A question for the experts-Album covers

[ajr]

AMEN !! Only gentleman I've seen for a very long time
He even fights nice......

[stefankoch]

Although I have the greatest respect for people like Ed Bonja, who provided us with perfect examples of his work the picture was taken more that 30 years ago. He probably doesn't go over his files everyday like some of us do. He will also never see the need to study them day after day, looking for details. He sees a picture someone is showing him, he will see the jumpsuit and draws a conclusion. I remember my conversation with wardrobe designer Bill Belew and suprisingly I was the one to correct him on certain things.

This doesn't not show my quality but the fact that the memory of the ones that were around Elvis could be fading after so many years and even more events.

In the picture Elvis is wearing the "White Pinwheel Suit". He wore that suit in Detroit, Roanoke, Macon but also in San Antonio. People will automaticly connect this suit with San Antonio because that performance will be forever linked with "Elvis on Tour". But on the picture his hair is bushy. It never, at any time during his San Antonio concert his hair was bushy, not even when he moved. This picture was taken during a wild number. There were only three real wild numbers during these shows; "Proud Mary", "Polk Salad Annie" and "Suspicious Minds" We do have "Proud Mary" as it can be seen in "OnTour". It couldn't be the other two songs because he would not wear a cape. Gentlemen. A picture doesn't lie. If you take the time to study it, it will tell you more than any statement. that comes 35 years after the date.

This discussion very much reminds me of the one about the "Gold Attendance Belt". All official instances were stating that Elvis received the belt on September 7th, 1970, right after the closing of his third Las Vegas season and just before going on his first national tour.
I even sended an email to Graceland Archives with photographic proof that Elvis received the belt on August 28th, 1969. But they repeated their point; Elvis received the belt in Sept. 1970. The fact that Elvis grew a few inches of sideburns within 48 hours was not proof.

You are so cool

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Although I have the greatest respect for people like Ed Bonja, who provided us with perfect examples of his work the picture was taken more that 30 years ago. He probably doesn't go over his files everyday like some of us do. He will also never see the need to study them day after day, looking for details. He sees a picture someone is showing him, he will see the jumpsuit and draws a conclusion.

This is an excellent point! There be many people who have worked with/for the Colonel or Elvis, this doesn't necessarily make them an aficionado. From what I have read on the Internet Ed had taken over 10,000 Images of Elvis, would he know when each of them was taken by date and venue possibly?

Would Ed Bonja be a ex acquaintance or fanatic?

[thehillbillycat]

Which book? Source? See my thread re email reply from photographer Ed Bonja ...

Book it titled....Elvis from 1956 to 1977. Written in 2000. It tells all the not known alot of Elvis related. For the concert photos it shows the album cover and shows original photo right by it and give a small write up about it. For the photo in question it says that photo was taken on April 6, 1972 during the tour which the film Elvis On Tour was made from. Photo was taken by Ed Bonja. In another part of the book that deals with Elvis On Tour. It tells more about the photo. Ed thought or thinks (which ever the case may be) it was taken April 18, 1972. It was found out in 1984 from a hardcore Elvis fan at the time that the photo was taken during the April 6, 1972 show. The fan said that the key feature is his hair. His hair was a little different on the dates of April 6 and April 18, 1972. The hardcore fan was at all the EOT April 1972 tour and took many photos of this tour. The fan even took a picture from April 6, 1972 which Elvis is in the same position as he is in the Ed Bonja photo but in a different angle.

Also the book that was told on the site that ajr provided. My friend has that book. On the site it says the following:
Page 6: Not November 13 1971, but April 6 1972 (This picture is also on page 46).
The photo they are talking about is the one that appears on Aloha From Hawaii cover.


Leroy is correct when saying that Elvis wore the White Pinwheel Suit during the following shows:
Detroit, Roanoke, Macon and San Antonio. This suit is famous because it was feature during three songs of Elvis On Tour movie which the segment was filmed in San Antonio. Many will link the suit with the movie. This is also maybe why Ed Bonja says that photo was taken on April 18, 1972.

Also of the fact of the three wild songs: Proud Mary, Polk Salad Annie and Suspicious Minds. If notice that Elvis is wearing the cape to the suit. Elvis On Tour showed Proud Mary so it couldn't be this. The other two songs Elvis didn't wear the cape for. During this tour he mostly took the cape off before Polk Salad Annie which was the wildest number of 1972 because of Elvis moments for the song. Suspicious Minds he didn't wear the cape either.

But photo was indeed by Ed Bonja but it wasn't taken April 18, 1972 but on April 6, 1972.

[ajr]

Elvislennon2004 :

How very nice of you to look all that up.
Thank you so much.

[thehillbillycat]

No problem.

Love to help out on Photo question.

[Leroy]

Elvislennon2004, thank you very much for your input. It gives me great pleasure to discover I'm not the only one who's driven to go for the ultimate truth.

[thehillbillycat]

Elvislennon2004, thank you very much for your input. It gives me great pleasure to discover I'm not the only one who's driven to go for the ultimate truth.

No problem, I knew the photo wasn't from the San Antonio concert from begin with.
A friend of mine who went to the show said that she ws told it was from the detroit concert from the same tour. When I found this book it deals with little known facts or the not well known facts. So I read the book and told what it says.

