Elvis In Concert

I find the EIC footage much too painful to watch, but I've always liked the album. However, the album is is desperate need of makeover/sound upgrade. Which I expect we''ll get when Ernst and crew get around to it as a part of the FTD "classic" album series.

When I saw Elvis at age 11 in November of 1976, I wasn't old enough to know there was something wrong. In hindsight, I think on some level a lot of the audience knew that he was a sick man. But still! He was still so damn good! I've been an Elvis fan ever since, and went right out and bought every Elvis album I could get my hands on. Elvis' voice sounded so good in 1977, so rich, with a increased range and timber. He hit a lot of "power notes" late in life. It was an awesome thing. Elvis in Concert showcases this increased vocal power. For the few songs mentioned in the review, the album is worth it. I agree that it is time to revamp this album with remastered sound, and put the songs in concert order! As in finishing with Can't Help Falling In Love! Remove the comments too. I'm torn as to whether or not to remove Vernon's message. Like so many fans, I wish Elvis could have turned a corner on his addiction problem. To this day I am still angry as to how and why they (whoever "they" are) let Elvis get to that physical condition. Any idiot should have known that Elvis shouldn't be on stage, much less be filmed. He needed to be in a hospital.

Yes, perhaps he should have been in a hospital. But he wasn´t. The album is great, the shows are good too. The reason that the tv special is not released yet, is because elvis died just months later. If he´d been alive today, it would have been released. That´s what i believe. His voice was so strong at this time. Hurt, How Great thou art, tryin´ to get to you. Wow. Some people says that his voice was stronger in Aloha. No way.

I wonder if Elvis in Concert will be a 2 cd set from Ftd,the show from the 19th seemed to be alot worse than from the 21st!

I remember receiving this record for Christmas 1977 after I had watched the October 3rd airing of his final concerts. The last time I had seen him on stage was on April 4th of 1973, and was kinda shocked at how much he had changed. I was only 13 when he died and really did enjoy this album. Since then I have purchased a bootleg of the his 76 New Years Eve show and the entire 3+ hours of his 2 CBS shows and I can't believe the downfall just within 6 months (it is very sad). TCB!

I dont think this should be an FTD classic album series. Why? Because its bad. I dont think RCA would have released another 'live' album like this if Elvis had not died. They were becoming increasingly unpopular and this one is the worst one of all. Elvis in Aloha & live in Memphis had much better tone, breath control, versatility, etc. How can anyone say his voice is better here? He sounds jaded, breathless & disoriented to me. WHat are you people listening to? Elvis should have never been performing in 1977 period. Had this TV special aired in his lifetime it would have more damage to what was left of his career than all the bad movies combined. Overdubs had to be done to make it sound more presentable. A very sad ending indeed

I tend to mostly agree with SteveV on this, but not fully. Overall, Aloha is better--certainly visually. But I have to say the versions of My Way and You Gave Me a Mountain from 1977 are better than the earlier 1973 versions. I wonder, if Elvis had lived, if maybe the whole tv special would have been scrapped. I certainly can imagine CBS execs looking at the footage and saying "no. This is NOT what we expected." And i mean, not just Elvis himself, but the whole thing is fairly unimpressive. The stage itself, the backdrop, the lighting, the sound. Only 4 years earlier he did Aloha and look at the differences! And that is excluding the differences in Elvis himself. Elvis In Concert looks cheap and unprofessional. I like to fantasize that, if Elvis had lived, the execs and Parker came to an agreement that they would have to reshoot this and Elvis, seeing the footage himself, realized he'd need to take a few months off and get in shape for it. They all reconvene in January and put on a kick-ass show for E's 43rd birthday. Or something like that.

Some great performances here,eventhough I don't listen to the album much these days.If it does get an FTD release I hope they include the band introductions as this contained some of the best music of Elvis' concerts particularly the Ronnie Tutt drum solo.

sorry steve...don't agree with you...again. although Elvis is ill in this period, yet he could deliver a hell of a performance.. and you can hear it here.. and JlPresley..i fully agree on what you say about Elvis's voice being stronger in the aloha special.. it wasn't..in 1977 Elvis's voice was better here then his voice in Aloha, My Way, How Great Thou Art, Hurt. goosebump moments.. no kidding, one of my favorite albums..

Aaron P - I dont expect you will ever agree with me on anything and thats ok, but to say Elvis gave a hell of a performance here is way over the top even for blind loyalists. Yes his voice was powerful but it always was. I dont know what you hear but I hear a guy struggling to sustain breath control & vibarato on the so called powerful songs. I didnt hear those problems in Aloha. I hear a hear a guy mumbling his way thru Hound Dog & Teddy Bear hardly having enough breath to perform them. And another thing. This was a major TV special. Its basically the same tired song list over & over. If elvis cared so much about his fans & performances why didnt he ever change the damn show? Let me put this in perspective a bit. A friend of mine went to see Springsteen this week 3 times (huge fan). Bruce played nearly 3 hrs every night and not once was the set list the same! Now thats a performer who cares about his shows & he's almost 60. And I agree this would not have aired if Elvis lived. The Colonel should have been asahmed of himself.

I read a psychologist say somewhere that part of the reason Elvis appealed to so many people (particularly men) was because of his vulnerability. I think the tragic downfall is part of the appeal of Elvis - he was human, he laid it out on the line, he gave his all and he gave it to us. That's what this concert signifies to me. A guy that said 'this is all I have and it's for you'. EIC is an important part of the legacy, its not attractive but it's important. It's the other bookend. the last chapter. The final farewell. There are highlights - 'you gave me a mountain', 'how great thou art', 'unchained melody' and my favourite 'and i love you so'. The line from that last song still makes the hair stand up on my neck - 'oh and yes I know how lonely life can be..'. I like this album and I hope I'll see the box set one day in remastered sound and vision.

I find it hard to like EIC , as this was the first album I was given. For me the highlights are Love Me - Fairytale, My Way, Trying To Get To You, and the other songs are not bad, it's just sad. As for a FTD release, I can't see it. EPE will never allow it, as it did not really happen, in their world. Agree with Jerry, cant watch this show, but can listen to it.

