Vegas January - February 1972
| Date | Intro | slow | Instrumental | fast | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 26.1.72 O/S | no | yes | stop @ rabbit | yes | 1'57" | Mentions old Hound Dog | 7 |
| 6.2.72 M/S | no | yes | my version cuts? | yes | -- | Pretty average | 6 |
| 11.2.72 M/S | no | yes | Great guitar | yes | 1'30" | Pretty nice | 7 |
| 14.2.72 ? | no | yes | Bluesy guitar | yes | 1'06" | 'Burning Love CD' - v.av. | 5 |
| 16.2.72 DS | no | yes | no | yes | 1'20" | Pretty fast but ok. | 6 |
| 17.2.72 DS | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'36" | Not bad - great drums! | 8 |
| 19.2.72 DS | no | yes | no | yes | 1'23" | Pretty average | 6 |
| 19.2.72 MS | no | yes | no | yes | 1'07" | Pretty rushed | 6 |
| 21.2.72 DS | brief | Med | no | yes | 1'07" | Too fast at the end | 6 |
| 21.2.72 MS | no | f.e. | no | yes | 1'17" | 'Rasputin' slow missed out | 7 |
| 22.2.72 DS | no | yes | no | no | 0'45" | Slow only | 7 |
| 22.2.72 MS | no | yes | no | yes | 1'20" | Pretty ordinary | 6 |
| 23.2.72 DS | no | yes | no | yes | 1'05" | 'throwaway' very fast. | 5 |
| 23.2.72 MS | no | yes | no | yes | 1'22" | Nearly ends early, ok | 7 |
A pleasant start to this season as the slow/fast regime continues, although the instrumental 'break' is soon dropped as the change over to 'FAST' is immediate after the 'SLOW' version. Opening show version unusually stops dead at 'Rabbit' but Elvis seems in good spirits singing your 'just an old hound dog'. Soon though versions trim down to a fast minute in length and are 'throwaway' such as the newly released version on the 'Burning Love' CD from 14th Feb.
THROWING STUFFED TOY'S TO FANS! During the Summer 1971 Vegas Season the Colonel came up with the brilliant idea of giving Elvis Teddy Bears to throw out to the audience (you may have seen a picture of Elvis actually doing this in his Black Jumpsuit from near the end of the season). Then with the Winter 1972 Las Vegas season the Colonel had a HUGE 8 feet tall HOUND DOG outside the showroom-raising money for charity (I remember seeing this for REAL whilst visiting the Blackpool exhibition in 1990!).
Inside the showroom Elvis was throwing out stuffed little HOUND Dog's to fans during the song! In some amateur footage from August 1972 you can still see Elvis throwing out these toys!. So yet another angle occurred in 1972 with the hound dog toys.
From 1969 onwards Elvis always used to make past reference to his Ed Sullivan appearance (where they filmed him from the waist up) then the Steve Allen show appearance singing to a Basset hound so in performance right up to the LAST tour Elvis would still bend over claiming 'if I sing this song standing straight up I'll strip my gears'. This led to much hilarity over the years and NEVER better appreciated than with footage from August 1972 (where you can clearly see Elvis giving this start to the song!) In the Rapid City 21.6.77 performance of Hound Dog he STILL does this! Dedication indeed!.
