Are you lonesome tonight (Laughing version)

[senadw124]

Does ANYONE know why Elvis cracked up that evening?
I know there are lot of rumors, and one of them is, that a backup singer continiued singin' while Elvis was laughing, and she just kept going, even hitting the high tones. That's why he's saying 'Sing it baby!'

What have you heard, and do you know what really happend? :king:

[Suspicious Minds]

Elvis was laughing about the Colonels bald head, what else I don't know. :lmfao: :lmfao:

[Tony Trout]

To the best of my recollection, I believe that there was a bald-headed guy in the audience and Elvis spotted him and that's where the line, "Do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair?" and the laughter that followed came from....

The laughing version (from 8/24/69) can be found on disc 3 (track 5) of the "Elvis Aron Presley" 4-CD box set....

[diamond]

It was because, all the time Elvis was laughing the Lady who was singing the high notes never skipped a beat ;)

[senadw124]

I don't think the man with the bald head is correct my friend, because, if you have seen the 68' comeback, he also uses that line there.
But maybe, you are right :)

[memphis 77]

the story goes that there was a woman in the audience who had a wig on and it was quite noticeable, and E.P. started to remember a show that he had done previously that had a woman come up for a kiss and her wig fell on the stage, and E.P. stomped on it kicked it etc... and gave it back to the woman[who was horrified] all amtted.[this story appeared in a tribute mag some years ago, that featured fans storis from, lichter, bonja joe carter, etc.. anyone out there got this mag , i have this just give me some time to find it].

[poormansgold]

We never know why Elvis Laughing about, the ones know the ones at the show.
I'm those one don't read something don't Believe I read or hear thing . This is one thoses things .
Tom

[ukfan]

Elvis began laughing because of Charlie Hodge. Nights when Elvis sang "Are You Lonesome Tonight", Charlie would hold the microphone with his back to the audience, while Elvis played guitar on a stool. Charlie, with his back to the audience, would whisper to Elvis to try to get him to crack up and finally worked.

[meg]

We never know why Elvis Laughing about, the ones know the ones at the show.
I'm those one don't read something don't Believe I read or hear thing . This is one thoses things .
Tom


(y) (y) (y) (y) (y)

[elvis himselvis]

So there are alot of reasons:P lol
He sang about the bald head in the outtakes of TTWII...that's what i know

[Wendy56]

I may not know the real reason for Elvis laughing, but everytime I hear to it, makes me laugh too... :P

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I used to play this song to my younger brother when he was 7 or 8 he would laugh so loud it would make my ribs hurt laughing at him (y)

Matt

[Tony Trout]

I got an e-mail telling 'bout Elvis's Las Vegas engagements and included in the e-mail was a story 'bout the "laughing version" of AYLT that we're all so familiar with....but I dunno how true it is. I'll post the full article and highlight the info 'bout the "laughing version" of AYLT:







Elvis' first engagement in Las Vegas was a two-week run in the Venus Room of the New Frontier Hotel. April 23 - May 6, 1956. Perhaps in deference to the atomic testing sites in the nearby desert, he received billing as "The Atomic Powered Singer". A cutout of Elvis standing 24 feet high greeted guests outside the casino.

On the first night of the engagement Elvis' set was the closing act after the headlining Freddy Martin Orchestra, which consisted of seventeen players and twenty-eight singers, dancers and ice skaters. The little four-piece group of Elvis, Scotty, Bill and DJ had become used to performing in front of hundreds of screaming teenagers and often being unable to even hear one another on stage. Suddenly they found themselves in a quiet showroom of older, more reserved listeners - no youth allowed. The audience didn't quite know what to make of the young singer and his musical style.

Elvis didn't let the less than enthusiastic crowd get the best of him. Memphis reporter Bob Johnson wrote, "Elvis, who has played hard audiences before, kept right in there busting guitar strings and shaking his legs and the rafters..... And the ice began to break."

