The Final Homecoming (CD - Audionics / Fort Baxter, 2009)

Title:

The Final Homecoming

Label:

Audionics (2009-05-2) / Fort Baxter (CS-1005)

Format:

Double CD

Number of tracks:

36

Running time:

93:00

Type of album:

Concert

Linked to:

Unofficial discography

Year:

2009

Recording date:

July 5, 1976

Release date:

2009

Singles:

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The Final Homecoming is a CD by the Fort Baxter bootleg label in partnership with Audionics. It contains the complete July 5, 1976 concert, Elvis' last in Memphis, on soundboard. The work is out of print.

By mid-1976, it looked like Elvis would never get back to his old ways. His performances were erratic, he was slow and sometimes confused at the beginning of shows, though nothing like August 1975 in Las Vegas. In fact, the singer would improve his performance a lot at the end of June, but it was clear that he no longer had that flame that burned in his heart.

Fortunately, if there was one thing Elvis knew how to do besides singing, it was surprising his fans. His shows at the end of June and beginning of July 1976 were very dynamic - despite not having many variations in the setlist - and culminated in the singer's excellent last performance in Memphis on the 5th.

Elvis had openly adopted Memphis as his hometown since he recorded the hit "That's All Right" on July 5, 1954. By coincidence of fate, he would perform what would be his last concert in the city on July 5, 1976, exactly 22 years later.

In front of a crowd of 12,000 at the Mid-South Coliseum, Elvis showed that he could still shake the foundations. Before singing "That's All Right", the King of Rock made a point of commenting that many critics thought he was overaged and didn't have enough stamina to perform it as he had 22 years earlier. Without batting an eye, Elvis proved that yes - he still had rock in his soul, playing it masterfully after giving a warning to unbelievers: "I’ve heard a couple of people say, 'you can’t do that anymore' - you by God watch me!"

In total, Elvis played the longest show of his career, at exactly 93 minutes. The traditional opening with "See See Rider / I Got a Woman / Love Me" soon gave way to hits of the moment, like "Fairytale" and "And I Love You So", and strong themes like "You Gave Me a Mountain", and "America the Beautiful". Elvis even performed the relatively rare "One Night" and the introspective "Help Me" and "Softly, as I Leave You".

Charles Goodman from The Commercial Appeal, wrote a review of the performance in the July 6, 1976 issue: (original article)

For the fans who packed the Coliseum the big event of their week-end celebration of the Bicentennial Fourth of July was Elvis coming home in concert.

When he strolled on stage, the flash bulbs in the audience turned the scene into a pyrotechnic display with rivaled the fireworks show on the riverfront Sunday night.

"Let me tell you," he told the whooping sell-out crowd, "I'll sing all the songs you want. It's the end of our tour and I have as much time as you want tonight."

The show featured the best of two worlds - the flashy professional Hot Hilton Horns orchestra from the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel and the gospel singing Stamps Quartet. They brought the house down with a driving version of "When The Saints Go Marching In"

Elvis kept his promise, singing steadily from 10 p.m until 40 minutes before midnight. The six songs from his long career began with the first recording he did in Memphis, "That's All Right."

"They say I shouldn't sing "That's All Right" any more," he said picking up his guitar, "but by God watch me".

His swivel hips brought screams and his glance moans.

"It never ceases to amaze me," he said, waiting for the waves of screams to die down. As he sang, fans shoved through the line of police to load the front edge of the stage with gifts for him - a toy soldier, a cake, a painting, a blue Christmas tree, a lei, pendants and personal letters. He kept wiping his brow with fresh scarfs and tossing them to the forest of hands reaching up to him.

Relaxed and enjoying the show himself Elvis knelt and said one of the women jammed against the front of the stage "What do you want , honey? Just my scarf?"

One song "Help Me" he said with a twinkle in his eye, was from an album he made two years ago titled "Elvis in the Gutter"

He was serious only once. Obviously irked by past reports on his health, he said "The last time I was here I was sick a couple of weeks. But I'm over all that and I'm working and I'm happy"

There was no doubt that Elvis' huge following is happy too.

Fans wait for Elvis at the Mid-South Coliseum; July 5, 1976 (©Barney Sellers, The Commercial Appeal)

Below is a review of the concert.

