Aloha From Hawaii - a missed opportunity

[mozzarella]

I think they could have done this very special concert in a different way than a normal, regular, 'usual' show. Imagine: here you get the chance to put Elvis in front of the whole planet at once and guess what he does? Just an approximately 60 minute routine show. No talking to the audience about his life like in '69 in Vegas, just his normal set up. It would be better if he did more of his signature songs like Heartbreak Hotel, Jailhouse Rock, In the Ghetto, If I can Dream, Are You Lonesome Tonight, It's Now or Never, some of his movie hits like Viva Las Vegas, Follow That Dream, playin some gospel songs at the piano and so on. He could of made it bigger and longer for this special occasion. So that's why I think this was a missed opportunity. He could have given much much more of himself. He could have done a sit down part with a guitar and just playin That's All Right and some of his SUN years songs, storytelling, like in the '68 Special. That kind of stuff. He could have finished the show with If I can Dream then come back for an encore with for example Mystery Train/Tiger Man, some Rock and Roll and then close with the usual Can't Help Falling in Love. I personally would love that. My oppinion. What do you guys think? :hmm:

[KPM]

I do not think it was a missed opportunity. Perhaps to Elvis fans the show seemed "normal" but to the rest of the world who had never seen Elvis live it was not. IMO The songs he did were eclectic, Beatles, Hank Williams, love songs, old hits, new hits, rockers ballads etc.
The 68 special included all the things you mention, if he had redone this idea-would he have been accused just redoing that special?
I think he gave a polished, well put together show which showed the world who he was in 1973 as a singer and entertainer. My only regret is that the show was a little too polished-perhaps his fire was a little too constrained.

[cibetty]

I think Elvis didn't want to go back into the 60's again, he wanted to show something new, of course he sang some older songs as well. It would be great if the show would have been longer, but some songs were very very difficult I think (American Trilogy, What Now My Love) and he really put his everything in that concert what needed much energy I'm sure, so I think 1 hour was enough for his vocal chords. Anyways, his other shows weren't longer in the 70's I think.

[SleepyJack]

Despite having watched "Aloha" many many times it even to this day seems like an unusual moment in the show when he sings Hank Williams` "I`m so lonesome I could cry".....a stark,beautiful performance right in the middle of a very "polished" show. It would have been nice to have had Elvis in more relaxed form,more talking,a bit more fun......still. I`m not complaining..great show!:D

[Brian]

Elvis was very nervous doing the show as he was going to be seen by a big audience. They only had the satelite for one hour so Elvis had to come up with a certain number of songs that were a certain length that totaled 60 minutes because if he went over that time the satelite would cut off and it was also the reason that he didn't joke around or interact with the audience very much because he didn't have time.

I like the show fine as it is the only thing I would've changed about the show was that Elvis didn't seem to sing enough uptempo numbers. I would've dropped Can't stop loving you, Johnny B. Goode and added my baby left me and Never been to Spain and I would've also liked Elvis to sing serious versions of hound dog and blue suede shoes and not rushed versions.

[hounddog]

But Elvis wasn't singing a lot of up tempo number by 1973. I think he wanted to show what he could do vocally songs like What Now My Love, It's Over, My Way really highlight what the man could do.

[mozzarella]

I didn't mean to bring the show down, I absolutely love it! I just feel it was a little too normal for the opportunity. That's all folks. I would have filled the entire show with trademark Elvis numbers such as I mentioned above. I thought that the length depended on the capacity of the satellite though...

[rocknroll]

Elvis was very nervous doing the show as he was going to be seen by a big audience. They only had the satelite for one hour so Elvis had to come up with a certain number of songs that were a certain length that totaled 60 minutes because if he went over that time the satelite would cut off and it was also the reason that he didn't joke around or interact with the audience very much because he didn't have time.

I like the show fine as it is the only thing I would've changed about the show was that Elvis didn't seem to sing enough uptempo numbers. I would've dropped Can't stop loving you, Johnny B. Goode and added my baby left me and Never been to Spain and I would've also liked Elvis to sing serious versions of hound dog and blue suede shoes and not rushed versions.

You don't think Johnny B Goode is uptempo?

[rickb]

I too think there were too many ballads in the show and the rock was poorly presented but as it was a huge success i don't think it was a missed opportunity as such.
I definitely think EIC needed to be more of a challenge with a new set-up, a one-off special gig as opposed to filming a few routine shows in the middle of yet another gruelling tour.

[Unchained Melody]

No it was not a missed oppurtunity IMO.

this missed oppurtunity came after aloha and elvis was sent back to vegas.:doh:

[Unchained Melody]

I too think there were too many ballads in the show and the rock was poorly presented but as it was a huge success i don't think it was a missed opportunity as such.
I definitely think EIC needed to be more of a challenge with a new set-up, a one-off special gig as opposed to filming a few routine shows in the middle of yet another gruelling tour.

EIC should have never taken place. It was obvious to was only done for money, Elvis was literally broke at the end of his life and he really had no choice but to keep touring to keep up with his luxerious lifestyle he was so accustomed too. A challenge he needed by the time the filming took place for EIC was too kick his personal problems with the prescription medication, thats it imo.

[Unchained Melody]

You don't think Johnny B Goode is uptempo?

I LOVE JBgoode from Aloha man. And for those who say it had to many ballads in the show, I love hearing our man singing the Beatles hits like Something and Hank William's I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. This was a more polished mature performer, sure he didn't move around like before, but bygod he made up for it in his singing. What Now My Love, a masterpiece.

