Following from part one, this volume chronicles “Heartbreak Hotel” during the years of Elvis’ return to live performances in 1969. It was surely no surprise that Elvis included it on his initial set list for his first Las Vegas engagement and it and would return to the song frequently over the next eight years. Unlike the early versions, the seventies renditions were abridged versions usually consisting of two verses, a guitar solo and a final verse. These versions ranged between ninety seconds to just under two minutes but very rarely were they throwaway versions. That being said, with Elvis performing the song over three hundred time on stage during this period, this was probably the most difficult entry to compile.
00:00 Version One – 3 August 1969, Dinner Show – Las Vegas
It is difficult to find a version from August 1969 where Elvis takes it completely seriously throughout and this version is probably the one which best fits that category. It is also the earliest known recording of the song from this era and it is quite superb.
02:22 Version Two – 23 February 1970, Closing Show – Las Vegas
All presently available evidence suggests that Elvis essentially dropped the song for his second Las Vegas engagement. There was one exception however, during the closing night show Elvis gave a rousing rendition.
04:11 Version Three – 12 August 1970, Midnight Show, Las Vegas
This version ranks amongst one of my favourite live versions of the song and could be heard in the original 1970 theatrical version of “That’s The Way It Is”. However, Elvis was unfortunately obscured by a montage of the lights of Las Vegas and it was not until 1992 and the release of “The Lost Performances” that we saw the complete footage. In context, this song was also the beginning of a magnificent six minutes or so of pure rock ‘n’ roll magic as Elvis began that superb 50’s medley.
06:00 Version Four – 14 November 1970, Evening Show – Los Angeles
This excellent rendition from Elvis first tour of the seventies comes from the second of two shows that Elvis gave in The Los Angeles Forum on 14 November 1970. This was the first of Elvis’ two visits to the city and every show was superb.
07:53 Version Five – 29 January 1971, Dinner Show – Las Vegas
Now at the beginning of Elvis’ fourth Las Vegas engagement and Elvis is still giving out superb versions of the song.
09:34 Version Six – 9 June 1972 – Madison Square Garden, New York
There are many superb versions from the first part of 1972 and the most familiar would be those officially release from both show in New York on 10 August. However, for that reason I have chosen the less familiar, but equally superb version from the first MSG show on 9 June, which was also the tour opening show.
11:18 Version Seven – 14 November 1972 - Long Beach
Elvis’ final tour of 1972 is another wonderful collection of eleven shows which culminated in three tour ending shows in Honolulu’s International Center. This version from earlier in the tour at Long Beach is unusual in that Elvis sings three instead of the customary two verses before the instrumental break.
13:22 Version Eight – 27 April 1973, Portland
A semi serious version from a superb show with Elvis having some fun with the lyrics and the audience. There is a mistype in the video which says 1972!!!
15:05 Version Nine – 30 August 1973, Dinner Show – Las Vegas
16:41 Version Ten – 17 March 1974, Afternoon Show – Memphis
Elvis’ first tour of 1974 was also magnificent with Elvis in great form and culminated in that wonderful tour ending show in Memphis’ Mid-south auditorium featured on the “Recorded Live in Memphis” album. However, Elvis had already appeared at the venue earlier in the tour with two shows on both 16 and 17 March. It was during these four shows that Elvis gave the only rendition of the song from that tour during the afternoon show of 17 March.
18:14 Version Eleven – 19 June 1974 – Amarillo
The song was used sparingly throughout 1974 with only twenty known versions from one hundred and fifty seven shows. This version from Amarillo is just one of four renditions during his spring 1974 tour.
19:59 Version Twelve – 2 October 1974 – St. Paul
Elvis’ final tour of 1974 is often cited as being one of the poorest of his career, however during the sixth of fifteen shows on that tour, Elvis gave this excellent rendition of the song. You can hear that Elvis is having a good time on stage and this is quite a fun version.
21:36 Version Thirteen – 25 March 1975, Dinner Show – Las Vegas
23:13 Version Fourteen – 19 July 1975 – Nassau
25:20 Version Fifteen – 14 December 1975, 9pm Show – Las Vegas
27:04 Version Sixteen – 20 March 1976 – Charlotte
28:47 Version Seventeen – 9 May 1976, Closing Show - Lake Tahoe
30:53 Version Eighteen – 23 October 1976 – Richmond
32:44 Version Nineteen – 8 December 1976 – Las Vegas
34:21 Version Twenty – 26 April 1977 – Kalamazoo
36:18 Version Twenty One – 29 May 1977 – Baltimore
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