August 16, 1977, Elvis R.I.P.
Leaving the world of country, and doing the Jailhouse Rock (c. 1957)
Jailhouse Rock Music Video - HIPS !!!
With Priscilla and Lisa Marie
Here is the song written for Priscilla, awfully heartfelt and about all the ways he knew he was responsible for her leaving him
Always on my Mind
After the divorce, he let himself go to hell. I was only 8 in 1977, but I remember the death vividly. People stopped the their tracks and started crying. It was quite tragic, he was such an icon, but surrounded himself with lecherous people and resorted to a self-destructive lifestyle of drugs, etc.
Here he is at 42 or so, looking much older than that, near the end.
Here is a concert 2 months before his death in August 77.
My Way Concert Video
This might have been the Chicago Stadium May 77 appearance, which my parents were at (his last Chgo appearance), but it was definitely the same tour. Very sad to see, it certainly looks like “the end is near,” it seems he can barely stand. Amazingly, despite the health and abuses, he never lost his voice (dying at 42 may have something to do with that), though you can tell that he is struggling from a health perspective to get through the song without passing out. Seems it was the end of that show. Gotta tell ya though, it’s awfully weird, being 38, to think of my parents in 1977 at the ages of 37 and 35 cheering for Elvis at the Stadium. No weirder though than looking at pictures of them owning a Chicago disco from 1977-79, wearing the full big collared polyester getup, lit up dancefloor, strobelight and disco ball and all.
Here he is at the beginning of a show, maybe the same one (btw, he put on epic shows, like 3 hours), bringin’ it much better at the beginning of the show. Don’t miss the “thank you, thankyouverymuch” at approx. 4:40 mark.
Concert start
Contrast that with this classic, in the peak of health and fame, maybe in Vegas …
In the Ghetto Video
Another Classic
An American Trilogy
A hunk of burnin’ love
and finally …
Caught in a Trap
Elvis Night at US Cellular Field. I was at Elvis Night there a few years ago. Notice that NOBODY has left the park and it’s 30 minutes after game time, crowd going nutso.
Elvis Dancers
The Flying Elvises
We’re caught in a trap
I can’t walk out
Because I love you too much baby
Why can’t you see
What you’re doing to me
When you don’t believe a word I say?
We can’t go on together
With suspicious minds
And we can’t build our dreams
On suspicious minds
So, if an old friend I know
Drops by to say hello
Would I still see suspicion in your eyes?
Here we go again
Asking where I’ve been
You can’t see these tears are real
I’m crying
We can’t go on together
With suspicious minds
And be can’t build our dreams
On suspicious minds
Oh let our love survive
Or dry the tears from your eyes
Let’s don’t let a good thing die
When honey, you know
I’ve never lied to you
Mmm yeah, yeah