have someone in his entourage that could let out his suits if they were too tight.
I think he did this sometimes if the mood took him. On the Uniondale 1975 A/S I heard Charlie saying 'Love Me' and Elvis replied 'Big Boss'. So he did it then as well. I was glad he did that actually as this is great footage although we only see part of it.
This is a travesty. He knew there would be cameras on him the following night, and he blatantly tells the crowd that he didn't show up to a rehearsal the previous week. The man just had no life force anymore, and shows like this prove that.
This is a travesty. He knew there would be cameras on him the following night, and he blatantly tells the crowd that he didn't show up to a rehearsal the previous week. The man just had no life force anymore, and shows like this prove that.
He definitely didn’t rise to the challenge of a network TV special that was going to be watched by millions.
I think he did this sometimes if the mood took him. On the Uniondale 1975 A/S I heard Charlie saying 'Love Me' and Elvis replied 'Big Boss'. So he did it then as well. I was glad he did that actually as this is great footage although we only see part of it.
I will say, there's a bit of difference here between this performance in '77 than in '75.
He really looks uncomfortable .
I don't care what Ed Van Halen says about me--all's I know is that Howard Stern and Mr. Rogers like me just the way I friendly am! - David Lee Roth
I think he did this sometimes if the mood took him. On the Uniondale 1975 A/S I heard Charlie saying 'Love Me' and Elvis replied 'Big Boss'. So he did it then as well. I was glad he did that actually as this is great footage although we only see part of it.
I will say, there's a bit of difference here between this performance in '77 than in '75.
I’ve seen this footage before and to me he looks like he’s wearing some kind of a girdle under the jumpsuit or it’s just that the suit is way too tight. It seems to actually restrict his singing. He may have been testing it to see if it would help his appearance for the taping of the upcoming TV special the next night.
It's something he'd been using more or less since 1971, but no doubt the reality of impending CBS cameras was why it was a bit more constricted.
Since he missed the quickie, Graceland pre-tour rehearsal on June 16, 1977 (Thu), I strongly suspect he treated the whole Kansas City show as a rehearsal. Just look at the set list. Go time was less than 24 hours away.
Elvis Presley
Kansas City, MO
Saturday, June 18, 1977
Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra
C. C. Rider
I Got A Woman / Amen
That's All Right
Blue Christmas
Are You Lonesome To-night ?
Big Boss Man
Love Me
Jailhouse Rock
O Sole Mio (Sherrill Nielsen) / It's Now Or Never
Little Sister
Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel
And I Love You So
My Way
Introduction of singers, musicians, orchestra
Early Morning Rain (John Wilkinson)
What'd I Say (James Burton)
Johnny B. Goode (James Burton)
Drum solo (Ronnie Tutt)
Bass solo (Jerry Scheff)
Two Miles Pike (Tony Brown)
I Really Don't Want To Know
Electric Organ solo (Bobby Ogdin)
The Fly (Joe Guercio Orchestra)
Hurt
Hound Dog
Cant Help Falling In Love
Closing Vamp
. Dr. John Carpenter, M.D. Stop, look and listen, baby <<--->> that's my philosophy!
I’ve seen this footage before and to me he looks like he’s wearing some kind of a girdle under the jumpsuit or it’s just that the suit is way too tight. It seems to actually restrict his singing. He may have been testing it to see if it would help his appearance for the taping of the upcoming TV special the next night.
It's something he'd been using more or less since 1971, but no doubt the reality of impending CBS cameras was why it was a bit more constricted.
Since he missed the quickie, Graceland pre-tour rehearsal on June 16, 1977 (Thu), I strongly suspect he treated the whole Kansas City show as a rehearsal. Just look at the set list. Go time was less than 24 hours away.
Elvis Presley
Kansas City, MO
Saturday, June 18, 1977
Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra
C. C. Rider
I Got A Woman / Amen
That's All Right
Blue Christmas
Are You Lonesome To-night ?
