Sony Music Germany released the CD "Love Songs" on their RCA Int. label. This CD is the fourth re-issue the 2006 ballad compilation.
Greatest Hits Volume 1
The Victrola import label released the CD "Greatest Hits Volume 1"; a re-issue of the 1981 CD which was released by RCA Australia in a limited edition. This edition - limited too - comes in a deluxe fold-out digipack, with photos and in-depth liner-notes.
Karate Fever
The Straight Arrow import label released the CD "Karate Fever". It contains a previously unreleased audiencrecording of Elvis Presley's August 31, 1974 Dinner Show as recorded at the Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Elvis Christmas
The Creative Brainpool budget label released the CD "Elvis Christmas" in Germany.
Good News About John Wilkinson And Sherrill Nielsen
The latest PET and CT scans have shown that the tumors in Sherrill's lung have shrunk. According to his doctor, Sherrill is ahead of his recovery schedule. Chemo therapy will be continued for two and a half more weeks. Sherrill has not given up his plans of producing a new album together with his newly formed group Voice and his ideas of touring Europe again in 2011.
Our dear friend John Wilkinson sends all Elvis fans his best wishes. You'll be pleased to know that John is doing very well, despite the chemo therapy and radiation that he had to put up with. John recovers at home and makes excellent progress. (Source: Amazon / EPG / ElvisMatters)
The covers for two Elvis Presley books were announced. The first is a new cover for the JAT Publishing book "Viva Las Vegas". The second is the cover for the upcoming book "Paul Lichter Presents Elvis in Vegas".
Chart Update Week 18
On the Australian Music DVD chart the "Elvis The King Of Rock And Roll" compilation dropped 1 spot to #23 while the "The King" compilation CD drops 7 spots to #31.
Global Chart Update - Week 18
United States:
Top 50 Christian Albums:
• #31 (29) An Evening Prayer
Top 50 Catalog Albums:
• OUT (30) Elvis: 30 #1 Hits
Canada:
Top 50 Country Albums:
• #32 (32) Elvis: 30 #1 Hits
Australia:
Top 40 DVDs:
• #23 (22) Elvis: The King Of Rock ’N’ Roll
Top 50 Catalogue Albums:
• #31 (24) The King
• #46 (Re) Elvis: 30 #1 Hits
Golden Poem
The winners of the 27th annual Sony Radio Academy Awards, the UK’s most prestigious radio accolades, were announced at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. The Gold, Bronze and Silver winners of this year’s 34 categories were drawn from all sectors of the vibrant UK radio industry – illustrating its geographical spread and breadth of output. It was an evening where the winner was clearly UK Radio Inc.
The U2 frontman, who also turned 50 on Monday, was awarded the trophy for Best Music Special for his one-off broadcast celebrating the music of Elvis Presley - in which he read a poetic tribute to The King on Radio 4 last year (2009).
This entry combined a bold, kaleidoscopic approach with genuine editorial revelations. The original source material was enhanced to its full potential, creating a compelling listen and demonstrating the finest production values with material masterfully weaved into a stunning radio soundscape worthy of a Sony Gold Award.This entry combined a bold, kaleidoscopic approach with genuine editorial revelations.
The original source material was enhanced to its full potential, creating a compelling listen and demonstrating the finest production values with material masterfully weaved into a stunning radio soundscape worthy of a Sony Gold Award.
Elvis By Bono
Writer: Bono
Producer, Composer, Sound Engineer: Chris O'Shaughnessy Executive Producers: Laura Parfitt & Des Shaw.
A Canticle For Elvis
In his latest novel, A Canticle For Elvis (Storytellers), A. J. Ragland brings Elvis Presley back to life on January 8, 2035 in order to lead the world into a new age of ascended being. The adventure combines the best of light science fiction and metaphysics with a good dose of humor. Plus, Elvis gets to sing some new songs.
"Between 1949 and 1954, a young man from Tupelo, Mississippi, kept a secret journal documenting the prophetic insights he experienced while sleepwalking. He hid the journal, together with other treasures, in an old hatbox his mother had given him. Had scientists in his century detected the super-concentration of mitochondria that gives rise to a hybrid human every few thousand years, or understood the true nature of delta wave brain activity prevalent in the young and the gifted, they may have discovered as I did—this sleepwalking young man was not alone on his walks."
