March 15 - Charts March 2025 - Week 3

Two weeks ago Elvis returned Elvis retuned to the U.S.   Billboard charts after dropping off completely. Unfortunately, our man could not hang on to last week's position on the countries best selling Country Album list. 

Here are the rankings for the third week of March 2025. 

Official U.K. charts:

On the Official Album chart, the 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' dropped 2 spots, From No 57 to No. 59 white the collection lost 3 spots on the Streaming Album chart and dropped to No. 48 this week 

The DVD 'Elvis The King of Rock and Roll' made another return to the Music DVD chart, at No. 29 (to be updated after the weekend).

U.S. Billboard charts

The 'ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits' compilation dropped over 15 places on the U.S., Billboard Top Country Albums Top 50 chart, which means the album fell off the chart from last week's No. 35 spot. 

(Source: Billboard / Official Chart Company / UK Mix Forum) 

March 14 - Radio Specials and More

Released by an unknown import record label is the limited edition double CD 'Singer Presents Radio Specials and More', featuring 3 radio specials from 1967 and 1968.

 

Publicity stated: The first disc opens with a previously unreleased radio special that was broadcast on December 1st, 1968. It was produced to promote the NBC ‘68 TV special and the record release as well as the 4 ‘Gold(en) Records’ albums referred to as ‘Elvis’ Golden Hits’ albums by announcer Jerry Jay.

 

Disc 2 kicks off with a Radio special aired on March 19, 1967. This special was produced for the Easter season and to promote the 'How Great Thou Art' album, which was released just a few weeks prior to the broadcast. 

The second disc ends with a special that aired December 3, 1967, to promote Elvis’ Christmas and religious albums and singles, which obviously would a great Christmas gift that year. These radio broadcasts were aired on hundreds of radio stations nationwide. Colonel Parker sure knew how to get the message out on the street: "Buy Elvis for Christmas or at any other occasion!" All audio is carefully restored to achieve maximum listening pleasure.

 

CD 1: Radio Program To Promote The Singer NBC TV Special

Presented to radio stations by Elvis, The Colonel and All Star Shows

KTRB Radio, Modesta - California

Air Date: December 1 1968, introduced by Jerry Jay

 

01. KTRB jingle 02. Announcer 03. Heartbreak Hotel 04. Announcer 05. Nothingville - Guitar Man 06. Announcer 07. His Latest Flame 08. Announcer 09. Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me 10. Announcer 11. It Hurts Me 12. Announcer 13. Love Me Tender 14. Announcer 15. Tiger Man 16. Announcer 17. Love Me 18. Announcer 19. Crying In The Chapel 20. Announcer 21. Message from Elvis and Santa Claus Is Back In Town 22. Singer Announcement 23. Singer Commercial For The NBV TV Special 24. Singer Commercial For The Flaming Star Album 25. Singer Commercial mentioning the TV Special.

 

CD 2: Special Palm Sunday programming

Special Palm Sunday Nationwide Easter Radio program 

Air date: March 19 1967, introduced by Buzz Benson

 

01. Announcer - How Great Thou Art 02. In The Garden 03. Announcer - Somebody Bigger Then You and I 04. Stand By Me 05. Announcer 06. Without Him 07. Where Could I Go But To The Lord 08. Announcer - Red Cross message 09. Announcer - Where No One Stands Alone 10. Announcer - Crying In The Chapel 11. Announcer 

Season’s Greetings From Elvis - Special Christmas Program 

Air date: December 3 1967, introduced by Buzz Benson

 

12. Introduction - WJBK Radio Detroit 13. Announcer - Here Comes Santa Claus 14. Announcer - Blue Christmas 15. Announcer - O Little Town Of Bethlehem 16. Dale Robertson Christmas Deal Charity Appeal 17. Announcer - Silent Night 18. I’ll Be Home For Christmas 19. Announcer - I Believe 20. Announcer - If Everyday Was Like Christmas 21. Announcer - How Great Thou Art 22. His Hand In Mine 23. Announcer - I’ll Be Home For Christmas 24. Announcer and WJBK Radio Detroit Message

(Source: Email)

Review Elvis On Tour – The Last Year

On the occasion of his appearance at the Frankie Moreno (Elvis) concert in January 2025, the Danish Memphis Mansion re-issued Sam Thompson’s ‘Elvis On Tour - The Last Year’ booklet, making this hard-to-get 1992 collection of personal memories available again.

