Friday, November 22, 2019

November 22 - Viva Elvis In Back

The Follow That Dream book / CD set “The Making of Viva Las Vegas” and the 4-CD “Elvis is Back Sessions” set have been released. 

The “Elvis is Back Sessions” set celebrates the 60th Anniversary year of these recordings, hailed by many as Elvis’ finest recordings. For the first time all the songs are available in their original recording sequence. Included are all the RCA outtakes and masters. The release includes a deluxe 28-page booklet and sound carrier adorned with, beautiful portraits, rare photos, insightful essay, recording data and classic memorabilia.

David English and Pal Granlund wrote the ultimate background story into how the fabulous musical starring Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret was created. This hard back 400-page book gives a fascinating insight from script to screen. The book contains 250 recently discovered images including wardrobe stills, memo’s, contracts and pages from director George Sidney’s personal script and
soundtrack recording session documents. Also features memories from the cast and crew, the shooting schedule, filming dates and locations.


The audio, packed on 3 CDs, features the first official release of the original soundtrack in mono, the original conceived 1963 studio album and as a bonus it contains songs from the soundtrack and newly discovered songwriters' demos. 

Dancin’ Elvis

Released in the HooDoo Records “digi-pack” series is the 32 track compilation “Dancin’ Elvis”. This title is also available as a 20-track LP. 

From the press-release: This excellent CD contains 32 dance floor classics by the King of Rock ’N’ Roll, taped during the peak of his career, between 1954 and 1962. The collection showcases Elvis' most memorable upbeat numbers, compiled here to keep you dancing. The power of Elvis' infectious sound can be heard on such superb songs as “Jailhouse Rock”, “King Creole”, “Girl Next Door Went A-Walking”, “All Shook Up”, “Shake, Rattle and Roll”, and many others. Also featured here are lesser-known numbers which are just as enjoyable as the classics mentioned above, like the splendid “I Don't Wanna Be Tied”, “Trouble”, and “We're Comin' in Loaded”. Besides being widely regarded as some of the finest songs of Elvis Presley's discography, these remastered gems are among the greatest recordings in Rock ’N’ Roll history.

The Elvis Movie

The STAR import-label announced the release of "The Elvis Movie" starring Kurt Russel with the soundtrack of Elvis Presley, pressed on a dual-layered DVD. 


From the press-release:
It's the same story but the performances have made an incredible upgrade! STAR keeps surprising fans worldwide, this time they have chosen something "risky" but they deliver once more! They have replaced Ronnie MdDowell's soundtrack with the only soundtrack that should have been there in the first place, Elvis!

Lots more music is included and the whole film has a more modern touch then before and can now compete with blockbusters like "Walk the Line" and "Great Balls of Fire". Rare live versions and outtakes were handpicked to find the best matching songs for the scenes. 

Kurt Russels "playbacking" looks much more natural and real then before, and how cool it is to hear Dewey Philips announce Elvis on the air, or to hear "The Blackwood Brothers" at the funeral of Elvis his mother Gladys.

For a short preview be sure to check out this link:




The soundtrack: 
Mystery Train / Good Rockin' Tonight / Old Shep / My Happiness / That's All Right / Blue Moon of Kentucky / Lawdy Miss Clawdy / Long Tall Sally / Heartbreak Hotel / Poor Boy / Rip It Up / Anyway You Want Me / Silent Night / I Got Stung / Peace in the Valley / Rock Of Ages / Tutti Frutti / Are You Lonesome Tonight? / How Great Thou Art / A Fool Such As I / Pledging My Love / Mine / Bosom of Abraham / Until It's Time for You to Go / Suspicious Minds / Separate Ways / Blue Suede Shoes / The Wonder of You / An American Trilogy.
Bonustrack: Such A Night

Vegas Throat

The CMT import-label returns with a follow up to last years release "I'm Evil"; "Vegas Throat - Live Chronicles Volume Two". Again a cooperation with the STAR import-label. This CD comes housed in a six panel digipack and is limited to 500 copies

From the press-release:


Every Elvis fan of course will know that this year marked the 50th anniversary of Elvis returning to the stage. An amazing 11 disc boxset was released and although it is a must, it is most likely it will be played often because most shows are pretty much the same as the one before. 

CMT / STAR have made an outstanding "Ultimate" release which includes all the songs (29 tracks!) from the shows in one performance! A lot of time and effort went into the editing to make it sound like one complete show. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen, this is my first live appearance in nine years. It is very dry in Las Vegas and singers have what they call a Vegas Throat".

Tracklisting:Blue Suede Shoes (22.08.1969 M/S) - I Got A Woman (22.08.1969 M/S) - All Shook Up (21.08.1969 M/S) - Inherit The Wind (26.08.1969 D/S) - Rubberneckin' (26.08.1969 M/S) . I Can't Stop Loving You (24.08.1969 D/S) - Johnny B. Goode (24.08.1969 D/S) - Love Me Tender (24.08.1969 D/S) - Jailhouse Rock / Don't Be Cruel (24.08.1969 D/S) - Hound Dog (22.08.1969 D/S) - Heartbreak Hotel (24.08.1969 D/S) - Baby What Do You Want Me To Do (24.08.1969 M/S) - Loving You / Reconsider Baby (23.08.1969 M/S) - Surrender / Runaway (21.08.1969 M/S) - Funny How Time Slips Away (22.08.1969 M/S) - Are You Lonesome Tonight? (21.08.1969 M/S) - Words (24.08.1969 M/S) - Yesterday / Hey Jude  (24.08.1969 M/S - Edit) - In The Ghetto (25.08.1969 D/S) - Memories (22.08.1969 M/S) - This Is The Story (26.08.1969 M/S) - My Babe (22.08.1969 M/S) - Suspicious Minds (26.08.1969 M/S - Edit) - What'd I Say (22.08.1969 D/S - Edit) - Can't Help Falling in Love (24.08.1969 D/S)

Where the Heart Is


The Vinyl Passion label released the LP "Where the Heart Is - Selected Ballads", a collection of twenty-two of Elvis' heartfelt ballads recorded in the fifties dealing with love. From the very early 'Love Me Tender' to the 'Kid Galahad' movie ballad 'Home Is Where The Heart Is', this whole collection just shines. No one could sing a romantic song as The King. There are some excellent rarer songs here like 'Doin' The Best I Can', 'Young And Beautiful' and of course the Top Ten hits 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You', 'Love Me', 'Don't and 'Can't Help Falling in Love' as well as such Presley standards as 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?'

(Source: UEPS / Amazon / FECC)