From Down Under
Part Three
by Geoffrey Mc Donnell (Australia)
Next day on the way to Asheville Elvis changed his departure time 3 times before finally flying off to Asheville himself ( MUCH earlier than expected )and leaving the band on the airport runway because they didn’t move fast enough for his last minute change of plans. Next thing they knew Elvis’s plane returned and picked them up. Lowell Hays the Jeweler couldn’t believe what was happening!? The moment Lowell did get to Asheville Elvis asked to see him straight away. Elvis seemed to be recognizing now that he had seriously messed up with his ‘ Tantrums ’ and asked Lowell if either he or anyone in Asheville could immediately supply him with jewelry? Lowell couldn’t but made arrangements to get lots sent out from Memphis within the hour! Once Lowell DID arrive back from Memphis with all the jewelry Elvis proceeded to buy almost everything he had!. Elvis then gave something to everyone in the group- he gave each of the Sweet inspirations a $5,000 ring! Then in that frame of mind Elvis gave his FIRST show in Asheville! Just before closing in Asheville Elvis presented J.D.Sumner with a $40,000 ring!.
Ron Wolfe © Asheville,NC July 23rd, 1975 evening show
The
next day on 23rd Elvis visited another local dentist ( as he still had
tooth trouble ) however whilst the dentist was out of his room and Dr. Nick
present Elvis proceeded to go through his bag stealing pharmaceutical samples!
Once back in his hotel room Dr. Nick took the samples away from Elvis and caused
Elvis to go into a rage, as Dr. Nick wouldn’t give them back, next thing Elvis
is in the bathroom changing into his pajamas getting ready to take a brief nap
before the 2nd Asheville show but as he comes out his Dad has arrived
and whilst Elvis put his arms around his dad-same time from the little berretta
gun Elvis was carrying in his pajamas
the gun goes off and the bullet ricocheting off a chair and hitting Dr. Nick in the chest-lucky for Elvis it didn’t do any harm and just burnt
Dr. Nick's chest-meanwhile Vernon asks Elvis what the hell is going on?. Shortly
after this
Elvis was to give his 2nd performance in Asheville Whether Elvis shot
his gun in his hotel in Ashville, or threw his guitar to the audience, giving a
fan another $6,500 ring in the final tour show, his demeanor was very odd in
July 1975. So far he had given away $85,000 Jewelry!. ( and that’s the documented
stuff-NOT including rings given away to sound engineers and others! )
The
back-up singers had shown their disapproval by coming in very late to back Elvis'
version of "Love Me Tender" in Uniondale, then Elvis was publicly
chastised by someone he'd looked up to since he'd seen him, aged 15. In the
Ashville, 22nd July show, Elvis featured a very long version of
" Amen, " then announced " Why Me Lord? " - but as he started
J.D. Sumner didn't join Elvis to sing with him, forcing Elvis to continue the
song as a solo performance. J.D.Sumner is a professional and was so disgusted
with Elvis' pernicious vindictive behavior during this time, that he decided to
teach Elvis a lesson. Following this, Elvis ate humble pie to J.D. throughout
the rest of the show, praising J.D. unnecessarily then, to avoid introducing
Kathy, Elvis asked J.D. to make the intros ( as he left the stage for 7 minutes
making a bathroom visit ). Later, in shows such as Las Vegas, on 8th and 12th
December, Elvis introduced the Stamps FIRST, when usually it was LADIES FIRST,
however Elvis, like a Gentleman, returned to ladies first in 1976 and for the
rest of his shows. However, by the final show in Ashville, on 24th July, all had
not been resolved as during the singing of " The Hawaiian Wedding
Song, " after Elvis really emphasized the penultimate word " MY " at
the end of the song, he just left it hanging there, not singing heart and not
finishing the song ( whether distracted by a fan or not it’s VERY odd leaving
the end of a song up in the air like that ). On this tour, Elvis had also had
flown in, his Memphis jeweler and, as in the Uniondale A/S, during the show ( where
he had given Joe Guercio a diamond ring for his birthday ) Elvis gift wrapped
jeweler and presented it to the whole entourage.
Harold J. Newton © Asheville,NC July 22nd, 1975 evening show
Asheville,
NC July 22nd E/S Audio
r/t 85 minutes
C, C Rider; I Got A Woman/dialogue/Amen; Big Boss Man; Why Me Lord-solo; dialogue/Love Me; If You Love Me Let Me Know; Shake A Hand; All Shook Up; Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel; Hound Dog; The Wonder Of You; Memphis Tennessee; Funny How Times Slip Away; Polk Salad Annie;Intros;What whilst Elvis leaves the stage by J.D.Sumner; T.R.O.U.B.L.E; It's Now Or Never; You Don't Have To Say You Love Me; How Great Thou Art-with reprise; Burning Love; dialogue; Let Me Be There; Heartbreak Hotel; Little Darling; Mystery Train/Tiger Man; dialogue; Can't Help Falling In Love.