Sori folks ment "find it hard not to like EIC"

steve is it so hard for you to understand that the man was ill? even then it's amazing he still performed and i'm not a blind loyalist, it's the second time u call me that..i'm just not a negative person i never can and be negative about Elvis..expecially not after my car-accident last year.. that man helped me throught my difficult time when i was in the hospital fighting for my life...he saved my life. if you hear Hurt in this special, it's amazing that high note he hits, it's the best live version, and many do agree with me on that i'm sure.. and if elvis was alive today? he would still perform..no doubt about that..

I can't believe it when people write: "Don't release it !". Man, I am waiting a long time for a good release on DVD and CD ! He gave here some of his best performances, My way is mucht better than the Aloha show, the same for You gave me a mountain. Unchained melody, Hurt and How great thou art: in one word perfect !. And still people say that his voice was not good. The whole show is great. OK, he was ill but even than. He did it for his fans and no one can chance the past. FTD allready gave us 2 CD's with 1977 performances in soundboard. Now it's time for the other 2. Imagine to have this on DVD in 5.1 sound including the bandsolo's ! Like M L King ones said: "I have a dream !". Why put 1977 away ? This is just another year of his life and carreer. Yes one of my best Elvis' albums and I listen and watch it very often. Everybody know that Elvis carreer was allready great. So don't say that releasing is not good for his carreer. He passed away 31 years ago, give (some) fans what they want. And if FTD will release all the classic albums again as a 2 CD set than they can't forget the Elvis in Concert album. I'll be the firt one who's gonna buy it !

Where do I start. This is not a great performance. We see the highlights. Even at that they're not all great. This special/album never would have seen the light of day had Elvis lived. He would have done the special/album eventually, but after he was in at least "decent" vocal/phyisical shape. But it was all about ratings and sales. "Mountain" better here? Huh? He doesn't even think about the high notes on the chorus here compared to Aloha. This isn't a great album, but that's been said about other '70s albums and I expect we'll see them all on FTD. This one should/will be there as well

My way from this special is my favorite version,somehow he was able to sound great on that one and on a few other tracks he sounded pretty good,i disagree that there are no great tracks if not for the one song i mentioned,i understand the conditions and that on many tracks he sounded not so great!

Steve i agree with most of what yopu say.first though lets try to get away from the blind comments or rose colored glasses(pretty please) and on a few tracks to my ears he sound pretty good,and my way to me is great as was hurt,with that said on songs like teddy bear,jailhouse rock,he is mumbling and does seem out of breath,it just seemed that on a few songs like how great and my way and maybe even trying to get to you,that he was able to turn it on for a minute!

JerryNordak the man was ill..ok? or did u miss that.."Mountain" is a great performance in spite of that... jeezz..seems these days all i read is negative things about Elvis..stop with that..if u can look at today,,31 years after his passing..bigger than ever..the greatest still today he sells amazingly. elvis may be gone..but his voice will never die..Elvis Lives On

Some good comments were made here about Elvis' appeal particularly to men for his "all-too-human" vulnerability. Make no mistake about it: nearly all fans know that he was clicking on a much higher caliber in "ELVIS ON TOUR" and "ALOHA from HAWAII." But there is a world-weary, ever-more experienced feel to Elvis' often richer voice in EIC , and yes, you can hear it in YOU GAVE ME A MOUNTAIN and many others cited. It's not to say that the ALOHA versions are inferior (many might be superior) but there is something extra rich and interesting about these final songs from the doomed King. And Steve V.: with all due respect, we all know (or should by now) that you had the great pleasure of seeing Elvis perform in the early to mid '70s - but to hear you lord it over other fans who happen to have different opinions is rather tiresome and unconstructive, particularly about the always ultimately subjective topic of music. I fully agree (does anyone really disagree?) that he really botched his '50s hits here and at many times seems really out of it, especially (and in spite of) the fact that some of the "bits" are long-practiced routines (the "improvised and forgotten" lyrics of "Are You Lonesome Tonight" or the lyric-reading of "My Way" - a security blanket routine he did even for BURNING LOVE in '72...) The original reviewer (one "David Bowling" of something called "Blog Critics") has made a lot of hay with his album reviews but he's out of line to pass such judgement on a TV Special (no matter its many faults) that he admits he's never seen! He then procedes to proclaim it is "terrible" and "embarrassing" despite never having seen it himself. Hah -hah! What a clown this Bowling must be. Any neutral observer should at least note that CBS aired the program twice and to my knowledge it did well in the ratings both times and as a viewer of both broadcasts as a child, I recall that most viewers that I spoke to and knew were more moved (and yes, saddened) but the operative sense was one of *loss* and appreciating what the man put out even in his nearing-death condition. And as a final note, if you the reviewer had actually seen the broadcast (particularly in '77) he'd know that the fan comments (especially in the mostly pre-VCR era) were a nice reminder to fans of the TV show they had just seen -and could not re-run. If nothing else, a reviewer should note that "ELVIS IN CONCERT" remains a very controversial concert among Elvis fans, with those who advocate for an official release on DVE and then those who applaud restricting its release and are happy to make do with the various bootleg versions. Count me, in spite of my above comments, lest I'm painted as a blind fan, as incidentally as one of the latter group of fans generally opposing a mass DVD re-issue..

Aaron: He was ill. I get it. I was sitting in front of my TV watching EIC on CBS TV on that painful October Night. I knew he was ill. Knew it before the special aired, and it was obvious when watching. Yeah, "Mountain" was a very good performance considering the circumstances, but NOT better than his performance of the same song during "Aloha."

Ok, so he didn´t look as well as in aloha, or TTWII. I don´t know what you guys think, but I am not an elvis fan because he looked good. He still sang great during these days, that is my opinion. People can say that he shouldn´t have performed, but don´t forget that he did cancel shows when he wasn´t feeling well. Maybe it´s not fair to compare EIC with aloha. Yes, aloha was better, but EIC is not bad at all. I think he sang as well here as in aloha. And even if he wasn´t, who cares? Does every song need to be perfect. Look, Hound dog wasn´t exciting in aloha either.

