u02bnpx Loc: NW PA

Sad, but astonishing performance. I hope the link works here.



When Elvis Presley hit the road in June 1977, he was an absolute mess. He was only 42, but years of prescription drug abuse and horrifying dietary habits had left him bloated, depressed and near death. He had an enlarged heart, an enlarged intestine, hypertension and incredibly painful bowel problems. He was barely sleeping and should have probably been in the hospital, but he was still a huge draw on the concert circuit and the money was too good to turn down.
It had been over a year since Elvis last released a studio album, and his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, was determined to get more product into the stores. Despite Elvis’ horrid shape, Parker arranged for a camera crew to film the June 19th show in Omaha for a planned TV special and live album. It eventually did air on CBS two months after Elvis died, but has yet to resurface in any official capacity. Of course this isn't the image of Elvis that his estate wants the fans to remember.
Two days later ( 21 June) , the cameras were still rolling when the tour hit Rapid City, South Dakota. It was another weak and sad night until Elvis sat down at the piano near the end of the show to deliver what was a spellbinding rendition of “Unchained Melody." As guitarist Charlie Hodge held a microphone, Elvis dug deep and poured his heart into the song. His body was falling apart, but his voice remained almost as powerful as ever. Without any doubt, it's the last great moment of his career. The tour limped along through five more shows, wrapping up June 26th at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana.
He died less than two months later. Here's that great performance.

http://www.flixxy.com/elvis-presley-unchained-melody-with-never-seen-before-intro.htm#.U_iNvpmsJuw.gmail

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Great performance.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

I wasn't an Elvis fan but his last months/days were very sad. He'd done virtually all of that to himself which is very sad.

Dan Mc Loc: NM

I am sorry, but we seem to glorify, idolize and marginalize drug abuse....sort of excuse it, accept it as normal, and place Elvis on some pedestal above the same addiction, abuse, and demise of the common street drug abuser...the "junkie".

Why is Elvis simply excused fro this behavior? He abused drugs! End of evaluation! He is/was no better then the street junkie....deal with it in that context!

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

You should be sorry, A lot of entertainers back in the day would do a gig in one city one night get on the road and drives hundreds of miles to the next one, and their pay was not great, and on and on. Most turned to drugs to keep going and so it began. Yes Elvis used drugs and abused them however so did many others in the business. Sad yes, and it didn't help any that his managers was only lookin at the money. But for all of that he was a great artist, entertainer and most of all THE KING.... And you should be sorry....

Dan Mc Loc: NM

I rest my case! Yet another enabling answer...and no excuse!

We are quick to excuse and justify drug abuse for our heroes, but are disgusted by the street people under the bridges. Same drug abuse, just no0t a household name...kinda like Jesus Christ, eh?

No...Elvis did prescription drugs knowingly and willfully and even giggled when her performed (which was miserable at best!)

MIKE GALLAGHER Loc: New Zealand

He wasn't playing that piano. Made the performance look pitiful - a bit of a joke. But he did seem to be thoroughly enjoying himself and that's a mark of a great perormer. A real shame to see Elvis let that happen.

tomw

Nobody excuses it. It was both stupid and illegal.

But he was a great talent, and could have been greater. That is sad.

Terrymac Loc: LONDON U.K.

I also spotted that he wasn't playing the piano, and from what I have heard over the years is that he couldn't play any instruments maybe strum a guitar a little. he also never wrote a song but he maybe wrote half a song with someone else. I don't know how he became the "king" with so many others to choose from. As they say he was in the right place at the right time. I think he was enjoying himself because he was probably drug filled.

erickter Loc: Dallas,TX

Elvis had a great voice and natural presence. He played no instruments, and others wrote most of his material. He became spoiled and lazy. He medicated himself to death. He looked like the living dead in his later years.
He never got over loosing his wife Pricilla, and missed his mother too. Ironically, she died at the same age as Elvis - 42. I was in college the summer he died. His music was lousy by that point. His early material was the best from the late 1950's. Elvis had everything, and was still miserable. He had a death wish.

tomw

I agree. He was spoiled, drugged and lazy for years and his early years were his best.

That's when he took R&B, gospel and Blues, synthesized them with country and folk influences, and created a sound that appealed to a much broader audience. He really opened the door for commecial success for Little Richard, Chuck Berry and others.

Most of his later stuff was junk. One story I heard was that Col. Parker's view was that anything he recorded would sell so there was no need to pay for good song writers.

erickter Loc: Dallas,TX

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