PRINCE FROM ANOTHER PLANET

Mid-1972 and despite his popularity and following across the entire United States Elvis had never played an actual concert in New York City, although he had made television appearances back in the 1950s. However, that would change on 9 June when he undertook his second tour of the year. On this, the fiftieth anniversary, we look back at the concerts and the albums that have been released over the years.

The tour, promoted by Jerry Weintraub in association with RCA Record Tours, would open in New York at the famous Madison Square Garden. Originally only three concerts were scheduled, an evening show on Friday 9 June and afternoon and evening shows on Saturday 10 June.

Tickets went on sale on 8 May and even before the box office opened there were 2,000 people lined up ready to purchase their tickets.

However, due to demand an extra evening show was added on Sunday 11 June. As with the previous tour in April the ticket prices remained at $10, $7.50 and $5.

Elvis was the first artist to sell-out four nights at the Garden with a total of 80,000 tickets sold. There were no 'freebies' and everybody had to buy a ticket, including Bob Dylan, George Harrison, David Bowie and all the members of Ten Years After. It was alleged that John Lennon also attended one of the shows but he would later deny this.

A few hours before the opening show Elvis held a rare press conference in the Mercury Ballroom at the New York Hilton. Arranged by Colonel Parker, the idea was to win over the New York media, many of whom had criticised him back in the 1950s. A very small part of the press conference would be included in the Elvis On Tour movie.

His boyish charm and sense of humour was evident in many of his responses. When asked why did he think he had outlasted every other entertainer he joked, "I take vitamin E" before saying, "I just enjoy the business. I like what I'm doing."

Asked if he agreed he was a shy, humble, wonderful human being, he stood up opened his jacket and said, "Oh, I don't know what makes them think that, I got, you know, this gold belt."

Photograph: Bob Gruen

The subject of more concerts was bound to be asked and he responded by saying, "There's so many places I haven't been yet. Like I've never played New York. I've never been to Britain either." Pressed to give his thoughts on visiting Britain and a world tour he responded, "I'd like to, yes sir. I'd like to very much. I'd like to go to Europe. I'd like to go to Japan and all those places. I've never been out of the country except in the service."

He dealt with questions on his image, early criticism for his long hair and gyrations, rock 'n' roll music and why he didn't record many rock songs. Wisely he avoided questions about politics and draft dodgers.

The press conference was bought to a close when Colonel Parker announced, "I'd like to live up to my reputation of being a nice guy, this is it, folks."

Meanwhile Elvis went back to final rehearsals for the opening show. Backing Elvis on the New York shows and rest of the tour were the same musicians as on his previous tours... James Burton (guitar), John Wilkinson (rhythm guitar), Jerry Scheff (bass), Ronnie Tutt (drums), Glen D. Hardin (piano), Charlie Hodge (guitar) and vocalists J. D. Sumner & The Stamps, The Sweet Inspirations and Kathy Westmoreland. The Joe Malin Orchestra was conducted by Joe Guercio.

Opening Show - 9 June 1972

The set-list for all four concerts was similar to those on the April tour with a few songs dropped, a few added and a different opening song. Following the 2001 theme Elvis went straight into his first record, That's Alright, Mama and followed with a mix of his hits and covers including Love Me, Heartbreak Hotel, Blue Suede Shoes, Suspicious Minds, Proud Mary, Never Been To Spain, You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' and You Don't Have To Say You Love Me.

Afternoon & Evening Shows - 10 June 1972

Any fears he had about the shows and the reception by the media were unwarranted, the press had nothing but praise with the New York Times heading their review with, "Like A Prince From Another Planet". Reviewing the Opening Friday night concert, Chris Chase, wrote, "He looked like a prince from another planet, narrow-eyed, with high Indian cheekbones and a smooth brown skin untouched by his 37 years." He continued, "It was a lesson in dominance; we had just seen the comic who couldn't control anybody, not even himself, and that had got us nervous; now Elvis made it all right again."

The review continued, "Once in a great while, a special champion comes along, a Joe Louis, a Jose Cabablanca, a Joe DiMaggio, someone in whose hands the way a thing is done becomes more important than the thing itself. When DiMaggio hit a baseball, his grace made the act look easy and inevitable; whether it turned into a pop fly or a home run, it was beautiful, because he did what he did so well. Friday night, at Madison Square Garden, Elvis was like that. He stood there at the end, his arms stretched out, the great gold cloak giving him wings, a champion, the only one in his class."

There is no doubt that during the four concerts over three days Elvis won over his New York Critics and delighted the 80,000 fans in attendance.

Following the New York concerts the tour continued with shows in Fort Wayne (Indiana), Evansville (Indiana), Milwaukee (Wisconsin), three shows in Chicago (Illinois), Fort Worth (Texas), Wichita (Kansas) and wound up in Tulsa (Oklahoma).

