Aloha rehearsal recorded?

[vivaelvis]

Listening to the version of See See Rider form the Aloha From Hawaii show and noticing how Elvis toned it down a notch from the more faster version for the April 1972 tour, I've always wondered why he did that. For years I have also wondered if there was a recording possibly made whether in soundboard or by NBC of Elvis rehearsing the Aloha show. I'm not referring to the actual dress rehearsal that is already out on dvd. I am referring to the pre-dress rehearsal that is pictured below. It would be nice to hear how he arranged the songs for the TV show, if the producer asked him to tone it down a bit for the televised audience or if Elvis felt it needed to be more contemporary of a show and not his normal rock show that he was putting on months earlier at Madison Square Garden.

[josephinebeau]

More footage from the Aloha event would be great. When I was a kid I though Aloha was a great concert but now that I have seen other show of Elvis' Aloha make me sad. Jorgensen and others have written about the fact that Elvis was struggling during this time and really only seemed to be going through the motions at best in this show. There is something in his eyes that as a kid I missed but now as an adult I can empathize with the unmistakable look of a man who is drowning in depression. My heart breaks when I watch this now that I know the truth of what he was struggling through. A good review of the show by Jorgensen is in page 361 of "Life in Music.

[max]

Obviously it is great concert (too perfect?) We see that EP is not too natural.
This concert is obviously too prepared and I prefer the spontaneity that can be seen in 'On Tour'.

[dennyelvis]

We shouldnt knock the Aloha too much, its a great show that we are lucky enough to have on disc, with Elvis looking and sounding great. I agree that 72 On Tour was the "real" Elvis but the Aloha had to be the way it was to sell to a wider audience.

[King Of The Whole World]

We shouldnt knock the Aloha too much, its a great show that we are lucky enough to have on disc, with Elvis looking and sounding great. I agree that 72 On Tour was the "real" Elvis but the Aloha had to be the way it was to sell to a wider audience.

I agree I like the show. I do prefer the rehearsal show better than the live show because Elvis is more relaxed.

[max]

We shouldnt knock the Aloha too much, its a great show that we are lucky enough to have on disc, with Elvis looking and sounding great. I agree that 72 On Tour was the "real" Elvis but the Aloha had to be the way it was to sell to a wider audience.

I agree with you, DennyElvis

[Snake Eyes]

Aloha was what made me a fan and the first concert of his I saw. Steamroller Blues, yes please Elvis, roll all over me!!! Also adore Love Me, especially the bit when he thumps the mic against his chest, yum. I've seen parts of the rehearsal which I like too, in all honesty though, he could be reading the ingredients off of a cereal box and I'd still think he was great. Aloha gets a massive thumbs up from me

[King Of The Whole World]

Aloha was what made me a fan and the first concert of his I saw. Steamroller Blues, yes please Elvis, roll all over me!!! Also adore Love Me, especially the bit when he thumps the mic against his chest, yum. I've seen parts of the rehearsal which I like too, in all honesty though, he could be reading the ingredients off of a cereal box and I'd still think he was great. Aloha gets a massive thumbs up from me

I agree. I guess since I wasn't born until after his death I will take anything on video.

[Snake Eyes]

I agree. I guess since I wasn't born until after his death I will take anything on video.

I'm only one year older than you young man

[KPM]

I thought vocally Aloha was one of his best shows from the 70s.
His "What Now My Love" is such a great exercise in vocal ability-breath control, phrasing, power and softness all in one song that cresendos into perfection.

[my boy]

Aloha and the rehearsal are awesome! "Steamroller Blues"–– yeah baby!

So many great performances... 'Fever," "What Now My Love" (rehearsal) for starters. The main course: "American Trilogy."

And the cool helicopter arrival – Elvis's cream elephant cord jacket just rocks!

[Snake Eyes]

I thought vocally Aloha was one of his best shows from the 70s.
His "What Now My Love" is such a great exercise in vocal ability-breath control, phrasing, power and softness all in one song that cresendos into perfection.

I absolutely agree

[my boy]

I thought vocally Aloha was one of his best shows from the 70s.
His "What Now My Love" is such a great exercise in vocal ability-breath control, phrasing, power and softness all in one song that cresendos into perfection.

It's fantastic to watch...