Naturally our man is very, very sick during this time. A child can see that..the medication over the years resulted in his death only 6 weeks after his last tour. But what about his voice in those last tour ? FANTASTIC ! I agree with Herman. Just another tour, just another event in his great career. Just release Elvis In Concert on a 5.1 sound DVD and I would be a very happy man..It absolutely will not damage his image or after death career..And then everybody has to make his own choice: buy it or don't buy it ! It's as simple as that ! And believe me it will be a big seller ! Why put that 1977 year away..that shows disrespect for Elvis..Disrespect for NOT releasing Elvis In Concert. By the way: It was Elvis' choice to go in front of the camaras, wasn't it ? He could have say no, couldn't he ? And please stop to make comparisons why Elvis threated a song like "Hound Dog" over the years..of course that changed..for God sake, the man was 42 years old and was tired of that song. So what ? The general public just wanted to hear him sing those old hits..

I am sick to death of fans comparing Elvis to earlier years on a given subject. Sentences like 'Elvis In Concert' wasn't as good as 'Aloha' or 'Aloha' wasn't as good as 'That's The Way It Is'. This is the problem regarding Elvis. Every show should be judged on it's own merits. 'Elvis In Concert' has many highlights and to this day if Elvis hadn't died fans would be raving about those vocals. To say I can listen to the album but can't watch the special is absurd, they are the same vocals. I see a man giving his all to the very end.

If anyones seen the show there's an interview with a black american guy who just gives the BEST opinion ever of Elvis. I haven't got time now to transcript it (maybe someone else here can) but if they do a box set DVD of this show then that guys words should be in BIG letters on the front of it!

An album i've never owned or wanted to after seeing the CBS special. Elvis shouldn't have been up there and to say he sounds great is just unbelievable. What is more baffling to me is albums like this and moody blue get twice as many comments as elvis is back and from elvis in memphis. I understand the reasons why people seem to focus on this special but please don't build it up into something it plainly isn't.

If the Colonel cared more about Elvis than he did about money, he would've turned down the offer made by CBS. Knowing that the tell all book was about to be released, maybe the Colonel thought this was one last shot at making a bundle before the stuff hit the fan? No matter how it came about, it seems providential to me that the concert was filmed at all. It wasn't like Elvis was doing anything new at this point. Why the interest in making another TV special? Very curious indeed. If nothing else, EIC stands out as the only performance EPE has officially refuse to release on DVD. Lisa and Priscilla are worried about his image, and so forth. I don't buy that line one bit. If Lisa were t say that she is embarrassed by how far her father had fallen, I think there would be more sympathy toward the decision to keep EIC in the vault. The argument goes, so many bootleg DVD's are out there, so why not release EIC on DVD? To us the bootleg market may be big, but actually, the impact of boots is minimal when compared to the world wide mass production of official DVD's. I can't blame EPE for wanting to promote Elvis at his best, and keep Elvis at his worst off of the shelves. EIC has some incredible performances. I love it! I've never thought of comparing it to other shows for the simple reason that Elvis in '77 wasn't Elvis in '73, or any other time frame. He transformed so much and so often, more than any other performer I have ever heard. Maybe that is why the songs from the 50's were given so little attention? Elvis wasn't the '50's rocker any more. I think FTD will reissue EIC. We already have Spring Tours '77 and Unchained Melody from FTD, so why not release EIC -- which has better performances than the aforementioned titles. Here I'm apt to make a reasonable comparison, since the era is the same for all three. I would gladly welcome an FTD reissue. If it doesn't happen, I'm still glad to have the original RCA release in my collection.

He was 42 and sick of doin Houd Dog so thats why he muffled it? Does Jagger botch Satisfaction at 65 or McCartney mumble Yesterday at 65? Thats no excuse for killing the song. 42 is young. He was ill but the way he looked & erformed was more the result of his awful likestyle and massive pill intake. This is why Linda left remember? Not because he was sick. HE was killing himself with the pills and the knife & fork. He almost died on several occassions in the 70's from drug intake. Not from illness. The Colonel whom I despise now ,prob figured lets get every nickel out of him before he croaks which is what happned. Even a fight manager takes pity on his boxer & throws in the towel. Not our old Colonel. And Aaron Im really glad Elvis got you thru your accident. He also got me thru a rough spell, but with albums like Elvis Is Back, Memphis, etc. You even said you cant be negative about Elvis so what the point of having a discussion? Anyone who loves everything Elvis did cant be subjective. Thus the blind loyalist remark. I used to be one until I totally look back on this career and see how much better it could have been. I think its one of the mosy misguided caeers in show busines history. I bought this album, played it once and never again.

One thing is annoying about all this. Not all fans dislike this special. But if you enjoy it, it´s like you are crazy. Many, many fans love the late seventies too. So, I think EPE should let us make our own decisions. If you think it´s too painful, then don´t get it. And come on, it´s 30 years ago. We know that elvis is dead by now. We know he was not healthy. I´m not so excited about some of the movies. They are released, and I think it´s time to release Elvis in concert too.

have to say, i'm no fan of the CBS special but i don't understand why they wont release it. Half the fans have it on bootleg and the whole world has seen clips from it. It's not like nobody has seen it for 30 years.

The motivation for the CBS special was a) To get some material for a new album (RCA). Elvis was not interested to go into the studio anymore. b) Earn some fast money as both the Colonel and Elvis were in financial trouble. c) The Colonel always saw TV as the media to save/bring back Elvis' musical career. The motivation for the CBS special was NOT: a) To show Elvis in a new fantastic musical event in the line of 68' Come back or Aloha b) To broadcast Elvis a strong musical personality with new songs and new ideas I'm not judging the quality of the songs, this will always be a subjective matter of taste - but that anyone in Elvis' surroundings at the time thought it was a good idea to showcase the worlds best singer/performer ever on both national and international TV in a condition like this .... it is cruel and disgracing. I'm so so sorry that Elvis in his life didn't have just one strong person who could say 'enough is enough'. Too much TCB, too little TLC.

Steve, just to remember you: Elvis was sick and that means the same that he was on pills, he was a junk...no control...I know...pills= sick= junk...but that VOICE !!!

Steve i usually agree with you,but you have to remember there are many signs that point towards hims being bi-polar,i knew 2 people who have dealt with it,and just because your a superstar doesnt mean your going to snap out of it,you cant compare him to other singers,they havnt dealt with that type of thing,its worse than drugs or drinking,although those are the 2 things that are excepted much more than someone with a bi-polar disorder,with that said i know this wasnt the best special but if you look for it there are a few songs performed quite well!

I must add his only problem was not pills,it seems people think that was it but there so far off in that thinking!

