More than 1 billion people tuned in to Elvis Presley’s Aloha From Hawaii television concert special, but U.S. viewers received a secret surprise most fans never knew about.
According to the official Elvis Instagram page, the King of Rock and Roll had a trick up his sleeve for his stateside fans. A caption to a photo from that iconic evening read, “Elvis and his band returned to the stage, recording five extra songs for the U.S. broadcast after the live Aloha From Hawaii broadcast ended and the audience left.”
Graceland’s official website reported the songs Presley recorded specifically for his United States audience included “Blue Hawaii,” “Ku-U-I-Po,” “No More,” “Hawaiian Wedding Song,” and “Early Morning Rain.” According to the website, these five songs were recorded around 3 a.m. at the Honolulu International Center Arena, without an audience, as “special bonus songs for the U.S. version of Aloha From Hawaii.”
These bonus songs are featured on the 50th Anniversary Edition of Elvis Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite. The original LP was released in February 1973, and the 50th anniversary edition of the LP was released in August 2023 .
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The concert special aired in the United States on April 4, 1973, on NBC. Originally broadcast live via satellite on January 14, Aloha From Hawaii‘s U.S. airing was originally postponed to avoid clashing with Super Bowl VII.
The Graceland website writes that the show was “recorded live on January 12 and 14, 1973 at the Honolulu International Center Arena (capacity approximately 6000) and beamed into an estimated billion-plus television sets around the world. Aloha from Hawaii via Satellitemade a new kind of broadcast history as Elvis and emerging global satellite technology instantaneously connected a major artist with his audience in previously unprecedented numbers.”
It added that the concert was beamed live to fans in Asia and Oceania. European fans also got to see the show when it initially aired, but with a delay.
Presley wore a jumpsuit featuring an American Eagle, designed by Bill Belew. The now-iconic white look featured a bold eagle motif, intricate beading, and a matching cape lined in red.
Aloha From Hawaii was filmed to raise funds for the Kui Lee Cancer Fund. Lee, who died at 34 from the disease, was honored by Presley during the performance when he sang his song “I’ll Remember You.”
Elvis Presley continued to tour until his death in August 1977 at age 42. His Aloha From Hawaii concert remains a defining moment in his career.
