Elvis Presley - The Impossible Dream - 27 January 1971, Midnight Show - First Time Recorded Live

Like most artists Elvis would periodically change his setlist, introducing new songs or dropping others completely and more often than not these changes were made at the start of a Vegas engagement. With the obvious exceptions these changes were more subtle than radical, but from late 1975 the changes were kept to an absolute minimum and the setlist became almost rigid.
The obvious exceptions were in Jan/Feb 1970 where many new songs such as Proud Mary, Sweet Caroline, Let It Be Me, The Wonder of You, Kentucky Rain and See See Rider were introduced in order to make the show more contemporary and with the recording of a new live album in mind. The next major change came in August 1970 where filming for TTWII would taken place and this would see songs such as I Just Can't Help Believing, Bridge Over Troubled Water, I've Lost You, You Don't Have To Say You Love Me and You've Lost That Loving Feeling added to the setlist whilst others like There Goes My Everything, Just Pretend and Twenty Days and Twenty Nights would make fleeting appearances together with many of the new songs from February being dropped.
The next big change came in January 1972 with the introduction of five new songs, I'll Remember You, American Trilogy, Until It's Time For You To Go, Never Been To Spain and A Big Hunk O' Love and the setlist would remain much the same until August 1974.
August 1974 brought probably the most drastic and exciting change to the setlist with the dropping of both 2001 and See See Rider. This was replaced by Big Boss Man and the opening show included for the first time Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues, Down In The Alley, If You Love Me (Let Me Know), Softly (As I Leave You) and Let Me Be There, It's Midnight and Promised Land. This change however would not last and the changes were reversed by the next show. 2001, See See Rider and I Got A Woman were reinstated although many of the new songs would stay on the setlist and the reasons for this u-turn have been the source of debate within the Elvis community for many a year and no doubt will continue to be so.
The last major change to the setlist was during the spring and summer of 1975 where Elvis included songs from his new album - Today, such as And I Love You So, T-R-O-U-B-L-E and Fairytale and others would come and go on a show by show basis.
Throughout, however, there was always room for Elvis to squeeze in a new single or song from a new album but in January 1971 only two small changes were made to the setlist, at either ends of the show. At the start 2001 was introduced and at the end of the show Elvis would alternate between the usual Can't Help Falling in Love and a new introduction, The Impossible Dream.
This alternating ending would continue into Lake Tahoe in July and twice in Vegas in August. Elvis would sing The Impossible Dream only twice thereafter, at the Midnight show on 16 Feb 1972, presumably for the benefit of RCA who were recording for the abandonded Joan Deary project 'Standing Room Only' and of course at MSG on June 10 1972, the final time Elvis would sing it live.
Unfortunately only the first half of opening show 26 January 1971, which Elvis closed with Impossible Dream, was recorded by the engineer and with Can't Help Falling In Love closing the Dinner Show on the 27th, this from the 27th Midnight Show was the first version to be recorded.

[@germaineperry2764]

Oh my heavens that is so beautiful!

[@shaunbat3285]

Super Fantastic........ Presley is phenomenal..... The back up are also incredible.......

[@TheWincent]

Simple perfection in a one taker

[@tfs7033]

To dream the impossible dream To fight the unbeatable foe To bear the unbearable sorrow To run where the brave dare not go To write the unwritable wrong To be better far than you are To try when your arms are too weary The reach the unreachable star This is my quest, to follow that star No matter how hopeless, No matter how far To fight for the right Whithout question or pause To be willing to march into hell For a heavenly cause And I know if I'll only be true To this glorious quest That my heart will be peaceful and calm When I'm laid to my rest And the world would be better for this That one man scorned and covered with scars Still strove with his last ounce of courage To reach the unreachable star

[@maggieshome]

Lovely Elvis an jd

[@allang84]

Stunning :D

[@tfs7033]

This is superb! Could you do your magic Leon and get this to be your next Live Series Comparison Series?

[@TheUltimateElvisChannelbyLeon]

This week's is already done but look for it next Saturday!!

[@tfs7033]

@@TheUltimateElvisChannelbyLeon thank you. I’m not sure how old you are Leon, but I’m 19. So, all my life I’ve lived with the knowledge of smoking damages your lungs. Then I hear people like, Elvis, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. And with them constantly smoking or being in the same room as smokers - how did they still have fantastic lung capacity? It just amazes me, when I hear Elvis hitting those high notes, and never needed to cough or shortness of breath.

[@precupromulus]

Aloha.Sorry the first time siging Imposible dream in 28 january 1971.Elvis is the king forever.

[@plentyofsalmonellasir425]

J'pense qu'il chante c'te morceau avant cette date m'en dire d'la oui j'pense ben qu'oui. Haiti bou toujou.

[@derickdefreest]

What was performed between “Hound Dog” and “The Impossible Dream”?

[@TheUltimateElvisChannelbyLeon]

There is no definitive account Derick, the only song that could be considered a certainty is Suspicious Minds. The set lists from the others shows in this engagement suggest that. However, other then that sometimes he would throw in one or two oldies or none - so that's why we can't be sure with no available audio.

[@alyssarosales04]

what album can this be found on

[@robertkraft9442]

🌏🏆👍😎🎊🔮✌. Take Care out There to ALL. Robert Kraft 33.3×3