Big Boss Man
Love Me
Jailhouse Rock
O Sole Mio (Sherrill Nielsen) / It's Now Or Never
Little Sister
Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel
And I Love You So
My Way
Introduction of singers, musicians, orchestra
Early Morning Rain (John Wilkinson)
What'd I Say (James Burton)
Johnny B. Goode (James Burton)
Drum solo (Ronnie Tutt)
Bass solo (Jerry Scheff)
Two Miles Pike (Tony Brown)
I Really Don't Want To Know
Electric Organ solo (Bobby Ogdin)
The Fly (Joe Guercio Orchestra)
Hurt
Hound Dog
Cant Help Falling In Love
Closing Vamp
For better or worse, there's not much of a set list there at all. 18 numbers that night, aside from the mumbled singing during the intros (although I've included IRDWTK and Early Mornin Rain). Compare that to the Memphis show in 1974, for example, where there were 14 numbers on the EDITED LP. 22 during the whole show - and all of them better performances. And it's not just the number of songs, but what they are. Three or four songs with some substance (ballads, mostly), otherwise the June shows were a series of throwaways. June 19th was even worse in many respects. The track listing for June 23rd is even worse. Take out the nonsense of I Got a Woman and laughing through Are You Lonesome Tonight, and Elvis is probably singing for 35-40 minutes in these shows.
Also in July '75 at Uniondale NY and New Haven (my first of 2 Elvis concerts).
While not in great physical shape for Pittsburgh, Elvis looked much much better than on this Kansas City cinefilm and actually sounded medication free on New Years Eve. Why did Elvis rise to the challenge for December 76 but seemingly not even try for the CBS Special?
Those July 75 Concerts saw Elvis looking great - albeit heavy - and sounding superb. Can you describe what it was like to see Elvis at Uniondale please?
Lester, I didn't see Elvis in Uniondale, just New Haven 2 days before the Uniondale shows. I guess my previous post was a little unclear. Anyways, the New Haven show was similar - albeit shorter - than the 2 Uniondale shows. Setlist: 2001 Theme; See See Rider; I Got A Woman-Amen; Big Boss Man; Love Me; If You Love Me Let Me Know; Love Me Tender; All Shook Up; Teddy Bear-Don't Be Cruel; Hound Dog; The Wonder Of You; Burning Love; Band Intros; T*R*O*U*B*L*E; Why Me Lord; Heartbreak Hotel; Let Me Be There; You Gave Me A Mountain; Funny How Time Slips Away; Little Darlin'; Mystery Train-Tiger Man; Can't Help Falling In Love. Elvis' perfomance quality was comparable to the Uniondale shows despite the New Haven show being shorter.
I’ve seen this footage before and to me he looks like he’s wearing some kind of a girdle under the jumpsuit or it’s just that the suit is way too tight. It seems to actually restrict his singing. He may have been testing it to see if it would help his appearance for the taping of the upcoming TV special the next night.
It's something he'd been using more or less since 1971, but no doubt the reality of impending CBS cameras was why it was a bit more constricted.
Since he missed the quickie, Graceland pre-tour rehearsal on June 16, 1977 (Thu), I strongly suspect he treated the whole Kansas City show as a rehearsal. Just look at the set list. Go time was less than 24 hours away.
Elvis Presley
Kansas City, MO
Saturday, June 18, 1977
Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra
C. C. Rider
I Got A Woman / Amen
That's All Right
Blue Christmas
Are You Lonesome To-night ?
Big Boss Man
Love Me
Jailhouse Rock
O Sole Mio (Sherrill Nielsen) / It's Now Or Never
Little Sister
Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel
And I Love You So
My Way
Introduction of singers, musicians, orchestra
Early Morning Rain (John Wilkinson)
What'd I Say (James Burton)
Johnny B. Goode (James Burton)
Drum solo (Ronnie Tutt)
Bass solo (Jerry Scheff)
Two Miles Pike (Tony Brown)
I Really Don't Want To Know
Electric Organ solo (Bobby Ogdin)
The Fly (Joe Guercio Orchestra)
Hurt
Hound Dog
Cant Help Falling In Love
Closing Vamp
Nice observation, I've always thought so too: Big Boss Man before love me, the guitar songs at the beginning of the concert, My Way and a suit he had not worn for a whole tour. It looks like he did this on June 20 too, by practicing Unchained Melody. It being so early in the setlist may have something to do with this.
Too bad he didn't do Big Boss Man in Rapid City. He usually did this when he felt good as we all know (July 1975, December 1976).
is good and quite close up and notable that it's the last time Elvis wears the 
'King Of Spades' 
.
