April 28 - New Releases

Due for release from the Major Babies label on may 5, 2017 is the 5 CD set “Timeless Classic Albums” containing the original albums “Elvis Presley”, Elvis”, “Elvis Christmas Album”, “50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong: Elvis' Golden Records Vol. 2” and “His Hand In Mine”.

The State of Art label wil release a CD coupling the albums “G.I. Blues” and “Blue Hawaii” on May 26, 2017. 

The Intermusic label will release a CD entitled “G.I. Blues” on June 9, 2017. 

Tracks Timeless Classic Albums

CD 1:
Blue Suede Shoes - I'm Counting On You - I Got A Woman - One-Sided Love Affair - I Love You Because - Just Because - Tutti Frutti - Trying To Get To You - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You) - I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') - Blue Moon - Money Honey

CD 2:
Rip It Up - Love Me - When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again - Long Tall Sally - First In Line - Paralyzed - So Glad You're Mine - Old Shep - Ready Teddy - Anyplace Is Paradise - How's The World Treating You - How Do You Think I Feel

CD 3:
Santa Claus Is Back In Town - White Christmas - Here Comes Santa Claus - I'll Be Home For Christmas - Blue Christmas - Santa Bring My Baby Back - Silent Night - O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Treat Me Nice - My Wish Came True - I Believe - Tell Me Why - Got A Lot O´Livin To Do! - All Shook Up - Mean Woman Blues - (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me) - I Beg Of You - Theat´s When Your Heartaches Begin - Take My Hand Precious Lord

CD 4:
I Need Your Love Tonight - Don't - Wear My Ring Around Your Neck - My Wish Came True - I Got Stung - One Night - A Big Hunk O' Love - I Beg Of You - A Fool Such As I - Doncha' Think It's Time

CD 5:
His Hand in Mine - I'm Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs - In My Father's House - Milky White Way - Known Only To Him - I Believe In The Man In The Sky - Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho - He Knows Just What I Need - Swing Down Sweet Chariot - Mansion Over The Hilltop - If We Never Meet Again - Working On The Building

(Amazon)

April 27 - Charts

Elvis Presley has nop entries on the Billboard Album Top 200 chart for the week ending May 6, 2017. Other US listings are:

• 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 10 to 11 on the Classical Albums Chart
• 'If I Can Dream' drops from 21 to 23 on the Classical Albums Chart
• 'Elvis: Ultimate Gospel' drops from 14 to 15 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart; drops from 29 to 31 on the Top Christian Albums Chart and drops from 29 to 30 on the Christian And Gospel Albums Chart
• 'Crying In The Chapel' (Hymns and Gospel Favourites) is a new entry on the Christian and Gospel Albums Sales Chart
• 'Heart And Soul' remains at 13 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart
• 'The Essential Elvis Presley' rises from 45 to 43 on the Top Country Albums Chart and rises from 21 to 20 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart
• 'He Touched Me' (The Gospel Music Of Elvis Presley) (Vols.1 and 2) rises from 8 to 4 on the Music Video Sales Chart

UK and European Chart

The 'The Wonder Of You' drops out of the Official UK Top 100 Album chart. Other Elvis Presley entries on the UK Charts for April 28, 2017 are:

• 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 45 to 81 on the Physical Album Chart and drops from 55 to 92 on the Album Sales Chart 
• 'The Platinum Collection' drops from 61 to 69 on the Physical Album Chart; drops from 16 to 22 on the Indie Albums Chart and drops from 81 to 88 on the Album Sales Chart
• 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 53 to 66 on the Scottish Album Chart
• 'The Platinum Collection' rises from 91 to 83 on the Scottish Album Chart

Australian Chart

• The DVD 'Elvis – The King Of Rock’n’Roll – 30 Hit Performances And More' climbed from #36 mto #34 on the Australian Music DVD chart. 

(Source: Brian Quinn on FECC / The King's World)

April 24 - Rock And Beauty

The SR import-release "Rock And Beauty" containing the previously unreleased 1971 concert performance has been released. 

From the press-release:
Available from the middle March, Rock and Beauty (SR Records) with focus on Elvis’ August 1971. Both the shows are previously unreleased taken directly from a first generation tape. This will be the first of three volumes that SR will publish inside the year with focus on August 1971. 

The SR attitude is to present Elvis at the peak of his possibility and without doubt in the Las Vegas August 1971 season Elvis still rocks and still beautiful, delivering maybe shorter shows respect the previous summer seasons , but still solid. 

If Rock is attitude, the man still have it. The performance is terrific full and sharp. Here are presented two unreleased shows from the second week of the season. Both the show are very similar, the track list is minimized and the shows are practically identical, with the exception of I Got A Woman &Lawdy Miss Clawdy from August 19 are replaced with Mystery Train/Tiger Man in the August 24 show. 

