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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:
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ASK Marty: Today Marty Lacker answers your questions about....
Would Elvis have done more upbeat rock material if not for his commitment to Hill & Range.
What about the racquetball law suit brought against Elvis by Joe Esposito.
Why did Elvis not get nominated for Grammys for From Elvis in Memphis or TTWII.
Did any of the Beatles ever meet with Elvis again after 1965.
Who were your 'Best Buddies' in the Memphis Mafia
What did Elvis think of Dolores Hart.
Go here to 'ASK MARTY' for his answers plus how to send in your questions.
(Ask Marty, Source;ML/ElvisInfoNet)
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Elvis in the Official UK Charts: Although no longer number one in the UK Elvis is still doing fine going back up one place to this week's #2 beating both Justin Beiber and One Direction! He also has plenty of other entries in the UK charts for w/e 27th November 2015
Top Album Chart
1 Adele 800,307 (CD: 542,498, download: 252,423, vinyl: 5,386)
2 Elvis Presley 77,261
3 Justin Bieber 74,028
4 Enya 39,954
5 One Direction 36,54371
On the other UK charts.
'If I Can Dream' drops from 1 to 2 on the Physical Album Chart
Elvis: 30 No.1 Hits drops from 63 to 72 on the Physical Album Chart
'If I Can Dream' drops from 3 to 10 on the Vinyl Album Chart
Elvis Christmas Album is a new entry at 26 on the Vinyl Album Chart
Artist Of The Century drops from 66 to 72 on the Streaming Chart
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'If I Can Dream' drops from 71 to 83 on the Streaming Chart
Elvis:30 No.1 Hits drops from 82 to 90 on the Streaming Chart
Elvis: 30 No.1Hits is a re-entry at 88 on the Download Chart
'If I Can Dream' drops from 11 to 17 on the Download Chart
'If I Can Dream' rises from 3 to 2 on the Album Sales Chart
Elvis: 30 No.1 Hits drops from 67 to 75 on the Album Sales Chart
'If I Can Dream' rises from 3 to 2 on the Scottish Album Chart
Elvis: 30 No.1 Hits drops from 65 to 68 on the Scottish Album Chart
The Elvis Collection drop from 27 to 29 on the Music Video Chart
I Am An Elvis Fan drops from 91 to 99 on the Streaming Chart
'If I Can Dream' (Vinyl Single) drops from 4 to 9 on the Vinyl Singles Chart
The BPI have awarded Elvis 'If I Can Dream' for 'If I Can Dream'. Total sales as of this week: 313,742 units.
(News, Source;BrianQuinn/ElvisInfoNet) |
Australia Elvis Parkes Festival Gets Ready to Rumba! : The annual Parkes main Street Parade is back and ready to rumba at the 2016 Parkes Elvis Festival. This is the first year that Elvis' biggest birthday festival in the world, with around 20,000 fans, has been authorised by EPE!
Shake, rattle and roll your way down the main drag on Saturday, January 10, with this year's Mexican theme film 'Fun in Acapulco'.
Join thousands of muchachas and register your float, car or walking team for the biggest fiesta in Parkes.
Get amongst the hordes of Elvis-themed floats, Elvis and Priscilla look-alikes, vintage cars, motorcycles and marching bands parading down Clarinda Street from Bushman Street to Cooke Park at 10am.
Think bold and bright Mexican colours like hot pink, purple, green, gold and blue.
As the King himself said, "You Can't Say No In Acapulco", so gather your amigos, don your sombreros and join in the show!
There are fantastic awards up for grabs including Best Classic Car, Best Float and even Best Walking Group, so start practising that swagger
Go HERE to the Parkes Elvis Festival site for more info.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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'Come Along with Frankie & Johnny' New Import: This deluxe 3 cd set features the Frankie & Johnny Sessions. 3 fully packed cds with rare and unreleased material, including 4 never before heard demo recordings written by Dolores Fuller, but rejected by Elvis & the Colonel for the movie.
This is a very limited release only......
Get it while you can and come along with frankie & Johnny.
Good news for fans who never bought the previous bootleg release 'The Complete Frankie & Johnny Sessions'
Go here to "All The CD News 2015' for the complete tracklist
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
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| Thursday 26 November 2015 |
US Billboard Charts and 'If I Can Dream': In the US EPE / Sony decided to promote the Elvis commemoration Stamp and its associated greatest hits album over the new 'If I Can Dream' album. Expecting fans to buy two "new" Elvis albums within a few months of each other was not a good marketing strategy.
So sadly 'If I Can Dream' continues its fast slide from #44 to #79 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart for w/e 5th December, 2015.
It also drops from 25 to 46 on the Top Album Sales Chart; drops from 1 to 2 on the Classical Albums Chart & drops from 22 to 42 on the Top Current Albums Chart.
- 'It's Christmas Time' rises from 153 to 108 on the Top 200 Album Chart. It also rises from 81 to 66 on the Top Albums Sales Chart; rises from 9 to 7 on the Catalog Albums Chart and drops from 5 to 6 on the Holiday Albums Chart.
- 'Merry Christmas, Love Elvis' rises from 25 to 16 on the Catalaog Albums Chart and drops from 12 to 14 on the Holiday Albums Chart. It also rises from 4 to 1 on the Country Catalog Album Chart
- 'Elvis: Ultimate Christmas' rises from 22 to 17 on the Holiday Albums Chart; rises from 40 to 18 on the Top Country Albums Chart and is a new entry at 99 on the Top Current Album Chart.
- 'The Classic Christmas Album' rises from 8 to 5 on the Country Catalog Album Chart.
- 'Blue Christmas' (Single) rises from 33 to 31 on the Holiday Digital Songs Chart.
Elvis drops from 50 to 61 on the Artist 100 Chart.
After three weeks at the Number One spot in Australia Elvis also dropped down to #3 in the ARIA charts with Justin Bieber claiming the top spot with his new release 'Purpose'
SONY provided this photo of their Elvis 'If I Can Dream' shop display - although EIN has yet to see one - it would make a nice collector's item.
(News, Source;BrianQuinn/ElvisInfoNet)
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Elvis' Graceland Birthday Celebration Events Announced: Why not celebrate Elvis' birthday at Graceland in Memphis this January! EPE have announced their initial schedule of Birthday Celebration Events.
The 2016 Elvis Birthday Celebration is January 7-10, 2016, at Graceland, and includes the Elvis Birthday Proclamation Ceremony, The Auction at Graceland, the Official Graceland Insiders Reception, Fan Club Presidents' Event, Club Elvis and more.
EPE's special guests this year are June Juanico (Elvis girlfriend from 1955 to 1956) and Glenn Derringer (Pianist on the same Dorsey Brothers Stage Show in 1956 where Elvis made his TV debut).
Tickets are on Sale Now.
Click here to EPE Elvis' Graceland Birthday Schedule of Events if you want to know more
(News, Source;EPE/ElvisInfoNet)
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'Trying To Get To..Memphis' 10th Anniversary - New Import: The SR label is releasing their first special combo LP & CD, featuring a special deluxe edition of the first label release 'Trying To Get To..Memphis'. In 2005 this show has been the first release of the SR records, for the label 10 years anniversary the producers decided to reprint this super show - AUDIENCE RECORDED - in double vinyl set with a new remastered audio!! SR label is proud to delivery an incredible update of his first release, one of the best show from the August 1971 season.
August 11, 1971 DS is the fifth show of the second annual Elvis Summer Festival. From The August 1971 season there is no any soundboard recording available... because of a superb audio quality, we have the best and varied Elvis’ performance of the season. Talking about show, what we can say! surely Elvis delivery an Explosive mix between high energetic songs as Proud Mary, Johnny B. Goode, Polk Salad Annie or the oldies Hound Dog and Lawdy Miss Clawdy together power pop ballad like You Don’t have to Say You Love Me and It’s impossible.
Companion CD Info,
The August 16, 1971 ms, is taken directly from a first generation tape. This is a previously unreleased recording. The sound was restored to achieve best possible results. As bonus tracks we included 9 songs performed from the the opening night to August 14, no present in the tracklisting of the companion cd.
Limited Edition.
Go here to "All The CD News 2015' for more details and tracklist
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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| Monday 23 November 2015 - - - 2nd News Update - - - |
FTD releases for December: Just announced are two new FTD releases for December, one double-set of Elvis Live in 1976 and the classic album 'Elvis Golden Records Vol.3' with plenty of unreleased outtakes.
- 'Elvis Golden Records Vol.3' is the new 2-CD release in FTD's classic album series. It features a 7” digipack with 12-page booklet. By the time Elvis' Golden Records Vol. 3 was released in August 1963, no one in rock ‘n’ roll up to that point, other than Elvis, had ever legitimately earned a second ‘greatest hits’ volume, much less a third. It also embodied the best commercial examples of Presley’s new post-Army maturity, as both vocalist and musician, and the songs featured on this album achieved an unparalleled level of global chart success by any artist between 1960 and 1963.
The recent 'Elvis For Everyone' FTD featured a second CD which helped "mop-up" officially previously released outtakes and it truly was one of FTD's best releases in 2014. Here FTD continues the same idea with plenty of unreleased early 60s outtakes being released for the first time such as the remaining seven outtakes of 'Fame and Fortune' or four unreleased takes of 'Kiss Me Quick'.
'Elvis Golden Records Vol.3”-
Disc 1 -
The Original Album
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01 It’s Now Or Never 02 Stuck On You 03 Fame And Fortune 04 I Gotta Know 05 Surrender 06 I Feel So Bad 07 Are You Lonesome Tonight? 08 (Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame 09 Little Sister 10 Good Luck Charm 11 Anything That’s Part Of You 12 She’s Not You,
The Alternate Album 13 It’s Now Or Never – take 1 3:13 14 Stuck On You - take 1 2:20 15 Fame And Fortune - take 1 3:03 16 Surrender – take 9 & workpart take 1 2:000 17 I Feel So Bad – take 1 3:01 18 Are You Lonesome Tonight? – takes 1 & 2 3:43 19 (Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame – take 6 2:14 20 Little Sister – take 6 2:38 21 Good Luck Charm – take 1 2:49 22 Anything That’s Part Of You – take 9 2:17 23 She’s Not You – take 2 & work part take 1 2:16
Go here to EIN's 'FTD / SONY News 2015' for all the details and full tracklists. |
- 'Elvis In Alabama: The Last Double Date' is another 1976 live soundboard release from FTD this time a 2-CD 5” digpack containing both the afternoon and evening show in Huntsville on September 6, 1976. Includes America The Beautiful, Love Letters, School Day, Hurt, Danny Boy and Blue Christmas.
The evening show was previously released on bootleg as "Elvis Still Rockin' The Nation" although Elvis was notably tired on this tour. The Afternoon show is reputed to be the better concert. Sadly 'Danny Boy' is sung by Sherrill Nielsen and not Elvis.
Last Double Date - Huntsville Alabama, September 6 1976
Disc 1 - The Afternoon Show
01 See See Rider 2:49 02 I Got A Woman / Amen 8:17 03 Love Me 2:45 04 Fairytale 3:09 05 You Gave Me A Mountain 3:04 06 All Shook Up 1:08 07 (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don’t Be Cruel 2:08 08 And I Love You So 3:20 09 Jailhouse Rock 2:46 10 America The Beautiful 4:51 11 One Night 2:35 12 Polk Salad Annie 4:22 13) Introductions 8:42 a) Early Mornin’ Rain b) What’d I Say c) Johnny B. Goode 14) Love Letters 2:47 15) School Day 1:41 16) Hurt 1:59 17) Hound Dog 2:30 18) Funny How Time Slips Away 3:40 19) That’s All Right 2:08 20) Can’t Help Falling In Love 1:39 21) Closing Vamp
Go here to EIN's 'FTD / SONY News 2015' for all the details and full tracklists.
(News, Source;FTD/ElvisInfoNet) |
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ELVIS King of Billboard's Top 200 Albums: Elvis Presley, the King of Rock & Roll, leads all acts on the Billboard 200 with the most charted albums: 107 - even though this doesn't include his biggest successes between 1956 and 1963!
Presley most recently hit the Billboard list with the collection 'Elvis Presley Forever', which peaked at No. 11 on the Sept. 5, 2015-dated chart. Presley's incredible sum is dozens ahead of the next-largest total, the 73 collected by country titan Willie Nelson.
It's important to note that many of Elvis' albums were released and found popularity before 1963 and the chart of "acts with the most hits" was compiled from the charts dated Aug. 17, 1963 through Oct. 10, 2015.
Elvis had his massive million sellers before 1963 and yet he still beats trounces them all!
Most Charted Albums
1. Elvis Presley - 107
2. Willie Nelson - 73
3. Grateful Dead - 69
4. Bob Dylan - 64
5. Frank Sinatra - 62
6. Barbra Streisand - 58
7. The Beatles - 57 |
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The key date of Aug. 17, 1963 is when Billboard's two separate pop album charts for stereo and mono recordings joined to become one all-encompassing weekly chart. Go here to Billboard to see the All-Time Charts: Billboard 200 Albums | Billboard 200 Artists
(News, Source;Billboard/ElvisInfoNet) |
UPDATED 'If I Can Dream' 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. Now in 2015 as the publicity notes "Elvis Is Back - with a Brand New Album" for the cleverly re-imagined "Elvis with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" in the highly marketed ‘If I Can Dream’. In the UK and Australia it has made Number One in the album charts, an incredible achievement.
There is no doubt that the marketing has been very impressive - but do Elvis fans have to love everything about it?
EIN checks the facts and three Elvis fans of varying familiarity all provide their own opinions.
Both EIN's Piers Beagley and Bryan Gruszka take a very detailed listen to this new chart-topping release to discover what's good and bad... Go here for our 5,000 word review - Do you agree? Send us your Comments.
(CD Review, Source, Elvis Information Network) |
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Men recall seeing Elvis at Lawton, Oklahoma in 1955: The McMahon Memorial Auditorium is a staple for entertainment in the Lawton community and has been for almost 60 years. Those who call Lawton home can remember attending shows of famous singers, musicians, off-Broadway shows, and of course, performances by multiple community talents.
During the 1960s and '70s, Lawton had famous headliners at the auditorium a so called "heyday." Lawton's touring chapter of the national Community Concerts Inc. would bring in the big acts and sell the tickets.
Some acclaimed names that graced Lawton's home stage include Elvis Presley, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Doc Severinsen, Judy Collins, Count Basie, Glen Campbell, Tony Bennett, John Fullbright, John Raitt and many, many more.
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Lawtonians, Jay Davis and Allen Johnson, recall seeing Presley perform at the auditorium on June 19, 1955, (EIN Note - Elvis was actually at Magnolia Gardens, Houston on this date! Elvis was at Lawton on June 23) just months before the King of Rock and Roll became The King. It was the summer after Davis graduated from Lawton High School and Johnson had finished his freshman year at the University of Oklahoma. The best friends attended the concert with a group of 12 friends and, Johnson said, "We didn't know who we were seeing."
The group sat five rows back from the stage and saw multiple country singers. Davis and Johnson said Presley was the last one to perform. Davis remembered there couldn't have been more than 100 to 150 people in the 1,500-seat auditorium watching the soon-to-be rock star.
"I remember he walked out on stage dragging his guitar," Johnson said.
"He didn't do much dancing though," Davis replied. "Not like he did later on."
Johnson, Davis, their dates and the rest of the group attended an after party at the Southern Club an old country and western dance hall in Lawton on Lee Boulevard. The group was able to snag a photo with Presley and his musicians. Johnson and Davis remembered Presley being more fascinated by their attending college than they were with him being an almost-famous musician.