April - June 1972 Tours
| Date | Intro | slow | Instrumental | fast | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 31.3.72 | blues | no | yes | yes | 1'28" | Rehearsal version | 6 |
| 5.4.72 | no | yes | no | yes | 1'18" | Nice guitar, ok | 7 |
| 6.4.72 | brief | yes | no | yes | 1'20" | Pause before last line | 6 |
| 7.4.72 | yes | yes | pause after rabbit | yes | 2'08" | Ed Sullivan intro/waist up etc. ok version. | 7 |
| 9.4.72 A/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'20" | Ok, not bad | 7 |
| 9.4.72 E/S | no | yes | no | yes | 1'25" | 'give me a C'chord, ok. | 7 |
| 11.4.72 | no | yes | no | yes | 1'20" | Pretty average | 6 |
| 14.4.72 | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'52" | Fair average version | 6 |
| 16.4.72 E/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'24" | Pause at end, OK version | 6 |
| 17.4.72 | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'57" | OK version | 7 |
| 19.4.72 | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'00" | Pretty average | 6 |
| 9.6.72 | yes | yes | Up 2,3,4 | yes | 1'57" | Ok | 7 |
| 10.6.72 A/S | yes | yes | 2,3,4 @ end | yes | 2'03" | Interesting, Ok version | 8 |
| 10.6.72 E/S | 1912 | yes | Up 2,3,4 @ end | yes | 1'49" | Ok again. Bluesy/slow | 8 |
| 11.6.72 | yes | yes | Up 2,3,4 @ end | yes | 1'55" | Not bad, well done. | 9 |
| 12.6.72 | jokey | yes | no | yes | 2'35" | Long intro - pretty good | 9 |
| 14.6.72 | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'51" | Ok | 7 |
| 16.6.72 | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'04" | 2 false starts - Ok | 7 |
| 17.6.72 A/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'53" | Ok | 7 |
| 18.6.72 | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'55" | False start - pretty average | 6 |
| 19.6.72 | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'10" | Not bad quick ending | 8 |
Mayor of Roanoke asks Elvis to sing HOUND DOG for him on 'ELVIS ON TOUR' Elvis seems very 'inventive' this year with his versions of hound dog and thoroughly enjoying performing it.He would lean over as if singing to the basset hound to start his performance and enjoy the slow/fast sequence. Ending with an army up 2,3,4 chant is 'new' again shows Elvis is having fun with the song. Versions are pretty good all tour long and Elvis even rehearsed for this tour with Hound Dog.
Vegas Season August - September 1972
| Date | Intro | slow | Instrumental | fast | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 4.8.72 O/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'52" | Good with great guitar | 9 |
| 5.8.72 D/S | no | yes | no | yes | 1'25" | Great guitar picking, OK version | 8 |
| 6.8.72 D/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'54" | OK version - intros | 8 |
| 7.8.72 M/S | no | yes | no | yes | 2'17" | Straight forward - OK | 8 |
| 8.8.72 M/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'19" | Nice version-ex guitar! | 9 |
| 9.8.72 M/S | brief | yes | no | yes | 1'30" | Extended end - ordinary | 7 |
| 11.8.72 D/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'53" | Cartoon 'joke' intro,fair | 7 |
| 11.8.72 M/S | no | yes | no | yes | 1'36" | Almost ends too early! | 7 |
| 12.8.72 D/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'13" | Fairly average for season | 7 |
| 12.8.72 M/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'56" | Smooth nice guitar | 8 |
| 13.8.72 D/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'45" | Excelent version! Ave Marie | 10 |
| 16.8.72 D/S | yes | Med | no | yes | 2'14" | Ok- Intro-'I was only 19 had terminal acne' | 8 |
| 16.8.72 M/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'01" | Ok speeds up at end | 8 |
| 17.8.72 D/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'06" | Staring at floor-smooth. | 8 |
| 17.8.72 M/S | no | yes | no | yes | 1'15" | Rushed + mediocre | 6 |
| 18.8.72 D/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'04" | Not bad intro | 8 |
| 18.8.72 M/S | no | yes | no | yes | 1'30" | Without intro but ok | 7 |
| 19.8.72 D/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'06" | 'tried to be funny-it didn't work'-nice beat! | 9 |
| 19.8.72 M/S | no | yes | no | yes | 1'32" | Straight forward-good. | 8 |
| 21.8.72 M/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'39" | Pretty good version | 9 |
| 22.8.72 M/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'37" | 'hard fart' version ok. | 8 |
| 23.8.72 M/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'35" | 'nothing but a hardfart | 9 |
| 24.8.72 D/S | no | yes | no | yes | 1'20" | Pretty 'casual' really | 7 |
| 26.8.72 D/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'35" | Intro better than song | 9 |
| 26.8.72 M/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'12" | Good guitar, average version. | 8 |
| 28.8.72 M/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'15" | Ok not bad!. | 8 |
| 1.9.72 D/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'36" | Good-'hard fart'version. | 9 |
| 2.9.72 D/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'25" | Nothing but a wart hog! | 8 |
| 2.9.72 M/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'53" | Intro of English fans,ok | 7 |
| 3.9.72 M/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'45" | Long + funny intro!, OK | 8 |
| 4.9.72 D/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'56" | Wort hog intro-average. | 7 |
| 4.9.72 M/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'35" | 'Ave Marie' lead in-good-king blew the crown man! | 9 |
A REALLY superb Vegas season where Elvis makes many a memorable and laughable intro's to Hound Dog! Very interesting is the 13.8.72 D/S version which starts with a lengthy intro about being filmed from the waist up and his voice being a lot higher- then we get a joke of 'you ain't nothing but a buttercup' before 1 line of Ave Marie! Elvis is in such good mood that this makes a really enjoyable version. The marked # 23.8.72 M/S version is so good I want to quote Elvis's funny opening dialogue here as it's just typical of the interesting and good introductions Elvis gave to this song all season!.