From the moment Gabriele Kendall, a Memphis DJ, hears Elvis singing from the sky, she is propelled on a journey through seven days of world-shaking miracles and confrontations with world leaders—to the King's return and her own immortality. Tagging along on the journey are a quartet of wise-cracking flying droids, a talking car, an android housekeeper and her retro-loving genius of a dad.
A Canticle For Elvis is Ragland's fourth novel and his first science-fiction. The story also include six new songs that pay homage to the King's hometown, Memphis, TN, and his life-long friends, George Klein and Jerry Schilling.
The four CD longbox "1971 Summer Festival" from the Showroom import Label was released. It contains 4 audience recordings of hows from the 1971 Summer Festival; August 21, Midnight Show, August 24 Midnight Show, August 30 Dinner Show and the September 3 Midnight Show.
The 3 CD set "The King" popped up; another public domain CD release, this time from Ireland.
Robert F.X. Sillerman Resigned
CKx, Inc. announced today that Robert F.X. Sillerman has resigned as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and from the Company's board, effective immediately. CKx, Inc. is the owner of the rights to Elvis Presley.
Mr. Sillerman cited as the reason for his resignation a desire to pursue other interests, including the possible acquisition of CKx as well as a desire to allow the Board to evaluate its strategic options should he pursue such an acquisition.
Unique Roustabout Single Sold
Collectors from all over the world have placed not less than 90 bids on a unique "Roustabout" single. This 45 rpm record on the Paramount Pictures label seems to be an alternative take. The eBay-seller even added an excerpt of both sides (click link below).
However, completely new it is not. On this promo is the master of Roustabout, on the other side is an alternate take of Roustabout. Don't be affraid you missed it because this alternate take is released on LP Memphis Tennesse in 1982 (Audifon 67670). But it's still a highly sought after release. It sold for a little over 1,100 $US.
Burning Star
The Portuguese Burning Love fan club published their May / June 2010 fan club magazine.
(Source: Commercial Appeal / ElvisMatters / Elvis Info Network)
Guitarist James Burton, whose licks have graced recordings and tours by artists ranging from Elvis Presley to John Denver, was recognized at the Louisiana Public Broadcasting Louisiana Legends Awards in Baton Rouge.
Each year Friends of LPB honors outstanding Louisiana citizens who have distinguished themselves in a variety of disciplines including writing, art, entertainment, politics, public service and athletics.
Burton, a Minden native who grew up in Shreveport before leaping into the greater world of popular music, joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and over the last decade has added the title philanthropist to his list of achievements through the annual James Burton Rock and Roll International Guitar Festival. Through that he raises money to purchase guitars and put music back in classrooms. He’s donated hundreds to students throughout Caddo and Bossier parishes.
The Louisiana Legends Awards gala serves as a fundraiser for Friends of LPB with proceeds going to support the programming and educational services provided by LPB. There was be a silent auction featuring items donated by the 2010 honorees themselves and by Louisiana businesses.
Elvis Presley Is Americans' 3# Musical Fave
Celine Dion and U2, together at last! At least, they're in close proximity as No. 1 and No. 2 in the rankings for Americans' favorite musical act, according to a Harris Poll released today. Whether alive or dead, Elvis Presley finished in a third-place tie with the Beatles.
Images 2
The Dutch Elvis For Everyone fan club announced the release of the second volume in the "Images" photobook. This volume is due May 2010.
The movie "Follow That Dream" was re-issued in France on DVD with the title "Sherif De Ces Dames" by Fox Pathe Europe.
Dr. Nick Speaks
It has been widely reported that Elvis Presley died in 1977 from cardiac arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat, possibly brought on by drug dependency, obesity and a weak heart. But the music legend's longtime friend and physician, Dr. George “Nick” Nichopoulos, has put pen to paper for the first time and revealed his belief that it was chronic constipation that actually killed the King of Rock and Roll.
“We didn’t realize until the autopsy that his constipation was as bad – we knew it was bad because it was hard for us to treat, but we didn’t realize what it had done," the doctor explains of Elvis' condition. "We just assumed that the constipation was secondary to the meds that he was taking for his arthritic pain and for his insomnia.”
