Wednesday, August 31, 2011

August 31 - Film Find

 A new film, possibly a new 1957 Elvis Presley movie was discovered. The Ellenberger Brothers auction company in northeast Indiana has been “all shook up” over a piece of history that dates back to Elvis Presley’s 1957 performance at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. The business was preparing for a large auction of model toy trains to hit the block Sept. 10 when an unrelated item was brought to its attention.


The woman who will have the auction offered a small tin can to the company in addition to the trains. On top, a small piece of tape reading “Elvis 1957 Colesium,” inside the tin protected a film reel of the King’s appearance. “Rarely do you ever see anything like this but this is just maybe a once in a lifetime thing,” auctioneer Glenn Ellenberger said. “It appears to be the full concert.” The auctioneer said his curiosity encouraged a peek at the strip frame by frame sitting at his kitchen table. “I couldn’t help but pull it open and look at the first few feet of it,” Ellenberger said. “I can see the coliseum. I can see people in the seats in front of it and I can see someone on the stage who I’m sure is Elvis.”


The young rock star was just 22 when he spent about 30 minutes on the coliseum stage. Few artifacts are known to exist in the area from the visit, including a couple newspaper articles seen in the microfilm archives of the Allen County Library.


Ellenberger has made arrangements with experts at Indiana University to examine the film’s condition and contents.


Until it’s in the hands of professionals, Ellenberger said the tin can holding history will stay under lock and key. Considered extremely valuable, it has been placed in a bank’s safety deposit box.


The film will be on sale in an online auction, the date for which has not been determined.


(Source: FECC)

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

August 30 - EPE Vs. RCA Germany

Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. and the Calunius Litigation Risk Fund announced today developments in a  nine million Euro lawsuit against Arista Music, formerly RCA Records, in Germany.  The suit, which was filed in the name of its sister company Elvis Presley Enterprises, LLC in December 2010, is demanding proper payment for sound recordings in Germany featuring Elvis Presley including new media, like downloads, ringtones and entertainment apps that Presley himself could not have dreamed would someday exist.  The suit is only applicable to sound recordings in Germany and is limited to amounts earned since March 2002 and future revenue until 2023 following an amendment to German copyright law that extended the term of copyright protection.
The suit alleges that Presley was unjustly exploited during his lifetime by the record company and that his estate has continued to suffer from those injustices.


The central issue, as it relates to this German suit, is the 1973 buyout agreement, which terminated all previous agreements between Presley and RCA.  On February 28, 1973, under the agreement, which was first initiated by RCA and arranged by Presley’s manager, “Colonel” Tom Parker, rights to Presley’s entire back catalogue of more than 1,000 recordings were purchased by RCA for just $5.4 million. That money, inadequate as it was, had to be split equally between Presley and Parker.  The suit alleges that the effect of the buyout agreement was that Presley only received an annual payment of about $10 - $15 per song for the German rights.
EPE claims the amount of money he received from the buyout agreement with RCA was “conspicuously disproportionate” to the revenue received by RCA from its exploitation of Elvis Presley master recordings, during the extended portion of the copyright term in Germany.  The claim asks for the remedy under German copyright law of "equitable remuneration" which is available in circumstances like this.
The case is supported by the Calunius Fund, litigation funders, who have conducted an independent review of the merits of the case and of the amount of potential payments.  Having reached a positive view of all aspects of the case, Calunius has committed a substantial investment to support the claim.


“We have conducted a rigorous examination of the merits and quantum of this case, working closely with the plaintiffs,” said Christian Stuerwald, the Calunius partner with responsibility for this investment. “Together we have come to the conclusion that this case will win in the German Courts.  We are particularly proud to be supporting such a clear and meritorious case in the historic interests of the greatest recording artist in history.”


Swedish Chart



The 'Essential Elvis Presley' compilation CD dropped off the Swedish Album chart. 

(EPE / The King's World)

Monday, August 29, 2011

August 28 - Now Dig The Man And His Music Under The Midnight Sun

The Showroom import label announced the release of the CD 'Under The Midnight Sun' featuring a recording from the midnight show from january 28 1973 as recorded in Las Vegas, Nv. 


UK Magazines
Volume #93 of 'The Man And His Music' fan club magazine was released. This edition contains articles on Charro! - What Went Wrong?, Give Me The Right(s) - The Hill & Range Gravy Train, Viva Candids! - Previously unpublished fan snaps from the making of 'Viva Las Vegas' and more. 

