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Welcome to the "Elvis Information Network", home to the best news, reviews, interviews, Elvis photos & in-depth articles about the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Aaron Presley...
The latest on www.ElvisInfoNet.com:
Allan Weiss, Elvis scriptwriter, Dies aged 90: Screenwriter Allan Weiss, who was on hand to witness Elvis Presley's first Hollywood screen test and worked on six of Presley's movies in the 1960s, died last Thursday aged 90.
He was there in 1956 for the singer's first Hollywood screen test and later penned 'The Sons of Katie Elder.'
Weiss provided the story for Presley's Blue Hawaii (1961) and wrote or co-wrote the screenplays for the films Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962), Fun in Acapulco (1963), Roustabout (1964), Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966) and Easy Come, Easy Go (1967).
Weiss once noted that to write a screenplay for an Elvis movie, "You had to make room for 12 songs, and they had to be integrated." He and Anthony Lawrence's script for Roustabout was nominated for a WGA award for best movie musical that year, losing out to Mary Poppins.
Weiss received credit for just one other screenplay during his career, The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), the Henry Hathaway-directed film that starred John Wayne and Dean Martin.
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Weiss was an associate of producer Hal Wallis, whose credits included The Maltese Falcon (1941), Casablanca (1942) and multiple Elvis films. Weiss was present when Hal Wallis made Presley's screen test in March 1956.
Weiss noted, "No one had any expectations; Presley was such a strange, quiet fellow, so completely foreign, but he sang and read a scene from The Rainmaker and answered questions asked from off-screen and it was phenomenal. It was an amazing experience to be there, one of those life-changing experiences."
A native of Sharon, Pa., Harry "Allan" Weiss served in the U.S. Army, later he graduated from UCLA and worked as a sound engineer and in journalism.
Weiss' partner, producer Paul Nathan, who also worked alongside Wallis, died in 1977. The two are buried near each other at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
(News, Source;HollywoodNews/ElvisInfoNet) |
'Platinum: A Life In Music' Re-Release OUT NOW: Sony UK has re-released the classic 4-Cd set 'Platinum: A Life In Music'- in a small-book format twenty years after its first release in 1997.
The set chronicles the outstanding career of Elvis Presley (1954 to 1977) from a unique perspective and it includes 100 performances, 77 of which were previously unreleased in 1997. This historic overview traces his development as an artist and emphasizes how Elvis' music always returned to its unshakable core values. This 4-CD box set contains a 48-page book and consists mostly of previously unreleased alternate takes of Elvis Presley's hits.
There is no info on whether this 20th anniversary release includes audio upgrades of all the "77 were previously unreleased takes" which have since been remastered.
The publicity notes, "You probably think you've heard all there is to hear from The King, what with countless Elvis retrospectives, anthologies, and reissues flooding the market. While PLATINUM is far from the first Elvis boxset, it's unique in that it's composed largely of previously unreleased material. Four discs cover every phase of Presley's career, from young Memphis hip-shaker to the Las Vegas era, adding a fresh perspective to each period.
It's both an education and a kick to hear alternate versions of songs as ingrained in the public consciousness as 'That's All Right', and others from Elvis' legendary Sun sessions."
Only £18.53 & FREE UK Delivery on Amazon UK orders (see below)
(News, Source;Sony/Amazon/ElvisInfoNet)
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Official Elvis CD Box-sets at bargain prices through Amazon UK |
Nashville ELVIS Festival Kicks off Today: Elvis Presley fans from around the world are gathering in Nashville for the inaugural Nashville Elvis Festival, starting today and running March 30-April 2, 2017.
The historic Franklin Theatre is serving as the host venue, with additional events taking place at Paragon Studios and GRAYS on Main - all just south of downtown Nashville.
The 4-day festival will be filled with celebrity appearances, live music performances and on-stage interviews with Elvis Presley's friends and band members.
The festival will also include an Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist contest with contestants from worldwide.
Two special VIP events will feature live recreations of portions of the "'68 Comeback Special" and an Elvis recording session inside one of Music City's top recording studios.
The list of Special Guests scheduled to Appear Include:
Jerry Schilling - Elvis' friend, "Memphis Mafia" member
Brenda Lee - Friend of Elvis; iconic female vocalist
T.G. Sheppard - Close friend of Elvis; Chart-topping artist
Wink Martindale - Friend of Elvis; Legendary TV personality
Sandy Martindale - Elvis' former girlfriend; Dancerin Elvis movies
D.J. Fontana - Elvis' drummer
Donnie Sumner - lead vocalist of JD Sumner & The Stamps
Norbert Putnam - Bass man - Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
Armond Morales - Member of The Imperials (below)
Joanne Cash - Legendary Gospel artist and the younger sister of Johnny Cash
Mary Sarah - One of Country music's top new artists, as seen on NBC's "The Voice"
Brian Oxley - Music history buff who recently saved Col. Tom Parker's home & office
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Gina Keltner - Senior Talent Manager at the Grand Ole Opry
Jeff Lewis - Award-winning Elvis Tribute Artist, songwriter, and emcee
Bill Cherry - 2009 Ultimate ETA Champion; Co-star of Elvis Lives Tour
Jay Dupuis - 2014 Ultimate ETA Champion; Co-star of Elvis Lives Tour
Dean Z - 2013 Ultimate ETA Champion; Co-star of Elvis Lives Tour
Nashville Elvis Festival is produced by Music City Festivals, LLC - founded by Nashville entertainment publicist Brian Mayes and Tom Brown, former Vice President of Original Production for Turner Classic Movies (TCM), longtime host of select Elvis Week events and one of the hosts of the Gates of Graceland web series. Brown will also serve as the host for all Nashville Elvis Festival events.
For tickets and Event schedule information, visit the official website at http://www.NashvilleElvisFestival.com.
(News, Source;NashvillePRWeb/ElvisInfoNet) |
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'Elvis: One Night In Toronto': OUT NOW: Paul Sweeney is a name that you often see in the credits of quality Elvis photo-books and is the main author behind the new book 'Elvis Presley In Person 'One Night In Toronto' April 2 - 1957' - OUT now. The book is a historical document for the 60th Anniversary featuring interviews, backstage stories, private moments, hundreds of never before published photos and with the images taken from original negatives.
The book has arrived in Toronto and author Paul Sweeney told EIN that he feels "like a proud Father"!
Elvis fans have recently contacted EIN wanting to know more about the up-coming book - especially as there has been some odd negative publicity from another publisher - and Paul Sweeney kindly agreed to answers some of our questions and to clarify a few issues.
Go here to EIN's interview with Paul Sweeney plus some great sneak-peak Elvis photos from the book
(Interviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
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Tom Jones Denies Priscilla Relationship: The story about Tom Jones & Priscilla getting together has been doing the rounds in the tabloids. Needless to say the story is another beat-up started by the media seeing two 70+year-olds having dinner together.
This week Tom Jones insisted tying the knot again is “the last thing” on his mind because he is still getting over the death of his wife last year, who he was married to for nearly 60 years.
Sir Tom previously said Elvis “wouldn’t be too sure” about his relationship with Priscilla, who he has grown close to since Linda’s death and while addressing rumours that they are dating for the first time, the Welsh singer has admitted he’s unsure how the late King of Rock ‘n’ Roll would feel about them having dinner and hanging out together.
Jones said: “I really don’t know how Elvis would feel about us having dinner together – he probably wouldn’t be too sure.
But Elvis was a great man. It’s nice to know that |
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Priscilla and I are still in touch after all this time.”
He revealed that the pair bonded over his song ‘Elvis Presley Blues’ from his 2005 album ‘Long Lost Suitcase’, but that they don’t spend much time talking about music.
“Musically, that’s about as much as we talk about. But she’s been a friend of mine since 1968 when I first met her with Elvis.”
Explaining their relationship, he added: “We were friends so we’ve kept in touch. We’ve been in each other’s lives for years and she is one of a bunch of people that I know in Los Angeles and we do hang out.”
(News, Source;SM/ElvisInfoNet) |
Actor Vanessa Hudgens Elvis fashion statement: Vanessa Hudgens who rose to fame playing Gabriella Montez in the 'High School Musical' series was photographed this week in LA wearing ELVIS fashion. She has continued her mainstream success and her relationship with co-star Zac Efron was heavily publicized and in the US is a household name. She has since appeared in films Sucker Punch, Spring Breakers and Machete Kills and also played the role of Rizzo in 'Grease: Live' in 2016.
Great to see such young talent sporting a trendy hoodie with a graphic of rock n roll legend Elvis Presley's eyes.
The 28-year-old actress looked relaxed and comfortable as she shopped around Los Angeles in her super casual Elvis get-up.
The Salinas-born beauty looked ready for a workout in her pink hoodie and black leggings with a grey stripes.
Vanessa kept her dark raven hair pulled up in a tight ponytail and framed her face with tortoise shell sunglasses.
Once again Elvis' stunning image passes on to the next generation.
(News, Source;SM/ElvisInfoNet) |
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'A Brand New Cadillac, Honey!' New Import: Straight Arrow is pleased to bring you a new double CD dedicated to Elvis' April ’76 tour. It was short but very good tour, with Tony Brown and Ronnie Tutt replacing Shane Kiester on piano and Larrie Londin on drums.
The Long Beach, April 25th, 1976 afternoon show is previously unreleased. The Seattle, April 26th, 1976 show was first released by Millbranch Music in 2010 from a rather poor sounding tape source.
Straight Arrow was fortunate enough to obtain recently recovered 1st generation copies of the original audience-recorded cassettes, which were not in circulation previously. Both shows were recorded by the same person. These enjoyable concerts were never before available in good sound quality… until now! Ask your dealer for sound samples.
As usual, this new release will be presented in a beautiful 4-panel digipak that includes photos taken in Long Beach (2:30 pm) and Seattle and newspaper reviews of both concerts. Again - it’s new STRAIGHT ARROW so you know what to expect!
Go to 'All The CD News 2017' for full details and tracklistings
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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'Got Me Workin' Boss Man - 40 Years After Vol. 1' New Import: Yet another Straight Arrow release, this time dedicated to Elvis' May ’77 tour. The Macon, June 1st, 1977 show is previously unreleased. This recording was taken directly from a recently found 1st generation copy of an audience-recorded mastertape. This historic concert was never before available in decent sound quality… until now! Ask your dealer for sound samples. Compared with an average show in Baton Rouge, May 31st, Macon concert is surprisingly good. 'Fairytale', 'My Way' and 'And I Love You So' are performed really well but one highlight stands out, rocking performance of 'Big Boss Man' at the end of show. As usual, this new release will be presented in a beautiful 3-panel digipak that includes photos taken in Macon and a newspaper review. If you liked our other May 1977 release “Too Late For Goodbyes” (SA/SP 2016-42-02), we'll bet that you will also love this one.
Go to 'All The CD News 2017' for full details and tracklistings
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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Latest US Billboard Charts & Spotify : Sadly Elvis has no albums on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart for Week of 8th April, 2017.
- 'The Wonder Of You' rises from 8 to 7 on the Classical Albums Chart
- 'If I Can Dream' rises from 18 to 15 on the Classical Albums Chart
- 'Elvis: Ultimate Gospel' rises from 8 to 7 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart and rises from 30 to 26 on the Top Christian Albums Chart
- 'Heart And Soul' is a re-entry at 23 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart.
Billboard and Spotify are also teaming to present three new Spotify-driven charts published weekly on Billboard.com. The Viral 50 will feature songs with the greatest volume of social and sharing activity; the 30-track Velocity Chart covers songs that are growing rapidly on Spotify; and the Spotify Rewind tally will highlight five songs for each decade from the 1960s through the 2000s, ranked by popularity and relative weekly revival. In addition, those who visit Billboard's site will be able to hear 30-second snippets of each song on every chart, with the option to stream tunes in their entirety on Spotify's service:
- 'Pocketful Of Rainbows' - a new entry at 5 on the Spotify 60's Rewind Chart
(News, Source;BrianQuinn/ElvisInfoNet) |
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'Elvis On Television 1956-1960' MRS Special Double Vinyl: Memphis Recording Service will release an exclusive limited edition Record Store Day release for 2017. Under RSD rules any leftover copies (the week after April 22nd) can then be purchased through local Elvis dealers.
'Elvis On Television 1956-1960: The Complete Sound Recordings', 2LP 180 gram with 24-page gatefold photo album. MRS Record Store Day 2017 release.
This Limited Edition 180 gram double-album set contains for the first time ever, the complete archival sound recordings of all of Elvis Presleys television appearances from 1956 – 1960.
All the 40 tracks herein are restored re-mastered using the most sophisticated technology.
The bonus 24-page gatefold photo album contains many rare photographs with listings of Elvis TV appearance dates.
Go here to EIN's review of the 'Elvis On Television 1956-1960' book/CD release.
Go to All The CD News 2017 for full details and tracklistings
(News, Source;MRS/ElvisInfoNet) |
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Elvis, Bob Dylan, George Harrison session?: In a recent interview Bob Dylan opened up about his music and songwriting and discussed his relationships with Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and others in a rare and lengthy interview.
The interview included Dylan recalling Sinatra telling him, “‘You and me, pal, we got blue eyes, we’re from up there … These other bums are from down here.’”
“I remember thinking that he might be right,” added Dylan, who last year was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature, but did not show up to accept the award.
Of the many superstars who died last year, including Muhammad Ali and Merle Haggard, Dylan said in the interview the deaths hit him hard. “We were like brothers, we lived on the same street and they all left empty spaces where they used to stand. It’s lonesome without them,” he said.
When asked about why Presley didn’t show up for a recording session with Dylan and George Harrison, he replied: “He did show up – it was us that didn’t.”
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| EIN notes Dylan, who often plays games with journalists is telling a ludicrous story. As IF Elvis showed up at a planned recording session and Bob Dylan did not!
While Dylan has always acknowledged Elvis as a hero, noting that first hearing Elvis was like "busting out of jail." Upon Elvis' death Dylan said, "It was so sad. I had a breakdown! I broke down. One of the very few times I went over my whole life. I went over my whole childhood. I didn't talk to anyone for a week after Elvis died. If it wasn't for Elvis and Hank Williams, I couldn't be doing what I do today."
However at no point was a recording session ever planned with Elvis, Bob Dylan and George Harrison working together. Rolling Stone however is posting the news as genuine.
(News, Source;RS/ElvisInfoNet) |
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Cyrus Chestnut performs Elvis Jazz: One would hardly think of Elvis Presley as a jazz artist. However jazz does feed off bluesy roots, and jazz’s offshoots do take in gospel, and Presley definitely came from that musical-spiritual sphere. Cyrus Chestnut certainly gets that, as exemplified by his 2007 album Cyrus Plays Elvis. The 54-year-old American jazz pianist will be in Israel from March 26 to April 1 to perform six gigs around the country as part of the Hot Jazz series.
“Elvis was a great lover of gospel music, a lot of people don’t know that,” notes Chestnut. “I believe he recorded an album of gospel songs.”
He did indeed. Take, for example, Presley’s 1967 release How Great Thou Art, which features an enticing mix of church material with some rock-oriented seasoning. The title track of the album also found its way onto Cyrus Plays Elvis. Other Chestnut readings of Presley’s work include such hits as “Love Me Tender,” “Hound Dog” and “In the Ghetto.”
“There was common ground and a lot of people were asking why I was doing jazz interpretations of the music of Elvis Presley,” says Chestnut, “but I was able to connect to it.”
The pianist certainly had the right upbringing. His father was a church
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pianist and still does the odd turn on the ivories, and his mother put in many a stint as a church choir director. While as a lad Chestnut spent a generous amount of time in church, imbibing spiritually uplifting sounds and ambience, he also caught some of the commercial vibes of the day.
"All those styles are always hovering,” he says. “One never knows what might surface.”
That surely is a boon for any artist who plies his skills through a fundamentally improvisatory creative sector and for his audiences, too. The King would, no doubt, have approved.
Go here for his Israel tour details(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
Elvis Helps Cure Demetia: An Australian hospital has found a little less conversation, and a little more music helps treat dementia patients. John "Sean" O'Malley would often get "angry, distressed and agitated" due to his dementia when he first arrived at Blacktown Hospital in northwest Sydney.