[poor boy]

You have to remember that the Aloha show had to be timed to the last second as it was being transmitted live and they only had the satellite for that one hour . So Elvis couldnt have spontaneity or be loose . He had to concentrate totally and watch the timing of the songs . He had to be compleatly focused and do them exactly as rehearsed . i think that is what you see . He just couldnt do the relaxed , looser show he usually did .

[KPM]

I think the choices for the show may have been affected by the number of live albums Elvis had put out by 73-and the fact that many had the same songs on them....so to make the show and the album a better buy for fans....songs that Elvis had not yet recorded in any form like "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", "What Now My Love", "Its Over" etc were added for variety. Home recordings and Elvis's personal taste in all musics show they were really not odd choices or toning down of his show...just songs that he had yet to release on record and songs he loved to sing.

[poor boy]

I could never understand why Elvis sang so many songs by other acts in this show . I know what you mean about not reproducing songs that were on other live albums but Elvis had so many great hits that he never did live or hadnt been released on any of the other live albums . I would have replaced at least six songs for Fame & Fortune , A Fool Such As I , Its Now Or Never , Surrender , Kentucky Rain & Rags To Riches . This was his crowning moment . The first artist to be shown live around the world . He should have being showcasing his body of work , not the work of others . Thats why its not one of my favourites .

[debtdbruno]

You have to remember that the Aloha show had to be timed to the last second as it was being transmitted live and they only had the satellite for that one hour . So Elvis couldnt have spontaneity or be loose . He had to concentrate totally and watch the timing of the songs . He had to be compleatly focused and do them exactly as rehearsed . i think that is what you see . He just couldnt do the relaxed , looser show he usually did .

Absolutely.......a lot of fans critise this performance. Yes, he didn't fool around as much, but he was under pressure/nervous and on a tight time schedule (as you say).....I think it was a tight, polished performance and I don't have any complaints about it at all. He looked fantastic too......

[KPM]

Absolutely.......a lot of fans critise this performance. Yes, he didn't fool around as much, but he was under pressure/nervous and on a tight time schedule (as you say).....I think it was a tight, polished performance and I don't have any complaints about it at all. He looked fantastic too......

I wish that Elvis had fooled around less in concerts, and had more tight performances...... do not get me wrong-I enjoy it when he cracks a joke or changes lyrics-but he seemed to do it more and more as the concert years rolled on.
I know the boredom got to him easily and this was his way of breaking up that monotony-but I would have much rather he have taken that energy and used it to work up new songs and set lists to break that boredom instead of joking around.
He was a total professional in the Aloha show-moving easily from song to song Taking Care of Business-his eclectic list of songs was an example of why he was King-he could do it all and proved it.

[U.S. Male]

I once asked Marty Lacker (through the Elvis Express Radio site) about the arrangements and rehearsals he had prior to performing what's known as the "Alternate Aloha" and the main broadcast. Marty said Elvis rehearsed every evening of the week he was in Hawaii prior to this shows being performed and during that time he and the band arranged the songs and he came up with the set list.

I personally have heard Charlie Hodge mention on several occasions that he (Charlie) "laid out the Aloha show song lineup, w/ Elvis' approval." Marty totally shot that statement down saying "Elvis was in charge and only he determined what material to perform." Just another one of good ol' Charlies tall tales.

It would be a terrific find if some of (or all) of these private rehearsals were taped somehow. Would truly be interesting hearing Elvis work on songs such as I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry, Welcome To My World, Steamroller, even the Long Tall Sally/Whole Lotta Shakin' medley. I wonder if he actually started out rehearsing each song individually before deciding to put them together in medley form?

[debtdbruno]

I wish that Elvis had fooled around less in concerts, and had more tight performances...... do not get me wrong-I enjoy it when he cracks a joke or changes lyrics-but he seemed to do it more and more as the concert years rolled on.
I know the boredom got to him easily and this was his way of breaking up that monotony-but I would have much rather he have taken that energy and used it to work up new songs and set lists to break that boredom instead of joking around.
He was a total professional in the Aloha show-moving easily from song to song Taking Care of Business-his eclectic list of songs was an example of why he was King-he could do it all and proved it.

I agree Ken, I rarely buy concerts cd's from the latter years....cant do with all the band solos, dive-bomb routines...too much staling for time, sorry to say