In the photo Allen Johnson stands next to Scotty Moore.
(News, Source;LawtonConstitution/ElvisInfoNet) |
| Saturday 21 November 2015 |
'If I Can Dream' 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. Now in 2015 as the publicity notes "Elvis Is Back - with a Brand New Album" for the cleverly re-imagined "Elvis with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" in the highly marketed ‘If I Can Dream’. In the UK and Australia it has made Number One in the album charts, an incredible achievement.
There is no doubt that the marketing has been very impressive - but do Elvis fans have to love everything about it?
EIN checks the facts and three Elvis fans of varying familiarity all provide their own opinions.
Both EIN's Piers Beagley and Bryan Gruszka take a very detailed listen to this new chart-topping release to discover what's good and bad...
Go here for our 5,000 word review - Do you agree? Send us your Comments.
(CD Review, Source, Elvis Information Network) |
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Trisha Yearwood Kicks Off Graceland Holiday Season: Graceland officially began the holiday season when three-time Grammy award-winning country artist Trisha Yearwood “flipped the switch” on the traditional lights and decorations during the annual lighting ceremony on Friday, November 20. She also performed her own version of 'Blue Christmas' for guests gathered for this special event. Patients from Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis also assisted Yearwood in lighting up Elvis Presley’s iconic home for the season.
The extensive Christmas display at the king’s castle includes hundreds of blue lights along the driveway, a life-size Nativity scene, Santa and his sleigh, and much more, all originally displayed at Graceland by Elvis and the Presley family. The interiors of Graceland mansion
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will feature the Presley family’s Christmas décor starting on November 20 for seasonal holiday tours through his birthday celebration in January.
Yearwood, a life-long fan of Elvis Presley, is one of the biggest-selling female performers in country music history. “I LOVE Elvis, always have,” stated Yearwood. “I’ve visited Graceland many times, but never at Christmas. I’m incredibly honored to be invited to flip the switch at Graceland’s holiday lighting ceremony this year.”
You can see the replay of the event at EPE LiveStream - CLICK HERE.
(News, Source;EPE/ElvisInfoNet) |
'If I Can Dream' Drops to #3 in UK charts: On this week's Official UK Top 5 Albums - 20th November 2015 - Elvis has dropped to number three. This can hardly be a surprise since both One Direction and Justin Bieber have new albums out last week.
1 One Direction 93,189
2 Justin Bieber 90,596
3 Elvis Presley 68,825
4 Jeff Lynne's ELO 61,497
5 Little Mix 32,989
In other UK charts Elvis also features..
'Elvis: 30 No.1 Hits' down from 37 to 65
'If I Can Dream' on the Download Chart drops from 4 to 11.
'If I Can Dream' drops from 1 to 3 on the Official Vinyl Album Chart and from 24 to 71 on the Official Streaming Chart
Artist Of The Century drops from 30 to 66 on the Official Streaming Chart
'Elvis: 30 No.1 Hits' drops from 49 to 82 on the Official Streaming Chart
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'I Am An Elvis Fan' drops from 46 to 91 on the Official Streaming Chart
'The Perfect Elvis Presley Collection' drops from 43 to 97 on the Official Streaming Chart
'Best Of Artist Of The Century' drops from 61 to 100 on the Official Streaming Chart
'If I Can Dream' drops from 1 to 3 on the Official Scottish Album Chart
'Elvis:30 No.1 Hits' drops from 29 to 65 on the Official Scottish Album Chart
'The Elvis Collection' drops from 25 to 27 on the Official Music Video Chart
'Elvis: 68 Comeback Special' rises from 37 to 30 on the Official Music Video Chart
'If I Can Dream' is still Number One on the physical Album chart with "Hard copies" outselling both 1D and Bieber.
(News, Source;BrianQuinn/ElvisInfoNet) |
| Thursday 19 November 2015 |
'If I Can Dream' Fizzes in the US Billboard charts: Despite all the publicity 'If I Can Dream' is a US disappointment and has already dropped from 21 to 44 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart for w/e 28th November, 2015. It also drops from 9 to 25 on the Top Album Sales Chart; drops from 8 to 15 on the Tastemaker Albums Chart; However it does remain at 1 on the Classical Albums Chart and is a new entry at 6 on the Vinyl Albums Chart.
- 'It's Christmas Time' re-enters the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart at 153. It also remains at 5 on the Holiday Albums Chart; is a re-entry at 81 on the Top Album Sales Chart and rises from 18 to 9 on the Catalog Albums Chart.
- 'Merry Christmas, Love Elvis' drops from 9 to 12 on the Holiday Albums Chart; remains at 4 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart and rises from 35 to 25 on the Catalog Albums Chart.
- 'Elvis: Ultimate Christmas' is a new entry at 22 on the Holiday Albums Chart and is a new entry at 40 on the Top Country Albums Chart.
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- 'Elvis: The Classic Christmas Album' remains at 43 on the Top Catalog Albums Chart and is a re-entry at 8 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart.
- 'Heart And Soul' drops from 16 to 22 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart.
- 'Blue Christmas (single) rises from 48 to 33 on the Holiday Digital Songs Chart.
Elvis rises from 52 to 50 on the Artist 100 Chart.
(News, Source;BrianQuinn/ElvisInfoNet) |
Rare Elvis 1972 Jacket sells for $60,000: Arkansas's Dr Bill Chandler got nearly $60,000 in an online auction for a rare white jacket worn by the King himself.
Elvis wore this IC Costume jacket with gold lame accented pockets, wide lapels and standing collar on stage in Las Vegas mid 1972.
At this point, Presley favoured two-piece suits worn with matching capes accented in patterned or colour linings and a variety of different coloured shirts.
Chandler got Presley's jacket with gold lame accented pockets, wide lapels and standing collar when the iconic singer tossed it into the audience at a show at the Las Vegas Hilton in 1972. |
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Chandler was in the audience with his wife when Elvis threw the jacket into the crowd toward the end of his performance. The lucky catch followed Presley's toss of a white cape into the audience that ended up in a tug of war between two men. Presley then threw off his jacket, which hit Chandler in the face. Two women sitting behind him tried to wrestle the jacket from his hands but Chandler held tight, losing only three buttons from the jacket’s left sleeve.
The jacket had stayed in the Chandler family as a treasured heirloom until he decided to sell it.
Click here to watch 20 min of Candid Elvis footage from August 1972 - This jacket is seen at the very end.
(News, Source;SM/ElvisInfoNet) |
The Man who made Elvis' Gold Lame Suit: Manuel Cuevas isn’t your typical clothing designer. He’s the man who hand-crafted Elvis’ signature gold lamé suit and made Johnny Cash into “The Man in Black,” and he’s sewn clothing for more superstars than he can count — Bob Dylan, James Dean, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra.
He casually refers to Marilyn Monroe and Raquel Welch as “his girls,” and he’s responsible for the notorious insignias of both The Rolling Stones and The Grateful Dead. He’s dressed presidents, athletes, dancers and artists, and he created the wardrobes of more than 90 movies and 13 television shows. Over the years, he’s dressed everybody who was anybody.
Born in the small town of Coalcomán, Mexico, it was when he moved to Los Angeles that he began working for several tailors, including Sy Devore, who was famously the tailor for The Rat Pack as well as Elvis in his sixties movies. Soon after, he moved to making costumes at Nudie’s famous western store in Hollywood, where he designed suits for people like Roy Rogers and the Lone Ranger.
Now aged 82 he was recently interviewed by Sarah Rowland
Q . With all the superstars you’ve met over the years, have you ever been really starstruck by anybody?
Manuel Cuevas: Not me! All the big stars that you know of now, most of them I met when they were young and obscure. They were these kids with a dream. I just try to respond to everyone with a big welcome. In a lot of ways, I’ve been very lucky to be able to meet all of those people and do what I do.
At the time in America, we already had Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash – we had so many stars. I remember dressing The Beatles when they first came over from Liverpool. I dressed the Jacksons before the Jackson 5 was a big thing. They were babies then! So that’s how I really remember these people. I don’t treat them any differently. I’ve never once requested an autograph. I’d rather have their love. |
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Q - What about Elvis’ famous gold lamé suit? How did you come up with that?
MC: Ehh, you know. It’s really no big deal, I don’t think. I just came up with it. That type of suit was his thing, and he needed to have something that defined him a little. Kind of like Marlon Brando. He didn’t have that thing to define him. So, he came in and I told him what I thought he needed to be wearing. I just try to get to know these people as people. I had already made a few movies with him before that suit, so I got to know who he was. After that, when I know people more, I can make something that fits their style.
Q - I’ve heard that you’re responsible for making Johnny Cash into “The Man in Black.” (Right: Cuevas suits up Johnny Cash)
MC: Johnny would have told you that he wore black before he met me, but he just never wore the right kind of black. It became him. I have his black leather jacket still that he wore everywhere, forever. He became a very good friend of mine. In person, he was very spiritual. He was so serious. He’s not your normal chatterbox, like me. He was deep and thoughtful. I like his music, yes, but it’s more than just that. I’m more than just his fan. We were friends.
Go here to the full interview - sadly he says no more about Elvis.
(News, Source;Creators/ElvisInfoNet) |
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Elvis Presley & Mexico: Rumors of Racism & the King of Rock's Eventual Redemption: Rumours of racism brought a backlash against his music and movies in Mexico, but that didn’t keep him from making his Spanish singing debut in 'Fun in Acapulco' and influencing sparking a rock en espanol revolution.
Elvis Presley performs the Mexican standard “Guadalajara” in Spanish with a mariachi band in the film Fun in Acapulco, a postcard picture of the then-sizzling resort in which Elvis also gives a "local" street kid a ride on a bike, singing out, "Life begins when you're in Mexico!"
But Elvis actually filmed his scenes for the 1963 movie on a Hollywood lot and at a California hotel; the boy was Los Angeles child actor Larry Domasin. And despite singing a song in Spanish, Presley was not exactly “El Rey” in Mexico at the time, as far as officials were |
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concerned. After a newspaper columnist revealed in the late '50s that he had called Mexico “a distasteful country” and made ugly remarks about Mexican women during an interview, anti-Elvis protestors rose up, and his albums were reportedly burned by protestors. But Elvis' rebellious image also fueled rowdy youth, who caused a “riot” at the premiere of King Creole. And his music was a spark that ignited Mexican rock.
As documented in the 1999 book 'Refried Elvis: The Rise of the Mexican Counterculture' and other sources, it eventually came out that Presley did not make the racist statements -- he was set up by the media after he slighted a Mexican politician by refusing to give a private concert for his teenage daughter and her friends.
In later years, Presley apparently took pains to set the record straight about the Mexican controversy. After Elvis' death BMG Mexico went further, issuing a series of Elvis Le Canta a Mexico (“Elvis Sings to Mexico”) albums to celebrate the legend’s legacy south of the border. The liner notes went so far to refer to him as “The King of Ranchera Music.”
Nowadays Elvis is more likely to be remembered for his versions of “Bossa Nova Baby” and other Mexican flavoured songs than for |
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the historic controversy. Fun in Acapulco was the No. 1 musical movie in the United States the year it was released. In addition to songs with mariachi, its Latin-tinged soundtrack, in keeping with the Hollywood cultural myopia of the time, also features strains of samba and rumba; Elvis even manages to incarnate both bullfighter and bull while singing "El Toro."
(News, Source;Billboard/ElvisInfoNet) |
'Back On Track' New Import CD: Coming soon from the E.P. Collector label is 'Back On Track' and audience recording from Johnson City, TN, March 18th, 1976. It was the 1st tour of 1976 and some of Elvis’ regular musicians were replaced. The result was a surprisingly fresh, experimental sound, with keyboards and drums more prominent. Elvis performs a solid and entertaining show. Among the concert highlights are ”Let Me Be There”, ”Tryin’ To Get To You”, ”Hawaiian Wedding Song”, the second live performance of ”Hurt”, the national anthem ”America”, ”It’s Now Or Never” and “Burning Love”. Compared with the previously released St. Louis, March 22nd, 1976 tour closer lasting just about 52 minutes, March 17th was perhaps the longest show of the tour with a much stronger setlist, running nearly 80 minutes! As usual, this is a previously unreleased concert, taken from a recently found 1st generation copy of an original audience recorded master cassette tape. For the very first time, this show is available in remarkably good audience recorded sound … and complete!
Sonically, this is one of the best audience recordings out there - ask for samples!
The CD is packaged in a nicely designed digipak with cool images taken on March 18, 1976 in Johnson City.
Go here to "All The CD News 2015' for more details and tracklist
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
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'Bicentennial Superstar Vol. 3' New Import CD: More 1976 Elvis as the TNT label announces Volume 3 of their series “Bicentennial Superstar”. It is going to be presented in our usual high quality standard. A 2CD set containing two complete shows taken from soundboard recordings. Once more we were able to use the technical power of our friends at “Audionics” – most likely THE premium and still active label when it comes to rare recordings in best possible sound. A 16-page booklet containing all the information you need to know regarding the concerts is also included.
This time we paired two rare shows from early June and early September of 1976, both recorded from the soundboard. When Elvis was on Tour in El Paso, Texas on June 2nd 1976 he delivered what the fans expected. The show clearly had its moments of excellence and critics were nice enough to call it a typical “Elvis spectacular”. A few months later Elvis played Huntsville, Alabama on September 6 1976.
Sit back and enjoy experiencing Elvis in the Summer of 76 doing some great renditions of his Concert standards of the time like “Hurt”, “You Gave Me A Mountain”, “Help Me” and “America The Beautiful”!
Note that both have been previously released as 'El Goes El Paso' and 'The Man In White, Vol. 2'.
Go here to "All The CD News 2015' for more details and tracklist
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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'Elvis' Christmas Album - 3D Mono' New Release: How to make old mono recordings sound like they were recorded yesterday, while keeping the integrity of the original recording intact. You would think that this is impossible, but thanks to the latest technologies in audio development, this is now a reality. You will not believe your own ears. It's like these 50+ year-old recordings are coming alive again. You will be placed in the studio together with the singer and the musicians. You will hear details you never noticed before. You will get a whole new appreciation for these classic recordings.
(EIN notes that 3DM technology is actually for digital photographs, not audio! This sounds like home p/c trickery to us. And do we really need another version of Elvis' Christmas album?)
We have played some recordings to industry insiders, and they were stunned. The 3DM technology breathes new life into old mono recordings, giving them a new lease of life, and thus making them accessible for coming generations.
For promotion of this new technology, we decided to use "Elvis Presley’ Christmas Album” as our first project. This album was quite controversial, and highly successful, when it was released in 1957. The album showcases Presley at the peak of his abilities, singing classic songs with great warmth and sincerity, while others are performed in the raunchy rock & roll and bluesy style that he was known for. |
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Believe us, "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" never sounded this powerful! When he sings that he is coming in his big black Cadillac, you better believe it! Elvis Presley is the first artist to be used for promotion of the new 3DM technology. (EIN note- If it is so good, why do they not have a record label, after all this is Public Domain?)
We will do a similar, very limited edition release on the Million Dollar Quartet shortly. This one will place you inside Sun studio on that monumental day, standing next to Carl, Elvis and Jerry... The way this session has come alive is quite a revelation. For the discerning Elvis fans, and audio lovers... This new release of “Elvis Presley’ Christmas Album” will bring you the same excitement that it generated upon its original release in 1957.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
ELVIS Second Week as Australia's Number One!: The impact of Elvis is still being felt down-under as 'If I Can Dream' remains at the top of Australia's ARIA album chart for the second week.
