ELVIS RETURNS TO THE STAGE
In July 1969, Elvis began preparing for his imminent return to the stage. He worked on his song list and at the same time put together the rhythm section that would accompany him at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. On July 10, 1969, Elvis obtained the right of way to the church next to an entrance road to Graceland.
On July 31, 1969, Elvis begins 57 concerts at the newly built International Hotel in Las Vegas, which features the largest showroom in the city. Elvis assembles top-notch rock’n’roll musicians (James Burton, John Wilkinson, Ronnie Tutt and Jerry Scheff), an orchestra (Bobby Morris), and finally a gospel group (The Imperials) and a girl group (The Sweets Inspirations) as a back-up act for his show. They rehearse for several weeks, opening on July 31 and closing on August 28. The show is a delightful mix of fresh arrangements of Elvis’ classic hits, exciting new material he has recorded, some covers of current and past hits by other artists, and charming on-stage antics and sharing of personal memories of his career. It concludes with a press conference following the opening concert.
THE SHOW IS A DELIGHTFUL MIX OF FRESH ARRANGEMENTS OF CLASSIC HITS
This engagement breaks all existing attendance records in Las Vegas and draws rave reviews from the public and the press. It is a triumph. Elvis’ first live album, “Elvis In Person At The International Hotel,” is recorded at this engagement and will be released soon. The opening night is so successful that Colonel Parker renegotiates Elvis’ contract on a tablecloth in the hotel’s cafeteria. Elvis will also receive a gold belt from the hotel commemorating his record attendance for this season. For these concerts, a slim, impressively fit Elvis wears simple, unique, karate-inspired two-piece suits in black or white. These suits are designed by Bill Belew, who already made the costumes for the “68 Special.” These are the predecessors of the famous one-piece jumpsuits that will be easy to make at first, and then will develop into the flashy and more elaborate ones of recent years. The comments of music critics in the press about Elvis’ performances are very positive:
” There are several amazing things about Elvis, but the most amazing is his staying power in a world where meteoric careers fade like shooting stars .”
Newsweek, August 11, 1969
THE CULMINATION OF ELVIS’S COMEBACK COMES WITH SUSPICIOUS MINDS, NO. 1 IN OCTOBER 1969.
“… A style and panache that approach pure magic. Lithe, bawdy, sweat streaming down his face, he now moves with the precision of an athlete, the grace of a dancer… flamboyant, flashy, self-mockingly sexy, he works with the instincts of a genius that brings poetry to rock-base performance.”
– W. A. ??Harbinson, from his 1975 book “The Illustrated Elvis.”
* NOTE: The orchestra was conducted by Bobby Morris. The band consisted of James Burton (guitar), John Wilkinson (rhythm guitar), Jerry Scheff (bass), Larry Muhoberac (piano) and Ronnie Tutt (drums). The female singers were The Sweet Inspirations. The male singers were The Imperials. Charlie Hodge provided guitar and additional vocals and general onstage assistance. Millie Kirkham, who had worked on Elvis studio recordings, joined the show as soprano.
“The Trouble With Girls,” Elvis’ 30th film, is released in September 1969 and does little to make a splash at the box office. From the American Sound Studio sessions RCA releases “Suspicious Minds,” which soon becomes Elvis’ first #1 since “Good Luck Charm” in 1962 and is his last #1 pop single, though he will have many other hits. “Change of Habit,” Elvis’ 31st film, is released in theaters nationwide on November 11, 1969, peaking at #17.
Information provided by Club Elvis Spain http://www.clubelvis.org
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