The Millbranch Music import record label announced the release of the CD / DVD set 'Rags To Riches - The Original Mono Mixes'.
Publicity stated: Millbranch Music is back with its first release in 2023! After the great success of our recent CD / DVD set 'Tampa Wave' we now present a completely new CD / DVD project!
'Rags To Riches – The Original Mono Mixes' is a 2-disc set. The CD includes 20 tracks from Elvis' June and September 1970 Nashville Recording Sessions, all presented as the original mono mixes in top-notch sound!
You may wonder why Elvis' music was still mixed in mono in 1970. Well, all of Elvis’ 45 RPM singles from those days, almost to the end of 1971, were still being released in mono. Possibly because his releases were coming out of RCA Nashville, and some of the songs were only issued as singles and not so much as LP cuts, and therefore not mixed to stereo. Also, around this time, after a decade of indifference, country music radio started paying attention to Elvis again. Most of his singles from this period made the country charts.
During this period, RCA recording artists Charley Pride, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, Eddy Arnold (and every other C&W artist on RCA) released most of their singles in mono. The first Elvis stereo single in the ‘70s was Merry Christmas Baby/O Come All Ye Faithful from 1971. Promo singles for Elvis´ music continued being released in mono until 1975.
As a matter of fact those single records from 50+ years ago (especially the promos) did have a unique sound which is powered a lot by a great punch. This detail in sound was for sure intended by the producers as it made a great effect when being played by radio stations back then. Still today, collectors are partly buying these promos not only for collecting purposes, but also for playing them on vintage (or new) record players, enjoying “glorious mono sound”. Now you can enjoy all these great sounding Elvis tracks in glorious mono on this release!
The DVD in our new set has a running time of almost 100 (!!) minutes and we gave it the title 'That's The Way It Is In Motion'. While this is definitely not a re-edit of the original 'That's The Way It Is' movie, it is a musical documentary of its own, and represents the album and the songs that appeared on it. And much more! Using higher quality outtakes than ever before with footage that has no watermarks or similar impairments, we are able to present it in the highest possible quality, like you are used from us.
All of the songs on the DVD are newly edited with several different camera angles. You'll see and hear Elvis having fun rehearsing 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me' on July 15, 1970 and also doing the tune live at the Opening Night performance on August 10, which has Elvis calling out Sammy Davis Jr.. We also included an interview segment of Sammy Davis Jr. talking about what he saw on stage that night accompanies the clip.
A newly edited version of 'I Just Can't Help Believin'' which goes from rehearsal to live is presented in split screens, using several different angles. Also on this DVD are newly edited performances of 'Make The World Go Away', 'Polk Salad Annie', 'I've Lost You' and 'The Walk Through The Audience' (which has never been edited properly before). Added to that are several split-screen performances like 'Heartbreak Hotel' from the August 12th 1970 Dinner Show and 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'. The 'Little Sister / Get Back' sit down medley has been edited properly for the first time and is for sure one of the many highlights on our DVD.
'Blue Suede Shoes' has been re-edited, despite its appearance in the original movie. This DVD brings you a great experience in going back to Las Vegas in the summer of 1970!
Tracklist CD: Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin’ On (Master Recording) - Bridge Over Troubled Water (Without Harmony Vocal Overdub) - I Really Don’t Want To Know (Original Single Version) - You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me (Original Single Version) - There Goes My Everything (Original Single Version) - Mary In The Morning (Master Recording) - Stranger In The Crowd - I’ve Lost You - Patch It Up (Original Single Version) - How The Web Was Woven (Undubbed Master, Acetate Source) - Sylvia (Take 5 - 8) - The Next Step Is Love (Master Recording) - Rags To Riches (Master Recording) - Only Believe - The Fool - Where Did They Go, Lord - Twenty Days And Twenty Nights - I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water - Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On (Mix With Horns) - Bridge Over Troubled Water (Take 1)
Summer Vinyl
The U.K. based Memphis Recording Service announced the May 17, 2023 release of a double LP of their new 'Las Vegas Summer Festival 1972' 4-CD-set. Publicity stated: The 
2-LP set features two Midnight Shows drawn from Elvis’ seventh engagement in Las Vegas. The shows, recorded at the Hilton Hotel, took place during Elvis’ summer festival in the month of August 1972.
This is a Limited Edition gatefold set and will be available in both black and clear vinyl. Please note, the clear vinyl is only available from Elvis fan clubs and exclusive Elvis dealers and not be available to the mainstream public stores.
LP 1 - Las Vegas Hilton - August 11, 1972 Midnight Show:
Side A: Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman / Amen - Proud Mary - Until It's Time For You To - You've Lost That Loving Feeling - Polk Salad Annie - What Now My Love - Fever - Love Me - All Shook Up.
Side B: Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - Heartbreak Hotel - Blue Suede Shoes - Little Sister / Get Back - Hound Dog - Its Over - Suspicious Minds - My Way - A Big Hunk O' Love - An American Trilogy - Can't Help Falling In Love.
