By the day of the show, RCA had accumulated advance orders for more than one million records. Elvis knew he couldn’t duplicate the show he had given in New York six months earlier because it had already been released and was also a top-selling live album.
The
special provides a good example of his stage show from the 1970s, a period in
which he embodied the term “Superstar.” His band and orchestra began the
performance with the opening strains from the theme “2001 A Space Odyssey.”
The sonorous sound of the kettle drum solo, which signaled the conclusion of
that segment of “Zarathustra,” segued into the driving rhythms of “See See
Rider,” Elvis’ opening number. At that point, Elvis bounded on stage ,
strutting back and forth in front of the audience and showing off his costume,
complete with cape. Grabbing a guitar, which he rarely played but used as a
prop, Elvis began singing the chorus to “See See Rider.”
Elvis sang a variety of songs
throughout the concert special, including his current hit, “Burning Love”,
as well as the past hits “Hound Dog,” “Love Me,” and “Fever.”
Without much time to prepare new songs, he settled upon
standards like “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Welcome To My World,” and
“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” He also decided to reprise several songs he
had introduced during his Vegas stint in August 1972, among them James Taylor’s
“Steamroller Blues.”
During
the course of the evening, he removed his cape, and while singing “An American
Trilogy,” he tossed his studded belt into the audience. For the finale, Elvis
sang his standard closing number, “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” which
built up to the large-scale sound typical of his style of that era. By the time
this number had begun, Elvis had resumed wearing his cape, which typically
signaled the end of the show for his band and the audience. Usually, he
concluded the number by dropping to one of his knee in the spotlight, grabbing
the ends of his cape in his hands, and spreading the garment out behind him, a
grandiose gesture befitting the World’s Greatest Entertainer. On this night,
he added an extra touch by throwing the cape into the crowd, where it was caught
by a lucky fan. As the orchestra reprised “See See Rider,” Elvis left the
stage. As usual, he did not return for an encore.
The
night after the show Elvis found that he wanted to thank “The Memphis Mafia”
for having been part of making the show a success. Elvis, Joe Esposito and Marty
Lacker visited the hotel’s jewellry shop and bought emerald and diamond rings
for the group’s wives. During the ladies joy at having been given costly
jewellery in addition to the Hawaii trip, Elvis started handing out envelopes to
“The Mafia”. Each was found to contain a cheque for $1,000. Elvis: “Thank you for having helped me
make this special time a great time for me.”
That
Summer he had scored a No.2 hit with “Burning Love,” so the audience would
expect to hear it. Another recent addition to the set list, Marty Robbins “You
Gave Me A Mountain,” seemed to take on an even greater significance in light
if the daunting prospect of performing live to billions of people. The billions
of people who made up Elvis’ global audience witnessed a flawless performance.
Elvis was focused and desperately intent on rising to the occasion. There were
no monologs – just the barest of introductions. Elvis wanted nothing to
detract from the music. Nor did the scale of the event seem to daunt him.
The April showing in America attracted 51% of the television viewing
audience, and was seen in more American households than man’s first walk on
the moon. In all, it was seen in about 40 countries by one billion to 1.5
billion people. Never had one performer held the world’s attention in such a
way. There was a live audience in the arena for the rehearsal show , also called
“The Alternate Aloha”, as well as the actual special. There was no set ticket price for either performance. Audience members were asked to pay what
they could afford. With nothing held for expenses, all ticket sales benefited
the Kui Lee Cancer Fund in Hawaii. Elvis even paid to get in himself, as did the
Colonel. All proceeds from merchandise sales were also donated. It was projected
that the shows would raise $25,000 for the fund, but Elvis proudly announced
during the satellite broadcast that
$75,000 had been raised. Elvis was in top form physically and vocally. This was
probably the pinnacle of his superstardom. In fact, that night, he redefined the
term superstar. For Colonel Parker, it clearly stands as one of his all-time
biggest deals and greatest promotions.
A tape of the show was seen on April 4th, 1973 on NBC. The live broadcast in January attracted 37.8% of the viewers in Japan, 91.8% in the Philippines, 70% in Hong Kong, and 70-80% of the viewers in Korea. The April showing in America attracted 51% of the television viewing audience, and was seen in more American households than man’s first walk on the moon. In all, it was seen in about 40 countries by one billion to 1.5 billion people. Never had one performer held the world’s attention in such a way. There was a live audience in the arena for the rehearsal show , also called “The Alternate Aloha”, as well as the actual special.
There was no set ticket price for either performance. Audience members were asked to pay what
they could afford. With nothing held for expenses, all ticket sales benefited
the Kui Lee Cancer Fund in Hawaii. Elvis even paid to get in himself, as did the
Colonel. All proceeds from merchandise sales were also donated. It was projected
that the shows would raise $25,000 for the fund, but Elvis proudly announced
during the satellite broadcast that
$75,000 had been raised. Elvis was in top form physically and vocally. This was
probably the pinnacle of his superstardom. In fact, that night, he redefined the
term superstar. For Colonel Parker, it clearly stands as one of his all-time
biggest deals and greatest promotions.
Elvis, looking great, gave a perfect show. In my opinion, Elvis did a great job with "An American Trilogy," "What Now My Love," and "My Way."
