Rock Back The Clock With Elvis - December 31st 1975

Elvis typically had a December to January 9th break for himself between tours. However due to health issues, Elvis was forced to do a December engagement at the Hilton to complete his tour obligation. So when Elvis announced a New Years show in Pontiac Michigan, everyone flocked to get tickets to celebrate the New Year with the king. One of our regulars Jeff Rouff was there with some memories of the event.

It was an exciting night as it was New Year's Eve. The crowd was especially charged up for this concert. It was a bit unusual. Instead of a stage being set up at one end of the stadium it was in the round. The stage was smack dab in the middle of the arena. It was a round elevated platform quite high. So we were looking up at Elvis all evening. At one point he left the stage saying he had ripped his pants. A story later came out that he was ill and took a moment to see a doctor. The doctor's name was Dr. Lewerenz. A friend of mine knew the doctor and he told my friend that that was how he met Elvis because he was a Doctor on call. That doctor eventually went to Graceland to play racquetball with Elvis. Anyway, the concert was pretty good and the crowd was rather rowdy but really were into Elvis that night. It was a slightly longer concert than the other two I had been to. I believe that it was a little over an hour long. Elvis sang Auld Lang Syne at midnight and the whole audience was into it. But all in all it really was a great time and a good concert. It was just a little weird having to look up all night because of the way that the stage was elevated. But Elvis seemed to be having a good time that evening

The usually overlooked New Years Show was a bit of a call back show. He did Trying To Get To You, Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog, One Night. He tried to give the audience what they came for, and outside of a split in the pants I think he succeeded. Please Enjoy.

Setlist:
Opening Acts

54:35 for Concert

Also Sprach Zarathustra / See See Rider / I Got A Woman - Amen / Love Me / Tryin' To Get To You / And I Love You So / All Shook Up / Teddy Bear - Don't Be Cruel / Heartbreak Hotel / One Night / You Gave Me A Mountain / Polk Salad Annie / Sweet Sweet Spirit (by JD Sumner and The Stamps) / Band Introductions / What'd I Say (by James Burton) / Drum Solo (by Ronnie Tutt) / Bass Solo (by Jerry Scheff) / Piano Solo (by Glen Hardin) / Electric Piano Solo (by David Briggs) / School Day / My Way / Love Me Tender / Elvis Speech and Countdown / Auld Lang Syne / How Great Thou Art (+ reprise) / It's Now Or Never / America The Beautiful / Elvis Introduces Family And Staff / Hound Dog / Wooden Heart (excerpt) / Can't Help Falling In Love / Closing Vamp - Announcements / Elvis speaks about his New Year's Eve show #1 / Elvis speaks about his New Year's Eve show #2