Sep '70 Tour --> "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)"

[drjohncarpenter]

Billboard - Oct 10 1970 p89.JPG

Billboard - October 10, 1970


Elvis formally hit the road in September 1970, after unpleasant tours of duty in the Army and Hollywood that consumed the better part of thirteen long years. His last tour, in Hawaii, ran all of three shows on November 10 and 11, 1957.

After the triumph of his December 1968 TV Special, outstanding Memphis recordings in January and February 1969, and his sizzling stage return in Las Vegas that July, everyone expected a U.S. and worldwide tour to follow. Instead 1970 came and fans were given two more month-long bookings in Vegas, and Elvis blowing the roof off of the Houston Astrodome with six incredible performances in three days. Another fruitful studio session in June was logged as tour plans were finally considered for September.

Elvis took his current TCB band, along with the Sweet Inspirations, the Hugh Jarrett Singers (filling in for the Imperials, who were unavailable), Kathy Westmoreland and local orchestras led by Joe Guercio to help make the magic.

As may be seen by the above ad, the tour was a tremendous success. Elvis was a lean, mean rockin' machine.

700910_StLouisb.jpg

Elvis, "Polk Salad Annie," Thursday, September 10, St. Louis

700911_Detroitc.jpg

Elvis, "Suspicious Minds," Friday, September 11, Detroit

700912_MiamiASb.jpg

Elvis, Saturday, September 12, Miami (afternoon)

700912_MiamiES.jpg

Elvis, Saturday, September 12, Miami (evening)


The sets were as amazing as they were varied. Here's one example:

Elvis Presley
Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI
Friday, September 11, 1970

Opening Theme
That's All Right
I Got A Woman / Amen
I Walk The Line (one-liner)
Love Me Tender
I've Lost You
You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
Polk Salad Annie / Release Me / Polk Salad Annie
Introductions of musicians, singers, orchestra
Johnny B Goode
The Wonder Of You
Detroit City (one-liner)
Heartbreak Hotel
Blue Suede Shoes / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On / All Shook Up / Blue Suede Shoes
Hound Dog
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Funny How Time Slips Away
Suspicious Minds
Cant Help Falling In Love
Closing Vamp

Sadly, although it has been over 40 years since this tour thrilled thousands, fans have yet to see any kind of officially released document of this event. If there are soundboard recordings, they remain behind closed doors.

Maybe someday we'll be able to hear what all the fuss was about.

[bquick]

I certainly hope so!

[Juan Luis]

Very KOOL Doc! PS. As a kid went to the Miami Convention Center to see INSIDE the the 3 ring circus. Huge place!

[TJ]

Cool ad. Elvis was the man in 1970.

Are there any particular dates for which the soundboard is rumoured to be in private hands?

[Julian Grant]

Fabulous stuff Doc.
He really was lean, mean & kicking butt. What a guy!

[Mike Eder]

Good ads there. You can almost feel the excitment of the period.

[Gregory Nolan Jr.]

Awesome ads! For a second i had hope this referred to a rare Sly Stone cover--- but that's a
fitting title...

[George Smith]

There was, indeed, a riot going on.

Thanks for the reminder of our man at his best, Doc.

[Renan]

Maybe someday we'll be able to hear what all the fuss was about.

Maybe someday, somewhere along the way...........

[elvisjock]

But, but, but Jerry Weintraub says he played Miami on the 4th of July!

[rickeap]

Some cool photos there, like that last one in Miami.
It woulod have been nice to hear some of his first tour in more than a decade.

[elvisjock]

I was watching the two August, 1970 Vegas rehearsals last night. Mid-to-late 1970 really was the peak for Elvis, personally and professionally. His filmed conversation with the Sweets (Gee Gee) is rather adorable. (Show him, on his knees in front of four black girls, to anyone that buys into the notion that he was racist.) He is completely focused on the music. He knows exactly what he wants to hear. There's not a slurred word to be heard.

[Rocker]

Good ads there. You can almost feel the excitment of the period.

Indeed. It almost feels like suddenly everyone was a Elvis-fan again like in the 50s and that his new material would be loved as much as his oldies.

[Delboy]

Great post. The Miami Beach matinee ad gives credence to the Jerry Weintraub story?

[elvisjock]

Great post. The Miami Beach matinee ad gives credence to the Jerry Weintraub story?

There's never been any doubt that Elvis did a matinee in Miami in 1970. What gets called into question are the Weintraub embellishments - that it happened on July 4th and that he heroically created a sellout by recruiting jail inmates to remove 5000 unsold floor seats.

[monkboughtlunch]

Billboard - October 10, 1970



Elvis formally hit the road in September 1970, after unpleasant tours of duty in the Army and Hollywood that consumed the better part of thirteen long years. His last tour, in Hawaii, ran all of three shows on November 10 and 11, 1957.

After the triumph of his December 1968 TV Special, outstanding Memphis recordings in January and February 1969, and his sizzling stage return in Las Vegas that July, everyone expected a U.S. and worldwide tour to follow. Instead 1970 came and fans were given two more month-long bookings in Vegas, and Elvis blowing the roof off of the Houston Astrodome with six incredible performances in three days. Another fruitful studio session in June was logged as tour plans were finally considered for September.

Elvis took his current TCB band, along with the Sweet Inspirations, the Hugh Jarrett Singers (filling in for the Imperials, who were unavailable), Kathy Westmoreland and local orchestras led by Joe Guercio to help make the magic.

As may be seen by the above ad, the tour was a tremendous success. Elvis was a lean, mean rockin' machine.