One final point,steve i agree he was most misguieded misused talent in history,i do agree that some of his moves were made when he was in better mental health,so ican excuse that,its just the later period that i think we need to take a fresh look at,it was more than pills!

steve i want to see you if you were sick like elvis was..then you had not much to say. always so easy to talk dirt about a man who can't defend himself anymore... but your talking just like if you were with him all the time..you weren't. so you can't judge about his illness, and medication use...you didn't know how he felt, could you? if you could ,then u can and could judge about this and always those comparisons all the time, there they are again, Mick Jagger etc..leave them out of this..there's no comparison between those artists and elvis..simply they are no competition for elvis, not today.. not ever..and Mature Elvis?..well spoken

Jim Hoff- Some really good points. I earlier did the mistake to compare EIC with aloha and comeback special. Both events were meant to be highlights in his career. That was never the intention with EIC. The colonel made the deal with EIC not even three weeks before the actual TV special. With aloha and comeback special it was a question of months. So, Elvis didn´t have a very long time to prepare for EIC, and he desperately needed that time.

If we all agree he was sick, why can't we agree he shouldn't be on stage, but in a hospital? His voice great? It was strong yes, as always... but certainly not great. He simply just didn't deliver like he was able to only two years before. And for the album... I just hate it, not only because of Elvis' poor performance... I can sit through that for those few little sparks that are still in it, but those irritating fans... they were able to make the album even worse.

Its been 31 years , so one should not object to a full DVD release. Who cares at this point anyway? Let the people who want it, have it. All professional video of Elvis should be available as the fan base ages rapidly. Anyway,most of the critics from 1977 are retired or prob not with us anymore. Unchained Memlody is quite good, but for the other songs, Id rather watch Aloha, TTWII, or whatever. As to how sick he was, Aaron you werent there either so you dont know. I dont believe all the 'illness' accounts told by various people who were there. One says he had cancer, one says absolutely false, no way. So who do you believe? What we do know from medical records is he had glacoma, a twisted colon & high blood pressure. All treatable diseases that people live with daily. If he was so sick I dont Linda would have left. I think he was more a pill addict than a sick man. She saw that & left. He was hooked on pain medication not soley for the pain but for what people get hooked on them for. Very common. Dr Nick and others are criminals.

Agree with all of that Steve, the pills took over his life, surely there can't be anybody who now doesn't believe that. The praise this album and special gets simply amazes me. He shouldn't have been on stage.

oh my god steve, you know it all...your r the expert..Elvis was ill my friend.. what did u think elvis'mother died off? he had the same illness, he had a to big heart, twice as big as it should have been..glaucoma and the list goes on he was a human being just like you and me, Charlie Hodge also said he had cancer charlie cried when he said it...,but you know it better ofcourse. he had eye problems, and he took some medicin for his illness. and you think? doesn't mean you r right my friend..you r right about elvis's doctors,that i give you and Linda KNEW Elvis had health problems and that he was sick, i have it on dvd when she says it...so there u r wrong again. and i know so much more about Elvis'health problems..like i said..i talked to some of elvis 's friends when i was in the states a few years ago..they were there with Elvis..but you know it better.

and steve just for the record, i'm not mad at you..i have nothing against you. but i know a lot about elvis, and i have it from the people who were close to him. And the rest i learned from when i was 8 years old until now at 37

Again bi-p[olar does alot you to,mood swings,pill addiction,etc etc,but i can see that no one will hear that,do i give him a free pass on everything because i believe he was not there mentally all the time? of course not,he made bad moves,but i do not know were the illness and the man seperate.again it was more than pills,and again its a imgae thing if jagger(im not fan)was drunk off his butt,it would be fine and people would laugh it off and he wouldnt get the reactions that Elvis does,i understand that this special was not great.And yes i understand he should not have been on stage,and no its not because i tihnk he short changed me as a fan its because it might have saved his life,when i see the special,i see someone clearly a mess but trying to keep up and hopeing noone see's though the sharade!

Steve V I agree with some of the things you say, Aaron P you got a point there, Busboy also agrees, everyone agrees with Lex, JLpResley is right as well but doesn't fully agree with Jim, I think Ton Bruins doesn't share their opinions at all, Lefty shares some views with me while mature elvis fan doens't agree with Greg nor circleG nor KingCreole. don't you agree?..

Well then I guess I think less of Linda leaving a man she was in love with when she knew how sick he was. Mature, Bi-polar? That's a new one on me. Aaron I am no expert but Ive been a fan since 1956, visited Graceland several times, talked with Esposito, the Wests, Lacker, Billy Smith, Priscilla, Fortas, Klein, DJ, Fike, shall I go on? So my resume stacks up against anyone on this site. Elvis Mom was an addict too but to alcohol (like other members of her family). Thats why her liver gave out. Elvis killed himself, unintentional as it may have been. But he would have lived had he cleaned himself up (like J Cash did who was just as bad in 1968), I dont believe any of his illnesses were life threatening at least not at 42. Im no expert, thats just what I believe. So you can sit thru rose colored glasses and believe what you want. No hard feelings. Now Im done. By the way Charlie has been known to exaggerate a thing or two over the years, God rest his soul.

I would agree but have to point that i disagree that i disagrred with greg,agree? as for bi-polar its something that gets mentioned every once in while,but do a little research,we cant blame it all on pills!

well steve i know who's right and who's not..... u talked to the the west bothers? well they were telling the the truth all the time...no way... and i talked to just as much people who knew Elvis also to Joe Esposito Jd Sumner, Lisa Marie shall I go on? the list is very long..they lied to me ? don't think so.... i can tell you many things they said to me.. and by the way i don't like rose colored glasses.. Elvis is and was very important to me when i was in the hospital...listening to his music is the most important thing to me.. so i'm done with this conversation too..and don't forget to put off your dark colored glasses

Anybody that stood up to Elvis was fired. Sonny and Red tried to help but they were let go. That is a fact. None of his so called freinds did anything. Everyone talks a big game now but they did not have the stones to have hime comittedand thats what he needed. That is the only way the vicious cycle would stop. His addiction is what caused his problems.That is life in rock n roll or life in the fast lane. Some can overcome it an others do not.

