Did Elvis set the bar to high

[Unchained Melody]

Do you think Elvis set the bar to high when he returned to live performing in 1969. We have serveral shows available to us now that show us how kick *** those concerts were. From 1970 we have the amazing TTWII documentary that to me shows a 100% committed Elvis, doing work like a pro. Same goes for EOT IMO!

Then many say that the (probably biggest concert) Aloha From Hawaii showed an un-inspired Elvis Presley much more tamed then we had seen in 1969 or from 1970. But even though he didn't move around as much, his singing was out of this world, isn't that what matters most This is just something that has always bugged me.

I think alot of fans wanted to see the 1950's rock n roller forever, but has Elvis grew older and became more mature, he took his career in a different direction in the 70's, one that I'm personally fond of. But when you think about it, its like fans are let down that he wasn't moving around like he had done in years past, but you got to think it was bound to happen, age, life can wear you down to a certain degree.

[kathy parkinson]

I don't think Elvis ever set the bar, he was what he was, as you say he matured as he got older, we all do to some extent, some more than others, my favourite years are the 50's,but even i know he couldn't have kept that energy going, music changes over the years,and Elvis changed with it.
The 70's were great to me because i loved his voice, i don't think he needed to move around as much as he did in the 50's, his voice was much stronger as he got older, and that's what made him great.

[T_J]

Then many say that the (probably biggest concert) Aloha From Hawaii showed an un-inspired Elvis Presley much more tamed then we had seen in 1969 or from 1970. But even though he didn't move around as much, his singing was out of this world, isn't that what matters most

Frankly it's the reduced quality of his singing in large parts of the show that bothers me more than the lack of movement. He hit the biggest notes well of course, such as at the end of Trilogy and What Now My Love, but that doesn't mean his overall tone and control were as good as before. There was a shaky quality to his voice in his low and mid register that had crept in a couple of years before and would come and go for whatever reason. Just listen to Fever and compare it to the original. Frankly, there is no comparison. A number of other songs would also be performed better before and after, eg Steamroller Blues is much better in Memphis the following year.

[Albert]

I don't think the bar set by Elvis was even that high. It was 1969 and Elvis was only 34. Just compare it with other acts in that period, or by artists that age in any period. It seems to be high, because it's such a contrast with the Elvis they knew from the movies.

I think the amount of shows and the fact that he performed in Vegas made it impossible to maintain a high level. Elvis seemed to be a good starter and a lousy finisher. As soon as a thing became a routine, Elvis lost interest and the quality went down. He started a good movie carreer, then it became a drag and he put very little effort into turning his carreer around (remember: Parker worked for him, and Elvis was allowed to take acting classes). Then he returned to performing in Vegas: a fantastic start which became stale in about 2 years (for obvious reasons). Then he started touring, which shows a reborn Elvis. Then in only a few years, the "Elvis on the road show" became a routine also. Just a way to make money. Not to mention his dedication to record really good albums. Elvis used to be a singles-artist (like all artists in the 50s and early 60s were). The concept of releasing a thoroughly though through album, supported by the singles did very little to Elvis. It seems like the two, three days in the studio was just a working week, which happen to result in an album.

So no, it's not because the bar was too high, it was just because as soon as Elvis lost interest, any bar would go down anyhow.

[Diane]

I agree with Kathy 100%. Elvis just did what came naturally his whole life and career.

[Unchained Melody]

it was just because as soon as Elvis lost interest, any bar would go down anyhow.

Agreed 100% Albert!

Thanks for the replies gang.

[Unchained Melody]

I don't think Elvis ever set the bar, he was what he was, as you say he matured as he got older, we all do to some extent, some more than others, my favourite years are the 50's,but even i know he couldn't have kept that energy going, music changes over the years,and Elvis changed with it.
The 70's were great to me because i loved his voice, i don't think he needed to move around as much as he did in the 50's, his voice was much stronger as he got older, and that's what made him great.

I think where I'm getting at is that, if people watch Aloha, and the only thing they've seen previously of Elvis in the 1970's is TTWII SE for example, I've seen it many times they say he was not into it anymore, or something because he didn't move around as much. I think that just happens with age, and like I said, as he matured, his musical career took different directions and also alot of times in the 70's recorded tracks he could relate to on a personal level, and I totally dig that!

[kathy parkinson]

Absolutely, and i get where your coming from, he did what he wanted to do. Great thread.

[KPM]

I think Aloha was Elvis trying to show he recognised the significance of his world wide telecast and he tried to present a very mature dignified performance that showcased his singing and his diversity of music. He may have felt that to use to much "gyrations" was not in tone with his idea for the show. Just an opinion. I think the 69-71 performances were Elvis at his best, he just performed to the highest, did what came to mind spur of the moment. In 72 he was beginning to show the signs of boredom but still gave great shows.
His bar was high, but figure in the amount of charisma he had and that makes it seem miles above everyone-by his smile alone at times.