Released just eight days after the concert, Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden, featured the complete evening show from Saturday 10 June. One reason given for the quick release of the album was to beat the bootleggers. Featuring the whole show it has been mentioned that it was sped up slightly to accommodate every song on a single album rather than making it a double-album, with a higher selling price. However, I have never really noticed this. 

Featuring a complete concert rather than being pieced together from several shows, like previous Elvis live albums, this one gives the listener an actual feel of a 1970s concert.

Due to the the fast turn around of the album, the cover had already been designed and was the one planned for the cancelled Standing Room Only album. It featured a photo of Elvis live in Jacksonville, Florida during the previous tour in April rather than an actual shot from the the New York concert and all that needed changing was the wording on the front. In my opinion it is one of the best Elvis live album covers ever.

In his review of the album, in Rolling Stone, Bob Palmer wrote, "This is a damn fine record, friend, and you're going to like it whether you like it or not.There's Wagnerian bombast, plenty of your favourite songs, some jukebox music and some Las Vegas lounge music. There's even some old fashioned rock 'n' roll. And most of all there's lots of Elvis, doing what he does best, strutting his stuff before his adoring fans." He also had nothing but praise for the band, "Every great rock and roll singer needs a great rock and roll band, and Elvis has one.

The album reached #11 on the charts and sold over 500,000 copies within the first couple of months of release and would go on to be awarded triple-platinum status for sales of over three million.

It soon became clear to fans that both shows were recorded on Saturday 10 June and this was confirmed in the many recording session books that appeared over the years. However, it would be twenty-five years before the other concert would gain a release.

In 1997 the afternoon show was released on CD with the appropriate title An Afternoon In The Garden. Unlike the previous album this one failed to chart.

Featuring an almost identical song list there were a few surprises, most notably a great version of the blues track Reconsider Baby, which had first appeared on his 1960 album Elvis Is Back. The 1972 live version had previously been released on the A Legendary Performer Volume 4 album in 1983 along with I'll Remember You. Another song from the show, I Can't Stop Loving You, also had an earlier release, this time on the compilation Welcome To My World, released in 1977.

The live version of Reconsider Baby was a contender for the Elvis (Fool) album and at the time paperwork showed the title as A Blues Jam, a mistake or an attempt to persuade buyers to buy the album thinking they were getting a new song. Whatever the reason, it did not make it onto the final release.

Although I always loved Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden, I feel that An Afternoon In The Garden has the edge. 

To celebrate the fortieth anniversary in 2012 of the concerts Sony/Legacy released the deluxe set Prince From Another Planet, taking its title from one of the press reviews of the time.

The set featured both concerts from 10 June,  along with a DVD that included amateur footage taken at the opening show on 9 June, interviews with TCB Band members James Burton, Glen D. Hardin and orchestra leader Joe Guercio. Also included was the complete New York press conference. The live footage was edited, cleaned and synched to the sound and although it only features parts of songs, due to the person filming having to change film regularly, it is fascinating to watch.

Mixed by Michael H. Brauer and mastered by Vic Anesini the sound on this release is amazing.

The 52-page booklet included an introduction by Ernst Mikael Jorgensen and Roger Semon, an essay by Lenny Kaye, from the Patti Smith Group, and scores of photos (from the press conference and all four shows), press reviews, adverts, record sleeves, labels and other memorabilia. There was also a complete transcript of the New York Press Conference.

In May 2023 the Follow That Dream label released Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden, a three-CD set that included both the Saturday 10 June afternoon and evening shows along with a third disc that featured the complete 9 June press conference held in the Mercury Ballroom, New York Hilton. Although a year late it was issued to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the concerts.

Packaged in the same style as the 'sessions' series, in an 8" x 8" slipcase with the CDs housed in a three-panel insert featuring illustrations of the original tape boxes, the audience and a great photo of Elvis from the afternoon show.

The 20-page booklet included an introduction by Ernst Mikael Jorgensen, a transcript of the press conference, liner notes from Phil Gelormine, from 2017, entitled, 'Remembering Elvis In New York' and full details of tracks, musicians and credits. Photos from the press conference, both shows along with memorabilia are also featured.

This new release was mixed by Matt-Ross Spang, whose previous work included Elvis On Tour, From Elvis In Nashville and Back In Nashville, and mastered by Jan Eliasson.  Sound is obviously subjective and everybody will have their own opinions on which version they prefer, but for me this latest release is my favourite.

Talking years later about the shows Glen D. Hardin commented, "I'm sure Elvis never sang better than he did at Madison Square Garden... he turned on the power, and powerful it was." It's hard to disagree.

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Back in 2002 Carole and I visited New York to celebrate our twentieth wedding anniversary and one of many highlights was our visit to Madison Square Garden. Here are a few images from that visit.