Elvis Presley's third and final television special was the most-watched program in the U.S. when it was broadcast, seven weeks and six days after his death. CBS rebroadcast it in spring 1978, and it hasn't been shown since. It is his only special that remains unavailable on home video.
The official soundtrack, released by RCA as a two record set to coincide with the CBS broadcast and containing additional songs that did not make the final video edit, went platinum within two weeks.
The singer's father, Vernon Presley, appeared briefly at the end of the program to thank fans who sent condolence letters and cards after Elvis' death.
The telecast was mostly an edited version of two concert performances from Elvis' final tour. "My Way" was performed on a 3rd concert date on this tour. It became a best selling single following his death and was added as the last number before "Can't Help Falling In Love".
Although initially marketed as Elvis' final performance, the performances televised for the TV special were on June 19th and 21st, 1977. His real final performance was on June 26th, at Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, to a sold out audience of 18,000. The only recording of that show is an audience-recorded bootleg. It was widely recognized as one of the better performances of Elvis' later career.
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