Released earlier was the 'screamin' yellow August edition' of
the 'Now Dig This' magazine featuring Elvis Presley on the cover featuring the article 'Elvis Meets His Peers - Photo feature: The King with fellow rockers, r&b stars and country singers'.

Tracklisting Under The Midnight Sun:

See See Rider - I Got A Woman / Amen - Until It's Time For You To Go - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - Steamroller Blues - You Gave Me A Mountain - Fever - Love Me - All Shook Up - Love Me Tender - Johnny B. Goode - Hound Dog - What Now My Love - Suspicious Minds - Band Introductions - I'll Remember You - I Can't Stop Loving You - An American Trilogy - Introduction Of The Russian Olympic Team - Can't Help Falling In Love


Soundscan


The SoundScan (US) sales-figures for the week to August 28  on the Top Catalog Albums chart:

  • #10 An Afternoon In The Garden 3658 -6% 3902 325,638
  • #86 The Very Best Of Love (2007 re-issue) 1767 -5% 1867 159,427
  • #128 An Evening Prayer 1450 -13% 1670 91,709
  • #154 Elvis 30 #1 Hits 1340 -9% 1471 4,761,818
  • #160 Elvis Rock 1324 -18% 1612 103,704


(Source: FECC / Now Dig This)

Saturday, August 27, 2011

August 27 - I Did It My Way

A new 4 CD longbox with booklet box was announced by the Wonderland Records import label. The set, entitled 'I Did It My Way 1977', contains 3 soundboards and 1 audience recording, apparently copied from 'The Final Curtain' box-set.


Mag's


Essential Elvis gave a sneak-preview of their next issue This edition will include an exclusive interview with Ed Hill, a wonderful tribute to Jerry Leiber and an indepth look at the track Hound Dog, a feature on Graceland, a report on EW11 and an incredible interview with songwriter Randy Starr.


ElvisMatters announced that volume 34 of their fan-club magazine will be published within one week. The magazine contains 68 pages with all the Elvis News and Interviews you can handle and a free CD for the Gold members. 
Topics in this edition: Visiting Jimmy Mulidore, flute player of American Trilogy, Who is Stan Horine? Elvis at the Hilton: these are the numbers, Henry Slaughter, founding member of the Imperials, Elvis’ love for the Messerschmitt, A look at one of the biggest private collections in the world, Unseen pictures of July 1956 an more.


(Source: eBay, Essential Elvis, ElvisMatters)

Friday, August 26, 2011

Get The #1 Billboard DVD!

The two-disc 'Elvis: The Great Performances' brings together classic performances spanning more than 20 years, from his first televised appearance that shocked a nation to a concert a few weeks before his death on August 16, 1977. This set hit the #1 spot on Billboards DVD chart twice! The ultimate DVD collection celebrating the life of Elvis Presley returns to the marketplace, after several years, boasting over 2 hours of remastered video, new packaging and never-before-seen interviews with legendary artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins along with others who were close to the beloved and undisputed King of Rock `n Roll. 


August 26 - Flaming At #1 With Ernst And Roger

The Norwegian Flaming Star fan club is ready to sent out volume 66 of their self-titled fan club magazine. This edition contains an interview with Sandi Pichon, articles on 'Love Me Tender', 'Hound Dog / Don't Be Cruel' and more.


Weekly Chart Overview


USA - Billboard DVD Music Charts
The DVD 'The Great Performances (2011 - 2 DVD version)' climbs from #3 back to #1.


USA - Billboard 200 Catalog Charts
#11 - Elvis An Afternoon In The Garden (3902 copies sold)
#81 - The Very Best Of Love (1867 copies sold)
#102 - Elvis Gospel / An Evening Prayer (1670 copies sold)
#108 - Elvis Rock (1612 copies sold)
#134 - Elvis 30 No.1 Hits (1471 copies sold)
  • USA - Billboard 200
  • #118 - Elvis An Afternoon In The Garden
  • Ireland - Album Top 75
  • #29 The Real... Elvis - Ultimate Collection (3rd week in the charts
  • Ireland - ITunes Rock Charts
  • #15 - Bossa Nova Baby (Viva Elvis remix)
  • The Netherlands - Catalogue Album Chart
  • "Elvis 30 No.1 Hits" re-entered the Catalogue Album chart last week at #43. This week it fell below the Top 50. 
  • Sweden - Album Top 60 
  • #52 - Elvis Presley The Essential
Ernst Jorgensen and Roger Semon


Ernst Jorgensen and Roger Semon are with Sony Music. They are releasing a new album of Elvis music next month called "Young Man With the Big Beat".



