Elvis Presley earned raves for 1972 Madison Square Garden shows
Two of The King’s four MSG shows, along with a bootleg video shot by a fan, are available in new DVD set, ‘Prince From Another Planet’
Elvis Presley was all shook up — and not in a chart-topping kind of way.
When the King of Rock and Roll arrived for four sold-out Madison Square Garden shows in 1972, he was no longer the cocky, pompadoured platinum-selling teen idol of the ‘50s.
Presley, according to a close pal, was instead nervous and unsure about his New York return after a 15-year hiatus that followed his appearance with Ed Sullivan.
“I remember a conversation with Tom Jones where Elvis says, ‘Tom, I don’t know if people are going to like me in New York,’” recalled Jerry Shilling, a charter member of Presley’s Memphis Mafia.
Turns out they did, thank you — thank you very much. By the time Elvis left the building on June 11, he charmed and thrilled a then-record 80,000 fans.
The 37-year-old Presley was tanned, fit and pumped for the spotlight. He prowled the stage in a form-fitting jumpsuit and glittering gold cape, backed by the killer TCB Band (with guitar god James Burton) as he sang in a voice both full and clear.
Two of the four MSG shows, along with a bootleg video shot by a fan with a hand-held camera, are packaged in a new set titled “Prince From Another Planet” – available for the first time this Tuesday.