He is in a Much Much better place anyways. All this is hindsight. God heard him sing How Great Thou Art and He wanted Elvis to sing for Him so He called him Home.

efan4ever- He had his life in his own hands. If he wanted to get off the drugs, he would have. His friends tried to help him, but Elvis didn´t help himself. That is why he died. Although he did a lot of tours, I just don´t believe that he died from some kind of disease. The drugs killed him. Guess I agree with you there Steve V

No JlPresley he did not die of his drugs use..man. he had a heart disease, just see the program "death by excess" where elvis 's doctor and the man performed Elvis's autopsy were in. they did say Elvis had no drugs in him at the time of his death..period in the presley family al lot members died of a heart disease and died at a young age..just like elvis and his mother... sometimes he didn 't take medicine for a few months.. Elvis died of a heart attack...and not from a overdose..and his mother did not only die of a liver disease but also because of heart failure,in this program they also stating Elvis weak health, and that eventually elvis hearts disease and weak health kllled him..not the drugs..just watch this program..they don't tell lies in there..if you watched it, then u understand more about his health problems..but believe what you want if that makes u happy..i know what to believe

Steve V: Elvis Presleys addiction to mediaction is also mentioned by Eric Clapton who checked in at Hazelden. Recently read his autobiography were I learned what is quoted here: "Shortly thereafter, Clapton finally called his manager for help and checked into Hazelden, which “looked grim and resembled Fort Knox. ... It didn’t surprise me to learn that when they tried to get Elvis to go there, he apparently took one look at it and refused to get out of his limo.” Is this true information? I was shocked reading that, hadn't he refused to stay there and get his act together maybe I'd have seen him perform at London in the late 80's or at some place nearby.

Let me ask you one thing,could anyone who was around him read his mind? so tell me how we can claim what happened,the pills are something you can see,but the mind is what controls everything,i understand his flaws,i really do,but it was more than just pills!

Nice discussion here going on..........but is it interesting ? I'll let it rest. For me it's quite simple, I just love Elvis for what he gave us: Fantastic music ! If he was a junk or he was ill, to be honest: I don't care. I just respect the man for what he was and what he gave us. We are all human and we all makes mistakes, so simple as that. Nobody's perfect, not me or anyone else on Elvisnews.com and the same for Elvis andt he Colonel. 1977 is just another year of his carreer and we have to accept that if you like it or not. Elvis has a great voice in Elvis in Concert. At this time I think that 50% of the Elvis fans have a bootleg DVD of Elvis in Concert. When they release it official in 5.1 sound I thing 80 to 90% will buy the official release. It's so simple: If you want to buy it than buy it, if you don't like Elvis in Concert than don't buy it ! Come on it's 31 years ago, give the Elvis in Concert fans what they want: A graet DVD release ! BTW, efan4ever: nice spoken !

Elvis' autopsy is sealed (for a reasonn) so no one knows what is really in there. How can you? Believe what you want, but if you dont think there were any drugs in his body at the time of his death you are really a rose colored glasses fan(and not alone). Its even well documented the Stanleys brought 3 packets of meds to his bedroom because he had trouble getting to sleep the day before the tour started. No one has ever denied that. Powerful sedatives. Thats not drugs my friend? I believe the last packet stopped his heart and killed him, so in theory if you want to say a heart attack I guess you can indirectly. I dont believe what I want to make me happy as you say, but damn Im a realist on this one. Yes sitdown Ive read that about Clapton as well.

I for one wont say he had no drugs in his body,id find that very hard to believe,im just saying that more things did his end and his mental health is one of them,im not going to argue over something that i cant change no matter who is right or wrong,i for one wear none of those glasses that get mentioned,i just dont dwell on things like i cant change!

some things of elvis autopsy are NOT SEALED my friend. the ammount of drugs in body did not kill him..understand?? this is confirmed by the doctor who examined him. his heart disease was his problem, he was in pain and there fore used medication also seen in this program i mentioned. so they lie?? you seem to know everything..ooh i forgot..u were there offcourse.. yes sedatives are drugs.. u think i'm stupid?.. but they did not kill him.. just go and see that program damn!!..and keep those rose glasses were they belong..the way you see it is the truth and how it is?..but beware if someone else sees it diffrently..then steve is gonna get mad.. in the presley family history were more with a heart disease, and elvis had more then that alone.. please don't talk to me again..u know it all.. Mr.Rose Glasses

Well said Herman

i fully agree with herman too..well spoken!! i'm tired off this discussion too but i got carried away.., to be honest the thing that herman is saying. i wish i could have said it that way.. so yeah..well said.. and i'm not a fan who wears rose glasses.what kind of statement is that anyway..Elvis was a human being like anyone else.. end of discussion

Aaron, I'm not saying you're stupid (although your punctuation and spelling may point in that direction). You are just one of those guys and/or gals that love to believe what they want. Of course Elvis heart stopped beating just before he died, isn't that one of the main symptoms? But stating the drugs, or medicines if you insist, didn't influence that... c'mon, that car must have hit your head badly. I really feel sorry for you.

In England in the 70's we had a comedian called Freddie Starr who did a great impersonation of Elvis but when he spoke he mumbled and you couldn't understand what he was saying. Everybody laughed but i thought at my young age that that was how Elvis spoke. Wasn't till later that you realise just how bad the drugs had taken over. You can notice it from On Tour onwards. It was the drugs that killed him, nothing else. I didn't think in this day and age any real Elvis fan thought any different. Aaron P, you really are deluded.

I have enough knowledge to say that Elvis Presley was a junk. Nothing more and nothing less..Just watch Elvis In Concert..but what Herman says is right. I don't care a **** that he was a junk and because of that ill..It's all about his voice !

Aaron- I´m sorry if I made you upset, when i told you that elvis probably died because of the drugs. I have not watched that program you´re talking about. But i did watch a program where a lot of elvis´ friends like Sonny West and Lamar Fike talks about the drugs situation in the late seventies. I don´t think they lied. They would have every reason in the world to do that, they loved him and would do anything to protect him. You said he had no drugs in his body at the time of his death? I heard he had 14 different drugs in his body when he died. Sorry Aaron, I use to agree with you, but not this time.

Yes, Aaron 14 different kind of drugs. Here they are: codeine-morphine-quaaludes (ten times stronger as valium)-valium-diazepam-placidyl (sedative-hypnotic)-amytal-nembutal-carbrital-demerol-sinutab-elavil-avental-valmid. And you know why he took those pills Aaron ? Because he liked them !!! He liked to take drugs. And from that drug abuse he became very, very ill. Not the other way aroound...

