January 30 - Houston Astrodome Vinyl

The VV import label announced the release of ‘Houston Astrodome Sunday March 03, 1974’, a Special Deluxe LP / CD set as a follow-up to follow up to the ‘Houston, I’m Back Again’ set(s). The release is set for early February 2021.

From the press release: To be released soon by the from the VV-label is the vinyl debut of the Houston March 3rd 1974 concert performance (a soundboard-recording) with an unreleased ambiance recording of the March 2nd 1974 show as recorded  at the Oral Roberts University, Tulsa OK. as a bonus. 

The VV-label tries to present Elvis at his best, and without a doubt this double set does just that. After shedding some extra weight our man is ready to embark on his first tour of 1974. 

March 1974 started with two great shows in Tulsa before Elvis departed to Houston for two shows in the Astrodome where he beat his own audience record from 1970. The Houston show is usual as there is a large distance to cover by Elvis and his band towards his adoring crowd and there is no place for orchestra. On this set this show debuts, completely remastered, on vinyl. 

At the same time we are glad to include an unreleased ambiance recording of the previous day in Tulsa. The sound is decent, and if you want to experience the atmosphere of an Elvis concert in 2021, this is the right tape. We can guarantee that Elvis was greeted with incredible enthusiasm. 

Although Elvis is no longer the rocker he was in 1970, this tour presents Elvis still at the top of his abilities. He still looked great in his impressive jumpsuits and delivered good shows with great versions of his classic hits, new repertoire like ‘Help Me’ and the show-stoppers ‘American Trilogy’ and ‘How Great Thou Art’.

The set comes on 180 Gr. vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve holding the bonus CD and a 30 x 30 cm double sided art-card. The set is limited to 400 copies in 4 variations, all with exclusive bonus content: 130 copies on black vinyl, 100 copies on red vinyl, 100 copies on blue vinyl and a limited edition box set - 70 copies - with exclusive content. 

Tracks LP March 3rd, 1974 08.00 PM Show:

Side A:  See See Rider  / I Got  A Woman - Amen / Love Me / Trying To Get To You / All Shook Up / Love Me Tender / Johnny B. Goode / Hound Dog / Fever / Polk Salad Annie / Why Me Lord?

Side B:  Suspicious Minds / Band Introduction / I Can’t Stop Loving You / Help Me / How Great Thou Art (with reprise) / Let Me Be There (with reprise) / Funny How Time Slips Away / Dialogue / Can’t Help Falling In Love / Closing Vamp

Bonus CD - Complete Unreleased Ambience Recording March 2nd 1974 08.00 PM Show:

CC Rider / I Got A Woman - Amen / Love Me / Trying To Get To You / Sweet Caroline / Love Me Tender / You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling /  Johnny B Goode / Hound Dog / Fever / Polk Salad Annie / Why Me Lord ? / My Baby Left Me / Suspicious Minds / Band Introductions / I Can’t Stop Loving You / Help Me / An American Trilogy / Let Me Be There / Funny How Time Slips Away / Can’t Help Falling In Love (missing). 

(Source: FECC)

January 30 - Charts January 2021 - Week 4

The weekly global Elvis Presley chart update. This week, only the standard compilation we've seen on the chart for the past year(s).

A nice exception in the U.K. where the 'From Elvis In Nashville' album listed in the Top 3 of a niche U.K. country album chart. 

 

U.S. Billboard charts:

• Billboard Top 200 chart: 'The Essential Elvis Presley' reentry #154.
• Billboard Top Christian Album chart: 'Elvis: Ultimate Gospel' climbed from #41 to #38.
• Billboard Top Rock Album chart: 'The Essential Elvis Presley' re-entry #26.
• Billboard Top Country Album chart: 'The Essential Elvis Presley' re-entry #15.

Official U.K. chart:

• Official Album chart: 'The 50 Greatest Hits' climbed from #63 to #59.
• Official Album chart: 'The 50 Greatest Hits' climbed from #48 to #49. 
• Official Country Compilation Album chart: 'From Elvis In Nashville' remained steady #3.
• Official Music DVD chart: 'Elvis At The Movies' new entry #24.
• Official Music DVD chart: 'The Elvis Collection' climbed from #42 to #41.

