Elvis: 37 Years Later

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 .

One of the biggest Elvis fans was Bruce Springsteen. Here's an interesting story from Rolling Stone about how Springsteen tried to climb the Graceland fence in 1976. This was one year after Springsteen broke through the mainstream with "Born to Run."

April 30, 1976 - Bruce Springsteen hops the fence at Graceland

Anyone who's attended a Bruce Springsteen show knows that the man can talk a blue streak: his legendary three-hour sets are littered with long anecdotes, and there's no story the Boss loves telling more than the time he got booted from Elvis Presley's front porch.

In 1976, while in Memphis on their hugely successful Born to Run tour, 26-year-old Springsteen and his E-Street Band cohort Steve Van Zandt decided to pay a 3 a.m. visit to Graceland. When he saw lights blazing inside the mansion, Springsteen climbed over the wall and ran to the front door; just as he was about to ring the doorbell, he was intercepted by security. Explaining his newfound rock fame and his recent covers of both Time and Newsweek, Springsteen poured on the charm and begged to be let inside – but instead, the unimpressed guards told him that Presley was out of town (which was true) and escorted him promptly to the sidewalk.

Elvis died at Graceland the following year. Regardless, he is united forever with Springsteen on the cover of Born to Run, where the Boss's guitar strap proudly bears an Elvis fan club button.




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This is Springsteen song wrote about Elvis' life and fame lead to his death at such a young age. It's called "Johnny Bye Bye" and ends with the line "you didn't have to die."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_50fxaPagyM

Hey Goombah!! How ya doing?

I never heard that Springsteen story before. Didn't realize he was such a fan. Very nice!!!!





TIS

I knew The Boss was a fan bit didn't know about him jumping the wall of graceland.

Hi TIS - doing well! Just wishing the summer wasn't winding down.

Here's another story about how Led Zeppelin, minus bassist John Paul Jones, went to Graceland and hung out with the King.

Elvis meets Led Zeppelin in 1974

If you've ever seen Zeppelin's The Song Remains the Same film, they throw in a few lines from Elvis' "That's All Right" during the performance of "Whole Lotta Love."

Here's another part of the story from Richard Cole, who was one of their tour managers. I believe that this was included in the "Hammer of the Gods" biography of Zeppelin by Steven Davis.

Later in the year Richard Cole organised a meeting between Elvis and John Paul Jones as Jones had missed out on the LA meeting for some reason which is not clear. Richard had become friendly with one of Elvis's bodyguards, Jerry Schilling. The year before, while Led Zeppelin didn't tour, Cole had road-managed Eric Clapton's American tour, and had taken Clapton to meet Elvis in Memphis. Now Cole had decided to meet Elvis again, and arranged to take John Paul Jones up to Elvis's mansion in Bel Air. So they took one of the limos, and when they got to the house they were told not to discuss music with the King and to leave after twenty minutes. Cole walked into Elvis's living room with a cold bottle of Dom Perignon in each hand. They found Elvis sprawled over a couch, wearing pajamas and house slippers, watching television with his entourage. Cole was a little drunk. “Wot the fucking hell is going on here?” he asked good-naturedly. Elvis didn't like people to curse in his house. “Man,” the King said, “what's all this cussing and swearing?” But Cole started to 'kid' Elvis. “You're sittin' there in your fucking carpet slippers and fucking Charlie Hodge [one of Elvis's aides] is twiddling a fucking pencil over here, what kind of fucking party is this?” Elvis could take no more. He jumped up in a karate pose and whacked wrists with Cole, who had also gone into fighting stance. On contact, Cole's gold Tiffany watch clattered to the floor. Elvis picked it up. He liked watches, so he put it on. “That's nice,” the King said.“Ahh, fucking keep it!” Cole said. But giving Elvis a watch set off the Kings automatic gifting mechanisms. Elvis ran out of the room and returned with another watch. Here,” he said, handing it to Cole. “You fucking keep this!” It was a gold watch decorated with thirty-two diamonds. Then Elvis looked at Jones and said, “Whaddaya got? Gimme your watch.” Jones handed the King his Mickey Mouse watch. Elvis exited and returned with a double-dial (for two time zones) Baume & Mercier watch set in lapis lazuli. Elvis wasn't through. “What else you got?” he asked. Cole gave him his Brazilian amethyst ring. Elvis took a ring off his hand and said, “You can fucking have this,” throwing Cole a two-karat diamond ring engraved with “Love Linda.” Elvis finally let Cole and Jones leave three hours later.He walked them to their limo in his pajamas and opened the car door for them.The drivers and the other retainers almost dropped dead. Elvis hardly ever came out of the house, let alone opened limo doors for his guests.

