The "Elvis Summer Festival 1974" ran from August 19th to September 2nd and included 27 shows. The concerts on August 26th were canceled without an official explanation and the comedian Bill Cosby was flown in to take over. But the king was back on the next day and Bill watched the show as a member of the audience.
Musicians
James Burton (guitar), John Wilkinson (guitar), Charlie Hodge (guitar and harmony vocals), Duke Bardwell (bass), Ronnie Tutt (drums), Glen D. Hardin (piano) and The Joe Guercio Orchestra. The harmony vocals were provided by The Sweet Inspirations (Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell & Estelle Brown), J.D. Sumner & The Stamps (Bill Baize, Ed Enoch, Ed Hill & Larry Strickland), Voice (Donnie Sumner, Tim Baty & Sherrill Nielsen) as well as Kathy Westmoreland.
About The Engagement
On August 12th Elvis flew to Los Angeles, two days later he started a series of rehearsals at the local RCA Studio to prepare for his upcoming Vegas stint. The sessions included his band and the harmony group Voice. Elvis wanted to change the format and give his show a major update. He also tried out a new look. Besides his new collection of jumpsuits (the "Blue Swirl Suit", the "Peacock Suit", the "American Eagle Suit", the "Inca Gold Leaf Suit" and the "Turquoise Phoenix Suit") he also wore leather outfits, which were based on a suit that he had gotten from his cousin Bobby Jane Wrenn. These outfits were named "Leather Two Piece Sequin Suit", "Leather Two Piece Native Flower Suit", "Leather Two Piece Emperor Suit" and "Leather Two Piece Wine Glass Suit". The original outfit was also worn on stage and called "Leather Two Piece Suit Plain". During the final week of the engagement Elvis received two further jumpsuits, the "Mad Tiger Suit" and the "Chinese Dragon Suit".
The concert was opened with a drum-stakkato, which lead into "Big Boss Man". Further the new program included songs like "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues", "Down In The Alley", "If You Talk In Your Sleep" and his new single "It's Midnight" / "Promised Land". Elvis also re-vived "Proud Mary" and "Never Been To Spain". But even though the press praized the new show and also the king himself, he tried no more than once. From the second day onwards he returned to the old format and would never leave it again. However, he kept "It's Midnight" and "If You Talk In Your Sleep" in the show and also continued to sing "Big Boss Man", albeit not as the opener. During the first concerts Elvis appeared to be in good shape. He seemed happy and his voice sounded fine. After the cancelation of the shows on August 26th (according to the singer he was down with the flu) the things started to go wrong. His monologues grew longer and longer, he staged karate demonstrations and more often than not slurred his speech and gave the impression of being under the influence of something. Off stage his behavior also grew more and more bizarre, one day he even painted one of the cherubs in the showrooms black. After a syringe had been found in Elvis' garbage can, it was rumored, the singer was on heroin. During the closing show Elvis appeared completely hyped-up, lost himself in long and embarrassing monologues and even threatened to find the one, who spread the rumor and pull his tongue out of its roots. In other words: The concert was a disaster.
Today we know, that Elvis had discovered the pleasures of liquid cocaine and quickly added the substance to the armada of "medicine" he was already taking. He also put on weight in record time. The man, who ended the "Elvis Summer Festival 1974" on September 2nd wasn't the same, who had opened it just two weeks before. It was obvious to everyone, that Elvis was in trouble.
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