August 16 - 34 Years Ago

Media outlets from around the world are marking the 34th anniversary of Elvis Presley's passing by taking a look at how his legacy endures today. People Magazine features a photo from last night's Candlelight Vigil at Graceland. The Washington Post has re-issued its first article about Elvis written by Jack Stone on May 27, 1956. The article describes how the young man from Memphis released lyrics "like reluctant machine-gun bullets." 

The Associated Press talked with fans from as far away as Brazil about how Elvis has impacted their lives. Business news network CNBC featured an interview with Elvis Presley Enterprises CEO Jack Soden and Elvis' close friend George Klein about why the King of Rock 'n' Roll still reigns to this day.


(Source: EPE)

August 15 - 48 Hours To Memphis

The last information is for the date august 16 after Ernst Jorgensen has made the announcement at the graceland plaza in Memphis:

FTD will release in September “48 hours to Memphis”. A Live Concert registration from March 18, 1974 in Richmond Virginia. This recording was made 2 days before “Recorded live on stage in Memphis”. The song “How great thou art” from “Recorded live on stage in Memphis” won Grammy Award for best gospel performances.

It’s an unbelievable discovery: The recording “48 hours to Memphis” came from a newly discovered, unmarked tape which later appeared to be a copy of the 16-track recording machine. Ernst Jorgensen said that he got the tape from a Dutch fellow who had come to acquire the tape some years back. And, yes, he confirmed the engineers were testing the equipmenet for the Memphis show.

People who attended the concert from Richmond and heard “48 hours to Memphis” believe that this recording came closest to the actual experience of an Elvis Presley concert. This CD will be presented as an 7” album with a 16-page booklet featuring never before seen photos of the actual concert.


Four Days In '56


During a presentation by Ernst Jørgensen and Roger Semon in Memphis Ernst Jorgensen FTD talked about the release of a book project in November entitled "Four Days In '56". A 200 page book that is being produced as a companion release to the "Young Man With The Big Beat" which is due for release on September 27th.

SUN Book?


Ernst Jørgensen also talked about the progress his long-awaited deluxe SUN Book/CD set. He noted that it could be "technically finished" by the end of 2011. Their "ambition" is to have it out in April 2012. The proofreading has been done, but there were still improvements being made to some of the rougher recordings. Jørgensen added that though the ongoing delay is unfortunate, the good news is that during the recent additional work, he's found another new 25 photos to consider for the project.


Tracklisting 48 Hours To Memphis:


Also Sprach Zarathustra (Richard Strauss) See See Rider (Trad. Arr. E. Presley) I Got A Woman - Amen (Ray Charles) (J. Hairston) Love Me (J. Leiber / M. Stoller) Trying To Get To You (Singleton / McCoy) All Shook Up (O. Blackwell / E. Presley) Steamroller Blues (James Taylor) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel (K. Mann / B. Lowe) (O. Blackwell / E. Presley) Love Me Tender (V. Matson / E. Presley) Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On / Your Mama Don't Dance / Flip Flop And Fly / Jailhouse Rock / Hound Dog (Johnson / Penniman / Blackwell) (Williams / David) (Loggins / Messina) (Big Joe Turner) (Leiber / Stoller) (Leiber / Stoller) Fever (Davenport / Cooley) Polk Salad Annie (T.J. White) Why Me Lord (Kris Kristofferson) Suspicious Minds (Mark James) Band Introductions I Can’t Stop Loving You (Don Gibson) Help Me (Larry Gatlin) American Trilogy (Mickey Newbury) Let Me Be There (with Reprise) (John Rostill) Funny How Time Slips Away (Willie Nelson) Can’t Help Falling In Love (Peretti / Creatore / Weiss) Closing Vamp Bonus songs Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond) Johnny Be Goode (Chuck Berry) That’s Allright (Arthur Crudup)

A Message from Lisa Marie Presley at Candlelight Vigil


The following message below from Lisa Marie Presley was read tonight to fans who gathered at the gates of Graceland for the annual Candlelight Vigil during Elvis Week 2011:


Dear Friends:


Thank you so much for being here and continuing to honor the legacy of my father. Your ongoing love and support mean very much to me and my family.  My father always said he had the best fans in the world, and he was right. The fact that you are here to celebrate his life 34 years after his passing is a testament to that.



I hope you've enjoyed our new exhibits at Graceland and I look forward to being involved personally with a very special exhibit called "Elvis Through His Daughter's Eyes" opening in the Spring of next year.


Before we know it, it will be Elvis Week 2012, which as you all know as the 35th anniversary will be special time. I look forward to being there with you, my mother and entire family.


Thank you all and I'll see you next August.


