From Down Under
Part Two
by Geoffrey Mc Donnell (Australia)
For his first appearance in Springfield Elvis wore a brand ‘ new ’ suit the Gypsy Suit. During the actual performance on 14th July Elvis didn’t seem to be in a ‘ good mood ’ he quickly threw away his guitar ( after it emitted a loud buzz ) throwing it to a young woman saying ” whoever got the guitar can keep the dammed thing-I don’t need it anyway ” As often as he looked bored he also threw away lyrics with his scarves and Newspapers described his waistline as ‘ pudgy ’ and ‘ conspicuously ample ” however the reviewer DID note that during THE highlight of the show How Great Thou Art that Elvis did display a potent set of pipes!. The audience were ‘ ecstatic ’ after that performance.
Cathi Avenell © Springfield,MA
July 14th, 1975 evening show
Springfield, MA July
14th E/S Civic Center
C. C. Rider; I Got A
Woman/Amen; Big Boss Man; Love Me; If You Love Me Let Me Know; Love Me Tender;
All Shook Up; Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel; The Wonder Of You; Burning Love;
Introductions & Solos; T.R.O.U.B.L.E; Why Me Lord; How Great Thou Art-with
reprise; Let Me Be There; Heartbreak Hotel; Funny How Times Slip Away; Little
Darling; Mystery Train/Tiger Man; Can't Help Falling In Love
Gypsy Star Suit
9,000
So after the first
show in Springfield Elvis changed into his “ Aztec Suit ”, however once again
during the show Elvis didn’t appear to be in a good mood at all. He appeared
MEAN and threw away another guitar to the crowd- thankfully from Burning Love
onwards Elvis’s mood loosened up quite a bit and appeared to be enjoying
himself.
Springfield, MA July
15th E/S Civic Center r/t
70 minutes
C. C. Rider; I Got A
Woman/Amen; Love Me; If You Love Me Let Me Know; Love Me Tender; All Shook Up;
Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel; The Wonder Of You; Burning Love; Introductions &
Solos; T.R.O.U.B.L.E; Why Me Lord; You Gave Me a Mountain; Let Me Be There;
Heartbreak Hotel; Funny How Times Slip Away; Little Darling; Mystery Train/Tiger
Man; Can't Help Falling In Love
Sabre Tooth Tiger
9,000
Still having based
his stay in Connecticut he performed on 16th July at the Veterans
Memorial Coliseum in New Haven. Still wearing a cleaned “ Aztec Suit ”
and tonight he also appeared well and happy- he even changed song line up
to include You don’t have to say you Love me and I’ll Remember You.
Cathi Avenell © New Haven,CT July 16th, 1975 evening show
New Haven, CT July
16th E/S Veteran's Memorial Coliseum
C. C Rider; I Got A
Woman/Amen; Big Boss Man; Love Me; If You Love Me Let Me Know; Love Me Tender;
All Shook Up; Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel; The Wonder Of You; You Don't Have to
Say You Love Me; Burning Love; Introductions & Solos; T.R.O.U.B.L.E; I'll
Remember You; How Great Thou Art; Let Me Be There; Funny How Times Slip Away;
Little Darling; Mystery Train/Tiger Man; Can't Help Falling In Love
Gypsy Star Suit
10,800
New Haven, CT July
17th E/S Veteran's Memorial Coliseum
2001 theme; C.C.
Rider; I Got A Woman-Amen; Big Boss Man; Love Me; If You Love Me Let Me Know;
Love Me Tender; All Shook Up; Teddy Bear- Don't Be Cruel; Hound Dog; The Wonder
Of You; Burning Love; band intros; T.R.O.U.B.L.E; Why Me Lord?; Heartbreak Hotel;
Let Me Be There; You Gave Me A Mountain; Funny How Time Slips Away;
Little Darlin'; Mystery Train - Tiger Man; Can't Help Falling In Love - closing
vamp.