It is all about his music. I happen to like the album (though after a while you love to skip the fan remarks in between. However. His voice was still great (even my non-Elvis-fan friends like this album). I don't care about his personal thing. Not then and definitely not now 31 years later! What is the use of it all. So many people have already speculated too much. No need to repeat this over and over again. When I listen to Elvis I don't think about all those things. Hope some of you can enjoy this album.

Lex,why the insults? first the way the guy writes and did you actually make a reference to his accident? Fans attacking fans over this?

just reading a few more posts,So in On Tour he was also out of it right? And again i can fathom why fans attack fans,everyone doesnt think the same no matter how many childish names you call them,geesh its music,sit back and enjoy it sometime!

You have to use a little common sense here. Elvis almost died on at least 2 prior occasions. This was not due to a bad heart or anything. It was accidental overdoses. Now I dont know what program Aaron was talking about but in the late 70's ABC-TV in USA had a show called 20/20 which did a 3 part series on Elvis' death. This was not a tabloid show but a news program. They indeed listed all the drugs that Ton posted previously. These were all prescribed to Elvis at the time of his death. They showed copies of the prescriptions. To think not one was found in his bloodstream is being naive. I dont think Steve V or anyone else feels he is a know it all because of this opinion. I think he is being rational. Now back to the topic, Elvis In Concert. Not a good album, and only released because he died. We didnt need another live album. Elvis didnt want to record anymore. This was proven when he didnt show up for the 1977 Nashville sessions. A career in major trouble for a man of only 42 who changed the music industry.

I like the album ! Agree with Herman and Natha ( indeed the fan-remarks are to skip ). It's about the music in the first place. As for the word " junk " : it sounds to hard in connection with Elvis .I prefer the word " addicted ".( I know the two words mean the same.) I'd use the word " junk" when we're talking about illegal harddrugs. Ok, he was addicted to pills, and yes, he liked them, you're right Ton Bruins, but you and I live in Europe, and you know as well as I do that in this part of the world millions of people associate the word " drugs" immediately with " heroin,cocaine, etc...." Elvis was not on hard drugs. It seems he tried cocaine one time, to see what effect it had.He did not like it at all and never touched the stuff again. Here in Europe ( and other parts of the world ) you go to a "pharmacy" if you need , for instance, aspirin. In the USA you go to a " drugstore" for the same product. So let this be clear : Elvis was on "prescription-drugs" and the word "drugs" refer to pills. Lex : that wasn't nice from you, addressing such remarks to Aaron Presley. Correct me if i'm wrong, but If I'm not mistaken, you are one of the site-runners, aren't you? What about the guidelines of this site ?( guideline nr 4 , personal attacks ). I'm a

I'm almost sure if one of us would have written this, we would have had a "warning ".

Agreed!

and busboy you r a fool...no negative comments towards me aint hurting me, not one bit. you r mr know it all..we all know that now, you believe what you want to believe, and i do the same for myself..nothing u say to me will change my opinion.. and watch your mouth.. i have brain damage after a car accident last year.. so no insults from you towards me again.i have enough on my mind allready..i can't and will not ever be negative about Elvis...what the thruth is?..i really don't care anymore..Elvis Lives On

some of you believe in lies..go ahead..i don't care..if it's make u happy and Ton Bruins? u are talking like u were there next to elvis .. i don't believe in lies..so there i know he used.. but certainly for the pleasure of it.. it was prescribed drugs.. he needed some for his health... that's a true fact..

Lex..i really take your reaction as a insult, my english is very strong.. it was my strongest thing to learn on school.. i have brain damage because of my accident.. what gives you the right.. to insult me on that? my way of thinking and doing is perfectly normal.. and u r calling me stupid.... keep ur mind on this website of where it is about.. ELVIS.. u r the one that is stupid for making remarks like that....and i don't need your symphathy... looser

Mature Elvis THNX for standing up for me.. much appreciated!! who is this lex character anyway?

It is absolutely fascinating the discussions Elvis '77 sparks among the fans. No other period causes such a diversity of opinions both pro and con. Some view it as the final stage in the tragic downfall while others see it as a heroic period..Elvis giving it his all till the very end. The bottom line is we all hate it....because of it's ultimate consequences. How do I see it? I would say a mix of both. One can easily go to youtube and view any number of performances from this tv/album release. Watching the clips elicits a myrid of emotions...one minute you're like "wow he really hit that note" to "oh my God he sounds like he's gonna pass out" to "he doesn't look so bad there" to "he looks awful... what the hell was the Colonel thinking??" How to get over it? I simply go to a clip from 1968 or 1970 and see Elvis as he would like to us to remember him....on the stage happy and healthy and knocking them dead.

kev thnx for your reaction...totally agree with you.. i will not let myself go into this kind off discussion again, certainly not when big guy LEX is present LEX thinks he's funny for insulting people, well my friend if you ever get an accident, and u have brain damage? then i would like to see you reaction if people make fun of you in that situation..i don't think u r laughing then.... you didn't hurt me one bit.. i only can laugh about people like u and what is wrong with my English writing..nothing..but your way writing to people insulting them....is very sad and not in any way funny...don't have the heart to ever speak to me again..because i won't accept your apologies.. not from people like u..ever

Benny Scott THNX for your support!! means a lot to me.. if that ''LEX" guy is really someone who belongs to this website.. it's insane.. and thanx to all the others who stood up for me,because of that sarcastic fool with his remarks towards me, my parents almost lost me because of my accident..and he makes fun of it...well hahaha LEX we all laugh about your insults to people who are very sick.. NOT... who the hell do you think u r...get lost ...fool

This is ridiculous. No one is making fun of anyone; the only thing there was said was: try to use ONE . instead of ...... in every sentence! That makes a reaction unreadable! And all those 'enters', it is just NOT the way to use this site! Besides that, once again it is obvious that humor of the Dutch is not understood in the rest of the world!

Loesje is right. "That car must have hit your head badly", is just a humorous kind of "saying". Now Aaron keep yourself together son ! Your reactions are getting way out of hand; easy man !

