Back in 1991, I was watching Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country and there was a scene with Spock and his pupil Lt. Valrisis. In it the young Valrisis asks Spock why he keeps a painting of "the expulsion of paradise" in his quarters. He replies, "It is a reminder to me that all things end."
Whether that statement gives you shivers or not, everybody knows that all things do end. I doubt anyone ever thought Elvis Presley would end, especially the fans who thought he was superhuman. However, on June 26, 1977, Elvis stepped upon the stage for what would be the final time. This concert tape was released on several bootlegs, one being called "Adios". The sound is very clear and in studio, but Elvis sounds very far away. The concert begins with the usual 2001 theme and then the drum rift by Larry London (Ronnie Tutt left Elvis for good after June 23 because of a family problem), and out steps Elvis onto that stage. For some reason, SEE SEE RIDER sounds very eerie today. It rocks like it always did in 1977, but this version just bothers me for some reason. Near the end of the song (before the drum rift) Elvis sings "well you madeeeeeeeeeee . . . gone lord, what I'd . . .". That is how Elvis Presley does his last version of See See Rider, it wasn't a blockbuster, as it was more of a mere whimper. As the appluse dies down, Elvis seems to be looking for words to go into his "well" routine. Some day he was joking, but he sounded very unsure to me. Then he goes in his "well" routine the clearest I had heard in a long time. I GOT A WOMAN follows and Elvis seems to be very leisurely about the song. As the song gets into the depths he starts attacking each note and then as he enters AMEN he actually stops and moans a bass cord before the rest of the band follows. That was "Eerie" moment #2 for me. AMEN is the usual 1977 version with a little extra kick, which means it is good. Lets go into the rumble routine, as the crowd goes wild. He does his usual routine speech, but adds Larry London is crazy. Larry London does the drum routine slower, but it helps and not hurts Elvis. It's now B-52 time, as J.D. does his thing, and for the last time Elvis says "he can do it better". He jokes about J.D. being lower than whale stuff, but I got the impression he was trying to get across that J.D. can do it lower than whale stuff. Anyway time to reprise Amen, and again Elvis lingers on the bass part himself before giving J.D. to do the B-52 routine again. I guess I can call that "Eerie" moment #3. After the B-52 routine, Elvis ends the song.
As usual Elvis gives a speech after finishing, "Thank you very much . . .it is a pleasure to be here . . .you sound like a good audience . . . What is today Monday. Sunday? . . . Saturday? . . . Do a lot of songs . . . old ones . . . new ones . . . old Polish folk songs. . . . Our job is to entertain you and leave the driving to the drummer". Is it just me, or does Elvis sound depressed. I have heard his other concerts from June 19 and June 21, and in both of those concerts Elvis sounds overly medicated. On June 26, Elvis might be medicated, but he sounds very clear in speech and depressed. LOVE ME is next, and it rocks like nothing else had in a long time. The next song will be FAIRYTALE, and Elvis has a hard time getting the words out. He didn't have this problem on June 21, and on June 19 he was very unsure and sluggish, but he got the words out. He finally does say "it is the story of our lives called Fairytale". What can be said about this version, as this was the last time he sang it and it sounds pretty good. He had done this before, but when he booms "you won't forget me when I go", it almost sounded like he meant it. He boomed it louder in December, but it was still something to boggle the mind. YOU GAVE ME A MOUNTAIN is next, and again it sounds great.
"My third movie was Jailhouse Rock . . . lets try it". Elvis begins the song, but then stops, complains and laughs and starts it back up. This version is much like the December 1976 versions, as the version is slow enough for Elvis and Elvis was able to keep up with the pace. As he introduces IT'S NOW OR NEVER, Elvis gets straight in his speech again, but after a brief interlude with the fans, he gets caught up within himself and starts to stutter big time and does a Porky Pig impression as he goes "duh-duh-duh That's All Folks". I guess Elvis was coherent enough to know he was screwed up, and so he covered the best way he knew how. At least it pleased the audience, and then Sherril does O SOLE MIO. Elvis plays with him as usual, by copying him and going "smartalec". As Sherril finishes the band seems to be in awe, as they take five seconds to start the song. Elvis then stops them and tells Sherril to do the last part again until he is blue in the face, and then figure out the tempo. I'm not sure if this could be considered an "eerie" moment or not. What follows is a great version of IT'S NOW OR NEVER, with some strange bass cords at the beginning. This version is rich and deep of passion, like majority of the 1977 versions of this song. He usually never failed on IT'S NOW OR NEVER!