I remember the day he passed, many years ago but sometimes seems like yesterday.

RIP

I was only 6 when Elvis died, but I do remember hearing it on the car radio.

I also remember being in a store in 1980 and hearing that John Lennon was killed. I know they announced it on Monday Night Football, so it may have been the following day that I heard. It's hard to believe that there was a time when news and access to information was not 24/7/365.

No - turned them in the get the refund. It would be nice to have them now, but I needed the beer money then!

One of my favorite songs of his was Heart Brake Hotel.

I have so many favorites, I couldn't possibly think of them all. Off top of my head (some not so notable maybe):


I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
I Got A Woman
Mean Woman Blues
Hard Headed Woman
Trouble
I Got Stung
Old Shep
I Tripped, I Stumbled, I Fell
Any Day Now
If I Can Dream
Surrender
It's Now Or Never
I Believe

And probably at least 1,000 more.


TIS

Do you listen to the Elvis channel on Sirius, Tis?

I think it's channel 19. Anyway, yeah, Elvis sang a few stinkers. But when you record that many songs, that's bound to happen. But the Sirius channel has actually made me a fan of some of his Gospel and Country songs. And I didn't think that was possible .

I really like "Follow That Dream" and "Burning Love."

I used to have Sirius, but they repeat so much stuff. I'd be driving to work and hear a song or show and they'd repeat the same thing on the drive home. Too little variety IMHO to justify the cost.

PB,

I don't have Sirius. Not even sure how to get it. You pay for it right?

Oh yea, for sure some stinkers, but the good outweigh the bad by far. Then again I'm biased when it comes to EP.

Speaking of religious albums. I also have those I(in Michigan). "His Hand In Mind" is one of them. I admit however, I bought them just to keep up my collection at the time. Some good tunes for sure, but the religious albums are probably in the best shape then the others. Says a lot. Ha ha




TIS

I actually agree, Goom. But every time you buy a new car these days, you get three to six months free, depending on the manufacturer and the dealership. My wife and son both got new cars earlier this summer, so I've been listening to Sirius in their cars. My son went back to school this week, though. So it's back to the stone age for me .

My favorite songs from Elvis American Trilogy and Suspicious minds,but there are hundreds more i could name..

"It Hurts Me" (Studio Version)

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" (Live from "That's the Way It Is")

"My Way" ("Aloha from Hawaii")

"American Trilogy" ("Aloha from Hawaii")

"If I Can Dream" ("'68 Comeback Special")

Another favorite is "Mess Of Blues" which is the flip side of "It's Now Or Never"if I remember correctly. Oh btw, to the youngsters, that's a 45 record in which there was one song on each side. . LOL Damn, how dated is that?

I remember paying 65 cents for a 45.


TIS

I found the cover. This is a 45 record

Tomorrow is Elvis' 80th birthday.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/elvis-presley
-80th-birthday-celebration-reissues-website-20150107

HB to The King, my favorite Christmas Song is Blue Christmas.

Here is my other Fav, Viva Las Vegas.

http://youtu.be/ui0EgRsFVN8

DP

I agree Dues

I use to go to Vegas at least once a year. I'd blast that song every time I was packing to go. It is such a perfect song for that bright, gawdy, fun city. So true.....Well except (for me) the part of "having a whole lot of money ready to burn."


I can't believe it's been 37 years. Was always an Elvis fan. I'm so happy I did get to see him in 75.

RIP EP

TIS

Love Vegas. It is sad to think how long ago that was, I remember the endless line of white Caddy's in his persession.

Now I feel like watching a Elvis Movie.

DP