In the year of Elvis' 80th anniversary this is SENSATIONAL news.
This is Elvis' first #1 Australian album since '30 #1 Hits' in 2002. Elvis even beat Australia's own Tina Arena who's new album 'Eleven' debuted at #2. Tina Arena Joked, "You won't believe who stopped me from a #1 album just days before I was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame".
In New Zealand “If I Can Dream” dropped from #3 to #5 on the New Zealand Album chart.
The DVD “Elvis – The King Of Rock’n’Roll – 30 Hit Performances And More” re-entered the Australian Music DVD chart at #40.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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Elvis Military Memorabilia up for auction: In a turn of events that made the teen girls of the world quake with agony, Elvis Presley took leave of his rock idol status and joined the US Army in March 1958.
Now nearly 60 years later items from that period of Presley’s life are going up for auction.
The items had been in the private collection of Presley’s close friend Sgt. William A. Norwood up until a decade ago when it went onto the market. Now the current owner has placed it back on the block for sale via RR Auction out of New Hampshire.
On his 22nd birthday in 1957, the King of Rock N' Roll was declared 1-A by the Memphis Draft Board which meant he was physically fit and likely to be drafted sometime in the following eight months.
Due to his ongoing film work on “King Creole” his date with the green fatigues was delayed somewhat.
After entering training at Fort Hood in Texas in March 1958, Presley was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division in West Germany. He left Fort Hood on September 19, 1958 to ship out to Germany three days later.
Gone were the sideburns and perfect quiff of hair, replaced with a regulation military cut.
According to RR’s Mike Graff, the collection contains seven items related to Presley, his girlfriend Anita Wood, and their relationship with the family of his friend Sgt. William A. Norwood. |
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“Sgt. Norwood was given the assignment of training Presley upon his arrival at Fort Hood, and the two soon became friends. Homesick, Elvis spent much of his time at the Norwood residence, often with his girlfriend Anita Wood,” auction organizers say.
Also in this auction are a pair of reference recordings for Presley’s film “King Creole” which might fetch upwards of $12,000 from collectors.
The online auction kicked off on Thursday and runs for one week.
Go HERE to the RR AUCTION for all the details and to bid.
(News, Source;Chron/ElvisInfoNet) |
'If I Can Dream' European charts: While Elvis stays at UK's number one he has also been charting all over Europe.
Austria - "If I Can Dream" is a new entry at #2.
Switzerland - "If I Can Dream" is a new entry at #27.
Spain - "If I Can Dream" is a new entry at #29.
Belgium - “If I Can Dream” drops from #10 to #11.
Holland - “If I Can Dream” drops from #17 to #31.
Ireland -
“If I Can Dream” drops from #2 to #3.
Italy - “If I Can Dream” climbs from #95 to #77.
Germany - “If I Can Dream” climbs from #37 to #34.
Sweden - "If I Can Dream" drops off the Swedish Album chart after debuting at #48 last week.
Also..
Ireland - "The Real ... Elvis" CD climbed from #84 to #51.
Switzerland - "Elvis Presley – The 50 Greatest Hits" dropped off the chart at last week's re-entry at #75.
(News, Source;FECC/ElvisInfoNet) |
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Elvis 'If I Can Dream' boots fetch US$44,700 at auction: A pair of white boots worn by Elvis Presley during arguably his most famous TV performance have been bought by a UK collector for US$44,700.
The King wore the size-11 Verde boots while singing If I Can Dream during his '68 Comeback Special, broadcast on NBC.
Elvis recorded the song two months after the assassination of Martin Luther King and the lyrics include quotes from the civil rights leader.
The boots went under the hammer at Henry Aldridge auctioneers in Devizes UK.
Elvis wore a black leather outfit for most of the famous performance before changing into a white suit and shoes for the finale.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said Elvis had recorded the song "in several incredibly passionate takes".
He said: "To show producer Steve Binder his performance was so staggering it seemed almost like a religious experience.
"Out on the floor with a hand mic, Elvis fell to his knees. For a moment, it appeared like he was back in church, singing the gospel songs of his youth.
"These boots represent a tangible link to this truly iconic moment in showbusiness history.
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"If I Can Dream was the closing number of one of the greatest moments in entertainment history and is regarded by Elvis collectors as one of the 'Holy Grails'."
The boots were sold along with a handwritten letter from Elvis' buddy Charlie Hodge, who appeared with Elvis on the NBC show.
Mr Hodge wrote in his letter: "These white Verde brand boots are the boots that Elvis wore on stage on his 1968 NBC TV special.
"He wore these in the closing number of the show, If I Can Dream, while he was wearing a white suit. Elvis later gave me these boots."
(News, Source;BBC/ElvisInfoNet) |
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| Saturday 14 November 2015 |
ELVIS is Still UK Number One!: It is official, almost 40 years after his death, Elvis Presley is Number One in the UK for a second week - his "new" album is Elvis' 12th album that has topped the UK album charts.
In the year of Elvis' 80th anniversary this is SENSATIONAL news.
It means Elvis has had more UK number one albums than any other male solo artist.
Elvis remains at No.1 in the UK for a second week.
In the UK Elvis is still storming ahead of his rivals, last weeks supposed challenge from Rod Stewart 'Another Country' is down at Number 4.
Here are the positions / sales for the Top 5 Albums:
1. Elvis Presley - 'If I Can Dream' 88,603
2. Little Mix - Get Weird - 60,053
3. Ellie Goulding - Delirium - 38,429
4. Rod Stewart - Another Country 27,943
5. The Beatles - 1 - 26,840
(News, Source;Brian Quinn/ElvisInfoNet) |
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Yet More Elvis UK Chart Action: Apart from a No.1 Album just look at what a little TV Exposure can do for The King... yet more entries on the UK Charts for this second week....
'Elvis: 30 No.1 Hits' - Re-Entry at 38 on the Physical Album Chart.
'The Platinum Collection' - Re-Entry at 87 on the Physical Album Chart.
'If I Can Dream' - drops from 1 to 4 on the Official Download Album Chart
'Elvis: 30 No.1' Hits - drops from 53 to 67 on the Official Download Album Chart
'If I Can Dream' remains at No.1 on the Official Albums Sales Chart
'Elvis: 30 No.1 Hits' rises from 92 to 40 on the Official Albums Sales Chart
'The Elvis Collection' is a Re-Entry at 25 on the Official Music Video Chart
'Elvis: The 68 Comeback Special' is a Re-Entry at 37on the Official Music Video Chart
'If I Can Dream' remains at 1 on the Official Scottish Album Chart
'Elvis: 30 No.1 Hits' rises from 62 to 29 on the Scottish Album Chart
With thanks to EIN UK contributor Brian Quinn.
(News, Source;BQ/ElvisInfoNet)
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'Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock n’ Roll' Out Now: Peter Guralnick is best known for his critically biographys of Elvis Presley, Careless Love and Last Train to Memphis - his new book ‘Sam Phillips: The Man who Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll’ is Out ut Now - and getting great reviews..
The Boston Globe notes..
... A 19-year-old Elvis Presley walked into a Memphis studio in 1954, “a good-looking boy with acne on his neck, long sideburns, and long, greasy hair combed in a ducktail that he had to keep patting down.”
He was there to see Sam Phillips, who ran the Memphis Recording Service before it was rechristened Sun Studio. Their initial sessions didn’t go well, but Presley struck Phillips as “one of the most introverted people who had ever come into the studio, but for that reason one of the bravest, too.”
Once Presley found his sound, by sheer accident when he began goofing around with a version of a blues number called “That’s All Right,” it all fell into place. And thus began one of the most seismic pairings in all of rock ’n’ roll, a partnership that revolutionized the world.
That’s one of numerous remarkable anecdotes relayed in Peter Guralnick’s exhaustive new biography of Phillips, the record impresario whose legacy looms large but has never before been explored in such rich detail. “Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ’n’ Roll” is a long overdue appraisal of his achievements, but well worth the wait.
Guralnick's character study of Phillips presented a new challenge. Unlike with his previous subjects, Guralnick knew Phillips for nearly 25 years and conducted thoughtful, probing interviews with him. It was a blessing that also brought a heightened responsibility to get the story right.
While no hagiography, the project was clearly a labor of love. A lot of it.
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The book was born out of an astonishing amount of research and interviews; at more than 750 pages, it’s hard to fathom what was left out. Guralnick paces the story slow and steady, breaking down key moments in a methodical but conversational flow.
Along the way Guralnick touches on Phillips’s struggles with mental illness, his astute business savvy, his complicated relationships with friends and family, and the incredible drive and charisma that propelled his genius even if some believed, at heart, he was deeply lonely.
Liberally layered with his own words, Phillips’s stories and philosophies light up these pages as if you were speaking directly to the man, who died in 2003 at age 80.
Chapter nine chronicles the start of the author’s time with Phillips, whom he met through his relationship with Phillips’s son Knox. I won’t spoil it, but Guralnick’s account of their initial meeting in 1979, back when Phillips was reticent to do interviews, is a fascinating tribute to what it’s like to finally meet your idols.
In Guralnick’s mind, Phillips was on par with Walt Whitman, William Faulkner, and Mark Twain — American artists who captured the essence of others and amplified their voices. |
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He frames Phillips’s relevance far beyond the context of music history, making a strong case that he wasn’t merely a producer and studio owner. “A practicing psychologist” is how Guralnick imagines Phillips would have preferred to be called.
Indeed, he was a visionary who recognized the innate talent and magnetism of emerging talents, regardless of their skin color and social status. If anything, Phillips was hell-bent on wiping out racial barriers to give black artists a sonic canvas to tell their stories — a particularly trailblazing goal given that Phillips’s formative years were spent in the Jim Crow South.
“I knew what I opened the studio for,” Phillips says. “I was looking for a higher ground, for what I knew existed in the soul of mankind. And especially at that time the black man’s spirit and his [soul].”
From an early age, Phillips was transfixed by human nature, specifically the power of the common man to accomplish extraordinary things and tell universal truths. And he found them in spades in blues artists such as Howlin’ Wolf, Ike Turner, and B.B. King, not to mention the staggering roster of rock ’n’ roll’s founding fathers who recorded for his Sun Records: Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich, Roy Orbison, and so on.
Phillips was no savior, though, and Guralnick is unflinching in his accounts of his less savory qualities, too, without ever casting a judgmental eye.
By the book’s end, the weight of Guralnick’s mission comes into full view. Phillips had advised him early on, “It ain’t for you to put me in a good light. Just put me in the focus that I’m supposed to be in.” And that’s exactly what Guralnick has done. His subject would no doubt be proud that he got it right.
Go here To the Boston Globe for the full review
Or Click HERE to buy the book >> Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock 'n' Roll
- as a music lover it is essential - only $22 for 780 pages!
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
The Hard Rock Cafe Corp Revealed As Winning Bidder Of Elvis Iconic Gold Leaf Piano: Yesterday it was revealed that it was the "Hard Rock Cafe" corp as the winning bidder on Elvis Presley's Iconic Gold Leaf Piano, making it the 80,000th Memorabilia piece owned by the company and the largest Music Memorabilia Collection in the world.
The most important piano to be offered from Elvis Presley's history will join Hard Rock's priceless collection of invaluable memorabilia pieces including handwritten lyrics, clothing and instruments from new and legendary music stars like Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons, The Beatles, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Jimi Hendrix and many more.
"Elvis Presley's iconic gold piano has now become a cornerstone addition to our world-famous collection, and we couldn't be happier to celebrate such a milestone with The King's prized possession," said Hamish Dodds, Chief Executive Officer at Hard Rock International. "Hard Rock has been curating its priceless music memorabilia collection and sharing with guests around the world for more than 43 years, and Elvis' piano is an important piece of music history that we can't wait to share with our guests. While we are still deciding where this piece will reside within our properties, the front-runner at the moment would be the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa, fitting for one of the most successful casino properties in the world."
Some of their most popular and iconic pieces include Jimi Hendrix's Gibson Flying V guitar, John Lennon's handwritten draft of "Imagine" lyrics and The Rolling Stones' Vox Phantom Mark III Guitar.
With a total of 204 venues in 64 countries, including 157 cafes, 22 hotels and 11 casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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| Wednesday 11 November 2015 |
Elvis Tops Billboard Classical Album Charts: In a first that even Elvis would think very strange, his "new" album for 2015 is now Number 1 in the Billboard Classical Album Chart!
'If I Can Dream' also debuts at No.21 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart for w/e 21st November, 2015 with a Soundscan figure of 19,489 units.
In other Billboard charts
'If I Can Dream' is a new entry at 9 on the Top Album Sales Chart and also a new entry at 9 on the Top Current Albums Chart.
'It's Christmas Time' remains at #5 and 'Merry Christmas, Love Elvis' drops from 8 to 9 on the Holiday Album Chart.
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'It's Christmas Time' rises from 33 to 18 on the Catalog Album Chart.
'Merry Christmas, Love Elvis' is a re-entry at 35 on the Top Catalog Albums Chart and rises from 14 to 4 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart.
'Heart And Soul' drops from 15 to 16 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart.
'He Touched Me' -The Gospel Music Of Elvis Presley (Vols.1 and 2) re-enters the Music Video Sales Chart at 40.
Elvis is also a new entry at 52 on the Artist 100 Chart.
(News, Source;BrianQuinn/ElvisInfoNet) |
Weekend Julien Auction Results. Julien's 'Icons and Idols 2015: Rock and Roll' auction produced some surprisingly high bids. Perhaps none more extraordinary than someone paying $2.41 million for John Lennon's Gibson J-160E acoustic guitar that he used on the Beatles' first two albums. Lennon bought the guitar in September 1962 in Liverpool for $450 and it was expected to sell for around $800,000.
Despite the bi-annual Graceland auctions plenty of Elvis memorabilia also went for some good prices.
Elvis' graceland gold piano sold for $610,000. (see story below).
Elvis' white deerskin leather ensemble sold for $56,250
Elvis' signed formation of Gladys music contract sold for $18,750
Elvis' worn stage jacket sold for $59,375
Elvis' "Blue Hawaii" Hamilton watch (right) sold for $37,500 almost twice the estimate. |
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Elvis' gold coin and diamond ring with compact disc sold for $37,500.
Very sadly Elvis' May 24, 1976 Valium pill bottle also sold for over $6,500.
Click here to Julien's ELVIS Auctions for more details
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
'The Elvis Files Vol. 7 1974-1975' "Out Soon": The publication of 'Elvis Files Volume 7' was supposed to be the end of October but has been delayed by a few weeks. The book is at the printers and will be out soon. Erik Lorentzen assures EIN that "Fans will be very impressed with all the great photos. I was fortunate to attend several of the shows featured in the book, and working on them brought back a lot of great memories."
The seventh volume of the Elvis Files story chronicles Elvis' years on tour through the USA, the Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe seasons..
All ELVIS EVENTS in this Time Frame 1974-1975 are shown
- Every Working Moment...
- The Mid-Seventies Tours
- The Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe Seasons
- Plenty of CANDID Moments
- The Recording Sessions
- Previously Unpublished Photos.
The cover photo is taken by our friend Keith Alverson.
Go HERE for 'Elvis Files Vol 7' SNEAK PREVIEW & Great Photos |
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‘The Elvis Files Magazine #14': Meanwhile hard-working Erik Lorentzen is already putting together the December 2015 issue of the ‘The Elvis Files Magazine Issue #14’.