[Lisarose]

Elvis' schedule for Aloha show:
November 8, Elvis flys to Lubbock, Texas to begin an eight day tour, his third for the year.

08 Nov 8.30pm Municipal Coliseum, Lubbock, Tx
09 Nov 8.30pm Community Centre, Tucson, Az
10 Nov 8.30pm Coliseum, El Paso, Tx
11 Nov 8.30pm Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, Ca
12 Nov 8.30pm Swing Auditorium, San Berdandino, Ha
13 Nov 8.30pm Swing Auditorium, San Berdandino, Ha
14 Nov 8.30pm Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, Ca
15 Nov 8.30pm Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, Ca

November 16, Elvis, linda and Lisa Marie fly from Los Angeles to honolulu with a large group, including Joe Esposito, Dick Grob, Gee Gee Gambill, Charlie Hodge, Dr. Nichopoulos, Sonny West, Red West, and the three Stanley brothers, Ricky, David and Billy.

One of the following two concerts was originally planned as the worldwide satellite broadcast.

17 Nov 8.30pm H.I.C. Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii
18 Nov 2.30pm H.I.C. Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii
18 Nov 8.30pm H.I.C. Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii

That's a pretty heavy schedule, then to fly to Hawaii and begin rehearsals and some interviews, he had done a big interview in Las Vegas earlier that summer. And people want him to more peppy? Why didn't they schedule the concert for a few days after he'd arrived in Hawaii & let the man (and his band) rest?

If Elvis were to schedule a concert at Toyota Center inHouston, I'm pretty sure I would want to hear some classic, signature Elvis songs, and then afterwards I'd wonder why he didn't come up with some smoking new stuff. It seems that 's the way critics view Elvis. We know that Elvis loved ballads & gospels, but really, would we wnat to sit and listen to that? If he were still around doing concerts that is? I think Elvis' image is a hard act to follow.

[T_J]

Not really sure what you mean Lisa because the November schedule really has nothing to do with whether or not Elvis was peppy for the Aloha show filmed in January. He'd also had the whole of December off to relax.

[nabelt24]

I don't believe he ever set the bar too high. From all the research I've done, it seems he was very nervous about the Aloha show. I believe this is what affected his level of energy during that performance. He was much more serious about it... no goofing around. Just a plain, solid performance. I read somewhere that he was extremely proud of the end result and considered "Aloha" to be his best performance overall. He was worried that he would never be able to top that concert.

I agree with Albert that Elvis always seemed to loose interest in what he was involved in very quickly. 1974 is a perfect example... he started out so strong and by the end of the year it was apparant that he was bored and had lost control of his on stage antics.

[Dino78]

Albert, 100% agree with you!!!
Going on Tour became a routine (take a look at the setlist) although he changed some songs in nearly every concert. But, as far as I know, he only changed the settled setlist (See See Rider --> I Got A Woman/Amen) once in 1974, didn't feel comfortable with it and came back to the treatmill. If he had understood that concerts are a platform for presenting the newest releases, maybe he had been thrilled and the quality of concerts hadn't degreased by getting bored. But for doing this he only had to play one concert per day, not two or even three as he did in Vegas. THrough this you always end up in a routine-trap. Some say, he was worried that his fans hadn't accept this attitude, he might be partly right, some only saw him as a monument to reminice the long-gone youth back in the 50's, but these days are over, everyone had become older and thousand dreams were blown over the years. I think the majority of his fans had accepted such a behaviour.
What I never understood is the comparsion of Aloha with all the other concerts. Well, it was a live concert aired by satellite back in 1973. Of course he was nervous, of course he couldn't move as usual for technical causes and of course he wanted to present himself as a singer of all genres. Not only presenting the Rock'n'Roller.

[EnigmaticSun]

We know that Elvis loved ballads & gospels, but really, would we want to sit and listen to that? If he were still around doing concerts that is? I think Elvis' image is a hard act to follow.

Yes I would love to hear a concert with gospels and ballads. There is always a crowd for anything, though the slow package may just suit a smaller more intimate "crowd" and it becomes harder to make huge profits. Guess it wouldn't have been a problem had Elvis just needed to provide himself with shelter and food though.

Setting the bar too high - no. Music is a wonderful thing as you can start out in your twenties and last for more than half a century as opposed to athletes.