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CD 1

- 1. Also Sprach Zarathustra: The usual opener for Elvis shows takes on an air of pure electricity as it is being performed for the last time in Memphis.

- 2. See See Rider: Looking eager to introduce himself to his most beloved fans, Elvis enters the stage a few seconds into the song. When starting the song, his voice is strong (perhaps at the same level as early 1974) and consistent. It had been somewhat common throughout the 1976 summer season for Elvis to babble throughout, but that doesn't happen here.

- 3. I Got a Woman / Amen: "You never cease to amaze me, you know?", Elvis confesses to the audience. A strong "weeeell..." starts the routine amid strong hysteria from the fans. "You mean you've waited all this time to hear me go 'well, well, well'?", he jokes. JD does a little dive bomb that leads into the beginning of the song.

The song is well performed, but Elvis is surprised to have hit such a low note at the end and, as the audience laughs, confesses to being tired. "I don't know how I got that down there. I'm having a fit, you people are laughing at me." The striptease routine drives the ladies crazy and leads to JD's famous dive bombs, ending the song.

- 4. Love Me: Elvis greets the audience and says it's a pleasure to perform in Memphis again (obviously referring to the show he played there the year before). "It's a high stage, you can't get to me anyway", he says to a fan who desperately jumps in front of him. The music starts and the audience goes wild knowing that it's time to try to get one of his scarves or, if you're lucky, get a kiss. The rendition of the song is standard for the time.

- 5. Fairytale: The song begins almost immediately after the end of "Love Me", with Elvis still handing out some scarves and asking fans to be careful not to hurt themselves. "Fairytale" is performed with a passion rarely seen.

Elvis at the Mid-South Coliseum; July 5, 1976

- 6. You Gave Me a Mountain: Another song that excites and stirs the fans, despite the constant feedback. Elvis gives his all in the rendition and earns an effusive applause at the end.

- 7. All Shook Up: The 1957 hit lets the audience know that the medley of famous songs is starting. Elvis laughs a lot during the rendition and goes back to handing out scarves.

- 8. Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel: The audience vibrates a lot during the song and Elvis is a little hampered by fans who almost knock him off the stage. He also has difficulty singing a small part due to not being able to hear the band.

- 9. And I Love You: The romantic song released in 1975 soothes fans.

- 10. Jailhouse Rock: Elvis brings the house down with a heavy version of the 1957 hit song. It would become a staple at the rest of his shows, but here it proves unsurpassed.

- 11. Fever: After moving around a lot in the previous song, Elvis calms things down with a sensual rendition in which female fans rave with his slow pelvic thrusts.

- 12. America the Beautiful: In honor of the 200th anniversary of the United States Independence, celebrated the day before, Elvis makes a wonderful version of the patriotic song written by Katherine Lee Bates in 1893.

- 13. One Night: Absent since 1972, despite appearing at an occasional show in 1975, the 1957 hit brings energy back to the performance. It wasn't on the setlist, but Elvis answered the fans request.

- 14. That's All Right: "I’ve heard a couple of people say, 'you can’t do that anymore' - you by God watch me!", Elvis exclaims before launching into a powerful rendition of the song that sends the audience into a frenzy.

- 15. Blue Christmas: Elvis answers another request from fans and jokes: "'Blue Christmas'...in July." The version is standard for the time.

- 16. Introductions: "Let me tell you, that... I'll try to get all the song that you want to hear, because this is the end of the tour and I got as long as you have." Elvis receives a painting from a fan and asks: "Who is that? Me? No!" The girl explains the painting, saying that she won $50 in a contest for looking the most like Elvis and that the picture in the painting is of her dressed as him.

The King of Rock introduces The Sweet Inspirations, JD Sumner, The Stamps, Kathy Westmoreland and Sherrill Nielsen.

- 17. Early Morning Rain: John Wilkinson does his solo and Elvis sings along. Unfortunately the rendition is incomplete and had to be spliced to the version from December 28, 1976 in Dallas, Texas.