In an effort to help him become happier and more social while in care, he was put him on the music and memory programme, where the patient is given a personalised playlist.
"We decided to play some Elvis songs for him, as part of our programme," said Western Sydney Health. Much to his and his family's delight, the tunes worked wonders and Mr O'Malley danced around the ward, listening to the hits of Elvis Presley through headphones.
"His whole behaviour has changed, so for us at home, we haven't been so worried about how he's going here at hospital," his family. We know that this music has brought a lot of happiness while he's been here ... and he's been dancing around the ward since it's been happening."
Mr O'Malley says that he can't get enough Elvis. “I live, love, eat and breathe Elvis - I just love him,’’ he said.
(News, Source;NP/ElvisInfoNet) |
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Latest US Billboard Charts: Sadly Elvis has no albums on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart for Week of 1st April, 2017.
- 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 5 to 8 on the Classical Albums Chart
- 'If I Can Dream' drops from 15 to 18 on the Classical Albums Chart
- 'Elvis: Ultimate Gospel' drops from 5 to 8 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart; remains at 30 on the Top Christian Albums Chart and remains at 32 on the Top Christian And Gospel Albums Chart
(News, Source;BrianQuinn/ElvisInfoNet)
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'The Wonder Of You' Elvis RPO UK Tour 2017: Following the sellout British arena tour last year and the No.1 multi-platinum album The Wonder Of You, Elvis Presley returns to the UK for a live concert experience like no other backed by the legendary Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.
The six date UK arena tour kicks off in Glasgow at the SSE Hydro on November 23rd, taking in Leeds First Direct Arena (24th), Newcastle First Direct Arena (25th), Birmingham Genting Arena (27th), Manchester Arena (28th), with the finale at London's O2 Arena on November 30th.
Last year's run gained critical applause including, the Lancashire Telegraph's "By the end, the show left no-one in any doubt. Elvis is and always will be the king of rock and roll - and so much more besides".
Featuring a special personal appearance by Priscilla Presley, the shows will once again give fans a chance to experience the man who changed the course of popular music. |
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If I Can Dream and The Wonder Of You (Elvis' 13th No.1 album in the UK!) were produced by Don Reedman, Priscilla Presley and EPE. Priscilla Presley will be also be making a very special appearance at the arena shows.
These shows will be a musical celebration of the legend for whom superlatives weren't enough and who continues to break records.
Go here to EIN's exclusive review of the Elvis / RPO 2016 London Concert
Tour Dates: - ON SALE NOW - click here for tickets
November 23 Glasgow SSE Hydro
November 24 Leeds First Direct Arena
November 25 Newcastle First Direct Arena
November 27 Birmingham Genting Arena
November 28 Manchester Arena
November 30 London O2 Arena
(News, Source;BQuinn/ElvisInfoNet) |
Elvis Pistols for Auction: Two of Elvis' lavish revolvers are up for grabs at a May firearms auction hosted by Rock Island Auction Company. They are accompanied by several items personally owned by the legendary performer such as a diamond and ruby studded Shelby County sheriff's badge, the Elvis-signed contract to purchase Graceland, and numerous personal documents also signed by Presley. The King himself purchased the revolvers in 1970 before sending them to Germany to be elaborately decorated. One was presented to Vice President Spiro Agnew as a gift but was returned a short time later while Agnew was being investigated for corruption.
The pre-auction estimate for one revolver seen being held by Elvis in a period photograph is $160,000 - 275,000.
Elvis Presley's revolvers & gem-studded badge will be sold at Rock Island Auction Company's May firearms auction. Also being sold is the original sales contract for Graceland, as well as numerous, signed personal documents of the legendary performer.
The sale will take place May 5 - 7, 2017.
Click here to Rock Island Auction for more.
(News, Source;SM/ElvisInfoNet)
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Elton John's 'sad' meeting with Elvis: A new book about Elton John is, of course, being promoted using Elton John's story about meeting Elvis. Yet again this shows the power of Elvis' legacy.
... An audience with the king of rock 'n' roll was something that most baby-boomer musicians could only dream about. But when Elton John finally got his chance to meet Elvis Presley, he found the experience to be more nightmarish.
John (who grew up miming to Elvis records in his bedroom) got the chance to meet his idol in June 1976 at the height of his US success.
As he recalls in the new book "Captain Fantastic" (based on hours of new interviews with the singer), John took his mother, Sheila, to a concert in Washington, DC. But the Elvis of his youth had long left the building.
"It was sad," Elton notes, recalling Presley's bloated and drugged state. The two met backstage prior to the show, and engaged in awkward chitchat. John requested "Heartbreak Hotel," but Presley was unable to deviate from the rehearsed set and couldn't perform the epochal 1956 single. "Elton looked into the eyes of the King and felt there was 'nothing there,'" Doyle writes.
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EIN Notes that Elvis DID actually perform 'Heartbreak Hotel' at Elton John's concert. This article seems to be the usual sensationalistic publicity grab.
John and his mom were then escorted to their seats, and they watched with equal parts horror and admiration. "It was someone who was in a complete drug haze giving nylon scarves away to these fans," John recalls. "And yet it was still, in a way, magical."
Sheila, however, wasn't quite as dazzled by this fading star. As soon as the show was over, she predicted Presley would be dead in six months. "Well," John reflects in the book, "it was a year."
(News, Source;SM/ElvisInfoNet) |
How Can Lisa Marie Have Financial Problems?: An article posted by Celebrity Net-worth has raised some good questions about Lisa Marie's supposed financial problems.
In 1979 Lisa Marie, 12-years-old, became the sole heir of the Elvis estate which at the time was worth an estimated $100 million, roughly $295 million in today's dollars. According the terms of the trust, Lisa officially inherited her father's estate in 1993, on the day of her 25th birthday. In the February 2005 deal with Core Media Group Lisa Marie received $53 million, was absolved $25 million of debt and also received $20 million worth of equity in Core Media Group (CKX Inc.).
So you would think Lisa Marie would have some very definite financial security. But apparently that isn't the case for Lisa Marie Presley and the divorce battle with Michael Lockwood has begun to show that Lisa Marie's financial situation is grim.
Lisa Marie receives a monthly income of about $100,000 from her inheritance. According to Elvis' daughter, her manager did not pay taxes for her and as a result, she reportedly owes the IRS $1.5 million and the government of the U.K. $5 million. She also owes $250,000 in state taxes as well as other debt in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Lisa Marie alleges that her ex spent more than a million dollars of her money without her consent. Lisa claims that when she confronted him he admitted he'd racked up that amount on her personal credit cards.
On the other side of the divorce proceedings, Lockwood, who is seeking spousal support, is alleging that Lisa Marie squandered her fortune on drugs and alcohol. According to Radar, Lockwood is expected to use her issues with substance abuse against her as Lisa Marie spent some time in rehab just last summer. |
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The couple are also fighting over custody of their 8-year-old twins Harper and Finley.
Lisa is technically an employee of Graceland and as such, she receives a salary of $4,300 a month in addition to her inheritance. She claims to have been attempting to save money over the past 18 months since she hasn't taken any vacations, flown on a plane, or traveled anywhere. She doesn't even pay any rent or mortgage as she lives with her adult daughter Riley Keough and her family.
(News, Source; CelebrityNetworth/ElvisInfoNet) |
| Sunday 19 March 2017 - - - 2nd News Update - - - |
Chuck Berry has died aged 90: The great rock'n'roller, one of the true pioneers Chuck Berry has died aged 90. The legendary singer / songwriter's revolutionary sound with hits like 'Rock and Roll Music', 'Maybellene,' 'Roll Over Beethoven', 'Memphis, Tennessee', 'Sweet Little Sixteen', 'No Particular Place to Go' and 'Johnny B. Goode' inspired many and, along-side the likes of Elvis, had a massive impact. Chuck Berry passed away at the age of 90 on Saturday March 18.
During his 60 years in show business, Berry became one of the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, The Blues Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame in ’85 and also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
He performed in 1979 for President Jimmy Carter at the White House, landed at No. 6 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” and trademarked his stage showmanship with his famous “duck walk.”
John Lennon once said, “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry.’” He paved the way for such legends as the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie and many others.
Elvis loved Chuck Berry's music, performing Berry's very first single 'Maybellene' on stage only a few weeks after it had been released in July 1955. At the famous Million Dollar Quartet jam Berry's 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man' was the song they kept returning to, three times in all, with all noting admiration for Berry as a composer.
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Elvis also recorded Berry's 'Memphis, Tennessee', 'Johnny B. Goode' and 'Promised Land' performed 'School Day' in concert and based his recording of 'Merry Christmas Baby' on Berry's version.
At the 1973 STAX sessions Marty Lacker told EIN that, "Elvis sometimes sung Chuck Berry songs at Graceland, but for whatever reason decided not to record any more of them at the Stax session apart from 'Promised Land'.
At the August 27, 1965 meeting between Elvis and The Beatles it has been confirmed that Elvis handed out a couple of guitars and they started singing songs including Chuck Berry compositions, as well as Elvis singing a couple of Beatles songs. Elvis and Paul alternated at the piano and Lennon was playing a guitar.
Oh, to have a tape of Elvis and The Beatles singing Chuck Berry songs!
Chuck Berry was born on Oct. 18, 1926, as Charles Edward Anderson Berry. He was raised in St. Louis in a middle-class black neighborhood. Married to Themetta Suggs in 1948, Berry supported his family by becoming a factory worker before pounding the pavement in the club circuit to earn extra cash. |
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He partnered with pianist Johnnie Johnson, joining his group Sir John’s Trio, which later became known as the Chuck Berry Combo.
The lyrics for Berry's songs had narrative swagger, reflecting the spirit of teenage angst depicting fast cars, drag races and the story of an unfaithful girl as its main themes.
He explained his appeal to adolescents across different cultural backgrounds: “Everything I wrote about wasn’t about me but about the people listening.” He had a way of identifying what people wanted to express, but weren’t able to, during this segregated time.
His 1972 album The London Chuck Berry Sessions, featuring a who’s who of British rock royalty went gold within a month, but sadly his only No.1 hit on both the Billboard and UK charts was the novelty song 'My Ding-A-Ling'.
Berry fought a number of legal situations that happened in his life including several times in prison once for tax evasion.
Bands like the Rolling Stones, Beach Boys and Beatles all covered his songs, Bruce Springsteen and Steve Miller performed live with Berry. Springsteen and the E Street Band backed Berry during his performance of “Johnny B. Goode” and “Rock and Roll Music” at his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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Keith Richards noted, “The beautiful thing about Chuck Berry’s playing was it had such an effortless swing. None of this sweating and grinding away and grimacing… just pure, effortless swing, like a lion.”
Today musicians around the world reacted to the sad news.
Mick Jagger - "I am so sad to hear of Chuck Berry's passing. I want to thank him for all the inspirational music he gave to us. He was a true pioneer of rock'n'roll & a massive influence".
Rod Stewart - "It started with Chuck Berry. He inspired us all."
Bruce Springsteen - "Chuck Berry was rock's greatest practitioner, guitarist, and the greatest pure rock 'n' roll writer who ever lived."
Keith Urban - "RIP Chuck Berry !!!! Thank you for the poetry, the passion and the potency!
Back in 1986 when asked about Elvis, Chuck Berry said, "Elvis Presley? He was the greatest who ever was, is or ever will be."
Click HERE to YouTube for Elvis' fabulous 'Promised Land'
Click here to YouTube for CNN's news story about Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry RIP 18/10/1926 - 18/03/2017
(Go here to read EIN's spotlight on Elvis Meets the Beatles)
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
"The Wonder of You" Coming to Sydney: Jerry Schilling is doing the promotional work ahead of the Elvis Presley Australian and New Zealand, The Wonder Of You tour.
Jerry Schilling was only 12 when he met Presley, 19, on a football field but even then this lanky teen, with greased hair, blue jeans and white T-shirt, oozed a cool attitude the likes of which Schilling had never seen.
“We forget that Elvis started out rebel, a danger, not the iconic Elvis that is perceived by most, he was more like a James Dean character,” Schilling says.
“I was drawn to that because in the 50s as teenagers we were very much into rebellion and Elvis personified all of that, He was a rebel but a loveable rebel.”
It was a sunny Sunday in 1954 when Schilling was invited to join a touch football game at a local oval in a poor area of Memphis, it was a game that would change his life forever, the start of a 23-year friendship with Presley.
“We started playing every Sunday and within three weeks everyone in Memphis, where we grew up, knew who Elvis was because his first record (That’s All Right) took off,” Schilling, 74, says.
Schilling says for the next decade, while he was in grade school, high school and college, he saw Presley whenever he was in Memphis.
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“We continued to play football for years, we would go to all-night movie screenings or the amusement park,” he says.
“After ‘57 when he bought Graceland there would be parties that would go late into the night.”
For a decade Schilling watched with envy as Presley and his crew packed up and went on their latest Hollywood adventure, leaving him behind to finish his studies and attend odd-jobs.
“I was in my last semester at college, I was going to be a history teacher and football coach but I got this offer I couldn’t refuse. I had to quit school, quit two jobs, tell my father and that night we were on a bus that Elvis was driving from Memphis to California,” Schilling says.
He quit working for Elvis twice, to pursue film and TV work and then to work in the music industry. He managed the Beach Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis and Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie as well as Billy Joel, but Elvis kept him close with enticing job opportunities, including heading up the Elvis Presley Films production company.
Schilling, now a veteran music and film mogul who has been linked to Bono, John Lennon and a host of other celebrities, is committed to keeping the Presley legacy alive with projects, including a new HBO series that focuses on Presley as a music producer, something Schilling says the world never knew.
He is working with Priscilla Presley on both the new HBO series, that will air later this year, as well as the new The Wonder Of You spectacular - at the ICC Sydney theatre on June 2 and 3.
The Wonder Of You, is an Elvis experience like no other with state-of-the-art screens, featuring the man who changed the course of popular music, and a 40-piece orchestra. |
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Priscilla, who was an executive producer for both albums and closely involved in the creation of the live concert tour, says Elvis loved the big sound and fullness of an orchestra.
She says, “I feel certain this is the kind of live show and these are the kind of albums Elvis would have been doing if he were with us today. He would have loved this. It really is a dream come true.”
Go here to book Australian 2017 Tour Tickets
Go here for EIN's interview with Jerry Schilling
(News, Source;DailyTele/ElvisInfoNet) |
Sonny West - Health Update: Concerned fans have been contacting EIN, here is the most recent update from Sonny West's son Bryan . . . "My apologies for lack of personal messages and updates. There have times recently we could have lost dad at any given moment. Thank God that has not happened. Dad is still on the ventilar, however showing improvements. We plan on meeting with a tracheotomy team Monday for a consult. Dad is far from being out of the woods, but we are taking steps in a positive direction. You all know how tough and what a fighter my dad is. He's putting up the best fight of his life for his life. Thank you again for all the prayer, love and support! I'm asking out of respect to leave only positive and uplifting comments. If anyone is wondering, this Gofundme is set up for donations to be deposited directly into my parents account who only they have access.
Prayer and faith are so powerful! I want to thank you all for your prayers, love and support". - Bryan West
There is a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to pay off their debt. PLEASE HELP - click here.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
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Elvis Presley: Stories Behind His Songs: A new monthly e-book series, looking solely at the music recorded by the legendary Elvis Presley, has gained readers around the globe.
Elvis Presley: Stories Behind His Songs is the first monthly e-book series to look at songs by the King from his early days at Sun, through to his rock n’ roll at RCA, the movie years, the gospel recordings, the triumphant return to power in 1968, the Vegas era and what has happened since Elvis’ death forty years ago this August.
Every song is given it’s chance to shine, with author and Elvis fan Matt Shepherd digging up plenty of information about each track.
“Over the years there have been some great books published about Elvis and his music. The beauty of doing an e-book series is you are not limited by space in anyway, which means I am able to give over more space to every track,” explained Matt, a BBC journalist and Elvis fan for more than 30 years.
The e-books, published on the first day of each month are available exclusively from Amazon.
They are priced at £1.28 each (roughly $1.60) Each edition is roughly 30 pages long and puts 15 songs under the spotlight.