(Source: Elvis For Everyone / Flaming Star / FECC)

Thursday, August 25, 2011

August 25 - The Real King (Of Re-issues)

The two UK budget compilations 'The Real Elvis' - single and triple disc versions - will be released by RCA International on October 14, 2011 in Germany.

The double CD compilation 'The King' will be re-issued on October 17, 2011 by Sony Strategic Marketing in France. 



The Follow That Dream Collector's label will re-issue the 'Frankie And Johnny' Soundtack CD when the label made 'the neccessary corrections' according to Elvis Australia. This will be 'probably in September/October'. However - as noted on the EIN site - when they contacted Ernst Jorgensen he said that, 'no announcement about this release had been made. He had no idea where this rumour came from'.

(Source: Amazon / Elvis Australia / Elvis Information Network)

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

August 24 - Come On To Stax Everybody

The 1971 'Come On Everybody' Camden release was never released by Sony on CD. Now the bootleggers step in. 
The 'classic' will be released in a full color glossy three panel digipack with the original tracks (all taken from the latest brilliant Vic Anesini masters) and five additional bonus tracks and two unreleased versions of songs from the album (both are actually released on the FTD label). This release is limited to 500 copies.


Tracklisting:
1. C’mon Everybody
2. Angel
3. Easy Come, Easy Go
4. A Whistling Tune
5. Follow That Dream
6. King Of The Whole Wide World
7. I’ll Take Love
8. Today, Tomorrow And Forever
9. I’m Not The Marrying Kind
10. This Is Living


Bonus tracks:
11. Santa Lucia – Master (Newly found source)
12. If You Think I Don't Need You – take 2 (unreleased on CD)
13. The Lady Loves Me – take 2 (unreleased on CD)
14. A Whistling Tune - Take 3 (July 1961 Version)
15. King Of The Whole Wide World - Take 25



Unedited Masters - Stax 1973


Released by the Venus Productions import label is a new CD in great sound quality. The first fourteen tracks feature mostly unedited overdub masters and some undubbed masters, all recorded during the famous Stax 1973 sessions. One of the highlight is definitely the complete unedited master of ''Promised Land'' with vocal harmony by Elvis himself, and partly used in the movie and on the album ''This Is Elvis''.


The eleven bonus tracks were all recorded after the Aloha Special for inclusion during the Special shown later that year in the USA. It features several takes of some of the performances, and dialogues between Elvis, the producer and his musicians. We are again able to present all these tracks in our usual ''out of space'' sound quality. As always there are no fade-ins, no fade-outs and all recordings were left as there were recorded. Don't miss this very limited edition and .....If it sounds like from outer space, you can be sure it's from Venus.


Tracks :


1. Promised Land Take 6* 3:06
2. It’s Midnight (undubbed) Take 19 4:45
3. If You Talk In Your Sleep Unedited master 2:50
4. Thinking About You Unedited O.V. master 4:53
5. Love Song Of The Year Unedited O.V.master 3:59
6. Help Me (with false Start) overdubbed master 2:52
7. My Boy unedited O.V. master 3:23
8. Loving Arms (with backing vocals) overdubbed master 3:03
9. Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues une. undubbed master 4:42
10. Talk About The Good Times Unedited O.V. master 2:58
11. Your Love’s Been A Long Time Coming Unedited OV. Master 4:00
12. There’s A Honky Tonk Angel Unedited O.V. master 3:24
13. If You Talk In Your Sleep Backing vocals overdub 2:24
14. If That Isn’t Love Take 1 4:04


* Take 6 V.O. : Vocal harmony by Elvis ( unedited )


Bonus tracks :


15. Blue Hawaii rehearsal (incomplete) 0:52
16. Dialogue 1:30
17. Blue Hawaii /dialogue Take 1 1:29
18. Blue Hawaii Take 2 2:34
19. Dialogue 2:15
20. Ku-U-I-Po Take 1 2:36
21. Dialogue / No More Take 1 3:34
22. Dialogue / Hawaiian Wedding Song Take 2 1:04
23. Hawaiian Wedding Song Take 3 1:55
24. Hawaiian Wedding Song Take 4 2:04
25. Early Morning Rain Take 2 3:00 


(Source: eBay / FECC)

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

August 23 - Midnight Variety At The End Of Paradise Road

Five new audience-recordings were announced by respectively the Memory Records, Straight Arrow and Rainbowrecords import labels. The concerts cover the years 1969, 1973, 1974, 1976 and 1977.


