Elvis' Voice

I've heard people say that although Elvis was in bad health mid 70's onwards, that he still had his voice.
Whilst i agree with this to an extent (is that how you spell that) i do think Elvis lost his tone and i believe this started around 72.
I'm listening to him as we speak on the computer and i have it on shuffle. There's an album called one night in Alabama, i think this is from around 76. The version of Mystery train/Tiger man, his voice is just so weak, it's like he lost the bottom end of his voice. Yes he still had a powerful voice but the ballsy part of his voice had completely gone.
Is this simply just due to bad health?? as i said, i think it started at around 72, was eveident in the Aloha from Hawaii and even more so from 74 onwards.
Would just like to hear other peoples thoughts on this

You know Ricky I think his voice did change from the mid to late 70's. Im not into vocals and dont know vocal ranges etc but for me I feel there was a real difference. I have also noticed that if you listen carefully on some of the songs where you think his voice carries on it doesnt it is the backing singers or on other bits its Charlie Hodge or even JD. Lol!
Now there is nothing wrong with that but I guess he needed the extra help as time went on and I think it was down to poor health. I mean he dragged himself on stage when he felt like hell, and when you feel that bad how are you supposed to belt songs out?
I do really enjoy his late stuff, esp his last two albums 'I really dont want to know' gives me goose bumps, when its on in the car we have to put it on 2 or 3 times whilst singing at the top of our voices.
Whether that part of his voice would have came back if he had recoperated - Im not sure

Yes your spot on Lorna, he did need help with some of the big endings. My favourite period is 1970, for me his voice was just awesome, it just astounds me the difference in his voice in just a few years and it can only be put down to his ill health, cos a voice like that just don't go. If you listen to The Elvis in Memphis album, his voice is actually close to what it was in 1970 and this is some 4, 5 years later, so either he was just having a good day or maybe at this time, like many he'd managed to get himself into tip top shape.
I agree with you, i love his last two albums, but it pains to me hear him sing the Tom Jones song "I'll never fall in love" it's not a patch on Tom's version. if Elvis had recorded this say in 1970 he would have blew Tom's version away as he did with most covers!!!

i love the shot of him sat at the piano belting out unchained melody ,overwhieght in terrible heath but still did the biz true showman till the bitter end,, gives me the goosebumps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dave dynamite

dave dynamite wrote:

i love the shot of him sat at the piano belting out unchained melody ,overwhieght in terrible heath but still did the biz true showman till the bitter end,, gives me the goosebumps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dave dynamite

I love that too Dave but does make me cry too, to see him look so frail. He would hate that, I know, but I guess no matter what era of Elvis you look at, he was captivating in all of them

He certainly was!!!

dave dynamite wrote:

i love the shot of him sat at the piano belting out unchained melody ,overwhieght in terrible heath but still did the biz true showman till the bitter end,, gives me the goosebumps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dave dynamite

Even though its an incredible performance, it would have been so much better if Elvis was in great physical health.

sean it makes you wonder how he was let to get in this state,you hear all the stories
could the man be told ,were people close to him at the time too scared to tell him did,nt wanna shoot the golden goose and all that ........i dont no ???
if he had of lived would he just faded away and retired to florida.....
would these boards exist today if he had.
what changes a man into a legend.????????????????
sorry guys bit heavy for a sunday norm al service will resume shortly
dave dynamite...................................................................................

Elvis was a Legend before he died!!!!