We are happy and proud of the result we hope you can enjoy too, in spite of the limitation of the audience recording you can listen in a very balanced form all the instruments and Elvis super powerful voice. The shows are fantastic and the track listing is solid, giving us the best of the Season. All the songs are very well performed. Talking of best song is very hard, however you have Proud Mary and Johnny B. Good performed at the top of Elvis’ possibilities, but in the same moment the same happens with classic ballad Love Me Tender here still performed in both the shows or the pop new single I’m Leaving. This the magic of Elvis in the 1971, a man singing with his own style all styles at the top of his possibilities.

This new SR special Product will be the first of three volumes housed in a deluxe long digi-pack, containing a 12 pages of booklet with focus and details on the season including a collection of live photographs newspapers clips and memorabilia plus a high quality glossy 135 gram paper poster of 50x50 cm size and a high glossy paper bonus art card of 25x13 cm of size.

In matter to have a special collector item, the 400 copies will be presented with two different sleeves variation (same sleeve, but in color and black and white). All the copies will come hand numbered and individually sealed and Please remember, this is a limed hand-numbered edition of 400 copies. 

Tracks unreleased show august 19, 1971 DS:
01. 2001 Theme 02. That’s All Right 03. Proud Mary 04.I Got A Woman / Amen 05. Love Me Tender 06. Sweet Caroline 07. Polk Salad Annie 08. Dialogue 09. Johnny B Goode 10. It’s Impossible 11. Love Me 12. Blue Suede Shoes/ Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On 13. Heartbreak Hotel 14. Teddy Bear /Don’t Be Cruel 15. Dialogue 16. Hound Dog 17. Suspicious Minds 18. Band Introductions 19. I’m Leavin’ 20. Lawdy Miss Clawdy 21. Dialogue 22. Can’t Help Falling In Love 23.Closing Vamp (Running time 50 minutes).

Tracks unreleased show August 24, 1971 DS  
01. 2001 Theme/Intro 02. That’s All Right 03. Proud Mary 04. Sweet Caroline 05. Polk Salad Annie 06. Johnny B Goode 07. It’s Impossible 08. Love Me 09. Blue Suede Shoes/ Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On 10. Heartbreak Hotel 11. Teddy Bear /Don’t Be Cruel 12. Hound Dog 13. Love Me Tender 14. I’m Leavin’ 15. Suspicious Minds 16. Band Introductions 17. Mystery Train/Tiger Man 18. Can’t Help Falling In Love 19. Closing Vamp (Running time 45.00 minutes).

(Source: FECC)

April 23 - Chris Bearde Died

Chris Bearde, who wrote for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, produced The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour and created The Gong Show, has died. He was 80. Bearde also co-wrote Elvis Presley's 'Comeback Special' for NBC in 1968. Chris Bearde died Sunday morning of a sudden heart attack at his home in Westlake, Calif., his son, Tyler Bearde, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Steve Binder notes, "Chris Bearde and co-writer Allan Blye went and bought every single album and 45 that Elvis had ever recorded and locked themselves in a room and didn't leave it until they had worked out the basic format. Chris Bearde had a tremendous personality and practically performed their entire show in front of Elvis. You could tell by Elvis' reactions that he loved their ideas and the concept. In fact Elvis was so enthusiastic he didn't want to change a thing, which made me a little nervous!" 

(Source: FECC / Hollywood Reporter / Elvis Information Network)

April 22 - Newsstands And Television On Fire

A new volume in the Elvis Presley Collector's magazine series has been published. 

Content: Long Live The King, A Rock Star Is Born, Elvis Big Break, The Colonel, Army Days, She Never Stopped Loving Him, The Man And His Music, Graceland, Movie Guide, Memphis Mafia, The Men Who Would Be King, Rockin The Small Screen, Daddy's Little Girl, Love Was Never, Enough, His Last Romance, Dressed To Thrill, Inside His Final Days, New Elvis Projects, Eat Like The King, Memorabilia, A Little More Conversation.

There are also brief descriptions about six different upcoming Elvis projects.

1. The HBO Special.
2. Harvey Weinstein-Television and the EP Estate are partnering together to produce an 8-10 part Miniseries that will be filmed at Graceland. The show will draw upon Dave Marsh's book 'Elvis, along with Elvis music and archives that will give viewers an in depth look at how he became King.
3. The Sam Phillips project with Leonardo Dicaprio
4. Drawn And Recorded - T-Bone Burnett narrated project of a series of Spotify animated shorts that will bring the Elvis story to life.
5. Elvis Stage Musical - Heartbreak Hotel
6. Growing up Graceland Biopic

Elvis On Television

The UK based Memphis Recording Service released 'Elvis On Television 1956-1960' as a double vinyl album especially for Record Store Day. 

This Limited Edition 180 gram double-album set contains for the first time ever, the complete archival sound recordings of all of Elvis Presleys television appearances from 1956 – 1960. All the 40 tracks herein are restored re-mastered using the most sophisticated technology. The bonus 24-page gatefold photo album contains many rare photographs & listings of Elvis TV appearances.

