August 17 - From Sunset Boulevard to Europe (Updated 22/08)

Two new import (re)releases were announced; a vinyl re-issue of the classic DAE title “From Sunset Boulevard to Paradise Road” in three different colors and the double CD set “The European Side Of Elvis / Words And Music”. 

Details “From Sunset Boulevard to Paradise Road”:

August 1974 is a remarkable period in Elvis’ career. A new Vegas engagement was ahead of him and Elvis and his loyal musicians had plans for a new and refreshing show, which they were going to perform for a two-week period. Probably to avoid getting bored from doing the same year in and year out, they went to rehearse some new songs to create the new setlist.

Fortunately the rehearsal from August 16 was recorded on a 2-track cassette deck and is presented here in its ultimate form. Originally released way back in 1995 it was time for an update. Although the rehearsal and the show have been re-released by several other labels, they were simply badly remastered copies of the original release. Sometimes even being incomplete and sounding very “thin” due to the high level of noise reduction and compression. 

An exception must be made for some tracks in original binaural sound that were released some years back. The original master tape has been recorded in binaural but quality wise it left a lot to desire. In 1995 a straight copy of the master tape was used to create a more balanced mix of this remarkable recording. For this re-release an early “work in progress” version is used which contains less reverb than the version originally released. The recording has been painstakingly restored, resulting in what we believe to be the ultimate sounding and most complete outing of this remarkable rehearsal and the show.
Following the rehearsal, we present the opening night show of the engagement rehearsed for.

During the Opening Night Also Sprach Zarathustra and See See Rider were replaced by Big Boss Man and were followed by Proud Mary and Down In The Alley. Most likely the audience was very surprised by the new setlist. Remarkably enough the next night the show went back to (pretty much) normal. Songs like Down In The Alley, Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues, Never Been To Spain and My Baby Left Me were not played again during this engagement. So without any doubt the opening night concert is one of his most unique shows. The reason for the abrupt ending of the new refreshing setlist can only be guessed, but most likely Elvis fell out of his comfort zone and the audience was more pleased with the good old I Got A Woman and All Shook Up. Some of the rehearsed songs did survive during this two-week engagement. For example It’s Midnight & If You Talk In Your Sleep and I’m Leavin’ became regular performed songs during these two weeks.

Now available are these very limited-edition deluxe box sets in white, purple and blue vinyl. Each color presented in its own designed boxset. 

Tracks “From Sunset Boulevard To Paradise Road”;

CD 1 -  16.08.1974 - Rehearsal Part 1 - RCA Studios / Hollywood, California:
If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - If You Love Me (Let Me Know) (#2) - Promised Land - Promised Land (#2) - Down In The Alley - Down In The Alley (#2) - It's Midnight - It's Midnight (#2) - Your Love's Been A Long Time Coming - Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues - Softly As I Leave You - Softly As I Leave You (#2)

CD 2 - 16.08.1974 - Rehearsal Part 2 - RCA Studios / Hollywood, California:
I'm Leavin' - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Proud Mary - If You Talk In Your Sleep - If You Love Me Let Me Know (#3) - If You Love Me Let Me Know (#4) - The Twelfth Of Never - Faded Love - Just Pretend

CD 3 - 19.08.1974 O/S - Las Vegas Hilton:
Big Boss Man - Proud Mary - Down In The Alley - Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues - Never Been To Spain - It's Midnight - If You Talk In Your Sleep - I'm Leavin' - Let Me Be There - Softly As I Leave You - If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - Love Me Tender - Polk Salad Annie - Introductions - Promised Land - Introduction Of Telly Savalas - My Baby Left Me - Bridge Over Troubled Water - Fever - Hound Dog - Can't HeLP Falling In Love (Incomplete)

