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Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                    July 1, 1969, (Tuesday)

Elvis and the Colonel sent Barbra Streisand a best wishes telegram that read: "On behalf of ourselves and our entire staff best wishes to you and all your associates during your engagement at the International. We are greatly honored to have the International folks think enough of Elvis to engage him to follow a great star like you. Respectfully, Elvis & the Colonel".

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Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                             July 2, 1969, (Wednesday)

No information.

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LIVE PERFORMANCE (OPENING SHOW) - (Barbra Streisand)

The Showroom Internationale, The International Hotel, 3000 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, Nevada.

(8:15 pm (Evening Show) (12:00 am (Midnight Show)

 

 

The International Hotel, the largest in the world opened for business with 1,500 rooms and a main showroom that held up to 2,000 people. Academy Award winner, Barbra Streisand backed by Bobby Morris' Orchestra, opened the hotel and performed to an invitation only audience that included Cary Grant, who was a friend of the hotel's owner Kirk Kerkorian. Other celebrities who attended were: Dale Robertson, Joan Collins, Anthony Newley, Phyllis Diller, Robert Culp, Alice Faye Andy Williams, Abbe Lane, Mimi Hines Phil Ford, Danny Thomas, Phil Harris and Dick Smothers. Streisand's engagement ran from July 2 to July 30. Also on the same night, Peggy Lee opened in the 500 seater Casino Theatre.

Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                  July 3, 1969, (Thursday)

Graceland, 3764 Highway 51 South, Memphis, Tennessee.

No information.

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Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones was found dead in his swimming pool at home. He was only 26 yrs old.

Brian Jones

Brian Jones

(February 28, 1942 - July 3, 1969) (RIP)

Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                         July 4, 1969, (Friday)

No information.

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Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                   July 5, 1969, (Saturday)

Elvis flew to Los Angeles to prepare for his Las Vegas shows.

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BILLBOARD POP CHART  (singles)

Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet

HOT 100:

"Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet" by Henry Mancini.

"In the Ghetto" by Elvis Presley. #12

"Clean Up Your Own Back Yard" by Elvis Presley. #90

EASY LISTENING (TOP 40):

"Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet" by Henry Mancini.

"In the Ghetto" by Elvis Presley. #9

BILLBOARD C&W CHART  (singles)

Statue of a Fool

HOT C&W SIDES:

"Statue of a Fool" by Jack Greene.

"In the Ghetto" by Elvis Presley. #61

BILLBOARD R&B CHART  (singles)

Too Busy Thinking About My Baby

HOT R&B SIDES:

"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" by Marvin Gaye.

BILLBOARD POP CHART  (LP)

Hair

TOP LP's

"Hair" by the Original Cast.

"From Elvis in Memphis" by Elvis Presley. #15

"Elvis Sings Flaming Star" by Elvis Presley. #116

"Elvis" by Elvis Presley. #146

BILLBOARD COUNTRY CHART  (LP)

Songs My Father Left Me

HOT C&W ALBUMS

"Songs My Father Left Me" by Hank Williams Jr..

"From Elvis in Memphis" by Elvis Presley. #14

BILLBOARD RHYTHM/BLUES CHART  (LP)

Cloud Nine

HOT R&B ALBUMS

"Cloud Nine" by the Temptations.

BILLBOARD CHART  (TAPE)

Blood, Sweat & Tears

BEST SELLING 8-TRACK

"Blood, Sweat & Tears" by Blood, Sweat & Tears.

BILLBOARD CHART  (TAPE)

Galveston

BEST SELLING CASSETTE

"Galveston" by Glen Campbell.

BILLBOARD CHART  (TAPE)

Bayou Country

BEST SELLING 4-TRACK

"Bayou Country" by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                      July 6, 1969, (Sunday)

ASSEMBLING THE BAND

Over the next few weeks Elvis held auditions for various musicians and up to this point James Burton had brought in Larry Muhoberac (formerly Larry Owens) of Memphis, whose band originally worked with Elvis previously when they appeared on the Bill of his Memphis Charity Concert in February 1961. Larry himself played on various movie soundtracks. He, in turn suggested a drummer from Dallas by the name of Ronnie Tutt and it looked like at one stage he wasn't going to get the chance to show Elvis what he could do as he was the last one to arrive, but thankfully it worked out in the end and he got the gig. Burton also contacted pianist and arranger, Glen D. Hardin who wasn't available at the time and bass guitar player Jerry Scheff (who wasn't really keen on doing it at the time) but decided to give it a shot anyway and really liked Elvis and how he let the musicians do their own thing.

 

Tom Diskin contacted The Imperials, and told them Elvis wanted to provide the kind of Male Gospel Quartet back up that he had always liked. The Imperials had already sang backing vocals on Elvis' "How Great Thou Art" sessions back in 1966. Group leader Jake Hess had left due to ongoing health issues, so the line-up was now made up of Armond Morales, Joe Moscheo, Jim Murray, Roger Wiles and Terry Blackwood. Elvis also contacted "The Sweet Inspirations" (Emily "Cissy" Houston, Sylvia Shemwell, Myrna Smith and Estelle Brown), whom he'd never met, but admired their work after Marty Lacker and George Klein recommended them and gave Elvis a copy of the "Sweet Inspiration" single that he played a lot in Graceland. Finally he rang rhythm guitarist John Wilkinson (an Elvis fan, who had just signed a contract with RCA as a solo artist) and told him to come over to this house as the band were having a jam and Elvis wanted to see how John would fit in. Elvis' idea for the show was that it would contain all of the music that influenced him, and bring it all together on one stage complete orchestral backing. Bobby Morris who had worked for Bill Miller at the Flamingo was now working for the International and met with Colonel Parker who arranged for him to meet Elvis at his house in California. Over the next few weeks he listened to hundreds of recordings so he could find out exactly what Elvis wanted. 

Colonel Parker gave each of the successful applicants a suitcase filled with Elvis albums to take them home to listen and learn. Elvis though wanted the band not to imitate what had gone before, but to interpret and modernise the material to work with a live audience.

The completed Vegas line-up

Jerry Scheff

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James Burton

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John Wilkinson

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Ronnie Tutt

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Larry Muhoberac

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The Imperials:

Armond Morales,

Jim Murray, Roger Wiles, Terry Blackwood, and Joe Moscheo

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The Sweet Inspirations:

Sylvia Shemwell,

Estelle Brown, Cissy Houston,

and Myrna Smith.

Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                     July 7, 1969, (Monday)

Elvis continued to work on material for his Las Vegas shows with the help of Charlie Hodge in particular, while Joe Esposito took song titles to Colonel Parker so that publishing rights could be sorted out. 

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Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                    July 8, 1969, (Tuesday)

1174 Hillcrest Road, Beverly Hills, California.

Elvis and Priscilla Presley signed a contract for the construction of a "wrought iron fence around pool and sheet metal added

to the front gates" for the sum total of $2,140.00.

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Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                             July 9, 1969, (Wednesday)

No information.

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Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                               July 10, 1969, (Thursday)

The Graceland Christian Church, whose property was right next to Graceland, gave Elvis an Easement which allowed him to use the the Church driveway to drive to and from Highway 51, so Elvis could avoid the fans. Elvis, in return he promised to pay a nominal fee of $10, and also pay the cost of paving the driveway. He also promised not to use any motor vehicles on the driveway during Sunday Church services unless absolutely neccessary. 

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Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                       July 11, 1969, (Friday)

No information.

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Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                July 12, 1969, (Saturday)

No information. 

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BILLBOARD POP CHART  (singles)

In the Year 2525

HOT 100:

"In the Year 2525" by Zager and Evans.

"In the Ghetto" by Elvis Presley. #16

"Clean Up Your Own Back Yard" by Elvis Presley. #65

EASY LISTENING (TOP 40):

"Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet" by Henry Mancini.

"In the Ghetto" by Elvis Presley. #8

BILLBOARD C&W CHART  (singles)

Statue of a Fool

HOT C&W SIDES:

"Statue of a Fool" by Jack Greene.

"In the Ghetto" by Elvis Presley. #61

BILLBOARD R&B CHART  (singles)

Too Busy Thinking About My Baby

HOT R&B SIDES:

"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" by Marvin Gaye.

BILLBOARD POP CHART  (LP)

Hair

TOP LP's

"Hair" by the Original Cast.

"From Elvis in Memphis" by Elvis Presley. #14

"Elvis Sings Flaming Star" by Elvis Presley. #119

"Elvis" by Elvis Presley. #135

BILLBOARD COUNTRY CHART  (LP)

Songs My Father Left Me

HOT C&W ALBUMS

"Songs My Father Left Me" by Hank Williams Jr..

"From Elvis in Memphis" by Elvis Presley. #13

BILLBOARD RHYTHM/BLUES CHART  (LP)

My Whole World Ended

HOT R&B ALBUMS

"My Whole World Ended" by David Ruffin.

BILLBOARD CHART  (TAPE)

Blood, Sweat & Tears

BEST SELLING 8-TRACK

"Blood, Sweat & Tears" by Blood, Sweat & Tears.

BILLBOARD CHART  (TAPE)

Galveston

BEST SELLING CASSETTE

"Galveston" by Glen Campbell.

BILLBOARD CHART  (TAPE)

_Blood, Sweat & Tears_ by Blood, Sweat &

BEST SELLING 4-TRACK

"Blood, Sweat & Tears" by Blood, Sweat & Tears.

Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                   July 13, 1969, (Sunday)

No information.

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Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                   July 14, 1969, (Monday)

No information.

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Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                 July 15, 1969, (Tuesday)

No information.

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Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                          July 16, 1969, (Wednesday)

No information.