23.8.72 M/S " This is a song I did on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1956, they filmed me from the waist up and Ed Sullivan looked at me and said hmm 'Son of a Bitch!'- Anyway my voice was much higher then, the trouble is I can't sing this standing up - I'll strip my gears.', 'This is my message song for tonight folks, this is a very heavy song, far out and all that Jazz.', 'You ain't nothing but a, you don't know what I'm going to do yet,'you ain't' 'You ain't nothing but a hard fart'. Anyway if you see me staring at the floor"
Then Elvis goes onto actually perform the song (with the audience laughing a lot) to the great slow/fast 1972 Vegas version. Elvis is really obviously enjoying performing this song in his shows this season!. Also this season Elvis would actually throw stuffed hound dog toys into the audience having fun. Great to hear!. Not every version had the intro but EVERY version was good from this excellent season and these versions are my favorites.
November 1972 Tour
| Date | Intro | slow | Instrumental | fast | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 9.11.72 | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'24" | 1 line of 'old shep'intro | 7 |
| 12.11.72 | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'42" | Ok | 7 |
| 14.11.72 | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'15" | Average for this tour | 6 |
| 15.11.72 | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'06" | Ok - jokey intro | 7 |
| 17.11.72 | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'14" | OK | 7 |
| 18.11.72 A/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'23" | Pause at end, OK | 7 |
| 18.11.72 E/S | no | yes | no | yes | 1'29" | Pretty average here | 6 |
The 'Quality' of performance continues as in Vegas with good versions through this tour even if the 14 and 18.11.72 E/S versions are a bit less good. It's still a fun song.
Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Tours: first part of 1973
Right before Elvis's 'famous' Aloha from Hawaii shows even started their was an 'instrumental' show opening of HOUND DOG - just to let you know Elvis was coming and to set the scene!.
| Date | Intro | slow | Instrumental | fast | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 12.1.73 | no | no | no | yes | 0'49" | Not too bad, still rushed | 5 |
| 14.1.73 | no | no | no | yes | 0'45" | Bland,rushed missing words & forgettable! | 3 |
| 26.1.73 O/S | no | no | no | yes | 0'45" | Same as 14.1.73 awaste | 3 |
| 27.1.73 D/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'10" | Vast improvement here | 7 |
| 27.1.73 M/S | yes | bluesy | no | yes | 2'45" | Very enjoyable version | 8 |
| 28.1.73 M/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'06" | Ok straight forward | 7 |
| 29.1.73 D/S | yes | yes | bluesy | yes | 1'48" | Ed Sullivan - Blues guitar | 7 |
| 29.1.73 D/S | yes | yes | bluesy | yes | 1'48" | Ed Sullivan - Blues guitar | 7 |
| 5.2.73 D/S | yes | yes | bluesy | yes | 1'30" | 'message song for tonight' | 7 |
| 5.2.73 M/S | no | yes | 'wart hog' | yes | 1'30" | Ok,but not special. | 6 |
| 9.2.73 D/S | yes | med | no | yes | 2'12" | Good intro - rest average | 6 |
| 9.2.73 D/S | yes | med | no | yes | 2'12" | Good intro - rest average | 6 |
| 10.2.73 M/S | yes | yes | bluesy | yes | 1'59" | Good intro - bluesy ok | 7 |
| 11.2.73 D/S | yes | med | no | yes | 2'24" | Weaker voice but ok | 6 |
| 11.2.73 D/S | yes | med | no | yes | 2'24" | Weaker voice but ok | 6 |
| 12.2.73 M/S | yes | yes | bluesy | yes | 2'12" | Nice guitar similar 8/72 | 8 |
| 14.2.73 D/S | yes | medium | no | yes | 1'52" | Ok | 7 |
| 16.2.73 D/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 2'00" | Ok | 7 |
| 18.2.73 M/S | yes | med | no | yes | 1'30" | Very fast | 6 |
| 19.2.73 M/S | yes | med | funky | yes | 1'31" | Straight forward but ok | 6 |
| 20.2.73 M/S | no | yes | no | yes | 1'07" | Ok but pretty average | 5 |
| 22.2.73 M/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'20" | Not too bad | 7 |
| 23.2.73 D/S | yes | medium | no | yes | 2'30" | Not bad! | 7 |
