My First Concert and Other Fuckups: Elvis Presley, Baton Rouge, LA - May 31, 1977 - Mexican Sundial Suit (Elvis will be dead in less than three months)

My First Concert and Other Fuckups: Elvis Presley, Baton Rouge, LA - May 31, 1977 - Mexican Sundial Suit (Elvis will be dead in less than three months)
 
Elvis Presley
Baton Rouge, LA
May 31, 1977 
(8:30 PM)

Venue: LSU Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, LA

Tickets: 15,000

Costume: Mexican Sundial Suit/Aztec Sun Suit

Track list:

Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - Love Me - If You Love Me - You Gave Me A Mountain - Jailhouse Rock - O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never - Little Sister - Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - Help Me - Polk Salad Annie - Band Introductions - Early Morning Rain - What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode - School Days - I Really Don't Want To Know - Hound Dog - Can't Help Falling In Love

Duration/ Varighet; 61 min.

The next rearranged show was in Baton Rouge on the 31st May, with no real unusual songs, or highlights such as My Way or Hurt (thanks, illiterate Elvis freak; I'll just remember it on my own) performed.

The penultimate tour of Elvis' long career kicked off on 20th May in Knoxville, with a good, but run-of-the-mill, show which included a brilliant version of How Great Thou Art. The tour then moved onto Louisville with a more-or-less identical show to the previous night's but tonight's show featured his first single - That's All Right - in between two other old classics - I Got A Woman-Amen & Love Me.

Night three of the tour was in Largo, and this was a bad show for the period, and even the usual highlight of the show not being performed, Hurt. Things picked up on the 23rd with not only Hurt back in the setlist but another highlight of the show, My Way, also having its tour-premiere at the show.

Elvis had worn the Mexican Sundial suit at every show of the tour so far, and he would use it at every show this tour which led to rumors that there were, in fact, two identical suits which he alternated between each night, but the maker of the suits for him has confirmed that only one Sundial suit was made, and Elvis wore it nearly non-stop during most of 1977!

It was onto Augusta on the 24th and this show is one of the best of the tour. There are no real surprise songs in the show, other than an excerpt of Never Been To Spain, but all the songs are performed well for the period, and Elvis even introduced his record producer Felton Javis to the stage, and he made him stay on stage while he sung If You Love Me (Let Me Know). The 25th was, like the previous night, another good show with Tryin' to Get To You getting its first, of two, performance of the tour.

The tour then moved to Binghamton for two shows on the 26th & 27th, with the highlights of both shows being a rare version of Why Me Lord on the first night & rare versions of Heartbreak Hotel & Bridge Over Troubled Water on the second night. The real highlight, though, was a fantastic version of Unchained Melody just before closing on the second night. It was then onto Philadelphia for the next show, and the only surprise was a very exciting version of Polk Salad Annie before the band intros.

The next night is a very interesting show among fans. It was in Baltimore, and, looking at the setlist, it's a fantastic show with a lot of rare songs performed, including That's All Right & Blue Christmas very early in the show, and Help Me, Blue Suede Shoes, a verse of The Wonder Of You & One Night being performed near the end of the show. But it's what happened in between these two sections that's become the focal point of fans' interest. After You Gave Me a Mountain Elvis asked Sherrill Nielsen to sing a couple of songs. Elvis then sang Teddy Bear-Don't Be Cruel, and then he left the stage, leaving the Stamps & then Kathy to keep the audience entertained, after which Charlie did the band introductions which, in total, lasted nearly 30 minutes. After the band intros Elvis reappeared to finish School Day, and stating that "natured called". Things got back to normal after this, but reports have been that fans were crying and leaving the auditorium while he was gone. 

What was really the problem we may never know!

The tour should have ended at the last show but, because he'd cancelled the last four shows of his previous tour, they were rearranged to the end of this tour. So, Jacksonville was the next night with another run-of-the-mill show, but I Really Don't Want to Know To Know getting its first ever performance, 6 years after he'd recorded it. Although it wasn't a complete version, with the bridge missing, it became one of the highlights of the show, with his delicate reading of the lyrics.


