Hey Tis,

We almost forgot to start a thread this year!!!!

Well, there's still about ten minutes to go on the east coast until August 16th comes to a close.

So RIP to the best ever. And here's the best B-Side in the history of 45's.

I love that song, especially when he performed it on the 68 comeback special.He was the best and nobody has ever come close and never will.

Just glad i've been able to experience Graceland as per the picture below..

Long live the king..

[img]http://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...amp;oe=5468C0A8[/img]

Me, too, DeNiro. You're probably too young to remember 45's. But "It Hurts Me" was the B-Side of a mediocre song called "Kissin' Cousins." But "Kissin' Cousins" was the theme from a terrible Elvis movie of the same name, so it got more play. So "It Hurts Me" kinda got lost for a little while.

It was only after he performed it during the '68 Comeback Special that the song got the exposure that it deserved. I often refer to it as the best B-Side in the history of 45's. But that might not be true because Frank Sinatra's "Summer Wind" was the B-Side of "Strangers in the Night."

Summer Wind is the best ever!

This, like almost all of his other songs is a great one. The best voice ever

Back to Elvis, I remember that day he died very well. Totally stunned. Elvis was a household name in my house. Very very sad.

I like Frank, but Elvis is the man. NOBODY is better than EP. Don't mess with Elvis.




TIS

You mean the day they said he died.

Oh, that's right. He's shacked up with Adriana in a Super 8 motel in Tupelo .

Well, I didn't wanna say anything but I did see him in the local Michigan McDonald's in 1979.

TIS

What I liked about Elvis was he never took himself too seriously when he performed.

Have you ever heard Tom Jones on the voice Uk he name drops when he wants singers to pick him as there coach. He always drops that he sang with Elvis.

He's a poor man's Engelbert Humperdinck, with not even half the talent. I never liked him. But I always liked Engelbert. I've seen him in Atlantic City twice.

I've showed these pictures before,but thought i would share them again for any newer members who have not seen them.. Me at Graceland in 2008..

Nice, DeNiro.

You look just like a southern boy with your dark, all-year suntan .

But all kidding aside, those are GREAT!!

Thanks, hope to go back some day..

Great pics DeNiro. I know I've mentioned before that all the years I lived a tad closer to TN I never made it to Graceland. Thing is, besides Graceland, I don't know what else would interest me. I am not a CW fan. Yet, someday, I hope to go and visit.

I too have mentioned that I saw Elvis in person New Year's Eve 1975 in the Detroit area concert. It was GREAT!! All my younger years being a fan, and as a young wife & new mother still was so excited to see him in concert. I never was a screamer/swooner to speak of BUT Midway thru the concert, I decided I wanted to walk up by the stage and just get a better look/picture of my idol... AND, maybe a scarf/kiss. I got pretty close and a good look but no scarf (sadly)

Thing is, on my way back, I couldn't find my seat. LOL (directions were never my thing). I ended up sitting on the step because I'd be damned if I'd miss the concert for that. Fortunately someone from the group I was with came to get me. I at least was in the vicinity. ha ha

Glad I got to see him because it was less than 2 years later he died. I still have my concert ticket and program saved in my mementos.

TIS

Did you get to see the rest of Memphis, or just Graceland?

I would like to see Sun Records and I thought I heard there's a museum and/or restaurant with EP theme




TIS

Memphis is great, Tis. Best barbecue in the south!

PB,

Only time I was in TN, was Nashville. We were just passing thru heading toward FL. We went to breakfast and waitress asked me if I wanted "grits" with my eggs. I said "what's that?" She said "Y'all don't know what grits are?" LOL
Don't know why, that stuck in my mind.

Never did get the grits!!

TIS

We went Sun Studios which was excellent and the Gibson Guitar factory. We also went to Beale Street where i was told Rhythm and Blues was born. Beale street is a must for people..We was in a bar on Beale Street and Dusty Hill from ZZ Top was in there, he was really nice but crazy.

In total we stayed at Heartbreak Hotel for i think 5 days.

You just gave me a "My Cousin Vinny" flashback, Tis.