“We started our journey in 1969 which is such an important period in Elvis’ life.. here we discover a man who is enjoying a massive career resurgence with million selling hits, praise from critics and new and old fans rejoicing in his renewed success.”
The e-books, which can be downloaded to Kindles and other tablets, using the free Amazon kindle app, have been snapped up in America, Australia, UK and across Europe.
“I’m delighted that so many fans are reading these books. There are many more in production, with the next issue, Volume five, out on 1st April,” |
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“I have been an Elvis fan since I was seven-years-old but for me it has always been about the music.
“I hope other Elvis fans enjoy reading about each song, and play the Elvis music loud and proud at the same time,” Matt smiles.
Fans are encouraged to get involved in the series by interacting on a dedicated Facebook page:
Matt says: “I regularly publish videos, exclusive extracts and much more on this page. It's great for readers to keep up to date with everything going on with the e-book series.”
Volumes one to four are still available on Amazon, with Volume five out next month.
Go here for Amazon USA. Go here to Amazon UK - or check your local Amazon for details
(News, Source;MS/ElvisInfoNet) |
Lisa Marie ordered to pay estranged husband's legal fees: In a new twist on the divorce saga, now Lisa Marie has been ordered to cover her estranged husband Michael Lockwood's legal fees during their divorce battle.
Lisa Marie filed to end her 10-year marriage to the musician last June citing irreconcilable differences, and last month Lockwood then requested Presley pay $100,000 towards his legal fees. He was granted $50,000.
She now has to reportedly pay $10,000-a-month beginning this week. The payments will continue for the next five months.
At last month's hearing, Lockwood's request for $40,000-a-month in spousal support was also denied. The parties are due back in court next month as their bitter divorce battle rumbles on.
The legal papers did not address the situation with the former couple's kids. The twins are currently being cared for by Priscilla after officials were called in to investigate the alleged discovery of indecent photos on Lockwood's computer.
Lockwood's attorney, Jeff Sturman, has blasted the claims, branding them "highly sensational" and "inaccurate", and earlier this month officials at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed no charges would be filed against the music producer.
The future of the girls will be determined during an upcoming trial, which is set to take place this month.
Lisa Marie, who wed Lockwood in 2006, has also previously been married to Nicolas Cage, Michael Jackson, and Danny Keough, the father of her two grown-up children.
(News, Source;AP/ElvisInfoNet)
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"Attack of the Elvis Impersonators" to Debut Off-Broadway: Lory Lazarus’ new musical, Attack of the Elvis Impersonators, in which the soul of Elvis returns to Earth to convince the human race to be his, you guessed it, impersonators, is set to have its New York premiere at Lion Theatre, Theatre Row - June 1.
The Off-Broadway engagement will officially open June 15, with tickets currently selling through September 24.
Attack of the Elvis Impersonators features a book, music and lyrics by Lazarus, direction by Don Stephenson, and choreography by Melissa Zaremba.
In the new musical, the ghost of Elvis inhabits the body of the most famous rock star in history and convinces his disciples that in order to bring peace to the planet |
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the entire human race must impersonate Elvis and convert to the new religion: Hound Dog.
While working as a host at a New York City restaurant in the 1980s, creator Lazarus saw a cabaret skit about an Elvis impersonator and immediately thought: “What would happen if thousands of Elvis impersonators… nay, millions of them, took over the planet?” He wrote a song for his band to perform at the time but nothing came of it until several years later, when he decided to revisit the material and pen a complete musical.
For the complete back story, more info and to purchase tickets go here to > elvisimpersonatorsmusical.com.
(News, Source;NP/ElvisInfoNet) |
Latest US Billboard Charts: Sadly Elvis has no albums on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart for Week of 25th March, 2017..
- 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 4 to 5 on the Classical Albums Chart
- 'If I Can Dream' remains at 15 on the Classical Albums Chart
- 'Elvis: Ultimate Gospel' rises from 8 to 5 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart; rises from 32 to 30 on the Top Christian Albums Chart and rises from 33 to 32 on the Top Christian And Gospel Albums Chart
- 'Heart And Soul' is a re-entry at 22 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart
- 'He Touched Me - The Gospel Music Of Elvis Presley' is a re-entry at 8 on the Music Video Sales Chart
(News, Source;BrianQuinn/ElvisInfoNet) |
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'Elvis: One Night In Toronto': Paul Sweeney Interview: Paul Sweeney is a name that you often see in the credits of quality Elvis photo-books and is the main author behind the new book 'Elvis Presley In Person 'One Night In Toronto' April 2 - 1957' soon to be published by Erik Lorentzen. The book is a historical document for the 60th Anniversary featuring interviews, backstage stories, private moments, hundreds of never before published photos and with the images taken from original negatives.
Elvis fans have recently contacted EIN wanting to know more about the up-coming book - especially as there has been some odd negative publicity from another publisher - and Paul Sweeney kindly agreed to answers some of our questions and to clarify a few issues.
Go here to EIN's interview with Paul Sweeney plus some great sneak-peak Elvis photos from the book
(Interviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
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Two New FTDs for April: FTD have announced two new releases for April 2017.
- 'ELVIS: Las Vegas ‘74': A double set featuring two concerts from Elvis' legendary August 1974 Summer Season at the Las Vegas Hilton comes as a 5” 2-CD digipack
The release features both Dinner and Midnight shows from August 20, 1974. (Although previously released audience recordings from these supposed shows do not match FTD's set-lists)
For Elvis 1974 was an emotionally turbulent year. This was his sixth season singing to the Las Vegas casino audiences, still doing two shows a night, and he was really feeling the loss of Priscilla. The dinner shows were beginning to bore him (people rattling cutlery) and who could blame him? Yet this inner turmoil helped produce the most fascinating Las Vegas season of his career. He gave some of his longest performances and with a varied set-list including great new songs It’s Midnight, Promised Land, If You Talk In Your Sleep and Help Me.
It has been mastered by Jan Eliasson.
Go here to 'FTD / SONY News 2017' for tracklistings |
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- 'Elvis: His Songs of Praise Vol.2': Trevor Simpson's first book about Elvis' sacred, spiritual and gospel songs came out last september and now the long-anticipated sequel will be published next month. The second volume titled "Elvis: His Songs of Praise Vol.2" will feature 350 pages about the final half of the chosen Elvis sacred songs - 100 in all.
It promises over 350 pages with lavishly illustrated high-quality images, many unseen photographs and graphics. Every song has been thoroughly researched in a similar manner to Trevor Simpson’s previous trilogy "Elvis: The Best of British”.
In early interviews, Elvis divulged that spiritual music was his first
love and he publicly continued to reaffirm. Despite being acclaimed as
the ‘King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’, he was only presented with three Grammy
awards and they were for his spiritual music and the stories of these
iconic songs are much, much more contained within this book.
Go here to 'FTD / SONY News 2017' for tracklistings
Click here to the 6 minute YouTube Promo video
More info soon. - Click here to EIN's interview with author Trevor Simpson about this Gospel project.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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Elvis Hidden Automobile Museum, Part 2- Gates of Graceland: EPE is featuring a series about Elvis cars in their museum. You can take a look inside Elvis' cars and learn more in the latest episode.
This second episode focuses on the cars in the automobile museum at Graceland. It was filmed at the former Elvis Presley's Automobile Museum at the Graceland Plaza; a new automobile museum, called Presley Motors, will open later this week at Graceland's new entertainment complex, Elvis Presley's Memphis.
On this episode, take a look inside Elvis' purple Cadillac, Ferrari Dino and including the "Elvis On Tour" car - with Graceland Director of Archives Angie Marchese and host Tom Brown.
Go here to YouTube to see the latest episode on Elvis' cars - runs 16 minutes.
(News, Source;EPE/ElvisInfoNet) |
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'Rock And Beauty' New Import: Out soon 'Rock And Beauty , Live In Las Vegas Straight From The Tape Vol.1.' will focus on Elvis’ August 1971. Both the shows from August 19, 1971 are previously unreleased taken directly from a audience recording first generation tape. This will be the first of three volumes that SR will publish inside the year with focus on August 1971. The SR attitude is to present Elvis at the peak of his possibility and without doubt in the Las Vegas August 1971 season Elvis still rocks and still beautiful, delivering maybe shorter shows respect the previous summer seasons , but still solid.
Here are presented two unreleased shows from the second week of the season. Both the show are very similar, the track list is minimized and the shows are practically identical, the afternoon presents in more the song I Got a Woman. We are happy and proud of the result we hope you can enjoy too, in spite of the limitation of the audience recording you can listen in a very balanced form all the instruments and Elvis super powerful voice. The shows are fantastic and the track listing is solid. This the magic of Elvis in the 1971, a man singing with his own style all styles at the top of his possibilities.
This new SR special Product will be the first of three volumes housed in a deluxe LONG DIGIPACK, containing a 12 pages of booklet.
Limited to 400 copies.
EIN says "buyer beware" and check before purchasing as we have received complaints in the past.
Go here to tracklisting & more details
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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'Elvis: The Legend' New Book - Re-Issue: Back in 2012 well-respected Elvis author Gillian Gaar published a deluxe "soft-cover" book called 'Elvis Remembered 1935-1977' which contained a rather nice summary of Elvis' life via quality photos and memorabilia. Unfortunately the binding and box were poorly designed and soon fell-apart. Now the book is being re-issued for 2017 as a hard-cover 'Elvis:The Legend'.
The publicity notes... This book tells the personal story of Elvis and his relationships with those near and dear to him and contains more than 150 colour and black and white photographs from the Graceland archives, accompanied by insightful text from an author with a proven Elvis track record. To take you closer than ever before to the King, 30 items of rare memorabilia are carefully reproduced on the page, including personal letters, receipts, telegrams, publicity material and other fascinating items which provide new insight into the life of a legend. There are photographs of Elvis himself, Elvis with friends and family, and all manner of personal artifacts, including guitars, jewelry, clothing, vehicles and more.
192 pages Hardcover. From Carlton Books out 10th Aug. 2017.
Go here to read EIN's 2014 interview with author Gillian Gaar.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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Nashville ELVIS Festival: Elvis Presley fans from around the world will be traveling end of the month for the inaugural Nashville Elvis Festival, taking place March 30-April 2, 2017.
Nashville Elvis Festival is a premier Elvis event unlike any other, celebrating the music and legacy of Elvis Presley. The historic Franklin Theatre will serve as the host venue, with additional events taking place at Paragon Studios and GRAYS on Main - all just south of downtown Nashville.
The 4-day festival will be filled with celebrity appearances, live music performances and on-stage interviews with Elvis Presley's friends and band members.
The festival will also include an Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist contest with contestants from worldwide.
Two special VIP events will feature live recreations of portions of the "'68 Comeback Special" and an Elvis recording session inside one of Music City's top recording studios.
The list of Special Guests scheduled to Appear Include:
Jerry Schilling - Elvis' friend, "Memphis Mafia" member
Brenda Lee - Friend of Elvis; iconic female vocalist
T.G. Sheppard - Close friend of Elvis; Chart-topping artist
Wink Martindale - Friend of Elvis; Legendary TV personality
Sandy Martindale - Elvis' former girlfriend; Dancerin Elvis movies
D.J. Fontana - Elvis' drummer
Donnie Sumner - lead vocalist of JD Sumner & The Stamps
Norbert Putnam - Bass man - Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
Armond Morales - Member of The Imperials (below)
Joanne Cash - Legendary Gospel artist and the younger sister of Johnny Cash
Mary Sarah - One of Country music's top new artists, as seen on NBC's "The Voice"
Brian Oxley - Music history buff who recently saved Col. Tom Parker's home & office
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Gina Keltner - Senior Talent Manager at the Grand Ole Opry
Jeff Lewis - Award-winning Elvis Tribute Artist, songwriter, and emcee
Bill Cherry - 2009 Ultimate ETA Champion; Co-star of Elvis Lives Tour
Jay Dupuis - 2014 Ultimate ETA Champion; Co-star of Elvis Lives Tour
Dean Z - 2013 Ultimate ETA Champion; Co-star of Elvis Lives Tour
Nashville Elvis Festival is produced by Music City Festivals, LLC - founded by Nashville entertainment publicist Brian Mayes and Tom Brown, former Vice President of Original Production for Turner Classic Movies (TCM), longtime host of select Elvis Week events and one of the hosts of the Gates of Graceland web series. Brown will also serve as the host for all Nashville Elvis Festival events.
For tickets and information, visit the official website at http://www.NashvilleElvisFestival.com.
(News, Source;NashvillePRWeb/ElvisInfoNet) |
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'Platinum: A Life In Music' Re-Release: Sony UK is re-releasing the classic 4-Cd set 'Platinum: A Life In Music' on March 24, 2017 - in a small-book format twenty after its first release in 1997.
The set chronicles the outstanding career of Elvis Presley (1954 to 1977) from a unique perspective and it includes 100 performances, 77 of which were previously unreleased in 1997. This historic overview traces his development as an artist and emphasizes how Elvis' music always returned to its unshakable core values. This 4-CD box set contains a 48-page book and consists mostly of previously unreleased alternate takes of Elvis Presley's hits.
There is no info on whether this 20th anniversary release includes audio upgrades of all the "77 were previously unreleased takes" which have since been remastered.
The publicity notes, "You probably think you've heard all there is to hear from The King, what with countless Elvis retrospectives, anthologies, and reissues flooding the market. While PLATINUM is far from the first Elvis boxset, it's unique in that it's composed largely of previously unreleased material. Four discs cover every phase of Presley's career, from young Memphis hip-shaker to the Las Vegas era, adding a fresh perspective to each period.
It's both an education and a kick to hear alternate versions of songs as ingrained in the public consciousness as 'That's All Right', and others from Elvis' legendary Sun sessions."
This title will be released on March 24, 2017.
Only £18.53 & FREE UK Delivery on Amazon UK orders (see below)
(News, Source;Sony/Amazon/ElvisInfoNet)
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| Official Elvis CD Box-sets at bargain prices through Amazon UK |
Elvis Presley’s Graceland a sight to behold: The Australian travel magazine featured an article on a private tour of Graceland.
It includes..
“What do you give Elvis Presley for Christmas?” George Klein wonders aloud as he stands on the precipice of Graceland’s lavish loungeroom, at the very spot where, more than 60 years ago, he was confronted with one of life’s more enviable dilemmas.
My visit is early on a Monday evening, and Graceland, Elvis’ beloved home in Memphis, Tennessee, is closed. The crowds of devoted fans and curious onlookers have left for the day and staff are busy clearing the capacious grounds. But the lights are still on inside Graceland, where the singer’s school friend, 81-year-old Klein, is leading us on a private after-hours tour. About 600,000 visitors will this year wander through the estate, tonight, though, we have the place to ourselves.
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This is one of many high points on an unofficial Elvis trail that began days earlier on a bus journey through America’s south.
One of Memphis’s most stately buildings is the Peabody Hotel, which has stood at its downtown location since 1925. With its elaborate Italian Renaissance architecture, the hotel is famous for its resident family of ducks, which are led via a red carpet, to and from the fountain beside the hotel’s ornate bar each day.
But the hotel is also a notable site for events in Elvis’ life. It was in the beautifully maintained lobby where, with his father Vernon, he signed his contract with RCA in 1955 on Peabody stationery. And upstairs in the stately Continental Room is where he attended his senior prom in 1953, too shy to dance with his 14-year-old date. That same year, having finished high school, he walked along Union Avenue, entered the door at number 706, and for a few dollars cut his own record, singing two songs. Almost a year later, Sam Phillips from the Memphis Recording Service / Sun Studio where Elvis had cut the songs, was looking for new talent. At the urging of a colleague who had heard Elvis sing, Phillips had him return for an audition. On July 5, he recorded That’s All Right.
Despite the enormous impact the events that took place there would have on the history of rock ’n’ roll, Sun Studio is a comparatively small space. Still operating as a recording studio on many nights, by day it is a wonderful site to tour, and its upstairs displays include a recreation of the studio from where Dewey Phillips played That’s All Right endlessly on that July night in 1954, and from where Elvis gave an impromptu on-air interview that evening.