(Source: Official Chart Company / UK Mix Forum)

January 29 - The His Hand In Mine Sessions (and More)

The Follow That Dream collector's label announced the release of 'The His Hand In Mine Sessions' 3-CD-set. With February / March 2021 as the release-date. 

After the release of the double "His Hand In Mine" in 2006 there is now a 3-CD with numerous unreleased takes. During this gospel session the song 'Surrender' was also canned. These takes are also included in the triple release. 65 master and takes in total! 

This 8 inch deluxe 3-CD package features a 28-page booklet with an insightful essay, recording data, memorabilia and rare photos.

CD 1 - The Original Album:

His Hand In Mine - I’m Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs - In My Father’s House (Are Many Mansions) - Milky White Way - Known Only To Him - I Believe In The Man In The Sky - Joshua Fit The Battle - He Knows Just What I Need - Swing Down Sweet Chariot - Mansion Over The Hilltop - If We Never Meet Again - Working On The Building

The Original Singles Sides: Crying In The Chapel - Surrender

CD 2 - The October 1960 Sessions:

Milky White Way (Take 1 - 3) - Milky White Way (Take 4 - 5) - Milky White Way (Take 6 - 7/M) - His Hand In Mine (Take 1) - His Hand In Mine (Take 2 - 4) - His Hand In Mine (Take 5) - His Hand In Mine (Splice Of Take 5 & 4/M) - I Believe In The Man In The Sky (Take 1) - I Believe In The Man In The Sky (Take 2 - 3) - I Believe In The Man In The Sky (Take 4/M) - He Knows Just What I Need (Take 1) - He Knows Just What I Need (Take 2 - 4) - He Knows Just What I Need (Take 5 - 7) - He Knows Just What I Need (Take 8) - He Knows Just What I Need (Take 9) - He Knows Just What I Need (Take 10/M) - Surrender (Take 1) - Surrender (Take 2) - Surrender (Take 3 - 4/M) - Surrender (Take 5 - 6) - Surrender (Take 7) - Surrender (Take 8 - 9) - Surrender (work part for Take 4, Take 1 - 7)

CD 3 - The October 1960 Sessions (Continued):

Mansion Over The Hilltop (Take 1) - Mansion Over The Hilltop (Take 2 - 3/M) - In My Father’s House (Are Many Mansions) (Take 1 - 6) - In My Father’s House (Are Many Mansions) ) (Take 7) - In My Father’s House (Are Many Mansions) (Take 8) - In My Father’s House (Are Many Mansions) (Work Part, Take 1) - In My Father’s House (Are Many Mansions) (Splice Of Take 8 & Work Part Take 1/M) - Joshua Fit The Battle (Take 1) - Joshua Fit The Battle (Take 2) - Joshua Fit The Battle (Take 3) - Joshua Fit The Battle (Take 4/M) - Swing Down Sweet Chariot (Take 1) - Swing Down Sweet Chariot (Take 2 - 3) - Swing Down Sweet Chariot (Take 4/M) - I’m Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs (Take 1/M) - I’m Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs (Take 2 - 3) - I’m Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs (Take 4) - I’m Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs (Take 5) - If We Never Meet Again (Take 1/M) - Known Only To Him (Take 1 - 2) - Known Only To Him (Take 3 - 4) - Known Only To Him (Take 5/M) - Crying In The Chapel (Take 1) - Crying In The Chapel (Take 2 - 3/M) - Working On The Building (Take 1) - Working On The Building (Take 2) - Working On The Building (Take 3 - 4) - Working On The Building (Take 5/M)

The label also announced that do a limited re-print of the 'American Sound 1969' 5-CD-set along with several other Classic Album titles. 

