The Elvis Train Wreck Concert

There is a scene in the 2022 Elvis movie where Elvis is doing a concert. In the show, he starts screaming at the hotel management and his friends. While that scene never happened as shown, it’s believed it was inspired by this concert.

The date was September 2, 1974. The place was the Hilton in Las Vegas. Elvis had played this venue several times already. In the 1960s, Vegas entertainers like Sinatra and Dean Martin joked with the audience between songs, did half songs, drank mid-show. Elvis tried the audience banter, but he told corny jokes and stuttered or lost his point so he stopped and went more song heavy. In 1970 to 1972, the Vegas shows were music.

The Aloha in Hawaii concert was a Vegas type show in the beginning of 1973.

Elvis always needed a new hill to climb, but he was also hesitant to rock the boat. He wanted to move on from the Vegas shows, but didn’t want to change. He became stuck playing Las Vegas and/or doing his Vegas show around the mid-west and south.

On this night, he complains about the microphones right at the start. He started singing the songs, “I got a Woman” partnered with a song called “Amen.” He would stop the song, redo parts, give solos to band members, pull out backup singers to take parts, then sing again. This would drag for 8 or so minutes but it feels so much longer. He says his ex-wife is in the audience. He goes into too much story about their divorce, co-parenting their daughter, cars, Mike Stone, who she had an affair with. The name may have gone over the audience’s head, but Priscilla knew it. He says his daughter is in the audience. Imagine what is going through Priscilla’s mind as her ex is dragged out by her ex-husband in front of their daughter.

He tells the audience that he missed a concert engagement. Bill Cosby did a show in his place. He called out Cosby, but Cosby had left. He tells the audience that Cosby could take the money made and stick it up his nose. Did he imply cocaine?

The last rant is the most famous, the drug rant. He came across a story in the news that said he was “strung out.” Presley denies the drug use and threatens to pull the writer’s tongue out of his head. A few profanities follow, which he apologizes for. By the way, his daughter might still be there.

He makes a joke about his jewelry and ends the show.

This show was called a train-wreck and a sad decline. 1973 was a bad year. It began with the Aloha concert and ends with the “Raised on Rock” album. That album has some good songs, but it’s muddled.

1974 started looking better. The songs were good, concerts were selling.

If you take out the rants, you get a good version of “Big Boss Man.” There is a smoking version of “If You Talk in Your Sleep.” (A Top 20 song that is largely forgotten. Too bad, it’s funky, sultry, and dark. Really good song)

He gives members of the backup band a chance in the spotlight. The band introduction part gives everyone a solo. In this concert, the band plays “Slow Train Coming” by the Doobie Brothers for their solos. They have it so down that you have to ask, why didn’t Presley cover the song? It could’ve been good. You get “Hawaiian Wedding Song,” a concert rarity.

I can’t say I recommend music fans hear this. I can’t say it was a total train wreck. It was something that I as a Presley fan had to hear for myself.