Madison Square Garden

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Lore & Background

The Madison Square Garden concerts on June 10, 1972, were a major milestone, promoted as Presley's first live shows in New York City since the 1950s. RCA Records captured both the afternoon and evening performances. The evening show became the single LP *Elvis: As Recorded at Madison Square Garden*, released about three weeks after the concert. The afternoon set remained largely unreleased for decades, except for three tracks: "I Can't Stop Loving You" appeared on the 1977 compilation *Welcome to My World*, and "I'll Remember You" and "Reconsider Baby" were included on 1983's *Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 3*. The entire afternoon performance was finally released in 1997 as *An Afternoon in the Garden*. Interestingly, 1970s Presley drummer Ronnie Tutt wrongly claimed in a 2009 BBC documentary that Colonel Tom Parker sped up the mixes to fit more tracks on the 1972 live album, increasing publishing royalties.

In Their Own Story

Backstage, the air hummed with nervous energy. He adjusted his collar, feeling the weight of the sequins against his skin. The stage manager nodded toward the wings; the roar from the crowd was already a physical force vibrating through the floorboards. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a fleeting second to center himself, and then stepped into the blinding white light.

Reader's Guide

Madison Square Garden is the New York City arena where Elvis Presley performed two shows on Saturday June 10, 1972. The evening concert was released as the live album *Elvis: As Recorded at Madison Square Garden* by RCA Records in late June 1972. The album peaked at No. 11 on the Top 200 US Billboard albums chart on September 9, 1972. It was certified Gold on August 4, 1972, Platinum on May 20, 1988, double-Platinum on March 27, 1992, and triple-Platinum on July 15, 1999, by the RIAA. Along with *Aloha from Hawaii: Via Satellite*, it ranked as one of the best selling live albums of the 1970s. The album was re-released on two vinyl discs on November 13, 2012, by RCA/Legacy, and in 2013, RCA/Legacy released a high-resolution remastering in 24-bit/96 kHz through HDTracks.com. The personnel for the concert included Elvis Presley on vocals, James Burton on lead guitar, John Wilkinson on rhythm guitar, Ronnie Tutt on drums, Jerry Scheff on bass, Glen D. Hardin on piano, The Sweet Inspirations and Kathy Westmoreland on background vocals, J.D. Sumner & The Stamps on background vocals, Joe Guercio as conductor, and The Joe Malin Orchestra.

Did You Know?

• Elvis Presley's concerts at Madison Square Garden on June 10, 1972, were promoted as his first live performances in New York City since the 1950s.
• The album *Elvis: As Recorded at Madison Square Garden* was released about three weeks after the concert, in late June 1972.
• The afternoon performance on June 10, 1972, was not released in full until 1997's *An Afternoon in the Garden*.
• Drummer Ronnie Tutt wrongly claimed in a 2009 BBC documentary that Colonel Tom Parker sped up the mixes to fit more tracks on the album.
• The album was certified triple-Platinum by the RIAA on July 15, 1999.