Sabre Tooth Tiger
10,920
Fan Pete Dube
thought this 1975
show was super! Elvis sang with the same level of enthusiasm, power, and volume
as the Americas' Own shows 2 days later. Appearance wise he still looked great
despite his stomach area looking kinda swollen (he wore the "gypsy"
suit). But he was still incredibly handsome, he didn't have the bloated, pale,
sickly, weak-eyed look that he got in 76. He was very animated, particularly on
the "gyration" numbers "Burning Love" and the "Mystery
Train"-"Tiger Man" medley. But Pete was most impressed by how
strong he sang. He damn near raised the roof with the power of his voice on the
choruses of "You Gave Me A Mountain", and "Big Boss Man"
& "Let Me Be There" were 2 other vocal highlights that really
impressed! One more thing I'd like to mention is that his presence, charisma,
whatever you want to call it was truly magnetic! It was like he exuded an aura.
Cleveland, OH July
18th E/S Track Listing Available
2001 Theme;C. C. Rider; I Got A
Woman/Amen; Big Boss Man; Love Me; If You Love Me Let Know; Love Me Tender; All
Shook Up; Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel; Hound Dog; The Wonder Of You; You Don't
Have To Say You Love Me; Burning Love; Introductions & Solos; Happy
Birthday; T.R.O.U.B.L.E; I should Have Been Crucified (Stamps);Why Me
Lord; Let Me Be There; Heartbreak Hotel; Funny How Times Slip Away; Little
Darling; It's Now Or Never; Mystery Train/Tiger Man; Dialogue; Can't Help
Falling In Love...
75mins AV/Q
Coliseum
Gypsy Star
21,000
Elvis here returned
to Cleveland to give a 2nd show in the same arena. Without doubt this 2nd
show was much better!. Elvis sounds enthusiastic right from the start of the
show.Ed Enoch got Happy Birthday sung to him and just before closing this show
Elvis gave his most lengthy dialogue all about how hard the crew with him and
onstage were working hard to give the best show possible. The fans seemed to go
most wild with his performance of ‘ It’s Now or Never ’. The only ‘ bad ’
thing happening from Cleveland onwards was Elvis’s bad mouthing of Kathy
Westmoreland. saying during her intro “ Kathy used to be a Sunday School
Smoker ”
Elvis flew into New
York City arriving at Kennedy Airport at 1.30am As he emerged from his plane it
was noted he looked ‘ very healthy ’ in Dark Sunglasses and smoking a cigar. A
hundred fans were on hand to greet him. One fan, after seeing Elvis up close,
wrote '’ What one notices most is his great staure,what a
fine,handsome,pleasant man he is with such a beautiful smile ” Indeed pictures
taken around this time show Jerry, Red and crew paying 100% attention that the
doors are open for Elvis getting into or out of cars whilst Elvis himself often
carry’s a small tub of peanuts with him-he almost looks like a ‘ God ’
himself here and also did during his 2 Nassau appearances on 19th
July.
Uniondale, NY July
19th A/S CD Americas Own
2001 Theme; C. C.
Rider;Dialogue; I Got A Woman/Amen; Big Boss Man; Love Me; Dialogue; If You Love
Me Let Me Know; Love Me Tender; All Shook Up; Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel; Hound
Dog; The Wonder Of You; Trying To Get To You; Burning Love;
Introductions/Johnny B.Goode/Chicken Pickin'/Solos/Hail Hail Rock'n'Roll;
T.R.O.U.B.L.E; Heartbreak Hotel; Killing Me Softly (Voice); Let Me Be
There; Bosom Of Abraham/You Better Run; You Gave Me A Mountain; Little
Darling; Mystery Train/Tiger Man; Funny How Times Slip Away; Can't Help Falling
In Love
Sound +++-
Nassau Coliseum
Sabre Tooth Tiger
16,500
This is a fine show and without the best of the tour so far…he starts joking during I Got a Woman singing ‘ Woman way across Georgia ’ ( a reference to Diana Goodman? )and saying ‘ where am I? ’, ’oh yes I know where I am! ’. The long drum ending to Amen is exceptional and after welcoming everyone to the show a woman tossed a Bra at him landing on stage. Elvis picked it up and read the attached note ‘ love Joanne ’ Elvis searched the crowd and found Joanne and asked her not to take anything else off before commenting that the Bra must be ‘ Z ’ size for Zebra! After Love Me Elvis asks the crowd to take care that no-one gets hurt running down the aisles, but apart from that just ‘ let it go ’ with which the crowd REALLY began to loosen up!. The next 6 songs seemed to be sung very well tenderly and affectionate with the crowd. Both The Wonder of You and Trying to Get to You are very well sung and very strong. Burning Love is another standout performance leading into the band introductions.