CD 4 - 16.08.1974 Rehearsal In Binaural Stereo - RCA Studios / Hollywood, California:
If You Love Me (Let Me Know) (#2) - Promised Land (#1) - Down In The Alley - Down In The Alley (#2) - It's Midnight (#2) - Your Love's Been A Long Lime Coming - Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues - Softly As I Leave You (#1) - I'm Leavin' - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Proud Mary - If You Talk In Your Sleep - If You Love Me (Let Me Know) (#3) - If You Love Me (Let Me Know) (#4) - Twelfth Of Never - Faded Love - Just Pretend - Twelfth Of Never (Official Released Version) - Twelfth Of Never (David Briggs Overdub)

LP 1 - Side A: If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - If You Love Me (Let Me Know) (#2) - Promised Land - Promised Land (#2) - Down In The Alley - Down In The Alley (#2) - It's Midnight

Side B: It's Midnight (#2) - Your Love's Been A Long Time Coming - Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues - Softly As I Leave You - Softly As I Leave You (#2) - I'm Leavin'

LP 2 - Side C: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Proud Mary - If You Talk In Your Sleep - If You Love Me Let Me Know (#3)

Side D: If You Love Me Let Me Know (#4) - The Twelfth Of Never - Faded Love - Just Pretend

LP 3 - Side E: Big Boss Man - Proud Mary - Down In The Alley - Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues - Never Been To Spain - It's Midnight - If You Talk In Your Sleep

Side F: I'm Leavin' - Let Me Be There - Softly As I Leave You - If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - Love Me Tender - Polk Salad Annie

LP 4 - Side G: Introductions - Promised Land - Introduction Of Telly Savalas - My Baby Left Me - Bridge Over Troubled Water - Fever - Hound Dog - Can't HeLP Falling In Love (Incomplete)

Side H: Twelfth Of Never (David Briggs Overdub) - Bonus Binaural Tracks:
Promised Land (#1) - It's Midnight (#2) - Proud Mary - If You Talk In Your Sleep - If You Love Me (Let Me Know) (#3) - Faded Love

Details “The European Side Of Elvis / Words And Music”:


Housed in a beautiful slipcase is a 6-panel digipack with 2 rare albums. This Limited Edition Collectors Pack contains masters and rare alternate tracks. "Words and Music" was only released on CD in Australia in the mid 80's and is very hard to find these days. We present it here with rare bonus tracks and mixed with Elvis quotes just like the original release. "The European Side Of Elvis" was never released on CD. All tracks on this album are rare alternate tracks.

Tracks “Words And Music”:
Memories (Live) - That's All Right Mama - Jailhouse Rock - I Got Lucky - All Shook Up - (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear - Blue Hawaii - Follow That Dream - Guitar Man - Are You Lonesome Tonight (Breakup Version - Live) - Girl Happy - Didja' Ever - G. I. Blues - Wooden Heart - U. S. Male - Mama Liked The Roses - Treat Me Nice - Crying In The Chapel - Hound Dog (Live)

Tracks “The European Side Of Elvis”: 
It's Now Or Never (Undubbed Master) - Surrender (Spliced Take 7) - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me (Take 2) - Ask Me (Rejected 1963 Master) - Santa Lucia (Vocal Overdub Take 3) - Tonight's All Right For Love (Take 1) - My Way (Live, 05.04.1977) - What Now My Love (Live, 14.01.1973) - I Love Only One Girl (Take 1) - Almost Always True (Take 6) - Wooden Heart (Take 4) - Tonight Is So Right For Love (Take 7) - Yesterday (Live, Februar 1970) -    It's Easy For You (Take 1) - My Boy (Take 2) - Wonderful World (Take 15) - The Last Farewell (Take 2) - Heart Of Rome (Different Mix)

Change of Habit Blu-ray

Due for release from Kock Media on October 24, 2019 in Germany is the Blu-ray of the 1969 movie "Change of Habit" ("Ein Himmlischer Schwindel"). 
The language and subtitles come in English and German, audio comes in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and the screen-size is 1.85:1 (16:9). The extra's on this disc are the original trailer and a slideshow with rare promotional material. 

Charts

The weekly global chart updates. In the U.S. Elvis Presley dropped on most charts this (Elvis) week. In Europe the new "Elvis Live 1969" 11 CD set and the vinyl double LP "Live at the International Hotel" made their debut on the charts. 

