San Francisco

[Glenn]

would it not been cool if Elvis had recorded his own version of Scott Mackenzie´s
song San Francisco.

[thehillbillycat]

It a good song but I don't think he would record that song.

[srj1967]

Awful song! :'(

Elvis wouldn't have recorded it because of its "hippie" sentiments I think ... "Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair" etc.

Elvis was right-wing in his politics and didn't think much of the protest movement.

And thankfully, Scott McKenzie went back into oblivion after this release (er, escape).

[Geert]

I like the song but can't imagine Elvis' singing it. Indeed a bit to much "hippyish" :P

[thehillbillycat]

Too "Hippyish". Well, I think the footage that is in Live A Little Love A Little while he is singing Edge of Reality. So don't say he wouldn't sing hippyish songs. It is a noted fact that Colonel Tom Parker didn't want Elvis to sing "If I Can Dream". But Elvis did it anyway. So if a song is good to him he would of sung it. So there is many songs that has a hippyish fell to it that Elvis might of have sung if he wanted to just for there meaning that the lyrics. If I Can Dream is a meaning of peace and love. Hippy songs are base on peace and love.

[srj1967]

Maybe, but I think San Francisco and songs of its ilk were directed against the Vietnam war, and I'm sure Elvis would've been pro that war (sorry, "police action").

Just as he would've been for this current quagmire in Iraq (but let's not start a thread about that miserable conflict).

If I Can Dream was a general plea for "peace and understanding", which I'm sure that everyone from hippies to conservatives would generally prefer.

While we're on the subject, I've always had this fantasy of Elvis being invited to Woodstock in '69, getting up on stage and blowing everyone away with some good old fashioned rock'n'roll; and reconnecting with the younger generation of the time. I'd have loved to have seen him singing with Hendrix on guitar or belting out a rockin' duet with Janis Joplin (my favourite female singer, and a huge Elvis fan). After that, he would've continued to make relevant, decent albums. He'd still be alive today, and the only "glitch" in his career would've been the 60s movie years. Alas, 'twas not to be ...

[Glenn]

Well i myself really like that song one of the best hippie songs.

What about Rolling stones song Lady Jane or something ? (One of my -favourites):peace:

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I tend to agree that Elvis would sing whatever song he liked dispite the connotations, afterall Elvis did/didn't like the Beatles but went on to cover some of thier songs and you don't get more hippie that John Lennon! so I guess that the song would have to mean something to him, the content not to radical and I don't think it mattered who the group or artist was as long as he liked the song he would cover it.

[thehillbillycat]

Hippies only lasted for a few years. Beatles you could say started it all with Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The Hippie movement ended around late 70. Lennon a hippie, if he was alive he might slap you in the face, no offence. His views were not hippie. He message was of Peace, love, no violence, no countries, etc. Lennon was a big fan of Elvis. He went to all of the MSG concerts. He said during Hound Dog in a concert just a few weeks later "Elvis, I Love You". Elvis only covered only "Yesterday, Hey Jude, Lady Madonna, and Get Back. Noticed all written by McCartney and not Lennon even though they are credited it to Lennon and McCartney. McCartney wrote those songs by himself. There is only a hand full of songs the Lennon wrote that I can see Elvis singing. Example:
Across The Universe which that is the only song I can see Elvis singing of Lennon's. Lennon wrote that by himself. Written in 1968 but released in 70. I can see Elvis singing several other McCartney's songs. Example: Let It Be

[thehillbillycat]

It's a small point I know, but there is no evidence to suggest John Lennon was actually at the MSG concerts. This has never been verified officially. It isn't mentioned in any papers, Lennon bios. And as far as I remember, I've not seen it in any Elvis books, at least not a verified account.

Also rumoured to have attended were Bob Dylan and David Bowie, but sadly also untrue.

I have that Lennon live version of Hound Dog you mention, and it's excellent.

Lennon also turned up to the Grammys (in 1974 I think it was?) wearing an Elvis badge.


There is proof of it. At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or at least they used to be there at the ticket stubs that Lennon bought for all of the MSG concerts. Also read the insert that is in the booklet of Afternoon In The Garden and I quote because it is right in front of me. Three lines are the keys to this:
"Tickets were $5.00, $7.50, and $10.00 and every seat was sold. There were no freebies. George Harrison, John Lennon, and Bob Dylan had to pay like everyone else."
That is a direct quote of the booklet that comes with Afternoon In The Garden. If you have it look on Page 5, 5th paragraph. That is official Elvis source. Also, a picture had appear on the bootleg cd of John Lennon which it is title "A Afternoon In NYC". It came out on the bootleg market after the official release of Elvis' Afternoon In The Garden which clearly copies the title of Elvis' release sort of. Well, two of the pictures that they used on the booklet of the CD are also keys. Picture one: has Yoko's face and in the background is Elvis on stage. That picture is believe to be taken at the evening performance of June 10th. Next picture is of Lennon's face with Elvis in the background on stage. Picture to believe from the Afternoon show of June 10th. Want more proof. Elvis: Day by Day tells all the celebs who went to all of the MSG concerts and what days they went. Dylan only went to two of them June 10th shows. Lennon went to all of the shows along with Yoko. Harrison went to all shows. Bowie went to only two - Juen 10th 2:30 pm and June 11 show.
As for Lennon bios, I have in my possession about four books of Lennon and they all said that he went to all shows. That I believe is proof enough.

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

if he (Lennon) was alive he might slap you in the face, no offence. His views were not hippie. He message was of Peace, love, no violence, no countries, etc.

That maybe true, but I can't think of anyone who encapsulates the "Hippie" Image better than Lennon with baggism etc :P

[srj1967]

Can you scan the Lennon/Elvis pics and put them up at all?

I'd be interested to see them ... (y)

[thehillbillycat]

I don't have that cd that those pictures appeared in, I wish I did but the cd on appears very few times on ebay. I have seen that cd go as high as 200 dollars. It is a very hard to find boot. It is the afternoon show of Live In New York City. If you seen or heard the audio of the release Live In New York City that is available on Capital Records. That show is the evening performance. Lennon played Imagine on guitar instead of organ as he did on the evening performance. But if you are able to find the boot cd of John Lennon title "A Afternoon in New York City. The booklet contains the two pictures I told you about. But Lennon and Yoko are seated in both pictures. I remember seeing the pictures. In each picture Lennon's face is to the right of the picture and you can make it out. Elvis is on stage and it looks like if he was singing Polks Salad Annie because of the move he is making in the picture. The other picture is of Yoko's face is to the left of the picture and you can make her out. Elvis is on stage and Elvis has his cape out. Must be when he sung Can't Help Falling In Love. But those pictures are the proof that Lennon was at MSG concerts.

[srj1967]

In that case, I wonder if Elvis knew Lennon and Yoko and the others were there, and if so, why he didn't introduce them?

I know that Lenon also had the five original Sun singles framed in the halway in his Dakota building apartment in NYC. That's the first thing people see when they walk in. Very cool.

And it's always bugged me that - if indeed Lennon, Harrison, Bowie, Dylan etc were there - why was that not reported at the time? Anybody here have newspaper reports of the shows?