Visitors to the shows included his friend Judy Spreckels, Hal Wallis (who had just signed Elvis to his first movie deal) and entertainers Ray Bolger, Phil Silvers and Liberace. Elvis and Liberace were photographed cuttting up with each other for the press.

Even if Las Vegas hadn't yet come to love Elvis Presley, Elvis loved Las Vegas. The city that never closes and the many lounge acts he could see there suited Elvis very well. He and his friends visited the local amusement park almost daily, went to movies and flirted with showgirls. One of the acts Elvis saw a number of times was Freddie Bell and the Bellboys. He was fascinated with their male-perspective performance of the Leiber and Stoller composition, "Hound Dog", which, with its original female-perspective lyrics, had been a hit for Big Mama Thornton. Elvis quickly added the song to his own act and, in July 1956, made his own recording of it.

Elvis' manager Colonel Tom Parker arranged for a Saturday matinee for teenagers at The New Frontier on April 28,1956, the very same day that Elvis' recording of "Heartbreak Hotel" hit #1 on the Billboard pop singles chart. The show was, of course, a "screaming" success and the $1.00 admission charge raised funds for lights in a youth baseball park. One of the casino owners gifted Elvis with a watch with diamonds.

His first engagement in Las Vegas brought mixed reviews. Although he didn't return to perform there again until 1969, Elvis enjoyed visiting Las Vegas in the years after his 1956 engagement. In the years following resounding triumph of his 1969 engagement, Elvis and Las Vegas became permanently linked in the public consciousness.

Elvis's first appearance in Las Vegas was was an engagement at the New Frontier Hotel in 1956. It was not until 1969 that he performed in the city again. Elvis was ready for a change by then. His movies had been less than fulfilling for him creatively. His TV special in December of 1968 had been successful and exciting, giving Elvis a needed energy recharge, a chance to refocus his career goals. His manager Colonel Parker worked out a deal for Elvis to perform at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. The hotel, which was still under construction, would become the biggest hotel-casino in Las Vegas in that era. It would have a 2,000-seat showroom as compared to the typical 1,200-seat showrooms at other properties in the city.

The Colonel asked $500,000 for four weeks, one show per night and two shows on the weekends with Mondays off. He also wanted to be able to record albums and TV specials using the hotel's facilities. The International countered with $400,000 for four weeks ($500,000 if Elvis would be the first star to play the showroom), two shows a night, suites for Elvis and the Colonel, and recording facilities. The Colonel declined the offer of having Elvis open the showroom, preferring that another act endure the working out of any bugs in the new sound and lighting systems. Not getting the extra $100,000 was not a worry because the Colonel felt he would be in a position to renegotiate their deal once Las Vegas saw Elvis perform.

Elvis auditioned musicians and put together a great band, including James Burton (lead guitar), Larry Muhoberac (piano), Jerry Scheff (bass), Ronnie Tutt (drums) and John Wilkinson (rhythm guitar). He also hired two of his favorite singing groups to provide backing vocals - The Imperials, a male gospel group, and The Sweet Inspirations, a female R&B group. For his costumes Elvis engaged designer Bill Belew, with whom he had worked on the 1968 TV special.

Elvis and the band planned and rehearsed. When they arrived early in Las Vegas to continue rehearsals, Barbra Streisand, who was the showroom's first headliner, was still playing her engagement there. Elvis spent time visiting the other shows on the Strip, watching the acts and gauging the audiences. Meanwhile, the Colonel was plastering posters and banners all over Las Vegas. He had radio, TV and print ads running daily. In reference to his promotional blitz the Colonel told Elvis, "......the gophers in the desert will know you're here!"

Elvis began his 4-week, 57-show engagement on July 31, 1969. Opening night attendance was by invitation only and the room was full of celebrities and music critics. It has been said that, from the moment that Elvis appeared on the stage to the strains of "Blue Suede Shoes", the room "exploded". This engagement broke all attendance records in Las Vegas. The International gave Elvis a special gold award belt in commemoration of this feat.

