Click play at right to hear a sample of the audio.
Offered is an original 1973 RCA reference recording (two-sided) acetate likely put together anticipating the RCA album Mahalo, though the album wouldn't be released for five more years. There are handwritten blue ink notations on both sides. One side reads “33 1/3 / Misc C-0144A-1 / Elvis Presley / 10/9/73” and the other reads “33 1/3 / Misc C-0144B-2 / Elvis Presley / 10/9/73.”
The songs on Side One, which were recorded after the Aloha concert, include "Blue Hawaii" (record skips repeatedly on just this song), "Early Morning Rain," "Hawaiin Wedding Song," "KU-U-I-PO," "No More." This is the final track listing and sequence from Side One of the eventual album Mahalo. The songs on Side Two had all been released on various Elvis movie soundtracks, though not all of the tracks on this acetate made it onto Mahalo. The songs include "Relax" (from It Happened at the World's Fair soundrack), "Baby, If You'll Give Me All of Your Love" (from Double Trouble soudntrack), "Beach Shack" (from Spinout soundtrack, NOT ON MAHALO), "The Girl I Never Loved" (from Clambake soundtrack, NOT ON MAHALO), "Happy Ending" (from It Happened at the World's Fair soundtrack).
The acetate comes with a copy of a letter, dated 4/25/2010, from Richard Panasuk on RCA Victor/RCA Camden album deals stationery, which states, “This letter is being written to authenticate the record labeled as ‘Reference Recording’ as being from the RCA studios and recorded by Elvis Presley. I worked at RCA Recording studios in New York City during the 1970s where it was acquired at that time. It has now been in my possession from that time until I passed it on to my son Alfred Panasuk who now has ownership of the record.” It also comes with a letter from Alfred Panasuk which recounts the story of the acquisition by his father in detail and states in part, “This two-sided Acetate Reference Recording is labeled ‘Misc.’ C-0144A-1 and C-0144B-2. Dated 10/9/73 signed JA. Its collection of songs is unknown to me at this time.” The acetate is in its original Transco paper sleeve with additional sleeve and measures 11 7/8 inches (11.16 cm) in diameter. Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Graceland Authenticated. The acetate is in very good, used condition overall with a scratch and chip to the A side and normal wear and discoloration expected with age on the sleeves.