EAP Index World: Such a Night In Pearl Harbor (CD + Book

Title:

Such a Night in Pearl Harbor

Label:

Memphis Recording Service [MRS30025361]

Format:

Number of tracks:

Running time:

79:00

Type of album:

Concert

Linked to:

Unofficial discography

Year:

2012

Recording date:

March 25, 1961

Release date:

April 2, 2012

Singles:

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Such a Night in Pearl Harbor was released for the first time in the box "Elvis Aron Presley", in 1980, without yet having a defined name. In 2012 Memphis Recording Service (MRS) re-released the show with remastered audio and extras, giving it the title by which we now know it. The CD even comes with a 100-page booklet about Elvis' second visit to Hawaii and how it established him as one of the archipelago's greatest idols.

Three years after his last performances, which took place on November 10 and 11, 1957 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Elvis had now completed his mandatory military service and returned to studio work and filming in Hollywood. His new records and films were the hits of the moment and his career couldn't be in better shape.

Ticket for the March 25, 1961 benefit concert

According to Ernst Jorgensen and Peter Guralnick in their book "Elvis: Day By Day", the genesis of the 1961 Hawaii concert occurred on December 4, 1960, when Colonel Parker read an editorial in the Los Angeles Examiner about the fundraising effort to build a war memorial in Pearl Harbor.

The USS Arizona Memorial would honor the sunken battleship and all the people who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Initial efforts to raise funds to build it had stalled with only half the amount raised and , in an attempt to re-energize the campaign, Hawaii journalists sent an appeal to newspaper editors across the country, asking for editorial support.

Seeing an opportunity to expose his gold mine to the public for the first time in that decade, the Colonel contacted Elvis and informed him of the idea. The singer agreed, and Parker then began making his phone calls, holding a press conference on January 11, 1961 to publicly announce the first major concert of the 1960s, to be held at the Hawaiian Village Hotel in Honolulu, where the King of Rock had made his last public performance in 1957.

Elvis at the Honolulu Stadium on November 10, 1957

The next day, Hawaiian newspapers reported on the press conference. Parker revealed that Elvis would appear in Honolulu on March 25 at a benefit concert for the USS Arizona Memorial Fund. "Every penny of the amount raised must go to the fund, otherwise we are not interested in doing the program," Parker clarified.

By then, Elvis would have already attested that the public had not forgotten him on stage, having performed for a total of 10,500 people in two shows at the Ellis Auditorium, in Memphis, on February 25, 1961. Due to the size of the venue where the benefit performance would take place, the Bloch Arena, the audience would have a similar number of spectators - around 5 thousand.

Ticket sales opened to the public at Bloch Arena on March 13, 1961 and fans bought them all in less than two days. Prices ranged from $3 to $10 for seats furthest from the stage, with seats at the edge of itc costing $100. The concert, which featured Elvis Presley and a roster of famous performers, would raise just over $64,000 in tickets, around 10% of the $500,000 goal. Many public and private donations were made, and the Colonel and the singer also made their contribution. The performers that preceded and succeeded the King of Rock's show were paid by Parker and Elvis out of their own pockets.

On March 20, 1961, Paramount scheduled Elvis for the filming of "Blue Hawaii" and requested his presence in Waikiki on the 27th. On the morning of the 25th, the singer boarded a flight in Los Angeles that would take him for a long and tiring day.

Elvis and fans at Los Angeles airport on March 25, 1961

Even before the plane took off, more than 3,000 people were already waiting for it at the Honolulu airport. When the aircraft touched down on Hawaiian soil at 12:15 pm, the screams from the wild fans were deafening. Elvis appeared at the top of the plane's stairs at 12:30 am and, after passing through a huge aisle of reporters, politicians and local celebrities, went to address the watching crowd.

Protected by a large contingent of police and a metal barrier, Elvis, looking a little pale and worried, moved quickly through the crowd, stopping only twice to shake hands and receive leis, before getting into a car that would take him to the Hawaiian Village Hotel right away. Even though he did everything automatically and quickly, reporters noted in their reviews over the next few days that "some fans seemed ready to tear off his limbs one by one and take them home as souvenirs."