With that finished, it is time for the oldies part of the concert, and Elvis launches into LITTLE SISTER. From where I can hear this recording, LITTLE SISTER sounds pretty much like June 19, but stronger. TEDDY BEAR/DON'T BE CRUEL follow, and it is business as usual. It is ironic that in his last concert he did something that was rare, he played with the lines "please forget the past . . . before I kick your ---". He did the same thing on June 21, and today was no different. After he finished, I think I hear him say "what do you we do next?" and all of a sudden he starts to ask the group what key did we do RELEASE ME in. He did a pretty subpar version on February 21, 1977, and you have to fear the worst. However, this version is pretty good, although the timing is off a little bit. The second problem is that Elvis only knows the first verse unlike Vegas in 1970, but that is understandable. This version from this concert isn't as good as Vegas 1970, but it is better than February 21, 1977. Elvis jokes about not rehearsing the song at all, and then he starts using a country hick accent "this here next song", he then clears his throat and says "this next song", and then he admits he is looking at a song sheet list on what they can sing that is different. This may be one of the first times Elvis actually did that on stage himself, and then he either finds or somebody shouts "CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU" and he asks the band "Can we do that?" and after some talking Tony Brown proceeds to false start the song and plays it in a different key than Glen Hardin did in 1974. I'm not sure when the last time Elvis sang that song, but it hadn't been a regular number in over three years. The passion he puts in "of dreams of yesterday" gives me the chills. The entire song was a footnote in Elvis history, as Elvis hadn't sung the song (apparently) in years. What follows this song, however, might explain why Elvis will always have my respect.
"Lets do Bridge Over Trouble Waters", mumbles Elvis as the crowd goes crazy. This song wasn't really that rare, but the song became very infrequent after 1974. I know for a fact, that Elvis sang a few versions in December 1976 while in Vegas, but in 1977 - he only had sung it twice before: April 29 and May 27. Tonight would be the final time, and while he replaces the line "I will dry them off" with "I will lend you a scarf", it is a straight and serious version. As Tony Brown begins the song, you hear the audience get quiet for the few screaming, and give a weak applause as he begins. As Elvis finishes the first verse and goes into "When your down and out", the audience goes crazy for a brief moment and then they get very quiet. "AND PAIN IS ALL AROUND" This version has to be "eerie" moment #3, because it really is beautiful and in retrospect being done at his last concert, it just feels so strange. Near the end of the song, you hear a growl after he says "water", which gave that weak glimmer that the real Elvis from years ago was still there, and that maybe he would always be there. Once it has been done, the audience goes wild and gives Elvis their approval.
The band introductions are next, and after three good versions of unusual songs, it seems like it is back to business. I'm not sure if the Introductions have been cut, because he is introducing the Stamps and then he introduces John Wilkinson (as John Madison) and we're already into Early Morning Rain. It was either good editing, or Elvis skipped a lot of people. The last version of EARLY MORNING RAIN sounds pretty rich, and is given the usual two verse treatment before being finished. Is it me, or does Wilkinson's guitar sound clear as a bell on this? No doubt that Elvis' vocal is nice and strong, but Wilkinson sounds good. WHAT I'D SAY is next with the usual introductions by Elvis and Elvis gives a good 1977 version. There seems to be an edit mark as JOHNNY B. GOODE begins, and its mixed waste. Elvis then jokes around introducing Larry London "On the drums is . . . Larry London and is the size of London". London does his version of the Bo Diddley drum solo Ronnie Tutt had started in 1977 and they do it much faster than Ronnie, but Larry's drum skills are very much different than Ronnie Tutt doing drums. Elvis proceeds to joke about London's style of drumming and then rushes into introducing Jerry Scheff. Elvis seemed a little lost, but as soon as he remembers what he is supposed to say, he tries to rush it as fast as he can, and it gets (positive) laugher from the audience. Scheff actually does a varied introduction of his usual bass run. Elvis, as usual, gets into the act and does bass notes. As Tony Brown is introduced, I hear another tape splice as you can hear Elvis just say "Tony Brown" and Tony does his solo. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO KNOW followed the piano solo, and James Burton has added some good licks since the June 21 version. Great version of the song!