The Czech Memory Record fan club / import label announced the release of two new CDs; 'Midnight Resurrection At The International' containing the August 25, 1969 midnight show, and 'Baltimore Nightfall' containing a recording of the evening show from May 29, 1977 M.S.


The Straight Arrow import label also announced the release of two discs; 'Atlanta Bound' with a recording of the evening show from July 4, 1976 and 'Down At The End Of Paradise Road' containing a recording from August 30, 1973 (Las Vegas).


The Rainbow Records import label announced volume 6 in their series 'Vegas Variety' series, featuring the August 24, 1974 Dinner Show performance as recorded at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, Nevada.


Details  Straight Arrow Releases:


Atlanta Bound


The CD 'Atlanta Bound' will feature Elvis' June 4, 1976 show in Atlanta, GA. Compared with many other mid-1976 concert recordings, this one is very enjoyable. It seems that Elvis was "on fire" when he played Southern states, no matter if it was 1970 or 1976. His three dates at the Omni Coliseum were special ones and Elvis tried hard to please a very appreciative audience. On this CD, Straight Arrow is presenting the first concert, as both June 5 and 6 have already been released by other labels.



Elvis hit the Omni stage in a good mood and a strong voice. As usual, the highlights are not only ballad performances like "You Gave Me A Mountain", a double "Hurt" or even the country gospel of "Help Me" but also rockers like "Polk Salad Annie", "Burning Love" and "Jailhouse Rock". Near the end of show, Elvis takes an audience request and belts out one of his best versions of "that silly song", "Little Darlin'". As you've come to expect from Straight Arrow, the producers managed to get the finest possible source: a first-generation copy of an original STEREO audience recording, with the tape completely restored for extremely enjoyable listening.


This disc is topped off with a 16-page booklet, including a fine collection of photos from Atlanta on June 4th and 5th, and liner notes. "ATLANTA BOUND" will be released in late August. You will be more than surprised by the sound and, most importantly, by Elvis himself. Yes, he had some off-moments in 1976, but this gig ain't one of them! Don't miss a chance to dig another cool show from the King.


Tracks:
01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman /Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - 06. You Gave Me A Mountain - 07. All Shook Up - 08. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - 09. Help Me - 10. Jailhouse Rock - 11. Fever - 12. Polk Salad Annie - 13. Introductions by Elvis of singers, musicians - 14. Early Morning Rain (John Wilkinson) - 15. What'd I Say (James Burton) - 16. Johnny B. Goode (James Burton) - 17. Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt) - 18. Bass Solo (Jerry Scheff) - 19. Piano Solo (Tony Brown) - 20. Electric Piano Solo (David Briggs) - 21. Love Letters - 22. School Day (Joe Guercio Orchestra) - 23. Hurt - 24. Hurt (reprise) - 25. Burning Love - 26. Funny How Time Slips Away - 27. Little Darlin' - 28. Can't Help Falling In Love - 29. Closing Vamp


Approximate running time: 69:15


Down At The End Of Paradise Road



The second summer '11 release from Straight Arrow (SA 2011-22-02) will be the previously-unreleased August 30, 1973 Midnight Show in Las Vegas entitled 'Down At The End Of Paradise Road'. Most of Elvis' August-September 1973 shows were solid (especially when compared with February 1973) and this night is no exception. The show is somewhat unusual. Usually, every time daughter Lisa Marie was in attendance, Elvis would drop the emotional ballad "My Boy" from the set list, and replace it with "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". In this show, however, both songs are performed.

This live recording is taken from the flip side of an original 120-minute cassette tape. The A-side, containing the dinner show that same evening, was released by Straight Arrow in 2010 as "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". The sound quality here is very good, considering it was taped from the audience. All photographs are from the August-September 1973 Hilton engagement, and the liner notes are written by the super-fan who quietly recorded the show!