In the hotel coffee shop after the opening night concert, Colonel Parker and International Hotel president Alex Shoofey renegotiated Elvis's contract, writing the new deal on the tablecloth that covered the table where they sat, effectively raising Elvis's salary to $1 million a year for two four-week engagements each year through 1974. Between 1969 and his final Vegas engagement in 1976, Elvis played approximately 641 shows at The International Hotel (renamed The Hilton in the early 1970s) with great success, including breaking his 1969 attendance record again and again.

RCA recorded a number of his Las Vegas shows over the years. A particular performance in one of the shows of 1969 has gotten a lot of attention over the years. During his midnight show on August 26, 1969, shortly after beginning to sing "Are You Lonesome Tonight", Elvis became amused by the antics of a man in the audience. Once Elvis started laughing about the guy, he just couldn't stop. He continued to laugh his way through to the end of the song while Cissy Houston of The Sweet Inspirations continued to sing her soprano obligato. RCA has, to date, released this much-requested recording on three albums: the "Elvis Aron Presley" silver box set, "Elvis: A Legendary Performer, Volume 4" and the "Collectors Gold" box set. Certainly, there are more important recorded moments, but we can't resist including information about this one because there's a non-stop flow of inquiry about it. Once in a while, a disc jockey somewhere will play it on the radio and we'll get messages from people who want to know how to find it. To answer a typical second question - no, unfortunately, the performance can't be found on video. The only formal filming of any of Elvis's Las Vegas engagements took place in the summer of 1970 when MGM shot several shows to include in that year's theatrically released documentary "Elvis, That's the Way It Is".

[elvis himselvis]

so there's the explaination:D

[KPM]

He had such an infectious laugh. Watch the film "the Trouble with Girls"
In the scene where the female shop steward for the performers union is telling him off he cracks up and really seems to be laughing big time. It s one of the few times in a film that he gave more than a small chuckle.

[diamond]

I got an e-mail telling 'bout Elvis's Las Vegas engagements and included in the e-mail was a story 'bout the "laughing version" of AYLT that we're all so familiar with....but I dunno how true it is. I'll post the full article and highlight the info 'bout the "laughing version" of AYLT:

Told You ;)

[elvisfan4life]

I absolutely love that version. Everytime I hear that version, I laugh until I'm crying. Just to hear Elvis with his uncontrollable laughter is priceless....... :lol: :lol:

[Wild_In_The_Country]

I uploaded it for those who dont have it.

Click here to listen http://media.putfile.com/AYLt-laughing

[Elvis_Priestly]

Its available as part of the whole concert on All Shook Up The Concert - FTD. Its a great album and that night Elvis is in fine form and AYLT isn't the only occassion he cracks up, he also does so at the beginning of Hound Dog. Its well worth listening to the whole show then AYLT stands in context as part of a great fun show. Lots of "woolly boogers" "funky angels" and "squirrels"!

[Lisarose]

Love the laugh! It's priceless. Thanks for the link.

[Diane]

Does anyone know if there is a video available anywhere with this laughing version of the song? Sure would love to have that!:) Diane

[U.S. Male]

I recall Charlie Hodge telling the story about the guy in the audience.....

[poormansgold]

MMm, liked I say first time we never know why Elvis was laughing about, We have those days we laugh over little things. I love hear him laugh it's show that he is liked us.

[Lisarose]

Just listening to it again,:hmm: I can imagine that someone in the audience was doing something to make him laugh. They had a kind of rapport going & as Elvis keeps trying to regain his composure, perhaps the person has his attention & keeps jabbing the ticklebone. Elvis turns to his singers hoping to calm down & some are smothering giggles & Cissy is just singing away -caught up in her music & Elvis can't help but laugh some more. Afterall, it is just a show & "Elvis never let something as important as a paying performance get in the way of having fun" - Ronnie Tutt (not an exact quote)
That's my story, what's yours?

