Happy Birthday Elvis! --- Elvis Presley's Top Ten Television (vocal) Performances
10. 'Baby Let's Play House' (Arthur Gunter)
February 4, 1956 on the CBS television program, 'Stage Show', hosted by Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey. Elvis made his first television performance, stepping out on the stage and performing this 1955 Sun recording. Singing with the same fervor he had given on his historic studio track, this was a true testament to what would follow.
9. 'Jailhouse Rock' (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller)
June 29, 1968 for the December 3, 1968 NBC 'Singer Special' during the 6pm live arena segment.
With a slightly different arrangement than the original, this is classic Elvis, complete with bump and grind motions at the end.
8. 'How Great Thou Art' (Stuart K. Hine)
June 19, 1977 taped at the Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska for the October 3, 1977 CBS television special, 'Elvis In Concert'. Elvis' rendition of this gospel song showed a man in very ill health, who yet manages to deliver a stellar performance complete with his now famous operatic-style vocal endings.
Mario Lanza may have appreciated this performance.
7. 'One Night' (Dave Bartholomew, Pearl King)
Taped June 27, 1968 at the 6pm live informal recording for the NBC television special, 'Singer Presents Elvis'. Elvis takes this song to a new high with a gut-wrenching vocal and some mighty fine guitar playing. A sight to see and hear. Elvis did two versions of this song at the 6pm performance. Take your pick.
6. 'Hurt' (Jimmie Crane, Al Jacobs)
Filmed June 21, 1977 for his last CBS television special, 'Elvis In Concert', in front of a live audience in Rapid City, South Dakota. As painful as it is to watch Elvis compared to just four years earlier in the 'Aloha Special', it is not his physical appearance I am judging. It is his vocals and his performance of the Timi Yuro classic ballad hit. Elvis makes you feel his pain yet marvel at the greatest singer of all time.
5. 'Hound Dog' (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller)
On June 5, 1956, Elvis appeared on 'The Milton Berle Show'. It's a remarkable vocal performance given by a gyrating, hip swiveling Elvis. He would record his studio version a month later on July 2 in New York City.
4. 'Trying To Get To You' (Charles Singleton, Rosa Marie McCoy)
Taped June 27, 1968 at the 6pm informal recording for the NBC 'Singer Special'.
Elvis sings most of it at the top of his lungs throughout. Remarkable.
3. 'An American Trilogy' (Mickey Newbury)
January 14, 1973 from the worldwide television show 'Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite' presented by NBC television. The concert aired to over 40 countries across Asia and Europe (which received the telecast the next day in primetime) and was shown in the USA on April 4, 1973. Over one billion people watched Elvis dressed in white with the American eagle on his chest singing this patriotic number to the whole world. Highlighting an incredible hour of entertainment with a vocal sure to send chills up and down your spine.
2. 'Ready Teddy' (Robert 'Bumps' Blackwell, John Marascalco)
September 9, 1956 marked his first appearance on Ed Sullivan's 'Toast Of The Town'. This performance encompasses everything rock 'n' roll. After viewing hours of Elvis Presley's early performances, producers Pierre Adidge and Robert Abel chose this unedited performance to be included in the 1972 Golden Globe winner, 'Elvis On Tour' - a documentary focused on Elvis Presley's 1972 April concert tour. The reason was obvious. It's a one-of-a-kind performance. Elvis was now changing the world.
1. 'If I Can Dream' (Walter Earl Brown) On December 3, 1968, the NBC 'Singer Special' aired.
This is Elvis' #1 performance. Long before John Lennon's 'Imagine', Elvis would sing 'If I can dream of a better land where all my brothers walk hand in hand'. Elvis on top of the world singing a message-song of 'lights burning brighter somewhere' and for 'peace and understanding'.
When this song was presented to Elvis for the special, he couldn't refuse. A perfect vocal performance that Elvis takes to a new level. He makes the song ring true. It's really what great singers do and nobody did it better!
Now, for some honorable mentions that didn't make my top ten but came close:
'Tutti Frutti' (Dorothy LaBostrie, 'Little' Richard Penniman) February 18, 1956 from 'Stage Show' hosted by Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey. 'Don't Be Cruel' (Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley) on January 6, 1957 during his last appearance on Ed Sullivan's 'Toast Of The Town' - Elvis' most controversial television appearance. This made music history when the television censors had Elvis filmed from the waist up. 'Tiger Man' (Joe Hill Louis, Sam 'Burns' Phillips) taped June 27, 1968 at the 6pm live informal recording for the 1968 NBC television special 'Singer Presents Elvis'. 'Baby, What Do You Want Me To Do' (Jimmy Reed) taped June 29, 1968 for the NBC television special 'Singer Presents Elvis' recorded at the 6pm live arena segment at NBC Studios in Burbank, CA. We get a stirring performance of the blues classic with Elvis jamming on his guitar on bended knee in front of a live studio audience. 'What Now My Love' (Carl Sigman, Gilbert Becaud) January 14, 1973 from 'Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite'. 'Steamroller Blues' (James Taylor) January 14, 1973 from 'Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite'. 'Unchained Melody' (Alex North, Hy Zaret) June 21, 1977 from 'Elvis In Concert'.
Happy Birthday, Elvis!
Interview with Joe Tunzi (August 2004)
Interview with Jow Tunzi #2 (December 2004)
Joseph Tunzi is the author and publisher (JAT Publishing) of the following books currently available;
Elvis Presley And Nancy Sinatra On The Speedway Book from JAT Productions
Jailhouse Rock Hardcover Book
Viva Las Vegas Hardcover Book
Elvis In Gold Hardcover Book
Elvis : 68 at 40 Retrospective
Elvis Concerts
Elvis - Portraits Book
Elvis On Tour Hardcover Book
Elvis : Aloha Via Satellite - Book & CD
Elvis: Encore Performance IV: Back in the Windy City
Elvis The Documentaries
Elvis : Photographs & Memories
America The Beautiful - Elvis Book with Free Promo CD
Elvis In Tickle Me
Elvis : Starring in Oklahoma
Elvis : For The First Time Ever
Elvis Presley as The One Called Charro!
Hawaii 61 Book - Elvis Presley Book / CD / Ticket
Rockin 'N' Nassau
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Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD
Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.
This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.
The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.
Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.