Elvis, "Polk Salad Annie," Thursday, September 10, St. Louis





Elvis, "Johnny B. Goode," Thursday, September 10, St. Louis





Elvis, "Suspicious Minds," Friday, September 11, Detroit





Elvis, Saturday, September 12, Miami (afternoon)





Elvis, Saturday, September 12, Miami (evening)



The sets were as amazing as they were varied. Here's one example:

Elvis Presley
Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI
Friday, September 11, 1970

Opening Theme
Thats All Right
I Got A Woman / Amen
I Walk The Line (one-liner)
Love Me Tender
I've Lost You
You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
Polk Salad Annie / Release Me / Polk Salad Annie
Introductions of musicians, singers, orchestra
Johnny B Goode
The Wonder Of You
Detroit City (one-liner)
Heartbreak Hotel
Blue Suede Shoes / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On / All Shook Up / Blue Suede Shoes
Hound Dog
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Funny How Time Slips Away
Suspicious Minds
Cant Help Falling In Love
Closing Vamp

Sadly, although it has been over 40 years since this tour thrilled thousands, fans have yet to see any kind of officially released document of the event. If there are soundboard recordings, they remain behind closed doors.

Maybe someday we'll be able to hear what all the fuss was about.

Until then, we can reflect on Jim Morrison's enjoyment of the Miami performance. http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=58662

[midnightx]

Great idea Monk, let's rehash the Morrison debate.

[DEH]

Its a damn shame that some of the shows barely made it to 40 minutes. 45 minutes at the most.

[midnightx]

Its a damn shame that some of the shows barely made it to 40 minutes. 45 minutes at the most.

They still would have been better than listening to longer shows from 1976 that contained 6 minutes of Amen/Dive-bombing and 20+ minutes of band intros.

[Rocker]

Off topic but I wanted to mention it since that Jim Morrison-article is shown. Reportedly Jim's favorite Beach Boys album was Wild Honey (others say it was Pet Sounds). Anyway he was at the Whisky (iirc) one night with Eric Burdon and they started to boo a local singer, which prompted Dennis Wilson to beat them up. Don't know who won.....
Anyway, back to the topic.

[drjohncarpenter]

Very KOOL Doc! PS. As a kid went to the Miami Convention Center to see INSIDE the the 3 ring circus. Huge place!

Cool ad. Elvis was the man in 1970.

Are there any particular dates for which the soundboard is rumoured to be in private hands?

Fabulous stuff Doc.
He really was lean, mean & kicking butt. What a guy!

Good ads there. You can almost feel the excitement of the period.

Awesome ads! For a second i had hope this referred to a rare Sly Stone cover--- but that's a fitting title...

There was, indeed, a riot going on.

Thanks for the reminder of our man at his best, Doc.

But, but, but Jerry Weintraub says he played Miami on the 4th of July!

I was watching the two August, 1970 Vegas rehearsals last night. Mid-to-late 1970 really was the peak for Elvis, personally and professionally. His filmed conversation with the Sweets (Gee Gee) is rather adorable. (Show him, on his knees in front of four black girls, to anyone that buys into the notion that he was racist.) He is completely focused on the music. He knows exactly what he wants to hear. There's not a slurred word to be heard.

Indeed. It almost feels like suddenly everyone was a Elvis-fan again like in the 50s and that his new material would be loved as much as his oldies.

Great, and hilarious, feedback. Thank you.

I stumbled across the ad looking for some ... Partridge Family information. I had to post it.

TJ, I've heard nothing concrete regarding SB tapes, but surely there must be one or two.

George, you nailed the subtext quite nicely.

Who here knows the best overall audience recording for the tour (sound, songs, performance, crowd)?

[rjm]

Well, thank God he wore this suit, Martian collar and all.
In Miami. Sorry Doors guys. And NO CAPE YET. But no black cool either. A blessing. Why?
Cause if he wore the more likeable 69 outfits and the seat split as they did about ten times . . . in Miami?

Well I don't think they'd buy "but it's not my fault!"
I'm serious. They were insane down there at the time.
Same place where a Herb Rowe called his integrated 56 audience "idiots who should be slapped in the mouth."
Elvis responded:"Well he's an idiot!" Among other things.

So best he wore the less cool white suit. No whoosh of air in the uh end.
Thus no silver bracelets in the warmth of Miami.
I lived there as a kid for a bit. I hated the place. Mean kids.
My dad's job took us up south. I was thrilled to leave. Mean place, Miami. Back in the day anyway.
Seems like he did ok tho.
FYI.
From rjm.
Many thanks Doc.

-- note: edited some spelling in Sep. 2012. Back then I had that damn little Kindle, apparently!

[monkboughtlunch]

Well, thank God he wore this suit, Martian collar and all.
In Miami. Sorry Doors guys. And NO CAPE YET.

Not sure what you are smoking. This isn't a giant martian collar?

[Lover Doll]

So cool!
Great post!

[rjm]

I should have put quotes around it. I did NOT call it that; some Doors survivor who attended called it that a few posts earlier in an article remembering -imperfectly- their experierence. They did say they enjoyed the show.

I wanted to clear up why Elvis dropped those first cool black suits. He still looked incredible. They got confused.
Perhaps they expected the black two piece ones they had read about. I dunno.

It wasn't workable for him. These suits are simple enough for for me.

If SOMEONE had read the thread they just might have seen the article that someone posted.
Unfortunately people let their memories become contaminated by stuff they saw later.
He ALWAYS had high collars anyway. THEY were smokin something. Not me.
It's not that long a thread. Sheesh.