[Sammy4Elvis]

I may not know the real reason for Elvis laughing, but everytime I hear to it, makes me laugh too... :P



Me too, he had an addictive laugh!! :lol:

[Joe Car]

It doesn't matter how many times I hear this, I burst out laughing. He was doing such an incredible job singing this song prior to his laughing attack, god bless him. Thanks for the link btw!(y)

[vinceeverrette]

The story I heard from Charlie Hodge was that there was a woman who made her way to the stage and was wearing a wig. On this particular night in '69 the waitres' had puffy sleeves. I guess one of the waitress' sleeves generated quite a bit of static and pulled the lady's wig off. Right at that moment the woman cought Elvis' eye and he said the "bald head" comment. The woman reached up to feel her wig that was no longer there and then she crawled under a table. I don't think it's true though. I think Elvis meant to mess up the words and was surprised how easily he made that ryme. Either way I have to say that it was hillarious.

[Smasher1987]

I have heard that the man who elvis sang about the bald head got so mad that he left the show.

[ColinB]

Because we don't really know why he was laughing, people make up their own reasons.

I once worked with a girl who had been told that someone on stage farted & set Elvis giggling !

And she was convinced it was true !

[Elvis_Priestly]

Because we don't really know why he was laughing, people make up their own reasons.

I once worked with a girl who had been told that someone on stage farted & set Elvis giggling !

And she was convinced it was true !

Didn't that happen while he was singing "Inherit the Wind"? :P

[KPM]

It had to be his sense of smell that tipped him off, as onstage with monitors and amplifiers going full blast I don't know how you'd hear it-unless it was of atomic proportions:D

[Joe Car]

Everytime I see a video of him singing this song, I just assume he will burst out laughing!:lol:

[RS277]

The story I remember dating back from the early 80's was Elvis spotted a bald man sitting in the audience and it struck him funny. The laughter just intensified from there. And thank God it did. What a song. :clap: :clap:

[elvisfan4life]

I just listened to this song again the other night and you can't help but laughing - that song is so priceless with Elvis laughing!!!! :lol:

[Polk-Salad-Annie]

To the best of my recollection, I believe that there was a bald-headed guy in the audience and Elvis spotted him and that's where the line, "Do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair?" and the laughter that followed came from....

This is the same thing that i was thinking of.
To the best of my recollection, i have seen this on film many years ago.
I asked somebody from the Dutch Elvis Fanclub (Its Elvis Time), but he says that is not possible.
It does not exist.
I know what i saw.
So is there anybody else who has seen this???

[geordie]

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Trout http://www.tcb-world.com/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.tcb-world.com/showthread.php?p=98045#post98045)
To the best of my recollection, I believe that there was a bald-headed guy in the audience and Elvis spotted him and that's where the line, "Do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair?" and the laughter that followed came from....

This is the same thing that i was thinking of.
To the best of my recollection, i have seen this on film many years ago.
I asked somebody from the Dutch Elvis Fanclub (Its Elvis Time), but he says that is not possible.
It does not exist.
I know what i saw.
So is there anybody else who has seen this???


I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS FOOTAGE STUTZ. I REALLY WISH IT WAS AVAILABLE. BUT I DONT THINK IT IS :hmm:

[nerma]

I absolutely love that version.
SEXI LAUGH :D :clap:

[tcbeus]

I'm in a "big fight" with some Elvis fan on a hungarian website about this footage.3 of them say that they have seen it,but they don't have it.I have never seen this version on video,and what i've read about it is that there is no formal video.So i'm very courios now.(sorry for my english)

[toffe]

Funny ... (y) ... (y)

[Ferry01]

As far as I know, there's no footage available of this famous performance. I have about 25 minutes of footage of the '69 engagement, and there might be some footage of a performance of AYLT, but not the famous laughing version.

[Burning_Love]

Perhaps he imagined the lady singing with a bald head..I don't know..but whatever he is laughing at..i laugh too :lmfao:

[Lisarose]

If there is footage of this, I am buying it!:D I may have to sell off some of my
jewelry, but I AM buying it!!! Thre are so many songs where he justs fights
a losing battle with the giggles and laughter, and I enjoy all of them!:lol::blush::lmfao: