1976 Tour December 27th - 31st

Elvis In Concert 1976

Elvis ninth and final tour of 1976 began in Wichita, Kansas, and were all rated as the best shows in a long time. Elvis was noticeably slimmer than in October and he was more energetic on stage.

Wichita Falls, KS December 27th E/S Track Listing Available
2001 Theme; C, C Rider; I Got A Woman/Amen; Love Me; Fairytale; You Gave Me A Mountain; Jailhouse Rock; O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never; All Shook Up; Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel; And I Love You So; Fever; Polk Salad Annie; Introductions & Solos; Hurt; Hound Dog; How Great Thou Art; Unchained Melody; Can't Help Falling In Love
P/Q
State University
Sundial
10,000

Dallas, TX December 28th E/S CD Hot Winters Night In Dallas
2001 Theme; C, C Rider; I Got A Woman/Amen; Love Me; Fairytale; You Gave Me A Mountain (incomplete); Jailhouse Rock (incomplete); O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never; Trying To Get To You; Blue Suede Shoes; My Way; Polk Salad Annie; Introductions/Early Morning Rain/What'd I Say/Johnny B. Goode/Ronnie Tutt Drum Solo (Elvis Sings "Hey Bo Diddley")/Jerry Scheff Bass Solo/Tony Brown Piano Solo/David Briggs Electric Piano Solo/Love Letters/School Days; Hurt(with reprise); Unchained Melody; Can't Help Falling In Love
Sound ++++++
Memorial Auditorium
Memphis Indian
9,800

Birmingham, AL December 29th E/S CD Burning In Birmingham
See, See Rider; I Got A Woman/Amen; Love Me; Fairytale; You Gave Me A Mountain; Jailhouse Rock; O Solo Mio/It's Now Or Never; Trying To Get To You; My Way; Polk Salad Annie; Band Introductions/Early Morning Rain(Full Version)/What'd I Say/Johnny B. Goode/Band Solos/Love Letters/School Days; Funny How Time Slips Away; Hurt(With Reprise); Hound Dog; For The Good Times; The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face; Unchained Melody; Mystery Train/Tiger Man; Can't Help Falling In Love; Closing vamp
Sound ++++++
Civic Centre Jefferson Coliseum  
Aztec Indian
18,400
December 29, 1976 (8.30pm) Birmingham, AL. Birmingham Coliseum.
Magnetic Elvis can still thrill audience
By Emmett Weaver
You would think after all these years that people would be accustomed to Elvis Presley, but not the screaming, loyal fans, numbering 18,400, who packed the Birmingham Jefferson Coliseum Wednesday night.
The show was supposed to start at 8 p.m., but it wasn't until an hour and 45 minutes later that the magnetic Elvis in his familiar tight-fitting, white sequinned costume made his entrance. Preceding his appearance was the Stamps gospel quartet, a talented black female trio, "The Sweet Inspirations", and a funny, wisecracking Canadian stand-up comic Jackie Kahane. Was it worth the long wait for Elvis to come out in front of the spotlight? Just ask the rabid fans of the rock 'n' roll king, many of whom are women.
Security around the stage where Elvis appeared was heavy when the singer came out, with police and ushers forming a cordon. At times, some of the fans became a bit demonstrative, charging out of their seats, waving at their singer, throwing a cape which Elvis draped casually around his shoulder. When one jubilant fan hollered; "shake it Elvis", the star replied with a rather cool: "hang loose." And the word ' loose" describes in many ways Elvis' stage demeanour because it is obvious that he is used to such public idolatry. I liked the way he handed out scarves on a wholesale basis to the women who were lucky enough to get close to the stage.
Also, for his first Birmingham appearance which was a complete sell-out with people outside the coliseum waiting unsuccessfully to get in, he brought strong backup people, including even some good Alabama talent such as David Briggs of Florence on electric key-board who gave him solid support in Roberta Flack's am. First Time Ever I Saw You Face. One thing was quite obvious in Wednesday night's Birmingham debut: Mr. Presley's magnetic showmanship can still wrap an audience into a little tight ball. Call him a superstar, and there ain't many around today.

