Poplar Tunes Publishing and the Memphis Mansion released ‘Elvis Day By Day 2020 – The Year In Review’, a yearbook about Elvis. This is the follow-up to the successful first volume in this series, 'Elvis Day bay Day 2019'. The book was compiled and written by Kees Mouwen with additional contributions by Nigel Patterson and Piers Beagley - from the Elvis Information Network - and other fans from around the world.
The foreword was written by renowned Elvis Presley author Alanna Nash.
You can order 'Elvis Day By Day 2020' at >>> www.PoplarTunes.com.
We compiled all the Elvis Presley news from all over the world (wide web) and added 50 in-depth reviews, articles and interviews, covering both the important as well as more odd-ball releases of the year, in one complete and fully illustrated reference-book.
The 600 news-updates on everything that happened in the Elvis world this year clearly show that Elvis Presley still matters today!
The full color book measures 20 x 25 cm / 8 x 10 inch and contains 312 pages with more than 550 illustrations. The release is set for the second half of January 2021.
>>> Paperback edition from >>> Amazon.fr.
>>> Paperback edition from >>> Amazon.es.
>>> Paperback edition from >>> Amazon.it.
Signed editions are available from the author at >>> elvis @ xs4all.nl.
The hardcover is available on-line at >>> www.PoplarTunes.com.
Description 'A Yearbook About Him'
2020 is a year none of us will forget. The Covid-19 pandemic affected almost all aspects of our lives. At the same time, we tried to adapt to a new normal in which "social distancing can't be wrong", with Elvis Presley as a good distraction.
2020 brought us several great Elvis releases on CD and vinyl (lots of it!), many new books, movie releases on DVD, Blu-ray and in cinemas around the world. We had to say good-bye to friends from the Elvis world and there was the Covid-19 pandemic, which had a huge impact on the Elvis world too.
2020 also marked several anniversaries. We celebrated the 85th anniversary year with a virtual Elvis Week. Sixty years ago Elvis Presley appeared on Frank Sinatra’s 'Welcome Home Elvis’ TV-show, released the classic ‘Elvis Is Back’ album and his first gospel LP 'His Hand In Mine'.
This year also marked the 50th anniversary of Elvis’ On Stage season and album, breaking his own attendance records, the sold out Houston Astrodome concerts and Elvis’ legendary visit to President Nixon at the White House.
But above all, 2020 marked the 50th anniversary of the legendary Nashville Marathon recording sessions and the release of the movie 'Elvis: That's The Way It Is'.
Everything Elvis Presley from 2020 is captured in this comprehensive, day-by-day yearbook. Fully illustrated, with new in-depth reviews, articles and interviews on the main - and odd-ball - releases of the year. The good, the bad, the funny and the sad, and even the news and reviews you may have missed. All packed in one comprehensive book to revisit 2020 as it happened.
Elvis Day By Day - The Series
If you want to keep your series complete you can find more information, reviews and previews on the other volumes with the links below.
More information on 'Elvis Day By Day 2019' book is available >>> here.
For more information on the 'Elvis Day by Day 2018' edition click >>> here.
Reviews Elvis Day By Day 2020
Elvis Day by Day 2020 - A Fantastic Initiative and Reference
Rogier van Luyken reviewed 'Elvis Day by Day 2020' for the latest It's Elvis Time magazine.
As he noted: As far as I am concerned, Kees set a new standard with his 'Elvis Day By Day' books when it comes to an Elvis yearbook and reference guide for “everything Elvis Presley” from around the world. I am already looking forward to the 2021 edition and I am also trying to get the 2019 edition. A must!
Thank you Rogier!
In 2019 there suddenly was a new Elvis book: "Elvis Day By Day - 2019", written by Dutch Elvis fan Kees Mouwen. A book which offered an overview of everything Elvis from the year 2019. At first, this edition raised some questions. What exactly does this book bring to what we have not already been able to read during the year 2019 on the internet and in the various Elvis magazines, including your own "It's Elvis Time"? The book looked attractive in terms of design, but I decided to wait a while before purchasing it.
