Elvis LASER jumpsuit,last jumpsuits and more unanswered questions???

[IM4Elvis]

Hi JungleRoom 76

You are correct. I have a friend who used to work with the Elvis group when they were on tour. He has confirmed to me that Elvis had worked on "Way Down," "A Mess of Blues" and "One Sided Love Affiar" for the August '77 tour. He tells me that Elvis was realy looking forward to the tour, but was admitedly, nervous about how the crowds would receive him because of "the book" which was coming out. I know what some of his former bodyguards have said on various TV shows, but my information says that Elvis had been exercising and was in good voice and had challenged his band to make this "the best tour ever."

In addition, Elvis did have a jumpsuit which was to have lasers shooting from it when he came on stage and at different times during the show. I heard it was being prepared for either late '77 or early '78. The infamous "blue suit" which Elvis never wore on stage, I've been told that it was for the CBS-TV special. However there were some problems with it not fitting Elvis and it needed additional alterations. Hence, it was not ready for the '77 TV show. I thought I would point that out since many get the two suits confused. The "new" blue suit was not the one which would feature lasers.

Hope this helps.

IM

[Captain Elwood David]

I have a friend who used to work with the Elvis group when they were on tour. He has confirmed to me that Elvis had worked on "Way Down," "A Mess of Blues" and "One Sided Love Affiar" for the August '77 tour. He tells me that Elvis was realy looking forward to the tour, but was admitedly, nervous about how the crowds would receive him because of "the book" which was coming out. I know what some of his former bodyguards have said on various TV shows, but my information says that Elvis had been exercising and was in good voice and had challenged his band to make this "the best tour ever."

Just curious, .... what exactly do you mean when you state that Elvis had "worked" on the above songs?

Am aware that Elvis expressed an interest (verbally) to some regarding certain songs ......... but actually "worked" on them .. ?

(Sidenote (generally speaking): Grob & Hodge have both discussed this topic. Both have veracity issues to varying degrees that more than warrant a skeptical eye / approach to the things they say).

In addition, Elvis did have a jumpsuit which was to have lasers shooting from it when he came on stage and at different times during the show. I heard it was being prepared for either late '77 or early '78. The infamous "blue suit" which Elvis never wore on stage, I've been told that it was for the CBS-TV special. However there were some problems with it not fitting Elvis and it needed additional alterations. Hence, it was not ready for the '77 TV show. I thought I would point that out since many get the two suits confused. The "new" blue suit was not the one which would feature lasers.

IM

Much agreed. This particular erroneous information (about the two being the same) comes from other fans / collectors that literally make stuff up & then relay authoritatively as "FACT" (& is not the only example of such, either).

BTW, .... kinda odd ----> Belew states that WHITE worked best for Elvis on-stage, .... yet "designed" a blue one (paisley patterned version) for the CBS Special. (Food for thought).



- Capt. "EL."

[Cryogenic]

He might have been intending to use blue to put more of a visual distance between the CBS presentation and Elvis' last TV special (Aloha). Elvis may even have articulated some kind of preference for that particular jumpsuit at that point.

[Captain Elwood David]

It's always best - whenever possible - to go directly to the primary source for answers to questions that one may be burning to know (for whatever the reasons). Belew (& others) are readily approachable in this regard.

----------------

Interesting thought, Cryo ......

I don't know. Somehow, I doubt it though.

Generally speaking: Best to avoid filling in the blanks with guesses, lest others take it & run with it as a "fact" later (as already discussed in this thread). Fans / collectors are not the only ones guilty of this ---> even some of those that were there have done so.



- Capt. "EL."

[IM4Elvis]

Hi Captain:

It'sice to "meet"you.

I see the point of your question. To say that Elvis "worked on" those 3 songs for the August '77 tour could be misunderstood. My friend said that Elvis and Charlie had "tinkered" with them and talked about possibly featuring them on tour while at Graceland in early August. He also told me that Charlie notified James Burton to be ready in case Elvis decided to do them. As far as I know, there were no "formal" rehearsals of Elvis with the band working on these aforementioned songs prior to the tour. Sorry if I mis-spoke.

IM

[Lonniebealestreet]

Thanks for posting Belew's comments, Captain.