According to Dr. Nick, the autopsy revealed that Presley’s colon was 5 to 6 inches in diameter (whereas the normal width is 2 to 3 inches) and instead of being the standard 4 to 5 feet long, his colon was 8 to 9 feet in length.
“The constipation upset him quite a bit because Elvis thought that he could handle almost anything, he thought he was really a man’s man and he wasn’t going to let something like this … he thought that this was a sign of weakness and he wasn’t going to be weak,” Nichopoulos said. “And it’s not the kind of thing you table talk. Back in the ‘60s and ‘70s you didn’t’ talk about constipation much, you didn’t’ hear people complaining about it, or saying what they did or how much trouble they had with it.”
The Naive label released the budget CD "Only Elvis!". The double CD "Christmas Today" from the Venus Productions import label was released; it combines the 1971 Christmas sessions and the 1975 Today sessions.
Tony Awards Nominations
The Big Apple bowed in the direction of the Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll on Tuesday, as two productions inspired by Memphis' legendary music earned a number of Tony Award nominations.
The musical "Million Dollar Quartet" has been nominated for three Tony Awards and features the moment when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins recorded together at Sun Record’s Memphis studio.
The nominations are for "Best Musical", "Best Book Of A Musical" and "Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical".
"Memphis" - the story of a white disc jockey who falls in love with an African- American singer along with the rhythm-and-blues of Beale Street and the new sounds of rockabilly - earned eight Tony nominations. The musical was inspired by eccentric real-life Memphis deejay Dewey Phillips, the first man to play Elvis Presley's music on the radio.
(Source: Amazon Germany / For Elvis CD Collectors / Health And Beauty News)
Memphis was fortunate enough to have not suffered any major flooding or damage after heavy rains moved through Memphis and across the state of Tennessee over the weekend. All roads, hotels, restaurants and Memphis area attractions such as Graceland and Beale Street were open and operating as normal.
On May 3, the Music Alliance Membran Gmbh (Sony Music) released the budget compilations "Don't Be Cruel" and "Christmas With Elvis Presley".
On the Australian Music DVD Top 40 the compilation "Elvis - The King Of Rock And Roll" slipped 3 spots to #22. The "The King" CD dropped 4 spots to #24 on the Top 50 Catalogue Chart.
Global Chart Update - Week 17
United States:
Billboard 200:
• OUT (184) Elvis 75 [1CD]
• OUT (199) Elvis: 30 #1 Hits
Top 200 Current Albums:
• OUT (163) Elvis 75 [1CD]
Top 50 Christian Albums:
• #29 (38) An Evening Prayer
The countrywide Belgian radiostation 'Radio 1' broadcasted the annual 'Classics' live show. Last year listeners (and website visitors) voted Elvis #1 as most remarkable voice heard on the radio, this year Elvis had three songs in the Top 200: Heartbreak Hotel (#173), "Jailhouse Rock (#69) and "Suspicious Minds" (#13).
Book Cover
The Dutch newspaper Volkskrant published a series of books on classic artists. The book on Warhol features Elvis Presley on the cover.
Follow That Dream Top 40
Compared to last month there is no visible movement in the Top 5 of the FTD Top 40. The recent "Elvis Now" has gathered its first votes, but is not storming the list like "Good Times" did.
The current Top 5:
1 (1) The Jungle Room Sessions (2000) 2 (2) Elvis Is Back! (2005) 3 (3) That's The Way It Is (2008) 4 (5) Elvis Country (2008) 5 (4) Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis (2004)
Import Top 40
Compared to last month the Top 5 of the Import Top 40 slightly changed. The classic "A Hot Winter Night In Dallas" climbed one spot, pushing "American Crown Jewels" back to number 3. At the bottom of the Top 10 "Brightest Star On Sunset Boulevard" occupies the numbers 8, 9 and 10: the two original volumes are just preceding the 2CD re-release.
The current Top 5 is:
1 (1) A Greensboro Revolution! (2008) 2 (3) A Hot Winter Night In Dallas (1998) 3 (2) American Crown Jewels (1996) 4 (4) Closing Night February 1970 (2008) 5 (5) One Night Only! (2006)