| 23.2.73 M/S | yes | medium | no | yes | 2'27" | Not bad! | 7 |
| 22.4.73 | no | yes | no | yes | 1'00" | Ok, extremely average | 5 |
| 23.4.73 | no | yes | no | yes | 1'19" | Not too bad | 5 |
| 24.4.73 | brief | yes | no | yes | 1'54" | Better than last night | 6 |
| 27.4.73 | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'47" | 'you ain't,you ain't'ok. | 7 |
| 28.4.73 A/S | no | yes | no | yes | 1'12" | Pretty fast and smooth. | 6 |
| 29.4.73 E/S | no | yes | no | yes | 1'35" | Up 2,3,4 end good. | 7 |
| 6.5.73 M/S | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'42" | Pretty good - tease version | 7 |
| 7.5.73 M/S | no | yes | no | yes | 1'20" | Funky James Guitar | 6 |
| 9.5.73 M/S | no | medium | no | yes | 0'58" | Start missing | 6 |
| 10.5.73 M/S | no | medium | no | yes | 1'04" | Very quick and straight | 6 |
| 11.5.73 D/S | no | medium | no | yes | 1'08" | Smooth and bland really | 5 |
| 13.5.73 3am | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'03" | After My Way, Ok | 6 |
| 13.5.73 3am | yes | yes | no | yes | 1'03" | After My Way, Ok | 6 |
| 20.6.73 | no | med | no | yes | 0'57" | Medium speed start - average | 6 |
| 23.6.73 A/S | no | med | no | yes | 1'07" | Bit fast but OK | 6 |
| 23.6.73 E/S | no | med | no | yes | 1'02" | Too smooth over to quick | 5 |
| 24.6.73 | no | med | no | yes | 1'05" | Again too very smooth | 6 |
| 25.6.73 | no | med | no | yes | 1'20" | Straight forward really | 6 |
| 26.6.73 | brief | yes | no | yes | 1'07" | Rushed and brief | 5 |
| 27.6.73 | no | med | no | yes | 1'12" | Fast but energetic-ok. | 6 |
| 29.6.73 | no | yes | no | yes | 1'00" | Pretty ordinary really | 5 |
| 30.6.73 A/S | no | med | no | yes | 0'56" | Throwaway/forgettable | 4 |
| 30.6.73 E/S | no | med | no | yes | 1'10" | Good drums.average | 5 |
| 1.7.73 A/S | no | med | no | yes | 1'07" | Very average version | 5 |
| 3.7.73 A/S | no | med | no | yes | 0'54" | Pretty 'throwaway'here | 4 |
Probably the WORST version of hound dog EVER? (for many years) is his start of year Aloha versions - they are short and a complete 'throwaway ' version of this song. Just by the 2nd day in Vegas (27th Jan 73' ) the performance quality improves almost back to the last vegas season!. Soon a nice 'Bluesey' instrumental develops (which is a welcome addition), then later in the season the 'Medium' paced intro before the 'FAST' version. Still lots of CARE shown with Hound Dog this season and an interesting development with a nice intro too.
Lake Tahoe versions aren't too bad with the 'slow' version usually segueing into the 'fast' version-here the song features James Burton on his 'funky,bluesy' guitar to great effect during the slow part. At the 13.5.73 3am version the band almost start SUSPICIOUS MINDS before Elvis starts HOUND DOG after asking what key they did it in, James loves playing on the slow start before it quickly finishes just after 1 minute. The Tours in April/June do give less good versions but it's not part of a medley yet. When it does become part of a 'medley' in August 1973 it is just like Jerry Scheff said in his Elvis Unlimited interview when he explained that once an artist starts putting a song in a medley he has lost respect for the song. Whilst there are exceptions to this problem (teddy bear/don't be cruel) Hound dog really suffers in Vegas this Summer season as is given a 'throwaway' performance brief, rushed and forgettable as a 20 second tagged on ending to an already overblown medley of rushed 'hits' which is so rushed detailed reviewing of all these hound dog versions isn't worthwhile. Before the 1st week of the season is over it's ending up as a 'throwaway' performance tagged onto the end of the 'Rock Medley' where it is given individual performance it's very much like June 73' with it's medium beat sliding into the fast ending. Occasionally Elvis would PAUSE @ rabbit towards the end of the song to see what the band would do but that's all really. Then after the 11.8.73 D/S their only appears 1 more 'solo' performance in 1973 at the 21.8.73 D/S!.
