Elvis Presley - Fairytale - The Live Comparison Series - Volume Sixty Four

Only three songs from the 1975 album 'Elvis Today' would become regulars in Elvis' set list, 'And I Love You So', 'Fairytale' and 'T-R-O-U-B-L-E'. The three tracks were recorded on consecutive days of March 1975 at RCA's Studio C in Hollywood, California - 'Fairytale' on the 10th, 'And I Love You So' on the 11th and 'T-R-O-U-B-L-E' on the 12th.
Whilst the first two would be immediately added to the live show for the start of Elvis' twelfth Vegas season just a week later, the latter would not be introduced until the next tour starting on 24 April in Macon, Georgia. Also, unlike the first two, T-R-O-U-B-L-E would be dropped after the abandoned August 1975 Vegas season, but the first two would remain until the end.
It is hardly surprising that T-R-O-U-B-L-E was delayed from being added to the set list, as it obviously required much more rehearsal time due to it's fast pacing and complicated lyrics.
'Fairytale' on the other hand, together with 'And I Love You So' would become permanent members of the set list, although Elvis would not necessarily choose to sing it at every show. In fact there are only around sixty four known live renditions between 18 March 1975 and 26 June 1977.

00:00 Version One – 18 March 1975, Opening Show, Las Vegas – The First Rendition
Almost identical in arrangement and tempo to the studio master recorded just a week earlier and also sees Elvis stick completely to the original lyrics.

04:00 Version Two – 22 March 1975, Midnight Show - Las Vegas

07:25 Version Three – 24 April 1975, Macon – The First “Tour” Rendition
Despite having recorded the song five and a half weeks earlier, Elvis introduced the song by telling the audience that he hasn’t recorded it yet! Perhaps he meant not released yet!!

10:49 Version Four – 10 June 1975, Tour Closing Show – Memphis
13:59 Version Five – 23 July 1975 – Asheville
A very unique version indeed by virtue of it having no musical intro instead Elvis leads the band into the song through the first line of the song and it sounds all the better for it!! It was also the only time performed during this superb tour.

16:46 Version Six – 20 August 1975, Dinner Show – Las Vegas
19:48 Version Seven – 6 December 1975, Dinner Show – Las Vegas
23:21 Version Eight – 20 March 1976 – Charlotte
26:12 Version Nine – 5 July 1976, Memphis – Tour Closing Show
28:55 Version Ten – 8 September 1976, Pine Bluff – Tour Closing Show
This tour was the first to feature the change at the ending of the song. No longer is Elvis using the “realise a good man is hard to fine” line but instead repeating “found its’ all been a great big Fairytale”. However the first few see the change as a progression, for example in Jackson on 5 September, he sings “and realise it’s a great big Fairytale”.

31:42 Version Eleven – 18 October 1976 – Sioux Falls
34:17 Version Twelve – 4 December 1976, Midnight Show – Las Vegas
37:02 Version Thirteen – 31 December 1976 – Pittsburgh
How could any song in this series performed at Elvis’ magnificent and legendary New Year’s Eve show in Pittsburgh, especially when video footage is included!!

39:54 Version Fourteen – 20 February 1977 – Charlotte
This version from the same show that yielded the only live version of “Moody Blue” and the third and final outing for “Fairytale” on this tour.

42:30 Version Fifteen – 2 May 1977 – Chicago
As with the previous rendition it would be the third and final outing for “Fairytale” on this tour. From this show onwards Elvis would only appear in his “Mexican Sundial” suit synonymous with his final concert appearances.

45:15 Version Sixteen – 22 May 1977 - Largo
48:03 Version Seventeen – 19 June 1977, Omaha – The CBS Rendition
This second last live rendition, filmed in Omaha, Nebraska on 19 June 1977 during the first of the two shows filmed by CBS' cameras for Elvis In Concert. The song did not make the final edit but was but included among the extra songs on the accompanying RCA album, "Elvis In Concert".
It is from that very album that the audio in this version originates and anyone familiar with the original CBS audio will understand why.
Whilst there is not really anything inherently wrong with the original audio, it is just that the mix is so wrong. It has Charlie Hodge's harmony vocal so high and upfront, that it almost drowns Elvis out. This is no slight on Charlie but it's Elvis we wanted to hear after all!

50:55 Version Eighteen – 26 June 1977, Indianapolis – The Final Rendition
It became common practice, especially in 1976 and 1977, for Elvis to interchange "Fairytale" and "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" on a show by show basis, although the latter was more often the preferred option.
For Elvis' final show, in Indianapolis on 26 June 1977 however, it was "Fairytale" that was sung, although only for the second time on this final tour. At the time of course, this was only a tour ending show but of course subsequent events made it his last show ever.

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