Downstairs in the recording studio the original ceiling lights still glow over the old floor tiles. Beside one wall sits the piano Elvis famously played one night in December 1964 in an impromptu jam session with Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, dubbed the Million Dollar Quartet (EIN Notes - whoops - 1964, really?!)
In his years of friendship with Elvis, George Klein came to know Graceland well. Tonight, in his two-piece zippered tracksuit and runners, he greets us near the entrance, and it is immediately clear that decades of discussing his famous friendship, and recently writing a book, have not dimmed the enthusiasm with which he share his memories. He tells us Elvis was best man at his wedding and insisted on paying for the $75,000 celebration. |
“He loved this house, loved it to death,” he continues as he takes us through the front door, beneath a colourful leadlight window embellished with a large P
He takes us into the spacious loungeroom, noting the portrait of Elvis on one wall (a favourite of his mother Gladys), and proudly pointing to the massive sun-shaped clock above the mantelpiece. So we discover this is what he gave Elvis that long-ago Christmas.
Klein’s narration is incessant and fascinatingly detailed, and our planned one-hour visit extends to two as he slowly talks us through the house. Elvis hated orange and brown he reveals as we wander past the spacious kitchen. He had a soft spot for Ann-Margret, and Klein says “she would have been a perfect lady for Elvis”, as we explore the yellow and navy basement, with its three television sets and hidden projector. (“Elvis would never watch his own movies.”)
By the time the house tour is over we even have an idea of what it was like to sleep with the King; before his famous friend moved to Graceland, Klein would sometimes stay over at Elvis’ house if they had been out late. “He and I would bunk up in the same bed. His mother would warn me that Elvis talks in his sleep and walks in his sleep. The next night I spent there he was walking, in his sleep, and I said real softly to go back to bed now, we have to be in Hollywood in the morning.”
The narration continues during an inspection of Elvis’ old racquetball court, through his private plane, named the Lisa Marie, and across the road from the mansion to Graceland’s car museum. There, serenaded by a video of Elvis at his 1968 comeback concert, we have dinner surrounded by some of his favourite toys, including his purple Cadillac, the pink model he gave his mother, his motorbikes, even the Graceland tractor.
Then it’s time to end this fascinating night, Klein graciously bids us farewell. Elvis’s friend has left the building. And soon, in a state of glee, so have we.
Click here to The Australian for the full article
(News, Source;TheOz/ElvisInfoNet) |
'Elvis Presley: Caught in a Trap' New Paperback: Yet another new biography for The King's sad 40th anniversary.
.. Published to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Elvis death. As well as being the greatest solo star of the 20th century, Elvis Presley's career is full of controversy and Spencer Leigh's new biography 'Elvis Presley: Caught in a Trap' sorts out exactly what was going on. What separated Elvis Presley from his contemporaries, just how important was Colonel Parker, how did he come to reinvent himself for Las Vegas, did he have to die so young, and why does his legend endure. Spencer Leigh has spoken to band members, songwriters, friends, fans and many people who have worked with Elvis Presley. How good a singer was he, how good an actor was he, and was he caught in a trap, perhaps set by Colonel Parker. 'Elvis Presley: Caught in a Trap' is well researched and is full of insight and humour that we have come to expect from Spencer Leigh s music books. With a Foreword by Russell Watson the English tenor.
The journalist, acclaimed author and BBC broadcaster Spencer Leigh is an acknowledged authority on popular music, especially the Beatles, and he has interviewed thousands of musicians. He has written several books and broadcasts a two-hour music show each week for the BBC.
Out on 3 August 2017
Go here to Amazon UK to pre-order >'Elvis Presley: Caught in a Trap '
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
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Latest US Billboard Charts: The joy of Christmas Elvis has truly departed in the Billboard charts for week ending 18th March, 2017:
Elvis has no albums on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart
- 'The Wonder Of You' remains at 4 on the Classical Albums Chart
-'If I Can Dream' rises from 16 to 15 on the Classical Albums Chart
- 'Elvis: Ultimate Gospel' drops from 7 to 8 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart and drops from 28 to 32 on the Top Christian Albums Chart
(News, Source;BrianQuinn/ElvisInfoNet) |
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| 'The Wonder Of You' Elvis / RPO Album has sold 715,000 worldwide sales as of 8th March. |
Elvis in the UK charts: While sales are dropping, Elvis still features in the UK charts for 10th March, 2017
- 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 66 to 73 on the Physical Album Chart and drops from 77 to 83 on the Album Sales Chart
- 'The Platinum Collection' drops from 76 to 83 on the Physical Album Chart; rises from 97 to 96 on the Album Sales Chart and remains at 17 on the Indie Albums Chart
- 'Love Me Tender' (Duet with Connie Francis) is a re-entry at 29 on the Physical Singles Chart
- 'She's Not You' is a re-entry at 80 on the Physical Singles Chart
- 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 72 to 91 on the Scottish Album Chart
- 'The Platinum Collection' rises from 97 to 96 on the Scottish Album Chart
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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(TV Review) 'Sun Records' (Episode 1): So how good is this new CMT series?
While some media reviews have been so-so, EIN's Nigel Patterson was more than impressed!
Nigel found the show had a vibrant fifties feel with strong characters, dramatic thought provoking moments, wonderful doses of humor, great music, and several adult situations..... all of which suggest plenty of potential for future episodes!!
Read Nigel's detailed review here
(Review/spotlight, Source: EIN) |
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'One Night In Toronto' & Elvis Files Mag 19 at Printers: The new book by Paul Sweeney, Jean-Marc Carisse and Erik Lorentzen has caused a great deal of interest, so fans who have pre-ordered will be delighted to know the book - of 352 pages - is now complete and at the printers.
'One Night In Toronto - The Boy In The Gold Suit' - With 400 Unseen Photos. A historical document - the 60th Anniversary.
* interviews
* backstage stories
* private moments
You can Order Now. Send €120 By Paypal To: Sales @Elvisfiles.No - Including Shipping All Over The World.
Or CLICK HERE to www.Elvisfiles.No
Author Paul Sweeney comments, "There are over 300 photos from before, during and after the two shows from the John Sebert Collection at Library & Archives Canada. I was blown away when I first set eyes on them earlier this year - Our photos are taken from the original negatives"
Other news is that Elvis Files Magazine 19 is also at the printers - to subscribe go HERE to Elvis Files Magazine
(News, Source;Erik Lorentzen)
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Graceland Auction Results: The most recent Auction at Graceland was held last Saturday, March 4 as part of the Grand Opening of “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” Entertainment Complex.
With a wide variety of authenticated artifacts to offer, all types of collectors bid at the auction. Of particular note the auction included artifacts from the collection of the late Scotty Moore as well as items from Elvis’ personal and professional life including clothing, jewelry, autographs, concert memorabilia and Hollywood items.
All of the items in the auction were from third-party collectors.
Among the 163 items included the following items received the highest bids:
- 1957 RCA Award to Colonel Parker for making "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" a Million Seller sold for highest bid on the night selling for $18,750
- Elvis owned Gold and Diamond Cocktail Ring Gifted to Charlie Hodge
Final Price: $16,250
- Elvis owned Gold and Diamond Panther Head Ring Gifted to Tour Promoter Tom Hulett. (see below)
Elvis appears to be wearing this ring in the same pictures where he is wearing the Turban or Swami Ring.
Final Bid: $15,000 |
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- Elvis Presley Owned and Heavily Notated Copy of The Impersonal Life Gifted to His Aunt Delta
Final Price: $8,125.00
- Scotty Moore's Gold Record Award for 1954 Sun Record "That's All Right," which was Estimated at $2,000
went for Final Price: $5,250
- 1960 Elvis Presley Signed Lease for Apartments at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel Where He Lived While Filming "G.I. Blues,"
Final Price: $4,250
- Elvis Presley Twice-Signed Promotional Photo,
Final Price: $4,000
you can go here to EPE Auctions to see all the results.
(News, Source;EPE/ElvisInfoNet) |
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Queen does the King (Jailhouse Rock): Here is Queen's iconic leader, Freddie Mercury, thrilling the audience with one of Elvis' greatest recordings, Jailhouse Rock.
This performance was recorded as part of the live album Queen Rock Montreal, released in 2007.
(Video, Source: YouTube)
Watch the video clip |
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Parkes Elvis Festival wins major QANTAS Australian Tourism Award: The Parkes Elvis Festival has taken its place on the podium at the 2016 QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards. The 2016 Festival was awarded bronze in the Festivals and Events category in front of an audience of 800 industry leaders and peers at a gala ceremony in Darwin on Friday. The Australian Tourism Awards are the industry’s peak awards, recognising and promoting excellence in tourism.
“This award caps off an exceptional couple of months, having won the Regional and State Tourism Awards late last year, a NSW / ACT Regional Achievement & Community Award in November, and delivering the most successful Parkes Elvis Festival to date in January.”
The Parkes Elvis Festival, which drew a record 25,000 fans to the town in January, was one of eight finalists in the Festivals and Events category, representing NSW against Uluru Camel Cup (NT), Sounds by the River (SA), Queenscliff Music Festival (VIC), The Falls Music & Arts Festival, Marion Bay (TAS) and 2016 National Folk Festival (ACT).
(News, Source: Parkes-Champion Post)
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Elvis impersonator cleared of stealing funeral charity collection: AN ELVIS impersonator has been cleared by a jury of stealing a charity collection held at his late mother-in-law’s funeral.
Christopher Martin Burrows denied theft of £290 donated by mourners for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of his then wife’s step-mother, Solange Scott. The service took place at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church, in Hathern, on October 27, 2015.
A jury at Leicester Crown Court took one hour of deliberations to find Mr Burrows (55) not guilty of the alleged theft.
Giving evidence in his defence, Mr Burrows who sang The Wonder of You during the funeral service, said he absentmindedly left the charity collection money on a pew and “forgot” about it. He told the jury he had been an Elvis impersonator for about 29 years and during that time had also helped to raise up to £90,000 for different charities, including Dementia UK and Cancer Research.
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Mr Burrows, a group health and safety compliance manager, said he was asked to sing and play other music at the funeral. He was also a pallbearer on the day. Paying tribute to Mrs Scott, when he gave evidence, Mr Burrows said: “She was a very nice woman. I was feeling quite emotional on the day of her funeral.”
Mr Burrows said the churchwarden later handed him cards and an envelope containing the charity cash from the funeral service, and asked him to pass them on to the deceased’s husband, Mr Scott, and the defendant agreed.
He told the jury: “I couldn’t put it in my suit pocket because I didn’t want to fold the cards.
(News, Source: Suzy Gibson, loughboroughecho.net) |
'Marty Lacker: A Life Well-Lived' & Elvis at American Studio's Interview: It was with immense sadness that last month EIN had to report on the death of our great friend - and a true friend to Elvis - Marty Lacker. We will miss him dearly.
Marty is well-known as one of the key members of the Memphis Mafia and also co-Best Man at Elvis' wedding. He was known for both his honesty and being forthright with his opinions. He was the only member of the Memphis Mafia who still watched and commented on recent Elvis News. He had no issue with holding people to account (especially ones who would inflate their importance within Elvis' legacy) and would regularly ask EIN to add his comments or to correct any inaccuracy.
Elvis fans often ask about Marty Lacker's background, how he came to meet Elvis, as well as his involvement in the music industry outside of working for The King.
As a prelude to Ken Sharp's fascinating interview with Marty Lacker and a discussion about Elvis' famous American Studio' Memphis sessions, EIN presents "Marty Lacker: a life well-lived" in which Marty tells of his life in the music industry, his friendship with Elvis along with his dislike of the over-controlling Col Parker.
Go here to learn all you need to know about Marty Lacker as well as Elvis outstanding Memphis American Sound sessions in 1969.
(Spotlight; Source,KenSharp/ElvisInformationNetwork) |
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Australian Elvis Presley Stamp in 2017: Back in 2009 EIN sent a proposal to Australia Post that they consider issuing an Australian set of four Elvis Presley postage stamps in 2010 to commemorate four decades of Elvis having Australian number one hits - 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 2000s. EIN suggested that an Elvis stamp issue in Australia would fit Australia Post's criteria, in that Presley remains a subject of outstanding international interest and significance, enjoying widespread popular acclaim, both within Australia and worldwide. We noted that Australia Post had already established a precedent of issuing stamps with overseas icons, for example, the Star Wars stamps
At the time Australia Post's response to EIN was “thanks, but no thanks”, a case of Star Wars being OK to be celebrated but that Elvis Presley was not.
Now in 2017 Australia Post has announced "The Elvis Presley stamp pack" which comprises of three sheetlets of stamps featuring 25 x $1 red-rose heart stamps from the Love to Celebrate stamp issue. There are 25 stamp-tabs in total featuring images of Elvis throughout his career. For sale in Aussie Post Offices March 14. |
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Australia Post comments - Gifted and charismatic, Elvis Presley blasted the status quo when he sashayed onto the American music scene in the early 1950s. His career was launched when Memphis studio Sun Records divined his musical genius and pressed his version of “That’s Alright” in 1954, with “Blue Moon of Kentucky” on the flip side. Within a few short years, and picked up by RCA Victor, Elvis had wooed legions of fans worldwide. His distinctive voice, smouldering good looks, provocative style and independent spirit were a magnet for youth, and the musical rebel ignited a revolution in popular culture during the staid 1950s.
Born in 1935 into a humble church-going family in Mississippi and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Elvis was influenced in his music-making by his immediate world. From the Assembly of God’s gospel song to Beale Street’s r&b, the “King of Rock and Roll” deftly wove these musical touchstones into his own distinct sound, challenging mores and expectations in the process.
Over his career, Elvis’s music earned him gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards in American sales, and his global record sales have topped more than one billion. He achieved three Grammys from his 14 nominations, as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Besides his musical accomplishments, the King extended his influence on popular culture through both the big screen and the small, appearing in 33 films during his lifetime.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
'Elvis Presley's Memphis' Opens at Graceland: Elvis Presley’s Graceland officially opened its new, $45 million, state-of-the-art entertainment complex, “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” – 40 acres in size -- and welcomed visitors from around the world to its largest and most significant expansion since first opening to the public in 1982. The four-day opening celebration features live performances that celebrate Elvis’ incredible life and career, and honor Memphis’ rich musical legacy across genres, including Blues, Rockabilly, R&B, Soul and Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Priscilla Presley joined Graceland Holdings Managing Partner Joel Weinshanker and Elvis Presley Enterprises CEO Jack Soden at the official ribbon cutting to welcome guests and kick off the opening celebration.
The complex features the major museum spaces... |
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Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum, Presley Motors Automobile Museum, Presley Cycles
Plus the following exhibits
- Icons: The Influence of Elvis Presley Exhibit
- Mystery Train: The Sam Phillips Exhibit
- Elvis' Tupelo Exhibit
- The Fairgrounds
- The Country Road to Rock Exhibit: The Marty Stuart Collection
- Private Presley: Elvis in the Army Exhibit
- Archives Experience
- Elvis Fashion King Exhibit
- Soundstage A (See Elvis' movies & the King of Rock 'n' Roll in concert on the big screen!)
Click here to EPE for more tour information
(News, Source;EPE/ElvisInfoNet) |
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Lisa Marie Presley’s ex Won’t face Misconduct charges: Lisa Marie Presley’s estranged husband Michael Lockwood won’t face child sexual misconduct charges in Tennessee following an initial inquiry.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation concluded their investigation of the 49-year-old singer’s estranged husband, Michael Lockwood, after Presley alleged her ex possessed “inappropriate photos of children.”
“Barring any new potential evidence or information, we have concluded our involvement in this matter,” T.B.I. public information officer Josh DeVine told People. “We have not been able to determine a crime occurred in Tennessee and accordingly do not have an open investigation.”
“We never opened a formal investigation. We only embarked on an initial inquiry to determine if we could substantiate information with which to open a case,” he added.
Priscilla Presley, later noted that she is caring for the twins and that the girls have been living with her for nine months.
