Musical Muscles Of Elvis Presley
By Philip Wuntch
The Dallas Morning News
November 15, 1971

Elvis Presley held a capacity, screaming, overflowing, wildly enthusiastic (etc., etc., etc.) audience firmly in the grasp of his two gyrating hands saturday night as he performed in full prowess at Memorial Auditorium.

He leaped onstage with much fanfare, to the strands of the classical overture from "2001:A Space Odyssey," then proceeded to take the audience on an exhausting journey of its own. He wore a white satin jump suit - and he did a lot of jumping. Elvis, of course, knows his way through a karate routine. His acrobatics and energy are boundless; but Dallas karate star Skipper Mullins was there to check him out.

Elvis has reached the point where he can gracefully spoof himself as performer. The smirks and sneers are still there of course, to say nothing of the swiveling; but there's a touch of self parody about it. Elvis is knowingly spoofing his early-days performing techniques; and whether the audience realizes what he is doing or not, it loves it.

FOR THAT MATTER, the crowd would never be confused with a Rolling Stones audience. Over half were women, mothers of young children, wearing semi-Establishment hot pants and white boots. It was definitely the Straight Set's "big night out".

And Elvis didn't disappoint them. His voice has matured and grown stronger with less affectations. He did 22 songs without much in between patter; but what rapping there was was pleasant and affable. His first number, "It's All Right Mama," was the first he ever recorded. He earned three stars for "Proud Mary" and at least four stars for "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling."

But when he dug into his memory book - "Love Me Tender," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Hound Dog," "Blue suede Shoes" - everyone was brought to 1957. During that segment of the show, it was shrieking and sobbing and throbbing time all the way.

BUT IT WAS on "How Great Thou Art" and "The Impossible Dream" that his rich voice was truly tested; and he succeeded in fine form. He faltered slightly in the opening segments of "Bridge Over Troubled Water," but triumphed in the final verses.

For a finale, Elvis sang "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You." His guitarist then said, "Ladies and Gentleman, Elvis Presley has left the stage. Thank you."

And that was that. The living legend swept through Memorial Auditorium in a blaze of theatrics, acrobatics, vocal gymnastics and personal force.

Courtesy of Scott Hayward