LMP

(Source: ElvisMatters / EPE)

August 14 - Bossa Nova Summer Hit

The 'Viva Elvis' remix of 'Bossa Nova Baby', which was used in a commercial for Heineken in Ireland, landed a #2 spot on Irelands iTunes Top 100 Rock chart. The song first entered the chart July 27th. in Ireland and pppeared on charts in Belgium, Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland.


Heartbreak Hotel CD

The belgian ElvisMatters fan club announced the content of the CD that comes with volume 34 of their fan club magazine. This time the theme song is 'Heartbreak Hotel', because of the upcoming box "Young Man With The Big Beat". It contains  Elvis's original version, a parody by Stan Freberg and even the original recording of "The Condition I'm In" by Roy Hawkins - it was that song after which "Heartbreak Hotel" was patterned.
There's more, a CD First as well, with the first CD pressing of "If The Lord Wasn't Walking By My Side" by singer/writer Henry Slaughter (read the interview in the magazine, and hear the actual song on CD) and we have an interview excerpt of Elvis talking about his Messerschmitt car. 


Historical Marker For Lansky Bros.


The Lansky Bros. clothing store received a historical marker in front of the original location at 126 Beale Street. The marker tells the Lansky Bros. story and their connection with Elvis. The unveiling ceremony was attended by over a hundred people, including Bernard Lansky's grandchildren and 'Master of Ceremony' George Klein. Bernard Lansky attended the unveiling too, but did not speech.


(Source: iTunes / Elvis Express / ElvisMatters)

August 13 - August Reloaded By A Legendary Performer

The Touchdown import label announced the release of 'Elvis - August Reloaded'. The CD, due early september 2011, contains a 'big upgrade' of the original audience recording release of the August 21, 1970 Dinner Show according to the press-release.

New 'Elvis Presley in Concert' 2012 European Dates

More new dates have been announced for the return of Elvis Presley in Concert! The multi-media production now coming to coming to Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland, Monday, March 5 as well as  the Lotto Arena in Antwerp, Belgium, on Tuesday, March 6, 2012.

• Mon Mar 05 2012 - 8:00 p.m.     Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland
• Tues Mar 06 2012 - 8:00 p.m.    Lotto Arena, Antwerp, Belgium
• Wed Mar 07 2012 - 8:00 p.m.     Ahoy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
• Fri Mar 09 2012 - 8:00 p.m.        Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield   
• Sat Mar 10 2012 - 8:00 p.m.       Manchester MEN Arena   
• Sun Mar 11 2012 - 8:00 p.m.      SECC, Glasgow   
• Fri Mar 16 2012 - 8:00 p.m.        The O2 Arena, London   
• Sat Mar 17 2012 - 8:00 p.m.       Wembley Arena, London   
• Sun Mar 18 2012 - 8:00 p.m.      LG Arena, The NEC 

A Legendary Perfomer

The Wolfcall import label announced the release of volumes 17 and 18 in their 'A Legendary Perfomer' series. The CDs contain respectively 26 and 25 alternative versions of songs recorded by Elvis Presley. The CDs should be out August 2011.

(Source: EPE / FECC / EP-Gesellschaft)

August 12 - I Was The One Mystery Girl

Cincinnati  Special Released


The import DVD 'Elvis : Live Live Live DVD Volume 2: The Cincinnati Special' was released. It includes a complete version of 'Johnny B. Goode', 'Always On My Mind' with different camera angles, an outstanding never released version of 'Words', the complete Fort Dix farewell interview and more. It also contains 80 minutes of Elvis in Cincinnati on March 21, 1976, both the afternoon and evening performances with 30 minutes of unreleased footage from the two shows. 


A bonus CD that comes with this release contains rare tracks with many unreleased versions.

•  Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall - undubbed master
•  She Thinks I Still Care - unedited undubbed master
•  The Last Farewell - False start, undubbed master
•  Moody Blue - overdubbed unedited master
•  Hurt - undubbed master
•  Love Coming Down - undubbed master
•  Sweet Angeline - undubbed master
•  Fool - long version
•  I've Lost You - undubbed master
•  Love Song Of The Year - undubbed master

Wertheimer's Elvis Presley Mystery Kisser Identity Revealed


If you're a fan of Elvis Presley, you certainly know the photograph entitled 'The Kiss'. The famous June 30, 1956 black-and-white photo features 'The King' smooching with a mysterious and unidentified woman. Who she was remained a mystery. Until now... More than five decades ago, a 21-year-old Elvis was caught on film giving a playful French kiss to a lovely--and unidentified--young woman.
The photo became iconic; but even the photographer, Alfred Wertheimer, didn't know who the girl was. Her name, if not her image, remained unknown for years. Until now. Barbara Gray a 75-year-old real estate manager from Charleston has stepped forward to claim the identity of Elvis's anonymous 'date for the day'.

