Elvis Presley – August 16, 1974 Rehearsal: A Glimpse Behind the Curtain - Elvis new DVD and CDs Elvis Presley FTD Bootleg Import Live Concert CD and DVD - Elvis Presley Rare DVD and CDs Elvis Live Concert On Tour DVD Outtakes

Yet August 1974 stands out as a fascinating and transitional period in Elvis’s career. A new Las Vegas engagement at the Hilton Hotel was approaching, and Elvis seemed intent on revitalizing the show. Whether it was a desire to break free from routine, the influence of new girlfriend Sheila Ryan, or simply a yearning to reconnect with his artistry, he approached the upcoming season with uncharacteristic determination.

Elvis arrived at RCA’s Hollywood studio on August 12 for a series of rehearsals in preparation for the August 19 opening night. Determined to shake up his setlist, he and his core band—including James Burton, Ronnie Tutt, Glen D. Hardin, and others—rehearsed a wide range of new material. The August 16th session, captured on tape, offers a rare and intimate look at Presley during this brief creative spark. It reveals an artist exploring new directions, trying out fresh arrangements, and, in some cases, pushing beyond his comfort zone; though, to be fair, four takes of If You Love Me (Let Me Know) might test the patience of even the most devoted fan.

Remarkably, this rehearsal survives thanks to photographer Ed Bonja, who recorded it at Elvis’s request using a 2-track cassette deck.

Ed Bonja: “I was there for that rehearsal and another one at RCA when Tom Diskin couldn’t make it. I recorded the ‘74 rehearsal, and Tom told me to hang on to the tape in case Elvis wanted to hear something. No one ever followed up, so I ended up with it. I’d play it in my car on the way to work! Eventually, Ernst Jorgensen called me, and I sold the tape to RCA for next to nothing. That’s how they got ‘The Twelfth of Never.’ I think it deserves a full release. They only paid me for that one track, but they’ve since used more from the same tape. Of course, I never got another check.”

The sound quality varies—from decent to muddy and indistinct—which is to be expected from a well-worn C-120 cassette recorded on consumer-grade equipment. Bonja even admits to playing it regularly on a basic car stereo. Given that context, the surviving audio is surprisingly listenable, and what it lacks in fidelity it makes up for in sheer historical value.

The rehearsal first surfaced in 1995 on the bootleg release From Sunset Blvd. to Paradise Road (DAE label), which included both the rehearsal and the August 19 opening night concert. While the master tape was recorded in binaural, its quality was far from ideal. The 1995 bootleg used a direct copy of the original cassette to produce a more balanced mix, and fans were stunned by what they heard.

Before the launch of RCA’s Follow That Dream (FTD) collectors label, fans could only dream of hearing such material officially. The rehearsal features a fascinating run of rarely performed songs, including Promised Land, Down in the Alley, It’s Midnight, Your Love’s Been a Long Time Coming, Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues, Softly As I Leave You, I’m Leavin’, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Proud Mary.

The selection alone is extraordinary—far removed from the familiar ‘oldies’ that often padded his Vegas shows.

Elvis is alert, engaged, and clearly invested in the music. The fact that he works through multiple takes of several songs underscores his intent to deliver something fresh and meaningful. There’s a sense of camaraderie and creative playfulness throughout the session—Elvis laughing, teasing his band, and shaping arrangements with care.

To imagine being a fly on the wall at RCA’s Hollywood studio in 1974 is to witness a fleeting moment when Elvis Presley, relaxed and in control, rekindled a spark of his once-dazzling creativity. While the fidelity may be compromised, the insight it provides is invaluable.

Personnel

Recorded August 16, 1974 at RCA Studios, Hollywood, California:

- Guitars: James Burton, John Wilkinson

- Bass: Duke Bardwell

- Drums: Ronnie Tutt

- Piano: Glen D. Hardin

- Backing Vocals: Voice (Donnie Sumner, Per-Erik “Pete” Hallin, Tim Baty), Charlie Hodge

Technical Notes

Recorded directly from the mixing console to a standard consumer cassette deck. Tape sourced from the private collection of Elvis’s official tour photographer, Ed Bonja.