Originally Posted by
nolvis
ELVIS IN CONCERT 1977
THE SUNDIAL TOUR EXPERIENCE
Elvis has signed a contract with CBS for a one hour special in the fall of 1977.
It was decided that two concerts from TOUR 29 (The Sundial Tour) should be filmed:
June 19 in Omaha and June 21 in Rapid City.
June 17 was the start of the last tour EVER, tour number 29 since 1969: THE SUNDIAL TOUR!!
*** June 17 Hammons Center Springfield, Missouri
*** June 18 Kemper Arena Kansas City, Missouri
This concert is featured on the bootleg video The Last Tour.
The quality is very good considering that it is amateur footage.
The version of 'Are You Lonesome Tonight' is quite funny, with Elvis and Charlie Hodge doing their "act" on stage...
*** June 19 Omaha Civic Auditorium Omaha, Nebraska
Then it was time for the CBS crew to record and film Elvis in Omaha, Nebraska.
Elvis was very out of focus. He was sluggish, from the moment he went on the stage to the final song. Elvis looses the lyrics in the beginning of 'Are You Lonesome Tonight', he is off-key in 'I Really Don't Want To Know', while 'Hurt' is amazingly well performed...(personally i think the version of Are you lonesome tonight is hilarious,what with Elvis' comments to Charlie during the song while he's standing too close holding Elvis' mike!!!)
This concert was released simultaneously by two different CD labels: Captain Marvel Jr. on Candid Elvis On Camera and Ecolorado on As I Leave You.
Because the microphone system in Omaha was out of proper order in the beginning of the concert, and the fact that Felton Jarvis decided not to record the band, the sound quality is not the greatest.
Also, this show is featured in it's completeness on the bootleg version of 'Elvis In Concert' (The CBS Tapes).
According to Ed Parker, Elvis was not too happy about the situation before the concert in Omaha.
The stadium was crowded with people and cameras. He said to Ed, "How come I get placed in these situations?". Looking out of the window, biting his lip he said "Ah...hell, I guess it's show business!"
*** June 20 Pershing Municipal Auditorium Lincoln, Nebraska
The evening after the show in Omaha, Elvis immediately traveled to Lincoln where he slept over night (well...did he really..?). The day after Elvis held a concert in the "little" Pershing Municipal Auditorium (7.500 attendants).
This day he performs one of the better versions of 'Unchained Melody'.
Even 'Hound Dog' is given some extra attention this day.
*** June 21 Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Rapid City, South Dakota
From this concert the majority of CBS' "Elvis In Concert" was taken.
The CBS crew: "We picked Rapid City for filming because it was Elvis' first concert in that hall. He'd never been to Rapid City before. Good choice from CBS, as Elvis in Rapid City managed to perform one of his better "1977-concert". It was a totally different Elvis appearing on stage, compared to two days earlier.
As always when Elvis was in good spirit he delivers a good version of 'See See Rider'. This day too. In fact Elvis stopped the song, just to say that someone did a mistake... and then began sing as if nothing had happened. A strange moment, really. Elvis was filmed by CBS and he manages to find an unnoticeable error, and stops the band... This incident was cut from the official version of "Elvis In Concert" (where they edited in snippets of Elvis singing the same song in Omaha) and also edited out this sequenze on the album with the same name.
After his regular I Got A Woman/Amen "session", Elvis performs a very good version of 'That's Allright', and a (just almost) funny, still good 'Are You Lonesome Tonight'. 'Love Me' is a very good version, and the same goes for 'If You Love Me'. 'Trying To Get You' is share dynamite! For some strange reasons CBS decided to omit this masterpiece in their one-hour production. Like 'My Way' and 'Little Sister', Elvis always performed 'Trying To Get To You' with bravura. At least CBS included 'My Way' on the TV-Special.
Another highlight that CBS omitted from this show was 'Hawaiian Wedding Song'. Elvis had complete control over his voice and this version is better than others in 1973 - 1975.