Bobby Odgin gets to shine next, as the youngest and dumbest member of Elvis' group (joke). Either way, he does a great little solo and Elvis sings with it. Elvis may not be straight, but he was doing something that was missing in the Tv special - having fun. He then introduces Charlie for the last time and Joe G and his orchestra and the Disco rift gets played for the final time. I always found the Disco rift eerie in itself, because it didn't seem natural for it to be there in that concert. At the end of the rift, Elvis said "wait for me" and he does a "YEAH". Then as quickly as they finish, the band goes into hurt and then Elvis (while the band has already started) "One of our latest records . . . " and then he stops and begins to sing the final version of HURT. The song is a great version, but he sounds like he was dragging it in places. He takes five seconds at the end to give his all, and he DOES THE HIGH NOTE at the end. The fans give their approval, and I think I heard the great voice dwindle away. HOUND DOG is the usual 1977 mess, although it probably was like June 21 (1977 passable). The ending however is longer, as Elvis carries on big time!
Now Elvis introduces his father by saying, "My daddy is here". The fans awe and clap for the event. Elvis begins to thank his sound engineer - Bruce Jackson, Felton Jarvis, Sam, Bill Porter, Ginger Alden (which gets a major pop "that's enough Ginger"), Rosemary Alden, his cousin Patsy, Joe Smith, and then he thanks the audience and says "we couldn't ask for a better audience . . . if you want us back". The fans cheer for a 1978 concert as the band begins CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE. I found this speech Elvis gave the most eeriest thing I had ever heard. Elvis might not have known he was dying, but he knew a major change was going to happen in his life. He had closed tours before and he never did it like this, almost like he knew something was going to change in his life (actually he died). ELVIS: WHAT HAPPENED might have been Elvis' fear and why he looked like he was saying "goodbye". He was took weak and tired to change his lifestyle, and I guess he felt his glory days would be over when he returned to touring in August. That is why I think Elvis kept on telling his friends the August 1977 tour would be the "best tour ever". Because he knew that some were going to wake up and see him for what he was, and maybe even hate him for it.
I CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE sounds very standard, but he was talkative and talking to Joe G or the other Joe. He laughs and jokes around with somebody during the refrain and on the final verse he stops singing for a second and then begins again. The ending is usual, and Larry London then hits the theme and we get an edited version of the closing vamp. As somebody can read in the Indianapolis Star, Rita Rose wrote that Elvis "seemed not to want the show to end. He introduced numerous friends and relatives that came with him from Memphis for the show." Elvis had returned to Memphis after the Ohio concert the day before and brought a lot of people back with him. "Even as the music faded, he wouldn't leave the stage. He walked back and forth, shaking his head in disbelief as more than 18,000 fans stomped and cheered."
Did he think he was going to die? I don't know.
Did he think his life was going to change? I think he did.
He knew something was going to happen to him, I'm not sure he knew if would be his death on August 16 or not, but he knew something was going to happen. He tried too hard in that last show, not to think something needed to be change.
The only thing is left to ask now, since his life did end six weeks after this show, did Elvis' death save his career? Would the fans stay loyal, or would they have turned against him? The rest of the world might have turned against him, as majority have still done today when you talk about his final years. Elvis knew his life was about to change, he knew something was about to happen. If Elvis hadn't died on August 16, who knows if Elvis would be as revered as he is now, in spite of all the garbage that has been said about him since.
All I can say in regards of his Final Concert, that Elvis Presley will never be topped by anyone else. Elvis Presley is the King of Entertainment, and I hope God is looking after you my friend. I hope somewhere, you are still opening your shows with "SEE SEE RIDER" and those fans loved you as much as we did.
The Clint
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977