Unfortunately during the introductions Elvis manages to overstep the mark on 3 of the introductions. First he introduces the Stamps individually and highlights Ed Enoch as being someone mentioned in the bible, then Bill Baize gets introduced as “ one of the straightest guy’s of the group and by that Elvis says he means he has no qualms about showing his affection in public! ”, Then Kathy gets introduced saying “ She takes affection wherever she can get it-Kathy Westmoreland ”. Next Elvis says he has “ never figured this guy out-John Wilkinson because he went on a blind date one time ” ( one has to wonder hear if BOTH Kathy and John getting ‘ negative ’ remarks in the same show was this because John & Kathy had a date??, or because in 1970 Elvis ‘ stole ’ John’s date with Kathy?).
Steve Toli © Uniondale,NY July 19th, 1975 matinee show
Thankfully after this James Burton plays J.B.Goode before at Elvis’s request also playing his ‘ Chicken Picking ’ Following his new single which Elvis performed well all this tour a quite strong Heartbreak Hotel led into another request for Voice to perform their version of ‘ Killing me Softly ’. After Let me be There Elvis very unusually gets Charlie Hodge to help him sing and set up an impromptu version of Bosom of Abraham/You’d Better Run- which is yet another unexpected highlight in this great show!. After You Gave Me Mountain –with a few changed lyrics the rest of the show was somewhat ‘ routine ’ except that he gets J.D to repeat the end of Funny how time slips away and also jokes around with a fan wanting both a scarf and a kiss by showing her a scarf and here’s the kiss on the scarf instead of her!.
Musically this has
been an outstanding show and only during the introductions did his Humour not
tickle the funny bone. Why even Joe Guercio got given a ring up on stage!.
Critic John Rockwell of the New York times wrote that ‘ when he is putting out
as he did Saturday afternoon ,reaching for the top notes and shaping phrases
with the same easy individuality that has always marked his best work, he is
still the king ’.
Col Parker, hearing about this ‘bad intro ‘behavior was at first subtle
requesting Elvis to sing "You'll Never Walk Alone." At the Evening
Show.
Uniondale, NY July
19th E/S CD America's Own Vol. 2
C. C. Rider; I Got A
Woman/Amen-long version; Big Boss Man; Love Me; If You Love Me Let Me
Know; Love Me Tender-near solo version; All Shook Up; Teddy Bear; Hound
Dog; The Wonder Of You; Polk Salad Annie; Introductions/ Solos; T.R.O.U.B.L.E;
Why Me Lord How Great Thou Art-with reprise; Let Me Be There; You'll Never
Walk Alone-with reprise; Funny How Times Slip Away; Little Darling; I'm
Leaving'; Dialogue;Can't Help Falling In Love
Sound ++-
Nassau Coliseum
Gypsy Star
16,500
Musically the
Evening show was just as good as the Afternoon show and containing other
‘ rare ’ and not often performed highlights. Big Boss Man was again
outstanding and Elvis actually sings most of Love me Tender on his own before
anyone else joins in ( cause you take the pill version ) maybe here the Sweets were
NOT singing because of Kathy’s intro? Polk Salad was the result tonight from
the audience and I’m Leavin' was quite a surprise too. Biggest surprise was an
incredible version of You’ll Never Walk Alone performed by Elvis at the piano
which caused one rock critic to remark after woods that his rendition of the
song showed ’ The power and emotion that established him as the King of Rock
n’Roll ’. Even How Great Thou Art stunned fans with his sheer power as Elvis
held the notes exclaiming for a long time and reprised the ending. Unfortunatly
at this Evening Show after again saying that “ Bill Baize has no qualms
about showing affection in public ” Elvis
says about Kathy “ Kathy Westmoreland will show affection anywhere in fact
she gets it from the whole band ( affection you fool ) ”( Maybe another
reference to John Wilkinson? ) Elvis
here seemed to be making Kathy’s introduction as if they were in a boxing
ring!.