Sound
++-
Civic
Center
Memphis
Indian
7,437
Elvis' three shows in Ashville are incredible, what a 'special' 3-CD box set these would make if ever fully available. Asheville gives us the most rarities: " Wooden Heart; Memphis Tennessee; Return To Sender; Shake A Hand; Turn Around; Something " and, in the final part of the 24th July show, " Pieces Of My Life, " sung for Vernon Presley who is in the audience. Certainly the first show on 22nd in Asheville was yet another ‘ good ’ one ( especially considering the departure shenanigans from Greensboro before! ) Elvis comes on starts well and probably gives the longest and most extended version of ‘ Amen ’ this tour so far!, then even " Big Boss Man " gets a reprise featuring J.D.! " Why me Lord " ends up being a very moving Solo version before after woods Elvis comments that J.D didn’t sing it!. Before he attempts to sing ‘ Shake a Hand ’ Elvis makes a very lengthy explanation about the ‘ Creeping Crudd ’ he caught in Greensboro and then after finally getting the ‘ C ’ chord he wanted Elvis does a surprising and good version of another Album track ‘ Shake a Hand ’.
Surprisingly
Elvis sings Memphis Tennessee and it’s a great version! Polk Salad Annie is a
really physical wild version ( as the photo which graced the cover of the 1977 CBS
tapes video shows! ) Also the cover photo from this show also was the cover shot
of a bootleg called “ A rocking April fools Day with Elvis ”1.4.75 Dinner
Show. Funny thing about J.D. Sumner doing the intros for Elvis whilst he leaves
the stage is J.D. introducing Glen D. Hardin as ‘ Glen Dandy Hardin! ’. Kathy
and the Stamps just before the Joe Guercio Orchestra intro. After Elvis returns he
sings his usual latest record he explains that he had to go to the bathroom
claiming it was the first time it ever happened to him. " You Don’t Have
To Say You Love Me " leads into another very strong version of HGTA with reprise. after "
Burning Love " Elvis can’t believe everyone is still in their seats and makes
comment on this. Elvis claims not to be to sure of the words to " Heartbreak Hotel "
but still performs it anyhow. One more amazing gesture from Elvis happens before
closing his show with C.H.F.I.L. where Elvis praises up J.D.Sumner and gives him
a $40,000 ring!!
As Bob Terrell a local entertainment writer put it,"
You ought to see
that rock. It’ll knock your eyeballs out ".
Asheville,
NC July 23rd E/S CD Gyrating Asheville
r/t 80 minutes
2001 Theme; C, C Rider;Dialogue; I Got A Woman/Amen; Big Boss Man; dialogue; Love Me; If You Love Me Let Me Know; dialogue/It's Midnight; All Shook Up; Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel; Hound Dog; The Wonder Of You; Turn Around Look At Me; Polk Salad Annie; Introductions/Johnny B.Goode/Solos/School Days; T.R.O.U.B.L.E; Why Me Lord; How Great Thou Art; Let Me Be There; Shake A Hand; Fairytale; Introduction Of Vernon; Genesis dialogue; Little Darling'; Mystery Train/Tiger Man; Funny How Times Slip Away; It's Now Or Never; Promised Land; dialogue;Can't Help Falling In Love.
Sound
+++++
Civic
Center
Gypsy
Star
7,437
Well
after the ‘ Gun Drama ’ in his hotel thankfully Elvis didn’t take too many
pills before he came onstage for his 2nd Asheville show!. It’s
another ‘ superb show ’ After opening with a very strong "
C.C.Rider "
Elvis ends
yet another very lengthy version of ‘ Amen ’. "
Love Me "
has the ending held
long, then Elvis attempts to make a ‘ joke ’ about Asheville saying
“ Asheville and remove it-Asheville and remove it ” After "
If You Love Me "
Elvis
makes special mention of Ashville native song writer Billy Ed Wheeler before
performing ‘ It’s Midnight ’ the only time this tour. After "
The Wonder of You "
Elvis gives a short but sincere version of ‘ Turn
Around Look at Me ’ which is THE Concert highlight so far!. After Polk Salad
Annie Elvis says he’s getting older NOT better. The introductions go without
any ‘ incident ’ then After Rocking to T.R.O.U.B.L.E.( where J.D. can’t be
heard? ) Elvis does a really funny send up of ‘ Why Me Lord ’. "
How Great Thou
Art "
is an amazing version and receives the strongest applause the whole show so
far from the audience!. both ‘ Shake A Hand ’ and ‘ Fairytale ’ are good
performances before his father is introduced and Elvis makes a little
explanation about the book of Genesis. Before performing "
Funny How Time Slips
Away "
( again with reprise ending ) Elvis actually receives a gift from the
audience. After "
It’s Now or Never "
Elvis asks if anyone
wants to hear any other songs before he leaves the stage? and does "
Promised Land ". Just before closing this ‘
Great ' show Elvis says “ we have
4 airplanes flying to give you the best sound ”
Ann
Buchanan’s local review caught much of the essence of this evening
“ Shimmering and Sparkling in his outrageous black and sky blue costume Elvis
Presley belted out songs and burlesqued his own sexy image with Humour ” she
continued ” Every move of his India Rubber Body sent his audience into a Frenzy
”.