This volume features a special article written by Gordon Minto "The Comeback Kid" which includes some stunning photos of Elvis in Las Vegas 1969.
Also includes...
- Elvis' Amazing Adventures in Hollywood
- Elvis Live in Vegas January 1973
Annual Subscription 4 issues - send € 58 by PayPal to: sales@elvisfiles.no
Go here to EIN reviews for a look at what you get in The Elvis Files Magazines
(News, Source;EL/ElvisInfoNet)
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ELVIS Is Australia's Number One!: It is official, the impact of Elvis is being felt down-under as almost 40 years after his death, Elvis Presley and 'If I Can Dream' has topped Australia's ARIA album chart.
In the year of Elvis' 80th anniversary this is SENSATIONAL news.
This is Elvis' first #1 Australian album since '30 #1 Hits' in 2002. Elvis even beat Australia's own Tina Arena who debuted at #2 with her new album, 'Eleven'.
On other charts (The US Billboard ones should be confirmed soon)
Dutch Album Chart - new entry at #17.
Belgian Album Chart - new entry at #10.
German Album Chart - new entry at #35.
Irish Album Chart - new entry at #2.
Swedish Album Chart - new entry at #48.
Italian Album Chart - new entry at #95.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
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An Australian “addendum” to George Barris RIP: Kustom car designer George Barris - who recently died - finally made it to Australia this year.
In fact it was on his first trip to Australia in June / July 2015 that George Barris signed a few items in regards to the Elvis 'Gold Cadillac Tour of Australasia' book that Bob Hayden produced on his work
in regards the to strange marketing tour featuring Elvis' Gold Cadillac car in Australasia 1968-1969.
The photograph taken was of the very first items that George Barris signed after arriving at his motel in Sydney.
Barris was very appreciative of the items presented to him and also of the impact that Elvis has had in Australia.
This week hearing of George Barris sudden death is a sad day all round.
Go HERE for EIN's review of 'Elvis Presley's Gold Cadillac Tour of Australasia 1968-1969'
(News, Source;BobHayden/ElvisInfoNet) |
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Elvis composer Mac Davis Honored at the BMI Country Awards: Songwriter Mac Davis, who wrote the Elvis Presley classic 'In the Ghetto' plus 'A Little Less Conversation' and others, this week was honored at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, with tributes from Luke Bryan and Little Big Town.
Davis was given the BMI Icon award for penning five decades of hits in the pop and country worlds including "Memories," ''A Little Less Conversation," and "Texas in my Rearview Mirror."
The Lubbock, Texas-native was also a film and stage actor, TV and radio personality and had a solo career as a singer.
Rascal Flatts performed "Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me," and Bryan did his best Elvis impersonation for "A Little Less Conversation." The four-part vocal group Little Big Town performed the softly poignant "In the Ghetto."
Mac Davis and his wife Lise Kristen Gerard wer in attendance at the 63rd Annual BMI Country Awards at BMI's Music Row offices in Nashville, Tenn.
Go here to EIN's interview with Mac Davis.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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ELVIS Is UK Number One!: It is official, almost 40 years after his death, Elvis Presley has topped the UK album charts for a 12th time.
In the year of Elvis' 80th anniversary this is SENSATIONAL news.
It means Elvis has had more UK number one albums than any other male solo artist.
Elvis claimed the top album spot with 'If I Can Dream' 79,000 chart sales, giving him the second-fastest selling album of the year behind Chasing Yesterday by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.
Receiving the award on Elvis's behalf, the star's former wife Priscilla Presley told OfficialCharts.com: "This is an album that Elvis always really wanted to do and he would have been so pleased to know his fans are still there and they continue to love his music.
"The most talented team put this album together and helped us all realise an unfulfilled dream."
Rod Stewart landed his 34th top ten album with 'Another Country', just behind Elvis at two, while Elbow frontman Guy Garvey was at three with his first solo release 'Courting The Squall'.
Ed Sheeran's 'x' jumped three places back up the chart to spend its 72nd week in the top ten at four.
(News, Source;BBC/ElvisInfoNet)
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More Elvis UK Chart Action: Apart from a No.1 Album just look at what a little TV Exposure can do for The King...
On the Official UK Albums Streaming Chart Top 100 Elvis has the following entries:
- Elvis 75 - Good Rockin' Tonight - new entry at 53
- Artist Of The Century - new entry at 59
- If I Can Dream - new entry at 68
- Elvis' 30 No.1 Hits - new entry at 76
- I Am An Elvis Fan - new entry at 87
- The Perfect Elvis Presley Collection - new entry at 89
- Best Of Artist Of The Century - new entry at 91.
With thanks to EIN UK contributor Brian Quinn.
(News, Source;BQ/ElvisInfoNet)
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George Barris, Batmobile creator and Elvis car Customiser has Died: George Barris, the car designer who created the iconic 1966 Batmobile for the Batman television series and also customised cars and tour buses for Elvis, has died. He was 89.
"Sorry to have to post that my father, legendary kustom car king George Barris, has moved to the bigger garage in the sky," his son Brett Barris wrote.
Barris customised cars and buses for television shows, movies, and celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley including Elvis' famous Stutz Blackhawk. He was also a pioneer in designing small, plastic models of those cars.
The models popularised his wildly imaginative vehicles all the more when they were assembled by millions of American youngsters in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
For decades Barris worked out of a shop in a modest North Hollywood neighbourhood, just down the street from Universal Studios. Passers-by would often be startled to see the Batmobile or another stunning vehicle sitting inside the shop and to meet Barris if they strolled in to check it out.
Barris also worked on The Munster Coach for the 1960s TV show The Munsters, and Black Beauty, the car Bruce Lee used in the TV show, The Green Hornet.
Barris was born in Chicago in 1925 but he moved to Northern California as a child.
Barris began building model cars and customizing at an early age. Barris made a name for himself when he moved to Los Angeles after World War II, launching Barris Kustom Industries.
The popularity of his cars caught the eye of Hollywood, and his first film assignments included work on cars for Alfred Hitchcock’s North by
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Northwest, 1958's High School Confidential and 1960’s The Time Machine.
His biggest impact occurred when ABC asked him to create a signature vehicle for Batman. Barris rolled out a Lincoln concept car called the Lincoln Futura that he had kept in storage for about decade and used that as his base, constructing the car in just 15 days.
It was built for $15,000, though Barris purchased the Futura for $1. Barris kept the car in his personal collection and in 2013 sold the car at auction for $4.6 million.
The success of Batman and the Batmobile led to more work, including Mannix, The Beverly Hillbillies, Knight Rider and designing the Munster Coach for The Munsters, among others. He also designed novelty cars or performed customizations for celebrities ranging from Bob Hope to John Wayne to Elton John.
(News, Source;SM/ElvisInfoNet) |
Priscilla Denies Elvis Hologram Shows in Production: Priscilla this week said she would react strongly against attempts to abuse his legacy and that she’s “not quite convinced” by the idea of creating a hologram of Elvis.
In the UK she recently discussed the trend of posthumous music production and the growing number of holograms being created, which include Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and Tupac.
When asked about where to draw the line with posthumous music, and in particular the Elvis hologram whose rights are reportedly owned by Pulse Evolution, Presley said, “To be honest, I don’t know about that.”
She continued, “Our partners are exploring different options. I don’t think it’s full-range usage or a few images. There are ideas, his image in a couple of things… I haven’t seen anything to look at, there’s a lot of talking at the moment. I’m not quite convinced by it.”
She also said that she would react strongly against attempts to abuse Elvis’ legacy. “It’s a precious legacy, and we have to protect it. We have a team that sees what’s out there and the name, likeness and image cannot be abused.
“If it is,” she went on, “and something slips – then we act, and it doesn’t exist any more. Unless they want to come with us and we can work together. There’s a lot to keep up with, the amount of stuff out there.”
This week Pulse Evolution Corp and CEO John Textor were still publicising their continuing work on Elvis Presley new Hologram Stage shows. (see News Story Below)
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However this weeks story may have been a bluff as the company invovled Pulse Evolution Corp are struggling with a massive $100 million fraud suit in Florida.
This all stems from the now famous Michael Jackson hologram performance at the Billboard Music Awards in May of 2014. Textor and Pulse, after initially seeking to partner with Hologram USA, holder of the patented technology that creates the in-demand high definition 3D projections, decided to attempt to go it alone without proper technicians, or any permission, to use the technology. Despite many warnings, Textor and Pulse went ahead and acted surprised when Hologram USA sued them for patent infringement.
Pulse Entertainment is a company based solely on producing “celebrity resurrections” via hologram technology it has no rights to use. Though it has announced projects involving the likeness of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe, there is no explanation of how it will produce any shows without access to the technology that makes it happen.
Meanwhile rivals Hologram USA this week teleported Jimmy Kimmel from Hollywood to Nashville for the CMAs. It has also announced touring stage shows featuring holograms of Liberace and Buddy Holly.
It was also announced that a new hologram show of Whitney Houston is to make its first appearance in 2016.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
Elvis Insured himself for visits to England and Japan before he died: Elvis was possibly planning to perform his first ever show in Britain when he died, a never-seen-before document has revealed. They prove that Elvis took out insurance for his private jet a year before he died showing he planned to fly to "England and Japan" on "business and pleasure".
Despite his enormous international fanbase, the King never performed outside of North America partly because his dictatorial Dutch-born manager Colonel Parker was living there illegally and couldn’t leave.
The only time he touched down in the UK was at Prestwick airport in Glasgow when the US army plane carrying him home stopped briefly to refuel in 1960.
But a $3.6 million life insurance policy that Elvis filled out 12 months before he died in August 1977 has now come to light for the first time showing he was planning to travel by plane to England and Japan.
The signed document, dated August 11, 1976, relates to the use of his Corvair 880 private jet The Lisa Marie which he had bought for $250,000 the year previously.
Elvis filled out the aviation questionnaire in his full name Elvis Aaron Presley and states that he has flown 45 hours as a crew member since buying the plane.
Significantly, in response to a question about what countries he intends to fly to outside of the US, Elvis put ‘Japan & England’.
He then states that he anticipates to double the plane’s usage from 25 hours a year to 50 and that the purpose of the flights would be business and pleasure.
Experts say the form is the only known documentary proof that he clearly intended to come to England prior to his untimely death aged 42 on August 16, 1977.
The questionnaire was discovered among a folio of 140 life insurance-related documents including medical reports, cardiac charts and test results.
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The file has now been put up for auction by an unnamed collector who acquired it at some point in the 38 years since Elvis died.
The document is tipped to fetch $15,000 at Julien’s Auctions.
For years there was speculation about Elvis coming to Europe to perform that was drummed up in the media but nothing ever came of it. What makes this document so fascinating is that it is the first time fans have ever seen anything in black and white actually showing that it was in Elvis’ mind to travel to England.
Around the time he signed this form he was in a bad place - he was not speaking to Colonel Parker and he had just learned that two of his bodyguards were writing a book about him. It could very well be that he just decided to distance himself from it all by getting out of the US. He had massive fanbases in both England and Japan so they would have been obvious choices for places to go on tour.
Darren Julien, from the auction house, added: “The fact that Elvis plans to up his plane’s usage from 25 hours a year to 50 hours a year would suggest he was thinking about long-haul flights out of the US.
“I think Elvis should have performed internationally a lot more as he got older - he had a massive fan-base outside of the US.
Other items include
Elvis' 24K Gold Leaf Grand Piano - Est $500,000 - $750,000
Elvis' Gold Coin and Diamond Ring - Est $20,000 - $25,000
Plus various "Prescription pill bottles" prescribed by Dr. Nichopoulos - Est $5,000 - $7,500
The auction will take place in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Click here to Julien's ELVIS Auctions
(News, Source;Juliens/ElvisInfoNet) |
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Three New FTD Releases OUT NOW: The three FTD releases announced for October are at your local Elvis dealers now. A 1976 Live Soundboard, Movie soundtrack "Classic Album" and a unique collectible double-vinyl release.
1. 'Elvis In West Texas' a new soundboard contains the evening show in Odessa on May 30, 1976.
A thoroughly great show with repertoire highlights in “Help Me Make It Through The Night” and “It’s Now Or Never”.
It is packaged in a digipack 5” format with a 12-page booklet of 1976 photos.
The show features the pretty regular 1976 set-list including an 8 minute 'I Got Woman / Amen' but also highlights 'Funny How Time Slips Away' and ' Help Me Make It Through The Night'. This is the second 1976 show FTD have released from Elvis' MAY/JUNE 1976 tour #18 - as FTD's sixth release back in 2000 was 'Tucson' from June 1, 1976 just two days later. |
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Recorded at County Coliseum, Odessa, Texas on May 30, 1976, at the evening show. “See See Rider” and the talk about Odessa following it, are from the afternoon show the same day.
A short piece of the introductions was not recorded.
First reviews are very positive with Elvis sounding on good form.
Go here to EIN's FTD/SONY 2015 releases for full tracklist
2. 'Live A Little, Love A Little' new movie soundtrack 'Classic Album' release. Features a newly discovered Elvis session reel!
It comes in a 7” digipack with booklet. Due to the fact that there are only four songs in the movie, this is a single disc with selected outtakes.
From a newly found session tape, while the session only included four songs for the movie soundtrack, it did feature the wonderful 'A Little Less Conversation' and 'Edge Of Reality'. At last fans will get to hear TEN new session takes of 'A Little Less Conversation', FIVE new takes of 'Edge Of Reality' plus five new versions of 'Wonderful World' and five attempts at 'Almost In Love' - including a rehearsal. Go here for full details and tracklist
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3. 'Moody Blue', special Double-Vinyl version.
Continuing on from the popular special vinyl editions, FTD is pleased to announce the release of “Moody Blue” in its original discarded art layout for the first time.
To create a unique collectible, it is issued in clear vinyl and each pressing is hand numbered.
This edition is limited to 1500.
This double vinyl edition includes, session outtakes, rough mixes, undubbed versions but for some reason misses out on the full-length version of 'Pledging My Love'.
Go here to EIN's FTD/SONY 2015 releases for full tracklist
(News, Source;FTD/ElvisInfoNet)
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"If I Can Dream" Heading to UK Number 1: They don’t call Elvis "The King" for nothing, and almost 40 years after his death, Elvis Presley is on track to rule the Official Albums Chart once more.
If Elvis can hang on until the end of the week, it will give him a 12th chart-topping album in the UK.
His new album If I Can Dream, pairing 14 of the singer's classic tracks with new musical arrangements by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and duets with Michael Buble and backing vocals by Il Volo, is currently 7,000 chart sales ahead of another new entry and nearest rival Rod Stewart, who will be hoping 'Another Country' can overtake The King and give him a ninth Number 1 album.
If Elvis' new album 'If I Can Dream' with the RPO makes #1 in the UK Official Album Chart it will increase the span between two #1 albums by the same artist, in the almost 60 year history of the UK album chart, to an astounding 59 years and 4 days! Elvis' first #1 UK album being the HMV release of "Rock and Roll" which reached #1 on November 4, 1956, staying there for a single week.
Elvis most recent UK chart successes were 'The Nation's Favourite Elvis Songs' which made #5 in November 2013, the 'Viva Elvis' remix album which made #19 in 2010 plus the "Elvis 75" hits collection also from 2010 which peaked at #8.