Barbara Gray, who has endured seeing herself in the photo repeatedly--as well as in other shots from the famous series Wertheimer captured on a summer day in 1956--told Vanity Fair she has decided to reveal herself simply to get her story out fy contacting Alfred Wertheimer. Wertheimer, who had fielded many such messages from women over the years, said he ultimately identified Gray by her petite stature.


According to Gray, the day she was photographed with the King was the first day she met him. She'd called the singer at his hotel on a dare when he visited Charleston. The two made plans to meet up a couple days later in Richmond, Virginia. Wertheimer, at the time, happened to be following Presley on the road, chronicling with his camera the young singer's rise to fame. The rest? History.
Although Gray said she thought the budding young singer was 'beautiful', she felt no sparks for him. 'Maybe he had sparks', she noted in an interview with Today on Monday. 'But I didn't know who he was'.
At any rate, the photo session was apparently as fun as it appeared. 'He was very silly', Gray remembered. 'We were running around chasing each other and just being young'.
Wertheimer told Today he never thought to get Gray's name. 'I never realized these [photos] would become iconic', he explained. Inquiring minds probably are wondering: Did anything romantic come out of what appeared to be a magnetic photo session? Presley did ask Gray if she'd like to go out that night, but Gray responded that she was leaving to go to Philadelphia to see her boyfriend. She never saw the singer again.


Randers Citizen of 2011


Henrik Knudsen from the Danish Elvis Unlimited fan club who opened their copy of the Graceland Mansion in the city of Randers (Denmark) was pronounced 'Randers Citizen of 2011'. The museum was visited by 25,000 fans in the first months.


Charts

• This week, 'The Ultimate Elvis Presley Collection' rises from #90 to #37 on the Irish album chart.
• 'The Essential' drops from #19 to #54 on this week's album chart in Sweden.
• In its 199th week on the chart (Canadian Country Album chart), 'Elvis 30 #1 Hits' rises from #39 to #35.
• As of this week, 'An Afternoon In The Garden' has sold 108,000 copies in the US this year, which makes it the #18th best-selling catalogue album of the year (so far).

I Was The One

I Was The One is a new import CD is due out on August 16th. This is a new high-quality release of many an Elvis fan's favourite from the 1980's - the 1983 RCA stereo reworking of Elvis classics called 'I Was The One' which featured Elvis' original band members Scotty Moore, DJ Fontana, Emory Gordy and David Briggs. It contains the original album and six bonus tracks, original album artwork, a three panel figipack, including UK & US sleeves.


(Source: FECC / EPE / Elvis Australia / Elvis Unlimited)

August 11 - Desert Serenade Is A Zippin' Succes

The Zippin Pippin now has extended hours. The roller coaster, which opened May 21 as the latest attraction at Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay, was lit up for the first time Monday night. The city spent $3.8 million to acquire the Zippin Pippin rights and recreate the attraction at city-owned Bay Beach. The wooden roller coaster previously operated for several decades in Memphis, Tenn., where it was renowned as Elvis' favorite amusement park ride. With the new lighting system, the roller coaster will be able to run after dusk. Orion Energy Systems makes the lights that have been installed, and Orion Engineered Systems Of Wisconsin donated the product.


Officials originally projected that the city would need 200,000 riders annually, at $1 each, to make the roller coaster a financial success. That milestone was reached July 14, barely halfway through a season that continues until September. At the end of the day Sunday, the coaster had 310,778 riders.


Memphis Flyer



The August 11-17 edition of the Memphis Flyer featured Elvis Presley on the cover and contains the article 'Elvis Lives Here' on Graceland constantly reinventing itself, but it may be “time to write a big check.”


Promo CD Samplers: 


Those attending the Graceland Trivia Tour on Friday, August 12 and all VIP package holders will receive a 'Young Man With The Big Beat' CD sampler. This exclusive sampler features 3 songs from the new deluxe set.


Desert Serenade


The Touchdown Productions import release 'Desert Serenade', containing the former unreleased Midnight Show from August 16, 1972, as recorded in Las Vegas, was released. 


Changes coming to Cirque du Soleil's 'Viva Elvis'


Cirque du Soleil announced Wednesday that "Viva Elvis" will get a makeover to "make it less of a biographical representation of Elvis Presley and more of an acrobatic Cirque du Soleil spectacular production," according to a statement from the company's senior publicist, Renee-Claude Menard.
The Aria production will take an extended break in January. Cirque and its landlord already had "common agreement" that "the bio expression of Elvis is not necessarily appealing to our demographic, the type of demographics we'd like to have, so let's look at it a different way. Make it a Cirque du Soleil spectacular featuring Elvis as a singer," Menard said.
As such, the character of Elvis' manager, Tom Parker, as narrator likely will be eliminated, though "I think we have to wait until the changes are all done," Menard said. The size of the company will remain "at least the same, if not bigger," Menard said. The show will remain as is until the end of the year.
Failure is not an option for Cirque in Las Vegas, which has seven shows on the Strip and hasn't closed one since "Mystere" debuted in 1993. But 


"Viva Elvis" is the second consecutive production to undergo dramatic revision after underwhelming public and critical reception.