First of all, I didn't insult Aaron, as he said. Just read what I actually wrote. Secondly, I wouldn't have known of any accident, if he hadn't brought up the subject himself every other post. Anyway, I'm in a good mood, so I won't give warnings for the personal insults in my direction, Aaron, but try to behave in the future. By the way, I still think this album stinks big time. Period (one :-)).

you guys are funny. cant we all just get along

One's feeling is not the other, as goes for humor. Please let's keep to the ground we are here for: Elvis and his music and then let's respect each others personal favorite style, time and vision. Doing so we will all enjoy this site. Please. Thank you.

i always behave.... i'm in a good mood too..so first of all LEX i didn't speak to you in the first place in these reactions. yeah later on after your remark.. but not before and more important i have a right to my opinion just like you all but don't ever make a comment about my accident again cause that's not needed at all and also not funny, i was just trying to explain why Elvis's music was so important to me,when i was in the hospital..that's all..and loesje? i'm dutch and lex i wasn't the only one who said you insulted me.. from now on.. i only will give reactions in when it's needed,,not going into this kind of discussion again....i'm sure about that now...because someone has that opinion and the other one has another... a endless story so to speak ..and eehh.. this album doesn't stink at all... even though elvis was in bad condition..his voice remained very strong..no one can argue about that..period

and Natha i agree with you and lex it wasn't my intention to insult you..no way..if i did i apologise but i felt insulted,it's already a difficult time for me as it is.. so yeah let's all get along..and talk about on this website.. what's most important..Elvis

This was really a shame but it is a part of Elvis Presley History and should be treated as such life does not always got in a smooth direction

I've always wondered why I sometimes feel confused inside but after reading you all, I'm rather relieved ! :p

This is a funny thread! I do not doubt that Elvis had heart issues. The prescription drugs he was taking do not seem to correspond with heart treatment though. I was exactly like Aaron for many years. Anytime I heard the "drug overdose" thing I immediately jumped to Elvis' defense. As I have gotten older, and a lot more unhappy and depressed with my life, I see it differently. I fully believe Elvis was depressed toward the end. I think his song selections certainly show that. I think the things he was taking numbed that pain a little and I think that the intake of those prescription medications were not healthy and led to him dying. Elvis was not a "drug addict" in the sense of a guy who would get "strung out" or "high". I honestly believe he was in pain, some physical and some mental. He was a very sensitive guy--as all great artists are. He'd lost his mother, his wife left him and he really could not trust his friends or the women who wanted to sleep with him or marry him. His own manager never really seemed to have his best interests in mind. And doctors prescribed things to help him sleep, to help him wake up and also to help him with physical things. The twisted colon thing, I think, accounts for the weight fluctuation at least somewhat. He did waht he could to keep going and to keep making people happy--people like us who depended upon him to get us through really rough times. Elvis did not have someone to help him through rough times. And if he had been prescribed pills that numbed him to the sadness I believe he felt (and you can hear in his voice) then I am glad he found some relief, I only wish it could have been through true friends and true love instead of something unhealthy. I love Elvis and however he specifically died, certainly the unhealthy prescription drugs played a part. As for Elvis in Concert, I appreciate that they do not want to release it. I really do. If they did, I'd buy it, but I cannot watch the bootleg I have now without crying. The album, minus the very very annoying fan comments, is not bad really. It's a 1970's Elvis concert. His voice is deeper and better than in 1973, but he sounds tired and struggling a little in bits. the highs are "I Really Don't Want To Know", "My Way", "And I Love You So", "Fairytale", "Hurt".....really all the songs that we had not heard over and over again in previous concerts. "Jailhouse Rock" is not very good and I really don't like the extended "I Got a Woman/Amen" stuff, but overall this IS an album worth owning, worth playing and certainly worth remastering and re-releasing. His voice DID NOT FAIL. It changed, it weathered a bit (in a good way), but the songs he was choosing suited his voice at the time. I bet he could have really knocked "My Boy" out of the park at this show. He'd become operatic. But anyone denying the power and emotion in Elvis voice at this concert is deaf. And I love Aloha too, but the emotion is not as palpable on it as it is here. He just sounds a little nervous on most of Aloha. But on Elvis In Concert he sounds assured, but sad. He sounds hurt and full of emotion. This is a good album.

Thats the confusion some seem to have, sure the drugs hurt him alot and probally did him in,but what caused the pills to become such a big deal with him? remember folks this was before we knew what pills could do to you!

Mature have to disagree with you here. Johnny Cash was told he would die if he didnt kick his pill addiction in the 60's, so the dangers of pills were very well known. Elvis knew it. The people around him knew it and some (even Dr Nick) tried to help him. He had nothing to look forward to . His career was basically going nowhere, his love life sucked , his manager was screwing him & he didnt know who his real friends were anymore. But even with all that misery, he had a 9 year old daughter and should have tired to clean up for her sake.

You guys are still talking about this. Enough already

SteveV--I agree with you in general, but it was not an intentional suicide. I think Lisa Marie probably kept him going for as long as he did. I think the guy was in a lot of mental anguish for all the reasons you mentioned. And though it was clearly not healthy, I think he did what he did to make it bearable and because he believed it helped him face the world and the responsibilities he had. I will be 40 in two months. and not that long ago I had a lot more condemnation for that sort of thing, but I just think Elvis was at an emotional breaking point and was just trying to hang on and really believed the only way to do it were the pills that ultimately lead to his death. I don't believe he did it to get high or stoned or to derive pleasure, but truly to numb himself to realities that he just seemed at a loss to change (even though he could have--much like the movie contracts in the 60s.) If he'd had total custody of Lisa, or if him and Priscilla were still together, I tend to believe he may have been on a very different path. efan4ever--we should probably drop it, but at least no one is really arguing anymore. It seems like a much more civil discussion with accusations of brain damage to a minimum.

KingKreole : cristalclear analysis and absolutely straight to the point ! Steve : you're right too.Aaron and King: from the bottom of my heart wishing both of you all the best in the future. As for all those who wrote down their opinion(s) : we all have one thing in common : we all LOVE Elvis, and that's wonderful ! Always El.

