June 23 - A Whole Lotta Vinyl

The Millbranch Music import record label announced the August 16, 2024 release of no less than two double LPs; 'Back In L.A.' featuring the May 11, 1974 Evening Show as recorded at the Forum in Los Angeles, California and a vinyl version of the upcoming 'New Script, Same Stage' compilation. Both titles will be available on colored vinyl, limited to 300 copies per color.

Publicity for 'Back In L.A.' stated: Millbranch Music continues with its ultra-high quality vinyl releases, made for the real fan. 'Back In L.A.' is a 2-LP set with an extra 20-page booklet and printed inner sleeves, containing the legendary evening show at the Forum in Los Angeles, California from May 11, 1974. It comes on black, clear and transparent red colored vinyl.

Elvis’ 1974 LA concert, with Led Zeppelin in the audience, has seen quite a few releases over the past 10+ years, starting with ‘Live in LA’ on the FTD record label in 2011. Unfortunately the tape ran too slow on this release. Subsequent releases under various labels did not fully resolve the quality issues, as they were sourced from a “low noise” Audio cassette containing a copy of an original reel-to-reel tape. Although several Import labels attempted to remaster the FTD CD, the first noteworthy release of this concert was on the “City of Angels” set which featured a direct transfer from the original reel-to-reel tape. The original tape was not in the best condition after being poorly preserved and changing owners a few times. Regrettably, it was not remastered professionally when the "City of Angels” CD was released.

Thanks to the late Edwin Meijers, a pivotal figure in the 1980s with close ties to Colonel Parker - who at the time needed funds for legal battles - we were able to obtain the original tape. Meijers relationship with Parker facilitated the acquisition of several unique, authentic recordings, now cherished by collectors.

During the production of our “Kansas City Revisited” album, we were amazed by what could be done to restore these kinds of recordings using modern studio techniques and the expertise of our sound engineer. It inspired us to release this dynamic and historical show from May 1974 once more. This release includes a 20-page booklet detailing “Elvis Back in LA” and a bonus section with performances from 1956, 1970, and 1974. We know you will enjoy this great show, which still gets “A Whole Lotta Love” from the members of Led Zeppelin fifty years later!

Tracks side A: Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman / Amen - Love Me - Trying To Get To You - All Shook Up - Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel

Side B: Love Me Tender - Steamroller Blues - Hound Dog - Fever - Polk Salad Annie - Why Me, Lord (With Reprise)

Side C: Suspicious Minds - Introductions - I Can't Stop Loving You - Help Me - An American Trilogy - Let Me Be There (With Reprise)

Side D: Funny How Time Slips Away (With False Start) - Can´t Help Falling In Love - Closing Vamp

Bonus: 08.06.1956 Lou Irwin Interview With Elvis - Trying To Get To You (14.11.1970) - The Wonder Of You (14.11.1970) - You Can Have Her (11.05.1974 AS)

Pre-order 'Back in L.A.' (Black Vinyl) from >>> Bennies Fifties.

Pre-order 'Back in L.A.' (Red Vinyl) from >>> Bennies Fifties.

Pre-order 'Back in L.A.' (Clear Vinyl) from >>> Bennies Fifties.

Publicity for “New Script, Same Stage” stated: "New Script, Same Stage" is a 2-LP set, available on black, clear and magenta colored vinyl, with an extra 20-page booklet and printed inner-sleeves! 

We at Millbranch wanted to create an album that does justice to the recordings made at the beginning of 1972. For the part with the songs from the Opening show of January 26, 1972, we even had the opportunity to work with the original binaural tape and this clearly made an impact on the sound which presents the songs in a sound quality never heard before! 

With this impressive LP set featuring original photos coming directly from the negatives (almost perfect for framing!), we want to pay tribute to that turbulent time of the recording sessions where Elvis presented his new show in Las Vegas in January and February with a lot of new songs in his setlist and turned his feelings into music at Hollywood's RCA Studio C, given the fact that his marriage was falling apart at the time. 

The result was a very emotional output of music as only Elvis was able to create because he had put his whole heart and feelings into the recordings, probably even meant as a public apology to his lost love. At least, the songs were kind of a statement, done coincidentally or not. 

We strongly believe that the songs on our new release fits together very well! Hear Elvis at his best at the early stage of 1972 and make sure you´ll get your copy of our brandnew and very limited Millbranch vinyl release at your favorite dealer!

Side A: The Impossible Dream (16.02.1972 MS) - Until It's Time For You To Go (26.01.1972 OS) - Polk Salad Annie (26.01.1972 OS) - Love Me (14.02.1972 MS) - Never Been To Spain (14.02.14, 1972 MS) - It's Over (17.02.1972 MS) - Hound Dog (14.02.1972 MS)

Side B: Bridge Over Troubled Water (26.01.1972 OS) - Lawdy, Miss Clawdy (26.01.1972 OS) - You Gave Me A Mountain (15.02.1972 MS) - It's Impossible (16.02.1972 MS) - Little Sister / Get Back (14.02.1972 MS) - Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel (14.02.1972 MS)

Side C: Burning Love (Take 2) - Where Do I Go From Here (Take 6) - A Big Hunk O Love (17.02.1972 DS) - All Shook Up (14.02.1972 MS) - For The Good Times (Orchestral Overdub) - Fool

Side D: One Night (26.01.1972, OS) - An American Trilogy (15.02.1972, MS) - Separate Ways (Orchestral Overdub) - It's A Matter Of Time (Orchestral Overdub) - Always On My Mind (Orchestral Overdub) - Can't Help Falling In Love (26.01.1972, OS) - I'll Remember You (26.01.1972, OS).

Pre-order 'New Script, Same Stage' (Magenta vinyl) 2-LP from >>> Bennies Fifties.

Pre-order 'New Script, Same Stage' (Black vinyl) 2-LP from >>> Bennies Fifties.

Pre-order 'New Script, Same Stage' (Clear Vinyl) 2-LP from >>> Bennies Fifties.

Pre-order 'New Script, Same Stage' (CD) from >>> Bennies Fifties.

Rethinking Elvis

Mark Duffett's 'Rethinking Elvis' book was originally dus late 2023, the new releas date has been rescheduled to October 28, 2024, but the cover-art and description of the content for the latest academic examination of Elvis has been released. 

Edited by Mark Duffett, Associate Professor Communication Screen & Performance at the University of Chester in England, the book contains 384 pages and will be available in both hard and softcover formats. The book is now available to pre-order from Amazon sites. It is published by Oxford University Press and is described as:

"Decades after his passing, Elvis Presley remains one of popular music's greatest icons. He was among the most successful, influential, socially significant, and controversial performers of the twentieth century, with a celebrity so indelible that every recent American president has negotiated its orbit. While much of the coverage of Elvis' life concerns his personal history and musical ability, 'Rethinking Elvis' pushes beyond the familiar to address Elvis' branding, historical and geographic reception, heritage, and fan phenomenon. 

Using Elvis' iconography as a point of departure, popular music scholars and historians contend with issues related to the performer's whiteness, Southern identity, and gender, among others, in turn offering myriad opportunities to pursue new approaches in the emergent field of Elvis studies."

Pre-order Mark Duffett's 'Rethinking Elvis' (paperback) at >>> Amazon (associate link)

Pre-order Mark Duffett's 'Rethinking Elvis' (hardcover) at >>> Amazon (associate link)

(Source: Millbranch / Nigel patterson / Amazon)