Vegas January - February 1974
| Date | Intro | fast | Instrumental | slow | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 26.1.74 O/S | no | yes | No-in medley | no | 0'20" | 'unbelievable' very poor. | 2 |
| 26.1.74 M/S | no | yes | No-in medley | no | 1'02 | Pause @loose jam'end | 4 |
| 27.1.74 10pm | no | yes | @rabbit-brief | no | 0'24 | Rushed and throwaway | 3 |
| 28.1.74 D/S | no | yes | No-in medley | no | 0'27 | Rushed and throwaway | 3 |
| 28.1.74 M/S | no | yes | No-in medley | no | 0'35 | Pause@rabbit-rushed. | 3 |
| 29.1.74 D/S | no | yes | No-in medley | no | 0'48 | 'throwaway' in medley | 3 |
| 30.1.74 D/S | no | yes | No-in medley | no | 0'30 | Rushed-unmemorable | 4 |
| 30.1.74 M/S | no | yes | @ rabbit | no | 1'40 | Jam end. Much better! | 6 |
| 31.1.74 D/S | no | yes | No-in medley | no | 0'30 | Throwaway-brief jam. | 4 |
| 31.1.74 M/S | no | yes | No-in medley | no | 0'47 | Jam end average | 5 |
| 1.2.74 D/S | no | yes | No-in medley | no | 0'32 | Brief pause throwaway | 4 |
| 1.2.74 M/S | no | yes | No-in medley | no | 0'29 | Complete throwaway | 3 |
| 2.2.74 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'17 | Ok, but 'jam' bit slow | 5 |
| 2.2.74 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'17 | Average for the season | 5 |
| 3.2.74 D/S | brief | yes | no | no | 0'50 | Very short + ordinary. | 5 |
| 3.2.74 M/S | no | yes | no | no | 0'42 | No jam - Very short | 4 |
| 4.2.74 D/S | no | yes | no | no | 1'25 | Up 2,3,4 jam -fair. | 5 |
| 4.2.74 M/S | no | yes | no | no | 0'44 | Complete throwaway | 3 |
| 5.2.74 D/S | no | yes | no | no | 0'45 | Rushed and poor | 4 |
| 5.2.74 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'00 | Over very quickly | 4 |
| 6.2.74 D/S | no | yes | no | no | 0'48 | Just 'throwaway' | 3 |
| 6.2.74 M/S | no | yes | no | no | 0'45 | Too fast -no instrumental | 3 |
| 7.2.74 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'17 | Pretty mediocre really | 4 |
| 7.2.74 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'17 | Pretty mediocre really | 4 |
| 7.2.74 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 0'49 | Jamming end too fast | 4 |
| 8.2.74 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 0'50 | Fast-pretty average. | 5 |
| 8.2.74 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'50 | 'it's alright now'-chant-with a false ending. | 6 |
| 9.2.74 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'16 | Long jam-forgettable | 4 |
| 9.2.74 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'12 | 2 false starts but ok. | 5 |
It isn't until the 30.1.74 M/S that Hound Dog gets a better performance but even this is short lived as even with SEPARATE performances out of the rushed '1973 Rock Medley' the versions are poor except for the 'interest' of the loose 'chang,chang chant' 'Jam' ending performed @rabbit until the end of the song THIS HAPPENS from 2nd February onwards. This 'jamming' development is probably the ONLY redeeming feature to develop this year so far as clearly the performances are generally still rushed and not given the 'full' consideration/time as HOUND DOG deserved. I don't really 'enjoy' HOUND DOG when it gets simply tagged onto the end of a long medley and always the length suffers. Therefore pretty well all performances sung at a medley ending are 'unmemorable'.
