Arabian (Second Edition) (aka) King Of Spades Jumpsuit (1974-76-77)

this is one of my favorite jumpsuits. thanks for all this info

Beautiful suit but it didn't fit Elvis on the 18 June 1977 in Kansas City. If you have ever seen footage from the show, Elvis even says that the suit is tight, so "if you see me turn blue..."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BJBAmerica

I feel the jumpsuits were way OTT after 1970....Too Liberace influenced. He would have looked better in the shirt and pants combos he occasionally wore in 1972.

---

I agree, I think he looked much better in the 2 piece outfits, especially in the later years, although I still dig the Chief (aka Indian Feather), Mad Tiger, and Dragon suits...:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BJBAmerica

I feel the jumpsuits were way OTT after 1970....Too Liberace influenced. He would have looked better in the shirt and pants combos he occasionally wore in 1972.

---

All the way back to the 50's elvis' most early concerts he always said he wanted his stage outfits to be as flashy as you can make them..i think he was influenced style wise by liberace..nothing wrong with that imo. I enjoy all of the suit's and especially the ones from the 74-77 cira.(y)

has to be 10 of 10 /June 18, 1977 (8:30 pm) Kansas City, MO , my home town

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Col Jon Burrows

All the way back to the 50's elvis' most early concerts he always said he wanted his stage outfits to be as flashy as you can make them..i think he was influenced style wise by liberace..nothing wrong with that imo. I enjoy all of the suit's and especially the ones from the 74-77 cira.(y)

---

agreed 74 -77 had to be the best suit's

Nice suit, but I liked the studded version better.

This is also one of my favorite outfites (y)(y)(y)

a tight detail

http://www.elvis-collectors.com/omnidec76rev-1.jpg

great suits

This suit was made during the same time as the Mexican Sundial. I assume that by 1974, the year when these suits were made, the suits could be let out if EP gained weight. We also know that both suits were worn in 1977. Judging by many photos, I get the impression that the 'Arabian Suit' and belt are tighter that than the 'Mexican Sundial'. Even the belt appears to be 'let out to the max' especially during the last tour (Kansas).

My question is this - how come the Arabian wasn't let out more as the Sundial was? And am I correct to assume that the Arabian belt is tighter on EP than the Sundial belt? Why the discrepancy since these were made during the same time, or were they not? maybe the Arabian was made earlier in 1974? Someone should know - Leroy perhaps?

Elvis comments at the Kansas concert about how tight the suit is.
Great photo above from Dec '76

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rickb

Elvis comments at the Kansas concert about how tight the suit is.

---

I think I read somewhere (can't remember where!) that the concert in Kansas City, KS that night was almost as bad as the concert the following night in Omaha, NE - is this true?

Sadly Tony the Kansas concert seems (from fairly poor footage) to be on the same low par as Omaha. Elvis was clearly heavily medicated. I can only assume this was needed to calm his pre-TV nerves. Luckily he improved for the remainder of the tour which was actually quite decent.

I just finished the artwork on the belt buckle for this suit. Hope you like it.

Well done Leroy!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rickb

Elvis comments at the Kansas concert about how tight the suit is.
Great photo above from Dec '76

---

Chainstitch embroidery will draw material in... The sundial was also chainstitched, but the embroidery "rows" seemed more linear. It was also more tightly configured on the legs. On this suit the embroidery is multi-directional. I wonder if that's why it was tighter.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Leroy

I just finished the artwork on the belt buckle for this suit. Hope you like it.

---

Amazing work Leroy! (y)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kennyelvis

Lake Tahoe 1974

---

I wasn't aware that he wore this clown suite (that's how I remember this one) also in 1974. I wonder what made Elvis decide to particularly re-introduce this suit in his heavy 1976-1977 period? Was it perhaps easier to adjust to his new posture than his other suits?

On the other hand: many suits that he wore in May-June-July 1975 looked way worse when he worn them in 1976.

Quite weird that so little is known about the jumpsuits, eventhough they were such important for his image. I've read a book about them and saw the dvd from that creator of the suits. But I think folks like Sonny, Joe or even Ginger can give additional information about the suits, like Elvis' motives to not wear one anymore, or why adjust one to wear years later.