“It’s still a very family-oriented environment for them,” the 71-year-old said. “They’re great. They’re doing wonderful. They’re living a great life. They see both their parents, and we’ll see what happens.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
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Latest US Billboard Charts: The joy of Christmas Elvis has truly departed in the Billboard charts for week ending 11th March, 2017:
Elvis has no albums on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart
- 'The Wonder Of You' rises from 5 to 4 on the Classical Albums Chart
- 'If I Can Dream' rises from 17 to 16 on the Classical Albums Chart
- 'Elvis: Ultimate Gospel' rises from 8 to 7 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart; rises from 32 to 28 on the Top Christian Albums Chart and rises from 34 to 30 on the Christian And Gospel Albums Chart
- 'He Touched Me: The Gospel Music Of Elvis Presley' (Vols.1 and 2) drops from 9 to 12 on the Music Video Sales Chart
(News, Source;BrianQuinn/ElvisInfoNet) |
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| 'The Wonder Of You' is also holding at the #50 position in the Australian ARIA Album charts. |
'The Wonder Of You' still in the UK charts: After nearly four months in the UK album charts, the Elvis & RPO album 'The Wonder Of You' is just hanging on in the UK charts for 3rd March 2017
- 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 49 to 66 on the Physical Album Chart and drops from 58 to 77 on the Album Sales Chart
- 'The Platinum Collection' drops from 71 to 76 on the Physical Album Chart; rises from 100 to 97 on the Album Sales Chart and rises from 18 to 17 on the Indie Albums Chart
- 'Noel' is a re-entry at 21 on the Vinyl Singles Chart
- 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 61 to 72 on the Scottish Album Chart
- 'The Platinum Collection' rises from 93 to 97 on the Scottish Album Chart
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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'Graceland On The Line' - A homage to Elvis by Marty Rhone: Australian performer Marty Rhone has released a tribute song, Graceland On The Line, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Elvis' passing.
Marty Rhone had a fairly successful career in Australia in the mid-70s, with his two chart-topping hits being 'Denim And Lace' and 'Mean Pair Of Jeans'.
As an actor and singer Marty Rhone has performed with and in front of some of the biggest names in entertainment including the Rolling Stones, Yul Brynner; the Bee Gees, John Denver, Peter Allen and performed on stage in front of De Niro, Hoffman, Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, the Royal family..
'Graceland On The Line' is his tribute to the memory of the legend of all music legends.
For more info go to www.martyrhone.com.au
(News, Source;MartyRhone/ElvisInfoNet) |
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‘ELVIS: The Complete Works 1953 – 1955’ Review: MRS newest release, a 2CD/100page book compilation ‘MRS: The Complete Works 1953 – 1955’. The 100-page book chronicles Elvis’ short recording career there, from its humble beginnings (his personal acetate recordings from 1953) through to the final Sun sessions in 1955. The full and comprehensive text is complemented by rare photographs and unseen pieces of documentation.
The 2CDs contain the complete archival studio recordings from 1953-1955, Elvis’ personal acetates, the Sun masters, along with rare session outtakes. The tracks have been painstakingly remastered and restored. The set includes for the first time ‘That’s All Right’ taken from the ‘Mother’ master of the original Sun 45rpm.
But how does it differ from previous volumes about the same topic and is the audio any better?
Go here as EIN's Nigel Patterson and Piers Beagley check out this new volume from MRS to find what is on offer.
(Book Review: Source;ElvisInformationNetwork) |
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'Elvis The Man & His Music' Issue 115 Out Now: EIN's favourite Elvis music magazine ETM&HM Issue 115 - March 2017 - is out now.
As usual it’s packed to the rafters with only relevant features - this
time including
- The mysterious ‘I Feel That I’ve Known You Forever’ recording as featured in ‘Tickle Me’ - an in-depth look;
- A reflection on the Dark Side of 1973;
- A lengthy newspaper interview conducted in Las Vegas in 1956;
- A feature on the Elvis Presley Autograph 4-Speed ‘Victrola’ Portable Phonograph;
- Informed and honest CD and book reviews, readers’ letters, rare photos etc
Click here to Now Dig This to subscribe
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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| 'A Date With Elvis' - FTD OUT NOW: . 'A Date With Elvis' was released in July 1959 and was the second of three compilation albums released by RCA while Elvis was serving in the U.S. Army. The aim of all three albums, apart from keeping Elvis’ name in the public eye, was to collect recordings that had only been out on 45 rpm records in order to take advantage of the fast growing Long Playing album market.
This 7” digipack 2-CD set also features stereo masters and ‘fly-on-the-wall’ persona; recordings made during his Army time in Germany. It also includes the 'Is It So Strange' Binaural session.
This new Classic Album is at your Elvis dealers now
For full tracklist go to 'Elvis FTD / SONY News 2017'
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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Sonny West Back In Hospital: The last couple of days have been touch & go for Sonny West as he was re-admitted to hospital with pneumonia & complications.
He still needs all our prayers & support - although better news today as his son Bryan West says that he is improving today.
Bryan West noted, "I held my dads hand last night expressing to him that he's the strongest man I've ever known. I told him how much he needed to fight right now and not to give up. I told him how loved he is and how many people are praying and pulling for him to get through this. He kept squeezing my hand.
I read to my dad all the comments everyone wrote expressing their love, prayers and encouragement. We were told yesterday afternoon by the doctors they didn't expect him to pull through.
Besides pneumonia, his blood pressure was soft. Meaning it was dangerously low, while machines were breathing for him.
Today I am so happy to share the improvement continued throughout the night into today. He's on a minimal dose of the meds through his neck and his blood pressure is slowly climbing in the right direction. The ventilator is turned down to the lowest setting for the fact my dad has started breathing on his own.
Prayer and faith are so powerful! I want to thank you all for your prayers, love and support."
There is a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to pay off their debt. PLEASE HELP - click here.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
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(Book Review) 'Being Elvis - A Lonely Life': The latest Elvis biography is authored by noted rock writer, Ray Connolly. Media reviews have suggested that... "Perhaps because we all know how it ends, it’s those early years that make for the hardest reading. The decisions Elvis makes all seem to be omens of what’s still to come for the young man."...
EIN's Nigel Patterson offers his observations on a release which searches below the surface to reveal how Elvis' insecurity and loneliness were exacerbated by the unique situation that he experienced as the world's first truly global superstar.
Go here to Nigel's review of this new biography
(Book Review, Source: EIN) |
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"Elvis Presley's Memphis" Opens This Week: Priscilla Presley will be on hand to kick off a four-day grand opening celebration for the brand new "Elvis Presley's Memphis" at Graceland on Thursday, March 2. The $45 million, 200,000-square-foot entertainment and museum complex is the second phase of Graceland's expansion plans. It will feature a new Elvis Presley career museum, the "Presley Motors" automobile museum, a 20,000-square-foot "Graceland Soundstage" performing space/meeting hall, a barbecue restaurant, a 1950s-inspired diner and retail stores. The facility will be five times the size of the current visitors center.
The facility will also feature a permanent exhibition on Sun Records' founder Sam Phillips.
In addition to an appearance by Priscilla Presley, the four-day celebration will feature major |
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celebration events each day, including live concerts that will celebrate Elvis’ incredible life and career, and honor Memphis’ rich musical legacy across genres, including Blues, Rockabilly, R&B, Soul and Rock ‘n’ Roll.
The largest entertainment complex of its kind, and exponentially bigger than Graceland’s current visitor center, “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” will enable music fans, pop culture enthusiasts and Memphis visitors to follow the path that Elvis took, surround themselves with the things that he loved, and experience the sights and sounds of the city that inspired him.
While the acclaimed Graceland Mansion tour will continue to present the personal and family side of Elvis’ life, “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” will tell the rest of the story, exploring the beginning of the incredible music and pop culture explosion that all started here in Memphis, with the greatest entertainer of all time.
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As “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” opens, a new tour experience will also debut. The new “Ultimate VIP” tour experience (US$150) will take a small group of visitors on an unprecedented journey through Elvis Presley’s life story and the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Led by an expert tour guide, visitors will tour Graceland Mansion and explore all of “Elvis Presley’s Memphis,” including the new EP Automobile Museum, The Entertainer Career Museum, Elvis Discovery Exhibits, Elvis’ Custom Jets and an exclusive Ultimate VIP Tour Exhibit.
The cornerstone of the “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” experience will be “Elvis: The Entertainer,” a 20,000-square-foot museum the largest and most comprehensive Elvis museum in the world.
Click here to EPE if you want to get tickets
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
Elvis as the Captain America of rock: Another review on the new Sun Records TV series....
CMT is selling Sun Records as the saga of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis as the revolutionary first generation of rock ‘n’ roll, but the show is really about Sam Phillips, founder of the record label that recorded them all — Sun Records — in 1950s Memphis. Phillips is played by Chad Michael Murray as a poor and stubborn innovator, determined to build a company around a new sound that would combine black rhythm and blues with white country music to forge both an art form and a money-maker.
Based loosely on the hit Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet, Sun Records takes its very leisurely time getting to the exciting, rock ‘n’ roll part of this drama. As though the producers were mounting a musical version of The Avengers, we get the stories of all the principals. Elvis (Drake Milligan) — the eventual Captain America of rock ‘n’ roll, straight-edged and noble — is a poor, shy Mississippi farm boy whose mother, Gladys, sees his potential early on. |
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| Jerry Lee (Christian Lees) is a cocky Louisiana piano player who pounds out tunes with the cautious encouragement of his highly religious cousin Jimmy (Jonah Lees). Johnny Cash (Kevin Fontaine) is an aimless Arkansas rebel who enlists in the Air Force and is stationed in Germany. Meanwhile, Sam Phillips is back at the ramshackle Memphis Recording Service, trying to make a go of it without much success. The TV show plays up a hazy historical fact — that Sam probably had an affair with his office assistant, Marion Keisker (Margaret Anne Florence). She is more firmly embedded in history as the person who first noticed Elvis’s star potential when he wandered into Sun Records to record a birthday song for his mom. I should say that this last detail has not yet been dramatized in Sun Records in the four episodes made available to critics — as I said, the pace of this show about lively music is really slow. It is also so light on context that I cannot imagine what viewers who are unfamiliar with 1950s rock will make of it. Will the audience for Sun Records realize, just to take one example, that Jerry Lee Lewis’s cousin is the nascent Jimmy Swaggart, soon to become one of the most prominent conservative televangelists ever? Watch the "Sun Records" trailer
Mike & Molly’s Billy Gardell dominates a lengthy subplot about a blustery carnival barker who’ll become Col. Tom Parker, the eventual manager of Elvis. But here, he’s just a hustler who lucks into managing the career of Eddy Arnold (Trevor Donovan), a smooth-voiced crooner who deserves better than to be portrayed as a mere goody-goody pushed aside for the rock revolution. By the fourth episode, Parker isn’t anywhere near Elvis yet — he’s just signed up Hank Snow, played by the excellent singer Pokey LaFarge, and again, Sun Records gives no context for Snow, a great Canadian country star, billed as “the Singing Ranger.” He and Arnold are rendered as mere yokels who must give way to the rise of rock ‘n’ roll — and that just ain’t the way it happened, kids.
The show tries to be mindful of the racial aspects of this history. The fourth member of what would become the Million Dollar Quartet — Carl Perkins — doesn’t even appear in the episodes I’ve seen. Instead, we get the story of how Ike Turner (Kerry Holliday) — now a villain in history for his spousal abuse of Tina Turner, but at this point in his life a vital, imaginative musician — recorded the song “Rocket 88” in 1951 with his band the Kings of Rhythm. His glory was robbed when Chess Records released it under the name of the song’s vocalist, Ike’s saxophonist Jackie Brenston, and the band was renamed the Delta Cats. You’d never guess from this show that “Rocket 88” is frequently considered the first hit in the then-new genre dubbed rock ‘n’ roll.
Repetitious (okay, we get it: Sam Phillips had an unhappy marriage and made out with Marion as frequently as possible) and clumsy as it lurches from one disparate subplot to another, Sun Records is such a slow burn it’s kind of a fizzle. (Review, Source: Yahoo.com)
EIN Observation: In 1990, the 13 episode series, Elvis, starring Michael St. Gerard in the titular role was released. While critically acclaimed it failed to ignite viewer's interest. It was certainly was a quality production and a cogent record of Elvis' days before superstardom, but it too was a slow burn. Seems it is hard to get this era in the Elvis story right for a broad audience.
Coming soon: EIN's detailed critique of Sun Records (episode 1) |
Latest US Billboard Charts: The joy of Christmas Elvis has truly departed in the Billboard charts for week ending 4th March, 2017:
Elvis has no albums on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart
- 'The Wonder Of You' remains at 5 on the Classical Albums Chart
- 'Elvis: Ultimate Gospel' rises from 13 to 8 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart; rises from 35 to 32 on the Top Christian Albums Chart and rises from 37 to 34 on the Christian And Gospel Albums Chart
- 'If I Can Dream' drops from 13 to 17 on the Classical Albums Chart
- 'Heart And Soul' drops from 21 to 22 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart
(News, Source;BrianQuinn/ElvisInfoNet) |
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'The Wonder Of You' still in the UK charts: After nearly four months in the UK album charts, the Elvis & RPO album 'The Wonder Of You' is just hanging on in the Top 100 albums for the 24th February, 2017
#96 - 'The Wonder Of You'
Other Elvis Entries on the UK Charts - 24th February, 2017
- 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 44 to 49 on the Physical Album Chart and drops from 51 to 58 on the Album Sales Chart
- 'The Platinum Collection' drops from 66 to 71 on the Physical Album Chart; drops from 83 to 100 on the Album Sales Chart and drops from 16 to 18 on the Indie Albums Chart
- 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 52 to 61 on the Scottish Album Chart
- 'The Platinum Collection' rises from 98 to 93 on the Scottish Album Chart
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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| Recent Elvis News from earlier last week . . . |
Dodginess and Lies in the Elvis Book World: As EIN noted last week there was an interesting twist in the Elvis World when Joe Tunzi announced a new book on exactly the same subject as Erik Lorentzen's "One Night In Toronto" which was announced months ago.
In the publicity for his book 'Encore Performance Volume VI: '57 at 60 One Night with Elvis' Tunzi claimed "The book will feature photos of Elvis Presley, from the John Sebert collection taken from the original negative sources rather than lower quality scans you might find in other publications".
Unfortunately Paul Sweeney / Erik Lorentzen have supplied proof that this is just not true and that only they are using original negatives....
.. "Please be assured that the John Sebert images you obtained from Library and Archives Canada are from the |
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original negatives held here. We have since spoken with Mr. Tunzi of JAT publishing. He did not have copies from the original negatives. He had only prints of contact sheets. Mr. Tunzi is now well aware that the copyright on all of the images in the John Sebert fonds belongs to Library and Archives Canada." - Manager, Copyright Services, Library and Archives Canada.
(News, Source;EL/ElvisInfoNet) |
'One Night In Toronto - The Boy In The Gold Suit' Free Poster Offer: Pre Order Now and get this poster (below) with your book..
Now available for pre-order the new book from Paul Sweeney, Jean-Marc Carisse and Erik Lorentzen.
Ready For Pre Orders:
April 2 - 1957 - One Night In Toronto - The Boy In The Gold Suit -
With 400 Unseen Photos.
A historical document - the 60th Anniversary.
* interviews
* backstage stories
* private moments
You Can Pre-Order Now. Send €120 By Paypal To: Sales @Elvisfiles.No - Including Shipping All Over The World.
Or CLICK HERE to www.Elvisfiles.No
Author Paul Sweeney comments, "There are over 300 photos from before, during and after the two shows from the John Sebert Collection at Library & Archives Canada. I was blown away when I first set eyes on them earlier this year, and you know me, the candid photos really caught my eye, but you'll have to wait and see for yourselves.
Our photos are taken from the original negatives"
(News, Source;Erik Lorentzen)
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CMT's 'Sun Records' Doco-Drama Review: The Tampa Bay Times has supplied the first review of the new CMT doco-drama about the great Sam Phillips - and sadly the news isn't good.
... . Sam Phillips was an early pioneer for rock 'n' roll and, if you believe CMT's new scripted series Sun Records, the drugs and sex, too.
You know the names: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. And perhaps you already know the story. The four musicians walk into Phillips' recording studio for an impromptu jam session on Dec. 4, 1956, and solidify a new sound of music that still resonates 60 years later. But CMT's eight-part drama based on the Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet just doesn't live up to the legends' legacies.