'Early Morning Rain' was first omitted from the TV-Special, but at the end included. On the TV-Special CBS used the version from Omaha, while the Rapid City version (the better one) was used on the LP album. 'I Really Don't Want To Know' was included on both TV and LP special. Elvis started singing this song only 3 weeks ago, and it is a kind of song that really fitted Elvis' voice and overall condition at the time.
*** June 22 Sioux Falls Arena South Dakota
Elvis was in Downtown Holiday Inn Hotel, near by Sioux Falls Arena. It was the most young audience he ever played to in a year.
*** June 23 Veterans Memorial Auditorium Des Moines, IOWA
After the concert in Des Moines, June 23, Ronnie Tutt leaves the band for good. He is replaced with Jerome Monroe (June 24) and Larrie Londin (June 25 and 26).
*** June 24 Dane County Coliseum Madison, Wisconsin
In Madison, June 24 Elvis sings 'One Night' for the last time.
While driving to Madison, Elvis stops the car so he could get out to assist a gas station attendant who is set upon by two youth. The fight came to a sudden end, as the two youth was shocked by the fact that Elvis Presley stood in front of them.
The whole scene ended with Elvis getting them to shake hand, promise not to fight anymore, and finally a picture taken of all three.
*** June 25 Riverfront Stadium Cincinnati, OHIO
Before the concert in Cincinnati, Elvis finds out that the hotels air-condition does not function!
Elvis immediately leaves for another hotel, which was not easy since most the accommodations where taken... Elvis was in town!
The concert in Cincinnati was released on a very rare bootleg CD called Since Cincinnati. This concert is among the best in 1977.
Elvis does very good versions of 'See See Rider', and 'If You Love Me' among others. For the last time Elvis performes 'Unchained Melody'. This is one of the best versions!!
*** June 26 Market Square Arena Indianapolis, Indiana
On June the 26th 1977 Elvis planned to give his last performance of the Sundial Tour in Indianapolis, but it turned out to be his final concert ever instead.
Arriving the airport in Indianapolis on June 26, Elvis is presented with a plaque for the "Moody Blue" album.
Elvis' very last concert is one of the longest ever in 1977. It features several "rare" songs for the year, and in general it is a fair concert.
Compared to earlier concerts that month, as seen and heard on the NBC television special "Elvis in Concert", this show can be considered as one of the better ones of 1977.
Elvis sounds inspired and he even has the strength to hit the higher notes well when he cries out "Hurt".
The program of this show looks familiar with "C.C. Rider", "I got a woman/Amen", Teddy bear/Don?t be cruel", the throw away done 50?s songs etcetera, but there are a few surprises as well. How often did Elvis please the audience with "Please release me", "I can?t stop loving you" and "Bridge over troubled water" in 1977? Indeed, rare treats and therefore I would say that the King said "Adios" to his followers in style that evening. The irony of it all is that Elvis sounds like if he knew that this was going to be his las performance. Just listen how extensive he talks to the crowd before he starts "Can?t help falling in love".
The CD"Adios The Final Performance" is audience recording.
These days we are a little spoiled with all those great soundboard recordings, but when "Adios" was released in the early 90?s we were less familiar with great sounding live shows. Fans who know the cd "The Last Farewell" sure were happy when "Adios" saw the light.
Bellow, are the songs ELVIS ARON PRESLEY sung in his 29th. Tour, THE SUNDIAL TOUR:
(June 17 to June 26 of 1977)
See See Rider (June 25)
I Got A Woman/Amen
Big Boss Man
Are You Lonesome Tonight? (June 19)
Blue Christmas
That's Alright, Mama
Love Me
If You Love Me (June 25)
Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel
You Gave Me A Mountain
Little Sister
Fairytale
And I Love You So
Jailhouse Rock
Hound Dog
Hawaiian Wedding Song
Bridge Over Troubled Water (June 26)
I Can't Stop Loving You (June 26)
Release Me (June 26)
I Really Don't Want To Know
Hurt
My Way
Love Me Tender
Help Me
Blue Suede Shoes (June 23)
How Great Thou Art
It's Now Or Never
Early Morning Rain
Unchained Melody
Can't Help Falling In Love
I've included some of the pictures.
This is a neat overview of Elvis' final tour!
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A bit of paranoia and nervousness perhaps ...
