Epic New Studio Work Inspired by "Viva ELVIS" by Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas Available November 9th.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Epic New Studio Work Inspired by "Viva ELVIS" by Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas Viva ELVIS - The Album Available Everywhere Tuesday, November 9 Legacy Recordings, in cooperation with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. and Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, proudly announces the release of Viva ELVIS - The Album, a 21st century celebration of Elvis and his music, featuring the voice of the king in a whole new context. Viva ELVIS - The Album will be available everywhere on Tuesday, November 9.
Produced and arranged by Erich van Tourneau, with assistant producer and assistant arranger Hugo "Wedge Montecristo" Bombardier, Viva ELVIS - The Album is a multi-faceted audio extravaganza creating a larger-than-life musical portrait of Elvis through newly re-imagined versions of "Blue Suede Shoes," "That's Alright," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Love Me Tender," "King Creole," "Bossa Nova," "Burning Love," "Can't Help Falling In Love" and "Suspicious Minds" as well as interludes based on "Memories" and "You'll Never Walk Alone."
Three of the tracks on Viva ELVIS including "Suspicious Minds," the album's first single, were mixed by Grammy Award winning producer Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen). Four of the album's tracks were mixed by Serban Ghenea with the remaining five mixed by Robert Meunier & Erich van Tourneau.
Musicians on Viva ELVIS include Elvis Presley (vocals); Erich van Tourneau (bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano and keyboards); Dea Norberg, Jennlee Shallow, Sherry St-Germain, Stacie Tabb (guest singers); Patrick Lavergne and JS "The Flash" Chouinard (basses); Mike Plant, Steve Nadeau, Martin Bachand and Paul Deslauriers (electric guitars); Olivier Goulet (acoustic guitar); Guy Bélanger (harmonica); DJ Pocket (scratch). The album's horn section includes Jean-Francois Thibeault (trombone), Bruno Dumont (saxophone), David Perrico (trumpet), Jean-Francois Gagnon (flugel horn).
When working on the music for Viva ELVIS, van Tourneau -- aided by Hugo Bombardier, Assistant Producer and Assistant Arranger on Viva ELVIS - The Album -- spent more than 3,000 hours reviewing countless albums, films, concert recordings, interviews and home recordings of Elvis. More than 17,000 samples of Elvis' songs - the raw material for the show - were made during the process.
Working with tens of thousands of samples of Elvis' voice, van Tourneau and Bombardier often wove several sequences and sounds into the same songs, sometimes changing details such as the key and tempo. In creating Viva ELVIS - The Album, van Tourneau was looking to accentuate and boost the emotional charge of the songs with the incorporation of ragga, punk or hip-hop elements into classic recordings. In all cases, however, the goal was to respect and understand the essence of the original recordings.
"I would like to acknowledge all of the incredible composers, musicians and technicians responsible for making this music with Elvis originally," said van Tourneau. "The album Viva ELVIS would not be what it is today if not for their remarkable contributions."
The postmodern studio masterwork invokes the spirit and essence of Elvis from a contemporary perspective while furthering the revolutionary impulses of Elvis' sound. Viva ELVIS - The Album re-imagines the king's own vocal performances in a broad variety of new musical settings. This new sound echoes Elvis' own versatility and ability to master all music genres, from Delta blues to rockabilly, from raw soul to gospel, from Southern folk to Vegas pop, while incorporating elements of garage rock, punk, urban and hip-hop.
In celebration of all eras of Elvis' musical genius, Viva ELVIS - The Album includes songs from Elvis' rise to fame in the '50s, his movie soundtracks, his triumphant return to the stage in the "'68 Special," and his ground-breaking appearances in Las Vegas.
Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil, a harmonious fusion of dance, acrobatics and live music, opened earlier this year in a specially designed 1,800 seat theater at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. A tribute to the life and music of Elvis Presley, Viva ELVIS focuses on the essential humanity of the one superstar whose name will forever be linked with the history of Las Vegas: Elvis Presley. Significant moments in his life - intimate, playful and grandiose - blend with timeless songs that remain as relevant today as when they first hit the top of the charts.
Viva ELVIS - The Album is a 21st century venue for rock's first and biggest superstar. The King's Music Lives!
Viva ELVIS - The Album - produced and arranged by Erich van Tourneau
1. Opening - (mixed by Robert Meunier & Erich van Tourneau)
2. Blue Suede Shoes - (mixed by Serban Ghenea)
3. That's Alright - (mixed by Brendan O'Brien)
4. Heartbreak Hotel - (mixed by Brendan O'Brien)
5. Love Me Tender - (mixed by Robert Meunier & Erich van Tourneau)
6. King Creole - (mixed by Robert Meunier & Erich van Tourneau)
7. Bossa Nova - (mixed by Serban Ghenea)
8. Burning Love - (mixed by Serban Ghenea)
9. Memories - (mixed by Robert Meunier & Erich van Tourneau)
10. Can't Help Falling In Love - (mixed by Serban Ghenea)
11. You'll Never Walk Alone - (mixed by Robert Meunier & Erich van Tourneau)
12. Suspicious Minds - (mixed by Brendan O'Brien)
Australian Duet
Sony Australia announced that the Australian edition of the "VIVA Elvis!" CD will also feature a duet, the artist performing withElvis on "Love me Tender" is yet to be announced.
Elvis Underground
We all know about the Chilean Mining Disaster. Well, one of the miners trapped in the mine is an Elvis fan and insisted that a photograph of Elvis was sent down to him. He has also raised the spirits of the other trapped miners by organising
Elvis sing-a-longs.
Brian Quinn and a few other fans thought that it would be a nice gesture if EPE were to arrange a free trip to Graceland for him and perhaps, the other miners, when they were rescued and had time to overcome some of their trauma.
An e-mail was sent to EPE and I am very pleased to print the following reply I have just received from them: "Yes, we are in touch with CNN Chile and have sent a big package of movies and music to him that they are sending down to him for the rest of the time. We are also talking with them about a visit!".
Graceland To Go Pink For National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
On Friday, October 1, Graceland will show its support for National Breast Cancer Awareness month by illuminating the mansion in pink. It will stay lit up through the end of October. The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaign was launched 25 years ago to promote education surrounding the disease. According to the American Cancer Society, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States. To see a live look at Graceland lit up in pink, be sure to check out the GracelandCam on this page.
Two Elvis Auctions In October
Auction house Julien will host a Hollywood auction for the first time ever in China. The most valuable Elvis item is a guitar, estimated at $100,000. Auction house Gotta Have Rock and Roll also published their new catalogue online. Another Elvis guitar is counted among the most valuable items here (minimum bid $30,000).
Two Elvis Auctions In October
Auction house Julien will host a Hollywood auction for the first time ever in China. The most valuable Elvis item is a guitar, estimated at $100,000. Auction house Gotta Have Rock and Roll also published their new catalogue online. Another Elvis guitar is counted among the most valuable items here (minimum bid $30,000).