Sun Records sure takes its time introducing each familiar face. It begins in Memphis, Tenn., in 1950, when Phillips (One Tree Hill's Chad Michael Murray) opens his recording studio and begins finding the voices of what would become the early sound of rock 'n' roll. We meet Presley and Lewis as lovesick high school boys who play different games to get the girl, and Cash as he's about to leave to serve overseas. But in the four episodes provided to critics, we still haven't really met Perkins.
While the show mostly focuses on Phillips (played with a ridiculously heavy Southern drawl), it's the obviously inexperienced newcomers playing the quartet who unfortunately carry the weight of the show. For example, Drake Milligan, who plays Presley, is more like the John Stamos' Elvis impression on 'Full House' but not as charming. |
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The show has six years of backstory to get through, and it's severely lacking in musical numbers, which are some of the show's best scenes. It also stumbles on finding the right tone. It's a wholesome afterschool-special biopic mixed with a soapy night-time drama. And while we need the context of the segregated South, most of the time the overt racism is gratuitous.
However, the show does something absolutely right: adding the influential sounds of artists B.B. King, Ike Turner, Muddy Waters and Fats Domino.
But with so many stories to tell, Sun Records loses focus. Hopefully, it's worth all the sloppiness to see the foursome do what they do best: play the music.
The show premieres in the USA at 10pm tonight, Thursday on CMT
Click here to TampaBayTimes full review
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
'Outback Elvis' New Book mini-review: 'Outback Elvis' is a new book by authors John Connell & Chris Gibson exploring the phenomenon of the Elvis Festival in Parkes, Australia where far more people gather to celebrate The King's Birthday than in Memphis itself.
The publicity notes.... Where do thousands of people in wigs, jumpsuits and fake Priscilla eyelashes go each January to swelter in 42-degree heat as they celebrate The King? Parkes, of course - 365 kilometres west of Sydney - for the annual Parkes Elvis Festival. But how, and why, did this sleepy town get all shook up by Elvis? Written by two long-time fans of the festival, Outback Elvis introduces the local characters, the lookalikes, the impersonators and the tribute artists - and the town that made this big hunk o' Elvis love possible.- 214 pages & 33 pages of photos.
The SMH has posted their mini-review:
"Until recently, Parkes was known for two things: its namesake, Sir Henry Parkes, and the Dish, used for tracking spacecraft. But a third was added in 1993 when the annual Elvis festival was added to its attractions. Like many country towns, Parkes was in decline in the 1990s. Local business needed a boost. So did the town. The solution? Obvious - Elvis! At first local response was muted, but as the festival gathered momentum and hotels, grog shops and restaurants, responding to big sales, took off their Akubras and slipped on their blue suede shoes, it became a fixture. It's also changed the culture of the town: cafe culture, Earl Grey and a renovated hotel called Gracelands. In some ways this is an unlikely story, by two academics who have followed the festival for years, about a town that got all shook up and set about re-inventing itself."
Click here to Amazon for more info.
(News, Source;SMH/ElvisInfoNet)
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Melbourne Elvis fans Win 'The Wonder of You' concert double passes: Australian Elvis fans in Victoria have a chance to win tickets to the Melbourne 'Elvis - The Wonder of You' concert.
The local Leader News is offering ten double passes, all you have to do is fill in the entry form.
'Elvis - The Wonder of You' comes to Margaret Court Arena in June. Featuring images and video of Elvis Presley on state of the art screens, the event will feature the most recognisable voice of all time with a full symphony orchestra live on stage performing Elvis' most well-known hit songs.
The tour follows the success of 2015's If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra recording, and will star vision of Elvis Presley on specially designed screens with a live 40-piece symphony orchestra, led by musical director Chong Lim.
Elvis never performed live in Australia, so this may be as close as Australian audiences will get to seeing the King of Rock and Roll live.
For ticketing and further information, go to elvislive.com.au
Enter by Thursday, March 2, Each prize is valued at $160.
CLICK HERE to enter - One entry per person.
(News, Source;LeaderNews/ElvisInfoNet) |
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Memphis Tourism Bureau opening in Australia and New Zealand: The Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau is opening an office in the Land Down Under in a bid to gin up more foreign travel to the Home of the Blues. The $100,000-a-year effort comes as the bureau tries to boost the Memphis brand in Australia and New Zealand which together rank as the No. 3 source of international visitors to Memphis.
Rounding out the top 5 are No. 1 Canada, No. 2 United Kingdom, No. 4 Germany and a somewhat surprising newcomer, Brazil, at No. 5. The office opening in Auckland came amid plans for "Elvis: The Wonder of You," touring show.
The bureau has operated offices in Japan, England and other European nations for years under partnerships with other agencies including Tennessee, Mississippi and New Orleans.
The bureau decided to add an Australia-New Zealand presence based on confidential data gleaned from Graceland ticket sales and bookings by tour operators and travel wholesalers.
"Kind of surprising to us a little bit is Brazil," Bearden said. "Brazil is starting to really show up in a lot of destinations in Memphis and is the fifth strongest ticket buyer at Graceland."
Bearden said officials weren't sure how many of the city's 11.5
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million tourists last year were from out of the country, but they believe it was substantial. The last estimate in 2010 was 16 percent.
Industry data suggest international tourists booked 450,000 nights in Memphis hotel rooms in 2016, Bearden said. That was 8.4 percent of total room nights. International visitors stay longer and spend more money than U.S. residents visiting the city. International visitors typically stay 14-17 nights in the U.S. and travel to multiple cities across a region.
(News, Source;Various/ElvisInfoNet) |
Priscilla taking care of Elvis' grandchildren amid custody battle: Priscilla has confirmed she is taking care of her grandchildren as the family's messy custody battle rages on.
The 71-year-old dispelled media reports that her grandchildren, daughter Lisa Marie's twins 8-year-old Harper and Finley, had been taken into foster care.
Setting the record straight Priscilla said: "The girls have been with me and will be until all this is sorted out."
Lisa Marie and Michael Lockwood have been engaged in a messy custody battle since they decided to end their 10-year marriage last year.
Things took a sinister turn last week, when Lisa Marie made shocking allegations in divorce-related court papers that her ex-husband was under investigation after she found child abuse images on his computer. In the damning report, the 49-year-old said police had seized a total of 80 devices from Michael.
Michael has since slammed the "unproven" allegations and has said that Lisa is also facing investigation for an undisclosed matter.
He said: "As I experienced during our more than 10-year marriage and as I believe this court will learn, Lisa Marie has great difficulty being honest and she rarely, if ever, accepts personal responsibility for her own wrongdoing.
Claiming his former partner was trying to "damage" him, Michael continued: |
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"It is particularly distasteful that she has placed more value on trying to damage my reputation than on the fact that her false statements may be brought to our daughters' attention."
In addition to their custody drama, Lisa and Michael are also involved in a bitter feud over finances. Michael is reportedly demanding money towards his legal costs and an additional £32,000 a month in spousal support.
However, Lisa Marie has argued that she is unable to meet the demands as she is facing financial struggles.
In court documents, the mum-of-four revealed she has been forced to "loan" money from friends and had to move in with her eldest daughter, actress Riley Keough.
(News, Source;AP/ElvisInfoNet) |
'Wild In Wichita!' New import: Out soon from the E.P. Collector label is "Wild In Wichita!" (EPC 2017-10), Audience Recording from Wichita, Kansas, on December 27th, 1976.
This is a previously unreleased show, taken from a recently found first generation copy of an original audience recorded master cassette tape. Until now, the Wichita show was never available in an acceptable sound, the EPE label looked for a better tape and succeeded! Although still not great quality, it is a very listenable recording of this wonderful opening show!
To prevent possible speculations: years ago FTD reportedly planned a possible soundboard release of the Wichita '76 show. Unfortunately this info was based on a mislabeled tape and there are no indications that a soundboard of this show exists.
Just as all other December '76 tour shows, this concert is excellent! Elvis appeared on stage with the same joy and energy as in Pittsburgh on New Year's Eve. Highlights are "Fairytale", "And I Love You So", a full version of "Early Mornin' Rain", an unbeatable performance of "How Great Thou Art", and "Hurt". One unique performance stands out. It was the very first time that Elvis performed "Unchained Melody", accompanying himself on piano. This premier performance is tentative in parts but that's part of the magic. A great Presley moment!
This CD features a 16-page booklet, filled with a.o. a local newspaper concert review, and special memories by the American fan who taped the show. We are happy that she was willing to share her unique, never before published snapshots, too! All images are taken in Wichita, KS, December 27, 1976.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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| EIN exclusives and News from earlier in February . . . |
'Elvis: His Songs of Praise Vol.2' FTD book Promo Video: Trevor Simpson's first book about Elvis' sacred, spiritual and gospel songs came out last september and now the long-anticipated sequel is being prepared. The second volume titled "Elvis: His Songs of Praise Vol.2" will feature 350 pages about the final half of the chosen Elvis sacred songs - 100 in all.
It promises over 350 pages with lavishly illustrated high-quality images, many unseen photographs and graphics. Every song has been thoroughly researched in a similar manner to Trevor Simpson’s previous trilogy "Elvis: The Best of British”.
In early interviews, Elvis divulged that spiritual music was his first love and he publicly continued to reaffirm. Despite being acclaimed as the ‘King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’, he was only presented with three Grammy awards and they were for his spiritual music and the stories of these iconic songs are much, much more contained within this book. The book comes with bonus CD - see tracklist below.
Click here to the 6 minute YouTube Promo video
More info soon. - Click here to EIN's interview with author Trevor Simpson about this Gospel project.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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ELVIS – HIS SONGS OF PRAISE, VOL.2
1. Elvis Introduction / Only Believe (With unused horns overdubbed June 8, 1970) (2:55)
PURE ELVIS: UNDUBBED SACRED SONGS
2. I, John (T-2 Undubbed Master June 10, 1971) (2:15)
3. Life (T-20 Undubbed Master June 6, 1970) (3:07)
4. Reach Out To Jesus (T-9 Undubbed June 9, 1971) (3:08)
5. He Is My Everything (Undubbed Master June 9, 1971) (2:39)
6. He Knows Just What I Need (T-9 Undubbed Oct 30, 1960) (2:10)
7. Swing Down Sweet Chariot (Undubbed Movie Version Oct 23, 1969) (2:15)
8. We Call On Him (T-3 Undubbed September 11, 1967) (2:33)
9. Padre (Undubbed Spliced Master May 16, 1971) (2:29)
10. Elvis Introduction / You’ll Never Walk Alone (Extended Master September 11, 1967) (3:52)
1956 – 1977 ELVIS IMPROMPTU (LIVE AND RARE)
11. On the Jericho Road (SUN Studio Dec 4, 1956) (0:50)
12. Peace In The Valley (Ed Sullivan Show Jan 6, 1957) (1:39)
13. Down By The Riverside / When The Saints Go Marching In (From the Movie “Frankie & Johnny May 1965) (1:45)
14. The Lord’s Prayer (Edit May 16, 1971) (2:03)
15. Elvis Introduction / Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone / Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus / Nearer My God To The (March / April 1972) (3:11)
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16. Bosom Of Abraham / You Better Run (March / April 1972) (2:34)
17. The Impossible Dream (Madison Square Garden) (June 10, 1972) (3:18)
18. Where No One Stands Alone (Montgomery, Alabama February 16, 1977) (2:23)
SEASONS GREETINGS FROM ELVIS: THE CHRISTMAS RADIO SPECIAL FROM DECEMBER 3, 1967
19. Announcer / Here Comes Santa Claus (2:37)
20. Announcer / Blue Christmas (2:11)
21. Announcer / O Little Town Of Bethlehem (2:47)
22. Dale Robertson / Christmas Seal Charity Appeal (1:23)
23. Announcer / Silent Night (2:34)
24. I’ll Be Home For Christmas (1:54)
25. Announcer / I Believe (2:23)
26. Announcer / If Everyday Was Like Christmas (3:04)
27. Announcer / How Great Thou Art (3:16)
28. His Hand In Mine (3:00)
29. Announcer / Promotion of Elvis’ Albums (1:00)
30. Elvis’ Special Message / I’ll Be Home For Christmas (2:08)
MORE PURE ELVIS – UNDUBBED CHRISTMAS CAROLS
31. The First Noel (Undubbed Master May 21, 1971) (2:13)
32. O Come, All Ye Faithful (T-1 Undubbed Master May 21, 1971 (2:58)
Thanks to FECC for the tracklisting |
2017 Tupelo Elvis Festival: The 2017 Tupelo Elvis Festival theme has been released after the artwork was unveiled on Monday.
This year it will be held on June 1-4, 2017, to celebrate the life and music of Tupelo's native son, Elvis Presley.
The artwork was created by Tupelo resident Sue Scruggs. The artist created a Hawaiian-themed image that includes a variety of bright and tropical blues, greens and pinks accompanied with a center-focus on the guitar. The vintage inspired image reflects Elvis’ movie years and the 90-minute special Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite.
Scruggs, longtime Tupelo resident, trained in the impressionist style of art in Como, Italy. She has a degree in art from David Lipscomb College in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Tupelo Elvis Festival is entering its nineteenth year. The festival has been named a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism society
(News, Source;Gansky/ElvisInfoNet) |
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Classic Marty Lacker (R.I.P.): One of Marty Lacker's last conversations with EIN was about Elvis impersonators.
Only two months ago EIN received a note from a US Elvis impersonator - and their Attorney - suggesting a defamation case for lost earnings against EIN and Marty Lacker stating that Marty's "False statements have hurt and tainted my life & career in the music industry" and that he wanted to sue for compensation!
This was because Marty had openly stated that this person was a "nut-job" like most other other impersonators.
Marty said "I’m not fan in any shape or form of Elvis impersonators. Calling themselves Tribute Artists is a joke; they just want their 15 minutes of fame. If they had any talent they should put it to use being themselves.
The problem is most of them don’t have the talent. They will never be Elvis or anything close to it. If you want to hear Elvis music, play an Elvis record. If you want to see him perform, play a video or DVD of ELVIS!"
Below are two other classic Marty Lacker stories. He will be terribly missed.
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MARTY on Colonel Parker -
Let me be perfectly clear from the beginning, Parker was all about money lining his pockets and Elvis was his golden goose that made that happen.
He never took into consideration Elvis' personal well being as far as his mental and physical condition was concerned.
Parker was good for Elvis in the very beginning because with his carny con ways he got him known quickly and Elvis quickly made big money compared to where he came from.
But Parker never changed with the times and he continued to treat Elvis like a carnival side show in his publicity and tactics.
However, Parker took a ridiculous 25% of everything as a managers fee when the norm was either 10% or 15% at the most.
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He instilled in Elvis from the start to let him handle the business side while making sure that Elvis really never learned much about it until he died.
Then in '67 when Elvis fell and had a slight concussion in L.A. Parker took advantage of him and demanded 50% and Elvis gave into him because his head was messed up.
In my opinion Parker never was concerned about Elvis' well being and his bullshit after Elvis died was to always say "that's the way Elvis wanted it" and "he only did what Elvis wanted him to do".
Elvis should have gotten rid of him around '62 and maybe he wouldn't have had to suffer through those shitty movies and got good scripts via another manager.
Elvis wasn't aware of the business side and he really didn't know there were good managers out there who would not only get him good deals in which he would have made more money but they also would have cared about his well being too.
I blame Parker's actions for a big part of Elvis relying on pills to escape his mental well being.
- Marty |
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MARTY regarding the sub-standard movie songs. Weeks before every movie Elvis would receive a stack of demos from Parker and Freddy Bienstock of Hill & Range Music and most of them were pure shit.
We used to listen them up in his office and put them in three piles,one pile was the 'No', maybe's and Yes.
Without exception the 'No' pile would be huge, 'Maybe' had a few in it and the 'Yes' pile was usually three or four.
It really was disheartening to see what Parker was sending him but he did it because he had a piece of the publishing of every song.
If a songwriter came to us with a song that he wanted Elvis to record we had to tell them to see Parker. Parker would then demand a piece of the publishing before Elvis would record the song, some of them gave it to him but most of the hit songwriters told him to go to hell. I didn't blame them because to me that was not fair, it would be like a hit songwriter telling Elvis he wanted a piece of his record sales royalties if he wanted to record his song, that would never happen.