(News, Source;UKOfficialCharts/ElvisInfoNet)
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'Bridge Over Troubled Water' New Video: One of the coolest things about the new album is the 'If I Can Dream' / 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' 45RPM vinyl single (free as a bonus with the pre-ordered Australian CD). Presented in a retro RCA sleeve and with memorable RCA Orange label, it is a marvelous collector's treat.
And how cool that the single 'If I Can Dream' / 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' is currently number #1 on the UK Official Vinyl Singles Chart Top 40.
Click HERE to YouTube to see a FANTASTIC edited video for the new 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' version. |
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Great work from EIN's friend "ELVISDlNNERSHOW2014" combining 'TTWII' and 'Elvis On Tour' along with split-screen addition of the RPO. -
Don't miss this video.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) - Thanks to Johnny for the word-up. |
'If I Can Dream' Sony Australia Promotion: SONY Australia ramps up the promotion on 'If I Can Dream' with an offer of "Win one of 5,000 prizes - with a chance to win of 1 in 160. Total Prize Pool value $161,000."
If you buy 'If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra' CD from any Australian store - each CD has a special code that might win you a prize.
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Prizes include a Trip to Universal Studios in LA for Two People, and SONY Full HD LED Smart TV.
The Promotion runs through to Midnight 31 January 2016.
HOWEVER EIN notes that the promotion also applies to a list of Thirty-Five other albums being released by SONY over the summer period, not just Elvis' 'If I Can Dream'. Other less honest Australian Elvis websites have implied that the competition is only based on buying the new Elvis album.
Sorry, entry is open to Australian citizens and permanent residents only.
Click HERE to SONY AUSTRALIA for the competition details.
(News, Source;Sony/ElvisInfoNet) |
Elvis 'If I Can Dream' - Positive Reviews: The new album is still getting massive publicity, Priscilla has been on every key talk show and the TV adverts have started running. EIN is now happy to note some recent positive reviews..
The Chicago Sun-Times notes.
“If I Can Dream,” - It’s been a yearlong celebration of what would have been Elvis Presley’s 80th birthday way back on January 8. And this latest release is one of the more glamorous music releases to date in honor of the milestone. The result is lush and lovely, and makes one wonder if Presley would have enjoyed a detour into classical music somewhere along the road. The cuts are indicative of the music Presley made his own: rock, gospel, blues, pop, ballads. Michael Buble shows up for a steamy duet with the King on “Fever,” with its sizzling new arrangement.
These interpretations will in no way replace the originals; they’re not meant to and that’s a good thing. But the album is a beautiful reminder of how perfectly pure Presley’s voice was. Not even a full orchestra could outshine what flowed from his soul.
Trina Yannicos at The Examiner.com gives the album a 5/5 star review, she notes.. |
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. This reviewer can't stress enough the importance of listening to the CD on either a car stereo or home stereo system to hear the brilliant sound of Presley's voice, accompanied by the fullness of the orchestra.
Fans that are familiar with the original versions of the songs included on If I Can Dream will not find a drastic change to the overall sound of some of the recordings like the title track "If I Can Dream" and "In The Ghetto". The truth is Presley's arrangements for many of these songs already had some orchestration since Elvis had incorporated a small orchestra into his '70s live performances.. But what the Royal Philharmonic does is add an overall polished orchestral sound to the songs.
Where the collaboration works best is in songs that originally had empty spots in their instrumentation. For example, The Royal Philharmonic fits in perfectly with songs like "Love Me Tender," "Can't Help Falling in Love" and "You've Lost That Loving Feeling". In "Bridge Over Troubled Water," the combination of Presley's voice and the orchestra mesh together perfectly.
Another highlight is the glorious "American Trilogy." The original version is bigger than life, but the additional orchestration from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra really adds something to the enormity of the song. Other highlights include Michael Bublé's wonderful jazzy duet with Elvis on "Fever" and a surprisingly funkier version of the R&B song "Steamroller Blues."
As a whole, the album is a great representation of how Elvis could match up to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin any day and will hopefully bring a new appreciation for Presley as the diverse, multi-talented artist he was: The King of Rock and Roll and so much more.
Click here to 'The Examiner' read her 5/5 detailed review.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
New Elvis Hologram Show - back In the News: Concert promoters hoping to bring out legends such as Elvis Presley, Whitney Houston and Frank Sinatra used to face an obvious problem the singers are dead.
But with rapid advances in technology, those stars and many more are returning to life through holograms, the three-dimensional light projections that have opened new frontiers for the live music and other industries.
The hologram boom began in April 2012 when Coachella, one of the most influential music festivals, resurrected slain rapper Tupac Shakur in a headlining set by his former collaborators Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg.
Two years later, the King of Pop Michael Jackson came back from the dead at the Billboard Music Awards, the annual event hosted by the US music industry magazine.
In recent months, hologram announcements have become so regular they are almost mainstream.
Hologram USA has now announced tours by Whitney Houston, who died in 2012.
The firm also plans to bring Billie Holiday, who died in 1959, back to Harlem's Apollo Theater in what would be the first regularly scheduled hologram show.
Holograms record light fields, rather than standard camera images, thereby allowing a three-dimensional presentation.
For Whitney Houston's tour, which four venues have so far agreed to welcome, the late singer's projection will be accompanied by performers on stage.
"Whitney will be able to interact live in a real performance. It won't be scripted," Alki David, the founder of Hologram USA, told AFP.
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Another US company, Pulse Evolution, is preparing a musical based on Elvis that will take place on stage through virtual reality.
John Textor, the chairman of Pulse Evolution which spearheaded the Tupac and Michael Jackson holograms, said it was critical to design real shows, not just to rely on holograms.
He expected the Elvis musical to run 90 minutes and feature live dancers and actors, in the fashion of a Broadway show.
"I don't believe in digital performance concerts. By the time you get to the third song, you're done. The novelty is gone," Textor said. He sees concerts not as an end in themselves but as one application for virtual reality.
Digital Domain, the company he ran from 2006 to 2012, made its name in cinema and won several Oscars, most notably for 2008's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" in which the hero, played by Brad Pitt, ages backwards.
Virtual reality technologists have long warned of the dangers of the "uncanny valley" a theory that, the more perfectly an image resembles a real being, the more the audience will notice the imperfections.
But for Textor, that bridge has been crossed. In the first part of "Benjamin Button," he recalled that audiences believed they were watching Pitt, when in fact it was a virtual image.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
How Sam Phillips discovered a star in 1954: The UK Independent newspaper has run an extract from the new Peter Guralnick about Sam Phillips.
... Memphis, 1954, and Sun recording studio boss Sam Phillips dreams of discovering a new sound: a blend of the best of black music and the best of white music.
Sam Phillips had been thinking more and more that the key lay in the connection between the races, in what they had in common far more than what kept them apart. There were always going to be "some bastard white people," he knew, but far more to the point was the spiritual connection that he had always known to exist between black and white, the cultural heritage that they all shared. "Not to copy each other but to just – hey, this is all we've got and we're going to give it to you. This is our Broadway play. This is our Tin Pan Alley. This is what it is. We hope you like it."
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To Marion Keisker, his assistant, he had begun to talk increasingly about finding someone – and it had to be a white man, because the wall that he had run into with his recordings practically proved that in the present racial climate it couldn't be someone black – who might be able to bridge the gap. "Over and over I heard Sam say, 'If I could find a white man who had the Negro sound and the Negro feel, I could make a billion dollars!' " And he would always laugh, Marion said, as if to underscore that money was never the point – it was the vision.
One song continued to haunt Sam, a plaintive ballad called "Without You" that the song publisher Red Wortham had given him. There was something about it – for all of its sentimentality, there was a quality of vulnerability about it, and he thought that he'd like to have someone come in and give it a try. The only one who came to mind was a kid who had stopped by the previous summer and for $4 cut a "personal" record for his mother.
The boy had come in to cut another "personal" in January or February – Sam couldn't imagine that he was more than a year or so out of high school – and evidently he stopped by from time to time to talk with Marion. Sam was well aware of that fact because Marion was going on about him. He didn't really know, but when Marion brought up his name for what seemed like the thousandth time, he thought, Why not? The boy had the same yearning quality in his voice, attached to the kind of purity and fervor that you might be more inclined to assign to religious music. Sam had no idea of his full potential, but there was no question, he was certainly different. So he had Marion call him.
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Elvis Presley came into the studio on Saturday, 26 June 1954. He was 19 years old; a good-looking boy with acne on his neck, long sideburns, and long, greasy hair combed in a ducktail that he had to keep patting down. But what struck Sam most was his quality of genuine humility – humility mixed with intense determination. He was, innately, Sam thought, one of the most introverted people who had ever come into the studio, but for that reason one of the bravest, too. He reminded Sam of many of the great early blues singers who had come into his studio, "his insecurity was so markedly like that of a black person".
They worked on the number all afternoon, with Elvis accompanying himself inexpertly on his own beat-up little guitar.
"I guess I must have sat there at least three hours," Elvis told Memphis Press- Scimitar reporter Bob Johnson in 1956. "I sang everything I knew – pop stuff, spirituals, just a few words of [anything] I remembered." Sam watched intently through the glass of the control room window – he was no longer taping, and in almost every respect this session had to be accounted a dismal failure, but still there was something. . .
Every so often the boy looked up at him, as if for approval: was he doing all right? Sam just nodded and spoke in that smooth, reassuring voice. "You're doing just fine. Now just relax. Let me hear something that really means something to you now." Soothing, crooning, his gaze locked into the boy's through the plate-glass window he had built so that his eyes would be level with the performer's when he was sitting at the control room console. He didn't really know if they were getting anywhere or not, it was just so damned hard to tell, especially when you were dealing with someone who was obviously unaccustomed to performing in public.
There was however something about him – Marion kept after him all week about how the session had gone. One day they were sitting with [guitarist] Scotty Moore, and Marion brought up the boy again. "This particular day," Scotty said, "it was about five in the afternoon. Marion was having coffee with us, and Sam said, 'Get his name and phone number out of the file.' Then he turned to me and said, 'Why don't you give him a call and get him to come over to your house and see what you think of him?' [Bass player] Bill Black lived just three doors down from me. Sam said, 'You and Bill can just give him a listen, kind of feel him out.' "
Scotty called Sam at home the following evening. They had had their audition and it had gone much like the one Sam had conducted. Bill had been none too impressed, and Scotty's wife had just about bolted out the back door when the kid arrived wearing a black shirt, pink pants with a black stripe, white shoes, and that long greasy ducktail. They ran through the same assortment of songs – hillbilly, pop, Billy Eckstine's "I Apologise"; the Ink Spots' "If I Didn't Care"; Hank Snow and Eddy Arnold's latest hits – and a Dean Martin-styled version of "You Belong to Me".
They were all ballads, all sung in a yearning quavery tenor that didn't seem ready to settle anywhere anytime soon and accompanied by the most rudimentary strummed guitar.
Scotty's guitar part was almost invariably too damn complicated, he was trying too hard to sound like Chet Atkins – but then there was that strange sense of inconsolable desire in the voice, there was the unmistakable thrill of hearing free, unfettered emotion being conveyed without disguise or restraint.
CLICK HERE to UK's Independent for the full article - Would Elvis manage to record a hit song and change the world ? ! ? !
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
"Elvis: Ultimate Christmas" Walmart Exclusive: Released today (2/11/2015) in the US a double CD "Elvis: Ultimate Christmas" Walmart Exclusive.
It features 30 tracks on 2CDs and combines the best of Elvis' Christmas songs plus the songs from 'Elvis Christmas Duets'.
Tracklist 1. If Every Day Was Like Christmas, 2. Santa Claus Is Back In Town, 3. White Christmas, 4. Blue Christmas, 5. I'll Be Home For Christmas, 6. Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me), 7. Here Comes Santa Claus
8. Silver Bells, 9. O Little Town Of Bethlehem, 10. Merry Christmas Baby, 11. The Wonderful World Of Christmas, 12. O Come All Ye Faithful, 13. Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees, 14. On A Snowy Christmas Night, 15. I'll Be Home On Christmas Day.
16. It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You). 17. Medley Christmas Message From Elvis/Silent Night, 18. Blue Christmas With Martina McBride, 19. I'll Be Home For Christmas (With Carrie Underwood), 20. Here Comes Santa Claus (With LeAnn Rimes), 21. Santa Claus Is Back In Town With Wyonna Judd, 22. Silent Night With Sara Evans, 23. White Christmas With Amy Grant, 24. Merry Christmas Baby With Gretchen Wilson, 25. O Little Town Of Bethlehem With Karen Fairchild And Kimberly Sclapman, 26. Silver Bells With Anne Murray, 27. O Come All Ye Faithful With Olivia Newton John, 28. The First Noel, 29. If I Get Home On Christmas Day, 30. Winter Wonderland.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
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| News from earlier this week ... |
Elvis 'If I Can Dream' TV Advert & First Reviews: The new album is still getting massive publicity, Priscilla has been on every key talk show and the TV adverts have started running.
CLICK HERE to YouTube to watch this rather good UK TV advert.
Unfortunately the media reviews being posted are not so positive.
The Los Angeles Times notes "Elvis Presley 'If I Can Dream' with orchestra misses the mark" - The problem with the new set is that the organizing principle equates “bigger” with “better,” assuming that a boatload of strings, wind and percussion instruments automatically enhances Presley hits such as “It’s Now or Never,” “Love Me Tender,”
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“Burning Love,” “How Great Thou Art,” “In the Ghetto” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” By and large, they don’t.
The UK newspaper The Independent writes, "This latest posthumous repackage involves replacing or augmenting the original arrangements of 14 Elvis performances with new orchestrations, mostly to the songs’ detriment: both the snake-hipped sway of “It’s Now Or Never” and the yearning tone of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” are ill-served by the lush strings."
The Irish Times gives it 3 out of 5 - "Recalling The Beatles’ LOVE album, it’s listenable and occasionally pleasant – but you just can’t beat the originals."
It is still early days though and the first weekend for its release so fingers crossed...
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
Priscilla reveals her final conversation with Elvis: Priscilla, on the 'If I Can Dream' publicity trail, was on the BBC's Jonathan Ross Show this week. In the programme Priscilla opened up about her final conversation with Elvis, days before his untimely death, when he reassured her he was fine. Elvis died of a heart attack at his home on August 16 1977, hours before he was due to fly out of Memphis to start a new tour, which Priscilla revealed the 42-year-old had been excited about.
His former wife told The Jonathan Ross Show: “We talked, in fact we talked a few days before he passed which was very hard. I was asking if he was OK and if he was excited about going on tour and he was. He loved work, but he was dealing with a lot of issues, decisions that he had to make, so it wasn’t easy.”
Asked if she had concerns for him, she replied: “I did but Elvis was, he felt he was OK. But I knew that Elvis was dealing with a lot of issues shortly before his death.
“He wasn’t someone who you could just say, ‘You need to really take care of yourself...’ It was hard for anyone to do anything because ultimately it was his decision and he felt he was fine.”
The pair met in 1959 when Priscilla was only 14 years old and Elvis was 24 and wed nearly eight years later. The couple divorced four years before Elvis’ death, but she revealed that |
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hearing about his death was “absolutely devastating. I mean still to this day it’s hard to believe”.
Priscilla admitted that she felt defined by her husband’s fame during their marriage. “I was kind of lost really in who I was earlier in my life, I really didn’t have teenage years. I learnt so much about him and was with him so much that I thought the way he did.
“I knew what he liked, what he didn’t like, I knew his thoughts, I knew everything as far as you could possibly do when you live together at such a young age.