LP 2 - Las Vegas Hilton - August 12, 1972 Midnight Show:
Side C: Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman / Amen - Proud Mary - Never Been To Spain - Until It's Time For You To - You've Lost That Loving Feeling - Polk Salad Annie - What Now My Love - Fever.
Side D: Love Me - Blue Suede Shoes - One Night - All Shook Up - Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - Heartbreak Hotel - Hound Dog - For The Good Times - Suspicious Minds - My Way - An American Trilogy - A Big Hunk O' Love.
Summer Festival 1972 Released
According to a Facebook post from the Elvis Shop London the Memphis Recording Service 'Summer Festival 1972 Released' 4-CD-set has been released and all pre-orders have been shipped. The official release date is April 28th, 2023.Description: The 4-CD set contains a varied selection of live performances drawn from Elvis’ seventh engagement in Las Vegas. The shows, recorded at the Hilton Hotel, took place during Elvis’ summer festival in the month of August 1972. Bonus rehearsal tracks, recorded days before the engagement began, are also included.
The accompanying 40-page booklet includes rare photographs, memorabilia and liner notes to set the scene.
- CD 1: Las Vegas Hilton - August 11, 1972 (Dinner Show) with bonus rehearsal tracks from August 2, 1972 (Room Cassette Recording).
- CD 2: Las Vegas Hilton - August 11, 1972 (Midnight Show) with bonus rehearsal tracks from August 3, 1972 (Room Cassette Recording, Part 1).
- CD 3: Las Vegas Hilton - August 12, 1972 (Dinner Show) with bonus rehearsal tracks from August 3, 1972 (Room Cassette Recording, Part 2).
- CD 4: -Las Vegas Hilton - August 12, 1972 (Midnight Show).
Not Now Vinyl
The Not Now Music record label released the 'King Creole' soundtrack on 180 gr. transparant vinyl and the 'Blue Hawaii' soundtrack on 180 Gr. electric blue colored vinyl.
Description: 'King Creole' was the fourth of Elvis Presley’s Hollywood movies, released in June 1958. Loosely based on Harold Robbins’ novel A Stone For Danny Fisher, about a struggling young Boxer. Producer Hal Wallis decided it would make a perfect vehicle for Elvis Presley, and so the lead character became a Singer instead of a boxer, and the whole project was promptly transformed into a musical.
It’s one of the best of the Presley soundtracks opening with the title track King Creole penned by Leiber & Stoller, followed by R&B number Crawfish, and the contrasting Rock’n’Roll track Dixieland Rock which is reminiscent of Jailhouse Rock. Sadly, it was to be the last truly dramatic role Elvis was ever given, and Presley himself would always cite King Creole as his personal favorite out of all the films he made.
Side A: King Creole - As Long As I Have You - Hard Headed Woman - Trouble - Dixieland Rock.
Side B: Don’t Ask Me Why - Lover Doll - Crawfish - Young Dreams - Steadfast, Loyal And True - New Orleans.
Description: 'Blue Hawaii' was Elvis’ 8th film, and on its release in 1961 became one of that year’s most successful titles at the box office. It remained one of the singer’s all-time favorite movies, and began a love affair with the island, which had become America’s 50th state in 1959. 'Blue Hawaii' was the usual Elvis mix of exotic locations, beautiful girls and lots of songs. The soundtrack of 'Blue Hawaii' did not disappoint - the sleeve boasting “14 Great Songs”. The title track was a perfect introduction, while the Hawaiian setting meant that space was found for the atmospheric 'Hawaiian Sunset' and 'Island Of Love (Kauai)'. Room was also found for two other island-related songs - 'Aloha Oe' and 'Hawaiian Wedding Song', both of which had been hits for Bing Crosby back in the 1930s.
But where 'Blue Hawaii' really scored for fans was the inclusion of the boisterous 'Rock-A-Hula Baby' and a song which would go on to become one of the singer’s best-loved ballads, 'Can’t Help Falling In Love'. Based in part on an 18th Century French melody, for many years this became Elvis’ in-concert finale.
Side A: Blue Hawaii - Almost Always True - Aloha Oe - No More - Can’t Help Falling In Love - Rock-A-Hula Baby - Moonlight Swim.
Side B: Ku-U-I-Po (Hawaiian Sweetheart) - Ito Eats - Slicin’ Sand - Hawaiian Sunset - Beach Boys Blue - Island Of Love (Kauai) - Hawaiian Wedding Song.
(Source: Sounds / Memphis Recording Service / Facebook Elvis Shop London / Facebook Your Favourite ELVIS CD, LP, DVD & Book / FECC)
2-LP set features two Midnight Shows drawn from Elvis’ seventh engagement in Las Vegas. The shows, recorded at the Hilton Hotel, took place during Elvis’ summer festival in the month of August 1972. 
Description: 'King Creole' was the fourth of Elvis Presley’s Hollywood movies, released in June 1958. Loosely based on Harold Robbins’ novel A Stone For Danny Fisher, about a struggling young Boxer. Producer Hal Wallis decided it would make a perfect vehicle for Elvis Presley, and so the lead character became a Singer instead of a boxer, and the whole project was promptly transformed into a musical. 