Recently the announcement of "Elvis Day By Day - 2020" came out and it looked very attractive again. It made me to contact the author, Kees Mouwen, who was kind enough to provide a review copy of his latest book. That's how I first came across this "Elvis Day By Day". And I have to say: I am pleasantly surprised and also very enthusiastic about what is presented here.
Not many can say that their book contains a foreword by the well-known, American Elvis biographer Alanna Nash: Kees can, and you will read it in this 2020 edition. This carries weight and shows that this is not just any book. Kees himself is also no stranger to the Elvis world either: he is one of the original founders of the website ElvisNews.com and since 2010 also of the blog: ElvisDayByDay.com.
About the origin of the concept for this book, Kees says in an interview with Nigel Patterson of the Elvis Information Network website: “The idea for an Elvis 'yearbook' is a long-cherished ambition ... a complete overview of that happened in a year… This book is to hold in your hand, read and keep for reference. This is a new concept and fans may have to get used to it. When I announced the book, there were many reactions that all the information is already available for free on the internet. Until people saw what this book really is: a complete and illustrated reference to everything Elvis from the past year, complete with reviews and backgrounds”.
And that is exactly what makes this book so unique: you think you already know everything, but when you start reading and browsing through this book you cannot stop.
Released by Kees through his own "Popular Tunes Publishing" in cooperation with the Danish 'Memphis Mansion' (Henrik Knudsen), this book makes you realize how much Elvis news and releases there actually are in a year. It is almost impossible to keep track of all of this on the internet, as well as having to buy and collect it all. In this book you can (re)read it all.
A nice design and lay-out with color photos and text. Clearly arranged: first all the news and new releases for each month, followed by a few reviews or articles that go deeper into events or releases of that month. Of course: some releases are also discussed in your own IET and so there may be some overlap in what you read in your own IET-magazine and in this book. The added value of this book is that it covers all books, official, import and public domain releases. There is not enough space in your IET-magazine to cover them all.
And so there are many releases that I did not know existed, or knew the backgrounds or quality of. Also: many articles and reviews have also been written exclusively for this book and therefore cannot be found or read on the internet or other Elvis magazines. Everything Elvis of the past year will appeal to you: news items, birthdays of acquaintances from the Elvis world, book releases, vinyl releases and new Elvis merchandise that has been released ... It is too much to mention. Also current affairs are discussed: on page 45 we find a chapter entitled "Elvis and COVID-19".
I also noticed a few remarkable releases that had completely escaped my attention. Like the one about the booklet "Heli & Elvis". Heli von Westrem turns out to be a lady from Germany who was more than friends and who seems to have been through quite a bit with Elvis during his stay in the army in Germany. She describes life on Goethestrasse 14 as well as an almost kidnapping in Johannisberg, Bad Nauheim. Exciting and I'm going to check that booklet thanks to the tip in this book.
The research of this book is so complete that - as an example - we can also follow the Blu-ray DVD releases of "King Creole" throughout the year - as an example - with a separate review of this new release.
The highlight of this 2020 edition is a 12-page back-to-back review of the FTD "That's The Way It Is" 8-CD / 2-book release versus Erik Lorentzen's books with the same theme. The quality and care of this book is very high. Complete with a clear index and a Top 10 of best releases of the past year.
The book comes in two versions: a paperback edition and a hardcover edition with 24 bonus pages and 8 additional reviews. When the first book by Kees came out - the 2019 edition - there was a review that described the book as' a 2.0 version of the annual 'Elvis Monthly Specials' that appeared between 1963 and 1985. A nice and rightful compliment. And hopefully it gives you an idea of what to expect when purchasing this book.
Kees: “Over the past ten years, many Elvis books from the "Elvis Files" and Follow That Dream teams have been published about certain periods in Elvis's life. All look back on his life back then. But the Elvis world today is more than "alive" and very active and so I thought there is room for a book about Elvis "Today" (to quote a classic Elvis album title)".
