Publicity stated: Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, is gearing up for one of their biggest line-ups in years for Record Store Day (April 22, 2023).
Back Covers Book
Elvis expert Trevor Simpson has written the liner notes telling the whole story of these demo recordings for Elvis. Rare picture documents and illustrations round out the extensive booklet. For fans of Elvis' music and the friends of P.J. Proby an equally exciting and welcome album!
After almost 23 years the original Elvis Presley News site, www.ElvisNews.com closed down.
From Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees to legends of rock, reggae and hip-hop, this year’s selection of titles (all available exclusively at RSD participating independent record stores) offers something for everyone - a testament to the power of music on vinyl and the joy of adding new LPs to your collection. For more information and to find a store near you visit here.
Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a regular celebration of the unique culture surrounding nearly 1400 independently owned record stores in the U.S. and thousands of similar stores around the world. With vinyl sales roaring back after decades of enthusiasm among a small faithful, Record Store Day heads into its 16th year with participating stores and celebrations on six continents.
Legacy’s Record Store Day exclusives include: 'Elvis Presley, Burning Love: The RCA Rehearsals' (2 x 12 inch Vinyl): The RCA Rehearsals compiles the best of the rehearsal recordings around Elvis’ April 1972 US tour, all taken from the new Elvis On Tour collection. The 2LP set features rare and unreleased versions of “Burning Love”, “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Jailhouse Rock,” along with some of Elvis’ favorite cover songs, gospel songs and more.
Side A: 1. Burning Love take 3 * / 2. For The Good Times take 5 * / 3. Always On My Mind take 3 / 4. Separate Ways take 2 / 5. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
Side B: 1. See See Rider take 2 / 2. Proud Mary take 2 / 3. Never Been To Spain take 2 / 4. Until It’s Time For Me To Go / 5. Polk Salad Annie / 6. All Shook Up / 7. Heartbreak Hotel.
Side C: 1. Help Me Make It Through The Night / 2. Young And Beautiful / 3. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy / 4. Release Me (And Let Me Love Again) / 5. A Big Hunk O’Love take 2 / 6. Funny How Time Slips Away / 7. Can’t Help Falling In Love.
Side D: 1. I, John / 2. Bosom Of Abraham / 3. You Better Run / 4. Lead Me, Guide Me / 5. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus/Nearer My God To Thee / 6. How Great Thou Art *
* previously unreleased.
Joseph Tunzi announced the release of 'The Definitive Vinyl Artwork of Elvis Presley Vol. 2 - The Back Covers'.
Description: 'The Definitive Vinyl Artwork of Elvis Presley Vol. 2 - The Back Covers' is a follow up to 'The Definitive Vinyl Artwork', which focused on all front cover artwork and photographs that were part of 45 RPM singles, extended play and long play albums. This new volume takes you on a journey of those same albums, focusing this time, on the back cover artwork. Also included, are some alternate back covers that were never used and much more!
Please note: The back covers were included in the first volume, for 45 singles only.
Presley Style - Lost Elvis Songwriter Demos 1961-1963
Not an Elvis release, but probably interesting for fans who want to understand how songs Elvis recorded evolved from the original demo to the final versions we know.
Due for release from Bear Family records on April 26, 2023 is the CD 'P.J. Proby: Presley Style - Lost Elvis Songwriter Demos 1961-1963'. The single disc release contains 21 tracks and comes housed in a digi-pack with 36-page booklet.
Publicity stated: Bear Family Records are delighted to announce this collection of 21 tracks featuring previously unissued demonstration recordings for Elvis pitched to him by songwriters, all sung by P.J. Proby and released by special arrangement with P.J. and Trevor Simpson.
The Elvis management insisted that all songs presented to him had to be professionally recorded with band or orchestra accompaniment on acetate and submitted for his consideration via his publishers. The voice of P.J. Proby totally fitted the bill!
Still active as a performer today, Texas born Proby sang these demos for Elvis between 1961 and ’63 before permanently residing in the UK where he had several major hits. We have digitally restored and mastered the original sources for this CD release with the utmost care and to our satisfaction.
Many of these songs were pitched for specific scenes in Elvis movies and were written accordingly after the songwriters studied the Hollywood script. On this collection, you can hear not only the successful songs chosen by Elvis, but also others which, although highly credible songs, were beaten by the finally recorded version.
P.J. said, “I had a couple of the demos in my possession and had been looking for more, as I had recorded so many. When they came with all the ones they had found and offered them back to me, I said, ‘Wonderful! Wonderful!’. I cherish them as a fond memory of songwriters Ben Weisman and Ruth Batchelor and the days we recorded the demos because we were so close. I want to share them with the world, as they are such an important piece of history”.
The release includes a 36-page booklet featuring rare Elvis and PJ memorabilia and an in-depth look at all the songs and where they fitted into the specific movies.
These tracks have been ‘lost’ for around 60 years, and this historic and nostalgic release will appeal to fans of both P.J. and Elvis and fills a gap for collectors in the history of the music.
The Last Post: The End of an Era
The last post on ElvisNews: After more than 25 years Elvis-related activity on the internet, we're done with it. What was a much enjoyed hobby became a burden the last year. So we say well meant ‘thank you for all the support over the years’ and hope you'll find your 'news' elsewhere!
We'll keep this site alive for reference the coming years and below are some suggestions to stay up to date!
As one of the co-founders in August 1999 and editor until December 2009, I can only comply with the header of the last post on ElvisNews: "Thankyouverymuch!" Lex and Loes, I wish you well (and hopefully a hobby that's less of a burden :-).
50 Genuinely Horrible Albums by Brilliant Artists
Rolling Stone magazine listed a 'Top 50 of the Genuinely Horrible Albums by Brilliant Artists'. Among the many celebrated masterpieces that Bob Dylan, Elvis, John Lennon, Carole King, Elton John, Madonna, Prince etc. have given the world, they have also turned in works so monumentally putrid that nothing short of “a touch of madness” can explain their existence. These are the epic duds that diehard fans would like to pretend never happened.
Elvis Presley is listed at No. 8 with the 'Fun In Acapulco' soundtrack album. The magazine noted:
"In 1963, Meet the Beatles, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, and the first couple of Rolling Stones singles came out. Elvis Presley, meanwhile, was down in Acapulco filming yet another movie, 'Fun in Acapulco'. In this one, Elvis plays a lifeguard (who sings, of course) caught in a rivalry with a fellow lifeguard. By the low standards of Elvis movies, it’s semi-watchable. It was also a hit. The quickie soundtrack is another story.
At a time when Elvis needed to up his game to compete with a new generation of rock stars, he was singing “The Bullfighter Was a Lady,” “(There’s) No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car,” and “You Can’t Say No in Acapulco.” It’s very tough to find a low point of Presley’s recording career since there were so many of them, but many true Elvis aficionados point to this album, and with good reason."
Listed at No. 1 is Kanye West with his 2018 album 'Ye'. Go >>> here for the complete article.
(Source: Pascal Matteo / Robert Frieser / RSD / Elvis Club Berlin / JAT Publishing / ElvisNews / Rolling Stone / Bear Family / Phoenix Elvis Forum)