Elvis's Chang, Chang, Chang endings. This was a particular feature of HOUND DOG performances that developed over the last 3 years of HOUND DOG performances. Really this amounts to not much more than Elvis chanting/muttering/wailing or making some kind of 'utterance' (like he would during typical 76/77 instrumental band member intros) and just fills in the time from the @rabbit start of the 'Jam' and chant until the usual last line from Elvis of 'You ain't no friend of mine' Wooh! Ending. This first really developed during the Winter 1974 Vegas Season and after anywhere from just 2 repeats of his 1 verse of HOUND DOG up to 4 repeats Elvis would go into this ending chant/instrumental Jam often late in 1977 adding maybe the 'shaking' bit as well and a Woooh! Wooohoooohooooo sung final bit as well. This of course adds considerably to the variance of this bit of the song (often the part of main interest) from very poor, short or long and good. So from 74' onwards fans could expect Elvis's chanting Chang, Chang ending as the 'Norm!'. Personally I don't mind it if Elvis sounds interested but if it's just for the musicians to 'carry' the song for him to his last line end, then I don't care for it that much-all depends IF Elvis was 'into' his version or not as to how good this chant end would come across to fans or sound to listen too. Certainly a very noteworthy development and depending a lot on the pace of the drum beat driving it to the end as well.
TOURS: March - May 1974
| Date | Intro | fast | Instrumental | slow | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 2.3.74 | brief | yes | no | no | 1'09" | Jokey J.D intro no jam | 5 |
| 3.3.74 A/S | brief | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'15" | 'you ain't,we ain't-you all ain't'-average. | 5 |
| 5.3.74 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'05" | Pretty ordinary really | 5 |
| 6.3.74 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'32" | Very ordinary | 5 |
| 7.3.74 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 0'57" | Guitar ok-throwaway | 4 |
| 10.3.74 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 0'57" | Pause @end-rushed | 4 |
| 15.3.74 E/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 0'56" | Pretty rushed-poor | 4 |
| 16.3.74 A/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'10" | Pretty straight forward | 6 |
| 16.3.74 E/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 0'55" | Too fast to be good | 5 |
| 17.3.74 A/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'05" | Very mediocre | 4 |
| 18.3.74 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 0'54" | Tagged on medley end | 5 |
| 20.3.74 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'04" | 'never caught a scarf'- reasonably extended at medley end better than usual. | 7 |
| 11.5.74 A/S | brief | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'09" | Bit too fast really. | 6 |
| 11.5.74 E/S | brief | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'45" | 'pause' end long here. | 5 |
Interestingly at 'special' dates such as the Houston Astrodome or the last show of the tour HOUND DOG is given a longer version and usually some limited respect.
Lake Tahoe May 1974 Season
| Date | Intro | fast | Instrumental | slow | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 16.5.74 O/S | brief | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'25" | Whoah end + stuffed up! | 5 |
| 17.5.74 M/S | bluesy | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'40" | Average-but good start. | 6 |
| 24.5.74 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'05" | Too fast-+27" extra end | 5 |
| 24.5.74 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'02" | Av'we got lucky again' | 5 |
| 25.5.74 D/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'25" | 'Alka-Seltzer' intro - av. | 5 |
| 25.5.74 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'16" | False end @0'42" | 5 |
| 26.5.74 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'05" | Too fast like a race! | 5 |
| 27.5.74 3am | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 0'41" | + 1.23 + 2.00 triple endings'we've got to do it right you know' | 6 |
Standard for 1974 is after the line 'never caught a
rabbit' the band would go into an instrumental winding up of the song to a
Brass climax before Elvis would throw in his customary last line 'You ain't
no friend of mine'. Different with his 24.5.74 D/S version Elvis says 'we
didn't quite get it right did we?'-'want another shot?' before adding on
another 27 second ending, then again at the Final May 74' Tahoe appearance
was TWO endings to the song as Elvis claims 'we missed the son of a bitch'
didn't we? And says 'we've got to get it right-you know'. So at least in
this Lake Tahoe Season respect for doing a decent version of the song is back.