Elvis' pivotal Year of 1969 celebrated with Elvis: American Sound 1969 featuring over 90 tracks of rare and unreleased material from Elvis' 1969 legendary American Sound Studio sessions, including 'In The Ghetto' and 'Suspicious Minds'. FTD also advises that they will only be manufacturing to satisfy initial orders.

The label also announced that a number of other tittles that will be re-pressed, these albums will be available at the end of March 2021:

• FTD 65 Raised On Rock
• FTD 073 Love Letters From Elvis
• FTD 075 Elvis Country
• FTDD 77 Elvis In Person
• FTD 088 Elvis Now
• FTD 105 Promised Land
• FTD 106 The Wonderful World of Christmas
• FTD 141 Elvis (NBC -TV)
• FTD 152 The Last Movies

Postponed

Warner Bros.’ biographical drama about the life and times of Elvis Presley was  postponed from November 5th 2021 to June 3rd 2022.

The movie was pushed back because it’s still in production in Australia. Sources say the film has another five weeks of material to shoot so it wouldn’t have been completed in time for its original release date. It started to film last March, but had to shut down production because Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson tested positive for coronavirus. Hanks and Wilson were the first Hollywood celebrities to go public with their diagnosis and have since recovered.

Colored Vinyl

Sony Legacy re-issued Elvis Presley's 1956 debut album, 'Elvis Presley' on white colored vinyl. 

The DOL / Vinylogy label announced the re-release of Elvis Presley's second album, simply title 'Elvis', on 180 Gr. orange colored vinyl. The LP should be available February 2021.

Gold Record Award

The British Phonographic Industry (B.P.I.) awarded Elvis Presley a Gold Record Award for the 'That's The Way It Is' Album' - Legacy Edition, released August 4th 2014 - for selling over 100,000 copies (streams plus digital downloads plus physical sales).

Sold

Sun Records - the storied Memphis label that helped midwife the birth of rock 'n' roll - has been sold to New York-based music company, Primary Wave. The sale, first reported by The New York Times, includes the entire Sun Records catalog - everything but Elvis - as well as the Sun Records logo and branding, sells for US$30 Million. Then deal includes the works of legendary Rock and Roll stars Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.

The Sun label, founded by visionary producer Sam Phillips in 1952, first sold in 1969 to Nashville music entrepreneur Shelby Singleton. After purchasing the company from Phillips, Singleton formed the Sun Entertainment Corporation, which controlled the Sun music and logo for the next 52 years (though the Phillips family would continue to maintain a small interest in the company).

Singleton died in 2009, but this week his brother, John A. Singleton, confirmed that the Sun holdings had sold — for an undisclosed price, though estimated to be around $30 million — to Primary Wave, continuing the recent trend of high-profile music asset sales.

(Source: UEPS / Deadline / Variety/ Amazon / Elvis Presley Gesellshaft / Phoenix Elvis Forum / Commercial Appeal)

January 27 - Elvis Day By Day 2020 Released!

The book 'Elvis Day By Day 2020 - The Year in Review' has been released! This is the second volume in the 'Day By Day' Elvis yearbook series. 

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.  

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.

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.

For previews, visit the >>> 'Elvis Day By Day 2020' page. 

Available at:

The book is available for European fans at the >>> Memphis Mansion online shop.

If you want an autographed copy, contact Kees Mouwen at >>> by e-mail.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Brexit shipping from Europe is expensive. So for a for Elvis fans outside Europe, the book is available through your local Amazon shop. 

Click here for >>> Amazon.com.

Click here for >>> Amazon.co.uk.

If you want to keep your series complete, the 'Elvis Day By Day 2019' book is available >>> here. 

The book comes in two editions, just like the 2019 edition, a paperback version and a hardback. The latter, a bit more expensive as it is made print-on-demand', comes with 24 bonus pages holding 8 additional reviews. 

Hardcover edition available >>> here.

The publishing platform currently has a 30% discount and free shipping. Use the code IHEART30.

https://www.blurb.com/b/10561490-elvis-day-by-day-2020

Praise for Elvis Day By Day 2019 - 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. 

"This is an informative and easy to read book for fans and collectors, only when you read it you know what you missed. It should have been done years ago."  