As far as I am concerned, Kees set a new standard with his "Elvis Day By Day" books when it comes to an Elvis yearbook and reference guide for “everything Elvis Presley” from around the world for a certain year. I am already looking forward to the 2021 edition and I am also trying to get the 2019 edition.
It is expected that Kees' books will also be for sale through the new web-shop of your own It’s Elvis Time. A must.
Review Graceland Magazine - Four Stars! (Germany)
The German Elvis Presley Gesellschaft reviewed 'Elvis Day By Day 2020' in volume 258 of their Graceland magazine.
The book received four stars! Thank you!
The review by Andreas Pendl noted: The concept is reminiscent of the British 'Elvis Specials' which were published from 1962 to 1985. These books were a kind of best of the "Elvis Monthly" booklet and offered a look back at the past year.
That is what Kees Mouwen does with this yearbook - only with much more extensive research and more detailed information. A very good overview of what happened to Elvis in the past year ... with additional exclusive reviews and pictures.
For more information on the magazine and the fan club visit the >>> Elvis Presley Gesellschaft website.
Review Elvis Day By Day 2020 by Bill Shute (U.S.A.)
Bill Shute, writer for the 60's Music Magazine 'Ugly Things', wrote a review of 'Elvis Day By Day'.
Documents the Elvis releases and Elvis-related happenings in the year 2020
If you're the kind of person who checks Elvis-related websites and discussion lists a few times each week to find out about new "import" CD's or what will be the next Elvis FTD release, then this book is for you.
It compiles pretty much every Elvis-related activity or release, week by week, throughout the year 2020 and features a number of fascinating close-analyses of some of the major releases (and some of the minor ones too).
It is a very attractive book with lots of color pics of and information on obscure reissues of audience-recorded shows, European public domain reissues of 50s and early 60s material, every release from Follow That Dream, Elvis One, or Straight Arrow, and Elvis-related books and documentaries.
The writing is insightful and very knowledgeable, so I'd highly recommend this and the previous 2019 volume to anyone who is seriously into Elvis. I can't imagine someone reading this book and not buying some more "import" or FTD CD's afterwards.
Thankfully, the book deals with Elvis' work, not his personal life (or worse, speculation about his personal life). An excellent job, and I'm looking forward to the 2021 volume, which I hope will come out in 2022.
March 2021 / Bill Shute
Review Elvis Day By Day & The State of the Elvisworld Today
Renowned author and Elvis expert Gordon Minto reviewed 'Elvis Day by Day 2020' and made some interesting observations on the - state of the - Elvis world today.
The year 2020 may have been like no other in living memory for just about everyone in the world, gripped as it was in the midst of a global pandemic, with a corresponding impact on every aspect of our lives and a tragic loss of life, but in the Elvis world – delays to releases notwithstanding - things were pretty much business as usual, as Kees Mouwen’s second volume in the Elvis Day By Day series chronicles in what is, at times, depressing detail.
Don’t get me wrong: like its predecessor, this book – all 300 pages of it – drawn from Mouwen’s daily blog, is an interesting and useful round-up guide to just how much Elvis stuff is available out there, and the author carries out his mission well, ably assisted by a number of well informed (and fully acknowledged) contributions from Piers Beagley and Nigel Patterson of the Australian Elvis Information Network website. And his summation of the major – and minor - releases and events in 2020 is thorough. The book is colourful and easily accessible, though some of the images used are dull – not helped by the use of matte paper, I suspect – though that is of secondary importance overall, as it’s the information that is of primary importance.