The last show had a few unusual songs performed. Help Me, An American Trilogy & Polk Salad Annie all performed just before the band introductions, with the latter two them being the final ever versions of the songs in front of an audience. The other highlight of the show was the house-raising performance of Unchained Melody.

In under a month Elvis would be doing his final ever performance on stage!

 

On Tour, May 20th - June 2nd, 1977

• 

  The May/June-tour in 1977 consisted of 14 shows, located in 13 different cities. Elvis visited a total of 11 States on this tour; Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, Rhode Island, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama (see map at the bottom of the page). It is estimated that more than 170.000 spectators attended these shows. You can read more about the tour in the chapter "Elvis In Concert 1977".

• 

  Mai/Juni-turnéen i 1977 besto av 14 show, fordelt på 13 forskjellige byer. Elvis besøkte i alt 11 stater på denne turnéen; Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, Rhode Island, Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia og Alabama (se kart nederst på siden). Det er anslått at over 170.000 publikummere overvar disse showene. Du kan lese mer om selve turnéen under «Elvis In Concert 1977».

Musicians/ Musikere;

Band leader and Lead Guitar; James Burton – Rhythm Guitar; John Wilkinson – Backing Vocals and Acoustic Guitar; Charlie Hodge – Bass; Jerry Scheff – Drums; Ronnie Tutt – Keyboards; Tony Brown – Keyboards; Bobby Odgin – Joe Guercio and his Orchestra – Backing Vocals; JD Sumner & The Stamps (Ed Enoch, Ed Hill, Larry Strickland, Gary Buckles) – Backing Vocals; The Sweet Inspirations (Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell, Estelle Brown) – Backing Vocals; Kathy Westmoreland – Backing Vocals; Sherill Nielsen.

Songs used during this tour (listed alphabetically)/ Sanger brukt under denne turnéen (listet alfabetisk);

American Trilogy (June 2) - And I Love You So - Are You Lonesome Tonight? (May 29) - Battle Of New Orleans (Instrumental) - Big Boss Man - Blue Christmas (May 29) - Blueberry Hill (one-line) (May 22) - Blue Suede Shoes (May 29) - Bridge Over Troubled Water (May 27) - Can't Help Falling In Love - Danny Boy (Sherill Nielsen) - Early Morning Rain – Fairytale - Funny How Time Slips Away (May 22) - Heartbreak Hotel - Help Me (May 29) - Hound Dog - How Great Thou Art – Hurt - I Got A Woman/Amen - I Really Don't Want To Know - If You Love Me - It's Now Or Never - Jailhouse Rock - Johnny B. Goode - Little Sister - Love Me - Love Me Tender – My Heavenly Father (Kathy Westmoreland) (May 29) - My Way - One Night (May 29) - O Sole Mio (Sherill Nielsen) - Polk Salad Annie - See See Rider - Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - That's All Right (May 29) - The Wonder Of You (incomplete) (May 29) - Unchained Melody (May 29) - What 'd I Say? - Walk With Me (Sherill Nielsen) - Walk That Lonesome Valley (The Stamps Quartet) - You Gave Me A Mountain

Sources;

Books/ Bøker; Elvis In Concert 1945-1977 (Sebastiano Cecere – 2012) - Elvis: The Concert Years 1969-1977 (Stein Erik Skar – 1997) - Flaming Star Magazine #58, #59, #60, #62 «Fashion For A King» (Tommy Edvardsen/ Atle Larsen – 2010)

Websites; Elvis Presley In Concert

(www.elvisconcerts.com) – (ciscoking.jordans-elvis-world.com)

May 20, 1977 (8:30 pm). Knoxville, Tennessee

Elvis live in Knoxville, Tennessee - May 20, 1977 (8:30 pm)

Venue: University Of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN.

Tickets: 13,000

Costume: Mexican Sundial Suit/ Aztec Sun Suit

Track list:

Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - Love Me - If You Love Me - You Gave Me A Mountain - Jailhouse Rock - O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never - Little Sister - Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - And I Love You So - How Great Thou Art - Band Introductions - Early Morning Rain - What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode – School Days – Hurt - Hound Dog - Can't Help Falling In Love

Comments: Duration/ Varighet; 44 min.