US Billboard charts:

• US Billboard Album Top 200: “The Essential Elvis Presley” dropped from #138 to #141.
• US Billboard Top Catalog Album chart: “The Essential Elvis Presley” dropped off the chart after last week’s re-entry at #33.
• US Billboard Top Country Album chart: ‘The Essential Elvis Presley” dropped from #16 to #18.
• US Billboard Country Album Sales chart: “ The Best Of The '68 Comeback Special (Soundtrack)” dropped from #30 to #34.
• US Billboard Country Catalog Album chart: “The Essential Elvis Presley” dropped from #10 to #16. 
• US Billboard Country Catalog Album chart: “Heart and Soul” dropped from #18 to #20. 
• US Billboard Country Catalog Album chart: “ELV1S 30 #1 Hits” dropped off the chart after last week’s re-entry at #15. 
• US Billboard Top Country Album chart: “The Essential Elvis Presley” dropped from #16 to #18.
• US Billboard Top Rock Albums: “The Essential Elvis Presley” dropped from #23 to #31.
• US Billboard Top Christian Album chart: “Elvis: Ultimate Gospel” dropped from #34 to #35. 
• US Billboard Christian Album Sales chart: “Where No One Stands Alone” dropped from #11 to #31.

Official UK charts:

• Official UK Album chart: "The 50 Greatest Hits" re-entry at #98.
• Official UK Streaming Album chart: “The 50 Greatest Hits” climbed from #81 to 76. 
• Official UK Physical Album chart: “Elvis Live 1969” debuts at #17. 
• Official UK Physical Album chart: “Live at the International Hotel” debuts at #32.
• Official UK Vinyl Album chart: “Live at the International Hotel” debuts at #6.
• Official UK Album Sales chart: “Elvis Live 1969” debuts at #21.
• Official UK Album Sales chart: “Live at the International Hotel” debuts at #43.
• Official UK Christian and Gospel Album chart: "Where No One Stands Alone" climbed from #16 to #14.
• Official UK Music DVD chart: "Elvis The Searcher" remained steady at #13.
• Official UK Music DVD chart: Elvis Lives - Live from Memphis" climbed from #41 to #37.

Official Irish charts: 

• Irish IRMA Album chart: “The Real … Elvis” dropped from #78 to #100.
• Irish IRMA Music DVD chart: “Elvis The Searcher” climbed from #3 to #2. 

Official Scottish Album charts:

• Official Scottish Album chart: “Elvis Live 1969” debuts at #17.
• Official Scottish Album chart: “Live at the International Hotel” debuts at #34.
• Official Scottish Album chart: “Elvis at the Movies - 60 Essential Recordings” climbed from #62 to #53. 

Dutch charts:

• Dutchcharts Album Top 100: “Live at the International” debuts at #50.
• Dutchcharts Vinyl 33: “Live at the International” debuts at #9.

Belgian UltraTop charts:

• Belgian UltraTop Album charts: “Elvis Live 1969” debuts at #49 (Flanders).
• Belgian UltraTop Album charts: “Elvis Live 1969” debuts at #40 (Wallonia).

German Album Top 100

• German Album Top 100 chart: “Elvis Live 1969” debuts at #19.

Swiss Charts:

• Swiss Album Top 100 Chart: "Elvis Live 1969" debuts at #43.
• Swiss Album Top 100 Chart: "Live at the International" debuts at #98.

Austrian Charts:

• Austrian Club Top 75 chart: "Elvis Live 1969" debuts at #42.

French charts:

• French Album Top 200 chart: "Elvis Live 1969" debuts at #119.
• French Physical Album chart: "Elvis Live 1969" debuts at #41.

Australian ARIA chart:

• Australian ARIA Music DVD chart: "'68 Comeback Special (50th Anniversary Edition)" dropped from #4 to #10.

(Source: UK Mix / Billboard / Official Chart Company / IRMA / Dutchcharts / MTV / FECC)