The 70-year-old also told of how Elvis was so determined to avoid other people’s germs that he insisted on taking his own cutlery to other people’s houses and would only drink from where the handle met a cup as he believed no other mouths or fingers would have touched that spot. But he was so determined to write songs and make music, that if he was still alive today he would still be making music.
Talking about Presley’s dislike of germs, she said: ‘Elvis never |
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liked to go to people’s homes to eat because didn’t like eating with other people’s silverware, so he would take his own silverware.
And he didn’t like drinking out of cups that other people had drunk out of, even restaurants or other people’s homes. ‘So when he drank, he would drink where the handle was, knowing that no one would ever drink at that side.’
When asked by Ross: 'So was he sort of germophobic then?’, she responded: ‘Yes he was a bit, he just didn’t like being around other things that people handled a lot.
‘He was that way when he was young, very young, a young boy.
“I’m much more comfortable with it now because I am my own person in my own right now so I’m able to share that,” she said.
Priscilla was joined on the show by Elvis Costello who performed a few lines from 'Suspicious Minds' after his own chart hit ‘Alison’ - played on Presley’s personal guitar from 1956 and spoke to Ross about his memories of the Jailhouse Rock singer.
(News, Source;BBC/ElvisInfoNet) (EIN thanks Paul Clarkson for the update) |
'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) |
'Ciscoking's Corner' ELVIS website Closed Down: Some EIN members have asked us why Joachim Bernecker aka Ciscoking's informative website 'Ciscokings Corner' has closed down. EIN tracked down the Elvis super-fan responsible..
EIN - You have announced that your incredibly
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detailed Elvis releases 'Ciscokings Corner' website has had to close down. It is such a shame as I personally loved all the rare recording details. Can I ask you why, is this because of personal attacks?
Cisco - Yes. I have been attacked more than once the recent few months. It's just a shame because it is exactly the same people who steal / copy my information from my (now deleted) site without ever having given me credit that are the same people who want to bash my independent opinions. In some ways I think my help in proving that Elvis never recorded "Tiger Man" at SUN studios was a key factor.
EIN - Do you blame other people's egos and jealousy for this?
Cisco - This might be two of the reasons. Others are that I am no "follower" and have a strong opinion of my own. However, I prefer fair discussion and respect for other opinions.
I won't name and shame anybody. But everyone can judge by himself when he looks at certain discussions in the internet. It is no rocket science. On a place like the previously very fine FECC message-board, fair discussion isn't possible any more when it comes to the later Presley concerts.
You immediately get attacked when you praise a show from Presley's stage work after 1970. You cannot just say any more that a show from |
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this time is "great" or "fantastic" without being ridiculed, bashed and being asked "compared to what and when" and "why". In the end you are ridiculed as a fan with "rose- colored glasses" who supports a "drug addicted zombie" without will who is only able to do his "dive bomb routine". I call this disrespect for the artist. Why can't Elvis fans be allowed to state their enjoyment of concerts after 1970 without having to forever justify their opinions? When it is the same people who belittle you as "steal" your hard-earned work, this made me feel no motivation to keep my site online - as you surely understand.
EIN - Fans don't realise what time and energy it takes to keep an Elvis site updated. How many years have you been gathering release information, and how many hours a week do you put into the site?
Cisco - In the beginning I spent ages on the website. Literally every minute of my spare time. I was sitting sometimes 12 hours a day on the PC getting red eyes. Keep the site up to date is another challenge. I didn't miss a release for years. I was gathering infos from people all
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over the world ..experts... producers... collectors... fans.... eye-witnesses who were there etc.... well I still do but now the info will only flow in a very limited circle of fans... I have a bunch of new infos right here on my table... many amended show dates.... even a SB got a newly confirmed date...... all gathered from very reliable sources. Information you won't ever find anywhere else on the internet. In recent times I still spent around an hour per day on the site.
I also note that on the site I provided for free over 250 complete rare Elvis concerts for listening via streaming.
EIN - Do you make money from your website?
Cisco - Not a penny. To be honest, I see no reason any more to share the results of my research, all my hard work that I do for free, if I don't get anything
in return but malice and mockery..
EIN - What about your other site 'Elvis On CD' - will this keep running?
Cisco - Yep....I am still responsible for the concert import cds... there. But no more rare cdr listings though.
And I am very proud that I am still Ernst Jorgensen's consultant when it comes to concert releases by FTD.
Go here to FECC if you want to know more about why 'Ciscoking Corner' has closed down.
GO HERE to read the facts >> - Did Elvis Record 'Tiger Man' At Sun? - (No, he didn't!)
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
Joanna Lumley on finding Elvis in Memphis: In the new ITV UK documentary, the actress and lifelong devotee goes on a pilgrimage to the King's Mississippi birthplace and Graceland
Joanna Lumley believes you either get Elvis or you don’t. She still remembers the day that she got him.
“I was 10 and staying with my aunt in Kent when Blue Suede Shoes came out," she recalls reverently. "We played it on a gramophone and I became besotted!
"I’d never heard anything like that and what a magic voice he had. Back then I hadn’t seen a film of Elvis in action because I didn’t have a television. But I remember seeing a photograph with his slick of hair and just falling in love.”
In her latest travelogue for UK television ITV, Lumley finally goes on a pilgrimage – "as if he were a saint" – to Memphis, the Tennessee city where teenage Elvis laid down his first tracks. |
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But unlike the many millions of fans who have gone before, Lumley had Priscilla Presley as her tour guide of the world's most famous rock' n' roll residence, Graceland.
So what did she make of Elvis’s ex-wife? “I just loved her – the lucky lady who'd married Elvis. Think of Linda McCartney and multiply it by a million.
"I was so curious about what she’d be like and she seemed like a porcelain doll: so beautiful and radiant, with her black hair and lovely dress. What focus there was on her must have been intense. [She was] the envy of others, then it all went wrong."
The King would have turned 80 this year had he lived. Lumley's tribute is clearly a labour of love, focusing on Elvis' impoverished childhood and meteoric rise to fame rather than his famously troubled latter years.
She recalls learning of Elvis' death in August 1977, aged just 42, as vividly as that gramophone rendition of Blue Suede Shoes. By that time, she was a successful actress shooting The Avengers in Canada.
“The Canadian press were awful, basically wondering what the fuss was about, seeing it just as a ‘fat singer’ that had died. Where as I and the rest of the world were truly devastated. The Canadians didn’t understand. There was very little respect for Elvis back then and that appalled me – how could he be dissed when he died? But millions of us did respect him and it was heartbreaking – the King was dead and it was awful.”
He lives on thanks to Lumley's comic alter ego in Absolutely Fabulous: hard-drinking hedonist Patsy.
“Patsy – like me – adores Elvis! He’s always been her man. I observed that Elvis never gave a big smiley grin, just a small one with raised lip on the side, so that’s what I gave Patsy because it was just so cool. Plus, she lowers her voice like Elvis when she’s happy, too. I love it. He had a passion for Palomino horses, with a golden mane… just like Patsy!”
Lumley's favourite place? Sun Studio, where Elvis made his first record, That’s All Right, Mama in 1954. "The thought of him politely going in there and putting down his $4 and saying to the woman at the desk that he didn’t sound like anyone else... And he was right!"
'Joanna Lumley: Elvis and Me' airs in the UK on Wednesday 4th November, ITV at 9pm
(News, Source;SM/ElvisInfoNet) |
'Solid As Rock' New Import CD: Straight Arrow is very pleased to bring you, as a first for the label, two concerts from 1971, the Las Vegas August 27th, 1971 dinner & midnight shows. And what a delight it is to get fresh tapes from this year, and from this season, and in rather decent sound too - a rarity for early Vegas seasons. The August 27th, 1971 Dinner and Midnight Shows are taken directly from an original Audience Recorded master tape. The Aug. 27, 1971 D/S is a completely new show, even for die-hard Elvis fans. It has never been in circulation - in any form!
The Aug 27, 1971 M/S was previously released from an awful sounding source.
Elvis' previous engagement there had shown clear signs of his high performing standard slipping, but here it sounds like he's back on track again. Both shows are tight, no-nonsense affairs with Presley in good voice and in strong form. He performs with focus and professionalism, and he sings a fantastic variety of music. It's interesting to note that already in '71, the difference between the dinner and midnight shows was becoming noticeable, the midnight show is truly sensational! This release is presented in a de-luxe double digipack, collection of photos taken in Del Webbs Sahara Tahoe hotel and at the Las Vegas.
Go to 'All The Elvis CD News 2015' for more info and tracklisting.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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Elvis US Billboard Charts: As we head towards Christmas, Elvis' regular Christmas albums once again re-enter the US Billboard charts..
'It's Christmas Time' drops from 3 to 7 on the Billboard Holiday Album
Chart for w/e 7th November, 2015.
'Merry Christmas, Love Elvis' drops
from 5 to 8.
'Heart And Soul' rises from 18 to 16 and 'Merry Christmas, Love Elvis' is a Re-Entry at 24 on the Country Catalog Album Chart.
(News, Source;BrianQuinn/ElvisInfoNet)
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2015 - Elvis Presley #2 Forbes Top-Earning Dead Celebrity: This year Michael Jackson again leads the list of the 13 top-earning dead
celebrities, pulling in $115 million over the past year - however this marks an 18% drop from last year. The main
drivers of his afterlife fortune: the Vegas Cirque du Soleil show
Michael Jackson One, recorded music sales and
half of the Sony /ATV publishing empire.
Once again Elvis Presley is holding steady at $55 million. The King of Rock n’ Roll doesn’t rule the realm of postmortem cash, but he’s making more than most living stars thanks largely to Graceland ticket sales. In August he earned his 53rd Top 40 album with Elvis Presley Forever, a compilation released by the U.S. Postal Service along with a commemorative stamp.
Peanuts creator Charles Schulz ranks third with $40 million, much of it from his cut of licensing revenue from the popular comic.
Bob Marley ($21 million) and Elizabeth Taylor ($20 million) round out the top five. In death, Marley is becoming quite the businessman with his Marley Beverage company (home to Marley’s Mellow Mood) and House of Marley (maker of eco-friendly audio and lifestyle products).
Other notables include actor Paul Walker, who banked $10.5 million on the success of Furious 7–which grossed $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office, making it the franchise’s biggest intake to date. Albert Einstein earned $11 million, thanks to branded merchandise including apparel, posters and tablets designed by Israeli tech company Fourier Systems.
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Though there are only 13 names on our Top-Earning Dead Celebrities list, plenty of others are pulling in millions from beyond the grave. Among those closest to making the cut: Frank Sinatra, Bruce Lee, Joan Rivers, George Harrison, Richard Rodgers, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash and Kurt Cobain.
Top five Forbes magazine Top-Earning Dead Celebrities 2015.
1. Michael Jackson $115 million
2. Elvis Presley $55 million
3. Charles Schulz ('Peanuts' creator) $40 million.
4. Bob Marley $21 million.
5. Elizabeth Taylor $20 million.
As Gore Vidal once noted, "Death is a good career move"!
Elvis left the building 38 years ago - will Michael Jackson still be in the list in 30 years time? - EIN truly has its doubts. - Go HERE to EIN's Elvis vs Michael Jackson spotlight
(News, Source;Forbes/ElvisInfoNet) |
UPDATED - 'If I Can Dream' new Elvis album - EIN Readers Respond: The publicity for the "new" Elvis album is ramping up, which is good to see. Yesterday EIN asked its readers what were their opinions so far about the new album to be released at the end of this week.
Of all the sneak previews EIN suggested that the new version of "Burning Love" sounded GHASTLY!
Nor can we possibly believe that these songs with new overdubs are, "What Elvis would have loved to have had" as Priscilla tells everyone on her publicity trail.
EIN reader's comments are a very mixed bunch such as..
... I've listened to every track that's available from this CD, and I hate them all! They've ruined Elvis' songs. Why can't they leave his music alone? The original tracks are perfect, just the way they are!
....The new arrangements are terrific and exciting as well as creative - especially Burning Love!!
... I’ve really liked most of what I’ve heard so far but must agree that 'Burning Love' is a bit odd… it doesn’t offend but it won’t be the track I use to sell the concept to family and friends."
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... They have absolutely destroyed "Burning Love". This was about as stupid as painting a mustache on the "Mona Lisa".
To be honest while EIN is not so sure of the concept of putting an orchestra over already orchestrated versions and putting violins over great rock'n'roll numbers like 'Burning Love' but we are keeping an open mind until we hear the whole album on a quality HiFi.
We also hope the album is a big success but maybe we are the wrong target-market since we know the originals so very well. Today we add lots more reader feedback - including a very detailed look from EIN contributor Bryan Gruszka.
Click HERE to read our reader Feedback - and send us YOUR Opinion
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
| 'A Touch Of Gold Lamé' Book Review: The new book from the Elvis Files Erik Lorentzen is an in-depth look at Elvis' fabulous tours of 1957 over 420 pages.
EIN has never seen so many glorious photographs of Elvis on tour in 1957 with so many photographs we have previously not seen in such stunning quality and as glorious full-page images.
The wealth of material in this book is stunning. His single day Ottawa appearance with the first fabulous article “The Pelvis Arrives” and continue over forty-two pages of articles and stunning images. There are 10 articles alone from Ottawa’s various newspapers and two interviews with Elvis. And yet he was there for only one day!
.. "Glittering in an unborn calf skin suit, which was completely covered with 24-karat gold cloth, and 24-karat gold shoes, Elvis seemed to be somewhat groggy as he greeted the record crowd. Assuming his provocative stance, he tilted the microphone, embraced it and began rotating his pelvis....
It is incredible, only twenty-eight Elvis concerts over 400 plus pages and not a jumpsuit in sight!
Go here as EIN's Piers Beagley checks out this sensational new book about the crucial tours of 1957 that would help cement Elvis' incredible legacy as he headed towards his possible career-changing term in the US Army....
(Book Reviews, Source;ElvisInfoNetwork)
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Priscilla On the NBC 'Today Show' promoting 'If I Can Dream': Priscilla - noted as Executive Producer of the new album - has been hitting the promotion trail hard to get out maximum publicity about the new album.
And EIN sure hopes it gets the album high in the charts and onto your local music stations so that a new generation of the "general Public' can get hooked and go on to discover the REAL music of Elvis.
Elvis Presley gets orchestral accompaniment on album 'If I Can Dream' as
Priscilla Presley chats with the Fourth Hour ladies from the NBC TODAY show about her latest project "If I Can Dream: Elvis with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra."
The new album pairs Elvis' vocals on 14 classic songs with new orchestral arrangements.
CLICK HERE to the NBC Video
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
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| More News and EIN exclusives from earlier in October ... |
'Elvis: Today' in-depth Legacy Review: On March 10th 1975 Elvis returned to RCA Studio C, LA to record his last significant album. Recorded over three nights, the album featured Elvis covering other songwriter's material. Interestingly with no other recordings left in the RCA vault every single track from the session was released on the one album - and what a fine album it was.
Kicking off with the rocking power of T-R-O-U-B-L-E the album also included some country, gospel, sentimental ballads while also featuring some of Elvis’ personal favourites. Unlike all of his albums since ‘Elvis Country’ this album had a nice overall cohesiveness that probably did reflect Elvis’ musical interests of the time. In 1975 it really was “Elvis Today”.
Now out as a 40th Anniversary legacy release and combined with a wonderfully enjoyable June 1975 concert can it really be worth buying again?
Luckily for Elvis collectors both the live concert and the 'Original Session Mixes' show a vast improvement in audio quality.
