November 01 - Return of a Prodigy - Elvis By Invitation Only

The Gravel Road Music import record label announced the release of the Deluxe vinyl box-set of their ‘Return of a Prodigy’ and  a new book / Blu-ray / DVD  / CD  set titled 'Elvis By Invitation Only'. 

And according to the opening words of the promotional text: “what’s a better year than to start with Elvis’ Big Bang year 1969!”

The complete publicity stated: Together with our new book we will also release our very first deluxe vinyl-set by Gravel Road Music! 

First of all, we would like to apologize for the amount of text, but there is so much that needs to be said that we cannot avoid it. Normally there is at least 1 reason that you have to mention that really matters for a release.

 

We have 7 solid reasons for all kind of collectors, 

1. Almost all photos of the opening show including unpublished ones in very good quality. 
2. Extensive and new information from the first days in Las Vegas. 
3. Impressive new transfer of dinner show from August 3, 1969 with many extras on 2 Gold CDs. 
4. 50+ minutes of documentary of 8mm footage in incredible unreleased quality on Blu-ray and DVD.
5. Our first double LP ‘The Return of a Prodigy’ in a trifold sleeve with a beautiful 24-page full color booklet in 12-inch format.
6. A complete reproduction of the extremely rare VIP gift box from 1969 with very rare content and the opening night invitation. Everything in the same high-quality as back in 1969 which of course includes the album ‘The Return of a Prodigy’ in a trifold sleeve.
7. The book and the boxset are fully integrated with each other. It is not a repetition of the content of the book but an addition to the experience of 1969.

Also, when you buy the book in combination with the VIP box set, you get the specially made double-sided single ‘In The Ghetto / Suspicious Minds’ as a bonus. The single comes as a surprise color, from all the possible colors vinyl we could find. 

All sets are numbered with a hologram seal to guarantee that it is a one-off release in this form. The VIP box set album, ‘The Return of a Prodigy’ trifold sleeve will be available in 2 different sets, one on magenta and orange colored vinyl and second second edition on high grade black vinyl. Both editions have a number code to identify which color is in the packaging.

The book ‘Elvis By Invitation Only’ includes 2 CDs, a Blu-ray and a DVD.

The book ‘Elvis By Invitation Only’, in combination with the promotional Pre-opening Night VIP Box-set, is meant to transport yourself to 1969 and see everything happening first hand!  

July 31, 1969 is a moment, if not the most important moment in Elvis’ career and definitively one of the most exciting times in his life. The book details how he rose to the untouchable immortal status, his fears and victories and how he became the benchmark for music today! 

The book explains how none fans became fans overnight in 1969 and how the music industry watched closely what the impact of Elvis’ return to live performing would be. Would rise or fail? This set helps you capture the shear feeling of excitement of being there, not as a fly-on-the-wall, no, it puts you in the center of it all!

This VIP box gives you the chance to hold and touch a little piece of the history yourself. It’s a time capsule, so join us and travel back in time to meet Elvis in July 1969!

Content of the book: 

The 408-page book is an extensive in-depth study of the massive impact Elvis’ return to live performing had on the music industry today. Because this wasn’t just a comeback for Elvis, but a revolution in the music and entertainment industry and how Elvis was the source of it all. This book is based upon months of research, revealing new facts, documents and interviews. 

It features rare promotion material, supported with original documents and a staggering 440+ photos to see for yourself. The book holds the largest collection of the Opening Show photos ever published and includes unpublished and rare photographs in excellent color quality. 

The two audio CDs contain a new transfer of the August 3, 1969 Dinner Show, the pre-opening VIP interviews, part of the Sammy Shore act and even the Las Vegas radio spots. No, we didn't want to skip a single piece of essential audio. There is no comparison to what is already known by fans listening to these two discs.

The Blu-ray and the DVD contain a brand new 50+ minutes 8mm documentary featuring only  1969 footage to support the book’s content and includes new and rare footage in amazing quality. The content of the Blu-ray and the DVD is the same, but on the Blu-ray we were able to present it in a better quality. 

On the discs you’ll find the pre-opening VIP Interviews, Sammy Shore and over 21 minutes Elvis live on stage in Las Vegas 1969. Also included are 6 extra 6 minutes of footage from August 18th, 1969. This is only included for the rareness, but is unfortunately only available in lesser quality. The disc ends with footage of at Elvis home in Los Angeles, during the rehearsals in 1969 featuring, among others Priscilla, Colonel Parker, and of course, Elvis! As a bonus we included a 1969 music clip. 

LP - Side One: Blue Suede Shoes / I Got A Woman / All Shook Up / Love Me Tender / Jailhouse Rock - Don't Be Cruel / Heartbreak Hotel.