All that was a negative result of Elvis allowing Parker to handle everything. |
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I am proud that I got that to change a bit during the American Studio sessions in '69 when one night when Elvis was taking a break because of having a throat problem we were up in his office listening to Parker's demos and Elvis was lamenting that he didn't have any good songs to cut, I then got up and did a long explanation why and I laid into Parker and Bienstock's doings and that it was hurting Elvis.
This was at a time I was not working for Elvis anymore because I had started a record company in Memphis and became educated about the real workings of the music industry and what was the normal and right way of doing things musically.
That talk I had resulted in Elvis recording 'Suspicious Minds' the next night even if Chips Moman owned the song and refused to give them a percentage of the publishing when he was brow beated by Parker's assistant Tom Diskin.
Diskin then complained to Elvis who told Diskin to let him, Chips and Felton Jarvis handle the session. That made me feel good and I gave Elvis the thumbs up when he did it. Diskin called Parker in California and Parker angrily told Diskin to leave there and come back to California and he said, "If Elvis wants to do this without us, Let him fall on his ass."
Parker was pissed and I was happy he was.
Some falling on his ass (lol), Four hit singles, His first Number One in 5 years plus two platinum albums that are still selling 46 years after the session!!.
- Marty
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14 Feb 2017 - Marty Lacker - RIP: It is with immense sadness that EIN has to report on the death of our great friend - and a true friend to Elvis - Marty Lacker.
Marty is well-known as one of the key members of the Memphis Mafia and also co-Best Man at Elvis' wedding.
He was known for both his honesty and being forthright with his opinions. He was the only member of the Memphis Mafia who still watched and commented on recent Elvis News. He had no issue with holding people to account (especially ones who would inflate their importance within Elvis' legacy) and would regularly write to EIN asking us to add his comments or to correct any inaccuracy.
I feel so saddened as Marty's passing so easily demonstrates the fragility of life. His death being caused by a simple home accident (he fell over while doing laundry) which caused him to be hospitalised with internal bruising and eventual kidney failure. Marty was such a character that he even apologised for being in hospital and not replying to all his friends emails!
Marty Lacker was born in Brooklyn, NY but grew up in the South Bronx until he moved to Memphis in 1952.
In 1953 he transferred to Humes High School where he became aware of Elvis because they both dressed alike which was unlike most of the kids back then. Carrying his NY influences Marty would also wear bright, loud colour clothes with collars up and had semi longer hair than the regular crew-cuts of the time.
It was later after his time in the army, early 1957 that Marty started going over to Graceland. |
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While Elvis was in the army Marty would become Production Director for Memphis WHHM Radio and it was only in 1961 that Elvis persuaded him to join Elvis' core team full-time.
Unlike many others in the 'Memphis Mafia' Marty Lacker managed a separate career (working for radio stations as well as starting his own label Pepper Records in late 1967 before becoming VP and General Manager of Chips Moman's American Studios in 1969) as well as staying a best friend to Elvis.
Marty was responsible for many stars coming to work at American and was friends with names such as Petula Clark (Marty flew to New York to convince her to record in Memphis) , Dionne Warwick, Bill Medley, Dusty Springfield, Neil Diamond and many more. Marty was had a good friendship with the legendary Jackie Wilson, as did Sonny West.
In recent years Marty Lacker stated his disappointment over Priscilla / EPE's cheap commercialisation of Elvis' legacy and their lack of support or interest in cousin Billy Smith who stayed by Elvis' side to the very end.
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The Memphis Commercial Appeal today commented..
"If not for Marty Lacker, Elvis might never have gone to American Studios in 1969 to record the landmark "From Elvis in Memphis" record. If not for Mr. Lacker, then, the world might never have had such Presley hits as "Suspicious Minds", "In the Ghetto," among many others.
Chips Moman noted, "Marty was working for me and he was still in close with Elvis. So Marty was talking to me about Elvis and talking to Elvis about me and slowly bringing us together. He's really the one that got that album to take place."
Mr. Lacker also worked in the music business both during his time with Elvis and after The King's 1977 death. In 1967, Lacker helped launch Pepper Records and went on to become American Studios' vice president and business manager. In the early '70s, Lacker also helped co-found the local Grammy chapter and also served as the chairman of the original Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission.
"A big thing that I wanted to accomplish was to organize the music industry in town. Memphis was not a very organized city; everybody did their own thing," Lacker told the newspaper in 2010. "At the end of the day, you can't underestimate what the music that came out of Memphis has brought to this city."
- Funeral arrangements were still being finalized late Monday.
EIN will publish more about our good friend tomorrow.
Meanwhile, may the great man Rest In Peace - we miss you Marty.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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Marty Lacker RIP : Sadly Marty will no longer be able to answer all your those fascinating questions, but his honesty and openess should not be forgotten.
- Chips Moman (RIP) later thoughts on Elvis
- Being a consultant on 1979 "ELVIS" movie.
- The demonstrations in Memphis this Elvis Week.
- Felton Jarvis as Elvis' Executive Album Producer.
- The Jungle Room sessions
- Elvis might have some illegitimate children
- Why did Elvis never travel to holiday in Europe,
- Is David Stanley, Holy Priest of truth, OR a liar
Go here to 'ASK MARTY' to remember the great man.
(Ask Marty, Source;ML/ElvisInfoNet)
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Marty Lacker opens up to EIN: In Part 1 of our interviews with Memphis Mafia member, Marty Lacker, Marty tells us about the famous celebrities, the pills, marriage and the Memphis Mafia, the $10m concert offer for Elvis to play in front of the Pyramids in Egypt and the real reason Elvis shot out his TV set when Robert Goulet appeared on the screen.
Marty Lacker was first interviewed in depth by EIN's Nigel Patterson back in 2005.
(Interview, Source: EIN) |
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Two New FTD releases: The first two new FTD releases for 2017.
- 'A Date With Elvis' - Classic Album. 'A Date With Elvis' was released in July 1959 and was the second of three compilation albums released by RCA while Elvis was serving in the U.S. Army. The aim of all three albums, apart from keeping Elvis’ name in the public eye, was to collect recordings that had only been out on 45 rpm records in order to take advantage of the fast growing Long Playing album market. This 7” digipack 2-CD set also features stereo masters and ‘fly-on-the-wall’ persona; recordings made during his Army time in Germany. It also includes the 'Is It So Strange' Binaural session.
DISC 1 Original Album 1 Blue Moon Of Kentucky 2 Young And Beautiful 3 (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care 4 Milkcow Blues Boogie 5 Baby Let’s Play House 6 Good Rockin’ Tonight 7 Is It So Strange 8 We’re Gonna Move 9 I Want To Be Free 10 I Forgot To Remember To Forget BONUS SONGS 11 I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine 12 Let Me Stereo and Binaural 13 Young And Beautiful 14 (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care 15 We’re Gonna Move 16 I Want To Be Free (movie version, Splice of takes 10, 12 & 13) (binaural master not released as such before) |
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17 I Want To Be Free (record version, Splice of takes 11 & final ending take 5) (binaural master not released before) 18 Is It So Strange (take 1) 19 Is It So Strange (takes 2-9) 20 Is It So Strange (take 10) 21 Is It So Strange (take 11) 22 Is It So Strange (take 12) (original master take)
DISC 2 Private Recordings from Germany 1 I’m Beginning To Forget You 2 I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You) (ending only) 3 Mona Lisa 4 I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You) 5 Guitar Piece 6 Danny Boy (1) 7 Danny Boy – (2) 8 Loving You (incomplete) 9 Talk/I’m Beginning To Forget You – (2) 10 Christmas 11 I’m Beginning To Forget You – (3) 12 I’m Beginning To Forget You – (4) 13 I Asked The Lord (1 incomplete) 14 I Asked The Lord – (2 incomplete) 15 Apron Strings – (1) 16 Soldier Boy 1:53 17 I Asked The Lord – (3 incomplete) 18 I Asked The Lord – (4) 19 I Asked The Lord – (5) 20 Earth Angel 21 I Will Be True 22 There’s No Tomorrow 23 I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen – (slow 2) 24 Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)/ Hound Dog 25 I Asked The Lord – (6) 26 I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen – (fast 2) 27 Apron Strings – (3) 28 The Titles Will Tell 29 Send Me Some Lovin’ 30 The Fool – (1) 31 The Fool – (2 incomplete) 32 The Fool – (3) 33 The Fool – (4) Badly Distorted Audio 34 I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen – (fast 1) 35 I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen – (slow 1) 36 Apron Strings – (2) 37 It’s Been So Long Darling |
- “Speedway: The Remixed Soundtrack Masters” Double VINYL release. Following on from the recent “TODAY - the Original Session Mixes”, FTD Vinyl is pleased to announce the release of “Speedway: The Remixed Soundtrack Masters”. The LP also features the original MONO mixes.
SIDE 1. 1 Let Yourself Go 2 Your Time Hasn’t Come Yet, Baby 3 There Ain’t Nothing Like A Song (Elvis and Nancy Sinatra) 4 Who Are You? (Who Am I?) 5 Speedway 6 He’s Your Uncle Not Your Dad 7 Suppose SIDE 2 1 Five Sleepy Heads 2 Goin’ Home – takes 24, 21 3 Mine – takes 1, 2, 3, 4 4 Western Union – take 1 5 Suppose (Nashville master) 6 Let Yourself Go – take 5
SIDE 3 1 Your Groovy Self (master) Nancy Sinatra 2 Your Time Hasn’t Come Yet, Baby (movie version) 3 Goin’ Home – takes 16, 23 4 Mine – takes 8, 9 5 Western Union – take 2, 3 6 Let Yourself Go – take 6 SIDE 4 THE MONO SOUNDTRACK MASTERS 1 Speedway 2 There Ain’t Nothing Like A Song (Elvis and Nancy Sinatra) 3 Your Time Hasn’t Come Yet, Baby 4 Who Are You? (Who Am I?) 5 He’s Your Uncle Not Your Dad 6 Let Yourself Go 7 Your Groovy Self Nancy Sinatra 8 Five Sleepy Heads* 9 Suppose* * Not used in the final print
(News, Source;ElvisShopLondon/FTD/ElvisInfoNet)
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Sara Ann Patterson - Tupelo Elvis fan- RIP: Elvis fans will easily remember Tupelo fan Sara Ann Patterson who is seen with Elvis in the famous photos at the Tupelo showgrounds. We are sad to report that Sara Ann Patterson Gunter died a few days ago on January 29, aged 77. Sara was born in Tupelo on April 8, l939 to pioneer Lee Countians, Sam and Lucille Garmon Patterson. She grew up in Verona, graduated from Tupelo High School in l957 and received her higher education at Mississippi University for Women and Delta State University.
Sara was an avid Elvis Presley fan. In Elvis' 1956 return to the Tupelo Fairgrounds, she got to not only meet Elvis but received a kiss on the cheek from "the King." She appeared in the definitive documentary of the singer's time in Tupelo, Elvis: "The Return to Tupelo" where she shared the excitement of her association with Elvis. She is seen giving Elvis a special hat, however Elvis then gave her back the hat before he went on stage - and she kept it all these years.
In 1959, she married Gary Gunter. Sara was the owner of Sara's Factory Outlet many years. A lifelong member of the Verona United Methodist Church, she loved local history and contributed greatly to the restoration of the Verona Cemetery, where many of her forebears are interred. Sara was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Colonists.
EIN thanks Tony Stuchbury for passing on this sad news.
(News, Source;TS/ElvisInfoNet) - and for the photos of Ann. |
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'The World of FTD' In-Depth Review: The new deluxe book 'The World Of FTD' has been received by some lucky fans and Elvis collector Mike Lodge has provided EIN with a very detailed review - of well over 3 thousand words!
The book was authored and designed by Keith Flynn with input from a large number of other Elvis specialists including EIN's Piers Beagley, EM&HM's Trevor Cajiao, Geoffrey McDonnell, Gordon Minto and many others.
It is 1,200 pages, hardbound three book set, chronicling every release by FTD.The book also features 100s of high-quality photos from the collection Erik Lorentzen
KJ Consulting are proud to publish this Box Set which weighs 8 kilos.
Unfortunately the book has not arrived in Australia yet so I have not seen the final product!
Go here to see his very detailed review - plus more new preview pages - EIN thanks Mike Lodge for the review
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
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'Elvis On Tour' boxset for 2017?: It would make sense to tie in the 2017 long-awaited 'Elvis On Tour' box-set with the already announced 'Elvis On Tour: 1972' FTD book. 2017 is also the 45th Anniversary of 'Elvis On Tour' and what a treat for Elvis collectors for the 40th Anniversary year.
Now the rumours look even more likely as Memphis audio-engineer Matt Ross-Spang (who did such a good job on the "Way Down in the Jungle Room" legacy release) recently announced to music magazine 'Tape Op' that "Now (Sony) have got me mixing some live shows, and rehearsals from Elvis' live shows."
What other shows could they be with rehearsals that need multitrack re-mixing?
Matt Ross-Spang also commented.. that since moving in to Sam Phillips' Memphis studio, "I've been mixing Elvis in here, which is funny. He got tired of recording in Nashville, so he demanded they record him at home. He'd done the record at American Sound Studio, obviously with From Elvis in Memphis. So then Felton Jarvis bought a bread truck, turned it into a mobile studio, and drove it down to Memphis. It promptly broke down in Jackson, Tennessee, so they towed it to Graceland, where it stayed until after Elvis died. We found one picture of the |
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outside, but we've been trying to find pictures of the inside of the truck. They recorded a bunch of dates in Graceland's Jungle Room, so I mixed a lot of that.
They put out the original masters, as well as all my mixes of the unreleased music [Way Down in the Jungle Room - see EIN review here]. Now they've got me mixing some live shows, and rehearsals from the live shows.
- (Hearing Elvis' voice) It's amazing! The studio banter is incredible too, because you hear Elvis completely relaxed in his "element." He really controlled the sessions musically, as well. He really pushes the band to get the feeling he wants. When I was mixing, they brought the guys down, so James Burton [guitar], Ronnie Tutt [drums], and Norbert Putnam [bassist] were there.
- (Ronnie Tutt) He's like Animal (from the Muppets) on the drums; just endless energy, especially with that double bass drum! Mixing the Elvis tracks has really inspired me with the artists I have been working with lately. Those Elvis records had incredible arrangements, with horns, strings, and The Stamps Quartet that really make choruses huge and the songs feel so cinematic. I really love the impact that they have on his records, so I've been stealing that idea!
Go here to the full article --- (Cover above is an EIN suggestion!)
EIN thanks Johnny van der Geld for the LINK
(News, Source;JVG/ElvisInfoNet) |
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Elvis Week 2017 Tentative Schedule of Events: EPE is already making plans for Elvis Week 2017 which will mark the 40th anniversary since Elvis’ passing. Graceland is anticipating this to be the largest Elvis Week ever. Fans from around the world will make the ultimate pilgrimage to Graceland in August 2017 to be close to Elvis' spirit during this very special celebration of his life and legacy.
Elvis Week 2017 will be August 11-19.
Click here to EPE for a tentative schedule of events for Elvis Week 2017 for planning purposes.
EIN notes Wednesday, August 16 features the "Elvis Week Concert Event" for 8pm, which we presume will be the "Elvis with the RPO" performance with special added guests.
EPE notes, additional information will be posted as details are finalized.
(News, Source;EPE/ElvisInfoNet) |
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'Elvis: Spirit Of Jackson, MS' - FTD In-depth Review: On May 5th 1975 Elvis performed a concert in aid of the McComb tornado
victims at the State Fair Coliseum, Jackson, Mississippi. Elvis raised
$108, 860 to help residents who were affected by the devastation. Since
the audio for this benefit show is damaged beyond repair, 'Spirit Of
Jackson, MS' includes two other shows from the State Fair Coliseum. Just
over a month after the charity show, Elvis performed in Jackson again
on June 8 1975 and this show is featured on Disc 2. Disc 1 is from September 5 1976 and
one of his very best performances from 1976, prior to his stunning late
December shows.
For once the set’s main show is the previously unreleased September 5, 1976 concert. Knowing how average/poor Elvis’ shows could be in 1976 this really is a positive statement from FTD that this is an important performance, and luckily recorded in superb quality sound...