Elvis addresses fans at the Honolulu airport; March 25, 1961

Elvis was extremely tired, having spent the previous four days inside RCA's Hollywood studios recording material for the "Blue Hawaii" soundtrack. Still, he put his duty to the public first, as always.

A lengthy press conference kicked off at 3:45 pm with the singer receiving an honorary citizen plaque from the mayor of Honolulu. The King of Rock entered the conference room still looking sleepy, having slept for about 15 minutes before heading to the venue. Questions about movies, records, his private life, future projects and other details followed for over an hour before Elvis said goodbye and went back to his room to rest.

Outside, the crowds of fans began to fill the streets adjacent to the Bloch Arena at around 4.30pm. Lines doubled for blocks around 6 pm and, an hour later, traffic was completely stopped in the Hawaiian capital. When the gates opened at 7:15 pm, it was possible to hear the rumble of the audience as they rushed to their seats in the arena. Half an hour before the start of the performances, it was almost impossible to hear anything due to the deafening screams of the fans. Among them was Elvis' future co-star in "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" (1966) Donna Butterworth.

ABOVE: Elvis, Parker and Hal Wallis at the singer's room before the press conference;
BELOW: Elvis and the Colonel during the press conference on March 25, 1961

The show started at 8:30 pm and was opened by the Phil Ingall Orchestra, followed by Hawaiian comedian Sterling Mossman, but Elvis didn't take the stage until after the intermission. Opening acts also included pianist Floyd Cramer, The Jordanaires, jazz saxophonist Boots Randolph and comedian Minnie Pearl.

After the break, Rear Admiral Robert L. Campbell finally introduced Elvis to the audience, who gave him a standing ovation to hysterical screams for nearly three minutes. He wore his famous gold jacket with silver sparkles and sequins, navy blue pants, white shirt and blue tie, looking radiant and prepared to give it his all.

With Elvis' help, the USS Arizona Memorial was able to open on May 30, 1962.

This would be the last time Elvis would wear the gold jacket and the show itself would become the last stage performance until his return nearly 8 years later in Las Vegas in 1969.

Elvis during the March 25, 1961 concert

Below we review the benefit performance of March 25, 1961.

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- 1. Elvis Arrives (March 25, 1961, 12:30 pm - previously unreleased): The CD starts with audio from the radio broadcast of Elvis' arrival at the Honolulu airport. The reporter is really excited to announce that the singer was on Hawaiian soil, describing what he was wearing and commenting that the King of Rock is even more handsome than when he was in Hawaii in 1957.

- 2. Elvis Receives Honorary Prizes (March 25, 1961, 3:45 pm - previously unreleased): Before the press conference, Elvis receives plaques that certify him as an honorary citizen of Honolulu, a plaque of honor for the help that the singer was giving to the cause of the memorial and a certificate of honorary membership of the committee that presided over the same.

- 3. Intro (March 25, 1961, 9:15 pm - previously unreleased): Rear Admiral Robert L. Campbell announces the beginning of the King of Rock's performance.

- 4. Heartbreak Hotel: Under the hysterical screams of the fans, Elvis takes the stage. For more than a minute the singer remains silent until he lets out a scream that makes the women even more insane. The version is quite dynamic, but similar to the one heard on the Master. Elvis seems to be enjoying himself, mimicking the fans' screams and laughing.

- 5. All Shook Up: "Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you very much. I would like to say that it is a pleasure to be back in Honolulu." There's a tape cut that makes the show go quickly, but Elvis spoke for a long time while an electrical problem was fixed. When the issue is resolved, the singer does a standard version of the 1957 hit.

- 6. (Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I: Without a break between songs, Elvis goes straight to the 1959 hit that starts with a funk beat that drives everyone crazy. The singer dances and moves on stage while Scotty Moore does his guitar solo, The King of Rock also has fun exchanging parts of the song's lyrics.