You can buy this release through your local Record Store - or as under RSD rules any leftover copies can be purchased from next week through local Elvis dealers.

Fire At Audubon Drive

A Saturday morning fire caused "extensive" damage to the former home of Elvis Presley on Audubon Drive, but ongoing renovations meant no Presley artifacts were in the house at the time of the blaze. Memphis Fire Lt. Wayne Cooke said the department responded to the home just after 7:30 a.m. The fire was under control by 7:52, he said. Fire personnel were on scene for several hours.

The cause was electrical, Cooke said, and started in the wall between the living room and dining room. The one-story home was unoccupied and undergoing renovations.

Rhodes College is the steward of the house, now owned by music industry veteran and philanthropist Mike Curb. As an extension of the Curb Institute for Music at Rhodes, the home hosts small VIP events and private music concerts.

John Bass, executive director of the institute, said he stopped by the house Saturday afternoon but wasn't able to get inside because the fire department had secured the property. "It seems pretty extensive," Bass said of the damage.

The fire department did not have an official damage estimate. Curb purchased the house for $1 million in 2006.

The house was undergoing repairs after a water pipe burst in January, Bass said. As a result, almost all the furniture in the house was in a storage unit in the driveway. The few artifacts that remain from when Presley lived in the house were secured on Rhodes' campus during the renovations, Bass said.

"The mission is to really research Memphis music in a variety of ways, so we use that house, or we have in the past, as a resource for our students," Bass said.

Presley purchased the home at 1034 Audubon in 1956. He lived there for just over a year, during which he skyrocketed to fame, appearing on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and recording "Hound Dog" and "Don’t Be Cruel." His rising popularity brought waves of fans to the East Memphis neighborhood, eventually forcing his move to the more secluded Graceland.

"He was 21 when he lived there, around the same age as our students, so we use it as a space to inspire our young students of today," Bass said.

Neighbor Ron McCrarey, who had been in the home once before, said he was able to get a look inside the house from the carport after the fire was put out Saturday. "All the walls are blackened," McCrarey said.

McCrarey said he was outside at 7 a.m. and didn't see any signs of a fire across the street. But 45 minutes later, he said, smoke was pouring from the roof and fire trucks filled the street. Firefighters climbed onto the roof to vent the smoke, he said. "You couldn’t actually see the flames, just the smoke," McCrarey said.

(Source: FECC / Elvis Information Network / Memphis Recording Service / Commercial Appeal)

April 21 - Got Me Workin' On A Brand New Cadillac, Honey!

The Straight Arrow import releases 'A Brand New Cadillac, Honey!' and 'Got Me Workin' Boss Man - 40 Years After Vol. 1' have been released. 

From the press-releases:
Straight Arrow is pleased to bring you a new double CD dedicated to Elvis' April ’76 tour entitled 'A Brand New Cadillac, Honey'. It was short but very good tour, with Tony Brown and Ronnie Tutt replacing Shane Kiester on piano and Larrie Londin on drums. 
The Long Beach, April 25th, 1976 afternoon show is previously unreleased. The Seattle, April 26th, 1976 show was first released by Millbranch Music ('The Bicentennial King Vol. 2', 2010) from a rather bad, flat sounding tape source. Straight Arrow was fortunate enough to obtain recently recovered 1st generation copies of the original audience-recorded cassettes, which were not in circulation previously. Both shows were recorded by the same person. These enjoyable concerts were never before available in good sound quality… until now! Ask your dealer for sound samples.
As usual, this new release will be presented in a beautiful 4-panel digipak that includes photos taken in Long Beach (2:30 pm) and Seattle and newspaper reviews of both concerts.

Straight Arrow is pleased to bring you a new CD dedicated to Elvis' May ’77 tour entitled 'Got Me Workin' Boss Man - 40 Years After Vol. 1'. The Macon, June 1st, 1977 show is previously unreleased. This recording was taken directly from a recently found 1st generation copy of an audience-recorded mastertape. This historic concert was never before available in decent sound quality… until now! Ask your dealer for sound samples. Compared with an average show in Baton Rouge, May 31st, Macon concert is surprisingly good. ”Fairytale”, ”My Way” and ”And I Love You So” are performed really well but one highlight stands out, rocking performance of „Big Boss Man“ at the end of show. As usual, this new release will be presented in a beautiful 3-panel digipak that includes photos taken in Macon and a newspaper review. 

(Source: FECC)

April 20 - Trustin Howard Died

Writer and actor Trustin Howard, also known as Slick Slavin, died on April 20 after complications from a fall. He was 93. After serving in the Army, Howard returned to pursue a career as an actor. He appeared in the movie Speed Crazy (1959), in which he wrote, sang and played guitar on the title song, and he had a bit part as a master of ceremonies in Elvis Presley's King Creole (1958). 