Side Two: Hound Dog / Memories / Mystery Train - Tiger Man / Life Story.

Side Three: Baby, What'd You Want Me To Do / Are You Lonesome Tonight / Yesterday / Hey Jude / Introductions.

Side Four: In The Ghetto / Suspicious Minds / What'd I Say / I Can't Help Falling In Love With You.

CD 1: 1. Radio Spot no. 1 2. Radio Spot no. 2  3. Interviews with Gloria Steinem (Opening Night, July 31, 1969.) Alex Shoofey 4. George Hamilton 5. Shirley Bassey 6. Henry Mancini 7. Ed Ames 8. Bill Miller 9. opening Act Sammy Shore (excerpt) Fanfare (the Bobby Morris Band) (excerpt) 10. Blue Suede Shoes 11. I Got A Woman 12. All Shook Up 13. Elvis Welcomes Audience 14. Love Me Tender 15. Medley: Jailhouse Rock - Don’t Be Cruel 16. Heartbreak Hotel 17. Monologue - Vegas throat 18. Hound Dog 19. Memories.

CD 2: 1. Medley: Mystery Train - Tiger Man 2.  Life Story 3. Baby What You Want Me To Do 4. Are You Lonesome Tonight? 5. Yesterday - Hey Jude 6. Introductions 7. In The Ghetto 8. Suspicious Minds 9. What I’d Say 10. Can’t Help Falling In Love.

 

Details of the Promotional Pre-opening Night VIP Box: 

Because this is our very first vinyl release, we wanted to make something spectacular for the collectors. So it is really limited, and there will be no reprints. 

We focus on the content and quality of this set. And because it is special, we will used the 180 Gr. high grade vinyl and two symbolic colors of the International Hotel. The black vinyl edition is limited to 375 copies, the colored vinyl set is limited to 600 sets. Every box is numbered with holographic seals. This promotional VIP box is also intended as promotion for our book ‘Elvis - By Invitation Only’. 

Everything for this box set was custom made, using as much as possible the same material as originally used in 1969. And believe us, they were not stingy, it is quality all over. This made the production more expensive than a regular release. It also shows the high standard the International Hotel stood for in 1969.

Content of the Promotional “Opening Nigh VIP Box-set: 

The box itself is a reproduction with minor upgrade of the rare original 1969 Opening Night VIP gift box and contains:  

• The most faithful reproduction of the Opening Night invitation and the RSVP card with the matching envelopes (very rare).
• Two rare different promotional photo cards of the International with the mirrored advertising and the International Hotel logo on the front.
• The 9-page newsletter from Col. Parker.
• Two of four different promotion photos with alternate photos.
• The original 1969 RCA catalog (36 pages) which were handed out during the press conference. These were also included with the VIP box.
• Double sided reproductions of the music store poster for ‘Suspicious Minds’ with promotional text for the Elvis performance at the International Hotel (24 x 12-inch).
• The audio for the ‘Elvis - The Return of a Prodigy' is directly taken from a new transfer and was remastered with impressive audio results. The concert is pressed on 2 LPs for optimum audio quality.
• The set comes housed in a deluxe 12-inch three panel gatefold sleeve with a beautiful 24-page full color booklet (12 x 12 Inch).
• The photos used for the boxset are different from the book, so you will have new photos when you have both.

There are 2 versions of the box: the Platinum Seal Edition containing a high grade black 180 Gr. vinyl set (the best choice for audio on vinyl) and the Gold Seal Edition with a transparent magenta / orange 180 Gr. vinyl set. 

All the items from 1969 are very carefully chosen for its rarity and value. No expense was spared to realize this custom time capsule. Every Elvis historian, die-hard fan, collector of 8mm footage, music or photo collector will recognize the value of this iconic collection. The quality is unmatched, this is the real Elvis standard and for once limited available. All box sets are numbered to ensure it is really limited.

As you can read, we are excited ourselves! Read the book and be proud of Elvis and Colonel Parker's achievements. They did it! On July 31, 1969 they changed the music world forever.

Note: This concert was previously released by the Gravel Road label on CD in 2009.

The set is available from the >>> Bennies Fifties webshop.

Elvis Poster Magazine

Hot kn the heels of their annual Elvis Presley edition, the Vintage Rock magazine announced the release of a new poster magazine titled 'In Focus Elvis'. 

Publicity stated: We're thrilled to introduce you to this brand new 'In Focus Elvis A3' poster magazine, "a must-have for any Elvis fan!"

Description: 'Elvis In Focus' is a luxurious collectors item that marks what would have been the King's 90th birthday, detailing his rise to fame and his many music, movie and personal achievements, all illustrated with 16 lavish A3 portraits plus one stunning A2 pull-out poster.

(Source: Gravel Road Music / Pascal Matteo / Vintage Rock)