Live Jam: Elvis Presley Rings in 1977 With One of the Greatest Concerts of His Final Era

Tonight on Friday Night Lights Radio — 9PM EST

Every Friday night, Live Jam opens the vault and turns the dial back to the moments when music was more than sound — it was history happening in real time. And this week’s Live Release is nothing short of legendary.

Tonight, beginning at 9PM EST on Friday Night Lights Radio, we present Elvis Presley’s complete New Year’s Eve concert from December 31, 1976, performed at Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena — a concert that has become widely regarded as one of the strongest, most emotionally powerful performances of Elvis’ final years.

This is not a compilation.
This is not a studio recreation.
This is every note, every breath, every roar of the crowd — live and unfiltered.

The Night Elvis Took Back the Crown

By late 1976, rumors about Elvis’ health and career trajectory were everywhere. Yet on this cold New Year’s Eve in Pittsburgh, none of that mattered. What mattered was what happened when the house lights dimmed and the King stepped into the spotlight.

At approximately 11:25 p.m., Elvis emerged in his striking Black Phoenix jumpsuit, immediately commanding a sold-out crowd of 16,409 fans. From the first downbeat, it was clear — this would not be a farewell tour atmosphere. It would be a victory lap.

Elvis was animated, smiling, physically engaged, vocally strong, and completely in control of the room.

He wasn’t surviving the show.
He was owning it.

Midnight With the King

As the clock crept toward midnight, the arena buzzed with anticipation. Then came a moment now etched into rock and roll folklore.

When the clock struck 12:00 AM, Elvis stopped the show and led the entire Civic Arena in a full-voice rendition of “Auld Lang Syne,” ushering in 1977 with more than sixteen thousand voices singing in unison.

It was a communal celebration — fans, band, and the King himself welcoming a new year together in real time.

A moment no studio recording could ever recreate.

Vocals That Defied Expectations

Those in attendance — and those who’ve studied the tapes ever since — have long agreed:
Elvis sounded exceptional.

His lower register was deep and resonant. His phrasing was precise. He leaned into physically demanding passages that many believed were beyond him by that point in his career.

He wasn’t simply revisiting his catalog — he was reclaiming it.

Rare Songs That Make This Concert Historic

This New Year’s Eve show isn’t remembered just for its emotion — it’s remembered because Elvis took chances, reaching deep into his musical vault for songs he rarely, if ever, performed live.

Songs that define the night:

• “Rags to Riches” —
  The only time Elvis ever performed this song live onstage. A once-in-a-lifetime moment captured forever.

• “Unchained Melody” —
  Performed at the piano, and dedicated to his father, his daughter Lisa Marie, and his fiancée Ginger Alden — a breathtaking emotional centerpiece of the night.

• “Reconsider Baby” —
  A blues standard seldom heard in his 1970s concerts, delivered with raw power.

• “Trying to Get to You”

• “Hurt”

• “My Way”

Each performance revealed a King still deeply connected to his roots, his voice, and his audience.

Personal, Playful, and Completely Elvis

Elvis wasn’t distant — he was present.

He joked with fans.
He took requests.
He accepted dozens of gifts.
He even gave out 42 scarves throughout the night — a nod to his upcoming 42nd birthday.

In a heartfelt moment, he introduced Ginger Alden and Lisa Marie Presley to the audience, reminding everyone that behind the legend was a proud father and devoted partner.

The Final New Year’s Eve

Tragically, this would become Elvis Presley’s final New Year’s Eve performance.
Less than eight months later, in August 1977, the world would lose him.

But on this night — in this arena — Elvis was alive, commanding, passionate, and unforgettable.

The concert has since been officially preserved by the Follow That Dream (FTD) label as a special 2-CD release titled “New Year’s Eve.” While sourced from an audience recording, its energy and authenticity make it one of the most treasured documents of Elvis’ later career.

Tonight on Friday Night Lights Radio

Live Jam presents this historic performance in its entirety — no cuts, no edits, no interruptions.

📻 Friday Night Lights Radio
🕘 Tonight at 9PM EST
🎶 Live Jam: Elvis Presley — New Year’s Eve 1976 (Complete Concert)

If you’ve ever wanted to hear Elvis not as a memory — but as a moment — this is your night.

Turn the lights down.
Turn the volume up.
And step into a New Year’s Eve that changed rock and roll forever.