April 12 - Silent Horn

Wayne Jackson has sent the Elvis Information Website this very sad message on the passing of Andrew Love April 12, 2012:
What can I say about my best friend, Andrew Love? He was the best man I knew. He was a great husband and father. He was a fabulous musician, and he left behind for us a wealth of recorded saxophone so we can continue to be amazed by him. How fortuitous of God to have put the two of us together. The first time I heard Andrew play was at the Manhattan Club with the Willie Mitchell band. I knew we would be perfect together. He had a big tone, and I had a big tone. And I knew that they would blend in the the most natural, beautiful way. We loved to laugh together. We laughed and traveled all over the world together making records with artists of all genres. Andrew and I knew we were blessed beyond most people. We got to do what we loved everyday and share our unique gifts. It all paid off this year with The Memphis Horns receiving the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.  
I will miss him - Wayne Jackson
As The Memphis Horns, they made music for five decades. They were forever just out of the spotlight, sidemen was the term, but their sound was front and center, furnishing the heart, soul, and ballast behind hit records by Elvis Presley (Memphis Sessions), Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, James Taylor, U2 and countless others. 

Elvis Advertisement


Sony used 'Elvis' for a new campaign for earphones. The Print Ad titled Elvis Presley was done by Welcom Publicis Worldwide advertising agency for product: Sony Earphone (brand: Sony) in South Korea. It featured the text 'Hello, Elvis: Like the King of Rock & Roll who captured the hearts of many women, feel the passion with full of vitality using XBA Sound' and was released April 2012.


(Source: Elvis Inormation Website / Advertlog)

April 10 - Vinyl

The Friday Music budget label re-issued the 1956 album 'Elvis' on 180gr vinyl.

April 09 - Delay '61

The 3764 BLVD Publishing label send out a press-release on the upcoming 'Hawaii '61' book / CD package. 

The press-release:
Due to recent developments and new contacts made, and new collaborations established, we have had to revise our release plans. We want to bring you the definitive product on Hawaii ’61, and not just a quickie money grabber as some might be tempted to do, hence our decision to delay our release for a few more weeks. 
Various top collectors have provided unique photos and other materials with us, which we intend to share with you. Moreover, we will have some surprising – no, make that revealing info – about the show and the way it was recorded. Some of this information will blow your mind! The basic concept of our release - the CD with ticket, promo photo and the vinyl issue – will remain the same.
However, the format of the book will be different, bigger, better and more photos. Wait a sec, make that more unreleased photos! Due to the large amount of new data about the show there will also be more text, and yes, more audio. We want to do this right, and even though we are doing our best to meet our deadline, we believe that our main goal should be a top of the line final product. That’s why “Elvis – Hawaii; for God and Country” will now be released this summer. We are all very excited about these recent developments and look forward to sharing all this with you. 
Thank you for your patience.



Graceland's Outdoor and Print Designs Win Multiple ADDY Awards


Elvis Presley Enterprises along with the graphic art team at Combustion are using award winning campaigns to help Elvis fans learn more about visiting Graceland. The 2011 Graceland print and outdoor advertising campaigns recently received multiple ADDY awards. 


The Elvis outdoor campaign received Best of Outdoor, Best Out-of-Home, and Best in Art Direction - Print at the Memphis ADDY awards. The Elvis Print Ad Campaign was honored in the Best in Consumer/ Trade Campaign category.
Combustion and Elvis Presley Enterprises also won three awards at the district level, including one gold and two silver ADDY Awards for outdoor advertising. Gold winners are forwarded to the national competition, where they will be judged along with winners from all districts. 
"The only way to create award-winning advertising is to have a great client-agency relationship, where you can feel free to bounce crazy ideas off each other and know that something really cool can come out of it," said Billy Riley of Combustion. 
Both campaigns featured photos of Elvis during 1956, the landmark year when he catapulted into stardom. The print ads, along with the outdoor billboards, encouraged Elvis fans to visit Graceland and included messages such as "Started a Revolution, Ended up a King," and "Broke the Rules, Then Broke the Records." 
"One of the things that endears Elvis to so many people is that he represents fun," said Riley. "Rock 'n' roll is fun. Having a close knit group of friends and family is fun. Youth is fun. Being successful and popular is fun. Tapping into that spirit is really key to what we try to do with these ads."
In honor of the 55th anniversary of Elvis' landmark year, Elvis Presley Enterprises and the Combustion design team decided on the common theme to help encourage Elvis fans to visit the place the king called home. 
"With practically 100% brand awareness, our primary objective with our annual tourism campaign is to remind potential guests that Graceland is here in Memphis and is an incredible experience that’s fun for the whole family,” said Scott Williams, Vice President of Marketing for EPE. “This campaign was also an opportunity for us to celebrate Elvis’ rise to fame in 1956.”
The Memphis ADDY awards highlight the best in local advertising and honors local campaigns with a devotion to design.



