August 11 - EPiC Conversations with Scotty Moore

Jim Berkenstadt published his 120-page paperback 'Elvis Presley: Conversations with Scotty Moore', with a foreword by Albert Lee.

Description: July 4, 1954, was no ordinary Independence Day. It was the day a young delivery truck driver named Elvis Presley walked into guitarist Scotty Moore’s Memphis living room to sing, and change popular music forever. Only three men were there: Elvis, Scotty, and bassist Bill Black. From that moment came a new kind of independence for American youth: the birth of Rock and Roll.

In 'Elvis Presley: Conversations with Scotty Moore', Elvis’s first guitarist, manager, and close confidante, reveals how a shy kid from Memphis became the King of Rock and Roll.

Scotty recalls their early days at Memphis Recording Service, the wild tours, tangling with Colonel Tom Parker, making Hollywood films, and Elvis’ historic 1968 Comeback Special. Scotty’s pioneering guitar work on Presley’s records inspired a generation of great guitar slingers. This is Scotty Moore’s personal, inside story of the man - and the music - that set the world on fire.

The book is available from >>> Amazon.

Releases That Linger In My Heart

The new Panther records import record label released the double CD set 'Memories That Linger In My Heart', featuring the December 10, 1975 performance as recorded from the audience in Las Vegas.

Publicity stated: December in Las Vegas in the 1970´s has not really been a time where it would be easy to sell out concert venues. Unless you were considering bringing a musical phenomenon to town for the holiday season. Exactly this happened in 1975. When Elvis played Vegas in August of this year, it was a short-lived engagement as the “King” gave up after just 5 appearances because of pure exhaustion. Fans who eagerly awaited his iconic presence were disappointed, yet hope remained alive that Elvis would be back soon. And the contract had to be fulfilled anyway, so the Colonel and the Hilton management decided to bring Elvis back in December of the same year.

To make it short, the whole engagement in December of 1975 was nothing less than a rescheduled triumph! What you will hear on our new double CD set is (for the first time) the complete show of December 10 (there was only 1 show that day, at 10.00 PM). On previous releases of this concert the producers were not willing to invest in a second CD so they simply cut out some dialogue – which is a shame of course.

There are many highlights in the very good sounding audience recording of this evening. A more loose show with Elvis seemingly having a good time interacting with the audience. Plus the one or the other surprise, such as Elvis obviously playing a prank on people at the beginning of the show by going from 'See See Rider' into 'Can't Help Falling In Love' (including the so-called 'Closing Vamp'!) – as if the show would already be over after just 2 songs! And then, when you could have expected that he would go straight into 'I Got A Woman' after the usual “Wells” he presented another surprise: a spontaneous, nice version of 'When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again'. A hilarious moment indeed! 

The song 'Just Pretend', a musical pearl from 1970 was brought back this season as a regular in the setlist after not having been performed since November 72 in Hawaii. A seemingly spontaneous request shortly before the end of the show, the “dramatic” tune 'My Way' became a duet between Sherill Nielsen and Elvis because Elvis did not remember the lyrics and made Sherill sing for him in certain parts. 

And regarding the quality of our new CD: needless to say that the recording of this show is newly remastered and speed-corrected. Enjoy this show with its very entertaining nature, and make sure early to get your copy of this new Panther Records release from your favorite dealer!

Tracks CD 1: Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - Can’t Help Falling In Love (#1)- Closing Vamp (#1) - When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again - I Got A Woman / Amen - Love Me - Fairytale - And I Love You So - Trying To Get To You - All Shook Up - Teddy Bear / Don’t Be Cruel - You Gave Me A Mountain - Polk Salad Annie.

Disc 2: Introductions / Johnny B. Goode -  Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt) - Bass Solo (Jerry Scheff) - Piano Solo (Glen D. Hardin) - School Day - School Day (Reprise) - Just Pretend - How Great Thou Art (With Reprise) - Softly As I Leave You - America The Beautiful - Mystery Train / Tiger Man - My Way - Blue Christmas - Can’t Help Falling In Love (#2) -  Closing Vamp (#2).

EPiC Blu-ray Release

NEON and Universal Pictures International released the 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD editions of 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert' in the United States.

Publicity stated: Fans around the world can now experience the magic of Elvis Presley ... at home. Following its enormously successful global theatrical release, Baz Luhrmann’s 'EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert' gives audiences the opportunity to experience Elvis Presley like never before at home, with breathtaking picture quality and immersive sound. 

Get your copy from >>> Amazon.

(Source: Amazon)