February 07 - Rockin' '57 HMV Debut

David Trotter published the A5-sized book '200 Elvis Concerts - By The Fans, For The Fans', celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Elvis is King fanclub. 

The book was already published in January but slipped by under our radar.

Publicity stated: “A live concert to me is exciting because of all the electricity that is generated in the crowd and on stage. It’s my favourite part of the business - is live concerts”. - Elvis Presley -September 4th 1972.

During the formative years of my Elvis Is King fan club (Founded in 1974), personal friends and fans were traveling across the USA, following Elvis on tour, or attending multiple shows during his Las Vegas Engagements and Lake Tahoe appearances. 

They would lovingly and dedicatedly send reports, reviews, and accounts of their adventures seeing Elvis on stage, at hotels, airports or in transport “as it happened”. These thrilling times, linking us to Elvis in a very unique way, were typed up and mailed to me to be shared with members within the pages of my Monthly Magazine / Newsletter.

In celebration of my Fan Club’s 50th Anniversary in 2024, these incredible memories - cherished within the Archives - are shared here collectively for the first time in over five decades.

They are for those old enough to I remember the “glory days”. They are here for the new fans discovering ELVIS. They are here for the generations yet to come, who will find ELVIS long after we all have left the world behind. So “Sit Back and leave the driving to us” as Elvis would often say. 

Take a deep breath as the lights dim, the Orchestra begins, and from the wings of the Hilton, and the waiting areas of Coliseum Hallways, as ELVIS comes back to you one last time. “For who knows when we’ll meet again this way?”

You can contact author David Trotter by >>> email or join the fan club's >>> Facebook group.

Rock and Roll No. 2

The Waxtime record label announced the April 2025 re-release if the classic U.K. HMV album 'Rock and Roll No. 2' as a Limited Edition with 8 Bonus Songs on 180 Gr. Virgin vinyl.

Publicity stated: Presley’s second LP for RCA, titled Elvis, was released in Mono in October 1956 (it would be retitled 'Rock & Roll Nº 2' six years later). It is widely regarded as one of the best albums of the Fifties and of Elvis’ entire career. 

Most of the sessions took place on September 1-3, 1956 at Radio Recorders in Hollywood. The disc spent four weeks at Nº 1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart in 1956, making Presley the first recording artist to have two albums go straight to number one in the same year.

Side A: Rip It Up - Love Me - When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again - Long Tall Sally - First In Line - Paralyzed.

Bonus Songs: Hound Dog - Jailhouse Rock - Don't Be Cruel - Blue Suede Shoes.

Side B: So Glad You're Mine - Old Shep - Ready Teddy - Anyplace In Paradise - How´s The World Treating You - How Do You Think I Feel.

Bonus Songs: Mystery Train - All Shook Up - Heartbreak Hotel - That's All Right.

Rockin' '57

Pan Am Records released the LP 'Rockin' '57' on 180 Gr colored vinyl. 

 

Publicity stated: 1957 was a year of consolidation for Elvis Presley. On January 6th he made his third and last appearance at the Ed Sullivan Show, on which he performed the gospel song ‘Peace in the Valley’, which opened the way to a new trend in Elvis’ music. 

1957 was also the year in which he bought Graceland, appeared in the movies 'Loving You', and started working on the second, ‘King Creole’. He also gave plenty of concerts and recorded several studio sessions.
 
This LP showcases all of his 1957 Rock and Roll studio sides. The core group backing him on all of these sides consists of Scotty Moore on guitar, Bill Black on bass, and D. J. Fontana on drums, plus The Jordanaires on backing vocals, and pianist Dudley Brooks on most of the tracks.
 
Side A: Got A Lot O’ Livin’ To Do / All Shook Up / Mean Woman Blues / (I’m Having A) Party / Hot Dog / Lonesome Cowboy / Blueberry Hill / Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? / It’s So Strange / (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear.
 
Side B: One Night Of Sin / Don’t Leave Me Now / I Beg Of You / One Night / I Need You So / Loving You / When It Rains, It Really Pours / Jailhouse Rock / I Want To Be Free / (You’re So Square) Baby, I Don’t Care / Treat Me Nice.

The LP is available from >>> Amazon (associate link).

Live In Memphis

The Homespun budget label released the double CD '1976, July 5 Mid South Coliseum Memphis: Elvis Presley - Live In Memphis'.

Description: Glitz, nostalgia, and deep emotional resonance - Elvis' last show at the Memphis Coliseum was a whirlwind rendition of the icon's hits and testament to just how important a musical icon he is. Still an unmatched showman, there were signs of his declining health, which provided a poignant undertone to the performance. Elvis's voice remained a powerful and emotive instrument, capable of stirring the crowd either through his raw energy or tender emotion.

Homespun brings you this WCBS-FM live radio broadcast of his show at Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, Tennessee on July 5th 1976 for your listening pleasure.

CD 1: 2001: A Space Odyssey (Also Sprach Zarathustra) - CC Rider - I've Got A Woman - Love Me - Fairytale - You Gave Me A Mountain - All Shook Up / (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear - And I Love You So - Jailhouse Rock - Fever - America The Beautiful - One Night - That's All Right - Blue Christmas.

CD 2: Early Morning Rain - Band Intro / What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode / Band Intro - Love Letters - Hail Hail Rock 'n' Roll - Hurt - Hound Dog - Funny How Time Slips Away - Help Me - How Great Thou Art - Softly, As I Leave You - Polk Salad Annie - It's Now Or Never - Can't Help Falling In Love - Outro - C C Rider.

Note: The claim that this show is a "radio broadcast" is fake, it is an attempt to use a loophole in copyright laws to release this concert. This was previously done with this concert by other labels like Rox Vox. 

Debut on Wax
 
The Vinyl on Wax record label re-issued of Elvis Presley’s debut album as a Limited Edition on 180 Gr. crystal clear vinyl with 4 bonus songs.
 

Description: Elvis' debut LP, titled Elvis Presley, was the first rock album to reach number one on the charts. It was recorded for the RCA label, which had paid what was then a king's ransom to buy his contract from Sam Phillips' Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. The album was produced by Steve Sholes (head of RCA's Country and Western and Rhythm and Blues division) and released in Mono in March 1956.

(Source: David Trotter / Amazon / Pascal Matteo)