(Source: 3764BLVD Publishing / EPE)

April 08 - Paying The Dues

The Touchdown import label announced the release of two new titles. The first one, 'It's Into The Light'  was already announced, but now 'Payin' The Dues In Tahoe' was announced too. The CD, containing a recording from October 13, 1974 (MS) as recorded on  in Las Vegas comes with a 16 page booklet. 


Tracklisting: Payin´The Dues In Tahoe:
Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman / Amen - Greeting The Audience - Love Me - All Shook Up - Teddy Bear / Don‘t Be Cruel - Heartbreak Hotel - If You Love Me, Let Me Know - Fever - Big Boss Man - It‘s Midnight - Hound Dog - Joking With The Audience - Introductions Part 1 - Lawdy Miss Clawdy - Introductions Part 2 - Why Me Lord - I‘m Leavin‘ - Johnny B. Goode - Hawaiian Wedding Song - Let Me Be There - Can‘t Help Falling In Love


(Source: FECC / EPG)

April 07 - You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet At The Last Stop Hotel

The Chrome Dreams budgetlabel announced the may 12, 2012 release of the DVD 'Elvis The Last Stop Hotel'. 


From Amazon:
Many would claim that the music Elvis Presley made towards the end of his life paled in comparison with that he made in the 1950s. But, as is often the case in the King's career, re-appraisal of those later performances and recordings reveal a passion and vitality as charged as anything he'd recorded during earlier times. This film documents the final years of Elvis's life, with particular emphasis given to his last few months on earth, and details in depth his final days. Presented in documentary style with plenty of rare and previously unseen Elvis footage, exclusive interviews with those who were with The King during his final days (such as members of the 'Memphis Mafia', other friends and colleagues and his spiritual advisor) news clips, archive interviews with the man himself and numerous other features to make, in completion, the finest film yet on this part of Elvis Presley's life.


You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet

For fans of solo female artists with strong voices, times are booming. There’s Adele, of course, still commanding the charts; Norah Jones, set to release her Dangermouse-assisted new album in less than a month; and Fiona Apple, whose overdue comeback is prowling just around the corner. Now, add Lisa Marie Presley to the mix. After a seven-year absence, the scion of a legendary pop legacy is about to unleash the T Bone Burnett-produced Storm and Grace.
“When songs from Lisa Marie Presley showed up at my door, I was curious,” Burnett says of working on the record. “I wondered what the daughter of an American revolutionary music artist had to say.” “What I heard was honest, raw, unaffected, and soulful,” he continued. “I thought her father would be proud of her.” The album doesn’t hit shelves until May 15, but you can listen to the smoky, spooky lead single “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” exclusively here.


Click to listen.



(Source: Elvis Club Berlin / Amazon / Entertainment Weekly)

April 06 - Lights Out For The Wild Tiger

The MxF import label announced the release of the first volume of “Wild Tiger in Concert" featuring the Long Beach, November 14, 1972 Show. 


