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Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite (1973)

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Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite (1973)

Album Overview

Released on February 4, 1973, Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite captured Elvis Presley's historic concert at the Honolulu International Center Arena on January 14, 1973. The concert was broadcast live via Globecam satellite to countries across Asia, Oceania, and Europe, reaching an estimated audience of over one billion viewers. It was the first entertainment special to be broadcast globally via satellite and became one of the best-selling albums of Elvis's career.

Recording Information

  • Artist: Elvis Presley
  • Released: February 4, 1973
  • Label: RCA Victor (VPSX-6089)
  • Producer: Joan Deary (album), Marty Pasetta (television special)
  • Recorded: January 14, 1973 (Honolulu International Center Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii)
  • Genre: Rock, pop, country, gospel (live)

Track Listing

Disc One

  1. "Also sprach Zarathustra" (Introduction/Theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey)
  2. "See See Rider"
  3. "Burning Love"
  4. "Something"
  5. "You Gave Me a Mountain"
  6. "Steamroller Blues"
  7. "My Way"
  8. "Love Me"
  9. "Johnny B. Goode"
  10. "It's Over"
  11. "Blue Suede Shoes"
  12. "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"
  13. "I Can't Stop Loving You"

Disc Two

  1. "Hound Dog"
  2. "What Now My Love"
  3. "Fever"
  4. "Welcome to My World"
  5. "Suspicious Minds"
  6. "I'll Remember You" (a Hawaiian-associated song by Kui Lee)
  7. "Long Tall Sally" / "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" (medley)
  8. "An American Trilogy"
  9. "A Big Hunk o' Love"
  10. "Can't Help Falling in Love"

Background

The concept for Aloha from Hawaii came from producer/director Marty Pasetta and promoter Tom Hulett. Colonel Parker enthusiastically embraced the idea of a worldwide satellite broadcast, understanding its unprecedented promotional value. The show was to be beamed live to Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and other Asian and Pacific nations, with a delayed broadcast to Europe later.

Elvis took the event seriously, dieting rigorously in the weeks before the broadcast to ensure he looked his best. He lost approximately 25 pounds for the occasion. He wore a specially designed white jumpsuit adorned with an eagle motif (the "American Eagle" suit), created by designer Bill Belew, which became one of his most iconic costumes.

The Concert

The concert took place before an audience of 6,000 at the Honolulu International Center Arena. A rehearsal concert the previous night (January 12) was also filmed as backup material. The show raised over $75,000 for the Kui Lee Cancer Fund, a Hawaiian charity.

Elvis delivered a powerful, energetic performance, clearly motivated by the historic nature of the broadcast. He performed a carefully chosen setlist that balanced his classic hits with contemporary material and showcased the full range of his vocal and performative abilities. The show ran approximately 60 minutes for the broadcast, with additional songs performed after the satellite feed ended.

At the conclusion of "An American Trilogy," Elvis removed his jewel-encrusted cape and hurled it into the audience — a dramatic gesture that became one of the iconic moments of the broadcast.

Chart Performance

The double album reached number one on the Billboard pop albums chart, spending one week at the top. It also reached number one in Japan and charted highly across Europe and Australia. The album was certified Gold and eventually Platinum by the RIAA. It sold over five million copies worldwide.

Television Broadcast

The satellite broadcast reached an estimated 1 to 1.5 billion viewers across approximately 40 countries. In the United States, the special was broadcast on NBC on April 4, 1973 (delayed from the live Asian broadcast), where it earned a 57 percent share of the viewing audience — the highest-rated program of the year.

Significance

Aloha from Hawaii was significant on multiple levels:

  • It was the first globally satellite-broadcast entertainment event, pioneering a format that would become standard for major concerts and events
  • It demonstrated Elvis's worldwide appeal and drawing power
  • It captured Elvis in excellent form — lean, focused, and vocally strong
  • It generated more viewers than the Apollo moon landings, according to some estimates
  • It proved that Elvis remained the biggest live draw in entertainment

Legacy

The Aloha from Hawaii broadcast remains a landmark in television and music history. The album and its associated footage capture Elvis at one of his final peaks as a performer — the combination of his vocal power, charismatic stage presence, and spectacular visual presentation make it one of the definitive documents of Elvis as a live artist. It has been reissued and remastered multiple times, most recently in expanded editions that include material from the rehearsal concert.