Elvis during the March 25, 1961 concert

- 7. I Got a Woman: For the first time we hear a rehearsal of what would become the "well, well, well routine" before the 1970s. Elvis puts a lot of power into his voice for this rendition, sounding like he's dancing and doing the moves that women love.

- 8. Love Me: Incredibly, the fans are quieter during the beginning of the rendition of the 1956 hit. They only return to hysterical screams when Elvis sits on the edge of the stage and sings directly to the audience.

- 9. Introductions: Elvis introduces the artists accompanying him on stage - The Jordanaires, Bobby Moore in his first work with the singer, D. J. Fontana, Boots Randolph, Scotty Moore, Hank Garland and Floyd Cramer.

- 10. Such a Night: Fans are back in hysterics when Elvis starts the song, but he just walks up and down the stage trying to rest. The version is somewhat weak, but still above average.

- 11. Reconsider Baby: Blues was Elvis' specialty and here he shows why. The rendition is excellent and the singer really seizes the moment, even asking Boots Randolph to play a second saxophone solo during the performance. The King of Rock is so immersed in the music that he even forgets to sing and leaves Scotty doing an unexpected solo for a few moments.

Elvis and Scotty Moore admire Boots Randolph's solo

- 12. I Need Your Love Tonight: After complaining about the extreme heat onstage, Elvis begins the rendition of the 1959 hit. He is more active and actually starts doing more of the moves that drove fans wild, perhaps in preparation for the songs to come.

- 13. That's All Right: "Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to do the very first record we ever made. This was for the Sun Records people, in Memphis, Tennessee, when we first started out. I hope you remember it, it's called 'That's All Right, Mama'." Elvis really lets go from here. He shakes, rattles and rolls as he sings and even more so during Scotty's solos. The version is very good.

- 14. Don't Be Cruel: "My biggest selling record was a song called 'Don't Be Cruel'." Due to electrical problems, Elvis' microphone is turned off during the entire first verse of the song. Rendition is standard.

- 15. One Night: The 1957 hit sends fans wild once again. Elvis' mic dies at some points. A very good and rhythmic version, featuring a very lively Elvis.

- 16. Are You Lonesome Tonight: The recent sales success is met with euphoria that soon turns into moments of silence and worship. Elvis even breathes a sigh of relief upon realizing he could hear his voice for the first time that night. Aside from some lyrical changes to insert jokes, the rendition is great and similar to what you hear on the record.

Elvis sits on the edge of the stage at the March 25, 1961 concert

- 17. It's Now or Never: The B-side of the "Are You Lonesome Tonight" single also gains space. It's a shame that Elvis' microphone cuts out or loses volume at times and that the singer forgets parts of the lyrics, but the rendition is very good and he nearly hits the high note at the end of the studio recording.

- 18. Swing Down Sweet Chariot: "We'd like to do a Spiritual song for you, ladies and gentlemen, from our religious album called 'His Hand in Mine'." The song didn't seem to go over well with the audience, who would probably rather see Elvis squirming and singing at the top of his voice. The silence is only broken by occasional bursts of screams as the singer approaches the edge of the stage.

- 19. Hound Dog / Closing: The moment the fans have been waiting for all night has arrived. Elvis launches into a pure rock rendition and does the pelvic thrusts they've been wanting to see. He laughs a few times, probably sensing the women's hysterical reaction. The classic slow end of the song is left out here. About a minute after Elvis finished his performance, we hear the host say the famous line: "Elvis has left the building."

- 20 a 26. Elvis Salutes the USS Arizona Memorial (March 19, 1961 - previously unreleased): The last tracks on the CD feature a radio program paid for by Colonel Parker to promote Elvis' appearance at Pearl Harbor. The 30-minute program features narrations about the singer's charitable nature and interviews with officials who invite people to attend the concert. Connecting the spots, Gospel songs recorded by the King of Rock between 1957 and 1960 are heard.