Are You Lonesome Tonight (Elvis Presley) Easter Egg - Reason for Laughing

In the early eighties, a live version was released where Elvis begins to laugh.

Elvis made a habit of not sticking to the lyrics. Normally, Elvis should sing at a certain moment
"Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there". In this particular version he sings "Do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair".
The song continues for a couple of seconds and then Elvis spotted a man that is completely bald.
Hence the laughter.

At the end of the song, Elvis mumbles something like : "Oh God, I have never met this before, ..."

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Contributed By: Eric Slabbinck on 02-15-2000
Reviewed By: Webmaster
Special Requirements: Live version where Elvis bursts into laughter
Please correct this Egg if you see errors.

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Comments

I've been looking for this version for YEARS, does ANYBODY know where I can find it??????
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does anybody know what concert this is from, and if this is available on video? I would love to see this!
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Jinxtuh18 writes:
Unfortunately, there's no video for this performance. And, the reason for Elvis laughing (as told by band members/audience members at that time) was because there was a lady in the audience, jumping up and down, going crazy like most Elvis fans do, and her wig fell off..
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johna10 writes:
If you can get your hands on the lp or tape of Elvis Legendary Performers vol.1 on the inside it told where it was recorded and the date if anyone out there has this maybe they can pass that on to you.
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perko writes:
Listen to the lady doing the "backing vocals"... That's enough reason to laugh your head off - especially if your on stage AND on heavy drugs! Even if you are The King...
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Micha writes:
Does ANYONE know where i can get a copy of this song?? my dad has wanted it for YEARS and i want to get it for him as a b-day gift, but i can't find it! ANYone email me if you have even the faintest idea! his b-day is not too far away! thanks!
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sweetie writes:
thats not true! heres the true story: At Elvis' concert, it was very hot, so, a man in the front row took off his tupea and started fanning himself with it and at the end, he said 14 years right down the drain 14 years baby thats the true story
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LL writes:
I hear Elvis laughing at the soprano in the background singing her heart out, and he even says, sing it sister - and ends with the comment about 14 years down the drain.
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Dom writes:
I do not know the reason for the laughing fit, but you can hear the clip here. http://spiritoftruth.freeservers.com/web3/lonesometonightelvis.html
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Ton writes:
Elvis is died in 1977 so there can't be a record from the eighties.
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Ton, the recording was released in the eighties! Obviously it was recorded when he was still alive.
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DJ Scorpious writes:
I hate to break it to all of you, but there *IS* a video of this performance, only it's not the entire song. I have it in an old Elvis documentary, but I don't remember the name of it. It was in one of his very last live shows, I believe it was actually the week of his death, but I'm not sure. Also, it wasn't intentional, during the song he actually says that he forgot the words. He gets to the part where he starts speaking, rather than singing, the chorus, and says "Now I'm standin' on the stage... without any hair...", and he mumbles his way through the rest of the chorus, mentioning something about not remembering the words. So now you have something more to look for, anyway. :)
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faye writes:
I had been looking for this record as a single but have found it on an album. Its a 3 CD album called "Collectors Gold" by Elvis. The website I found it through was www.geocities.com/elvis-is-alive-ru/collectorsgold.html and it gives a review. I hope this helps others out there!
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Paul writes:
Now I have the information: The album is a 4-CD-BOX and is called "Elvis Aron Presley" [BOX SET] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] The cover is grey and there is only the signature of Elvis on it no pictures. Publication date: April, 20. 1998 Label: Bmg Hbg (BMG Vertrieb) ASIN: B00000637U Format: Audio CD (CDs: 4) Price: 40-50 US$ There is "are you lonesome tonight" in an "normal" version and in the laughing version. Paul
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This is not a "true" egg in my opinion. However, you can also find this version on the LP Elvis In Concert which was released shortly after his death. Elvis In Concert captures the true spirit of Elvis on stage. Elvis Lives!!!!!!!
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webop9000 writes:
it is not Kathy Westmoreland, nor Millie Kirkham singing on this particular concert session. The Sweet Imspirations did the background for this concert and Cissy Houston, (Whitneys Mother) is whalling out the high notes. Just like she did on Aretha Franklins recordings. Like on the song "Ain't No Way"
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Mike writes:
Polk Salad Annie... This may be off topic but Elvis was known for being terrible at remembering lyrics. In concert the crew would stand in front of the stage and hold up cue cards with the words on them. In the beginging of Polk Salad annie on his latest greatest hits, you can hear him repeat the first lines of the introduction..then laugh. Goes something like "Some of you all never been down South too much..." and then he repeats it and then laughs. Its obvious that he has read the same line twice, Out loud and catches his mistake..funny stuff. Go E
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jones121164 writes:
Hate to break it to you to DJ Scorpious but the version you write of is althought an actuall event and correct though it is, the version others are speaking about is an earlier version with more laughing in it and is not available on any footage as far as I know, only the one you write but this is the later 1977 version.
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Ton writes: "Elvis is died in 1977 so there can't be a record from the eighties." Really. So how come he's currently (Januray 2005) Number 1 in the UK singles chart?
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MetalElf writes:
Just because a person dies in a certain year, doesn't mean that tapes previously put into archives cannot be released in later years. Yes, a new Elvis album CAN be released after his death.
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robsta writes:
I'm sure Perko is absolutely on the money in respect of the backing vocalist being the reason for Elvis cracking up. Every time he goes to start a line, she's in like Flynn, like a dog howling at a harmonica. The first time I heard this recording I was enjoying a pint of beer in a Richmond pub and by the end I was laughing so hard tears were rolling down my face; I could hardly swallow the rest of my pint. The timing is the giveaway: whatever else was going down viz a vis wigs or w.h.y. his sense of the ridiculous must have been kicked into touch by the "angelic" wittering behind him. Funniest thing I ever heard!
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sixstring writes:
DJ Scorpius & Mike. Ahhh .. what??? DJ the version everyone is talking about here is from 1969..(NO VIDEO for it)any quick serach would show this. Plus it says it right here on the box credits on the CD case im holding. Yes he did a version of this song that does have a video for it in 1977 but its a completely diff version we're all talking about. In the 1969 one he's laughing 10 times harder and longer then the 1977 video version you're referring to. You need to get hold of it and listen. Mike, hey man...uhmmmmm. Joe South originally recorded 'Polk Salad Annie' the same way Elvis sang it. The song is SUPPOSED to have that line repeated. So Elvis was singing it Right after all. He wasn't forgetting lyrics silly. Do some of you just like to go on web sites and make stuff up? You both were completely wrong.. not even close. Hey everybody check out ROBSTA's post. It's prob the closest to the truth. He pretty much nailed it. Side note... the background singer hitting the high notes was Cissy Houston (Whitney Houston's Mom)
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Mdbates writes:
I have an original 7" copy of this single (laughing version), in great condition.... It's hilarious! Heard these are very rare, any ideas how much it's worth? Been told to the right man it could 100's? Cheers
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Pikklz writes:
I am considering selling this mentioned record, as it was my father's. He passed away just over a year ago. I am also selling various other Elvis Presley records (possibly any other artists). If you are interested, feel free to email me. I may not reply immediately to any emails, but I WILL do my best to get back to you as soon as I can.
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Nevermind I FINALLY found it . . .it's hilarious, at the end he goes "That's it . . . fourteen years down the drain . . . "
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Phil writes:
The real deal is this: At the end he says '14 years down the drain boy, 14 years, just shot right there, man". The recording was RELEASED in the 80's but was recorded in 1969 in Vegas. The truth is: Elvis was looking into the audience and noticed 2 girls trying to pull the wig (toupe) of the guy in front of them and hence the ad-lib. What is so funny is that the musicians and backing singer (Kathy Westmoreland) give such a great performance and arent laughing too, so Elvis shouts 'Sing it, baby' to her as he cracks up and she goes for the high notes. That's the truth according to Red West who was there at the time. The recording is Elvis at his best. He always joked around with that song because Colonel parker asked him tor ecord it as a favour so he'd take the mickey out of the song as a way of making fun of his manager. That's hence the lyrics bluff in the 1977 version where he did NOT forget the lyrics as his bitter Ex wife lets you think, but he was joking as he always did. Elvis rocks!! Long live the king.
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