Shortly after this
show Elvis flew out of Kennedy Airport to land at Piedmont Aviation next to
Norfolk Airport ,between 1 and 2am. Elvis immediately disappeared to the Holiday
Inn across the street from the ‘ new ’ Scope arena. Despite ‘ press
’
reports that the Afternoon Show in Norfolk went ‘ Smoothly ’ it did not as
insults from Elvis during the band Introductions reached a climax.
Carol Wheeler © Norfolk,VA July 20th, 1975 matinee show
Norfolk, VA July
20th A/S Audio
C, C Rider; I Got A
Woman/Amen; Big Boss Man; Love Me-false start; If You Love Me Let Me Know; Love
Me Tender-false start; All Shook Up; Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel; Hound Dog; The
Wonder Of You; Polk Salad Annie; Introductions & Solos; J.B.Goode;Suzie Q;
T.R.O.U.B.L.E; Why Me Lord; How Great Thou Art-with reprise; Let Me Be There;
Funny How Times Slip Away-with reprise ending; Little Darling; Mystery Train/Tiger
Man; dialogue; Promised Land; Can't Help Falling In Love
Sound +++ 82mins
Scope Cultural
Convention Center
Navy Blue Phoenix
11,300
Early on in the show
Elvis made an off hand remark that the arena looked like a spaceship, Later
during the strobe lighting affect of Tiger Man Elvis quipped “ I told you
we’re taking off! ” Song highlights were many including Big Boss Man, a
‘ rare ’ version of Susie Q and
yet another over the top strong version of How Great Thou Art. Introductions
started by saying that he ” has seen an aggressive change in Bill Baize who
used to show off affection in public. ” “ The little girl that does the high
voiced singing, she’s from Los Angeles- she’ll take affection anywhere, from
anybody, anytime from anywhere in the world-Kathy Westmoreland ”. Kathy
just gave Elvis the finger after this. Apart from the bad mouthing Norfolk A/S
is pretty much up to the same energy standard as yesterday’s Afternoon show.
Norfolk, VA July 20
E/S Track Listing Available
C, C Rider;Dialogue;
I Got A Woman/Amen-twice!; Love Me; If You Love Me Let Me Know; Love Me
Tender; All Shook Up; Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel; Hound Dog; The Wonder Of You;
Polk Salad Annie; Introductions & Solos; T.R.O.U.B.L.E; Why Me Lord; How
Great Thou Art-with reprise; Let Me Be There; Funny How Times Slip Away-with
repeat ending; Little Darling; Mystery Train/Tiger Man/Can't Help Falling In
Love/Closing closing vamp.
AV/Q
Scope Cultural
Convention Center
Black Phoenix
11,300
Tom Diskin talked
Joe Esposito into telling Elvis ( just before he went on stage ) to STOP bad
mouthing Kathy during her intro- which fired Elvis right up like a red flag to a
bull! Straight after the first song Elvis decided to mention what it was like
having 11,000 fans breathing on him-he said he smelt “ Garlic and Green
Onions and that the Sweet Inspirations had
been eating Catfish ”. Then the show continues normally with a STRONG
version of Hound Dog then Elvis remarks adding
‘ This show maybe ‘ old hat’ to you, but this audience haven’t seen it
before ’
‘ Stamps, Sweets, if you don’t look up I’m going to kick your ass ’.The
Wonder of You and Polk Salad Annie are well sung then . During the Intros Kathy
at first gets a more ‘ normal ’ intro first with Elvis saying “ The little
girl with the high voice singing is from Los Angeles her name is Kathy
Westmoreland ”…then he adds the ‘ sting ’ “ If you don’t like the
way I introduce you and can’t take it, then get off the spot! ”.