After writing almost 1,000 hours of TV and film, Howard was honored with a lifetime membership in the Writers Guild of America. As a signed recording artist and composer, he was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

Howard recently wrote several books with accompanying screenplays, including “Winchell and Runyon,” the untold true story about the relationship between Walter Winchell and Damon Runyon, which won an award at the Hollywood Book Festival. Additionally, his paranormal thriller “The Channeler” was a first place winner at the Great Southeast Book Festival.

(Source: Variety)

April 19 - Spliced Charts

The spliced takes import series continues. A new 'fifties' album entitled 'Spliced Takes - Blue Moon' will be out soon. The 30 track set comes in a 'deluxe digipack' and is strictly limited to 500 copies.

From the press-release:
Again the STAR team has done all the edits on this album, and they did an even better job , with lots of excellent edits, and surprises. Unlike other “import” labels, they truly were able to produce an album using many incomplete takes , to create beautiful new tracks. Their professional edits will blow you away, and will make you believe these are unreleased takes. Get ready to Shake, Rattle and Roll with this fantastic release, some highlights include:

• That's All Right: Spliced from 2 outtakes, with added echo to re-create the master version. 
• Shake Rattle And Roll: Includes ALL verses done by our man, 3 different solos, piano, guitar and drums will blow you away! 
• Let Me; The “master” of this song was also a splice created from take 3 and 4… here they used the same takes, only the opposite parts, so this is the first complete new outtake of this movie song. 
• Money Honey: Only a shore part of take 10 was found, used here to make a nice new track, spliced with the master takes. 
• Baby, I Don't Care: Great version, with spliced takes, and new mix to make it and outstanding new outtake. 
• Blueberry Hill: five takes used here to make a very fresh new version. 

Elvis fans have been spoiled over the years, and they all know.. “the end is near” almost every complete take available has been released, so this is as close as you can get for a “New” album! 

Tracks: That's All Right - Spliced take 2,3 My Baby's Gone Spliced take 6,7,6 Ill Never Let You Go - Spliced take Jailhouse Rock - Spliced take 7,8,7,6/Pick up take 2 Shake, Ratlle and Roll - Alternate Master (long version) When It Rains It Really Pours - Spliced take 8,5 I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine - Spliced take 2,3,1 Money Honey - Spliced take 10,5,6 Paralyzed - Spliced take 12,5 * I'm Counting On You - Spliced take 13,UN,14,13 I Want To Be Free - Spliced take 8,9 Doncha Think It's Time - Spliced take 39,47,40 Playing for Keeps - Spliced take 7 ,18 * Poor Boy - Spliced take 1,3 Lonesome Cowboy - Spliced take 25,20 * Treat Me Nice (1st movie vs) - Spliced take 12,13 I Was the One - Alternate Master Don't Leave Me Now (Record vs) - Spliced take 17,15,18,8 I Love You Because - Spliced take 4,5 Blueberry Hill - Spliced take 6,5,4,7,8 Baby, I Don't Care - Spliced take 4,1 Lover Doll - Spliced EP/LP/EP Version Let Me - Spliced take 3,4,3 (reversed master) Too Much - Spliced take 12/insert take 2 * I Beg of You - Alternate Master Rip It Up - Spliced take 18,17,17 Young and Beautiful (record vs) - Spliced take 1,3 As Long As I Have You (movie vs) - Spliced take 6,7 Harbor Lights - Spliced take 6,7 Blue Moon Spliced take 7,8 

Charts

The Billboard charts for the week ending April 29, 2017. Elvis Presley has no albums on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. 

• 'The Wonder Of You' remains at 10 on the Classical Albums Chart
• 'If I Can Dream' rises from 22 to 21 on the Classical Albums Chart
• 'Elvis: Ultimate Gospel' drops from 13 to 14 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart; rises from 37 to 29 on the Top Christian Albums Chart and rises from 37 to 29 on the Christian And Gospel Albums Chart
• 'Heart And Soul' rises from 19 to 13 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart
• 'The Essential Elvis Presley' is a new entry at 45 on the Top Country Albums Chart and is a re-entry at 21 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart
• 'He Touched Me' (The Gospel Music Of Elvis Presley) (Vols.1 and 2) is a re-entry at 8 on the Music Video Sales Chart

Australian Charts

• The DVD 'The King Of Rock’n’Roll' dropped from #29 to #36 on the Australian Music DVD chart. 

(Source: Brian Quinn / FECC)

April 18 - Lost In The Mail

The Ragdoll import-label announced their second release entitled "Lost In The Mail". It contains another unreleased audience recording of the October 27, 1976 08.30 PM performance, as recorded at  Carbondale, Ill. The CD has a running-time of 66:24 minutes and comes with an 8 page booklet with rare photos from the show. 