• 
  On Tour Knoxville - Audience Rec. – CD-R
  

May 21, 1977 (8:30 pm). Louisville, Kentucky

Elvis live in Louisville, Kentucky - May 21, 1977 (8:30 pm)

Venue: Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY.

Tickets: 18,000

Costume: Mexican Sundial Suit/ Aztec Sun Suit

Track list:

Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - That's All Right - Love Me - If You Love Me - You Gave Me A Mountain - Jailhouse Rock - O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never - Little Sister - Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - My Way - Heartbreak Hotel - Funny How Time Slips Away - Band Introductions - Early Morning Rain - What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode – School Days – Hurt - Hound Dog - Can't Help Falling In Love

Comments: Duration/ Varighet; 60 min.

• 
  All Right In Louisville - Audience Rec. – CD-R
  

May 22, 1977 (8:30 pm). Largo, Maryland

Elvis live in Largo, Maryland - May 22, 1977 (8:30 pm)

Venue: Capital Center, Largo, MD.

Tickets: 20,000

Costume: Mexican Sundial Suit/ Aztec Sun Suit

Track list:

Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - Love Me – Fairytale - You Gave Me A Mountain - Jailhouse Rock - Funny How Time Slips Away - O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never - Little Sister - Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - My Way  - Band Introductions - Blueberry Hill (one-line) - Early Morning Rain - What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode - Battle of New Orleans – School Days - Danny Boy (Sherill Nielsen) - Walk With Me (Sherill Nielsen) - Hound Dog - Can't Help Falling In Love

Comments: Duration/ Varighet; 60 min. – Income/ Inntjening; USD 175.000

• 
  Tonight 8.30 PM – Audience Rec. - J.R. – 1994
  

May 23, 1977 (8:30 pm). Providence, Rhode Island

Elvis live in Providence, Rhode Island - May 23, 1977 (8:30 pm)

Venue: Civic Center, Providence, RI.

Tickets: 13,500

Costume: Mexican Sundial Suit/ Aztec Sun Suit

Track list:

Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - If You Love Me - You Gave Me A Mountain - Jailhouse Rock - O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never - Little Sister - Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - Funny How Time Slips Away - My Way - Band Introductions - Early Morning Rain - Hound Dog - Can't Help Falling In Love

Comments: Duration/ Varighet; 63 min.

• 
  Funny How Time Slips Away – Audience Rec. - SR Records – 2011
  
• 
  On Tour Providence - Audience Rec. – CD-R
  

May 24, 1977 (8:30 pm). Augusta, Maine

Elvis live in Augusta, Maine - May 24, 1977 (8:30 pm)

Venue: Civic Center, Augusta, ME.

Tickets: 8,000

Costume: Mexican Sundial Suit/ Aztec Sun Suit

Track list:

Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - If You Love Me - You Gave Me A Mountain - Jailhouse Rock - It's Now Or Never - Little Sister - Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - My Way - Heartbreak Hotel - Band Introductions - Early Morning Rain - What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode - School Days – Hurt - Hound Dog - Can't Help Falling In Love

Comments: Duration/ Varighet; 60 min. – Income/ Inntjening; USD 150.000

• 
  Augusta Once And For All – Audience Rec. - Rainbow Records – 2008
  
• 
  Never Been To Maine - Audience Rec. – CD-R
  

May 25, 1977 (8:30 pm). Rochester, New York

Elvis live in Rochester, New York - May 25, 1977 (8:30 pm)

Venue: Comunity War Memorial, Rochester, NY.

Tickets: 10,000

Costume: Mexican Sundial Suit/ Aztec Sun Suit

Track list:

Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - Love Me - If You Love Me - You Gave Me A Mountain - Jailhouse Rock - O'Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never - Little Sister - Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - Tryin' To Get To You - One Night - Band Introductions - Early Morning Rain - What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode - School Days – Hurt - Hound Dog - Can't Help Falling In Love

Comments: Duration/ Varighet; 68 min.

• 
  Jailhouse Rock Man In Concert – Audience Rec. - Great Dane Records – 1993
  
• 
  Trying To Get To You – Audience Rec. - Straight Arrow – 2008
  

May 26, 1977 (8:30 pm). Binghamton, New York

Elvis live in Binghamton, New York - May 26, 1977 (8:30 pm)

Venue: The Broome County Arena, Binghamton, NY.