"I definitely recommend this book. It offers an excellent overview of everything Elvis has done in 2019."

"It’s brilliant, nothing sure of absolutely brilliant … Get it if you can, you will not be disappointed."

 "It is extremely well laid out - in full colour, easily accessible and fully illustrated."

"There is nothing like this book, very original, and stands up to the best books out there of Elvis 10/10." 

"What an amazing book this is! … I do try to keep up with all things Elvis but was pleasantly surprised to read something new to me on nearly every page! … Of course almost all of this can be found if you want to search the internet, however the book puts it all together in a much more accessible way." 

January 26 - Elvis On Speedway

Released in the 'Warner Archives' series by Warner Bros. was the DVD 'Speedway' starring Elvis opposite Nancy Sinatra. 

Elvis On ... Red Vinyl

The Music On Vinyl label announced the release of the 1970 classic 'On Stage' album on 180 Gr. audiophile transparent red vinyl, housed in a printed sleeve and with an additional bonus poster. This release is limited to 2500 copies.

Description: 'On Stage' is a live album by legendary American singer Elvis Presley. Recorded in Las Vegas in 1969-1970, the album was a follow-up to From Memphis to Vegas/From Vegas to Memphis. The album features the worldwide number one single “The Wonder of You”, written by Baker Knight and originally recorded by Vince Edwards.

Letters of Colonel Tom Parker

Another confirmation that music writer and Elvis author Peter Guralnick is working on a new book around the “letters” of Colonel Tom Parker. In an interview with Jim Patterson (for chapter16.org) Peter Guralnick said: I’ve started now on a project that initially I wanted to start 20 years ago, which was a collection of Colonel Parker’s letters, which I would select and annotate and introduce. That’s actually becoming a reality.

This will give us a completely different picture of Colonel Parker than most people have, because the letters are so eloquent, so witty, also so smart and so to-the-point that they’re just fascinating.

I learnt when I told both Sam Phillips and Col Parker the title of the first volume of my biography of Elvis, “Last Train to Memphis,” Sam got hugely indignant. “So what are you talking about? The last train? There’s going to be lots

more trains. This isn’t the last train. You know, the future is looking bright ahead.”

At the time Col Parker said to me, “What are you talking about? We took trains and buses... You know, money doesn’t grow on trees.” So I thought, okay, that’s it. No more revelations along those lines.

The Best Things To Come Out Of America

In a U.K. poll among 2,000 Brits on the best things that came out of America Netflix scored the #1 spot in these Covid-19 times. Elvis Presley was listed at #9, beating NASA, Marten Luther King, Star Wars, Harley Davidson and many other big names and brands. 

The Top 3: 

1. Netflix

2. Disney

3. Coca Cola

4. McDonald’s

5. Apple

6. KFC

7. Barack Obama

8. Hollywood movies

9. Elvis Presley

10. NASA

(Source: Amazon / Music On Vinyl / Elvis Information Network / The Scottish Sun)

January 24 - Flexi Dragon King

The first issue of the forthcoming quarterly Elvis Unlimited magazine from the Memphis Mansion comes with a flexi-disc featuring the movie version of 'King Creole'. 

Night of the Dragon

The Straight Arrow import-label released the 'Night of the Dragon' double CD featuring the August 28th 1974 Dinner and Midnight Show performances as recorded from the audience at the Las Vegas Hilton. 

The audio used for this release comes from recently discovered new sources that have not been in circulation before, housed in a deluxe 4-panel double digi-pack featuring a collection of images taken on stage during Elvis' 1974 Las Vegas Summer season.

CD1 – Wednesday, August 28, 1974 Dinner Show:

01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - 06. It's Midnight - 07. Big Boss Man - 08. Fever - 09. Love Me Tender - 10. All Shook Up - 11. I'm Leavin' - 12. Softly As I Leave You (with Sherrill Nielsen) - 13. Hound Dog - 14. An American Trilogy - 15. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra - 16. If You Talk In Your Sleep - 17. Help Me - 18. My Boy - 19. How Great Thou Art  - 20. Let Me Be There (with reprise) - 21. Hawaiian Wedding Song - 22. Can't Help Falling In Love - 23. Closing Vamp.