Go here as Elvis soundboard super-collector Geoffrey McDonnell & EIN's Piers Beagley check out this new FTD double-pack .....
(FTD Reviews, Source;GM/PB/ElvisInformationNetwork)
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2017 Special Anniversaries: Several websites are commenting on this years special anniversaries. The highlights of 1977, with cinematic first releases such as Star Wars and Saturday Night Fever, the TV miniseries Roots and the death of rock’s first and ultimate superstar Elvis Presley gives ’67 competition in the rose-coloured nostalgia category.
So from Elvis and Summer Of Love to Star Wars and Roots, here are 2017’s most significant anniversaries.
To be honest the most major celebrations are from 50 years ago when the ’60s generation decimated everything in its path, ensuring that every decade in its wake would reverberate with a faint temporal echo.
50 years: Summer of Love.
50 years: Monterey Pop Festival
50 years: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
50 years: Hair (the barrier-breaking play) opens off-Broadway
50 years: Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” hits No. 1
40 years: Star Wars is released
40 years: Roots becomes a small screen TV phenomenon
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and finally...
40 years: Elvis Presley dies
When the King of Rock and Roll finally succumbed to pressure of constant touring Aug. 16, 1977, it was the first indication that larger-than-life rock icons who had become symbols of eternal youth were fallible.
Previously most "rock casualties" before him had been victims of freak accidents (Buddy Holly, Otis Redding) or late ’60s rock excess (Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison) but if an icon as large as Elvis could die, then anyone could.
Elvis' impact was so great that decades later there are still fans convinced that he has to be alive. Poor Elvis.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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EIN review - 'Elvis & RPO In Concert' London: The general media have been very positive in their reviews of the new 'Elvis & the RPO' UK concert tour. It is amazing that almost 40 years after his death, Elvis Presley is still getting fully-deserved standing ovations at packed arenas.
Cleverly put-together, the interaction between an On-Screen Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra works better than many expected.
Once again the new Elvis shows have such an impact that reviews note, "So realistic fans felt Elvis really was in the building! "
Elvis super-fan and EIN contributor Brian Quinn was at the London O2 concert and reports back in detail on the lengthy concert.
Go here for the review, concert photos and more
(Spotlight; Source;BQ/ElvisInformationNetwork) |
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'The Wonder Of You' Elvis with the RPO - In-depth CD Review: It is forty years since Elvis Presley entered a recording studio and he seems very reluctant to record anything new. So in terms of releasing a "new" album of Elvis material the topic has always been a tricky one. After the massive 2015 success of "Elvis with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" and ‘If I Can Dream’ the follow-up was inevitable and 'The Wonder Of You' recently achieved Number One in the UK album charts.
But can a follow-up really be as impressive - and do the true Elvis fans have to approve of these on-going fake "Revisions"?
Click here as EIN's Piers Beagley and Bryan Gruszka are back again to cause "Double-trouble" and supply a very detailed review, discovering what's good and bad...
And HAVE YOUR SAY - what do you think of the new album? Are we wrong in our opinions?
(CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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EIN Advice - Click straight to 'The Elvis Files' website to order the new ‘Elvis and Ann-Margret; Love In Las Vegas’ book for only EuroE.42 - includes world-wide postage. See book details below.
Some naughty online Elvis shops are, as always, ripping fans off charging EuroE70 (AU$99) plus postage for the same 150-page soft-back book!!! |
'Love In Las Vegas' New Book: Erik Lorentzen has announced 'Elvis & Ann-Margret; Love In Las Vegas' - a beautiful soft cover book with 150 pages (25 x 30 cm) of PURE LOVE was released in Sweden, Saturday at the Elvis Convention in Västerås.
You can't beat the romance, power & lust of 'Elvis & Ann-Margret'.
It’s written in English and is full of articles and great photos of the beautiful couple.
KJ Consulting are proud to publish this book about one of the biggest (Hollywood) romances of the sixties.
More Preview pages - and looking fantastic!
Click straight to 'The Elvis Files' to pre-order for EU42.
(News, Source;EL/ElvisInfoNet) |
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'The Hometown Shows' FTD In-depth Review: FTD's new release 'ELVIS: The Hometown Shows' is another double-CD this time focusing on Elvis' Memphis performance from 1974 / 75. It features two legendary shows from the Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, the March 17, 1974 (Evening show) and June 10, 1975 performance.
The March 17, 1974 ES soundboard is a brand new unreleased show, while June 10 1975 is one of Elvis' best mid-seventies concerts which has been previously out on bootleg. Both are excellent shows and in GREAT sound.
This 1975 concert provided us with the great Ed Bonja cover photo for the 'From EP Boulevard' album so you know Elvis was up for a good time!
Go here as Elvis soundboard super-collector Geoffrey McDonnell & EIN's Piers Beagley check out this new FTD Memphis double-pack and discover both the good and the disappointing facts about this new FTD release
(FTD Reviews, Source;GM/PB/ElvisInformationNetwork)
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'The Wonder Of You/If I Can Dream' Elvis/RPO Double set: Yet another version of the new 'Wonder Of You' album has been announced. A double-CD combining both the new album as well as the previous 'If I Can Dream'. I am not sure why any Elvis fans would need this - but it does have a cute alternate cover. So far you can only pre-order this via Amazon in Germany and Japan.
SEE below for Pre-order info for other CD versions.
The Wonder Of You: Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra presents the iconic artist’s unmistakable voice and most dramatic original performances augmented with lush new orchestral accompaniment. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios featuring beloved Presley classics along with several surprises, standout tracks include a sultry new version of “A Big Hunk O’ Love,” the glorious “Amazing Grace,” and a stunning new take on “Always On My Mind.”
'The Wonder Of You: Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic' VINYL release is presented in beautiful gatefold packaging and pressed on 150g vinyl.
'The Wonder Of You: Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic' DELUXE Edition includes 3 additional tracks on CD, two, 150 gram LPs in a gatefold package, poster and a 12 page booklet, all housed in a 12”x 12” lift off box.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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US VINYL |
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UK VINYL |
EIN's Elvis Facebook page this week celebrates its 20,000 members! - including several of Elvis' own friends and colleagues
So Elvis fans don't miss out on these rare and exciting photographs.
Now with over thousands of great photos, News and with more added every day – including YouTube footage.
Click here to Facebook - Elvis Information Network group.
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Book Review: A Little Thing Called Life: Finally, Linda Thompson's memoir has been published.....and it has been well worth the wait! Linda's life, not only with Elvis, but with two other global icons and her own amazing career is an engrossing and revealing read.
Inside its nearly 400 pages Linda reveals her life as an individual, as a mother and as a partner. We learn of the similarities and differences between the three.
Alternating between the light, dark and shades of life in between, A Little Thing Called Life is an honest and intimate account of the incredible life of an amazing woman, from the three men who shared her life and her family to the highly successful and varied career that she continues to enjoy. (Book Review, Source: EIN)
Read Nigel Patterson's detailed review
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UPDATED - 'Way Down In The Jungle Room' EIN Review: Released for August 2016 this SONY Legacy pack celebrates the 40th anniversary of Elvis’ last recording sessions which took place in Graceland’s Jungle Room.
The publicity noted the sessions “have been newly mixed by Matt Ross-Spang at Sam Phillips Recording” and “includes both outtakes and in-the-studio dialog, providing a ‘fly-on-the-wall experience’ of what the sessions were like".
Elvis' original 76/77 albums were fairly uninspired collections (bar a few fine singles) and on the original LPs it was almost impossible to glimpse any sign of creative input from Elvis through the syrupy overdubs. It wasn't until the release of FTD’s magnificent ‘The Jungle Room Sessions’ that many fans began to understand the raw emotion, close camaraderie and Elvis’ personal feelings that were revealed by these intimate Graceland sessions.
To produce that same kind of revelation for the 'General Public' would be a very tricky project but that is exactly what the new legacy team has done - and to great effect.
Go here as EIN's Piers Beagley discovers the old Elvis magic and what is special for Elvis Collectors in our in-depth review
Now Updated & Expanded with Your Comments - James Burton talks about the Jungle Room sessions & more
(CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork) |
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In Australia - buy this great release for only $23 at JBHiFi click here . delivery only $1.70!
Please Do Not be ripped off by other Australian Elvis shops. |
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UPDATED - Paul Dowling EIN Interview Part Three: Paul Dowling is without doubt one of the major names in the Elvis World. He started collecting and selling Elvis vinyl over 40 years ago and has one of the world's largest Elvis Presley record collections. He started his "WorldWide Elvis" shop back in the seventies, way before the internet, where fans could get hold of rare Elvis records and memorabilia.
With such a fascination with Elvis, Dowling not only became a big name in the early years of Elvis bootlegs but later became friends with Ernst Jorgensen and helped RCA with various official releases.
In the final part of our fascinating interview Paul Dowling discusses ....
- Dodging the FBI agents that were sent after him
- Unreleased Elvis material that still hasn’t come out
- Why does Ernst Jorgensen doubt this claims
- His BMG project 'For The First Time Ever' - what happened
- The true story of obtaining the Million Dollar Quartet tape
- His thoughts on Paul Lichter, Sean Saver, Sherif Hanna, Rex Martin
- Spending time with Alan Fortas
- Jim Curtin, newly added story
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'Elvis Taking Care Of Business - In A Flash FTD Book Review: Focusing on Elvis in late 1970 and early 1971, "Elvis Presley Taking Care Of Business - In A Flash" is the new FTD Book/CD combo by Flaming Star/FTD.
Produced by David English, Pål Granlund and Paul Richardson, this book presents a detailed chronicle of Elvis’ personal life and public career between the autumn of 1970 and the early weeks of 1971.
It is a hardcover, large-format book with 450 pages that offer detailed coverage of Elvis’ life and career over the important four months from October 1970 to January 1971.
The publicity promised hundreds of photographs, many of them candid and previously unpublished and new and exclusive interviews.
It also comes with a bonus CD with unreleased versions of studio-tracks plus Elvis’ concert in Portland, Oregon on Nov 11th 1970.
Can it really be as good as promised? EIN's Piers Beagley investigates and discovers plenty .. Go here to our indepth review featuring plenty of extracts and wonderful photographs.
(FTD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork) |
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'ELVIS - NBC TV Special' FTD CD Review: Elvis’ NBC TV Special was such a high point in his career - his musical renaissance and the sound of him kicking open the door to his prison cell of movie contracts and dreadful scripts - that can there really ever be enough compilations to satisfy us all?
'ELVIS - Original Soundtrack Recording From His NBC TV Special' is finally released as an FTD "Classic Album" with a 16-page booklet and remastered audio.
The first disc includes the original album plus the expected Bonus Cuts, while Disc 2 contains a full 80 minutes of Elvis' studio sessions of June 21-23 with LA session band 'The Wrecking Crew'.
The vast majority of the session outtakes however have been previously released, so can this FTD Classic Album really offer anything new?
EIN's Piers Beagley investigates and discovers that it is one of FTD's best releases of all time!
Go here for our in-depth review
(FTD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork) |
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'ELVIS On Television The Complete Sound Recordings' Review: The 60th anniversary of Elvis’ first appearance on national television is celebrated with this 2CD/100-page set.
The new MRS box-set was publicised as containing the complete archival recordings of Elvis Presley’s television appearances from 1956-60. For the first time ever, these tracks been painstakingly remastered and restored.
The recordings contain all song tracks, comedy sketch routines and interviews including the extended Wink Martindale interview.
The 100-page book is a chronological photo journey following Elvis from the very first in 1956, to his appearance on The Frank Sinatra show in 1960. It contains liner notes accompanied by many rare and new unpublished photographs.
In the individual chapters Gordon Minto provides the main details and highlights of each TV performance. Matching the text, each chapter features around 15 pages of significant photographs, a surprising number of the in colour.
Go here as EIN's Piers Beagley checks out this new MRS CD/Book package with an in-depth review along with some scans from the book showcasing some excellent Elvis images.
(Book/CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInfoNetwork) |
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Now available:
NOW UPDATED - 'Elvis Presley - The Album Collection' EIN Review: This 60th Anniversary 60-CD Deluxe Edition celebrates RCA Victor's signing of Elvis Presley. It features nearly all of the albums Elvis recorded and RCA released in his lifetime: studio, soundtrack, and live.
It includes a 300-page deluxe fully illustrated hard cover book with complete insightful commentary, discography and recording session data. Elvis Presley-The Album Collection represents a level of artistic achievement unparalleled to this day.
Elvis collectors have bought these Elvis albums time and time again - so can this new set really offer anything more..
Go here as Elvis author Shane Brown investigates the new deluxe box-set and and discovers the good, the bad and truly great value package ...
Now Updated- EIN Contributor David Tinson add his comments on the two classic album s NBC-TV Special and Memphis To Vegas, Vegas To Memphis
(CD Reviews; Source;ShaneBrown/ElvisInfoNet) |
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'Ultimate Elvis' New Electronic Edition: Announced by Elvis sessions expert Keith Flynn for publication November 1 is the brand new concept of the 1750 page super-deluxe Elvis sessions book 'Ultimate Elvis' Electronic Edition.
This incredible three volume book will now be available as an e-book on an i-pad or android tablet.
- Created in HTML5
Fully updated e-books will open in any web browser on any operating system, so no need for separate downloads for different operating systems.
- Life-Like 'Flipping' Pages
Flip through pages as if you are reading an actual book, but also being able to zoom-in to view smaller images and captions.
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- View as Double or Single pages
View as double pages on a computer or laptop etc, and single pages when viewing in portrait on an i-pad or Android tablet.
- Fully Navigational Table Of Contents
Jump back and forth to the sections of the books you want to read, instead of flipping through numerous pages to find what you want.
PRICED AT - all 3 Volumes for £60 = US$93
On sale from November 1st 2015.
Try Before You Buy -
Download free zip-file containing 27 pages from Volume 1, before you decide to buy the complete set. -
NOTE - These books are MASSIVE so you will need approximately 1GB of spare disc space for these three volumes, -
Click HERE to Keith Flynn's 'Ultimate Elvis' Electronic Edition to try.
Go HERE to EIN's independent review of 'Ultimate Elvis'
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
Did Elvis Record 'Tiger Man' At Sun?: A question that has puzzled Elvis fans through the years is whether he actually recorded the song ‘Tiger Man’ during his years at SUN studios.
The basic question is why did Elvis refer to 'Tiger man' several times in concert as “The second song that I ever recorded, not too many people heard it”?
And if Elvis DID record it, then why hasn’t any reference to it at SUN or proof of its existence been found?
Elvis would first perform ‘Tiger Man’ in concert at his first 1969 Las Vegas International season and would continue playing it through the years – usually in a medley with Mystery Train - until his last performance at Saginaw on May 3 1977. He would sing it over 150 times on stage!
The thought that there might be an acetate or undiscovered tape of Elvis at SUN singing ‘Tiger Man’ is a mouth-watering concept - but is it an unlikely fantasy or strong possibility?
Go here to our detailed 'TIGER MAN' spotlight as EIN's Piers Beagley puts in the hard yards to check the facts from the fantasy .
(Spotlight; Source;ElvisInfoNetwork) |
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Now available from Amazon USA:
Copyright the Elvis Information Network.
Elvis Presley, Elvis and Graceland are trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises.
The Elvis Information Network has been running since 1986 and is an EPE officially recognised Elvis fan club.
EIN also has a local Australian national Elvis Fan Club for paid up members featuring quarterly newsletters and an annual EIN Elvis Mega Quiz with special prizes.
The printed newsletters have extra content, articles and reviews to this w
ebsite along with the popular Elvis EIN Mega Quiz.
If you need to know more about the fan club, newsletters, Elvis EIN quiz or EIN membership
' ELVIS EIN QUIZ', Elvis EIN quiz, elvis EIN mega quiz, elvis mega quiz, EIN mega quiz, ELVIS EIN QUIZ, EIN elvis mega quiz,
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Giving fans more than any other Elvis website - coming this week ....
- The Elvis Files Vol.8 1976-1977 - in-depth review
- Brian Quinn reviews Elvis & RPO On tour London concert |
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