[Brian]

You don't think Johnny B Goode is uptempo?


It's uptempo but I think it's rushed and not as good as the 69 version and it already appeared on countless live albums so why not put My baby left me in it's place.

[Unchained Melody]

It's uptempo but I think it's rushed and not as good as the 69 version and it already appeared on countless live albums so why not put My baby left me in it's place.

in '69 his voice had that rough edge and by 73 i think with you it was rushed but still good version. If you think aloha version of jbgoode is rushed, i'd hate to hear what you think of the versions from 76-77:doh::lmfao:

[KPM]

I LOVE JBgoode from Aloha man. And for those who say it had to many ballads in the show, I love hearing our man singing the Beatles hits like Something and Hank William's I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. This was a more polished mature performer, sure he didn't move around like before, but bygod he made up for it in his singing. What Now My Love, a masterpiece.
I think that "What Now My Love" is perhaps the best song, from every angle- voice control, voice projection, range and emotion that Elvis ever did. I listen to the Aloha version and am awed by this performance. It is as you said a masterpiece.(y)

[EnigmaticSun]

Well KPM, I agree with you totally. Elvis had been training quite a bit to perform these songs the way he wanted to and some versions of the Aloha Special rank among the best. I can get nervous just playing for my teacher, so there's no telling what he was having to cope with and yet it turned out to be a marvelous performance.

He's into it all the way and seriously trying to deliver a good show - the only downside (if you'd like to consider it as such) that he wasn't into rock singing physically as he was in 1969.

Mainly doing ballads would be more natural than desperately trying to relive the fury of '68 and '69. Elvis, through the years and different stages of his life, had something for everybody. It's hard to compare the quality of his voice as the purpose of his music changed with him.

Though some things during Aloha weren't ideal, I can't say it was a missed opportunity (as I'm even grateful for EIC, no matter how he looked).

I guess most Elvis-connoisseurs around here know that our man was trying to prove his vocal abilities and wanted to appeal to an "intellectual" audience, in the sense that he was capable of conveying music with deeper emotion and meaning than just portraying a sex symbol.

[Unchained Melody]

I LOVE JBgoode from Aloha man. And for those who say it had to many ballads in the show, I love hearing our man singing the Beatles hits like Something and Hank William's I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. This was a more polished mature performer, sure he didn't move around like before, but bygod he made up for it in his singing. What Now My Love, a masterpiece.
I think that "What Now My Love" is perhaps the best song, from every angle- voice control, voice projection, range and emotion that Elvis ever did. I listen to the Aloha version and am awed by this performance. It is as you said a masterpiece.(y)

Ken If you like the song that much perhaps you should listen to the performance from December 4th 1976 Midnight show in las vegas, the spoken version..of course its no where near as good as aloha by any means, but just the way elvis speaks the part of "wathing my dreams, turn into ashes, and all my hopes into bits of clay" will just give you chills. Literally lol. Cd titled "Love Letters From Nevada" Label: Sundial Productions SP 601 (released 1995)

[KPM]

[quote=KPM;249416]

Ken If you like the song that much perhaps you should listen to the performance from December 4th 1976 Midnight show in las vegas, the spoken version..of course its no where near as good as aloha by any means, but just the way elvis speaks the part of "wathing my dreams, turn into ashes, and all my hopes into bits of clay" will just give you chills. Literally lol. Cd titled "Love Letters From Nevada" Label: Sundial Productions SP 601 (released 1995)
I think I have heard that version somewhere-is it the only time he spoke parts of the lyrics-if so I have heard it and it was touching.:blush:

[Unchained Melody]

[quote=Col Jon Burrows;249463]
I think I have heard that version somewhere-is it the only time he spoke parts of the lyrics-if so I have heard it and it was touching.:blush:

Nope it wasn't the only spoken version.

Elvis started doing the spoken rendidtions of What Now My Love and Mountain as early as 1973. Look for the CD At The Top Of THe Game(Released 2006) has both of them on it.(y)

[LtCarman]

No it was not a missed oppurtunity IMO.

this missed oppurtunity came after aloha and elvis was sent back to vegas.:doh:

Exactly. Couldn't have said it better myself.

[KPM]

[quote=KPM;249541]

Nope it wasn't the only spoken version.

Elvis started doing the spoken rendidtions of What Now My Love and Mountain as early as 1973. Look for the CD At The Top Of THe Game(Released 2006) has both of them on it.(y)
that is strange your quote is listed as by me?
Anyway Brad thanks for the info. (y)

[Vegas King]

It's not missed opportunity.
Elvis wanted to show the world how looks one of his usual concerts

[hgs262626]

i have always found american trilogy from this concert disapointing... until the very last part. it overall lacks the power of peformances of this song in 1972, e.g at hampton new roads for example which was OUT OF THIS WORLD!

[KPM]

i have always found american trilogy from this concert disapointing... until the very last part. it overall lacks the power of peformances of this song in 1972, e.g at hampton new roads for example which was OUT OF THIS WORLD!
I think the rehearsal version was much better than the one which he did on the special.

[Unchained Melody]

that is strange your quote is listed as by me?
Anyway Brad thanks for the info. (y)

That is strange I just looked at the previous times I quoted you or someone else and it did the exact same thing.
Yourwelcome mate!