June 1974 Tour
| Date | Intro | fast | Instrumental | slow | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 16.6.74 A/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'10" | Nothing special-fast jam | 5 |
| 20.6.74 | ? | yes | @rabbit | no | ? | 'cut' to end of song fast | 5 |
| 22.6.74 A/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'20" | Too rushed really | 4 |
| 23.6.74 A/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'07" | Very fast | 5 |
| 23.6.74 E/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'07" | Pretty meaningless fast | 4 |
| 24.6.74 A/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'08" | False end Elvis say's forgot the end'-sorry | 5 |
| 24.6.74 E/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'14"? | Very average | 5 |
| 25.6.74 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'18" | Average no surprises | 5 |
| 26.6.74 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'17" | Runaway too fast | 4 |
| 27.6.74 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'08" | Fair only-quick end jam | 5 |
| 28.6.74 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'16" | 'we got lucky on the end' long chant ending | 6 |
| 29.6.74 E/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'15" | Jam - brass end-rushed. | 5 |
| 30.6.74 A/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'14" | Similar to last night. | 5 |
| 1.7.74 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'15" | Quite energetic | 7 |
| 2.7.74 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'05" | Ordinary and fast here | 6 |
Unfortunately by the time we get out on tour we get minute long too rushed and very fast versions as it's performed (as if he's expected to do it anyway) but without any real interest - except for the quality of the 'Jam' endings.
Las Vegas August - September 1974
| Date | Intro | fast | Instrumental | slow | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 19.8.74 O/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'30" | 'you all aint' fair | 6 |
| 20.8.74 D/S | brief | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'22" | Pretty throwaway | 5 |
| 20.8.74 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'25" | Great drum end | 7 |
| 21.8.74 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'25" | Too fast and furious | 6 |
| 21.8.74 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'23" | 'snooping round my door'- brief line. Average | 6 |
| 22.8.74 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'23" | Bit rushed really | 5 |
| 22.8.74 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'27" | Fast but committed here | 7 |
| 23.8.74 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'17" | Far too fast | 5 |
| 23.8.74 M/S | brief | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'25" | Really too fast | 5 |
| 24.8.74 D/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 2'15" | Fast-fun intro with J.D! | 7 |
| 24.8.74 M/S | brief | yes | @rabbit | no | 2'18" | 'that's it' intro-ok. | 7 |
| 25.8.74 D/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 3'53" | Average really | 6 |
| 25.8.74 M/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 3'15" | Fast but OK | 7 |
| 27.8.74 D/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 4'03" | Excessive talk-then raced | 5 |
| 27.8.74 M/S | brief | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'25" | Rushed+extra 0'32" end. | 5 |
| 28.8.74 D/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 3'06" | Bluesy you ain't intro / plenty talk-toofast | 5 |
| 28.8.74 M/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 2'30" | 'you just think you are' intro - but far too fast! | 5 |
| 29.8.74 D/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 2'45" | 'bluesy' you ain't,you ain't/creeping crudd intro-fast,fairly ordinary | 5 |
| 30.8.74 D/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'46" | Ridiculously fast | 4 |
| 30.8.74 M/S | 16" f.e. | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'18" | Elvis complains about Band during false start. | 4 |
| 31.8.74 D/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 2'30" | Pause at end-still rushed | 6 |
| 31.8.74 M/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'43" | Ok,'like to get serious'. | 7 |
| 1.9.74 D/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 2'22" | 'you ain't seen nothing yet'- drum ending, ok. | 8 |
| 2.9.74 D/S | yes* | yes | @rabbit | no | 3'45" | Ex intro + extra ending! | 9 |
| 2.9.74 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'20" | Pretty average version | 6 |
There are some 'disgraceful' 'throwaway' versions this season with some versions being EXTREMELY rushed and short in length (however this season HOUND DOG IS given much more respect than 'ALL SHOOK UP' that seems to get the less care of any song this season in mostly 'throwaway' versions sung just as fast as possible - as if it was a race!).For example the closing show version has NO intro dialogue from Elvis it's STRAIGHT into a 'throwaway' version (NOT quite typical of this season!). However some are ok and on the 1.9.74 D/S version Elvis shows he's heard the Backman -Turner-Overdrive song 'You ain't seen nothing yet' with a line from the song!. And says after performing a serious version of 'Softly' 'I'd like to get serious for a moment'!. By the 2nd day after he got sick and missed 2 shows on the 26th August with the 28th August show we find RE-NEWED enthusiasm discovered in the songs performance - including a very funny lead in! The 2.9.74 D/S* is another very interesting version as Elvis leads into the song saying this: "Now I'd like to get serious here for a moment, You ain't-excuse me I did a song when my voice was much higher, if I sing it straight up I'll strip my gears to my shoes. You ain't You ain't - I was on the Steve Allen show you know, then I was on the Ed Sullivan show- they put me on T.V. and filmed me from the waist up - Ed Sullivan and he said hmm 'son of a bitch'. Steve Allen I went on his show , that night I went on the Steve Allen show he out rated the Ed Sullivan show!, you know and Ed Sullivan said to Steve 'YOU RAT'! you know they have weird minds you know -he's a funny, funny man and a brilliant Genius - he got me dressed in a Tuxedo singing to a little fat dog!- not moving a mussle just singing to the little fat dog 'You ain't nothing but a hound dog. Then Elvis goes into his FAST version of the HOUND DOG here. Great that at LAST over 1 year from 'throwing' away the song, it's BACK again with superb versions!.
