One of four songs from Elvis’ 1974 album “Promised Land” which would feature on Elvis’ live set list was the superb "It's Midnight". It had been recorded by Elvis at Stax Studios in Memphis on 10 December 1973 and was an undoubted highlight of this excellent album. This volume contains at least one rendition from all eight engagements or tours in which it was performed.
00:00 Version One – 19 August 1974, Opening Show – Las Vegas
This is the first live rendition of the song by Elvis. It was introduced to the set list as part of Elvis’ much discussed but ultimately short lived attempt at revamping his live show.
03:27 Version Two – 2 September 1974, Closing Show, Las Vegas
If the opening show provided the first live rendition, then the closing show of the engagement provided probably the most famous live version of the song. It is known as the “listen ‘Cilla” version due to Elvis’ shout out to his now ex-wife who was seated at a booth close to the stage with their daughter, Lisa Marie. It is ironic that this is the most well known live version as it has yet to be given an official release and is still an excellent rendition.
06:42 Version Three – 6 October 1974, Dayton, Ohio
It is widely accepted that Elvis’ final tour of 1974 ranks as his poorest to this point and one of his worst overall. However, even in the midst of this he was still able to pull some excellent renditions of songs off on stage. One song for which this always seemed to be the case was “It’s Midnight” and this third version is sourced from Elvis’ show in Dayton on 6 October at the back end of the tour where the shows had marginally begun to improve.
09:46 Version Four – 13 October 1974, Dinner Show, Lake Tahoe
Just a week after version four, Elvis performed the song for the first of only two known versions at this Lake Tahoe engagement. The gradual improvement in quality of the shows continued into this run of shows which would be Elvis’ final shows of the year.
13:00 Version Five – 22 March 1975, Midnight Show, Las Vegas
Elvis retained the song on his set list onto 1975 and with his state of mind much improved from the latter half of the previous year, aided by an extended break, the shows were back to a very high standard. This gorgeous version from the first half of his inaugural Las Vegas engagement of the year exemplifies this improvement. Listen for the wonderful “Good God I Miss You” towards the songs conclusion.
16:03 Version Six – 25 April 1975, Jacksonville
This was just the second of only four renditions during this spring tour. It is yet another wonderful version sung with complete sincerity and the lack of a string section allows for other parts of the band to excel. The mix on this version also highlights the wonderful soprano by Kathy Westmoreland, an often overlooked but integral part of the songs arrangement.
19:05 Version Seven – 23 July 1975, Asheville
All of Elvis’ shows in Asheville during the summer of 1975 were superb and this lovely version of the song is in keeping with that high quality. This was the final time that Elvis would perform the song “on the road” and the only example from this tour.
22:07 Version Eight – 2 December 1975, Opening Show
Ironically, the final Las Vegas rendition would be at an opening show, just as the first live rendition was introduced. Elvis had not performed the song at the abandoned August 1975 engagement and this version was heard at the beginning of the rescheduling of that engagement.
25:36 Version Nine – 7 May 1976, Dinner Show – Lake Tahoe
This last live version was the second of only two known rendition during Elvis’ final Lake Tahoe engagement. It was sung at consecutive dinner shows on 6 and 7 May. In total, Elvis was known to have performed the song sixty four times over a course of just under two years.
As with all of these videos, to get the most out of the audio, I highly recommend you use ear /headphones and turn the volume up as much as you dare!