[King_Creole]

I sorry to burst your bubble but the picture was enhanced. Look at the below and see for yourself. They have taken away a big part of the throat area. The picture has been taken only a moment before or after the album picture. See and compare and stop dreamin'. I also have reason to believe that a large part of his face doesn't even belong in 1975. Especially the area around his eyes looks too fresh. They could have found another picture to donate to this one. The album picture reminds me very much of a 1969 picture which I have posted here too. I think it's save to say there is more than a slight resemblance here.

Another poster who sees the light and calls a spade a spade !

Good work Leroy !

[toffe]

Book it titled....Elvis from 1956 to 1977. Written in 2000. It tells all the not known alot of Elvis related. For the concert photos it shows the album cover and shows original photo right by it and give a small write up about it. For the photo in question it says that photo was taken on April 6, 1972 during the tour which the film Elvis On Tour was made from. Photo was taken by Ed Bonja. In another part of the book that deals with Elvis On Tour. It tells more about the photo. Ed thought or thinks (which ever the case may be) it was taken April 18, 1972. It was found out in 1984 from a hardcore Elvis fan at the time that the photo was taken during the April 6, 1972 show. The fan said that the key feature is his hair. His hair was a little different on the dates of April 6 and April 18, 1972. The hardcore fan was at all the EOT April 1972 tour and took many photos of this tour. The fan even took a picture from April 6, 1972 which Elvis is in the same position as he is in the Ed Bonja photo but in a different angle.

Also the book that was told on the site that ajr provided. My friend has that book. On the site it says the following:
Page 6: Not November 13 1971, but April 6 1972 (This picture is also on page 46).
The photo they are talking about is the one that appears on Aloha From Hawaii cover.


Leroy is correct when saying that Elvis wore the White Pinwheel Suit during the following shows:
Detroit, Roanoke, Macon and San Antonio. This suit is famous because it was feature during three songs of Elvis On Tour movie which the segment was filmed in San Antonio. Many will link the suit with the movie. This is also maybe why Ed Bonja says that photo was taken on April 18, 1972.

Also of the fact of the three wild songs: Proud Mary, Polk Salad Annie and Suspicious Minds. If notice that Elvis is wearing the cape to the suit. Elvis On Tour showed Proud Mary so it couldn't be this. The other two songs Elvis didn't wear the cape for. During this tour he mostly took the cape off before Polk Salad Annie which was the wildest number of 1972 because of Elvis moments for the song. Suspicious Minds he didn't wear the cape either.

But photo was indeed by Ed Bonja but it wasn't taken April 18, 1972 but on April 6, 1972.

Thanks for info mate

[Leroy]

And I would like to thank everybody for contributing to this discussion.

[srj1967]

And I would like to thank everybody for contributing to this discussion.

As would I. And for the extra information.

But for now, I think I'll stick to the info provided from the guy who actually took the photograph ...

[ajr]

I think I'll stick with Leroy and others that have been so dilligent in making sure "the real truth" was told.
I expect Ed doesn't even recall the many photos he took ; as to exact time, etc. Especially, if they looked so much alike.
Thanks Leroy & Elvislennon.....

[thehillbillycat]

As would I. And for the extra information.

But for now, I think I'll stick to the info provided from the guy who actually took the photograph ...

All due respect to him, He can't recall each an every 10,000 or so photos he took. There is no way on that. He could been on just about every show from that April 1972 tour and took photos from the few dates Elvis wore that suit.

Only if Ed Bonja took a full photo with at least Charlie Hodge in the photo. What he was wearing could shed some light in the matter. Usualy Charlie wore what the band wore and they wore different suit on each date or they did most of the time.

[srj1967]

This pic is from the San Antonio concert; his hair looks a little messed up to me.

Seriously, guys, I don't think you can use something like hair as a decent reference point (unless it's pics of the Aloha rehearsal versus the actual show) ... but things like jewelry, lighting, TCB costumes etc, sure.

In any case, I've asked Ed Bonja for some more info if he's willing to provide it.

[thehillbillycat]

This pic is from the San Antonio concert; his hair looks a little messed up to me.

Seriously, guys, I don't think you can use something like hair as a decent reference point (unless it's pics of the Aloha rehearsal versus the actual show) ... but things like jewelry, lighting, TCB costumes etc, sure.

In any case, I've asked Ed Bonja for some more info if he's willing to provide it.

Ok, want more proof. More info on Detroit Concert of April 6, 1972. From my book, the hardcore fan said the following about the detroit concert. During the songs of Proud Mary and Suspicious Minds, Elvis used his hand to comb back his hair some what. Elvis' hair was longer from the Detroit show and San Antonio show. That is how the fan that is talked about in this book figured out it is not from San Antonio show. The fan found out that Elvis had cut his hair before the second Hampton Roads Concert of April 9, 1972 which was filmed. Only about two to three inches was trimed. Not alot in one view but when close comparing photos from the two shows of him singing Proud Mary you can tell the difference then. Elvis' sideburns wasn't touch at all. It was the rest of his hair the was trimed up.

I just found that. Just figure to share it to you.

[ajr]

Amazing what one can find if one will look .....

Thanks ,Elvislennon.....you & Leroy would make a good team.....

[toffe]

Thanks for the photo

[EP75]

Back in 1977 they did not enhance or change a picture for an EP album cover. Here are the two different photos of the same picture.



I see nothing that is different except for the LP cover is darker shaded. That's it.

[ajr]

Welcome to Alternate Reality.....where things are as one says they are ...not the way they "really are."

Photo enhancement has been around since the 1800's.
Don't know about Album covers; but doubt anyone else does either.

Leroy hasn't failed me yet .