Tracks: 01. Also Sprach Zarathustra 0:55 02. C. C. Rider 4:38 03. I Got A Woman / Amen 6:48 04. Love Me 2:37 05. Fairytale 2:26 06. You Gave Me A Mountain 3:11 07. Jailhouse Rock 1:38 08. Help Me 2:35 09. All Shook Up (incomplete) 0:53 10. Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel 1:59 11. And I Love You So 3:06 12. Fever 3:13 13. America (The Beautiful) 2:38 14. Polk Salad Annie 3:46 15. Band Introductions 2:19 16. Early Mornin' Rain 1:00 17. What'd I Say 0:48 18. Johnny B. Goode 0:52 19. Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt) 1:31 20. Bass Solo (Blues - Jerry Scheff) 1:36 21. Piano Solo (Tony Brown) 1:06 22. Electric Piano Solo (David Briggs) 1:30 23. Love Letters 2:54 24. School Day (incomplete) 0:38 25. Hurt (with reprise) 2:38 26. Hound dog 2:41 announced by Elvis but missing on tape: Danny Boy (by Sherrill Nielsen) : Walk With Me (by Sherrill Nielsen) : My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me (by Kathy Westmoreland) 27. Heartbreak Hotel (part) / Blue Christmas 2:21 28. That's All Right 2:33 29. Can't Help Falling In Love 1:36 30. Closing Vamp 0:29.

April 13 - Elvis Up Close (Updated)

Due from Willems Uitgevers is a new Elvis book from the Belgian author Marc Hendrickx. 

The Dutch book, entitled "Elvis Dichtbij" ("Elvis Up Close") covers Elvis Presley's career with additional info and facts on 248 pages. Part of the photo's used in this book are new. 

Platinum US Charts

The Billboard charts for the week ending April 22, 2017. Elvis Presley has no albums listed on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart.

• 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 9 to 10 on the Classical Albums Chart
• 'If I Can Dream' drops from 18 to 22 on the Classical Albums Chart
• 'Elvis: Ultimate Gospel' drops from 10 to 13 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart; rises from 38 to 37 on the Top Christian Albums Chart and rises from 39 to 37 on the Christian And Gospel Albums Chart
• 'Heart And Soul' rises from 23 to 19 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart

With about 1,000 copies sold this week the 'Heart & Soul' album now qualifies for Platinum award sales with about 1,013,400 sales.

UK Charts

Other Elvis Entries on the UK Charts for the week ending April 14, 2017:

• 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 58 to 79 on the Official UK Album Chart
• 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 40 to 46 on the Physical Album Chart and drops from 42 to 59 on the Album Sales Chart
• 'The Platinum Collection' rises from 99 to 68 on the Physical Album Chart; rises from 19 to 17 on the Indie Albums Chart and is a re-entry at 84 on the Album Sales Chart

European Charts

• 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 40 to 43 on the Scottish Album Chart
• 'The Platinum Collection' rises from 95 to 79 on the Scottish Album Chart
• 'The Wonder Of You' rises from 169 to 197 on the Belgian Album Chart

Australian Charts

The DVD 'King Of Rock’n’Roll' jumped from #39 to #29 on the Australian Music DVD chart. 

(Source: Brian Quinn of FECC / Willems Uitgevers / The King's World)

April 11 - Work In Progress In NY

The Elvis One label announced the release of four new titles; "Elvis Presley: Past Masters", "From Elvis In New York - 1956" and volume 3 and 4  in the "Work In Progress" series. 

Elvis One proudly presents a special edition from The Bootleg Series, 'From Elvis In New York - 1956'. With all The Masters recorded in New York 1956, the promo recordings for RCA, the interviews, and 4 selections from his first tv appearances - for the first time together on one great new album. Including 'One-Sided Love Affair' with count-in, 'Hound Dog' in the best sound ever!, 'Lawdy, Miss Clawdy' with count-in and the edited undubbed master of 'Shake, Rattle And Roll'. And ofcourse a booklet with photos and recording information! This is a limited edition of only 500 copies.

Tracks: The Masters:
Blue Suede Shoes - My Baby Left Me - One-Sided Love Affair (Including Count-In) - So Glad You're Mine - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You) - Tutti Frutti - Lawdy, Miss Clawdy (Including Count-In) - Shake, Rattle And Roll - Hound Dog (From The Mixing Desk) - Don't Be Cruel - Anyway You Want Me (That's How I Will Be) - Shake, Rattle And Roll (Edited Undubbed Master)

Elvis On TV:
Shake Rattle and Roll / Flip Flop And Fly - I Want You, I Need You, I Love You - Hound Dog - Don't Be Cruel

Promo Recordings For RCA:
Recording Of Personal Introductions For Latest RCA Victor Albums - RCA Radio Victrola Division Spot (#1) - RCA Radio Victrola Division Spot (#2)

Interviews At The Warwick Hotel:

Robert Carlton Brown interviews Elvis - 'Hy Gardner Calling' (Hy Gardner Interview)

*Previously unreleased by Elvis' record company.
**Previously unreleased by Elvis' record company on CD.