Do you like your grits creamy or al dente?

My mom has always been a big fan of Elvis, so as a treat to her I took her and we toured Graceland back in early July. Toured both Jets, and the automobile museum as well. My mom was overjoyed by the trip. while I have never cared for his music I have always respected Elvis for what he did for Rock n Roll.

I had tickets to see him in Syracuse (I think it was August 19th or 20th) so when I heard about his death it really hit hard. Of course, I got a refund for the $12 the tickets cost - after all, there was beer to be bought.

Do you still have the stubs, DM?

They're not worth as much as people think. But they're a nice keepsake .

Please excuse the intrusion, but here is something that may be of interest. I was there:

Feb. 19, 1977 @ Freedom Hall Civic Center, Johnson City, Tenn.

PB - always enjoy your posts on OC.

Very nice Gary. That was just 6 months before his death. I saw him in 75. I can't remember what I paid for tickets. Do you know what you paid?

FWIW, I do have from way back in 60s a Christmas card I got from Graceland. Still have that saved.




TIS

Yes, I paid either 12 or 15 dollars for each ticket. You could only buy 5 so, my wife and I were allowed a total of 10. We stood in line from 9:00 pm until 5:00 am. There were lines over a mile long outside the civic center. Once in the building we were directed to different sections and called down to the floor to make thje final purchase. I believe we left the building around 8 am. As soon as I exited the building people were waiting to offer anywhere from 100-200 dollars for a ticket. It was an experience I'll never forget. But well worth all the trouble.

I gave family members some tickets and also three high school kids, one of whom was confined to a wheelchair. They were all big Elvis fans.

Elvis had appeared at Freedom Hall a year earlier in March of 1976. I remember very well the excitement that surrounded the entire tricities area ( Kingsport, Bristol and JohnsonCity). Local television stations actually interrupted programming to announce that Elvis was "coming to the tricities." I left work and tried to get info on ticket sales, but no one was saying anything. I believe it was the next day when ticket sales procedures were announced. It was pandemonium in this area ! Everybody wanted to get a ticket to see Elvis. On his first visit to upper east Tn, Elvis stayed at the Holiday Inn in Bristol. It wasn't long before word got out and the entire area around the Holiday Inn was swamped with fans. Police could do little to help because of the large number of people. It was really something to see all the people trying to get a glimpse of the "King."

The demand for tickets was so great that two additional concerts were announced. So Elvis performed three concerts at Freedom Hall in Johnson City in 1976. Needless to say all three performances were sell-outs. Freedom Hall has a capacity of about 7000-8000. I believe there was more than 10,000 at each performance. I actually saw two people in hospital beds with iv's in attendance. I was told that an ambulance brought them to the concert.

When Elvis returned in 1977 he flew in and out. He performed Feb. 20 in Charlotte ( I believe it was Charlotte).

He was showing signs of health problems at the 1977 concert. He really needed intervention. The show was good and of course a sell-out, but Elvis needed rest and help.

I saw him again in May '77 at the old Stokley Athletic Center in Knoxville, Tn. Once again, a good show but he was really suffering. An attendant told me where he would exit the building, so I left a little early hoping to get a close-up view of Elvis. I did and his entourage was literally carrying him with two men on both sides helping him walk and get in his limousine. Really, really sad.

I wish someone could have convinced Elvis to take time off and "get clean." The drugs had really taken a toll on his body. So sad.

The greatest entertainer ever. Just watch this closing vamp when he finishes his last song and Charlie Hodge puts the scarf around his neck and Elvis put down the microphone. Watch the famous "stage walk." Charisma in action !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfa09l_qfbI&sns=em

Good stuff, Gary .

I'm glad you remained an Elvis fan into the '70s. I've gone back and forth with some other Southerners who, I hate to say it, came to resent Elvis a little for getting away from his Southern roots (I've often chided RonnieRocket here for having a Southerner's attitude about Elvis).

I personally think that's ridiculous because he stayed in Memphis until the day he died. But still, there's no denying that a lot of Southerners would have preferred it if Elvis went to Nashville instead of Vegas .