Why Elvis didn't keep it up:

1. health
2. his environment

[peter]

I think that Elvis´s voice was never captured live in better shape than on Aloha show. Yes, he hit even higher notes, but he was physically fine and I think that he did a lot of work on his voice before the show, because he wants to show what he really had. It´s strange that some of you likes Memphis Steamroller Blues better than on Aloha show, I´m just oposite - nice to see how depends on matter of taste. The reason is, that because on Aloha shows (both) he clearly sing everything the best way he could. You can see it how happy he´s when he is ending most difficult songs of the show... That look "yes, it works!" is clear. I think that after that, he started to sing in a bit "easier" way - I mean - American Trilogy on Memphis show (for example) is just shadow of Aloha version - why? He is not keeping that melody by his singing. It´s irony but it´s same even for C. C. Rider after Aloha - on Aloha show, he clearly SINGS that song, later? It seems to me that it just miss that his "care" of singing. I´d describe it as "melodic talk" into it more than singing. C.C. Rider is probably that case because he became bored by that song (which is evident from some shows especially in 76-77 shows) - same as classics from 50s, but some songs like Trilogy which are really hard to sing are probably different - I dont know why, but maybe he was just tired on Memphis show, but his voice seems exhauted on this show. I think that he get into vocal shape in March 75 (well known 22 March MS) - when he reminds me his singing in Hawaii a LOT - with one reason - he was not nervous.

About his stage performance on Hawaii - I know that Elvis could do in the show whatever he wanted, BUT I think that 2 things tied him down - it was fact that it was first live broadcast by sattelite watched by many people and second that behave manners in a lot of countries which saw the show (including Japan) are very different to European or American manner.... So I think that he just could not risc the situation of censorship in any country - that´s probably the reason why he didn´t play Polk Salad Annie (althought its rumoured as originally planned track)... That´s the reason why he was just calmed down - not that wild relaxed (on stage) man from Elvis On Tour for example.

[Unchained Melody]

I don't believe he ever set the bar too high. From all the research I've done, it seems he was very nervous about the Aloha show. I believe this is what affected his level of energy during that performance. He was much more serious about it... no goofing around. Just a plain, solid performance. I read somewhere that he was extremely proud of the end result and considered "Aloha" to be his best performance overall. He was worried that he would never be able to top that concert.

I agree with Albert that Elvis always seemed to loose interest in what he was involved in very quickly. 1974 is a perfect example... he started out so strong and by the end of the year it was apparant that he was bored and had lost control of his on stage antics.

I agree, I don't believe that age or lack of interest is why Elvis did not gyrate around during the Aloha performance.

This up to this point was probably the biggest performance of his life, and he wanted to show the world he was more than just a rock n roll hip swinging singer, and he put on a straight up singing clinic, pure class Aloha was and still is to this day!

[EnigmaticSun]

Peter and UnchainedMelody, you have made some thought-provoking posts. It is true that some songs of the Aloha special are as good as any studio master take. And the difficulty of achieving it live is not to be taken lightly!
What others are probably trying to point out is that at some point the 50's classics aren't "engaged" anymore, if I may put this correctly. Hound Dog in 1970 was a thrill and more of a demonstration by 1973.
Guess Elvis knew and the gratification the Aloha show gave him was in singing difficult ballads properly. After Aloha, some shows were somehow "loose" and more playful, but these do not always offer the equal of the brilliant studio master take.

[Diane]

Yes I would love to hear a concert with gospels and ballads. There is always a crowd for anything, though the slow package may just suit a smaller more intimate "crowd" and it becomes harder to make huge profits. Guess it wouldn't have been a problem had Elvis just needed to provide himself with shelter and food though.

Setting the bar too high - no. Music is a wonderful thing as you can start out in your twenties and last for more than half a century as opposed to athletes.

Why Elvis didn't keep it up:

1. health
2. his environment

I agree with being able to listen to a whole concert with just gospel, but I would get bored with just ballads. Gospel songs have more life especially the way Elvis sang them.

I'm adding a third reason:

3. the colonel

[KPM]

I agree with being able to listen to a whole concert with just gospel, but I would get bored with just ballads. Gospel songs have more life especially the way Elvis sang them.

I'm adding a third reason:

3. the colonel

I totally agree with your 3rd reason.

[peter]

Ill be a bit controversial now BUT I dont mean it bad - because every big musical artist have a problems with it.

I think that we all have to agree with one "fact" - which was evident from his shows through the years - he didn´t see himself as pure rock artist. But problem is that fans and press saw him "just" as King Of RocknRoll... Problem is that rock&roll as a genre is a bit "limited" and then it´s clear that he wanted to sing other styles and make them as important as rocknroll was - but and there is probably biggest fault of public and probably Col Parker too - they forced him to do, what they wanted to hear. You as fan of any group, have to respect one thing - they should do what they want to do, they need to do it "that way" because they have to LOVE it.... I think that Elvis especially during last years was happy and sad in same time - they loved to be on stage and perform for fans, BUT I think that he almost hated the stuff that he was forced to do... That´s problem for every artist - can you imagine Rolling Stones show without Satisfaction or Jumping Jack Flash? Can you imagine Paul McCartney´s show without Yesterday or Hey Jude? No... These songs are just in category which have to be done, without them fans would be anger... And that´s situation which is sad. I think that Aloha was one of Elvis biggest attempt to say "hey I´m not rocknroll singer, I´m universal singer and I can do it better than good" - but crowd again waited for Hound Dog (to be honest - Aloha Hound Dog is one of worst versions ever) and other classic songs from 50s.