Elvis In Concert

Release Date- Oct. 1977

Peak Chart Position- #5 (US) #13 (UK)

Track Listings- Fan Comments / Also Sprach Zarathustra / See See Rider / That's All Right / Are You Lonesome Tonight / Teddy Bear-Don't Be Cruel / Fan Comments / You Gave Me A Mountain / Jailhouse Rock / Fan Comments / How Great Thou Art / Fan Comments / I Really Don't Want To Know / Hound Dog / My Way / Can't Help Falling In Love / Closing Riff-Message From Elvis' Father / I Got A Woman-Amen / Love Me / If You Love Me / O Sole Mio-It's Now Or Never / Trying To Get To You / Hawaiian Wedding Song / Fairytale / Little Sister / Early Morning Rain / What'd I Say / Johnny B. Goode / And I Love You So /

Recorded- June 19 1977 Omaha Civic Auditorium, June 21 1977 Rushmore Civic Center in Rapid City.

Musicians- Guitar: James Burton, John Wilkinson, Charlie Hodge, Elvis Presley
                        Bass: Jerry Scheff
                        Drums: Ronnie Tutt
                        Piano: Tony Brown
                        Electric Piano: Bobby Ogdin
                        Vocal: The Sweet Inspirations, J.D. Sumner & The Stamps, Kathy Westmoreland,
                                          Sherrill Nielsen

With The Joe Guercio Orchestra

Elvis In Concert was the last concert album The King ever released and it is a testament to the man that the album is as good as it is. This was recorded less than two months before his death and it is amazing that he was able to put on the great vocal performance he did considering the bad shape he was in. If you watch the accompanying video to this album, you can see that Elvis is trying his best too look like he's okay, but it's obvious that he was in awful shape. But no matter what he felt like, he seemed to forget all his ills the second he strode on stage. His voice on this album is probably deeper, stronger and more powerful that ever before. He forgets the words on "Are You Lonesome Tonight" and a few of the songs do sound weak ("Little Sister", "Fairytale" among others), but they are canceled out by some great performances. Even if you are not religious like me, it's impossible not to be moved be "How Great Thou Art". This version is far superior to the studio version. "Early Morning Rain" and "And I Love You So" get maybe their best treatments ever, with Elvis in great vocal shape. Also listen to Kathy Westmoreland's vocal on "And I Love You So" (she's the girl with the HIGH voice). Elvis really had a great back up band as well. "My Way" here is even better than on The Aloha album and Elvis' section of "O Sole Mio-It's Now Or Never" is great (skip Sherrill Nielsen's painful intro). But the highlight of the album is "Hurt" which was always done better live. The opening notes are absolutely incredible, the rest of the song just as good. Whenever people criticize Elvis saying that he didn't play his own instruments or write his songs I tell them to listen to this. There were better guitar players and greater songwriters, but could anyone sing like this ? No. No one could even come close. Also included on the album are some great comments from Elvis' fans and a touching final message from Elvis' father. This is not the most perfect album, but it's flaws show us that Elvis was human, flawed and at the same time perfect. ***1/2 out of *****

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