July 21 - Non Stop Summer

The Staight Arrow import record label announced the release of the new CD '(Seemingly) Non Stop Summer' featuring an audiencerecording of the August 25, 1974 Midnight Show performance, as recorded in The Las Vegas Hilton. 

Publicity stated: Since the launch of the Straight Arrow Label in the year 2005 many interesting concert sound tracks of Elvis’ 1974 have come into the light. And we are pleased to bring to you yet another concert show by Elvis, performed just before the cancellation of the shows scheduled for August 26th. 

Elvis was feeling under the weather at that time, he had a fever and on advice from his personal physician he took a short bed rest. To no surprise the sensation seeking journalists immediately blamed Elvis’ condition on a drug use. Elvis was obviously hurt and upset and as soon as he had recovered, he addressed these speculations sincerely, bluntly and publicly right from the stage. You are about to enjoy his last performance before „the collapse“. There is no intention to claim that Elvis’ health was rock solid and without issues. However, immerse yourselves in our unique recording from that very night and make your own opinion. An unexpected exhaustion of the King put a halt to the never-ending chain of his summer concerts in 1974. Just on August 27th he was back in the Hilton hotel showroom as a star.

The Las Vegas, August 25th, 1974 Midnight Show is previously unreleased in any form. Straight Arrow was fortunate enough to obtain an early generation copy of the original audience-recorded cassette. Every second was enhanced to achieve the optimal listening experience. If you have enjoyed our previous summer of ’74 season CDs, we believe that you will love this one as well. Ask your local CD vendor for teasers!

Presented in the usual Straight Arrow fashion with the top notch digipak including photos of Elvis in leather “Mermaid Jumpsuit” from August of ’74, this new release is the beauty that you must not miss!

The Straight Arrow team is always looking for new, unreleased audience-taped shows and for improved versions of the previously released recordings. If you have such unique tapes, even damaged or broken, do not hesitate to contact us through your local dealer.

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. 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 (with Sherrill Nielsen) - 14. Hound Dog - 15. You Gave Me A Mountain - 16. Polk Salad Annie - 17. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra / Guadalajara (one line) - 18. If You Talk In Your Sleep - 19. Why Me Lord? - 20. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - 21. It's Now Or Never - 22. Hawaiian Wedding Song - 23. Let Me Be There (with reprise) - 24. Sweet Caroline - 25. Monologue - 26. Can't Help Falling In Love - 27. Closing Vamp / Announcements.

All tracks recorded live from audience on August 25th, 1974 Midnight Show.

Shonka Dukureh Died

Actress and singer Shonka Dukureh has died at the age of 44 of a heart disease. R.I.P.

The entertainer made her film debut last month in the blockbuster 'ELVIS', the Elvis Presley biopic that also starred Austin Butler and Yom Hanks, playing Big Mama Thornton.

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has said Dukureh was found in the bedroom of her apartment and that no foul play is suspected.

Director Baz Luhrmann posted on Instagram: 

"A special light went out today and all of the Elvis movie family are heartbroken by the loss of Shonka Dukureh. 

From the moment she came into our world, Shonka brought joy, spirit and of course her voice and her music. Whenever she was on set, on stage or even just in the room, everyone always felt uplifted. Shonka was just starting to find a larger audience for her tremendous talent, and I got to see her uplift whole crowds of people at Coachella and beyond. 

A favorite word of Shonka’s, in daily use, was “blessings,” and I, along with the entire Elvis cast, crew and musical collaborators, feel truly blessed to have had time with her. We send all our love and support to Shonka’s children and family at this time."

(Source: Your Favorite Elvis CD LP, DVD and Book Facebook Group)