'Elvis Presley: Past Masters' is a collection of 22 songs from Elvis' catalogue that were not available on his original albums. The majority of Past Masters consists of A- and B-sides from Elvis' singles and Extended Play's (EP's), including versions of songs that appeared in a different form on his Long Play (LP) albums. 

Also included are the full contents of the Elvis Sails EP, masters without any overdubs and 'Kiss Me Quick' without backing vocals as released on the 1964 Spanish EP Viva Las Vegas. On this album you can also hear six songs that Elvis recorded at Sun Records in 1954 and 1955, including 'Mystery Train' from the original HMV 78rpm. 

Tracks: Doncha' Think It's Time (RCA Single Version B-Side) - Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Sun Single Version B-Side) - Wear My Ring Around Your Neck (Undubbed Master) - Kiss Me Quick (Viva Las Vegas Spanish RCA EP Version B-Side) - Dixieland Rock (King Creole Vol.2 RCA EP Version B-Side) - Tomorrow Night (Original Master) - Suspicion (Italian RCA Single Version A-Side) - I'm Yours (RCA Single Version A-Side) - It's Now Or Never (Undubbed Master) - Mystery Train (HMV 78rpm Version A-Side) - Tonight's All Right For Love (German RCA Single Version B-Side) - Is It So Strange (Undubbed Master) - You're A Heartbreaker (Sun 78rpm Version B-Side) - Milkcow Blues Boogie (Sun 78rpm Version A-Side) - Summer Kisses, Winter Tears (Undubbed Master) - Lover Doll (King Creole Vol.1 RCA EP Version - B-Side) - Shake, Rattle And Roll (Undubbed Master) - Steadfast, Loyal And True (Undubbed Master) - We're Gonna Move (Undubbed Master) - That's All Right (Sun 45rpm Version A-Side) - Moonlight Swim (Undubbed Master) - Big Boots (Undubbed Movie Master) - Press Interview With Elvis Presley (Extra - Elvis Sails RCA EP A-Side) - Elvis Presley's Newsreel Interview (Extra - Elvis Sails RCA EP B-Side) - Pat Hernon Interviews Elvis In The Library Of The U.S.S. Randall At Sailing (Extra - Elvis Sails RCA EP B-Side)

* Previously unreleased by Elvis' record company.
** As released in it's original 'dry' form.
*** Previously unreleased by Elvis' record company on CD.

Volume 3 of 'Elvis Work In Progress (The Bootleg Series - Elvis One)', is an  album with outtakes from 1960 to 1966. An album with 31 alternate takes and 3 unedited masters, all previously unreleased by Elvis' official record company. All-in the best possible sound. This is a fly-on-the-wall experience… Of course, this album comes with a nice CD-booklet with photos and recording information. All tracks previously unreleased by Elvis' record company.

Tracks: Night Life (Take 14 / Unedited) - Never Say Yes (Alternate Take 3 & 6) - Adam And Evil (Alternate Take 2, 3 & 6) - Summer Kisses, Winter Tears (Alternate Take 21-23) - Fools Fall In Love (Take 5, Rehearsal) - Somebody Bigger Than You And I (False Start Take 15 & Alternate Take 16) - How Great Thou Art (Alternate Take 1 & 3) - Stand By Me (Alternate Take 1, 3 & 4) - Somebody Bigger Than You And I (Workpart Take 1 & 2) - Stand By Me (Alternate Take 8) - Wild In The Country (Alternate Take 3 - 6) - I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell (Alternate Take 4 & 6) - Wild In The Country (Alternate Take 7) - Summer Kisses, Winter Tears (Alternate Take 24) - Do The Vega (Take 7 / Unedited) - City By Night (Binaural Master) - Adam And Evil (Alternate Take 7-9) - The Yellow Rose Of Texas / The Eyes Of Texas (Take 9 / Unedited) - Adam And Evil (Alternate Take 11) - You Gotta Stop (Backing Track) - Indescribably Blue (Red West) - Indescribably Blue (Red West / Edit)

'Elvis Work In Progress: Outtakes From The Sixties! - Volume 4' (The Bootleg Series - Elvis One) is an album with outtakes from 1960 to 1966. An album with 22 alternate takes and 5 binaural masters, all previously unreleased by Elvis' official record company. All-in the best possible sound. This is a fly-on-the-wall experience… Of course, this album comes with a nice CD-booklet with photos and recording information. All tracks previously unreleased by Elvis' record company.