Excerpts from the sleeve notes:
"Elvis appeared, looking trim in a white jumpsuit with sunburst pattern of blue and gold. Taking his black acoustic guitar from Charlie Hodge, the King of the Las Vegas showrooms began what would be a fine, upbeat show with an energetic "C. C. Rider". Charlie almost dropped Elvis' tossed guitar at the end of "I Got A Woman/Amen", causing the singer to joke, "We live dangerously up here!" "Bridge Over Troubled Water" shifted things from sexy back to serious, with Elvis reprising the finale from the verse "Sail on, silver girl". It was pleasing to see how his mood had changed quite dramatically from that evening's first performance. At the dinner show Elvis had fooled around and chatted quite a lot. Now, he put on a much tighter performance, although both shows were enjoyable in different ways. There was an exchange with Bill Porter in the sound booth about his microphone; there'd been sound problems at the first show, and Elvis changed microphones before doing "An American Trilogy". During the quieter part he added, "All my trials, Lord - thank goodness - soon be over". Was this a reference to his upcoming divorce, problems with Colonel Parker, or simply that he was annoyed, and was glad his summer season was almost completed? "If we've done anything to make you happy, then we feel we've done our job", said the King, as he moved into "Can't Help Falling In Love" and completed a very satisfying performance. Many British fans, who'd arrived in Vegas earlier that day, must have been thrilled to discover their hero in such good form".


Tracks:
01. Opening Vamp / C. C. Rider - 02. I Got A Woman / Amen - 03. Love Me - 04. Steamroller Blues - 05. You Gave Me A Mountain - 06. Trouble - 07. Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On / Your Mama Don't Dance / Flip Flop and Fly / Hound Dog - 08. Love Me Tender - 09. Fever - 10. Bridge Over Troubled Water (with reprise) - 11. Suspicious Minds - 12. Introductions of singers, musicians - 13. My Boy - 14. I Can's Stop Loving You - 15. An American Trilogy - 16. Johnny B. Goode - 17. Introduction of daughter, Lisa Marie / Lady Of Spain (one liner) - 18. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - 19. How Great Thou Art (with reprise) - 20. Can't Help Falling In Love - 21. Closing Vamp
Approximate running time: 57:57 




Details on the Memory Records releases


Midnight Resurrection At The International - August 25, 1969 Midnight Show, International Hotel, Las Vegas, NV

Midnight Resurrection At The International is a typically excellent 1969 set. Among the highlights are "Jailhouse Rock", "Mystery Train" and "All Shook Up". Of course, contemporary material is included - strong covers of "Words", "Yesterday" and "I Can't Stop Loving You", plus terrific renditions of Elvis' recent recordings, "In The Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds". It's Elvis in 1969, so don't expect even a single average performance! 



This recording is taken from an early generation copy of the original tape. The sound quality is very good for a 42 year-old audience recording. The CD booklet contains a collection of August 1969 photos and liner notes. There is no doubt that the year 1969 is Elvis Heaven.


Tracks:
01. Opening Theme, 02. Blue Suede Shoes, 03. I Got A Woman, 04. All Shook Up, 05. Love Me Tender, 06. Jailhouse Rock / Don't Be Cruel, 07. Heartbreak Hotel, 08. Hound Dog, 09. I Can't Stop Loving You, 10. My Babe, 11. Mystery Train / Tiger Man, 12. Monologue, 13. Baby What You Want Me To Do, 14. Runaway, 15. Are You Lonesome Tonight, 16. Words, 17. Yesterday / Hey Jude, 18. Introductions of Singers, Musicians, 19. Introduction of Celebrities (Nancy Sinatra, Mac Davis, Buddy Hackett, Tom Jones, Shelley Fabares), 20. In The Ghetto, 21. Suspicious Minds, 22. What'd I Say, 23. Can't Help Falling In Love. 


Approximate running time: 75:59


Baltimore Nightfall - May 29, 1977, Civic Center, Baltimore, MD 



Baltimore Nightfall hails from Elvis' uneven May/June 1977 tour. After a few lethargic concerts at the start, Elvis offered some decent performances in Augusta, Rochester and Binghamton. Philadelphia on May 28 was problematic, and the next evening in Baltimore the King left the stage halfway through. No one was quite sure if he would return to finish the set. Talk about Hell... Luckily, Elvis reappeared twenty minutes later, singing with power and trying to compensate for the unexpected break with extra effort, including knockout versions of "Hurt", "Help Me" and "Unchained Melody". 

This recording was taken directly from a first-generation copy of the original audience tape. A previous release in 1994 on the Groti label was incomplete, and it ran at the wrong speed. This new Memory CD uses a different source tape, is 100% uncut and much better sounding. All photographs are from Baltimore on May 29. 