Personally, I would like to have seen a greater editorial rigour applied to how much space was allocated to certain products or reports, for not all entries are equally deserving, I believe. For example, reproducing countless detailed live concert reviews (issued on CD, either as bootlegs or FTD soundboards) and the ever-increasing ‘limited edition’ vinyl releases of old titles, hardly warrants multiple pages of comment. I would also like to see a clearer distinction made between what the producers of a product say (the inevitable advertising hype) and what constitutes an objective review – perhaps by using italics or different colored font? Equally, I think some of the entries are spurious and could have been omitted. For example, who cares that Bono, of U2, thinks that ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ ranks fifteenth in his list of ’60 songs that saved my life’? Oh dear! Pretentious or what! (That’s Bono, not the author, by the way!)
Yet, unintentionally perhaps, Kees’ decision to diarise such events into a book form has turned a spotlight on what I think is a serious issue and one which has made me think carefully about the whole Elvis ‘scene’. Yes, I knew there was a lot of stuff out there but had no real comprehension of just how extensive it was – and this book only relates to 2020! There’s no reason to suppose that 2021 will be any different.
Truly, when browsing through the myriad of news items and countless releases (CDs, books, DVDs, a welter of vinyl releases – many of them promoted as ‘limited editions’) and peripheral information (anniversaries and other minutiae), I was not only taken aback, but actually found myself quite depressed at the degree to which the Elvis brand has been hijacked and exploited by all and sundry. Product relating to Elvis – some of it only tangentially – is being manufactured on an industrial scale – and I’ve not even factored in stuff bearing Elvis’s image pedalled by the ever-thrifty EPE. Incidentally, with respect, I would take issue with the legend on the front cover which says that this is ‘a yearbook about him’. Actually, it’s not. Essentially, it’s a yearbook about how many people have chosen to produce merchandise of whatever sort (and quality) as a means of making money out of his name. I can almost hear Colonel Parker whooping ‘Attaboy!’
The Elvis fiefdom is often referred to as a ‘broad church’, encompassing a wide range of interests and tastes – and, for once, I think the religious connotations are relevant – as, to my mind, a great deal of the product written about here borders on being sacrilegious in that it only serves the vanity and greed of those peddling what are gratuitous and pointless releases. For example, I love Don Robertson’s songs and Elvis’s sensitive handling of them but who, for Christ’s sake, needs a vinyl EP of some of them? And who is actually going to play them, as opposed to listening to a CD or even a downloaded version?
And it is this re-kindled and irrational love affair with vinyl (bordering on the obsessional, in my view) and producing it in every conceivable color and format that runs like a main artery throughout the whole book. As a former serious collector of U.K. vinyl (who needs no reminder of how irrational, addictive and expensive such collecting can be!), I find myself genuinely dismayed that new (and old) collectors are being beguiled by the idea of collecting what are either quirky and questionable re-treads or revised compilations – each which comes with a hefty price tag, I might add - when much of it is junk and will, like last week’s papers, be quickly worthless.
Now I realise that some people will radically disagree with my view of this, arguing - quite rightly, I suppose – that this a free market and that within the law people can buy and sell what they want. Except that it isn’t. It’s anything but free: it is highly costly, even if you only buy a small amount of the stuff on offer. Of course, supporters of the free market would claim that this comes down to individual choice – which, admittedly, is hard to challenge. The fact is, though - as even a cursory glance at the author’s detailed overview amply illustrates - the Elvis market is saturated and my chief concern is that worthwhile product (of which there is still quite a bit - and not simply confined to official sources) that offers entirely new or a different angle, boasting decent production values, risks being swamped and so lost.
Of course, what I need to make absolutely clear here is that this isn’t Kees Mouwen’s fault in any regard (no more than we should blame crime reporters for writing about an upsurge in crime) and is certainly no reflection on the merits of his book which simply sets out to chronicle faithfully events from the relevant time-frame – and succeeds. However, seeing it all laid out in such graphic detail did make me feel rather uneasy – and queasy.
