June 3rd

 

In 1968, Elvis, looking tanned and fit, reports to the Binder-Howe offices on Sunset at 1.00pm for the start of two weeks of informal rehearsals. Writers Chris Beard and Allan Blye have created a show in which a young man sets out from home searching for happiness, travels around, and returns home again only to find that happiness is in his own back yard. The show will use Elvis’ music to carry out this theme, with very little actual dialogue - and with the song Guitar Man, serving as a kind of autobiographical link, tying the various sequences together. It is planned the show will end with a Christmas song, after which Elvis will simply say goodnight. Asked his opinion of this approach, Elvis says he likes it, and when Binder and Howe ask for additional input, he simply says, ‘I like it all.’

 

 

June 4th

 

1970 and Elvis begins five days of recording at RCA’s Studio B in Nashville, reporting each evening at 6.00pm and working until the dawn hours. Gone are Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana, Elvis’ original accompanists, as well as pianist Floyd Cramer, bassist Bobby Moore, drummer Bobby Harman and the Jordanaires. In their place, working for Elvis for the first time are Norbert Putnam on bass and Jerry Carrigan on drums along with multi-instrumentalist Charlie McCoy, pianist David Briggs, and guitarist Chip Young, who have appeared on various sessions since the mid sixties. James Burton, the guitarist in Elvis’ show band, takes over lead guitar. The first night runs more than 10 hours and proves highly productive, with eight songs completed, spanning every style from gospel to bluegrass jams to contemporary pop (an example of which is I’ve Lost You, soon to become Elvis’ next single). :wub:

 

Can't find a YouTube clip of I've Lost You, which is a shame cos it's a beautiful song, one of my faves :wub: Here's a couple recorded at that session

 

Twenty Days And Twenty Nights

 

The Sound Of Your Cry

 

 

June 5th

 

1970 and maintaining the same level of energy and commitment that he showed on the previous night, Elvis completes another seven masters, including a raucous jam on a combination of Muddy Waters’ Got My Mojo Working and Jay McShann and Priscilla Bowman’s Hands Off, as well as a beautifully sung cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water :dance:

 

Bridge Over Troubled Water :wub:

 

 

June 6th

 

In 1968, Robert Kennedy has died after being shot in San Francisco. Elvis’ heartfelt reaction to yet another assassination is one of the principal elements that ultimately impels Steve Bonder to ask songwriter, Earl Brown to compose a closing number that will capture something of his unexpectedly idealistic sentiments. ‘I wanted to let the world know,’ Binder later says,’ that here was a guy who was not prejudiced, who was raised in the heart of prejudice, but who was really above all that.’

 

If I Can Dream from the '68 Comeback Special :wub:

 

 

June 7th

 

In 1970, Elvis on this day started recording at 6.00pm and didn’t finish till 4.30am. He worked on older country and western material such as Ernest Tubbs’ Tomorrow Never Comes, Bob Willis’ Faded Love and Eddie Arnold’s I Really Don’t Want To Know. The almost accidental result is a collection of songs that forms the basis for a concept album, Elvis Country. :wub:

 

The Next Step Is Love

 

 

June 8th

 

In 1972, Elvis and his crew arrive in New York for a series of 4 sold out shows in the huge Madison Square Garden concert hall. The group is now made up of some seventy to eighty people (including tech people, equipment handlers, musicians, stagehands and concessionaires) travelling in three leased airplanes while ground crews transport two complete stage set ups from city to city (this is the first stop on the new twelve day tour). The Colonel will continue to do the advance work, travelling ahead of the show to set up in the next city, sometimes just after Elvis has arrived in the last.

 

June 9th

 

1972 and Elvis gave a press conference at 4.00 p.m. at the Hilton. Asked about his image as a shy, humble country boy, Elvis responded: " I don't know what makes them say that", and stood up to reveal the International Hotel gold belt under his jacket, with his father proudly beaming beside him.

Afterwards Elvis performed at Madison Square Garden, New York :dance:

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/elvis1959/madison.jpg

 

Press Conference

 

 

 

June 10th

 

1972 and Elvis is at Madison Square Gardens for two more shows and a final show is added the next day when tickets to the first three original shows are sold out almost immediately, thus making Elvis the first entertainer to sell out four consecutive shows in the Garden, with a box office gross of $730,000 :dance: The New York Times headlines one of its three stories on the phenomenon. ‘Like a Prince from Another Planet,’ characterizing Elvis as a ‘special champion [like] a Joe Louis, a Jose Capablanca, a Joe DiMaggio, someone in whose hands, the way a thing is done becomes more important than the thing itself…..Friday night at Madison Square Garden, Elvis was like that. He stood there at the end, arms stretched out, the great gold cloak giving him wings……the only one in his class.’

