The 50th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s transformative Las Vegas residency at the International Hotel will be commemorated with Live 1969, a deluxe 11-CD box set on August 9 on RCA/Legacy Recordings. Marking his return to the stage for the first time in eight years, the King’s 1969 Vegas run featured 57 sold-out shows and the live debut of his signature #1 hit “Suspicious Minds.” (The track celebrates its 50th anniversary on August 26.) The transcendent performances included two vocal groups (The Imperials and The Sweet Inspirations), a full orchestra and a band later known as the TCB band.
From the June 27 announcement: Live 1969 is the definitive collection of The King at the height of his power. For the first time ever, it features the release of 11 complete sets from Elvis’ August 1969 engagement at Las Vegas’ International Hotel. Of these performances, four are being released in full for the first time ever – including two shows that have remained almost completely unheard for 50 years (August 22 and 25).
Watch the official trailer
Pre-order is available below.
The package also includes a 52-page booklet with rare photos, memorabilia and an oral history by Ken Sharp curated from historic interviews with Presley, Colonel Tom Parker, Tom Jones, Jerry Schilling, James Burton, Cissy Houston, Terry Blackwood, George Klein, Fats Domino and more.
Also being released on August 9 is the special 2-LP Live at the International Hotel, Las Vegas, NV August 26, 1969. The vinyl release features Elvis’ complete set from August 26’s midnight show. The material includes a repertoire of blues-tinged rock ‘n’ roll, ballads and his two, brand-new hit singles, “In The Ghetto” and “Suspicious Minds.” The performance also offers a lot of stage banter as Presley cracks jokes and tells in-depth stories about his career.
Listen to Presley perform “Suspicious Minds” at the August 26 dinner show
Elvis’ residency at the International Hotel followed his massively successful Comeback Special on NBC-TV in 1968.
Related: Presley’s ’68 Comeback – From Burbank to Graceland
The Vegas run comprised 57 performances over 29 nights. The International Hotel boasted the biggest showroom in Vegas at the time, with a stage large enough for a 40-piece orchestra and capable of seating 2,000 (although 200 more were accommodated each night).
A sampling of the repertoire featured on the 11-disc set:
Disc 3
Show 3 – August 22, 1969. Midnight show
1) Blue Suede Shoes* (Carl Perkins)
2) I Got A Woman * (Ray Charles)
3) All Shook Up* (Otis Blackwell/Elvis Presley)
4) Love Me Tender (Vera Matson/Elvis Presley)
First release: RCA COLLECTORS GOLD 3-CD set-08-13-1991
5) Jailhouse Rock/Don’t Be Cruel (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller)/ (Otis Blackwell/Elvis Presley)
First release: RCA COLLECTORS GOLD 3-CD -08-13-1991
6) Heartbreak Hotel* (Tommy Durden/Mae Boren Axton/Elvis Presley)
7) Hound Dog* (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller)
8) Memories* (Billy Strange/Scott “Mac” Davis)
9) My Babe (Willie Dixon)
First release: RCA ELVIS: TODAY, TOMORROW & FOREVER 4-CD SET 06-25-2002
10) Mystery Train/Tiger Man (Junior Parker/Sam Phillips)/ (Joe Hill Louis/Sam Burns)
First release: RCA COLLECTORS GOLD 3-CD set -08-13-1991
11) Monologue*
12) Baby, What You Want Me To Do (Jimmy Reed)
First release: RCA ELVIS: TODAY, TOMORROW & FOREVER 4-CD SET-06-25-2002
13) Funny How Time Slips Away (Willie Nelson)
First release: RCA ELVIS: TODAY, TOMORROW & FOREVER 4-CD SET-06-25-2002
14) Runaway (Max Crook/Del Shannon)
First release: RCA ELVIS: TODAY, TOMORROW & FOREVER 4-CD SET-06-25-2002
15) Are You Lonesome Tonight?* (Roy Turk/Lou Handman)
16) Yesterday/Hey Jude* (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)/ (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
17) Introductions*
18) In The Ghetto* (Scott “Mac” Davis)
19) Suspicious Minds* (Mark James)
20) What’d I Say (Ray Charles)
First release: RCA ELVIS: TODAY, TOMORROW & FOREVER 4-CD SET 06-25-2002
21) Can’t Help Falling In Love* (Hugo Peretti/Luigi Creatore/George Weiss)
*Previously unreleased
Complete show previously unreleased
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