Greatest Rock n Roll Concert Ever

[nashville cat]

For the title of Greatest Rock and Roll Concert Ever, may I present the following:

March 25, 1961- Bloch Arena - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

I was just listening to this on the silver box, and it blows me away every time. Elvis is in top voice, the band cooks, perfect song selection. And the crowd is going nuts. When Hank Garland tears into the intro to "A Fool Such As I", I could honestly cry. I can only imagine how the crowd's reaction made Elvis feel, after only performing one other time since his release from the Army.

It's fascinating to hear Elvis perform some of his older material, and daring to do stuff like "Reconsider Baby" and "Swing Down Sweet Chariot" in concert. Makes me long to hear what might have been had he kept performing through the 60's. He sounds so confident and in control. And the audience is obviously hanging on to his every word and movement.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is my candidate for the title of Greatest Rock and Roll Concert of All-Time.

[Sonny]

I can only agree with you...

Sonny

[elvisdownunder]

another candidate we must not forget are the 2 68 sitdown shows, both to me are THE very best of all time

[nashville cat]

another candidate we must not forget are the 2 68 sitdown shows, both to me are THE very best of all time

Agreed. The sit-down shows and the performance in the "boxing ring" are all great candidates, as well as his opening night in Vegas, 1969. All pure rock and roll shows.

After 1970, his concerts were just as good, but the emphasis on ballads made it a little less hard-rock. I love his ballads, but to me these performances are testament to Elvis' claim to the title, King of Rock.

[T_J]

It's a brilliant show and would sound even better if properly recorded.

[Davey]

I think the opening Vegas 69 show is pretty much the greatest concert Elvis ever did, after the Comeback Special of course. I love the 61 show too though, just wish there wasn't that drop out in the sound during Reconsider Baby. It's really interesting hearing an early 60's show as there are a few songs here that he would rarely, if ever, perform live again.

[Joe Car]

I've never heard this particular concert from 61, but there are quite a few people who share your sentiments nashville cat. Anybody know where I could download even a couple of songs, thanks in advance.

[Cryogenic]

I'm seconding Joe Car. Where can I get me this beauty? I'll buy this "silver box" you speak of if I have to.

As far as other performances go, I have to chime in with the "Standup" section of the 68 Comeback Special. On the whole, it wasn't as intimate or as tightly executed by Elvis as the sitdowns (flubbed timing and so forth), but the whole thing deserves its place in history for his medley of "Heartbreak Hotel", "Hound Dog" and "All Shook Up". How impossibly cool did Elvis look stood up in leather, guitar around shoulder, one hand on the microphone and the other cutting through the air as he blistered through the opening lines of Heartbreak Hotel?

[P.S. Annie]

Also really like the concert from August 12th 1970, I think that's my favo. Although the '68 sitdowns are really close.

[Albert]

The 1961 concert is very good, but nothing special other than the date. The '68 performances are fantastic, but very rushed. Same goes for 1969. In 1970 Elvis was still not sure what setlist to present. He also was still very uncomfortable during the times between the songs. Often the dialogues/monologues were scripted.

I go for the shows Elvis did in the Madison Square Garden. Elvis was on top of the world, with a great setlist, fantastic physical and mental condition, extremely good voice and at ease with the situation. The are also milestones for his carreer and proved to the mass audience that Elvis also ruled outside Vegas.

Probably there are tons of unknown shows (not recorded or only as audience recordings) that may be better, but I prefer to choose out of the wellknown concerts.