September - October 1974
| Date | Intro | fast | Instrumental | slow | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 27.9.74 | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 2'21" | Lots Talking/mediocre | 5 |
| 28.9.74 | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 2'18" | White trash lyric | 7 |
| 29.9.74 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'21" | Big brass ending-fair. | 6 |
| 30.9.74 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'12" | Strong. Pretty energetic. | 8 |
| 5.10.74 A/S | bluesy | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'42" | Ok version | 6 |
| 6.10.74 A/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'09" | 1'09" + 2nd 35" ending. | 5 |
| 6.10.74 E/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'16" | Brass ending average | 5 |
| 13.10.74 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'20" | Brass ending average | 5 |
HOUND DOG was getting used a lot during this tour as a 'pre-intro' song during a lot of his shorter shows. An interesting 'White Trash' lyric thrown in on 28.9.74 show and then on the 6.10.74 A/S Elvis claims he 'can't read music' and so repeats the ending again for an additional 35 seconds. Generally quite a high standard performance this tour and performed as an individual song. Performed at over half the shows.
Vegas March 1975
| Date | Intro | fast | Instrumental | slow | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 21.3.75 D/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'24" | Tease start and normal | 6 |
| 21.3.75 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'37" | Sudden crash end +30" | 5 |
| 22.3.75 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'01" | Very rushed away | 6 |
| 22.3.75 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'10" | 2nd ending@ 1'43" | 7 |
| 25.3.75 D/S | drum | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'33" | Ok-you ain't intro | 7 |
| 25.3.75 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'27" | Pretty high energy | 7 |
| 26.3.75 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'35" | Very average | 6 |
| 27.3.75 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'19" | Bit rushed really | 6 |
| 27.3.75 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'24" | Double false ending-ok. | 7 |
| 28.3.75 M/S | drum | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'33" | Mediocre but not bad | 6 |
| 28.3.75 M/S | drum | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'33" | Mediocre but not bad | 6 |
| 29.3.75 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'25" | Very fast and average. | 6 |
| 30.3.75 D/S | brief | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'45" | 'this is my Hound Dog - ok | 7 |
| 30.3.75 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'17" | 'whoh' stops song-ok. | 7 |
| 31.3.75 D/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'58" | Long + undistinguished | 6 |
| 31.3.75 M/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'10" | 'jam' end very fast. | 6 |
| 1.4.75 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'30" | Brass end notes held. | 6 |
Not really anything 'special' about HOUND DOG this season. Performed at over half the shows. A second ending again at the 22.3.75 M/S as Elvis once again claims 'I don't read music' and finishes at 1.43 the 2nd time. After 'Rabbit' it's getting to be a real band 'Jam' here with Dukes BASS and versions whilst not as good as September 74 certainly aren't as bad as the Vegas Winter 74 season. Sort of ok but nothing 'special'
April - May - June Tours 1975
| Date | Intro | fast | Instrumental | slow | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 28.4.75 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'13" | Ex STRONG start! | 8 |
| 4.5.75 E/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'17" | 'fair' version ordinary. | 6 |
| 31.5.75 E/S | brief | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'35" | Quite high enargy - good | 9 |
| 2.6.75 A/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'17" | strong 'you ain't' half way through-brassend. | 8 |
| 2.6.75 E/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'20" | Intro 'tease' chant end | 8 |
| 3.6.75 | brief | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'34" | 'feedback'start fair only | 6 |
| 4.6.75 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'23" | Quite good start. | 7 |