One of the main things we can extrapolate from this book is that there is virtually no control of the Elvis market – nor can there be, of course. It is largely unregulated, and anyone is free to produce and retail whatever they want, irrespective of merit. And lest you think that this is a direct swipe at bootleggers or other third parties, it’s certainly not, for some of their product is imaginative and worthwhile. Indeed, it is fair to say that some people have expressed similar anxieties regarding the amount of material marketed by FTD – which far exceeds its original concept and planned release schedule – and contributes to the strain on the financial resources of many collectors.
In conclusion, despite my reservations, this book represents a useful adjunct to the ever-growing library of Elvis-related literature. If you are a regular visitor to the many websites and blogs, then this may not hold much appeal, but as someone who is very cautious about accessing social media platforms - and concerned how they have infiltrated and influenced our lives (much of negatively, sad to say) - distilled into book form, I found it instructive.
Gordon Minto / April 2021
Review Elvis Day By Day 2020 by Elvis Author Paul Belard (U.S.A.)
Elvis Presley author Paul Belard reviewed my book 'Elvis Day By Day 2020', I couldn't be more proud.
A great book proving Elvis is still present and influential
If you have been an Elvis fan, but living as a hermit for the past 44 years, you’ve missed the news of Elvis passing. If you decide to end your years of seclusion in 2021 and your first stop back to civilization is a book store to catch up on Elvis’ career, the last book by Kees Mouwen would still not confirm the King’s final departure. With a title 'Elvis Day By Day 2020 - The Year in Review', how could Elvis be dead?
Well, unfortunately, he is! As incredible as it is, it will be soon half a century since he left us. So, as Alanna Nash writes in the foreword: “Why do we still care?”
Kees’ book answers the question straightforwardly. Impeccably written, in an attractive and easy to read composition, it is peppered with facts accompanied by high quality B&W and color pictures. It demonstrates in detail that Elvis is still present and influential. And those news items are plentiful since, as the book clearly proves, something still happens almost every day in Elvis world.
In a clever fashion, interviews, film and record reviews are inserted in the day to day listings. The recording sessions that produced two of my favorite albums are examined. They resulted in 'Something for Everybody' and 'His Hand in Mine'. Elvis’ voice had never been so accomplished, with a suppleness and a smoothness, an “effortless grace” as Ernst Jorgensen qualified it in his book 'Elvis Presley A Life In Music'. The spirited interaction with the Jordanaires was faultless, the backing from the Nashville greats pristine.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Kees for listing my books published in 2020, notably for the three-page review of 'Elvis 1960 March 7 to 31'.
Kees should be congratulated on two points. Firstly, to have brought to the 21st century the idea of Guralick and Jorgensen’s 'Elvis Day By Day'. Secondly, for the time and effort that such an endeavor requires. Believe me, I know. I have written several books. It is hard work. Long hours of research resulting in blurry vision and sore wrists. I can also tell that Kees does not do this for the money. To sell a 312 page book of this quality, with color throughout, for only $44 does not leave any room for profit.
With its gorgeous design, its amount of information, 'Elvis Day By Day 2020 - The Year in Review' confirms that Elvis has even now a presence to be reckoned with. It is a must for every Elvis fan. It is a book I will go back to time and time again. Thank you Kees for your work.
March 2021, Paul Belard.
Review Elvis Day By Day by Elvis Author and Collector Carlos R. Ares (Argentina)
A Helluva Idea
When I was just 12 years old back in 1961, thanks to the American 'Teen Screen' I discovered the existence of an English magazine devoted 100% to Elvis Presley: the glorious 'Elvis Monthly'.
Very soon I began to receive my subscriptions of the mag from far away England. In them I discovered both the pen and heart of a true pioneer of the Elvis World: Albert Hand.
I vividly recall my anticipation and subsequent joy at receiving his incredible 'Elvis Specials' in which one could read about everything that had happened Elvis-wise in any given year not just once but over and over again.
"Day By Day 2020' brought me that same feeling.
Now, 43 years after Elvis’ passing, it is unbelievable that a 311-page book compiling all the Elvis Presley releases of 2020 alone can be put out.