Bonus tracks (recorded from soundboard, August 28th, 1974 D/S):

24. Help Me - 25. My Boy - 26. How Great Thou Art.

CD2 – Wednesday, August 28, 1974 Midnight Show:

01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - 06. It's Midnight - 07. Big Boss Man - 08. Fever - 09. Love Me Tender - 10. All Shook Up - 11. I'm Leavin' - 12. Softly As I Leave You (with Sherrill Nielsen) - 13. Hound Dog - 14. An American Trilogy - 15. Introductions of singers, musicians, orchestra - 16. Introduction of Tom Jones - 17. If You Talk In Your Sleep - 18. Why Me, Lord? - 19. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - 20. How Great Thou Art - 21. Let Me Be There (with reprise) - 22. Hawaiian Wedding Song - 23. Monologue - 24. Can't Help Falling In Love - 25. Closing Vamp.

(Source: Anthony Stuchbury / FECC)

January 23 - Charts January 2021 - Week 3 (Update 26/01)

The weekly global Elvis Presley chart update. Christmas is definitive over, the usual albums retain their chart positions. 

In the U.S. the 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' compilation gets a 'Wandering Start' label - reserved for long-absent albums returning to the charts - for returning to the Billboard Top 200 chart for the first time since 2019.

In the U.K. the 'From Elvis In Nashville' release is still listed in the Top 3 of the Country Compilations chart.

Official U.S. Billboard charts:

• Billboard Top 200 Album chart: 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' re-entry 190.
• Billboard Top Christian Album chart: 'Elvis: Ultimate Gospel' dropped from #36 to #41.
• Billboard Top Rock Album chart: 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' re-entry 31.
• Billboard Top Country Album chart: 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' re-entry 20.

Official U.K. charts:

• Official Album Top 100 chart: 'The 50 Greatest Hits' dropped from #55 to #63. 
• Official Album Top 100 chart: 'The 50 Greatest Hits' dropped from #47 to #49.
• Official Country Compilations chart: 'From Elvis In Nashville' remained steady #3.
• Official Music DVD chart: 'The Elvis Collection' climbed from 46 to #42.

(Source: Official Chart Company / UK Mix Forum)

January 22 - Don't Be Cruel

Henrik Knudsen is working on a new book about Elvis' former bass-player Bill Black. 

After leaving' Elvis' band he had a career of his own with the Bill Black Combo. The working title for this project is 'Don't Be Cruel - The Story of Bill Black'. Bill Black's brother, Johnny Black, contributes to the project, which will be released by the Memphis Mansion. Cover shown is a mock-up.

(Source: Henrik Knudsen)

January 21 - More Classic Albums

The Avid Rock 'n' Roll budget label released the third installment in their 'Elvis Presley - Four Classic Albums Plus' series. This volume contains tracks from the LPs and EPS 'Rock 'n' Roll', 'Elvis Presley', 'Good Rockin' Tonight', Loving You', 'Elvis' Golden Records' and 'Elvis' Golden Records - Volume 2'.  

Top 10 Best Elvis Albums

The German branch of Rolling Stone magazine listed their Top 10 Best Elvis albums

01. Elvis Presley (1956)

02. Elvis (1956)

03. Loving You (1957)

04. King Creole (1958)

05. Elvis Is Back! (1960)

06. Pot Luck (1962)

07. Comeback Special (1968)

08. From Elvis In Memphis (1969)

09. Back in Memphis (1970)

10. Elvis Country (1971)

(Source: Elvis Club Berlin \ Amazon / Rolling Stone)

January 19 - Girl Happy with Warner Archives

Released in the 'Warner Archives' series was the DVD 'Girl Happy' starring Elvis as club singer Rusty Wells opposite one of his favorite leading ladies, Shelley Fabares. 

(Amazon)