Tracks: It Won't Be Long (Binaural Master) - Adam And Evil (Alternate Take 10) - Easy Come, Easy Go (Binaural Master) - Adam And Evil (Alternate Take 12 & 13) - Wild In The Country (Alternate Take 8) - Summer Kisses, Winter Tears (Alternate Take 25) - Britches (Vocal Overdub, Take 6) - Wild In The Country (Alternate Take 9) - Somebody Bigger Than You And I (Alternate Take 1 & 2) - Somebody Bigger Than You And I (Workpart, Take 3 & 4) - Where No One Stands Alone (Alternate Take 4 & First False Start Take 2) - Somebody Bigger Than You And I (Alternate Take 6 & 7) - Summer Kisses, Winter Tears (Binaural Master) - Flaming Star (Binaural Master) - In My Way (Solo, Alternate Take 3 & 7) - Wild In The Country (Alternate Take 15) - Adam And Evil (Alternate Take 15 & 17) - Old MaCDonald (Binaural Master) - Somebody Bigger Than You And I (Workpart, Take 6) - Britches (Instrumental Take 1) - I'll Remember You (Red West) - If Everyday Was Like Christmas (Red West) - If Everyday Was Like Christmas (Red West / Original Single Version)

(Source: Elvis One)

April 10 - Original Albums

Due for release from Sony Music CMG on May 26, 2017 is the double CD set "Elvis Presley / Elvis - 2 Original Albums + Bonus Tracks!". 

CD 1: Blue Suede Shoes - I'm Counting On You - I Got A Woman - One-Sided Love Affair - I Love You Because - Just Because - Tutti Frutti - Trying To Get To You - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You) - I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') - Blue Moon - Money Honey - That's All Right - I'm Counting On You - I Got A Woman - Heartbreak Hotel - I Love You Because - Shake, Rattle And Roll - Lawdy, Miss Clawdy - When It Rains, It Really Pours - I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine - My Baby Left Me - Blue Moon - Good Rockin' Tonight

CD 2: Rip It Up - Love Me - When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again - Long Tall Sally - First In Line - Paralyzed - So Glad You're Mine - Old Shep - Ready Teddy - Anyplace Is Paradise - How's The World Treating You - How Do You Think I Feel - Rip It Up - Love Me Tender - Don't Be Cruel - Hound Dog - I Was The One - Too Much - I Want You, I Need You, I Love You - Old Shep - Mystery Train - Any Way You Want Me (That's How I Will Be) - Playing For Keeps - I Forgot To Remember To Forget

(Source: Amazon / Elvis Club Berlin)

April 09 - G.I. Vinyl

Due for release from the Real Gone Music label on May 28, 2017 is the vinyl album "G.I. Blues". This album comes on blue vinyl and is limited to 500 copies.

(Source: Amazon)

April 08 - FTD’s On Their Way

The Follow That Dream Collector’s label shipped the April 2017 releases to the dealers. The titles are the book “His Songs Of Praise Volume Two” and double CD “Elvis: Las Vegas ’74”. 

The book “His Songs Of Praise Volume Two” is the follow-up to Volume One that was released last fall. This time the author Trevor Simpson will dig into the last 51 gospel-songs Elvis performed. The book contains 350 pages and is packed with rare pictures. It also includes a CD with 32 tracks (undubbed masters, some rarities and the radio special aired on December 3, 1967).

The double CD “Elvis: Las Vegas ’74” contains soundboard recordings of both the the Dinner and Midnight show in Las Vegas on August 20, 1974. It is packed in a five inch digipack.

(Source: various)

April 07 - Charts (Updated)

The Billboard Charts for the week ending April 15.2017:

• Elvis Presley has no albums on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart
• 'The Wonder Of You' drops from 7 to 9 on the Classical Albums Chart
• 'If I Can Dream' drops from 15 to 18 on the Classical Albums Chart
• 'Elvis: Ultimate Gospel' drops from 7 to 10 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart; drops from 26 to 38 on the Top Christian Albums Chart and drops from 27 to 39 on the Christian And Gospel Albums Chart
• 'Heart And Soul' remains at 23 on the Country Catalog Albums Chart
• 'He Touched Me' - The Gospel Music Of Elvis Presley (Vols.1 and 2) is a re-entry at 12 on the Music Video Sales Chart.

UK Charts

• 'The Wonder Of You' rises from 65 to 58 on the Official UK Album chart.
• 'The Wonder Of You' rises from 48 to 40 on the Physical Album Chart and rises from 53 to 42 on the Album Sales Chart 
• 'The Platinum Collection' drops from 85 to 99 on the Physical Album Chart and rises from 21 to 19 on the Indie Albums Chart

European Charts

• 'The Wonder Of You' rises from 56 to 40 on the Scottish Album Chart
• 'The Platinum Collection' drops from 87 to 95 on the Scottish Album Chart
• 'The Wonder Of You' re-entered the Belgian Album chart at #169. 
• 'Top 40 Elvis' dropped off the Belgian Mid-price Album chart. 

Australian Charts

The DVD 'Elvis – The King Of Rock’n’Roll – 30 Hit Performances And More' climbed from #40 to #39 on the Australian Music DVD chart.

