Elvis' Finale Taped For Release in June

by James Kingsley
The Commercial Appeal
March 21, 1974

Concert Date : March 20, 1974 (8.30 pm) Memphis, TN. Midsouth Coliseum.

Elvis Presley ended his 15 city tour with a hometown performance recorded before 12,300 fans at the Mid-South Coliseum last night.

The recording is to be used for an album to be distributed by RCA-Victor.

Elvis said he turned down requests from other cities on his current tour to record in order to save the recording show for his hometown fans.

The album, which will be released in early June, will have the songs, screams and cheers that were hallmarksat each of Presley's five Memphis concerts.

Microphones were set up inside and outside the Coliseum to capture the squeals of fans from the moment he drove up until he left. Microphones, connected to a $100,000 control board, also were on stage and in the audience.

Before facing his fifth sellout crowd in the Coliseum last night. Elvis said 'Man, I'm ready and prepared for this recording session.

I was a little worried for the first show last Saturday, but the audience knocked me out. They were great and I appreciated it.'

Presley and Felton Jarvis, his record producer, said there was some discussion about his recording at the Houston Astrodome and other cities.

'But I wanted to record a live session in my hometown of Memphis. After all this is where it all started out of me,' Elvis said.

Elvis was backed up by 30 musicians and singers, including the Sweet Inspirations, a black trio, and a J.D. Sumner and The Stamps Quartet.

Selections included 'Teddy Bear,' 'I Got A Woman', 'Don't Be Cruel,' 'Hound Dog,' 'Let Me Be There,' 'Stemroller Blues,' and his new song, 'Help Me'.

E.E. 'Bubba' Bland, Coliseum manager, ticket revenue from the live shows - each attended by 12,300 persons, totalled about $586,000. 'This is the largest gross show we have ever handled by far'

Bland was highly complimentary of the technical production of the Presley shows as well as of the performances and said the Coliseum would receive 'way in excess of $50,000' in fees.

Bland said there have been no discussions about a return engagement, 'That doesn't say that we are not hoping. We would try to put him in any time he wants to come back.'

Elvis' new engagements are at Lake Tahoe, Nev. in May and Las Vegas in August.

Elvis, 39, said he turned down requests from other cities on his current tour to record in order to save the recording show for his hometown fans.