Before the final show in Asheville Elvis didn’t do anything out of the
ordinary and performed another superb show taking many requests from fans they
wrote and threw in a bucket before the show.
Ron Wolfe © Asheville,NC July 24th, 1975 evening show
Asheville,
NC July 24th E/S Audio
r/t 75 minutes
That's
All Right; I Got A Woman/Amen-with reprise; Big Boss Man; Dialogue;Love Me; If
You Love Me Let Me Know; All Shook Up; Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel; Hound Dog;
dialogue; An American Trilogy; Heartbreak Hotel; Jailhouse Rock; Something;
Return To Sender; Wooden Heart; Hawaiian Wedding Song; Bridge Over
Troubled Water; Polk Salad Annie; Introductions/Johnny B.Goode;
T.R.O.U.B.L.E;Shake A Hand -long intro; intro of Vernon; Pieces Of My
Life - How Great Thou Art, with reprise - Can't Help Falling In Love -
Closing Vamp.
Sound
+-
Civic
Center
Aztec
Indian
7,437
Tonight
Elvis takes everyone by ‘ Surprise ’ by opening with ‘ That’s
Allright ’This time after ' Amen ' Elvis complains about a feedback and makes J.D
do the ending again!. Oddly tonight "
Hound Dog "
gets the wildest applause so far ,
then Elvis changes the show style by pulling request songs out a bucket. after
picking Memories Elvis says ‘ skip that one ’ and does "
An American Trilogy "
( for Nancy ) but because of his talking all the way through stuffs this version
up. "
Heartbreak Hotel "
and "
Jailhouse Rock "
led into a fine performance of
‘ Something, ’ "
Return to Sender "
and "
Wooden Heart "
are also very good ‘ off the
cuff ’ versions and "
The Hawaiian Wedding "
song is ok, until repeating the ending
he doesn’t bother to finish it. Qupping ‘ next song ’ Was this a spite at
Kathy or distracted by fans this time?. Steady performances follow and "
Shake a
Hand "
is once again good. After introducing Vernon Elvis performs at his request
another current Album track ‘ Pieces Of My Life ’ which is ‘ breathtaking ’.
"
How Great Thou Art "
with reprise is another superb version and receives VERY
strong audience applause ( in fact wildest applause the whole evening! ) maybe
sensing this Elvis then closes the show. This show not quite as long features 6
big surprise requests and closes out an incredible 3 different show in
Asheville-despite the strong shows Elvis didn’t get the same type of
‘ wild ’ applause he received in Uniondale and did everything he could to get
extra crowd reaction- including
motioning to fan Lloyd Perry of Bristol, Tennessee, who was seated in the
front row to come forward. When Perry did Elvis handed him a ring worth $6,500
The next day in the harsh light of reality and with the press taking down his
every word. Lloyd said “ I ain’t felt this funny since I got married ”.
After
taking the wristwatch ( after the Greensboro show ), Kathy continued with the tour
and was back in Las Vegas, in August at Elvis' request, but not before much
heartache, wrestling whether to stay or leave the Elvis Presley show. Whether
Elvis shot his gun in his hotel in Ashville, or threw his guitar to the audience
in the final tour show, his demeanor was very odd in July 1975.
Harold J. Newton © Asheville,NC July 23rd, 1975 evening show
Yet
for all the ‘ energy ’ Elvis put into his shows this tour singing
T.R.O.U.B.L.E. at every show as well as performances of Album tracks such as "
Fairytale, " "
Shake a Hand "and
"
Pieces Of My Life "
neither the “ Today ” Album or
singles attracted the kind of success or sales that the artist was putting into
promoting it! No wonder that after this tour Elvis put minimal effort into
singing ‘ new album tracks ’ or promoting a current record single release!. At
the end of the day it must have been a deflating experience for Elvis after his
Summer tours.
After
the last show Elvis returned to Memphis.
Following the July tour, on July 27th, Elvis went on a preposterous spending
spree for cars. Earlier in the year he had asked Joe – his right hand man, to
pick an aero plane, costing one million, for him to travel around in-on tour.
This made sense as Elvis traveled so much but with the very expensive ( $846300
)
refit in the late Summer/Fall, an extravagant luxury. This seems particularly so
when one flies to Denver on a whim for peanut butter sandwiches. Elvis bought a
Falcon Jet for the Colonel for Christmas, but with the JET STAR all ready to
use, it was unnecessary, so the Colonel didn't keep it. Possibly the " Lisa
Marie " and other planes were bought because Elvis was jealous John Denver
had bought his manager a Rolls Royce.