Welcome to the Elvis Information Network

Piers' review of the week

About EIN

Subscribe to EIN's FREE weekly newsletter

Closing Night Sept 1973:

Why it is an essential purchase!

The next FTD has been announced as a soundboard from Elvis' Closing Night show in Las Vegas, September 1973. Although this concert has been available previously on bootleg, via a poor audience recording, at last the Soundboard is being released.

The discovery of this was announced via an EIN interview with Elvis aficionado, Arjan Deelen, back in March 2002. He said at the time, "There is a soundboard from the closing show. A few tracks were released on bootleg a couple of years ago. For me, it's at No.1 on the list of soundboards that should be released, simply because it's such a remarkable show."

At the time Deelen and Dutch photographer, Laurens van Houten, were producing the fabulous book 'Caught In A Trap' that focussed on the September 1973 shows. An absolute must for any Elvis fan (see EIN review) it contained some astounding unreleased photos.

FTD have sensibly decided to use some of these photos on the digi-pack cover of the new CD. The cover has not been finalised (the front cover on websites is just a mock-up) but two of the photos that are being used, shown here, perfectly capture Elvis' mood on the night.

Any Elvis Opening or Closing performance usually captured Elvis in a fiery and energetic mood, with the common addition of extra and rare songs. This night was no different but with the added tension of Elvis being in a bad mood with the Hilton Hotel who had been nasty to an employee, Mario, who Elvis had befriended. However Elvis was also in a playful mood since it was the end of another 58 routine showroom performances.

Elvis was looking forward to his own Vegas holiday with Linda Thompson - Tom Jones was also in town - and Elvis was about to have five months off without touring.

Because of his contradiction in moods the concert is one of Elvis' most fascinating performances of all-time.

He arrived on stage with a monkey strapped onto his back.

He performed 'What Now My Love' while lying in a bed on-stage.

He determinedly sang the lyrics of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' while the band played 'Suspicious Minds' and did an outstandingly crazy version of 'Fever'.

He showed his anger with an X-rated version of 'Love Me Tender' singing, "To hell with the whole Hilton Hotel, and screw the showroom too."!

However Elvis also showed his love & inspiration, performing stunning versions of 'My Boy', 'How Great Thou Art', 'The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face', and a beautiful 'Softly As I Leave You' as well as a rockin' 'Mystery Train'. (Note - on the CD we also get the added bonus of a rare live 'Trouble' from the Dinner Show.)

At the end of this amazing drama-packed show Elvis says, "I know we kid a lot and have fun and everything - but we really love to sing, play music and entertain people. As long as I can do that, I'll be a happy old sonofabitch"!!

After the wrap party Elvis, who was getting more & more annoyed by The Colonel's management style, confronted the old man - and in the presence of the Memphis Mafia! Elvis, bristling with anger, shouted at Colonel Parker eventually telling him that he was fired! Parker responded with, "You can't fire me, I quit".

For 2 weeks Elvis then considered going with new management, like Jerry Weintraub, but unfortunately The Colonel's threat of massive monetary claims against Elvis scared Vernon, (who was Elvis' accountant).

In the end the break-up was resolved and 2 weeks later Elvis went back to The Colonel, with the new potential challenges of Elvis touring overseas therefore being lost forever. Had Elvis employed a proper accountant, who could have handled Colonel Parker's threats, things might have been different.

Had Elvis hired new management things certainly would have been different. Whether these might have pulled Elvis out of his self-destructive path, sadly we will never know.

This release will surely be one of FTD's most important and when combined with the excellent photos of the performance, via the book 'Caught in A Trap', Elvis fans can truly experience the whole event.

England's Anne E. Nixon witnessed the show and wrote about it for Elvis Monthly. Don't miss her fascinating & detailed review.

Below is the detailed tracklist from the 'Closing Night' CD. Released in October, make sure you don't miss out.

Track listing with running times:

Also Sprach Zarathustra 1:13
See See Rider 4:09
I Got A Woman / Amen 4:20
Love Me 1:45
Steamroller Blues 2:50
You Gave Me A Mountain 3:34
Trouble 2:16
Long Tall Sally/Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On /Your Mamma Don't Dance/ Flip, Flop And Fly/Hound Dog 4:04
Love Me Tender 1:52
Fever 3:03
What Now My Love 2:58
Suspicious Minds/ Bridge Over Troubled Water 1:22
Bridge Over Troubled Water 4:00
Suspicious Minds 3:54
Introductions 4:34
My Boy 3:55
I Can't Stop Loving You 2:21
An American Trilogy 3:56
A Big Hunk O' Love 2:59
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 4:25
Mystery Train/Tiger Man 2:30
How Great Thou Art 4:59
Help Me Make It Through The Night 2:29
Softly As I Leave You 1:34
Can't Help Falling In Love 1:54