| 5.6.75 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'22" | Strong start - good | 8 |
| 6.6.75 | brief | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'32" | Average for this tour | 7 |
| 7.6.75 A/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'40" | Strong start but average | 7 |
| 8.6.75 A/S | brief | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'45" | Ok - fairly strong. | 7 |
| 8.6.75 E/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'22" | Average version | 6 |
| 9.6.75 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'16" | Average version | 6 |
| 10.6.75 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'21" | Very Average version | 6 |
Nice to hear a strong start to Elvis's 2.6.75 E/S version that contains that slightly hard 'gutsy' edge that marks his best versions of past 'hits' in the mid 70's versions!. Whilst the format remains the SAME as the March 75' Vegas season sometimes (especially in June). Elvis would bend over at the start of the song and give a gutsy and strong 'YOU AIN'T' at the start of the song that was just as 'fresh' as ever!.
July 1975 Tour - Las Vegas August 1975
| Date | Intro | fast | Instrumental | slow | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 9.7.75 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'13" | Ok, but fast-rushed | 6 |
| 13.7.75 A/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'01" | @rabbit VERY quickly! | 6 |
| 18.7.75 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'18" | Ok but very fast, rushed | 6 |
| 19.7.75 A/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'53" | Good intro -'you ain't heardnothingyet',butter-intro/indian howl! | 8 |
| 19.7.75 E/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'50" | Long verse but average. | 6 |
| 20.7.75 A/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'41" | Ok- high energy | 8 |
| 20.7.75 E/S | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 2'03" | Lots of dialogue - fair | 6 |
| 22.7.75 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'24" | Fast-fair version | 6 |
| 23.7.75 | yes | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'25" | 'you ain't heard nothing yet'- high energy,good. | 8 |
| 24.7.75 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'25" | 'watch the feedback' | 6 |
| 19.8.75 M/S | request | yes | @rabbit | no | 2'11" | Pause @ end with 1 line of 'are you sincere' | 7 |
| 20.8.75 D/S | request | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'50" | Extended drum end-ok. Performed after 'amen' | 6 |
For the most part versions of HOUND DOG here are ok, but emphasis seems to be on the instrumental band/orchestra ending after the last line of 'never caught a rabbit' which Elvis moves around too. Sometimes he starts quite well such as on the 23.7.75 version but mostly his energy on this song has dropped from the clear cut well sung June tour versions. Odd 1 liner of 'are you sincere' in August and these have been 'request' versions.
Las Vegas - Pontiac December 1975
| Date | Intro | fast | Instrumental | slow | R/T | Comments | /10 |
| 2.12.75 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'12" | Lot of drums butordinary. | 6 |
| 6.12.75 D/S | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'07" | Nothing special-ordinary. | 5 |
| 7.12.75 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'20" | Crash almost end@rabbit. | 5 |
| 11.12.75 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'28" | Ok, but nothing special. | 6 |
| 13.12.75 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'08" | Pretty average really. | 5 |
| 14.12.75 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'35" | Pretty boring really | 5 |
| 15.12.75 | no | yes | @rabbit | no | 1'13" | Very ordinary | 5 |
| 31.12.75 | no | yes | no | no | 1'28" | 'what do you? wannahear' | 6 |
Performed at half the shows this season could be a sort of measure that Elvis was 50% interested in performing HOUND DOG (but didn't
want to perform it at every show) The 'Pontiac' version is just really just
another 'standard' 'throwaway' version. However staff writer for the Detroit
free press Carl Arlington was incorrect saying in his January 2nd article
that Elvis only performed a 45 second version of HOUND DOG, claiming that
it's hard to teach a millionaire HOUND DOG new tricks! Elvis's version was
TWICE that length!.