photographer unknown © Norfolk,VA July 20th, 1975 evening show
During this show the Sweet Inspirations and Kathy Westmoreland walked off because these comments by Elvis towards them. Only Myrna Smith remained on stage to which Elvis took off one of his rings and gave it to her as a gesture-at first she didn’t accept it but then did eventually. Oddly enough to a ‘ casual ’ listener to this Evening show you may be almost unaware that anything is going on indeed many fans may have thought it was just a part of the show?!. Tom Diskin talked the Sweets into performing at the next show in Greensboro but Kathy Westmoreland missed this show.
Elvis flew to Greensboro straight after this show. Whilst Elvis was in Greensboro he saw a local dentist twice to take care of an infected tooth. first visit to a Dr J.Baxter Caldwell was at 5am to have the abscessed tooth cared for. The tooth was under a bridge that covered a gap in his lower bicuspid already Caldwell removed the bridge and opened the tooth allowing it to drain and relieve the pressure. The bridge was left out.
On returning to his hotel Elvis dined on a tray of cantaloupe, honeydew melon, apple slices, banana chunks, grapes and cottage cheese before retiring. Elvis eat breakfast at 5pm of an omelet and fruit. During Elvis’s 8.30pm show at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum Elvis apologized to the Sweet Inspirations ” for any embarrassment I may have caused you ” All seemed to go well after that. In actual fact it was yet another good show ( despite Kathy being missing ) Early on he told the crowd about his dentist visit and performed very well as normal indeed Dick Conrad’s local review noted that Elvis “ sent shock waves through the crowd ”. He summed up the show, writing, “gurgling into the microphone, swaying like the Elvis of old and singing at least as well, Presley more than satisfied the faithfull”.
Only the fact that
Elvis sat down on stage after Polk Salad Annie gave any indication of anything
wrong ( something he also did a lot during his Las Vegas August shows before
canceling ) Elvis had a LOT of fun later in the show when 7 year old boy Mitch
was brought on stage wearing a jumpsuit just like Elvis. Straight after the show
at 1am on 22nd Elvis returned to Dr.Caldwell to have the rough Edges
on the problem tooth smoothed.Dr. Caldwell also advised Elvis to have root canal
on the tooth-for this visit Elvis was accompanied by Diana Goodman.
Sean Shaver © Greensboro,NC July 21st, 1975 evening show
Greensboro, NC July
21st E/S Coliseum
r/t 70 minutes
C, C Rider; I Got A
Woman/Amen;dialogue about dentist visit; Big Boss Man; Love Me; If You Love Me
Let Me Know; Love Me Tender; All Shook Up; Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel; Hound Dog;
The Wonder Of You; Polk Salad Annie; Elvis sits down for a rest;Intros + solos;j.b.goode;hail,hail
rock n'roll; T.R.O.U.B.L.E; Why Me Lord; How Great Thou Art-with reprise; Let Me
Be There; Funny How Time Slips Away;7 year old ' Mitch ' brought on stage in a
jumpsuit dressed like Elvis; Little Darling; Mystery Train/Tiger Man; Can't Help
Falling In Love
Gypsy Suit
16,300
So
basically instead of having the chance to communicate whatever Elvis may have
wanted to say to Kathy he couldn’t due to the tour arrangements which
basically amounted to a communication breakdown Elvis unwisely wasn’t exactly
sure he even wanted to be with either Linda Thompson or Diana Goodman during
this tour ( he tried to get Sheila Ryan but she had just moved in with James
Caan )
and so Elvis took out his frustration and meeting with Kathy by bad mouthing her
onstage. I think by the end of the tour ( and certainly by August in Las Vegas )
Elvis realized that he had ‘gone too far’ but NO amount of Jewelry giving
out/cars could take away the ‘ guilt ’ he felt after woods. Also the toothache/various
unknown pills and moods seemed to be seriously affecting Elvis on this tour- so
much so that even after Elvis had apologized to Estelle she recognized a ‘ vast
change ’ in Elvis the person.