In 2004 the Czech label Memory Records released a good sounding audience recording of the king's appearance on April 27, 1973 in Portland/Oregon. The album is appropriately named "Shining In Portland" and includes a booklet with photos and liner notes by Otto Meszaros, who also mastered the recording. The concert took place at the Memorial Coliseum in front of 13,000 people and generated 100,000 USD. As a bonus the label added some songs, that were recorded two days later in Seattle/Washington. In general the performances are very similar to the ones in Portland and the audio quality is worse.

The orchestra plays a section of "Also Sprach Zarathustra", then the band takes over with the "Opening Riff" and there he is: Elvis Presley. Dressed in his new "Fire Suit" (which can be seen on the album cover) he gets his guitar from Charlie Hodge and walks to the microphone.

Just like he did in January in Hawaii, Elvis starts the concert with a well paced "See See Rider".

The king sings the word "well" in different pitches and jumps straight into "I Got A Woman". It's not as powerful as in the movie "Elvis On Tour", but still very enjoyable. Of course he includes a few bars of "Amen" before he returns to the Ray Charles classic and gives his guitar back to Mr. Hodge. Then he welcomes the crowd and says, that he was glad to be back in Portland.

The title song of his first movie drives the ladies wild. Elvis kisses a few of them, which causes some hysteric reactions. The king himself doesn't appear all that enthusiastic, to him it's obviously a routine.

The power ballad seems to work the opposite way. Here the audience is quiet, while Elvis is fully commited and delivers an emotional performance.

The king announces the song by saying "My latest single, ladies and gentlemen". It was released a month ago and recently made it on the top20. Compared to the recorded version Elvis sings with more zest. Another difference is the prominent organ.

This one also was a top 20 hit, albeit back in 1970. The king sings it well, even though it's played a tad faster than three years before.

Now it's time for the oldies, but goldies. "Love Me" is also taken at a faster pace, but as a reminder of the good ole' days it works just fine.

Just like on the "Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite" show, the king performs the rock'n'roll classic without much commitment.

In contrast to the somewhat lackluster rocker, "Heartbreak Hotel" is sung well. Elvis obviously still cares for his first number one hit.

The same applies to his 1961 hit "Little Sister" and The Beatles' more recent chartbreaker "Get Back". It's a good combination and both songs fit Elvis' voice and style. Today's performance would be the last one. However, later the king would revive "Little Sister".

The king returns to more current material. "Help Me Make It Through The Night" was released the previous year on the longplayer "Elvis Now". Today the country ballad is played a bit faster and has to do without the strings. Overall it's an improvement, this rendition sounds much better than the recorded version.

For ol' times sake Elvis tries to be a rocker, but his rendition is as lackluster as the one presented on the "Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite" show.

His 1971 sales flop is performed much better. The ballad has no mass-appeal, but it certainly appeals to the king. He delivers an excellent performance and masters the quiet parts as well as the rhythmical bridge.

Now Elvis toys with the intro of this rock'n'roll classic. At first he sings it slow and somewhat bluesy, then he continues in the fast, well known tempo. But once again it's pure routine.

The suggestive "Fever" is fun. The king drives the ladies wild just by moving his legs and seems to enjoy the procedure as much as the audience.

This is another one of the new songs in the "Aloha" show. Elvis uses his voice to its full extent and the orchestra and the choir are fully envolved. It's a dramatic rendition, which displays the talent of the people on stage. The fan's adoration is displayed, too, as a woman screams her heart out during the song.

Elvis raises the tempo of the show with "Suspicious Minds". He doesn't move nearly as wild as two or three years before, but even the tamer performance is nice to watch.

Now it's time to introduce the members of the band and the backup groups. Of course Elvis also mentions, that the crew of Joe Guercio has been awarded as "Orchestra Of The Year".

The king introduces "I'll Remember You" as a song from his tv special "Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite". Originally he had released the track in 1966 on the album "Spinout", besides that Elvis had already sung quite a few other songs from the television concert. But I guess he connected "I'll Remember You" to the special, because it was written by Kui Lee and the tv show was a benefit for the cancer fund, which was founded in the singer/songwriter's name shortly before the production began. His performance is nothing but great, very tender and very emotional.

Elvis asks "You know, what I can't do?" and answers the question himself by singing "I Can't Stop Loving You". Compared to his performance on the "Aloha" show, today's rendition is more lively and more powerful.

The intro is enough to provoke some screams. Even though the single didn't sell all that well, "An American Trilogy" quickly became the highlight of each and every Presley show. Once again the orchestra, the choir and the lead vocalist can display their abilities to the full extent.

The first bars of "A Big Hunk O' Love" might make one ask, why Elvis is going to bore himself through another rock'n'roll song. But in contrast to "Blue Suede Shoes" or "Hound Dog" he seems to enjoy this one. Albeit he doesn't sing as agressive as back in the 1950s, he presents his final number one hit of that decade with zest.

Now Elvis has the house lights turned up, because he wants to take a look at his fans. He also explains, that his show is not about messages or something, but pure entertainment. Then he bows out and sings "Can't Help Falling In Love". Seamlessly the band segues into the "Closing Riff", to which Elvis bows in every direction possible and leaves the stage.

The concert in Seattle was also recorded by a member of the audience. Compared to the main show the audio is a bit worse, but still listenable. Elvis injects some more drama by speaking a part of the song.

The organ is a little louder here, otherwise the performance is more or less the same.

Another good rendition of the king's single from late 1970. Once again not much different to the main program.

Elvis introduces the ballad as one of the songs from his "Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite" special and sings it very well.

The country ballad is performed very similar to the version in Portland.

Well, the clever reader might already suspect it: The rendition mirrors the one in Portland.