Unless you attended an Elvis show, then the only version of “It’s Over” that fans could have heard during Elvis’ lifetime, would have been the version performed during the satellite broadcast show in Hawaii on 14 January 1973. It was not until 1995 and the release of Walk A Mile In My Shoes – The Essential 70’s Masters that a further version could be heard, from Elvis Vegas dinner show of 17 February 1972. Both of these versions are contained in this volume.
Version One – 24 July 1971, Midnight Show – The First Known Rendition
In spite of the plethora of information on this period both audio and visual, on period remains particularly enigmatic, Elvis first visit to Lake Tahoe between 20 July and 2 August 1971. Of the twenty eight shows that Elvis performed during this visit audio of only three has appeared and information on setlists and even photographs from the engagement remain at a premium. RCA’s own official records show that none of these shows were recorded and that no soundboard recordings exist in their vaults either. It can only be hoped, as forlorn a hope as it may be, that someone has a soundboard cassette of one or more of these shows buried in an attic or basement somewhere!!
That being the case, it is almost certain that Elvis introduced this song during the opening show of his first Lake Tahoe engagement on 20 July 1971. Assuming that it was performed at every show, then this would actually be the TENTH live rendition of the song by Elvis!
Version Two – 10 August 1971, Dinner Show – The first Vegas rendition
Version Three – 17 February 1972, Dinner Show, Las Vegas
In 1971, RCA records assigned one of their producers, Joan Deary, to oversee the production of a live album compiled from recordings of songs performed by Elvis during his first Las Vegas engagement of 1972 beginning on 26 January. For eight shows over four days from his dinner show on 14 February until his midnight show in 17 February parts of those shows were recorded. Those multi-track recordings ranged in length from show to show from a single song at one show to a maximum of twelve at another but none were recorded in full.
Among those recordings is this, the only known rendition of “It’s Over” from this engagement which includes clever use of the harp, absent in other versions.
Version Four – 10 April 1972, Richmond – The “On Tour” Version
Over the four shows filmed by MGM during production of “Elvis On Tour”, Elvis performed the song just once, in Richmond during the second of those four shows. This is my personal favourite version of the song and what a treat if Turner/MGM turn out to have this on film!!
Version Five – 14 January 1973, Honolulu – The Aloha Version
Performed in both of the shows in the Honolulu International Center during the production of Aloha From Hawaii, this is another outstanding version.
Version Six – 13 May 1973, 3am Show – Lake Tahoe