RESPECT FOR HOUND DOG IS LOST!
1973 August - September Las Vegas Season (Just a few examples given only)
| Date | Medley end | slow | fast | Instrumental | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 6.8.73 O/S | On own | med | yes | no | 1'07" | Mediocre-'funky guitar' | 5 |
| 7.8.73 D/S | On own | med | yes | Pause @ rabbit | 1'05" | Long pause @ end-diff. | 5 |
| 7.8.73 M/S | On own | med | yes | no | 0'54" | Pretty forgettable | 4 |
| 8.8.73 D/S | On own | med | yes | no | 1'01" | Fair | 5 |
| 8.8.73 M/S | On own | med | yes | no | 1'09" | Also fair | 5 |
| 9.8.73 D/S | yes | no | yes | no | 0'27" | A waste | 3 |
| 9.8.73 M/S | On own | med | yes | no | 1'21" | Tease intro-too fast | 5 |
| 10.8.73 D/S | On own | med | yes | Pause @ rabbit | 1'10" | Pause + nice guitar | 6 |
| 10.8.73 M/S | On own | med | yes | no | 1'04" | Not too bad | 5 |
| 11.8.73 D/S | On own | med | yes | no | 0'58" | Pretty fast | 4 |
| 11.8.73 M/S | yes | no | yes | no | 0'27" | Pretty meaningless-medley end. | 4 |
| 12.8.73 M/S | yes | no | yes | no | 0'34" | Pretty throwaway | 3 |
| 14.8.73 D/S | yes | no | yes | no | 0'19" | Throwaway version | 3 |
| 18.8.73 M/S | yes | no | yes | no | 0'30" | Mediocre | 5 |
| 20.8.73 M/S | -- | yes | yes | no | 0'27" | Very forgetable,fast/rushed | 4 |
| 21.8.73 D/S | ON own | med | yes | no | 1'17" | Not bad really for 8/73 | 5 |
| 25.8.73 D/S | yes | no | yes | no | 0'29" | Pause @ rabbit | 3 |
| 27.8.73 D/S | yes | no | yes | no | 0'29" | Pause @ rabbit - 'throwaway' | 3 |
| 29.8.73 D/S | yes | no | yes | no | 0'40" | Not much | 3 |
| 30.8.73 M/S | yes | no | yes | no | 0'27" | Fast has 'pause'@ rabbit | 3 |
| 1.9.73 M/S | yes | no | yes | no | 0'40" | Up,2,3,4 end | 4 |
| 2.9.73 3am | yes | no | yes | no | 0'15" | Ridiculously fast. | 1 |
Where HOUND DOG is performed in the show? Interesting is WHERE HOUND DOG is performed in shows through the years. In 1969 it is after several old 'hit' records about a third of the way through the show (with an intro dialogue). In 1970, it is the same but by EARLY August it moves to VERY early on 3rd or 4th song in the show-yet by the end of the season it has moved to just before BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER - much later in the show. By 1971 it is performed before the intros early in the year, then in August before SUSPICIOUS MINDS, then in November before HOW GREAT THOU ART.
In 1972 usually before the 'big' ballad songs before the intros, then in August 1972 as the 3rd song before the intros usually. In January 1973 it is usually 2 songs before the intros, then after the 11.8.73 D/S it is usually at the end of the rock medley before fever. In 1974 again it is performed BEFORE Fever until August where it is then usually performed directly after SOFTLY AS I LEAVE YOU. By Oct 74' it is the song before the intros. In March 75 it can be performed anywhere in a show but usually still near the end of the show. On tours in 75' it is usually performed in the 1st third after a medley and then in August as a 'request'. In December 75' it is mainly performed earlier in the show. For 1976 and 1977 shows for the MOST PART it is usually performed directly AFTER HURT, however not always and other times are certainly in the latter part of the show after the intros. In short shows in 77' sometimes it is the only song after the intros before the closing show song!!.
