Elvis - A Lighted Candle

by **Blue Moon** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:53 pm

Today, for the first time, I listened to the August 26, 1969 laughing version of “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”. What a riot. I couldn’t help but laugh along with Elvis during the song. And then even afterward, it lifted my spirits up for several hours, & I found myself occasionally laughing as I remembered the song. His laughter was & is so infectious. The reason for his laughter in this song is because Elvis observed a fan near the stage loosing his toupee. Elvis then ad-libs “Do you gaze at your bald head & wish you had hair.” After that Elvis completely looses it and can hardly put two words together for the rest of the song, as he is laughing so hard. Don’t know how he managed to pull himself together for the next song. Anyhow, listening to it sure brightened my day & put a smile on my face!

by **Rainbow Light** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:00 am

His laughter was & is so infectious

Right on, Laurie! Is just so great to hear isn't it? Love that laugh of his!

by **ELVIS2001NET** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:03 am

see i was always told that charlie was acting like he was gay. that is why he was laughing. joe
www.elvis2001.net

by **Rainbow Light** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:19 am

Hadn't heard that before so thanks for sharing this info, Joe - do we know if there is any footage ANYWHERE, whether official/unofficial that would be available? There seems to be a lot of different out-takes, footage of various concerts and so on but never this particular version of the song - would be great to see wouldn't it?!

by **ALNA** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 10:12 am

http://www.epgold.com/mpegvideo/Are%20Y ... 201976.WMV

This is a link where you might find the clip.
To see more of those clips go to:
www.epgold.com.

you can choose Elvis footage in the menu and then you will find 8 pages of clips, there are real good ones :wink:

by **Blue Moon** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 3:13 pm

Thanks Nadine for the link! I look forward to playing the clip.

About the man loosing his toupee as the reason for Elvis' laughter -- this I heard from Kathy Westmoreland on Volume 1 of the "Elvis Behind the Image" DVD which I had gotten from www.behind-the-image.com. Some good interviews on this DVD by the way. Volume 2 was good as well. Kathy's comments would seem to fit with Elvis' ad-lib of “Do you gaze at your bald head & wish you had hair.” It's possible that Joe & I may not be referring to the same version of the song.

by **Blue Moon** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:11 pm

Nadine, I did play the clip you provided above, but this is not the same laughing version which I have (though it was still fun to watch). The one I have was recorded on stage on August 26, 1969. And he is laughing a lot more in the 1969 version. In fact, he laughs almost thru the entire song.

The version I have is out on a couple of CD's. I got mine from the import "Hitstory" boxed set. The U.S. "Hitstory" does not have it.

by **Wanda June Hill** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 11:42 pm

Hi, I was told Charlie was acting gay too, but there are other laughing bits out there too-I don't know which one is which. I love to hear him laugh-so glad we have that on records! It was impossible not to laugh when he went into that certain giggle, snickering laugh thing- couldn't stay mad at him or argue with him when he did that! It was his secret weapon I think. wjh

by **Rainbow Light** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:58 am

You could well be right!

Many thanks Nadine for providing the link to EP GOLD, and Are You Lonesome Tonight is great fun to watch with Charlie acting up and cracking Elvis up laughing in the process - brilliant!!!

by **renenutet** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:37 am

Great clip. I just love to see Elvis joke.

by **Rainbow Light** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:56 am

Yeah, me too! :lol:

Yes, know which means Laurie means - how come it was on the imported version of 'Hitstory' but not the U.S. one or is that a question best known to the 'powers that be' who released the various box sets?!

by **Wanda June Hill** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:56 pm

Most likely they still think we here in the US "have enough" and "don't care" about having "everything". I never did understand that-all along Europe got better pictures on albums and different versions also. wjh

by **ALNA** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 12:08 am

Well then I am very lucky to live in Europe :lol:

by **Blue Moon** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 1:18 am

Speaking of album covers, the one on the “Love, Elvis” CD is of a photo showing Elvis tongue kissing a girl & their tongues are sticking straight out (at least in the U.S. version, maybe import too). I suppose some may find it sexy, but this cover annoys me because it is of a personal private moment. If Elvis were alive today, I wonder if he want that for an album cover. I can’t imagine that he would.

by **Rainbow Light** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:01 am

Guess there was a reason for them doing that but then again, I do agree with you, Laurie. It should have been a private moment between Elvis and the girl concerned and no, can't think Elvis would have wanted his private life all over the place, he knew that sometimes it was the
'price' he had to pay for being famous to some extent but not all of the time, surely?

Yes, am glad I live in Europe concerning the issue of album releases but is still not fair on American fans and also on anyone who loves Elvis' music to not have the same releases as we do here. What can be done about it though I am not sure?

Elvis - A Lighted Candle

Laughing version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight?"

Laughing version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight?"

Laughing Version of Are You Lonesome Tonight

Laughing

powers that be

"Love, Elvis" album cover

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