Design

The A4-sized booklet is a “copied reproduction” of the original 44-page booklet with an updated cover, cleaned pages, several additional color photos, and a color upgrade for the letter of recommendation from Colonel Parker, praising Thompson.

Between the two covers of the book, we get about one-third text; the other two-thirds are filled with photos and memorabilia. The written pages are very text-heavy. I almost imagine Thompson sitting behind his typewriter, putting his memories on the paper, starting in the top left corner, only to stop typing because he ran out of paper as he reached the end, then continuing on the next page.

Sam has a pleasant and engaging writing style, and as a police officer, you can tell he is a keen observer. Because of this, I felt like I was watching over his shoulder as he shared what happened.

Content

Memphis-born policeman Sam Thompson first met Elvis while skating at the Rainbow Rollerdome in the 1950s, but he was really introduced to Elvis through his sister Linda, who dated Elvis between 1972 and 1976. He traveled with Elvis on the road tours from 1972 until 1976 as Elvis' friend and companion before he started to work full-time for Elvis from July 1976 until August 1977.

He served as Elvis’ personal bodyguard and tour advance man, providing security for Elvis at Graceland, his other homes in California, and on all the road tours, including hotel and airport security. Thompson returned to his position with the Shelby County Sheriff's Department on September 1, 1977.

The book reflects Sam’s adventures with the King through words and images. What I said about Sam sitting behind his typewriter must be read as a compliment, as it is a metaphor for the content; we really get to read his personal memories as he put them on paper.

We learn how Sam met Elvis, how he found his role and position in the inner circle during the last years of Elvis’ life, and on a day-by-day / tour-by-tour basis, learning how it was to be part of the well-oiled Elvis Presley Show.

From his insider perspective, we get more stories confirming Elvis’ generosity - buying cars and houses for the Thompson family, taking them on tour as friends and family of his girlfriend - but also how hard the tours were for Elvis, despite the aforementioned well-oiled operation and hard work of the men and women involved.

It was fun to read that when the tour operations messed up or didn't meet with Elvis' standards, Elvis would “simply” walk out of the hotel in Pine Bluff to another across the street because the air-conditioning wasn’t working, or have the Lisa Marie fly him home instead of staying overnight in a local hotel.

The main part of his memories covers Elvis’ death and how he helped “take care of business” in those hard days for the Presley family.

Thompson certainly was appreciated and trusted by Elvis; otherwise, he wouldn’t have quit his full-time job at the Shelby County Sheriff's Department to join the King’s entourage when his sister and her employer broke up. The pictures, tour schedules, and even fuel cost overviews with personal notes illustrate these recollections nicely.

Conclusion

Although this is “just” a small 44-page booklet, it was an interesting and insightful read because Sam’s personal experiences from his time with the King gave me a nice insight into life with Elvis at home and on the road. It gave me a few new insights into Elvis as a friend, Elvis as an employer, and Elvis as an artist on the road.

It is good to see this book out there again. So, for those who missed this one in 1992 - 33 years ago already - this is a good opportunity to correct that mistake. And who knows, with this reprint in their hand, Sam may be inspired to put some more memories on paper and do a complete book … someone should sit down with Sam to record his stories.

Signed copies of the booklet are available from the Danish Memphis Mansion >>> webshop or >>> Bennies Fifties.

March 13 - Elvis Week 2025

Graceland and EPE shared the logo of Elvis Week 2025.

Save the date for Elvis Week 2025, August 8-16! Join us in Memphis as we celebrate the life and legacy of the King of Rock 'n' Roll with an unforgettable week of concerts, conversations, tributes and more. More information when available. 

Revolutionary of Graceland and the Great Memphis Mafia

Jerry Schilling announced the release of a new book. 

The statement he posted on Facebook read: Dear fellow Elvis fan, I'm beyond thrilled to introduce you to a brand-new, unpublished book that's extremely close to my heart. As Elvis best friend, I'm honored to share with you 'Revolutionary of Graceland and the Great Memphis Mafia'.

This incredible book takes you on a journey through the early life of Elvis Presley, exploring the history of Graceland, and delving into the lives of those closest to him, including Lisa Marie. But that's not all. it also sheds light on the mysterious Memphis mafia and their connection to Elvis.

What makes this book even more special is that it was one of Elvis own projects, something he was working on before his untimely passing. It's a testament to his enduring legacy and a must-read for any true Elvis fan.

