Elvis Presley Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden (3-CD)

(Follow That Dream)

Having just concluded an immensely successful sell-out tour in April, that was filmed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for the 1972 documentary Elvis On Tour, confidence in Elvis’ camp was high as all four shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden were sold out along with the rest of the June tour. Any reticence that Elvis may still have had about performing in the Big Apple were soon allayed as the noise from the MSG audiences was deafening. Summing up the triumph, The  New York Times ‘Arts and Leisure’ headline read  “Like A Prince From Another Planet”.

Elvis As Recorded at Madison Square Garden featuring the evening show on June 10 was rush-released later in the month, and sold a million copies in the U.S. in a matter of weeks. Total U.S. sales to date are now in excess of 3 million thereby achieving triple-platinum status. The afternoon show was eventually issued by RCA in 1997, 20-years after Elvis’ passing, as An Afternoon In The Garden.

This belated 50th Anniversary FTD edition celebrates these legendary shows with newly mixed versions of both shows by Memphian recording engineer Matt-Ross Spang. Disc 3 features the original press conference recorded at the New York Hilton, June 9.

When Elvis was informed that Colonel Tom Parker had booked him to appear at the legendary Madison Square Garden venue in NewYork City, he had sincere doubts. On the closing night of Elvis' Las Vegas Hilton season in February I 972,Tom Jones visited his suite. It was here that Elvis confided in Tom and asked him if he thought it was good idea and Tom was somewhat baffled. Elvis argued that during his formative years, sophisticated NewYorkers never really liked him.Tom, while wondering how a man who has achieved so much could have such insecurities, did his utmost to convince Elvis it would be great.

Tom's powers of persuasion obviously worked as such doubts were not visible at the press conference held at the NewYork Hilton before the first show on June 9.With extreme confidence and charm, he met the press and cleverly avoided the questions he didn't want to answer.With tongue firmly in cheek, he explained that the reason they hadn't played NewYork before was because they couldn't get the 'proper' building and had to wait for their turn. Whether anybody bought that explanation is doubtful, but nobody followed up on it — they were just overwhelmed by Elvis' presence.

Having just concluded an immensely successful sell-out tour in April, that was filmed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for the documentary Elvis On Tour, confidence in Elvis' camp was high as all four show"s at the garden were sold out along with the rest of the June tour. Any fears that Elvis may still have had about performing in the Big Apple were soon allayed as the noise from the MSG audiences was deafening and the subsequent reviews were ecstatic. Summing up the triumph, The New York Times 'Arts anSI Leisure' headline read "Like A Prince From Another Planet".
With credit to RCA and Colonel Parker, they were quick to embrace the full potential of the event and recorded two of the shows.

Elvis As Recorded at Madison Square Garden featuring the evening show was rush-released later in the month, and sold a million copies in the U.S. in a matter of weeks.Total U.S. sales to date are now in excess of 3 million thereby achieving triple-platinum status. The afternoon show was eventually issued by RCA in 1997, 20 years after Elvis' passing, as An Afternoon In The Garden.

Ernst Mikael Jorgensen

Packaged in our ‘sessions’ style 8” x 8” slipcase, this deluxe 3-CD contains a 20-page color booklet, great photos, memorabilia, press conference transcript and recollections by the late Phil Gelormine.