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Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                July 17, 1969, (Thursday)

1174 Hillcrest Road, Beverly Hills, California.

Elvis signed autographs for his fans outside his home on Hillcrest. (photos)

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Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                      July 18, 1969, (Friday)

REHEARSALS

RCA Studios, 6363 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California. (7/8:00 pm - 2/3:00 am)

 

MUSICIANS: Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: James Burton - Rhythm Guitar: John Wilkinson - Bass Guitar: Jerry Scheff -

Drums: Ronnie Tutt - Piano: Larry Muhoberac.

Rehearsals began at the RCA Studios on Sunset Boulevard, for the upcoming live show. The routine was to learn about 150 songs over six nights. With Charlie Hodge, Elvis worked on the pacing of the show, going back and forth over the playlist as Elvis had never done a full one hour show before. While the band rehearsed in California, the backup singers were working in Las Vegas.

Songs rehearsed: "Memphis, Tennessee", "Love Me", "Can't Help Falling in Love Tonight", " "Release Me", "Green Green Grass of Home", "Runaway", "Suspicious Minds", "I'm Movin' On", "Yesterday", "Hey Jude", "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy", "Rip it Up", "What'd I Say", "Trying to Get to You", "Reconsider Baby", "Only the Strong Survive", Words"

RCA 6363 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles,
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Weeks before Col. Tom Parker moved to Las Vegas and started running advertising campaigns to promote Elvis' return to the stage. He spent a lot of time with Nicholas Naff's secretary Loanne Miller. Naff was head of advertising and publicity for the hotel.

Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                July 19, 1969, (Saturday)

REHEARSALS

RCA Studios, 6363 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California. (7/8:00 pm - 2/3:00 am)

 

MUSICIANS: Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: James Burton - Rhythm Guitar: John Wilkinson - Bass Guitar: Jerry Scheff -

Drums: Ronnie Tutt - Piano: Larry Muhoberac.

Rehearsals continued at the RCA Studios on Sunset.

RCA 6363 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles,
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BILLBOARD POP CHART  (singles)

In the Year 2525

HOT 100:

"In the Year 2525" by Zager and Evans.

"In the Ghetto" by Elvis Presley. #17

"Clean Up Your Own Back Yard" by Elvis Presley. #54

EASY LISTENING (TOP 40):

"Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet" by Henry Mancini.

"In the Ghetto" by Elvis Presley. #9

BILLBOARD C&W CHART  (singles)

I Love You More Today

HOT C&W SIDES:

"I Love You More Today" by Conway Twitty.

"In the Ghetto" by Elvis Presley. #60

BILLBOARD R&B CHART  (singles)

What Does It Take to Win Your Love

HOT R&B SIDES:

"What Does it Take (to Win Your Love)"

by Jr. Walker & the All Stars.

BILLBOARD POP CHART  (LP)

Hair

TOP LP's

"Hair" by the Original Cast.

"From Elvis in Memphis" by Elvis Presley. #13

"Elvis Sings Flaming Star" by Elvis Presley. #130

"Elvis" by Elvis Presley. #149

BILLBOARD COUNTRY CHART  (LP)

Same Train, Different Time

HOT C&W ALBUMS

"Same Train, A Different Time" by Merle Haggard.

"From Elvis in Memphis" by Elvis Presley. #10

BILLBOARD RHYTHM/BLUES CHART  (LP)

My Whole World Ended

HOT R&B ALBUMS

"My Whole World Ended" by David Ruffin.

BILLBOARD CHART  (TAPE)

Blood, Sweat & Tears

BEST SELLING 8-TRACK

"Blood, Sweat & Tears" by Blood, Sweat & Tears.

BILLBOARD CHART  (TAPE)

Galveston

BEST SELLING CASSETTE

"Galveston" by Glen Campbell.

BILLBOARD CHART  (TAPE)

Nashville Skyline

BEST SELLING 4-TRACK

"Nashville Skyline" by Bob Dylan.

Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                   July 20, 1969, (Sunday)

REHEARSALS

RCA Studios, 6363 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California. (7/8:00 pm - 2/3:00 am)

 

MUSICIANS: Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: James Burton - Rhythm Guitar: John Wilkinson - Bass Guitar: Jerry Scheff -

Drums: Ronnie Tutt - Piano: Larry Muhoberac.

Rehearsals continued at the RCA Studios on Sunset.

RCA 6363 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles,
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Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                  July 21, 1969, (Monday)

REHEARSALS

RCA Studios, 6363 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California. (7/8:00 pm - 2/3:00 am)

 

MUSICIANS: Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: James Burton - Rhythm Guitar: John Wilkinson - Bass Guitar: Jerry Scheff -

Drums: Ronnie Tutt - Piano: Larry Muhoberac.

Rehearsals continued at the RCA Studios on Sunset.

RCA 6363 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles,
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Elvis: "A Day in the Life"                                                                                                                                  July 22, 1969, (Tuesday)

REHEARSALS

RCA Studios, 6363 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California. (7/8:00 pm - 2/3:00 am)

 

MUSICIANS: Vocals: Elvis Presley - Lead Guitar: James Burton - Rhythm Guitar: John Wilkinson - Bass Guitar: Jerry Scheff -

Drums: Ronnie Tutt - Piano: Larry Muhoberac.