Elvis Presley - August 18, 1975 (Opening Night | 2026 Stereo Remaster) | By Popular Request Vol. I

When Elvis Presley walked onto the stage of the Las Vegas Hilton on August 18, 1975, few in the audience could have imagined they were witnessing the beginning of what would become the shortest Las Vegas engagement of his career. Scheduled as a month-long season, the engagement would ultimately last only five performances over three days before concerns over Elvis' health forced the cancellation of the remaining shows. Despite the circumstances, those five concerts captured an artist whose warmth, humor, and willingness to connect with his audience created one of the most distinctive engagements of the 1970s. Building on an idea introduced during the Asheville tour just weeks earlier, a champagne bucket was placed near the stage to collect handwritten song requests from the audience. Throughout the engagement, Elvis would occasionally reach into the bucket, pull out a request, and perform songs rarely, if ever, heard live. The result was an extraordinary collection of performances including "Crying in the Chapel," "Young and Beautiful," and "Loving You," alongside the final live performances of "Green, Green Grass of Home," "T-R-O-U-B-L-E," and "Suspicious Minds." The opening show offers only a hint of what was to come. While the request box had yet to produce its most famous surprises, Elvis delivered a focused, energetic performance that balanced familiar concert favorites with material from his recent "Today" album. "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" and "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" were still relatively new additions to the repertoire, while "Suspicious Minds" briefly returned, only days away from its final live performance. Although audience recordings from this engagement range from fair to listenable in quality, their historical importance far outweighs their sonic limitations. They preserve an engagement unlike any other, documenting an Elvis who, despite obvious physical struggles, remained generous with his audience, relaxed with his musicians, and determined to make each performance memorable in its own way. For this SRB Records stereo remaster, every effort has been made to present the recording with greater clarity while respecting the character of the original audience tape. Noise has been carefully reduced, tonal balance refined, and the stereo image enhanced to create a more immersive listening experience without sacrificing the authenticity of the source. The five "Request Box Shows" remain a fascinating snapshot of Elvis' final year on the concert stage. This opening performance marks the beginning of that remarkable, all-too-brief engagement, capturing the optimism of opening night before history took an unexpected turn. 00:00 Opening Vamp / See See Rider 04:16 I Got a Woman / Amen 09:56 Love Me 13:50 If You Love Me (Let Me Know) 17:20 Blue Suede Shoes 19:13 Suspicious Minds 23:20 My Boy 27:12 Heartbreak Hotel 29:00 Polk Salad Annie 32:59 Band Introductions 35:03 Johnny B. Goode 36:09 Drum Solo 37:26 Bass Solo 39:00 Piano Solo 40:27 School Day 41:20 T-R-O-U-B-L-E 44:49 The Wonder of You 47:55 Why Me Lord 50:32 How Great Thou Art 53:37 Can't Help Falling in Love