Of course people knew what pills could do to someone. This was the seventies remember, it´s only 30 years ago. But i don´t agree with those who said that he had nothing to look forward to. He had nothing NEW to look forward to, but that´s not the same. Every audience meant something to him, he loved being on stage. Without doubt you can hear joy in this last concerts, as well as you can hear some sadness. And over the years people had said the he did know what the drugs were doing to him and he just denied it. I don´t think he denied the reality, I think he knew, but it had come to that point when he wasn´t able to do something about it. Sure, he´d lost his family, but don´t forget that Elvis took pills when he was married too.

He had the twisted colon because of the pills of course...he was just an addict on pills. And he liked those pills. Elvis himself was and always will be responsible for that..come on, he was 42 years old. He swallowed the pills himself and he made those choices. Understand me well; I don't blame him for that. It was his choice..and I know how hard it is to stop with those damn drugs..he had a whole future in front of him if he only had made the right choices, but he didn't, that's it. Remember he was a grown up man from 42 years..it's just a sad story..but when you chose to go on stage very "up" and then again very "down" because of the drugs you take..well, what can you say ?

Well said, Ton Bruins. That´s exactly how I feel. As you said, his lifestyle was his choice. Some people has blamed his friends, and that´s so annoying. What more could they have done? They really did try. I don´t like some fans view of Elvis. Realize this, Elvis was an adult, he know what he was doing. If we must blame someone, we should blame Elvis.

How do you blame someone for being so unhappy and miserable that they feel they need to take prescribed medication just to get through the day? I am not blaming the friends (who were paid employees in Elvis' case, by the way...). There is no blame, really. It was a horrible shame that life seemed to have become so difficult for Elvis. Elvis was a truly great artist though, and like many great artists, there is a sensitivity that can't really be turned off. Look at Van Gogh or Hemingway. And though a lot of the public may not see it that way, I think Elvis Presley was as brilliant an artist as anyone who ever lived. These people are as great as they are because of that sensitivity and that is why we love them and can respond to them the way we do. But to be that person, to be Elvis...I mean, great artists seem to have to dull their senses eventually because the artist's temperment is not like everyone else's. Don't get me wrong; I am not trying to say it is ok for artists to be drug addicts, but I am saying that a guy like Elvis is a different species. That those guys feel things more intensely and as life goes on, sadly, pain and depression can certainly become predominent. So he used the means he had to dull it, so he could get through the day. I don't blame the friends, the doctor, the manager, Linda or Priscilla or Ginger. And I don't blame Elvis either. It was a tragedy, but none of those people seemed able to change who they were or how they had to do things in order to deal with what their life presented them with. And Elvis being a "grown man" of 42 really didn't make it easier to deal with. If anything, it made it harder probably. The bigger your past becomes, the harder it can be to face the future and the present.(In case anyone is wondering why i seem like I am being a know-it-all, I really don't mean to. I am a writer, an artist [painter] and I write and sing music. I am also almost 40 and definately have serious depression issues--I do not take prosac or any of that stuff for it. I did however recently have some dentist work done and was prescribed vicodin. And I can tell you, well after any dental pain was over, I spent an entire weekend just lying in bed taking it so I was able to turn off all the thoughts in my head telling me that I have squandered my talent or that I should be creating and doing something "important" or that I wish there was someone who really understood and loved me, etc etc. Now how much of that I identify in Elvis or how much I am just projecting, I have no idea. But I certainly sympothize with him. I think he did the best he could and as Benny Scott said below, we all love him for it. There really is no one to blame.)

Elvis had a by God givin' talent and I think that he really didn't know how good he was..he couldn't handle that..he abused his drug addiction and just died one night; that's it. "How can you protect a man against himself" ? Sadly he became a depressed and self distructive man and he knew that very well..he could not do anything about that..

for those who'd like to know, many great artists were drug-users, especially in the music scene, think of classics from Mozart to Hendrix..

...to Jim Morrison...

Elvis In Concert. The thread that just keeps going and going and going and...........

I haven't read all of the comments on this thread yet but have saved to read maybe at bedtime. I just wanted to point out how amazing Elvis fans are. Here we are 30 years later and it's if he never really left the building. That in itself is amazing to me. I haven't heard this CD before but have now just ordered from amazon. I'm not sure I could bear watching him but DO want to hear this CD now thanks to all of your comments and discussions. It's obviously a "must have". Thanx.

I've always loved this album, from the beginning on when I bought it, circa 30 years ago. I loved the clearity of the sound and the best performance of How Great Thou Art. Someone wrote once something like "in this version it sounds like Elvis made direct contact with his Maker". That's exactly how it reach to me. I also love the version of "Hurt', coming very close to the studioversion. More highlights for me: "You gave me a mountain", "trying to get to you", "And I love you so", "Early morning rain" and "I really don't wanna know". I always try to skip "O sole Mio'. And this version of "Hawaiian wedding song" is very special to me: it was played in the Cityhall on the moment I married my husband.

Perhaps this day is (as always) a time to reflect on Elvis the man, not the artist. Could any of us imagine what it must have been like to be THE most famous man on the planet? Redifining popular culture and shaping music forever? Elvis became a legend in his lifetime and the sheer solitude he must have known is beyond us all. Indeed George Harrison once said he felt sorry for Elvis as he was the only one who knew what it was like to be Elvis, he had three other guys who knew what it was like to be a Beatle. I don't excuse Elvis his faults and sins, but I don't condem him either. The burden must have been unbearable for him at times and he truly is a tragic figure. I love Elvis and his music and I get angry when I hear the ill informed ridicule him as a drug taking burger eating ogre. The Elvis In Concert album and CBS special are unique, compelling, inspirational, heart breaking and wonderful. Both of them have terrific highs and tearful lows as a man nearing death knows that he is no longer Elvis Presley. I loved both the album and the special and think too much focus is put on the 'fat elvis' image. i have always called for the DVD release of this and will continue to do so, though I don't believe it will ever happen. The Kind is dead, long live the King. God Bless you Elvis, sleep easy and thank you.

Yes how great thour art and i really dont want to know,are 2 of my favorite from this release,proof to me that he could still give some good performances,and no one is gonna change my view on that,i understand all the other stuff,but dont throw away agood performance just so you can put down the album as a whole!

Parts from the last tour. Elvis has clear problems remembering lyrics.

~ This album (CD) is way overdue for an upgrade by the FTD label. CD 1 - Original 1977 album remastered. CD 2 - Complete June 21, 1977 Rapid City concert remixed and remastered from scratch.