Tickets: 10,000

Costume: Mexican Sundial Suit/ Aztec Sun Suit

Track list:

Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - Love Me - If You Love Me - You Gave Me A Mountain - Jailhouse Rock - O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never - Little Sister - Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - And I Love You So - Why Me Lord - Polk Salad Annie - Band Introductions - Early Morning Rain - What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode - School Days – Hurt - Hound Dog - Can't Help Falling In Love

Comments: Duration/ Varighet; 59 min.

• 
  Unchained Elvis – Audience Rec. – Krypton – 2000
  
• 
  Why Me, Lord? – Audience Rec. - Coast To Coast – 2004
  

May 27, 1977 (8:30 pm). Binghamton, New York

Elvis live in Binghamton, New York - May 27, 1977 (8:30 pm)

Venue: The Broome County Arena, Binghamton, NY.

Tickets: 10,000

Costume: Mexican Sundial Suit/ Aztec Sun Suit

Track list:

Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - Love Me - If You Love Me - You Gave Me A Mountain - Blue Suede Shoes - Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - Heartbreak Hotel - Bridge Over Troubled Water - Band Introductions - Early Morning Rain - What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode - School Days – Hurt - Hound Dog - Unchained Melody - Can't Help Falling In Love

Comments: Duration/ Varighet; 67 min.

• 
  Second Night – Audience Rec. - Graceland Records – 2006
  
• 
  Binghamton, May 27, 1977 - Audience Rec. – CD-R
  

May 28, 1977 (8:30 pm). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Elvis live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - May 28, 1977 (8:30 pm)

Venue: Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA.

Tickets: 18,850

Costume: Mexican Sundial Suit/ Aztec Sun Suit

Track list:

Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - Love Me - My Way - Jailhouse Rock - You Gave Me A Mountain - O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never - Little Sister - Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - And I Love You So - Polk Salad Annie - Band Introductions - Early Morning Rain - What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode - School Days – Hurt - Walk That Lonesome Valley (The Stamps Quartet) - Hound Dog - Can't Help Falling In Love

Comments: Duration/ Varighet; 64 min. – Income/ Inntjening; USD 259.117

• 
  Philadelphia 77 – Audience Rec. - Spring Fever Records – Unknown Date
  
• 
  Last Time In Spectrum – Audience Rec. - Memory Records – 2012
  
• 
  Looking For The Light - Audience Rec. – CD-R
  

May 29, 1977 (8:30 pm). Baltimore, Maryland

Elvis live in Baltimore, Maryland - May 29, 1977 (8:30 pm)

Venue: Civic Center, Baltimore, MD.

Tickets: 12,841

Costume: Mexican Sundial Suit/ Aztec Sun Suit

Track list:

Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - That's All Right - Are You Lonesome Tonight? - Blue Christmas - Heartbreak Hotel - Love Me - Jailhouse Rock - You Gave Me A Mountain - Danny Boy (Sherill Nielsen) - Walk With Me (Sherill Nielsen) - Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - Walk That Lonesome Valley (The Stamps Quartet) - Heavenly Father (Kathy Westmoreland) - Band Introductions - Early Morning Rain - What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode - School Days – Hurt - Hound Dog - Help Me - Unchained Melody - Blue Suede Shoes - The Wonder Of You - One Night - It's Now Or Never - Can't Help Falling In Love

Comments: Duration/ Varighet; 83 min. – Income/ Inntjening; USD 181.410

• 
  Send Me The Light… I Need It Bad – Audience Rec. - Groti Records – 1994
  
• 
  Baltimore Nightfall – Audience Rec. - Memory Records – 2011
  
• 
  A May-Day In Baltimore – Audience Rec. – Crown Electric – Unknown Date
  

May 30, 1977 (8:30 pm). Jacksonville, Florida

Elvis live in Jacksonville, Florida - May 30, 1977 (8:30 pm)

Venue: Coliseum, Jacksonville, FL.