And the book is far from being simply a list of the releases for it includes a thorough and exhaustive analysis of each and every single one of them.
Research, compilation, editing and design were carried out by Kees Mouwen, with editorial assistance and proofreading by Nigel Patterson. Many articles by (and with) Piers Beagley and Nigel Patterson were extracted with permission from the Elvis Information Network website to complete the picture of the year.
I must mention Kees' wit when analyzing some key releases such as ‘Elvis At The Hayride’ ('Little Mamma' with better audio, 'I Forgot To Remember To Forget' at its correct speed) by Henrik Knudsen - Memphis Mansion.
Also the fantastic in-depth analysis of the FTD's 'Something For Everybody' and 'That's The Way It Is - 50th Anniversary Collectors’ Edition' and many more.
Needless to say that I feel more than proud to be part of this great piece with my book 'Elvis@Argentina 1963-1969' that has gotten such a wonderful review.
Thanks once again, Kees!
Just quit whatever you are doing and go out and get this wonderful piece of work available at Henrik Knudsen's Memphis Mansion before it sells out.
2021 is already in the works, no doubt it will be another hit!
March 2021 / Carlos R. Ares.
Praise from readers for Elvis Day By Day 2020 - The Year In Review
In January 2020 I released the first volume of 'Elvis Day By Day - The Year in Review'. The reactions were positive and several readers described the book as a 2.0 version of the annual Elvis Specials that were published from 1963 to 1985.
The first reactions to the 2020 edition:
- I strongly recommend this magnificent book. An essential book, an absolute reference. The only regret is that this kind of book should have existed 40 years ago. This would could be a very interesting series of books, done by the same author, on everything that has been released since 1977. An absolute dream for me because I like this kind of reference material. I have already spent hours reading it and I'm going to spend more, that's for sure. I recommend this book and there is one from last year too, these books are just awesome. Well done
- I really liked the way you "built" them, with reviews, interviews and so on interlaced with the day to day stuff. I am very impressed! And it's like you say, holding one of the books in your hands really makes you realize how much is going on in the Elvis world.
- The books are a dream - in terms of layout, quality, and content.
- Just got the book. It is great. You must spend a lot of time on it. The result is worth it. The amount of news is incredible. Magnificent job (Paul Belard, Elvis author).
- I can really recommend it. A good reference book about what is happening in Elvis area and a detailed overview with reviews of what has been done in 2020. Highly recommended.
- Kees Mouwen has done a fabulous job, creating a beautiful, stylish and colorful look to the book with even more impact than last year's edition. It features a pile of unique reviews - some very interesting vinyl reviews - as well as a fascinating comparison between the two TTWII deluxe releases from Erik Lorentzen and FTD. There is also a delightful foreword by Alanna Nash.
- When I first heard about the book last year I thought “Why?” - but no longer. I love the concept and it makes sure you don’t miss anything. I really like it. The book make so much sense.
- I just received the books and quickly browsed through it and my first reaction is: Wow, the books look beautiful, neat and visually attractive. What a wealth of information and what a lot of work you have put into this! Hereby the reservation for the 2021 edition :-)
- They say there's nothing like a good book, and this is nothing like a good book because it's way better than that!
- Received my copy today and my head is spinning around and around, OUTSTANDING!
- Kees Mouwen, you haven't said too much. The yearbook has become breathtakingly beautiful. Beautiful layout, beautiful photos and a lot to read, a must for the collector, on to the 2021 yearbook 👍
- These books are beautiful, the content is well laid out. I had a good time reviewing his last two years.
- This is a must have for all Elvis fans. Love it!
- I've been a fan since 1966 and Elvis has been with me ever since. I'm sure I'll like your book, the first one was beyond awesome.
- I just ordered it, I can't wait to receive it, I loved last year's one a reference and high quality book. I hope this will be repeated over several years.
- Super idea! Great overview, made by fans for fans. Five Stars.
Previews (click to enlarge):