Elvis at the Mid-South Coliseum; July 5, 1976 (©George Hill)

CD 2

- 1. What'd I Say: James Burton does his solo with Elvis singing along. The song's intro is still from the December 28 show, but the performance jumps back to the July 5th tape as soon as James starts playing.

- 2. Johnny B. Goode: James Burton's second solo is very dynamic and Elvis sounds enthusiastic.

- 3. Drum Solo: Ronnie Tutt does his part.

- 4. Bass Solo: Jerry Scheff does a wonderful chickin' pickin'.

- 5. Piano Solo: Tony Brown does his solo.

- 6. Electric Piano and Clavinet Solo: David Briggs does his psychedelic solo.

- 7. Love Letters: "When David and I first worked together, it was his first recording session and we did a song called 'Love Letters'. I'd like to sing that for you right now." Elvis takes advantage of David Briggs' solo to do the song recorded in 1966, which sounds fantastic.

- 8. School Day: Elvis introduces Charlie Hodge, Joe Guercio and his orchestra. He sings a lot during the solo, something rare to hear.

- 9. Hurt: "I have a new record out, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to sing for you right now." When Tutt's drums announce the beginning of the song, the crowd goes wild. Elvis makes an impeccable rendition amid the frenzy of fans.

- 10. Hurt: The effusive applause calls for a full reprise of the song and Elvis again does a fantastic job.

- 11. Hound Dog: A much better version than the ones heard in June, with the audience cheering along.

- 12. Funny How Time Slips Away: "Now that you've seen us, I'd like to turn the house lights up so I can see you. Good grief! It's nice to see you, ladies and gentlemen, really. No, really, it's hard to see out there with the lights on." Elvis introduces the song that usually announces the end of the show in a few minutes. Fortunately this is not the case, but the fans go crazy on the edge of the stage.

The King of Rock still asks for the reprise of the end to show the vocal skills of JD Sumner, who makes a brief dive bomb.

Elvis at the Mid-South Coliseum; July 5, 1976

- 13. Help Me: "I'd like to do a song that we recorded about two years ago and it's from an album called 'Elvis in the Gutter', it's called 'Help Me'." The rendition is not one of the best, but it moves the audience. "Thank you. That was Sherrill Nielsen doing the harmony. Thank you, Sherrill."

- 14. How Great Thou Art: "I'd like to do a Gospel song that we get a lot of requests for, 'How Great Thou Art'. It features The Stamps." Elvis never lost form with this song, performing it in a divine way and already starting and ending with the high note that became known worldwide in Elvis in Concert.

- 15. Softly, as I Leave You: "I'd like to do something q little bit different tonight. I'd like to relay to you a story. It's a true story about a song that's been around for many, many years... Sherrill sings it, and I'll tell you the story behind the song." Elvis serenely recites the lyrics while Sherrill Nielsen sings in the background. The audience is completely silent during the only rendition of the song-poem outside of Las Vegas or Lake Tahoe.

- 16. Introduction: "Since I was here the last time, I was in the hospital for a couple of things, but, you know, nothing really serious and I'm over that, and I'm working and I'm glad to be back working again, really. Thank you for coming out to see the show. My dad, you know, he was sick, but he's well, he's doing fine. He's down over here. Would you stand up, dad?" Elvis introduces Vernon to the audience and both are applauded. He also thanks his musicians who were "all hand picked... from the bottom of the barrel."

- 17. Polk Salad Annie: The version is already the standard 1975-77. Elvis tries hard to put on a show of his own in the song, moving around a lot on stage.

- 18. Jambalaya:  The Carpenters' success was one of the delicious rarities that Elvis presented us with from time to time. Unfortunately, he never sang it in full and here he just uses it to catch his breath. This would be the last time the song would appear in concert.

- 19. Its Now or Never: Elvis does a good rendition of his 1960 hit. The song seems too high for his voice at the moment, but the King of Rock manages to pull it off pretty well and hit the notes reasonably well.

- 20. Can't Help Falling in Love: "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you very much." The music starts almost immediately and announces the end of the show after an incredible 91 minutes. Fans go wild trying to get one last scarf, hug or kiss from Elvis.

- 21. Closing Vamp & Announcements: The audience applauds and cheers, knowing the magical night is over. What they didn't know is that it would really be his last time in Memphis.