Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite to give it its full name was recorded and broadcasted on January 14^th 1973 from the Honolulu International Center Arena. It is stated that over a billion people worldwide had watched this concert, which is quite a remarkable feat for 1973.

The concert itself was flawless. Elvis looked like he had been sent down from Mount Olympus via helicopter. He was lean, tanned and strode the stage in the magnificent American eagle suit like a Greek God. He was focussed and in immaculate voice.

 At this point I have to make an admission. This was my first ever Elvis album, purchased on 26 August 1986 at a cost of £6.99, ordered from my local W.H. Smith. I had to wait two weeks for it. It was, at the time, simply the greatest thing I had ever heard and to be honest it’s desperately hard to view this show without the rose tinted glasses.

 With the recent success of Elvis on Tour and Live from Madison Square Gardens, Elvis found himself in a position where he had to change his song line up as not to be too repetitive. In came “You Gave Me a Mountain”, “What Now My Love” and the bluesy “Steamroller Blues”, mixed convincingly with “Johnny B Goode”, “Fever” and “A Big Hunk O’ Love”. One of the things I enjoy about the show is the pace of it. Elvis was under great pressure to deliver the show in the seventy minutes to ensure it did not over run the satellite link, yet each performance was measured and assured, unlike the manic show from MSG, which we now know had been (criminally) sped up by the Colonel to fit as many songs as he could to maximise publishing income.

 Aloha from Hawaii is often underestimated by some Elvis fans and the musically press as it’s measured up against Elvis’ other TV Special, the ’68 Comeback Show. We need to put it in a different context. Aloha was a live one off show, the Singer Special was filmed and edited over four shows. There was no margin for error. Elvis had to be word perfect on EVERY song, delivered passionately with no throwaway performances. As far as Elvis knew he was live around the world, something that had not been done before by any solo artist, and as far as I know has not been attempted since by a solo artist.

With a contentious war still being fought in Vietnam, the world in the middle of a Cold War it was vital that Elvis put on a show that did not offend any nation. How he managed to deliver it wearing that amazingly patriotic suit and standout American Trilogy, none of us will be able to comprehend? All that can be said is that he was Elvis.      

 Another first for this landmark show was its release as a stereo-compatible quadraphonic double LP. It recorded over a million advance orders and went straight to number one on its release on May 5^th 1973; one month after the show was first shown in North America. A weary looking Elvis recorded five more songs (“Blue Hawaii”, “Ku-U-I-Po”, “No More” and “Hawaiian wedding Song”) immediately after the show. Four of the five eventually found their way to budget vinyl Maloha from Elvis released in 1978, with the fifth “Blue Hawaii” making its first appearance on “A Legendary Performer Volume 2” in 1976.

The show also raised $75,000 for the Kui Lee Cancer fund. It could be said Aloha was a fore runner to Live Aid 1984 which would be the next time a fund raising show would be shown worldwide.

 This was to be the pinnacle of Elvis’ career. After this show there seemed nothing else for him left to achieve in his career which is carelessly sad. After the global success of Aloha, Elvis should have gone a world tour. It would have been the perfect time for him to do so. It was neglect of the highest order by Colonel Tom Parker that he did not take that opportunity when Elvis was in good shape and confident of delivering a show to a worldwide audience.

 The significance of Aloha from Hawaii in Elvis’ life was not only one of firsts; it’s also one of lasts. It was the last TV Special that would be broadcast during Elvis’ lifetime. It would be his last number one album. It would be the last time Elvis looked truly beautiful. Sadly, it would also be the last time Elvis would be enthused by an exciting project. I guess these are the reason why Aloha is viewed with a tinge of sadness in the Elvis world and that is the greatest injustice of this amazing event.