Tracks:
CD1: 01. Also Sprach Zarathustra, 02. C. C. Rider, 03. I Got A Woman / Amen, 04. That's All Right, 05. Are You Lonesome Tonight, 06. Blue Christmas, 07. Heartbreak Hotel, 08. Love Me, 09. Jailhouse Rock, 10. You Gave Me A Mountain, 11. Danny Boy (Sherrill Nielsen), 12. Walk With Me (Sherrill Nielsen), 13. Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel / Elvis leaves the stage, 14. Walk That Lonesome Road (J. D. Sumner & the Stamps), 15. My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me (Kathy Westmoreland)


CD2: 01. Introduction of Singers, Musicians, Orchestra (Charlie Hodge), 02. Early Mornin' Rain (John Wilkinson), 03. What'd I Say (James Burton), 04. Johnny B. Goode (James Burton), 05. Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt), 06. Bass Solo (Jerry Scheff), 07. Piano Solo (Tony Brown), 08. Electric Piano Solo (Bobby Ogdin), 09. School Day / Elvis returns, 10. Hurt, 11. Hound Dog, 12. Help Me, 13. Unchained Melody, 14. Blue Suede Shoes, 15. The Wonder Of You (partial), 16. One Night, 17. Medley: O Sole Mio (Sherrill Nielsen) / It's Now Or Never, 18. Can't Help Falling In Love, 19. Closing Vamp


Approximate running time: 83:45


Details Vegas Variety 6


It was 37 years ago and Elvis was (again) “hot” in Vegas. The Hilton Hotel´s famed showroom was sold out for every single performance and Elvis was in the mood of giving the audience a lot for their money. Not only music was part of the game this time. Elvis also did quite some monologues about his favourite sports, jewelry, John O´ Grady´s new book and from time to time even about “Black Angels” ;-)
Elvis´ Engagement in Las Vegas in the summer of 1974 was somewhat different and so it is some kind of extra special to hear as many of his concerts from that period as possible.
Rainbow Records is now able to deliver a very fine show in really nice sound, recorded by some fans tape recorder which has been secretly brought with by a female fan to “record” the King. As usual a very high quality booklet comes with this release. It has a lot of pictures and information on its 20 pages.
Approximate running time: 78:58. The CD is due August 24, 2011.



Tracks:
01. Also Sprach Zaratuhustra
02. C. C. Rider
03. I Got A Woman / Amen
04. Love Me
05. If You Love Me (Le Me Know) 
06. It's Midnight 
07. Big Boss Man 
08. Fever 
09. Love Me Tender
10. All Shook Up
11. The Wonder Of You 
12. I'm Leavin 
13. Softly As I Leave You 
14. Hound Dog 
15. You Gave Me A Mountain 
16. Polk Salad Annie 
17. Band Introductions 
18. If You Talk In Your Sleep 
19. Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel 
20. Hawaiian Wedding Song 
21. It's Now Or Never
22. Let Me Be There (with reprise) 
23. Can't Help Falling In Love 
24. Closing Vamp



'Elvis & Priscilla: The Wedding' Calendar 


EPE announced the release of 'Elvis & Priscilla: The Wedding' Calendar' this fall. 


Synopsis:


A keepsake item for Elvis fans and collectors alike! To celebrate the 45th wedding anniversary between the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Priscilla Presley, Elvis Presley Enterprises will soon release “Elvis & Priscilla: The Wedding,” a 16-month calendar by Mead for 2012. Priscilla hand-picked this unique collection of wedding photos and provided all of the personal commentary to describe what was happening in each image.
Elvis and Priscilla were married on May 1, 1967 in a private ceremony at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. "One thing I loved throughout the years was Elvis’ silent gestures" writes Priscilla. "He had a manly image to maintain, but his assuring subtle squeeze of the hand, the strength of his touch, and the occasional wink would send me an unspoken message.”

(Source: FECC / Nachrichten Forum / ElvisNews / EPE)

Monday, August 22, 2011

August 22 - Jerry Leiber Dies

Jerry Leiber, one of the most important songwriters in the history of rock & roll – whose 60-year partnership with Mike Stoller produced "Stand By Me," "Hound Dog," "Jailhouse Rock," "Young Blood," "On Broadway,"  "Yakety-Yak" and countless other classics – has died of cardiopulmonary failure. He was 78.


"When Jerry and I started to write, we were writing to amuse ourselves," Stoller told Rolling Stone in 1990. "It was done out of a love of doing it. We got very lucky in the sense that at some point what we wrote also amused a lot of other people."


