Alternative Opening And Closing Songs For Shows

[elvisdownunder]

knowing that Elvis was bored with his ususal stage routine, no wonder! Elvis did'nt re-arrange his material in the last 2 years. his last good re-invention show would've been the August 74 opening show, when he opened with big boss man and introduced lots of new material. here are some other songs i think Elvis could've opened and closed with

America the Beautiful (closing)
An American Trilogy (closing)
Baby, What You Want Me to Do (opening)
Funny How Time Slips Away (closing)
Good Rockin' Tonight (opening)
Guitar Man (opening)
Hi Heel Sneakers (opening)
If You Talk in Your Sleep (opening)
i'll remember you (closing)
I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen (closing)
i'm leavin (closing)
It's Now or Never (closing)
Jailhouse Rock (opening)
Johnny B. Good (opening)
King Creole (opening)
Long Tall Sally (opening)
love me tender (opening)
Memphis Tennessee (opening)
Moody Blue (opening)
My Babe (opening)
Mystery Train/ Tigerman (opening)
My Way (closing)
Nightrider (opening)
One Night (opening)
Patch It Up (opening)
Polk Salad Annie (opening)
Promised Land (opening)
Proud Mary (opening)
Raised on Rock (opening)
Softly as I Leave You (closing, sung by Elvis)
Such a Night (closing)
Suspicious Minds (closing)
The Wonder of You (closing)
Trouble (opening)
U.S. Male (opening)
Viva Las Vegas (closing, for Las Vegas shows)
Walk a Mile in My Shoes (opening)
What'd I Say (closing)
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On (opening)
Young and Beautiful (closing)

[rick]

Guitar Man would have made a ripper opener,
Good choices
rick

[Albert]

I've always found it a missed opportunity that Elvis kept his setlist more of the same during the 70s. But one thing that I've always liked was the "See See Rider" opening and the "Can't Help Falling In Love" ending.

But If I really had to pick another opener and showstopper:

* Big Boss Man (opener)
* The Wonder Of You (closer)

[dennyelvis]

Good question Scott and actually tougher than it seems to pick some.
They have to be songs El could have kept doing into the 70's

So i will pretend his health was still like it was upto 73 .... and go for ....

mystery train/tigerman (open)

american trilogy (close)

In fact id like a fantasy concert with these .... cool

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

Great Question

Open - Whole Lotta Shakin Going On

Close - The Last Farewell

[JohanD]

Opener: Promised land

Closer: My way

[Sonny]

Elvis did open a show with "Tiger Man" one time (Las Vegas, August 19, 1970 dinner show)

One of the older fifties tracks like, "Good Rockin' Tonight" would've been a terrific show opener!

Sonny

[U.S. Male]

This subject has always been a favorite of mine. In addition to the songs already listed, here's a few opening / closing songs I would have liked to seen used in some shows, as well as some #2 songs that could have been inserted rather than the same old "I Got A Woman/Amen":

I Got My Mojo Working (opener)
C'mon Everybody (opener)
U.S. Male (opener)
Whole Lotta Shakin Going On (opener)
T.R.O.U.B.L.E. (opener)
Memphis Tennessee (opener)

Burning Love* (#2 song) *IMO, this song should have been used more often
as the #2 song, because imo it seamed to fit in this slot nicely.
Raised On Rock (#2 song)
For The Heart (#2 song)
Way Down (#2 song)
Mean Woman Blues (#2 song)
Steamroller Blues

How Great Thou Art (closing song)
If I Can Dream (closing song)
I'll Never Fall In Love (closing song)
Bridge Over Troubled Water (closing song)
You'll Never Walk Alone (closing song)
My Way (closing song)

[richardo316]

i like polk promised land for the opening and to close out the show how about my way