It is interesting how that suit was made blue when Belew thought white worked better. I think it does make sense that he may have chosen to go with that color in spite of that, just for the sake of change.

Has anyone seen a pencil (or similar) sketch like what I described earlier in this thread? I just know I've seen something like that, but I don't know where.

If true, those songs would have made a fine addition to the show. A Mess Of Blues in particular would have suited his voice very well at that time. Way Down obviously would have, and OSLA would have been really interesting. I have my doubts about all that though.

Elvis' having played Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain over and over the night he died could possibly have been an indicator that he had thoughts of adding it to the show, perhaps handling the piano duty himself. Mere speculation though.

[IM4Elvis]

Hi Bobby,

I agree with you. "Blue Eyes" would have been a great addition to the future shows.
Let me restate, that the info on "Way Down," "A Mess of Blues," and "One Sided Love Affair" come from a friend who worked with Elvis while on tour. So while I can't say I have first-hand knowledge, I simply pass along what I've been told by someone who was reasonably close to the scene.
It seemed that Elvis was pulling farther and farther away from the great songs of the '50s in his later concerts. While I think very highly of Elvis and am always one of the first to run to his defense, I wish he would have given the '50s music better treatment near the end. That's what makes me wonder, like you, what "One Sided..." would have sounded like. Oh well...

IM

[Captain Elwood David]

IM -

Pleasure's all mine.

Thanks for the input, it is appreciated.

----------------

Unfortunately, as you point out, .... the extent of EP's "rehearsals" by 1977 consisted of exactly what you have relayed. EP would express an interest (mainly to Hodge) & would leave it up to others to have the sheet music / lyrics ready, if need be for a spur-of-the-moment urge to try a new-oldie out on-stage.

Hodge has indeed mentioned "One Sided Love Affair" as one. Grob has also mentioned "The Twelfth of Never" as yet another.

Sidenote regarding "One-Sided Love Affair" ---> when the song came to E's mind, EP hinted to Hodge that it was also a perfect summation of his "relationship" with Ginger. (Like I always say, ALL have pieces to the puzzle).


- Capt. "EL."

[Lonniebealestreet]

Sidenote regarding "One-Sided Love Affair" ---> when the song came to E's mind, EP hinted to Hodge that it was also a perfect summation of his "relationship" with Ginger.

What a great anecdote! Very telling, if not surprising to many.

[peter]

Interesting topic!

I heard that he wants to play new songs during the August tour, but I?ve never heard about something different than Moody Blue, Way Down and Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain.

Laser suit is new information for me!

[paultoronto]

Hi everyone,

I'd like to interject a couple of comments here (steering generally clear of the "Colonel" discussions!).

I have to agree with those that have said the "Blue Paisley" suit wasn't very nice... it was horrid!!! I can't even picture Elvis wearing it!!! After the stunning detail on some of the suits, it's hard to believe they made something that looks like that.

One thing I should point out: according to some of the information I've become privy to lately, Bill Belew didn't actually design the great majority of the designs we've become so familiar with... Gene Ducette, who worked for him, did most of the sketches and designs, since Bill was busy with other projects. Gene actually did much of the embroidery work on Elvis' jumpsuits too, and now does the embroidery work for B+K, one of the premier Elvis Impersonator jumpsuit makers.

That being said... I'm trying to understand this statement that Bill made... it doesn't sound like the laser were ON the suit, but that somehow they reflected off the stones that were on the suit? "and it had very large stones that would tell him where he could puncture himself. And that's where the laser would shoot. And we had these strategically placed on the suit. And as I say, you know, whenever he would touch himself then the laser beams."

So what were these stones? Lasers were still too big in the late 70s to be inside a little stone on his jumpsuit.. I guess lasers on the stage would home in on these? Or ??? Was there something inside the stones... ie. why would be "puncture himself"? Maybe the English to Japanese to English translation crossed some wires?! LOL

As far as his existing jumpsuits... I actually liked the Flame suit, though I have heard Elvis did not. The Gypsy, and the Aztek , on the other hand... not very flattering suits. Neither was the one with the blue and gold puffy sleeves, and the strange "Tab" style suit opening.