Leiber met Stoller in Los Angeles in 1950 when he was still a senior in high school. They had a mutual love of R&B, blues and pop, and began writing music together almost instantly, with Stoller mostly handling the music and Leiber mostly handling the lyrics. "Jerry was an idea machine," Stoller says in their 2009 memoir Hound Dog. "For every situation, Jerry had 20 ideas. As would-be songwriters, our interest was in black music and black music only. We wanted to write songs for black voices. When Jerry sang, he sounded black, so that gave us an advantage. His verbal vocabulary was all over the place – black, Jewish, theatrical, comical. He would paint pictures with words."


In the early days, they pulled 12-hour days writing on an upright piano in Stoller's house. "We're a unit," Leiber told Rolling Stone in 1990. "The instincts are very closely aligned. I could write, 'Take out the papers and the trash,' and he'll come up with 'Or you don't get no spending cash.'" 


Within three years of meeting each other, Leiber and Stoller were the hottest songwriters in the business –writing hits for the Drifters, Coasters and the Robins and many other R&B groups of the era. In 1956, their career went to a higher level when Elvis Presley took "Hound Dog" – which they wrote for Big Mama Thornton four years earlier – and turned it into a gigantic hit. 


Leiber was extremely irritated by the changes that Presley made to the original lyrics. "To this day I have no idea what that rabbit business is about," he said in 2009. "The song is not about a dog; it's about a man, a freeloading gigolo. Elvis' version makes no sense to me, and, even more irritatingly, it is not the song that Mike and I wrote. Of course, the fact that it sold more than seven million copies took the sting out of what seemed to be a capricious change of lyrics."


Despite their success with Presley, most of the acts that Leiber and Stoller worked with were black. "I felt black," Leiber told Rolling Stone in 1990. "I was as far as I was concerned. And I wanted to be black for lots of reasons. They were better musicians, they were better athletes, they were not uptight about sex, and they knew how to enjoy life better than most people."


Not all of their songs were as innocent as they seemed. "Pure and simple, 'Poison Ivy' [a 1959 hit they wrote for The Coasters] is a metaphor for a sexually transmitted disease – or the clap – hardly a topic for a song that hit the Top Ten in the Spring of 1959," Leiber said in 2009. "But the more we wrote, the less we understood  why the public bought what it bought."


The hits continued into the early 1960s with such classics as "Stand By Me" and "Spanish Harlem," but when the Beatles broke in America in early 1964, the music industry changed very quickly. The duo never stopped working together, and in 1972 they produced "Stuck In The Middle With You," which was recorded by Stealers Wheel. In 1995, their catalog of hits was turned into the Broadway musical Smokey Joe's Cafe, and this past May, American Idol devoted an entire evening to their music. 


Some of their tracks Elvis Presley recorded:
  • (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care 
  • Bossa Nova Baby 
  • Dirty, Dirty Feeling 
  • Don't 
  • Fools Fall In Love 
  • Girls! Girls! Girls! 
  • Hot Dog 
  • Hound Dog 
  • I Want To Be Free 
  • If You Don't Come Back 
  • Jailhouse Rock 
  • Just Tell Her Him Said Hello 
  • King Creole 
  • Little Egypt 
  • Love Me 
  • Loving You 
  • Santa Claus Is Back In Town 
  • Saved 
  • She's Not You (co-written by Doc Pomus) 
  • Steadfast Loyal & True 
  • Three Corn Patches 
  • Treat Me Nice 
  • Trouble
(Source: Rolling Stone)

Saturday, August 20, 2011

August 20 - Special Sex Rock And Roll Delivery

JAT Publishing announced that the "Sex Rock And Roll' book is now available for pre-order. The site also showed the cover-art. According to the Elvis Club Berlin site a Special Edition of the book will be available with a 60 page 'Elvis & Priscilla' Wedding Album and a CD entitled 'Fame And Fortune'. The album and CD appear to be the same extra's as the 'Special Delivery'.


Special Delivery


The release date for the 'Special Delivery : The Ultimate Elvis Presley Collectors Box' was set to the first week of September. 


The set, limited to 1000 copies, includes a unique 60-page Elvis & Priscilla Wedding Album, an incredible 'Fame And Fortune' CD which contains a total of 13 previously unreleased studio outtakes and a beautiful Special Moments DVD with rare footage of the King. Plus this set includes 6 deluxe photo postcards plus an Elvis sticker with collector's cards.


The 'Fame And Fortune' CD contains a total of 13 previously unreleased studio outtakes : (Fame And Fortune (take 1), He Knows Just What I Need (take 9), In My Father’s House (take 8), Surrender (take 4), Soldier Boy (take 5), Swing Down, Sweet Chariot (master take 4), Frankfort Special (movie version) and many others).