I'd love for you to get your hands on a copy and experience the magic of Elvis story for yourself. Trust me, it's a real page-turner! Let's make some noise about this book and get it the attention it deserves.

Spread the word, share your thoughts, and let's celebrate the King of Rock 'n' Roll together!

With love and appreciation, Jerry Schilling.

Note: the cover illustration is clearly not definitive and created with A.I.

Mural

The Elvis Presley Birthplace in Tupelo unveiled a new mural by the graphic artist Betty Harper just to the south of the event center and theater. The mural was announced in January as part of the 90th birthday celebrations. 

Well-known artist Betty Harper was asked to come up with a huge mural that celebrated Elvis’ formative years in Tupelo, and his return to his birthplace for two concerts after he became a worldwide sensation. Harper said it was important to capture the key events of Elvis and his years in Tupelo, along with the history of the city.

“It was important for me to tie Elvis into the town that was very important, This town made him what he was when he was a man, and there were certain aspects that were important, like the tornado,” said Harper.

(Source: EPE / Jerry Schilling / Elvis Presley Birthplace / WCBI)

A Request From and For a Friend

A different update than usual, please read this heartfelt request from a friend, for a friend, to fulfill a promise.

I'm sure that everyone visiting this page is well aware of Alanna Nash’s work on Elvis, the women in his life, his Memphis Mafia friends, and, of course, Colonel Parker. Many consider her books the definitive word on these subjects.

We Elvis fans sometimes take things for granted and forget to appreciate how much Alanna has contributed to our understanding of his life and legacy. Much of what we know is thanks to her work. Now, it’s time to give something back. Please consider contributing to this >>> GoFundMe fundraiser and help Alanna Nash fulfill a personal promise to her best friend.

Her next project is her most personal yet, a memoir about her dear friend Elizabeth. It is a story of love and the unbreakable bond of friendship, tentatively titled Loving Elizabeth: A Memoir of Trauma, Addiction, and Forgiveness.

Completing this project will take another 18 to 24 months of work, along with funding for that period. Becca Peterson and two others are organizing a fundraiser on behalf of Alanna.

Please take the time to read the motivation, and to watch this >>> video in which Alanna voices her reasons for writing this memoir about Elizabeth. 

The fundraiser request: This fundraiser is to support Alanna Nash in writing a memoir, tentatively titled 'Loving Elizabeth: A Memoir of Trauma, Addiction, and Forgiveness'. 

The nonfiction book is based on the author's 16-year relationship with a warm, witty, and brilliant woman who was working on her Ph.D. when she lost her way and spiraled. People were "crazy drawn" to Elizabeth in high school, at camp, in college, and throughout her life because she was unlike anyone they had ever known, highly creative, unfailingly kind, hilariously funny, and known for her daring antics and rebellious nature. 

But underneath it all, she was haunted and self-medicated her pain. The book will spotlight the opioid epidemic of the last decades, but more than anything, it is about one person’s struggle, and the efforts of so many who tried to help her. It will hopefully lift the stigma of mental illness, addiction, and substance abuse. 

And it will highlight the life-affirming value of the unbreakable bonds of friendship, particularly with the author, Elizabeth’s devoted pals in her adopted state of Virginia, and her loyal sister group from college who have stayed close for 50 years. At its heart, this is a searing love story.

Click here to go to the >>> GoFundMe Fundraiser and support Alanna Nash. 

Unboxing

Here is a little unboxing video of the 2024 edition of 'Elvis Day by Day - The Year In Review' it gives you a little preview of what to expect in the book.  

If you like what you see, please visit www.PoplarTunes.com for more information, previews and options to buy the book as a softback or hardback edition.

March 11 - Vintage Rock

Elvis is Back, back on the cover of the Vintage Rock magazine cover, edition April / May 2025. 

Inside an article on the iconic make or break 1960 album 'Elvis Is Back' album that changed the King's life forever. Piers Beagley, one of the driving forces behind the Elvis Information Network, contributed to the article on 'Elvis Is Back!'. Elvis is also included in the review section of the magazine with the 'Elvis In California' set.

Yours Retro

Elvis is also featured on the cover of the Yours Retro issue 85. Inside the editors take a peek inside Elvis Presley’s wardrobe to discover how his choice of clothes reflect so much more than his fashion sense. 

This articles is based on the 'King of Fashion' book (2024) by Lorraine Gibson'. 