I should pass along some of these questions to some of the other Elvis Tribute Artists I know... a couple of them perform with Charlie Hodge, or Joe Esposito at times, though I would think after 30-some years, their memories might be a bit fuzzy on some details too. I know I asked Joe Esposito about the Owl when I met him in Collingwood back in 2001, and what shade of blue it was (since it looks purple from fading now), but he couldn't really answer the question.

[Captain Elwood David]

Bill Belew didn't actually design the great majority of the designs we've become so familiar with... Gene Ducette, who worked for him, did most of the sketches and designs, since Bill was busy with other projects.

You are correct.

I should pass along some of these questions to .......... Charlie Hodge, or Joe Esposito at times, though I would think after 30-some years, their memories might be a bit fuzzy on some details too. I know I asked Joe Esposito about the Owl when I met him in Collingwood back in 2001, and what shade of blue it was (since it looks purple from fading now), but he couldn't really answer the question.

Memories do indeed fade with time; they also can grow more detailed & vivid with others ........ .

JE is a good source of info. & very honest about both what he does / does not know. He doesn't embellish & is usually short & to the point.

Hodge only reveals one side of the story pertaining to both himself & Elvis (ie: the positive spin). As a consequence, you are only getting half of the reality picture on both counts.

-------------------

Best of luck & welcome aboard.


- Capt. "EL."

[tgrace007]

Hi all,

I remember there were also rumors that I had read around '80 or '81 that "Rainy Night In Georgia" was one of the songs considered for the August tour, I believe from Dick Grob. But considering that Elvis' basic line-up didn't change much from late '75 to June '77, (except for "Unchained Melody") I really doubt that anything "new" really would have been added, except for a spur of the moment whim like "Where No One Stands Alone", or "Moody Blue" were in Feb.

Maybe "Way Down" would have had a chance because it would be released then, and Elvis would have gotten a jolt out of J.D.'s thundering "way on down"s!!

Tom

[Tommy]

Leroy,

Thank you for your interesting replies to Elvis' jumpsuits and the last ones.

Tommy

[8mmlowa]

the laser suit was to be worn in las Vegas in january 1978, bill belew confirmed this in the book "elvis in the words of those who knew him best"...But only drawings were made at the time of elvis death .The blue suit is a completely different suit ( it was shown briefly in Graceland ) which elvis did not intend to wear on his august 77 tour since he had still too much weight. He certainly would have wear it on his september / october tour ( 6 dates were already planned for thi tour including a show in terre haute and another in bloomington if I remember )

true!

[KPM]

true!

Well here is a portion from recent interview with Belew from the Elvis in Japan site:
Q : You worked on future costumes.

A : Well the last thing I was working on and we had actually done a prototype of it. And, it was called a laser suit. And I had met an electrician who was into lasers. And lasers at that point were still relatively new. And laser shows were becoming very big. And so, I designed what I thought was going to be ultimately the jewel suit. It was called the diamond suit. And, what we did, there were certain points, and it had very large stones that would tell him where he could puncture himself. And that's where the laser would shoot. And we had these strategically placed on the suit. And as I say, you know, whenever he would touch himself then the laser beams. And, we had it almost to the point where it was ready to be shown to him. And I was in fact, the morning I heard of his death, I was on my way to the studio because we were gonna put it on the figure. And the electrician and I were going to test it. And, that's it.

Q : If Elvis had gone to Europe what were your ideas?

A : The laser suit was it. Yeah, that was the one, you know. but it just didn't--- yeah.
Evidently he has given two statements about where the Lazer Suit was to be debuted.
When you consider the rock shows which today use lazers for huge light shows,
huge digital tv screens and every other trick to make the concerts more exciting
it may well be that, had elvis eventually worn this suit (especially had it been for a European tour) he would have been ahead of his time once again.

[jason7890]

getting back to the question of what songs elvis was thinking of debuting on his aug 77 tour i know WABASH CANNONBALL by jerry reed (bigg boss man/guitar man) was on the cards as was HELLO JOSEPHINE by fats domino which by the way almost made it into the aloha special.
hope this has been some help, cheers.

[KPM]

I've never heard of those as possible additions, but do know Wabash Cannonball
was not written by Jerry Reed, its from the late 20s or early 30s and was written by Roy Accuff. Reed may have recorded it along the way but did not write it. He also did not write Big Boss Man that was from songwriters Smith and Dixon

[anonymous_ie]

some pics for yee