(Source: FECC / JAT /Elvis Australia / Elvis Club Berlin)

Friday, August 19, 2011

August 19 - His Hand In Mine


The Hallmark budget label announced the re-issue of the "His Hand In Mine' CD on September 19, 2011. 


Synopsis:


Elvis Presley s love of gospel music had long been evident, for he had previously recorded and released an EP of gospel material and used gospel songs to warm up before live performances. The idea to devote an entire album to gospel appealed to Elvis as a singer and in particular to his manager Colonel Tom Parker, who wanted to break Elvis into films and Hollywood; gospel would help Elvis project a family-friendly image. During the course of 14 hours on 30 and 31 October 1960, Elvis recorded a total of fourteen songs; twelve gospel songs together with new material in Surrender and Crying In The Chapel. Whilst the latter two tracks would be held over for single release, the twelve gospel tracks were released as His Hand In Mine in November 1960. A #13 hit in the US, the album surpassed expectations in the UK, where it would power its way to #3 and spend nearly six months on the listing.


(Source: Amazon)

Thursday, August 18, 2011

August 18 - Four Days In '56 Promo

During the presentation by Ernst Jørgensen and Roger Semon in Memphis on August 15th. Ernst Jorgensen FTD talked about the release of a book project in November entitled "Four Days In '56". 


A 200 page book that is being produced as a companion release to the "Young Man With The Big Beat" which is due for release on September 27th. The book chronicles four days in the Spring of 1956 as Elvis barnstorms from Detroit, to Columbus, Ohio, to Dayton, Ohio and finally lands in Memphis where he gets to enjoy his new home on Audubon Drive. 


This is what Ernst Jorgensen said about it on the Elvis Aistralia site:


'In the 20 years I have been privileged to work with Elvis Presley CDs and books there have been a number of great discoveries. One, was when I was approached by Michael Rose, who said that he had found a treasure of photos from 1956. I have been bombarded with stories that were simply too good to be true, and in many cases, that's exactly what they were. So with some hesitation I asked Mike to send me some samples, and I was absolutely not prepared for the quantity and quality of these historic images. It was one of these situations where you forget all about financial logic, and just KNOW that this has to be shared with all the fans. Since Mike agreed wholeheartedly, we have spent the last 12 months sorting the material. Mike has been hunting for original stories and clippings, and now we are in the design stage of '4 days in 56 : A Moment In Time', to be released in November'. I hope the fans love the images and the story as much as I do.'


The book was first mentioned in january 2011 in an article in the Detroit News paper which also showed a preview the pictures. 



Latest Billboard Album Charts – Update


'An Afternoon In The Garden' rises from #123 to #117 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart and drops from #10 to #12 on the Catalog Abum Chart for the week ended 27th August. The new Soundscan Sales-figures:


Top Catalog Albums:
  • #12 An Afternoon In The Garden 4,025 -5 4,254 318,078
  • #94 The Very Best Of Love (2007) 1,820 -18 2,216 155,793
  • #108 An Evening Prayer 1,719 -8 1,869 88,589
  • #121 Elvis Rock 1,639 -9 1,807 100,768.


Young Man With The Big Promo


Advanced acetate copies of the new box 'Elvis Presley - Young Man With The Big Beat' popped up on eBay. 



Rare 78 RPM


Another item on eBay is a rare 78 RPM. It has been accepted for many years that the last issue of elvis on 78 in the uk was 'The Girl Of My Best Friend' b/w 'Mess Of Blues' and this was pressed in tiny quantities and available by mail order only. 


The price has already gone from 99p to £4,200 within a few days before it was removed by the seller.


(Source: Elvis Australia / FECC / eBay)

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

August 17 - Elvis Is Back For A Date

Due for release on September 5 from Hoodoo Records is the budget CD 'A Date With Elvis + Elvis Is Back!'.


Elvis Presley Treasures 3 



A new 3CD compilation entitled 'Elvis Presley Treasures 3' was sold through QVC; 60 recordings from the sixties with a sixteen page booklet in a over-sized box. 


Spanning Elvis Presley's entire career, this three-disc Treasures collection contains hours of music from the one and only, King of Rock 'n' Roll(R). From his beloved Christmas hits and memorable love songs, to the songs from his movies, the 60 classic tracks in this box set are ones you'll love and remember. The included 16-page booklet features color photos and a chronological timeline of Elvis' life and career.

(Source: Amazon / FECC / QCV)