(Source: Pascal Matteo / Vintage Rock / Yours Retro) 

March 10 - Golden Boy Elvis (Updated)

The first quarterly issue of the German Golden Boy Elvis magazine (#1/2025) will be out mid-february. 

The main feature in this issue is FTD's 'The making of King Creole' box-set on Elvis' 4th film. According to the magazine the book blows you away, while the CDs are of less importance. FTD's 'The Last Tours Vol. 2' and 'The Girl happy Sessions' get an in-depth look, so do volume 2 of Randy Star's 'Lost Elvis Songwriter Demos', volume 4 in the 'Elvis Connection' CDs. 

Typical German news is the feature on the long overdue memorial plaque that was unveiled in Hirschau with Elvis' cousin Donna Presley as the godmother.

For more information on the magazine, visit the magazine's >>> Golden Boy Elvis website or contact the publisher >>> by email. 

Aide de Camp fo Priscilla

Priscilla received Tennessee's highest civilian honor, the Colonel, Aide de Camp award, for promoting Memphis music tourism and the legacy of Elvis Presley. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee presented Priscilla with the honor at Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville. Elvis received the same honor at the Tennessee State Capitol on March 8, 1961 from Tennessee Governor Buford Ellington. 

Priscilla who was recognized in the Tennessee General Assembly at the Tennessee State Capitol building by Shelby County lawmakers, took the opportunity to call for state funding to support the relocation of the Smithsonian Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum. The museum has currently raised US$5 million to relocate from the FedEx Forum to the historic Lansky building at 126 Beale Street. 

In a statement release on the day's events, Priscilla, says "It's been my joy to promote Elvis and Memphis music across the globe for the past 50 years. One piece of the Tennessee puzzle we need to put in place is the Smithsonian museum on Beale Street. Expanding the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum will ensure that the stories, sounds, and soul of the City of Memphis and its musical legacy continues for future generations."

Senate Democratic Caucus Chair London Lamar, D-Memphis, thanked Priscilla for her "dedication and passion" in a Senate ceremony Monday night. “Her dedication to Memphis music, entertainment, and philanthropy has enriched our state's culutral heritage," Lamar said. Memphis lawmakers at the ceremony repeatedly recognized Priscilla’s efforts to save Graceland and turn it into a lucrative tourist destination.

Note EIN: Elvis received the same honour back in 1961.

(Source: Golden Boy Elvis / Volker Christensen / Elvis Presley fans of Nashville)

March 09 - Elvis Scolar Mark Duffett Died

Renowned Elvis scholar, Dr. Mark Duffett has died on February 15, 2025 after a very short illness. He was 55. R.I.P. 

At the time of his passing, Mark was Associate Professor at the University of Chester in the U.K., his research focus being on popular music and music fandom, with a special interest in Elvis Presley. 

Duffett wrote the books 'Elvis - Roots, Image, Comeback, Phenomenon', 'Counting Down Elvis - His 100 Finest Songs' and was working on the book 'Rethinking Elvis' which is still due for release in April 2025. 

(Source: Tom Attah / Elvis Information Network)

March 08 - French Rock

The French Diggers Factory record label announced the April 18, 2025 rerelease of the 24 track CD 'Jean-William Thoury Presente Elvis Presley - BD Rock Par Fred Beltran'. 

This set was previously released in 2016 as a comic book biography with 2 CDs and on vinyl in 2022.

Description: He has been given countless nicknames, the most eloquent of which is the King. Elvis Presley, the greatest phenomenon in the history of recorded music, is the King of Kings!

 
In the mid-1950s, catalyzing various trends, he imposed Rick and Roll on the planet, overturning everything in his path with irresistible originality, charm and freshness. His talent allowed him to tackle all styles, he does not hold back. His influence remains profound and his character is the object of a cult that never runs out of steam.

Tracks: That’s All Right Mama / Heartbreak Hotel / Blue Suede Shoes / Tutti Frutti / My Baby Left Me  / Hound Dog  / Don’t Be Cruel / Love Me Tender / So Glad You Are Mine / All Shook Up / Jailhouse Rock / Baby I Don’t Care / Doncha’ Think it’s Time / King Creole / Trouble / Fever / Stuck on You / Such A Night / It’s Now or Never / Are you Lonesome  / Tonight Is So Right For Love / Little Sister / Night Rider / Return To Sender.

Happy Birthday Jim!

Jim Murray, former member of the The Imperials Quartet celebrated his 81st birthday, congratulations!

(Sounds / Diggers Factory / UEPS)