Atlanta, GA       December 30th  E/S Audio
2001 Theme; C, C Rider; I Got A Woman/Amen; Big Boss Man; Love Me; Fairytale; You Gave Me A Mountain; O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never; Jailhouse Rock; Such A Night; Reconsider Baby; Are You Lonesome Tonight; That's All Right; My Way; Polk Salad Annie; Introductions/Early Morning Rain/What'd I Say/Johnny B. Goode/Love Letters/Hail, Hail Rock'n'Roll; Hurt; Hound Dog; Unchained Melody; Can't Help Falling In Love
Sound +
Omni Coliseum
King Of Spades
17,000 
     
Pittsburgh, PA December 31st E/S CD Auld Lang Syne
2001 Theme; C, C Rider; I Got A Woman/Amen; Big Boss Man; Love Me; Fairytale; You Gave Me A Mountain; Jailhouse Rock; Presentation Of The Liberty Bell; It's Now Or Never; My Way; Funny How Times Slip Away; Auld Lang Syne; Introduction Of Vernon & Lisa; Blue Suede Shoes; Trying To Get To You; Polk Salad Annie; Introductions Early Morning Rain/What'd I Say/Johnny B.Goode/Solos/Love Letters/School Days; Fever; Hurt; Hound Dog; Are You Lonesome To Night; Reconsider Baby; Little Sister; Unchained Melody; Rags To Riches; Can't Help Falling In Love
Sound ++++-
Civic Centre Arena
Black Phoenix
16,409
Following the show, Elvis and the entourage flew back to Memphis to celebrate the New Year
Post Gazette:
Concert Draws 16,409
Elvis Rings In '77 At the Civic Arena
Mike Kalina
While Pittsburghers rang in the New Year Friday night in front of their TV sets with Guy Lombardo, 16,409 others Scorned 1977 with Elvis Presley at the Civic Arena. After three opening acts and a lengthy intermission, Presley pounded on stage 35 minutes before midnight, but you would rethought the clock had struck 12. He received an ear-deafening ovation punctuated by thousands of blasts from flash bulbs and a patchwork of "We-Love-You-Elvis" signs hoisted aloft.
Presley had perhaps the most captive audience since Johnny Cash played Folsom Prison. And rarely did he lose his iron grip on the crowd during his 90 minutes on stage.
Presley was much warmer than on his first visit here in mid 1973. This time he not only interacted with the crowd but he also even gave up the microphone for a minute or so to have a fan wish him happy birthday (actually, he will be 42 on Saturday) and happy new year. He also snapped dozens of gifts from those who had come to pay homage to him. He gave out 42 scarves and, believe it or not, even took requests. He also was in better voice on this Pittsburgh visit, singing surprisingly well and in a lower register that gave more impact to his phrasing. He even ventured into difficult musical areas, hitting notes that could cause a mild hernia. And in turn they drew a good crowd reaction, he offered them in a reprise that was tantamount to masochism.
His material offered few surprises and featured a mix of new material and the rock standards associated with him ("Hound Dog," "Jailhouse Rock"). He seemed more comfortable doing his newer material and handled it excellently. He also played the acoustic guitar (but not very well) and did a few songs while accompanying himself on piano. In this segment "Unchained Melody" was the standout.
The old Elvis moves also were exhibited but by now are such a cliché that they were inadvertently humorous. Presley is not a young man anymore. His physique is starting to sag, his face his fleshy and pale, his eyes puffy, and when he tries to repeat moves he made on the Ed Sullivan show two decades ago, the effect is a self-parody. But the hordes of fans loved his every shake, rattle and roll and squealed with delight when vestiges of the old "Elvis the Pelvis" shined through. Presley surrounded himself with some of the finest musicians on the rock circuit today, including James Burton on lead guitar and drummer Ronnie Tutt, who is probably the best rock drummer in the world. In addition to a tight electric band, Presley was backed by the predominately brass James Guercio orchestra and 10 backup singers - including opening acts the Sweet Inspirations and the Stamps Quartet. Presley has a rapport with his musicians unlike any other star. They look as though they hold his every move in awe. If he casts a hard glance at one, the musician's face is glazed with pain. If Elvis smiles at him, the sideman's face lights up like a kid's on Christmas morning. Charlie Hodge, Presley's water- boy and scarf-boy, related to the star like a stone quarryman relates to a sculptor To watch his interaction with Presley was worth the price of admission alone.
At the stroke of midnight, the house lights went up and Elvis led the crowd in singing "Auld Lang Syne." There were some brief huzzahs from the crowd but in a few minutes Presley was back singing. Overall, it was a fine show, though Presley seems to have lost some of the spark that turned his concerts of yesterday into events. He worked hard, but underneath it all one could see that age is taking its toll on the singer. A change in style seems to be the logical career move for him - but Presley seems intent on showing the world that a middle aged man can rock and roll, too. A famous country artist once said that you can grow old as a country singer but not as a rock singer, Presley is trying to prove him wrong. But he's not succeeding.