Elvis Unravelled #33
Elvis the Final Tour
In June 1977 Elvis hit the road for the very last time. Two shows were recorded by CBS and screened as a TV Special – Elvis the final tour.
12 to 18 August: Elvis the Final Tour
guest feature on the Mop Tops and The King show
To Listen to the show
The MTK Network broadcasts the show, with 100 radio stations around the world.
Show Schedule for times and radio stations.
(Times on the Show Schedule are Eastern Time. Consequently, the UK is five hours ahead.)
Listen Again – PODCAST
Elvis the Final Tour
Elvis the Final Tour
Two months before his untimely death on 16 August 1977, Elvis set off on what would become his final tour. The tour opened in Springfield, Missouri on 17 June 1977 and ended on 26 June with the last concert in Indiana.
As a part of the tour, CBS recorded two of the shows and subsequently, aired on 3 October as Elvis’s third TV Special. The first TV Comeback Special in 1968 heralded Elvis’s return to live performances. Following his release from the US Army, Elvis reinvented himself as movie star. After that in 1973, Elvis made his second TV Special, Aloha from Hawaii.
On this final tour the lineup here included, Las Vegas sidemen, guitarist James Burton and drummer Ronnie Tutt. In addition, The Sweet Inspirations and JD Sumner were credited on the concert posters.
Despite receiving a fantastic reception from the fans at the time, the TV footage has never received an official release. The owners of the copyright claim that’s because they do not want to damage Elvis’s reputation. Elvis may not have looked at his best and mumbled some of the lyrics. OK, but the concert-going fans loved him and he still had that Elvis magic.
The concert ended with the inevitable announcement, “Ladies and Gentlemen, Elvis has left the building!”
Derek Shelmerdine
Guest presenter of Elvis Presley Unravelled
Derek Shelmerdine is the author of the book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled.
Extracts from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
Many of the Elvis Presley Unravelled and The Beatles Unravelled podcasts are based on extracts from Derek Shelmerdine‘s book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled.
The Beatles – Extracts taken from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
Elvis Presley – Extracts taken from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
These extracts are only a small fraction of the Beatles and Elvis stories to be found in the book.
About the book – Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
Rock’n’Roll Unravelled tells the story of rock’n’roll from its roots to mid-1970s punk.
In addition to the music, the book looks at the social factors influencing the music. The Vietnam War, fear of communism and Civil rights struggle certainly helped to shape the sounds of the time.
If it’s relevant to the music of the 1950s. ’60s, ’70s and its roots – it’s in the book. For example, there are stories about bands and artists. Also, a look at classic albums and singles, landmark recording sessions. Not forgetting memorable gigs and festivals. Plus stories about influential managers, how bands came together, lineups and – SO MUCH MORE…
Rock’n’Roll Unravelled‘s unique three-part structure
Rock’n’Roll Unravelled has three sections: Timeline, What Happened Today and Pocket Histories.
What Happened Today – looks at the events happening on a day-by-day basis.
Consequently, as the review in Record Collector magazine puts it in its review of the book, “Shelmerdine has made a painstaking effort to documented pretty much every event that will prove significant in shaping popular music”. In addition, the review went on to describe the book as, “comprehensive… invaluable”.
Moreover, the cross-referenced events in What Happened Today create the other two sections, Timeline and Pocket Histories.
Timeline – consequently provides a date-order listing of all of the events in What Happened Today.
Pocket Histories – further extends the cross-referencing. As a result, this builds a picture of the lives and times of the artists, bands and events in What Happened Today.
TO BUY – a signed copy of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
The Mop Tops and The King Show
Steve Chelmsford presents the Mop Tops and the King radio show. Certainly, a great name for a show all about The Beatles and Elvis Presley.
Every other week, author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled Derek Shelmerdine presents The Beatles Unravelled, alternating with Elvis Presley Unravelled.
The podcast provides this 1-minute segment of a little bit of Beatles and Elvis Presley history. Moreover, the Unravelled stories take a look at some of the more obscure events.
The MTK Network broadcasts the show, with 100 radio stations around the world. Consequently, the Mop Tops and The King show is playing somewhere in the world every day of the week.
Show Schedule for times and radio stations.
(Times on the Show Schedule are Eastern Time. Consequently, the UK is five hours ahead.)
For all previous editions of…
The Beatles Unravelled and Elvis Presley Unravelled
First Broadcast: Elvis the Final Tour
12 to 18 August 2022, on the MTK network.