(Source: Brian Quinn on FECC / The King's World)

April 05 - Strictly Keith Alverson

Due for release from Erik Lorentzen and Keith Alverson this August is the book "Strictly Elvis". It is the first volume focussing on the pictures from the years 1973 - 1975 in 1400 images.  

Keith Alverson grew up with the music of Elvis, although he never thought he would ever see amazing singer live, let alone make the best pictures. Shooting was a hobby for Keith. When he got the chance to experience a live concert early 70s, he secretly smuggled his little pocket camera it inside. One of the first Elvis' concerts which saw Keith was in Atlanta in July 1973. He then saw Elvis still about 85 times live on stage, and made beautiful pictures. 

(Source: FECC)

March 04 - Bruce Jackson: Six Years On The Road

A new book was announced. The richly illustrated large-format book 'Six Years On The Road With Elvis' delves deeply into sound-man Bruce Jackson’s life travelling with the Elvis Presley Show.

From the press-release:
'I mixed and ran the sound for Elvis for six years until his death on August 16 1977. I was 22 when I started working for him. I did hundreds and hundreds of shows with Elvis across mainland United States and Hawaii, constantly on the road to the next city or town. In between there were recording projects Elvis asked me to be a part of and stopovers for rehearsals at Graceland. Over those six years I got to know him on a candid personal level as a friend.' - Bruce Jackson

Written and compiled by the Jackson family using intimate letters and direct quotes from talking tapes recorded by Bruce Jackson back in the day, this book will take the reader on a previously unexplored journey behind the scenes with new stories, new artefacts, and details never before read about Bruce Jackson, Elvis Presley and his entourage. Richly illustrated, you'll get an accurate impression of day-to-day touring life through postcards written and posted along the track by Bruce to his girlfriend and family, through fastidiously collected and preserved tour literature, and what everyone is wondering about: the tapes. Bruce recorded every show he did with Elvis. It's a fact. 

Bruce was warmly welcomed into the TCB inner circle. This is Bruce’s story told in his words, with contributions from family, friends, and colleagues including Roy Clair (co-founder of Clair Bros Audio). Whilst the release date is to be confirmed, we will post details in due course and let you know how to order your copy of this limited edition.

(Source: Evan Mueller on FECC)

April 02 - Signature Collection

Due for release from the French VPI label (Elvis My Happiness fan club) is the 10 CD-single set "The Signature Collection - 40th Anniversary Boxset". It contains 10 themed CD-singles and was released before on vinyl / CD in 2016. 

Description:
Enter the legend of The King through the "Signature Collection", a special 10 CD box set for discerning collectors and fans of Elvis Presley. Limited to 400 units and re-mastered for optimal listening. Each disc is a compact disc vinyl replica and includes 4 original tracks + 4 rare and unpublished alternative versions. The "Signature Collection" was designed by Culture Factory and Jean-Marie Pouzenc, President of "Elvis My Happiness", the French Elvis Presley fan club.

It includes 10 titles:
Rock & Roll (no. 1) / Classique (no. 2) / Films (no. 3) / Live (no. 4) / Ballades (no. 5) / Blues (no. 6) / Gospel (no. 7) / Sun (no. 8) / Country (no. 9) / Noel (no. 10)

Elvis' Ed Sullivan Show To Be Colourized in 4K Resolution

The 'America in Color' series will restore a century of footage, including the attack on Pearl Harbor, Franklin Roosevelt's home movies and Elvis Presley's first Ed Sullivan TV appearance September 9, 1956, to high-resolution color images.

The Smithsonian Channel, the US network run by Showtime and the Smithsonian Institution, has launched one of the most ambitious and wide-ranging restoration projects ever undertaken colorizing a century of black-and-white footage chronicling the history of the US, its people and pop culture.

For its new five-hour series America in Color, the Smithsonian Channel will restore images ranging from Prohibition and the Jazz Age to the moon landing and the birth of rock and roll. Footage includes illegal drinking in speakeasies in the 1920, President Franklin Roosevelt's 
rare home movies shot during the Great Depression, scenes of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and Elvis Presley's debut television appearance on the Ed Sullivan show.

British production company Arrow Media, whose credits include National Geographic's Live from Space produced the series, colorizing the footage and restoring it to high def 4K color.
“This series shows America as never seen before – taking stories that everybody thinks they know and telling them in a compelling new way that is instantly relatable. We have covered some of the most dramatic and iconic moments in 20th-century America, with rare footage that now feels fresh and modern but also highly authentic.

America in Color was commissioned by Chris Hoelzl and David Royle at Smithsonian Channel. “This is one of our most important commissions – it’s a landmark series that puts the color back into history and transports viewers into a past that once seemed gray and distant, but now is vibrant and compelling,” said Royle.

(Source: Spin Records / BQ/ ElvisInfoNet)