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‘Elvis at the O2’ exhib New Items on Display: Due to its popularity, London's 'Elvis at The O2' exhibition has been extended until January 10, 2016. The exhibition features over 300 artefacts from EPE's Graceland Archives, some of which have never been exhibited outside Graceland.
Since the exhibition started they have been rotating the "Major" items such as Elvis' leather Comeback Suit or the Gold Lame suit.
This week two new items have been added to the display, the White 'If I Can Dream' suit from the '68 Comeback Special, as well as Elvis' famous 'Aztec Sundial' jumpsuit worn during the CBS TV special and his last concerts in 1977.
If you are near London the exhibition is well-worth seeing.
See EIN's exclusive 'Elvis At the London 02' review here.
(News, Source;StrictlyElvis/ElvisInfoNet)
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Elvis' Audubon home now a performance venue: "We go in through the kitchen because that’s how he used to do it," John Bass says as he swings open a screen door and steps into 1034 Audubon Dr. in Memphis. It’s the first home Elvis Presley bought, at age 21, with royalties earned from Heartbreak Hotel, and he lived there with his parents for 13 months, before moving to Graceland.
"It feels like 1956 when you walk in," says Bass, program manager, "He went from being an interesting, regional musician to becoming Elvis while living here."
The house is musty and wood paneling lines most of the walls, save for those covered in busy wallpaper: Hummingbirds hovering above plants; music notes circling guitars and drums. Framed photos of the Presleys are seen at every turn. One room has a baby-blue couch and bright, red shag carpet.
House setup Bass knows the house well. In 2006, Mike and |
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Linda Curb of Curb Records purchased and restored it, and the Curb Institute eventually repurposed the space for a student-led concert Web series. Evening at Elvis’ kicked off in November 2013 with Memphis’ locals Star & Micey playing in the wide, open den Presley himself built onto the house.
Acoustic tiles, the same used at Sun Studio, soundproof and cushion the space for a warm sound. The room seats about 75 people, and the event, which takes place a few times a year, is invitation only. Six musicians, including Bill Frisell, Roseanne Cash and Bobby Rush, have played there.
"Once the music starts, everybody is captivated by it. I hesitate to call it a magical experience, but it almost is, and it just feels so right every time."
But Bass’ mission digs deeper. He wants to both bring in artists who connect meaningfully with Memphis’ musical reach, and to expose his students to the artists still around to tell their stories and pass down the torch. |
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Guest artists are invited to the house to perform and discuss their careers, especially in the context of Memphis and our region. The format is a mixture of performance and interview, which takes place in front of an intimate audience of 75-100 people.
As for Elvis, says Bass, "He was just a young guy trying to do cool stuff and buck the system. We’re trying to use the house in the same way."
Click here to eveningatelvis.org for info
(News, Source;USAToday/ElvisInfoNet) |
'The February 1977 Tour - An Audiovisual Doc Vol.1' Book OUT NOW: Rock Legends is proud to announce a new series of concert themed volumes that would make perfect companions to your FTD book collection. The first book of this series is mainly about the first tour of 1977. The February, 1977 Tour is an audio-visual document exploring the first shows of 1977 in a photographic manner along with several performances recorded live during some of the events which are featured on the bonus CD.
The book also takes a brief glimpse into the last tour of 1976 with rare photos of the five related shows and then an overview of two shows from the first 1977 tour, focusing on West Palm Beach, Fl. and Montgomery, AL. Finally, a more in-depth insight to the Charlotte, North Carolina concert in the way of rare photos and a live cd recording!
This photographic document features many unpublished images throughout that will be appreciated by photo collectors and fans around the world.
This first volume of the February 1977 tour is 24,5 x 24,5 cm, 192 full color pages with a matt laminated hard cover binding, professional 150 gramms silk paper and superb design .
EIN notes that Rock Legends appear to have copied the FTD book design and used a good section of the stunning "Final Curtain" deluxe-book (along with the Charlotte live concert) while trying to beat 'The Elvis Files' to their final 500-page book about Elvis in 1976-77.
The book has been released this week.
(News, Source;FECC/ElvisInfoNet)
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Vale - Val(erie) Williams RIP: It is with great sadness and many fond memories that EIN announces the passing of Val Williams. Val's name will not be familiar to many of our readers, but if it wasn't for Val Williams, EIN would likely never have come into existence.
In early 1986 Val formed and was the driving force of what was originally known as the Elvis Presley Appreciation Society of the A.C.T. When Val left Canberra and moved to Sydney, EPAS, as it was generally referred to, remained active in the Canberra area and eventually became the Elvis Information Network (EIN) in the mid 1990s. As EIN, it moved from a being a local fan club to having an international presence as part of the Internet.
Val passed away on 18 September. She was 89. Val will be missed and always remembered. Val, thank you and may you rest in peace.
Read all about Val Williams involvement in setting up EIN in our Spotlight Happy Birthday EIN EIN turns 100 – a retrospective!: |
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| Remember....A Love Story: A new book by Eve A. Thomas has been released. A 'new age' publication, Eve's book tells the story of how after learning to meditate she was able to connect with loved ones and friends on the other side....... Eve Thomas first heard the song of his soul on June 5, 2006 - and he's been communicating with her ever since. The King of Rock 'n' Roll, that is. Remember... is a different kind of love story. Eve and Elvis have shared many lives together. They're "Twin Flames" - souls who are together in this universe to evolve their souls into wholeness and eventually match the frequency of their Twin Flame. As Eve loves, so Elvis loves; their energy is shared. In this compelling memoir, Eve gains deeper spiritual insight through numerology, meditation, and past life regression. As she moves further along her path, she cultivates her gift of communication with those who have passed over, all the while experiencing extraordinary synchronicities with the King himself. (News, Source: Eve A. Thomas)
EIN reviews Remember: A Love Story
Watch the book trailer |
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Early photo of Elvis in Memphis: In January 2014, Vanity Fair magazine published an article showing a photo of Elvis Presley that was presumed taken in downtown Tupelo, Mississippi, in 1947.
The article traces the origin of the photo to a woman who was walking into a drugstore to drop off some film that had one exposure left on the roll. According to the story, she noticed a young Elvis on his bike and asked him to pose, snapping her last frame of him. The woman later gave the photo to Presley family friend Janelle McComb of Tupelo, who passed along the photo and the story of how she obtained it to Elvis fan and memorabilia collector Wade Jones shortly before her death.
The story behind the photo may have been correct, but the city was wrong.
EPE have done some more research and tracked down the full story..
The 1950 Memphis City directory shows the S&S Drug Store, Lando Marossi restaurant and Milo’s liquor store that appear in the Vanity Fair photo. John Sampietro, whose father operated the S&S Drug Store at the corner of Poplar and High Street, remembered his father talking about how a young Elvis would come into the store to play pinball.
Milo Solomito operated the liquor store just across the street from the drug store and his son, Milo Jr., identified the store in the photo as the one his father ran for many years. To the right of the liquor store was the Marossi restaurant, which was also located across the street from the drug store before moving to a nearby location in 1954, according to Jerry Marossi.
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So this was in fact Elvis’ neighborhood for almost a year before moving to Lauderdale Courts in the fall of 1949. -
Although not taken in Tupelo, the photo is one of the earliest photos of Elvis in Memphis, a city he would call home for the rest of his life.
(Above: Then and now photo showing the spot where Elvis posed for the snapshot in 1949)
Go here to the EPE BLOG for the full investigation and more photos
(News, Source;EPE/ElvisInfoNet) |
Angela Lansbury 90th Birthday Today: People like to pass landmark birthdays in meaningful places, so it seems right that Dame Angela Lansbury should be celebrating her 90th on American television and on Broadway, where she will receive the Oscar Hammerstein Award for lifetime achievement in musical theatre this weekend.
These honours acknowledge the London-born performer’s contribution to the small screen, where she played writer turned crime-fighter Jessica Fletcher in 'Murder, She Wrote' for 12 years and to the evolution of the American musical, winning five Tony awards for roles in Stephen Sondheim’s productions.
She has acknowledged in interviews that her only regret is that her movie CV has been spottier than her theatre and TV credits – although her films include the classic Elvis movie Blue Hawaii, the conspiracy thriller The Manchurian Candidate (1962) and Disney’s children’s hit, Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) which introduced her to a youthful audience which grew up to watch her in Murder, She Wrote.
Of her time with Elvis in the movie Blue Hawaii, Lansbury said,
“I was obviously awed being in Elvis's presence but he was an awfully nice young man. He was a very caring person - in those days he just come out the army, he was fit, he was slender, he was on top of his form. Elvis couldn't have been nicer to me. I'll never forget it - it was really wonderful. We sat around and chatted. My character was so funny supposedly not understanding her son and Elvis loved it he thought it was so funny.” |
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Last year’s run of Blithe Spirit at the Gielgud theatre in London was a homecoming for Lansbury whose grandfather, George Lansbury, was leader of the Labour party in the 1930s. Even before she officially became a Dame in the 2014 new year’s honours list, Lansbury acknowledged the obligations of the role of the theatrical grande dame without the temperamental behaviour that accompanies it.
Go here for EIN's special look at BLUE HAWAII
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
Tony Joe White Reminisces On a Career Inspired By Lightnin' Hopkins: “That was one of the freakiest days I’ve ever spent on the road,” laughs White, the swamp-rocker whose signature 1969 hit “Polk Salad Annie” became a linchpin of Elvis Presley’s live sets. White also wrote hits for Brook Benton and Tina Turner, among others, and is one of the most nonplussed individuals in the music industry.
“You know, man, for all the people I’ve gotten to meet and hang out with, from Elvis to Willie to people like Tina Turner, Mark Knopfler, and others who’ve cut my songs, what I really dig is living out here in this little town and just sitting on the back porch and watching the fall weather come on,” he says.
White lives these days about 50 miles outside Nashville “at a wide place in the road where everybody knows everybody else and no one much cares about all the music business hoopla," he says. "We’re all just folks around here.”
While White, who says he knew by the time he was 15 he was going to be a musician, is happy to talk about artists and celebrities he’s intersected with, he wants to make clear the effect Houstonian Lightnin’ Hopkins had on his career.
“I grew up on a cotton farm in North Louisiana with a brother, five sisters, my mother and father, and we could all play guitar |
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and piano, so I was around music all the time, there was music every day. But one day my brother had been off somewhere and he came home with an album by Lightnin’ Hopkins and it just set me on fire. I thought it was the coolest thing I’d ever heard, and that was about the time I started takin’ my daddy’s ol’ guitar up to my room to practice late at night."
White’s first success came via “Polk Salad Annie,” which he cut for Fred Foster’s Monument Records label. White regrets never having met labelmate Roy Orbison.
“It just never happened that we were together,” says White. “Roy was such a one-of-a-kind talent. That thing he had, he could do soul, rock and roll, country, ballads, rockers, he just had almost no limits as far as talent goes. I really wish we had met.”
Now 72, White says his health is good and he’s looking forward to his coming tour.
“We’re doing New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette, so there’ll be lots of kinfolks. And I’m really looking forward to getting back to Houston because it’s been a while and it has always been good to me.”
Click here to the full Houston Press article with TJW.
Go here to EIN's exclusive Interview with Tony Joe White
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
'Elvis: An Army Trilogy Vol2' New Book: Author Andreas Roth has written and published some of the best books about Elvis' time in Germany. Out now is his most recent book 'Elvis: An Army Trilogy Vol2'.
The 240 page book features some unique material
* Elvis wearing EP sunglasses (same style as in 1968)
* Hotel registration form filled in by Elvis
* Elvis at McGraw barracks, Munich
* 3-day pass dated March 6, 1959
* unpublished photographs of Elvis in Munich and at Lake Starnberg
* the correct dates of his promotions in rank
The book is 240 pages, incl. 32 pages in full colour
Go to Elvis In Munich website for more info and to order.
See EIN's review of his previous book "Elvis In Munich' here.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
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"Elvis: The Best Of British, The RCA Years 1959 – 1960" New FTD Book OUT NOW: The final UK book concluding the Trevor Simpson "Best Of British" trilogy. 'Elvis: The Best of British' this time focuses on the RCA recordings of 1959-1960 and, consistent with the previous volumes, contains over 500 pages. Discover exactly how Elvis, on his triumphant return from army service, reinvented his career at the top of the entertainment world when RCA declared ‘Elvis is Back!’ before the movie G.I. Blues changed his life forever. His story is graphically told through the music with over FIFTY iconic songs, originally released on the British RCA label, having been extensively researched. Over 1100 rare or previously unpublished photographs, charts and unique memorabilia. With its wealth of invaluable information, this book includes: -
- Every known photograph and press cutting of Elvis in Scotland, his only time on British soil!- Photographs from the pivotal meeting with Hal Wallis in a German restaurant where Elvis’ future movie career was mapped out!
This book includes a 30 track CD featuring many performances officially released for the first time (these are mainly "film" versions and radio adverts). Hear Elvis personally introduce his British chart toppers during this two year period.... |
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EIN Notes that "Elvis personally introduces his British chart toppers" is in fact not unreleased studio banter but rather excerts from known interviews edited onto the start of the song - rather like the 1987 'Words & Music' release. -
Go here to All The SONY FTD News 2015 for tracklistings and info
(News, Source;FTD/ElvisInfoNet) |
‘The Elvis Files Magazine #13': Erik Lorentzen has posted that ‘The Elvis Files Magazine Issue #13’ is finish, printed and ready to be shipped.
This volume features a great story "The Show Of The Century" with some amazing photos from the '68 TV Special.
Also includes...
- Led Zeppelin Meet Elvis Presley
- Opening Night Aug 10, 1970
- The Man In The Blue Suede Shoes
"You better believe this. You all gonna love it." - Erik L.
Annual Subscription 4 issues - send € 58 by PayPal to: sales@elvisfiles.no
Go here to EIN reviews for a look at what you get in The Elvis Files Magazines
(News, Source;EL/ElvisInfoNet)
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'If I Can Dream' UK Super-Deluxe version: 'If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra' is a remarkable new album featuring classic Elvis vocal performances with brand-new orchestral accompaniment, along with a duet with Michael Bublé on Fever.
The UK super deluxe version of the album includes 3 additional tracks on CD, 2 heavyweight LP, a poster, 12" booklet, all housed in a box.
An exciting revisit of Elvis’ work, ‘If I Can Dream’ focuses on the iconic artist’s unmistakable voice, emphasising the pure power of The King of Rock and Roll. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, the album features Elvis’ most dramatic original performances augmented with lush new arrangements by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. "This would be a dream come true for Elvis," Priscilla Presley says of the project. "He would have loved to play with such a prestigious symphony orchestra. The music…the force that you feel with his voice and the orchestra is exactly what he would have done."
Go here to 'Elvis FTD /SONY News 2015' for a closer look
Release date 30 Oct. 2015. From RCA Records
On Amazon UK for £36.99 & FREE Delivery in the UK. - Click HERE.
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
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New 'On Tour' Footage on EBay: A mouth-watering offer - Brand New unreleased footage from Elvis On Tour! The seller notes that "I will be listing over 70 boxes of 16mm and 35mm from this estate".
On Ebay - This is a ONE OF A KIND reel of film here! 400ft Kodachrome silent. This is ORIGINAL LOST 16mm film footage shot for the Golden Globe winning 1972 Elvis On Tour film but not in the final cut of the film. Below is a watermarked video of the film that was shot with an iphone during projection. The quality will of course be much higher when professionally transferred. The commercially released version of the film used a split screen format which used footage from multiple cameras at the same time. The film leader is marked "White costume Elvis on stage J2/33 59063-805 Elvis head roll 46.