 

RCA records both shows on the 10th in preparation for releasing a live album just eight days after the New York date. The album intended is drawn from the evening show exclusively and will be titled Elvis As Recorded Live at Madison Square Garden :D

 

 

 

Edited June 10, 200718 yr by tilly

June 11th

 

1968 and Elvis meets with costume designer Bill Belew to discuss his ideas for the show (the Comeback show), readily accepting Belew’s suggestions of high ‘Napoleonic’ collars and a black leather suit, balking only at a reprise of the gold suit the Colonel gave him in 1957, but finally agreeing on a gold jacket with black tuxedo pants. :wub:

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/elvis1959/68leather2.jpg :wub: :heart:

 

June 12th

 

In 1966, Elvis reports to the studio in Nashville, spending just thirty minutes on vocals for three songs, Indescribably Blue, I’ll Remember You and If Every Day Was Like Christmas. All three obviously have personal meaning for him, despite the brevity of the session. :wub:

I’ll Remember You

 

 

If Every Day Was Like Christmas

 

 

Can't find Indescribably Blue on YouTube which is a pity cos it's a beautiful song :wub:

 

June 13th

 

In 1956, Elvis and his girlfriend June have breakfast at the restaurant of the Colonel’s old friend, Bill Williams on South Main Street, where Elvis is surrounded by ‘swooning’ Rainbow Girls, in town for an annual gathering. He tells reporters he is ‘engaged to only one-my career.’ Meanwhile television show host Steve Allen announces that he has received strong pressure to cancel Elvis’ July 1st appearance on his show. If he does appear, Allen says, Elvis Presley ‘will not be allowed any of his offensive tactics.’ :o

 

In 1959, in Munich, Elvis visits some of his old acquaintances at the Moulin Rouge, including ‘Marianne’ who has developed a strip routine ‘wearing nothing but a standard size Presley record.’ :yahoo:

June 14th

 

1966, back in Memphis, Elvis dictates a note to Felton Jarvis ( his new producer whom he’d just been working with for the first time). ‘Dear Felton, Please convey how much I deeply appreciate the cooperation and consideration shown to me and my associates during my last two trips to Nashville. I would like to thank you, the engineers, musicians, singers and everyone connected with the sessions. Please see that every one of them know my feelings. And as General MacArthur once said, ‘I shall return.’ Gratefully, Elvis Presley.’ :dance:

June 15th

 

1955 and Elvis is at the Belden High School Gym in Mississippi. DJ Bobby Ritter recalls that in order to get into the building without being mobbed, Elvis has to crawl through a back window, ripping the seat of his pants which have to be held together with a safety pin during his performance. :yahoo:

 

In 1964, Elvis returns to Radio Recorders from 2.00pm to 6.00pm to complete vocal tracks for Girl Happy.

 

Wolfcall

 

 

June 16th

 

In 1956, Elvis shows up on local TV host Wink Martindale’s Dance Party to promote his July 4th charity show at Russwood Park in Memphis. Elvis says that the door prize will be his diamond initial ring :dance:

 

 

June 17th

 

In 1968, Elvis reports to rehearsals at the NBC studios in Burbank, Caliornia, at 1.00pm for a meeting with Billy Goldenberg, Steve Binder’s musical arranger. For most of the past two weeks Billy Strange too, has served as a musical director-Elvis’ musical director, but since Billy Goldenberg, like almost all the members of the crew, has worked with Binder on several occasions, he is in sole charge. From 3.00 till 5.00pm there is a dance rehearsal with choreographer, Jaime Rogers. Also present is Lance LeGault who will help Elvis with his dance sequences and production numbers, as he has on many of the movies, as well as providing personal encouragement and all-round support. Elvis ends the day with a 5.00pm music and dialogue rehearsal. This schedule will be repeated for the next two days. NBC announces to the press that Elvis Presley will star in his first television special to be aired at Christmas. :dance:

June 18th

 

In 1957, Elvis has a kidney-shaped swimming pool installed at Graceland by Paddock of California at a cost of $8.481.35 B)

 

In 1977, Elvis performed at the Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Missouri. He seemed tired but announced to the crowd: " In spite of what you may hear or you may read, we're here, and we're healthy and we're doing what we enjoy doing."

June 19th

 

In 1968, Steve Binder has come up with the inspiration that the show (Comeback Special) should replicate the altogether charming, totally informal atmosphere of Elvis; dressing room rather than follow the stiff, somewhat arch ‘informal’ segment specified in the script. For a very short time he thinks of actually shooting the dressing room jams with Elvis and his buddies – but then, after talking to Elvis, he settles on the idea of flying in original guitarist Scotty Moore and drummer D.J. Fontana and shooting the segment in the small boxing ring of a stage that has been designed for the more formal live concert at the heart of the show. :dance:

 

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/elvis1959/Come7_712047.jpg

 

June 20th

1968 and Elvis has wardrobe fittings at his home. At 8.00pm he reports to Studio One at Western Recorders for pre-recording, with Bones Howe in charge. The band is made up of the same musicians who worked the Billy Strange sessions for Live A Little, Love A Little, with gospel vocals by the Blossoms. The first number recorded is the long, complicated Guitar Man medley, and by the time Elvis finishes with this, everyone knows that they are home free :dance:

 

 

June 21st

 

1955, Elvis is at the City Auditorium in Beaumont, Texas for three shows and the 2,400 seat auditorium has been filled for all five shows. (Elvis performed two shows on the 20th) They have been organised by Ed McLemore to benefit the Beaumont Police.

From Beaumont, Bob Neal wires the Colonel with regard to Elvis leaving Sun. Neal thinks it would be best to wait until he is home before pursuing the matter any further. On the same day the Colonel informs Steve Sholes of RCA of his new business arrangement with Neal and Presley, and invites Sholes to make a bid to acquire the singer. B)

June 22nd

 

In 1956, Elvis is at the Paramount Theater in Atlanta, Georgia for three shows. The Jordanaires, whom Elvis has long admired both as an independent act and as a gospel-based backup quartet, join the Elvis Presley show.

Stage instructions for Elvis’ show read: ‘Pull all white lights. Presley works all in color…….Presley act has no encore.When he leaves stage, immediately close curtains. Also, be sure and lower set mike at center, for Presley uses portable mike only.' B)