Tickets: 10,300

Costume: Mexican Sundial Suit/ Aztec Sun Suit

Track list:

Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - Love Me – Fairytale - You Gave Me A Mountain - Jailhouse Rock - O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never - Tryin' To Get To You - Little Sister - Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - And I Love You So - Band Introductions - Early Morning Rain - What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode - School Days - I Really Don't Want To Know – Hurt - Hound Dog - Can't Help Falling In Love

Comments: Duration/ Varighet; 62 min.

• 
  Really Don't Want To Know – Audience Rec. - Memory Records – 2012
  
• 
  Live In Jacksonville 1977 - Audience Rec. – CD-R
  

May 31, 1977 (8:30 pm). Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Elvis live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana - May 31, 1977 (8:30 pm)

Venue: Louisiana St. University, Baton Rouge, LA.

Tickets: 15,000

Costume: Mexican Sundial Suit/ Aztec Sun Suit

Track list:

Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - Love Me - If You Love Me - You Gave Me A Mountain - Jailhouse Rock - O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never - Little Sister - Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - Help Me - Polk Salad Annie - Band Introductions - Early Morning Rain - What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode - School Days - I Really Don't Want To Know - Hound Dog - Can't Help Falling In Love

Comments: Duration/ Varighet; 61 min.

• 
  Live in Baton Rouge - Audience Rec. – CD-R
  

June 1, 1977 (8:30 pm). Macon, Georgia

Elvis live in Macon, Georgia - June 1, 1977 (8:30 pm)

Venue: Coliseum, Macon, GA.

Tickets: 10,242

Costume: Mexican Sundial Suit/ Aztec Sun Suit

Track list:

Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - Love Me – Fairytale - You Gave Me A Mountain - Jailhouse Rock - O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never - My Way - Little Sister - Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - And I Love You So - Band Introductions - Early Morning Rain - What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode - School Days - Hound Dog - Big Boss Man - Can't Help Falling In Love

Comments: Duration/ Varighet; 74 min.

• 

  Macon ‘77 - Audience Rec. – CD-R

• 
  Macon June 1st 1977 - Audience Rec. – CD-R
  

June 2, 1977 (8:30 pm). Mobile, Alabama

Elvis live in Mobile, Alabama - June 2, 1977 (8:30 pm)

Venue: Municipal Auditorium, Mobile, AL.

Tickets: 11,000

Costume: Mexican Sundial Suit/ Aztec Sun Suit

Track list:

Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - Love Me – Fairytale - You Gave Me A Mountain - Jailhouse Rock - It's Now Or Never - Help Me - American Trilogy - Polk Salad Annie - Band Introductions - Early Morning Rain - What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode - School Days - I Really Don't Want To Know – Hurt - Hound Dog - Unchained Melody - Can't Help Falling In Love

Comments: Duration/ Varighet; 80 min.

• 
  Last Stop In Mobile – Audience Rec. - Rainbow Records – 2009
  
• 
  As Time Goes By – Audience Rec. – CD-R
  
• 
  Mobile 06/02/77 - Audience Rec. – CD-R
  

Tour Map

A - Knoxville, Tennessee / B - Louisville, Kentucky / C - Largo, Maryland / D - Providence, Rhode Island / E - Augusta, Maine / F - Rochester, New York / G - Binghamton, New York / H - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania / I - Baltimore, Maryland / J - Jacksonville, Florida / K - Baton Rouge, Louisiana / L - Macon, Georgia / M - Mobile, Alabama

ROCKIN' THE NATION #12 contains footage from Louisville, KY, IL (May 21, 1977) (5'05").
    THE SUNDIAL TOURS contains footage from several concerts of this tour: Augusta, ME, Rochester, NY, Binghamton, NY, Philadelphia, PA and Providence, RI
    MORE SUNDIAL TOURS 77 contains footage also from some concerts of this tour: Augusta, ME, & Binghamton, NY.
    '72 PRESS CONFERENCE & OTHER CONCERT FOOTAGE contains footage from Louisville, KY, IL (May 21, 1977) (5'05").
    LIVE ON STAGE #2 contains footage from Largo, MD (May 22, 1977) (16'42"), from Philadelphia, PA . (May 28, 1977) (16'40") and Augusta, ME (May 24, 1977) (6'30")