November 21 - Preview of Presley in King Creole

Designer David Parker shared a little preview of the forthcoming 'PRESLEY - The Essential 50's Masters' 4-CD release from RDM Edition. The four discs will be housed in a good old fashioned fat box jewel case along with a gloss card slip case. 

The eight page booklet features newly written liner notes by Parker, and of course the set showcases 109 Mono II Stereo tracks newly mixed by Anthony Stuchbury. 

The release date is to be announced. 

King Creole Preview

David English shared a preview of the upcoming 'The Making Of King Creole' box-set which is due from the Follow That Dream collector's label. 

The German Bear Family shop has December 6th as the release date for this box-set, and the the other Follow That Dream releases: 'The Girl Happy Sessions' and 'The Lost Tours Vol. 2'. There was no date available on the 'California Holiday' LP, which, based on the last information available, is still scheduled for late December. 

Christmas Season

Graceland kicked off the Christmas season with the traditional lighting of Elvis Presley Boulevard and the Mansion. This annual event, which drew fans from around the world, took on a special significance this year with the presence of Jerry Schilling, a lifelong friend and confidant of Elvis Presley.

The small ceremony, held in a temperature of just 45 degrees, began with heartwarming speeches. Jack Soden, CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises, welcomed the crowd and emphasized the importance of Christmas to Elvis and his family. "Christmas was a magical time for Elvis," Soden said. "His love of the holidays and sharing joy with others continues to inspire everyone here today."

Jerry Schilling, who had been friends with Elvis since he was a teenager, took the stage as the guest of honor and shared personal stories about how Elvis celebrated Christmas. "Elvis loved this season. He always made it special, not only for himself, but especially for those around him," Schilling said. His words were met with great applause from the crowd, who had gathered to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season and the legacy of the King of Rock and Roll.

The highlight of the evening was the lighting of the thousands of lights that adorn the estate. The Christmas tree on the grounds was illuminated in bright colors as classic Elvis holiday songs such as 'Blue Christmas' blared over the speakers. With Jerry Schilling’s flip of the switch, Graceland was transformed into a glittering winter wonderland, a tradition that dates back to Elvis’ own Christmas celebrations.

The ceremony not only marked the beginning of the holiday season, but also the continued connection between Graceland and its fans. “Elvis would be proud of how his legacy lives on,” Schilling added.

(Source: David Parker / David English / Bear Family / ElvisMatters / Graceland)