"The really big changes are taking time to come because they're expensive and needed approval," artistic director Gene Lubas said in January. "I want to use more Cirque trickery and magic to bring the show closer to the public."


(Source: EPE / FECC / Memphis Flyer)

August 10 - Elvis Hits #1

It looks like all of America is rockin’ to 'Elvis: The Great Performances' as it debuts at the top spot - #1 – on Billboard’s Top Music Video Sales chart this week. Released August 2, 2011, Elvis: The Great Performances 2 DVD Set (Hip-O/SOFA Entertainment) captures the talent, mesmerizing stage presence and charisma of the man known throughout the world as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. 


This collection follows Elvis’ career from his first televised appearance that shocked America and had everyone talking about his hip-shaking performance, to a sold-out concert a few weeks before his death on August 16, 1977. 


Charts

• The Elvis concert album, 'An Afternoon In The Garden' is on the rise, moving up from # 149 to # 123 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart.
• On the Billboard Catalogue Album Chart, 'An Afternoon In The Garden' does even better as it climbs from # 22 to # 10 on the Catalogue Album Chart for the week ended 20th August. 

(Source: EPE / FECC)

August 09 - Elvis’ Karate School To Be Demolished

The building which housed the old Tennessee Karate Institute (TKI) on the Corner of N. Cleveland Street and Overton Park Avenue was purchased by the Jehovah’s Witnesses Assembly which planned to demolish the building. The current lease holder has been given 12 months notice to vacate the premises before work begins.

Conversation With The King



The book 'Conversation With The King: Journals Of A Young Apprentice' by Elvis Presley's stepbrother David Stanley was announced with a December 2011 release-date. 


From the publisher:


“Conversations With The King - Journals of a Young Apprentice is a book about the extraordinary lessons that my stepbrother Elvis Presley, the private mystic and healer, taught me during my seventeen years as his young apprentice. It is also about the equally important lessons I learned from witnessing his titanic struggle between his most authentic spiritual self, his private demons and his feeling imprisoned by the public icon he had become.


This is the one Elvis story that has never been written because I’m the only one who could tell it. Only now do I at last understand that story well enough to share it in ways that will be healing to many, perhaps including you.


Why does Elvis continue to hold sway with millions around the world for reasons they don’t understand, even 34 years after his death? Conversations with the King: Journals of a Young Apprentice is your doorway into the secrets behind that mystery.
This book gives you never-before-available access to the wisdom and gifts Elvis never openly discussed in public. The untold stories each chapter contains revolve around a life lesson that invites you into discovering your answers to the mysteries of your life.
You’ll be enthralled by the messages this book illuminates. And regardless of whether Elvis means something to you, this book’s lessons are for all who seek to become more authentic, wise and enduringly happy.
These lessons may well transform your life. They certainly transformed mine. And they continue to do so to this day."

Original Album Classics



Another set of Elvis album classics are set for release on September 26th from Sony Music in the "Original Album Classics" series. This set contains 'Today' (1975), 'From Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis Tenn' (1976) and 'Moody Blue' (1977) This new 3 CD set is released on September 26th in the UK.

August 08 - Elvis Sa Vie Sa Carriere

The release of the DVD 'Elvis Sa Vie Sa Carriere' by the French Zylo label. The set, Due October 4, 2011,  contains a documentary, music and five postcards. 


The 'Essential Elvis' CD Gold


Last week, the 2CD compilation album ‘The Essential Elvis Presley’ re-entered the Swedish album chart at #22. This week, the album rises from #22 to #17. That is the best position the album has been listed on the chart since it left the Top10 back in September 2007.


The album has spent five weeks on the chart so far this year, which adds to a total of 34 weeks since its debut in 2007. ‘The Essential’ initially peaked at #1, and stayed in the Top10 for 8 consecutive weeks (#1 for two weeks). It was currently certified Gold in Sweden.

August 07 - Platinum Charts

Last week, the 3CD budget compilation album, 'The Ultimate Elvis Presley Collection' (released June 20th, 2011), debuted at #68 in Ireland. This week, the album dropped from #68 to #90.


The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) recently certified the ''68 Comeback Special' DVD 6x Platinum. This award recognizes 90,000 shipped copies in Australia.


(Source: FECC)