Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite - Presley, Elvis (CD 1998)

Without a doubt, Elvis Presley got to be the King by responding to challenges. When it looked like his whole career was hanging by a thread in the late 1960s because of those hideous B-movies he was forced to make, virtually at gunpoint, by his penny-wise, pound-foolish manager, he took it upon himself to make the "Comeback" TV special in 1968. He then returned to recording in his hometown of Memphis in 1969, creating some of the greatest pop music in history. And in 1972, his appearances at Madison Square Garden were sold out and resulted in a hugely successful live album. And then, on...

On 14 January 1973, Elvis Presley stepped on stage at the Honolulu Convention Centre and sang to a billion people via satellite around the world (excluding the US and UK). The number of viewers exceeded those who watched the first walk on the moon. The subsequent double album quadraphonic recording of the event hit the top position on Billboard s Album chart and remained on the chart for 52 weeks. As a visual event, the show was a little disappointing as Elvis (though lean and looking damn cool) did not shake his legs or swivel his famous hips that much. Even his karate kicks and aerial chops.