Aloha from Hawaii is a music concert that was headlined by Elvis Presley, and broadcast live via satellite around the world on January 14, 1973. It was watched by over one billion viewers worldwide. The concert aired in over 40 countries across Asia and Europe (who received the telecast the next day, also in primetime). Despite the satellite innovation, the United States did not air the concert until April 4, 1973. The show was the most expensive entertainment special at the time, costing $2.5 million.

The event being the first-ever such performance to be broadcast live via satellite, Presley taped a January 12 rehearsal concert as a fail-safe in case anything went wrong with the satellite, during the actual broadcast. For both shows, Presley was dressed in a white "American Eagle" jumpsuit designed by Bill Belew.

Audience tickets for the January 14 concert and its January 12 pre-broadcast rehearsal show carried no price. Each audience member was asked to pay whatever he or she could afford. The performance and concert merchandise sales raised $75,000 for the Kui Lee Cancer Fund in Hawaii. (Kui Lee was a Hawaiian composer who had died of cancer while still in his thirties.)

Presley performed a vast array of old and recent hits like "Steamroller Blues", "See See Rider", "Early Morning Rain", "Burning Love", "Blue Suede Shoes", "A Big Hunk o' Love", "Suspicious Minds", "Can't Help Falling in Love." He showed his vocal range and strength with ballads like the Beatles' "Something", "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", "It's Over", "Welcome to my World", "I'll Remember You" and specially during "What Now My Love". The show is probably most remembered for his performance of the "An American Trilogy". After the concert had finished and the audience had left, Presley recorded five songs on stage to be aired during the American airing of the show.

The broadcast was directed by Marty Pasetta, who was then in charge of directing the Oscar ceremonies. In top vocal form, Presley was accompanied by:

• James Burton (lead guitar)
• Glen Hardin (piano)
• Ronnie Tutt (drums)
• John Wilkinson (rhythm guitar)
• Jerry Scheff (bass)
• J.D. Sumner & the Stamps Quartet (backup vocals)
• Kathy Westmoreland (backup vocals)
• Charlie Hodge (harmony)
• Sweet Inspirations (backup vocals)
• Joe Guercio & his Orchestra

Soundtrack Album

''Main Article Aloha from Hawaii: Via Satellite

The album containing the music from the concert was a blockbuster hit, reaching #1 in the best seller’s charts.

DVD releases

In September of 2004 "Aloha from Hawaii" together with "The '68 Comeback Special" was released on DVD for the first time. The 2-Disc deluxe package includes the original satellite transmission version of the show, as well as the full dress rehearsal and the extended US version with some inserted non-live songs, recorded and filmed after the concert in the empty arena. Additionally, the set contains an uncut 17.5 min. sequence of Elvis arriving in Honolulu and the complete post-concert session. The picture and the sound (in Dolby Digital 5.1) have been digitally remastered from the original master tapes.

Side 1:

1. Intros By Elvis
2. Introduction: Also sprach Zarathustra
3. See See Rider
4. Burning Love
5. Something
6. You Gave Me A Mountain
7. Steamroller Blues
8. No More

Side 2:

1. My Way
2. Love Me
3. Johnny B. Goode
4. It's Over
5. Blue Suede Shoes
6. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
7. I Can't Stop Loving You
8. Hound Dog
9. Hawaiian Wedding Song

Side 3:

1. What Now My Love
2. Fever
3. Welcome To My World
4. Suspicious Minds
5. Introductions By Elvis
6. Blue Hawaii

Side 4:

1. I'll Remember You
2. Medley: Long Tall Sally/Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
3. American Trilogy
4. A Big Hunk O' Love
5. Can't Help Falling in Love
6. Ku U I Po
7. See See Rider

Early in August 2006 the TV-special was also released in a single disc version. Strangely this edition contains some new material which was not included in the original deluxe release. The new material consists of some TV news footage shot during the arrival, offering an alternate look on the event and portions of two press conferences held for the upcoming live broadcast in September and November of 1972. Those film clips with an overall length of about 9 minutes are so-called "Easter Eggs" and can be found by pressing a hidden button in the menu.

External links

• Elvis in Hawaii all you need to know about this live performance