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'The Elvis Files Vol. 7 1974-1975' Coming SOON: The publication of 'Elvis Files Volume 7' was unfortunately delayed until October. However if you Pre order now you get a free 50 x 50 poster from The Forum, Los Angeles, May 11, 1974 with the book.
Send €125 (including shipping all around the world) via PayPal to: sales@elvisfiles.no or Click the link below. Erik Lorentzen assures EIN that "Fans will be very impressed with all the great photos. I was fortunate to attend several of the shows featured in the book, and working on them brought back a lot of great memories."
The seventh volume of the Elvis Files story chronicles Elvis' years on tour through the USA, the Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe seasons..
All ELVIS EVENTS in this Time Frame 1974-1975 are shown
- Every Working Moment...
- The Mid-Seventies Tours
- The Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe Seasons
- Plenty of CANDID Moments
- Previously Unpublished Photos.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER direct from The Elvis Files
Go HERE for 'Elvis Files Vol 7' SNEAK PREVIEW & Great Photos |
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Sonny West Health Update: The Wests are doing it tough and Sonny's family is trying to raise some funds. EIN has heard from Marty Lacker that Sonny is presently in ICU in the hospital with fluid on his lungs and his wife Judy is having heart surgery and that all this has taken its toll on them financially.
His son has posted, "I want to thank everyone on behalf of our family. All of the prayers and support means so much in these difficult times. We appreciate everyones donations. No donation is too small. I merely want my dad to have the best care available. I believe Elvis would want the same. Prayer is also very strong, especially when two or more are gathered. It makes me feel very good and extremely proud to see how much my dad is loved and cared about.
I have always been extremely proud of my dad Sonny West. He is the toughest man I will ever know in my lifetime. He has beaten stage 4 throat cancer. However, his health has slowly been taking a turn for the worse. To say the least.... my parents are in need of financial help at this time. This is a son asking if you have it somewhere in your heart to give a donation.....I know it would mean the world to my dad and lift his spirits. To see how many people care and are rooting for him. God bless and thank you. - Bryan West. |
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New Graceland "Museum" across the street: EPE has announced plans to shift Elvis' memorabilia and displays across the street to a new museum. Sometime in the next few years, moving trucks will gingerly carry many of the mementoes down the hill and across Elvis Presley Boulevard to be showcased in a new 22,000 square-foot Elvis "career museum.''
But the career musuem will be only one anchor of an L-shaped $35 million entertainment complex that will offer another 104,000 square feet of exhibit and "discovery'' space.
The linear footprint of the rooms should allow Graceland to tell Elvis's story in a more flowing way than it can in a big box like the racquetball building.
Jack Soden, CEO of EPE told this week's neighborhood meeting...
"We're going to move an awful lot of what’s presented in the trophy building and the racquetball building on the Graceland tour, which, if you think about it, we just kinda shoe-horned the entire story of Elvis-the-entertainer into what was a rec room and a racquetball court.
We’re going to do all of that justice, the gold records, the jumpsuits, the guitars, the awards, all the things related to his amazing, iconic career. |
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So now we’ll have how Elvis and where Elvis lived, how Elvis and why Elvis is the greatest entertainer ever.''
Moving so much of the memorabilia out of the mansion raises some questions: What will become of the newly cleared spaces in the trophy and racquetball buildings?
Will EPE seek to restore those rooms to appear exactly as they were when Elvis was alive and then will visitors have to pay more to see both the mansion and the memorabilia?
The existing strand of souvenir shops and exhibit and souvenir spaces -- fashioned out of an old strip shopping center or two -- will be demolished to make room.
Go here to EIN's "EPE ARCHIVES" for the full story and more
(News, Source;MComm/ElvisInfoNet) |
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New 1968 Elvis Session Tape Found!: FTD has announced the tracklist of the new 'Live A Little, Love A Little' Classic Album and it proves that a "BRAND NEW" previously unknown 1968 Elvis session reel has been found! This is the sort of news that all Elvis fans hope for. It is surprising that so little has been made of this discovery.
While the session only included four songs for the movie soundtrack, it did feature the wonderful 'A Little Less Conversation' and 'Edge Of Reality'. At last fans will get to hear TEN new session takes of 'A Little Less Conversation', FIVE new takes of 'Edge Of Reality' plus five new versions of 'Wonderful World' and five attempts at 'Almost In Love' - including a rehearsal.
It is worth noting that session song #2005 was previously "unknown" but is now revealed as the first attempt at 'Almost In Love' which Elvis in the end would finish as an overdub.
This is one of the most exciting Elvis releases in a long while...
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The FTD tracklist is as follows
1 *Wonderful World (2:15)
2 *Edge Of Reality (3:19)
3 *A Little Less Conversation (2:18)
4 *Almost In Love (3:08)
SESSION OUTTAKES
5 Wonderful World – take 1 3:02
6 A Little Less Conversation – takes 1, 2 2:40
7 Edge Of Reality – takes 1, 2 4:18
8 Almost In Love (2005) – takes 1, 4-6 5:45
9 Wonderful World – takes 2, 3 2:54
10 Edge Of Reality – take 3 3:52
11 A Little Less Conversation – takes 4-9 5:16
12 *A Little Less Conversation – take 10 (album master) 2:28
13 Almost In Love – high key version instrument track, rehearsal 3:23
14 *Wonderful World - take 7 (movie master) 2:35
15 Edge Of Reality – takes 5, *6 4:38
16 Almost In Love high key version – 2007 take and vocal overdub 2011 take 4 3:16
17 Wonderful World – takes 14, *15 3:16
18 A Little Less Conversation – takes 11, 12, *16 (single master) 5:27
19 *Edge Of Reality – take 8 (master) 3:59
20 Almost In Love – track 2006 take 4 and vocal overdubs 2012, takes 2, 3 (master) 5:52
21 Wonderful World – takes 16, *17 (master) 3:18
* Previously Released
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet) - Go HERE for full credits & details |
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Three New FTD Releases for October: FTD have announced three new releases for October. A 1976 Live Soundboard, Movie soundtrack "Classic Album" and a unique collectible double-vinyl release.
1. 'Elvis In West Texas' a new soundboard contains the evening show in Odessa on May 30, 1976.
A thoroughly great show with repertoire highlights in “Help Me Make It Through The Night” and “It’s Now Or Never”.
It is packaged in a digipack 5” format with a 12-page booklet of 1976 photos.
The show features the pretty regular 1976 set-list including an 8 minute 'I Got Woman / Amen' but also highlights 'Funny How Time Slips Away' and ' Help Me Make It Through The Night'. This is the second 1976 show FTD have released from Elvis' MAY/JUNE 1976 tour #18 - as FTD's sixth release back in 2000 was 'Tucson' from June 1, 1976 just two days later. |
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Recorded at County Coliseum, Odessa, Texas on May 30, 1976, at the evening show. “See See Rider” and the talk about Odessa following it, are from the afternoon show the same day.
A short piece of the introductions was not recorded.
Go here to EIN's FTD/SONY 2015 releases for full tracklist
2. 'Live A Little, Love A Little' new movie soundtrack 'Classic Album' release.
It comes in a 7” digipack with booklet. Due to the fact that there are only four songs in the movie, this is a single disc with selected outtakes.
The tracklist has not yet been finalised but FTD contributor Ken Jensen notes that it will include "newly discovered session tapes." We have no info as yet whether these are just better quality versions - but the rumour is new outtakes have been found! |
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3. 'Moody Blue', special Double-Vinyl version.
Continuing on from the popular special vinyl editions, FTD is pleased to announce the release of “Moody Blue” in its original discarded art layout for the first time.
To create a unique collectible, it is issued in clear vinyl and each pressing is hand numbered.
This edition is limited to 1500.
This double vinyl edition includes, session outtakes, rough mixes, undubbed versions but for some reason misses out on the full-length version of 'Pledging My Love'.
Go here to EIN's FTD/SONY 2015 releases for full tracklist
(News, Source;FTD/FECC/ElvisShop/ElvisInfoNet)
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EIN Joyce Bova Interview: Joyce Bova worked in Washington DC and had a fascinating relationship with Elvis that lasted between 1969 and 1972. The story of which she wrote about in her 1994 book, 'Don't Ask Forever: My Love Affair With Elvis' has recently been re-published as an updated E-Book.
Bova was a Capitol Hill staffer on the House Armed Services Committee when she first met Elvis in 1969 in Las Vegas during her vacation.
'Don't Ask Forever' is the intimate true story of two star-crossed lovers-and a revealing portrait of an Elvis Presley that also looked at the crazy day-to-day world rarely featured in other Elvis books.
As the book publicity stated, "It started out like a fairy tale. She was a beautiful, hardworking Congressional aide. He was America's most explosive entertainer. They met one night in Las Vegas in 1969 - a night that changed Joyce's life forever".
Go here as EIN's Piers Beagley recently caught up with Joyce Bova to talk about her incredible times with Elvis and to learn more about the new revised and update Ebook publication.
(Interview, Source;ElvisInfoNet) |
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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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ASK Marty: Today Marty Lacker answers your questions about....
- Do you know how / when Elvis learned to play piano
- Did Elvis ever meet Paul Newman
- What do you do on August 16 each year
- Elvis and Karate, in the film was he "strung out"
- Did Elvis have a mini facelift in 1967/68 just before the TV Special
- Why do so many of the Memphis Mafia dislike Priscilla so much
- Which albums did Elvis say he was disappointed with
Go here to 'ASK MARTY' for his answers plus how to send in your questions.
(Ask Marty, Source;ML/ElvisInfoNet)
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Massive New Elvis Box Set In The Works: There have been plenty of rumours about a new SONY Box-Set going around for months. While in Memphis for Elvis Week, Roger Semon at last explained what it was all about on Elvis Radio.
Posted today on the FECC website, "Roger Semon, SONY's John Jackson and Rob Santos were on Elvis Radio. They said they had a big announcement to make about a mammoth box set that was being worked on. They're working on a project to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Elvis' RCA contract of November 1955. The set will include replicas of every album released in Elvis' lifetime and a 300 page book. No word on how much this will cost yet."
Presumed Release Date November 2015 - No more info as yet.
(Note the image right is actually the Japanese "Elvis Presley, Paper Sleeve Collection")
(News, Source;FECC/ElvisInfoNet)
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'If I Can Dream' New CD Announcement: Today Legacy Recordings announced the new major Elvis release, 'If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra' for October 30, 2015. The remarkable new album features classic Elvis vocal performances with brand-new orchestral accompaniment, along with a duet with Michael Bublé, and appearances by Il Volo and Duane Eddy.
An exciting revisit of Elvis’ work, If I Can Dream focuses on the iconic artist’s unmistakable voice, emphasizing the pure power of The King of Rock and Roll. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London with acclaimed producers Don Reedman and Nick Patrick, the 14-track album features Elvis’ most dramatic original performances augmented with lush new arrangements by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. “This would be a dream come true for Elvis,” Priscilla Presley says of the project. “He would have loved to play with such a prestigious symphony orchestra. The music…the force that you feel with his voice and the orchestra is exactly what he would have done.” Don Reedman also commented, “Abbey Road Studios and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are as good as it gets and Elvis deserves as good as it gets.” |
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The album features a scintillating duet with best-selling jazz-pop singer Michael Bublé on “Fever.” The album also includes additional contributions by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Duane Eddy adding his signature sound to “An American Trilogy” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and Italian operatic pop trio Il Volo lending their outstanding vocals to “It’s Now or Never.”
As producer Nick Patrick said, “This is the record he would have loved to make.” If I Can Dream also highlights Elvis Presley’s diverse musical tastes and appreciation for great vocalists spanning a variety of genres from standards to opera. If I Can Dream is part of the ongoing ELVIS 80th Birthday Celebration in 2015.
'If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra' may be pre-ordered now
The UK version features an alternate cover - you decide
- Check out the great Amazon Pre-order prices below...
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Tracklist, 1. Burning Love, 2. It’s Now Or Never, 3. Love Me Tender, 4. Fever (feat. Michael Bublé), 5. Bridge Over Troubled Water, 6. And The Grass Won’t Pay No Mind, 7. You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling, 8. There’s Always Me, 9. Can’t Help Falling In Love, 10. In The Ghetto, 11. How Great Thou Art, 12. Steamroller Blues, 13. An American Trilogy, 14. If I Can Dream
<< US for only $11.98 <. . . . . > UK for only £9.99 >>
(News, Source;Sony/ElvisInfoNet) |
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Now available from Amazon USA:
EIN's Rare Elvis Facebook page Now with 15,200 members! - including several of Elvis' own friends and colleagues
So Elvis fans don't miss out on these rare and exciting photographs - from EIN's V-P Sanja Meegin.
Now with over thousands of great photos, News and with more added every day – including YouTube footage.
Click here to access our Facebook - Elvis Information Network group.
You need to be a Facebook Member. |
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FTD "What now, What next, What If? PART TWO ": The FTD label has been doing an excellent job at looking at the recording anthology of Elvis Presley and releasing every significant LP or recording session on a 1CD or 2CD ‘Classic Album’ version.
However, as noted with the recent "ELVIS" second LP release and the Christmas album, there are less and less outtakes and studio sessions left in the vaults.
With our new article “What now, What next, What If?” EIN contributor Ian Garfield examines exactly how FTD might present their future 'Classic Album' releases.
This second article covers the possible releases Speedway; Live a Little, Love a Little; Charro, The Trouble with Girls and Change of Habit.
Go here as EIN also wants YOUR input and ideas - and we will send the final suggestions to Roger and Ernst at FTD.
(Spotlight, Source;IanGarfield/ElvisInfoNet) |
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UPDATED Reviews - 'Ultimate Elvis' Book Review: 'Ultimate Elvis – The Complete And Definitive Recording Sessions' is a this three-volume, deluxe set that not only comprises all the session information available to date, based on Keith Flynn's incomparable website and includes comprehensive notes on each session, discographies, letters, original sheet music covers plus huge index all included in its 1,800 pages.
The book includes around 3,000 stunning high-quality photographs many of them previously unseen, relating to the time period in question.
The promotional publicity for this three-volume set was very impressive with the original publishing date of August 2014 missed as more photographs were discovered and the content expanded. Finally published in December 2014, Elvis enthusiast Brian Quinn checks out this astounding deluxe package to discover if it is as good as promised.
Go HERE - Now updated with a new 2,000 word in-depth new review from super-fan Neil Colombari- -
(Book Reviews, Source;BrianQuinn/ElvisInfoNet) |
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The Two Best Books in 2014 that add Appreciably to our Knowledge & Understanding of Elvis: |
The Two Best Elvis Related Memoirs of 2014: |
The Four Best Elvis Photo-Journal Book Releases of 2014: |
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Indepth Review soon |
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Indepth Review soon |
Note: Not all these releases are not available from online or regular bookstores (to obtain enquire with your regular Elvis supplier) |
More great Elvis deals on Amazon
'Young Man With The Big Beat' Cheap Box set: Re-released for 2014 in a Limited Edition cheap slim-line box-set is Elvis' 'Young Man With The Big Beat'.
A great opportunity for those that missed it in
Go HERE for EIN's detailed YMWTBB review
UK price - only £19.99 = Euro25 = US$33 with FREE Delivery in the UK.
Click to Order now special deal >> . . Young Man With The Big Beat
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(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
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