From the press-release:

The November Tour represent the third tour of a busy year, Elvis in 1972 is still a rocking Elvis but without any doubt it is the last year with Elvis is still on the top of his shape. For this reason his performance is superb, in spite some fatigue and maybe some worries about the imminent Hawaii TV satellite Show, Elvis is very energetic on stage, full of enthusiasm and he sings with power the classic repertoire of the 1972 including the incredible “new rocker single” “Burning Love”. On stage you see an impressive figure in his Aztec star blue jumpsuit and golden cape, the rocker attitude still intact, his voice is great, the atmosphere enormous, the demand terrific, 28.000 lucky people attended at the two shows of Long Beach.
The show was previously released in a substandard quality using an unknown generation copy of the tape released by the Tiger label way back in 1991. Here we present the show directly from a first generation copy of a privately-recorded 60-minute cassette. The sound was painstakingly restored for your listening pleasure. The improvement is incredible, the sound quality here is incredible good, considering it was taped from the audience. Elvis’ voice is loud and clear, the band sounds very powerful in very good balanced mix with some great James Burton’ guitar solos, the audience is never too intrusive giving instead the real feeling of the concert.
Like its predecessors, this new release will be presented in a beautiful four panel digipack with a collection of photos taken during the actual show. As bonus the first 500 copies will come with a poster 24x12 cm. The recording excellent quality and the superb show give to Wild Tiger in Concert the status of unique. Don’t miss it! 


Tracklisting: 
As recorded live at Long Beach Arena, November 14, 1972 01.2001 Theme 02.See See Rider 03.I Got A Woman / Amen 04.Until It's Time For You To Go 05.You Don't Have To Say You Love Me 06.Polk Salad Annie 07.Love Me 08.All Shook Up 09.Heartbreak Hotel 10.Blue Suede Shoes 11.One Night 12.Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel 13.Hound Dog 14.Love Me Tender 15.Little Sister/Get Back 16.How Great Thou Art 17.Suspicious Minds 18.Introductions 19.Burning Love 20.Funny How Time Slips Aways 21.You Gave Me A Mountain 22.Fever 23.A Big Hunk Of Love 24.Can't Help Falling In Love 25.Closing Vamp 


Thomas Kinkade Died


Thomas Kinkade died at his home in Los Gatos in the San Francisco Bay Area of what appeared to be natural causes. He was 54. Artist Thomas Kinkade once said that he had something in common with Walt Disney and Norman Rockwell: He wanted to make people happy. And he won success with brushwork paintings that focused on idyllic landscapes, cottages and churches. In 2007, Kinkade was commissioned to paint Elvis' Graceland to mark the 50th Anniversary of Elvis buying the home in 1957. When the famous painter visited Graceland in September 2006, he told the press, "Elvis Presley created rock and roll and changed music forever. Graceland was his refuge from the demands of his fame. My hope is that I will capture on canvas a bit of the home that he loved so much." Thomas Kinkade produced a 2nd painting of Elvis' home which was titled, "Graceland Christmas".


Charts


The latest stats are in for the Elvis albums doing their thing on the American Billboard Charts.

• 'An Afternoon In The Garden' drops out of the Billboard Top 200 Album Charts (w/e 14th April, 2012) selling some 2,672 copies. Total sales to date: 452,577 copies as this album moves ever closer to GOLD status.

The following also appeared on the Catalog Album Charts:

• 'Elvis: The Very Best Of Love' selling some 2,233 copies. Total sales to date: 253,183 copies.
• 'Elvis Rock' (Compilation) selling some 1,381 copies. Total sales to date: 158,244 copies.
• 'Elvis Country' (Compilation) selling some 1,218 copies. Total sales to date: 102,079 copies.
• 'Elvis Gospel/ An Evening Prayer' (Compilation) selling some 1,169 copies. Total sales to date: 149,509 copies.
• 'Elvis Inspirational' (Compilation) selling some 1,098 copies. Total sales to date: 79,979 copies.
• 'Elvis Christmas' selling some 12 copies. Total sales to date: 599,416 copies

(Source: FECC / ElvisExpress / ElvisMatters)

April 05 - Blue Hawaii Press-release

The UK based Memphis Recording Service announced that the expanded edition of the original 1961 soundtrack album ‘Blue Hawaii’ will be released May 8, 2012. According to the press-release it contains many previously unreleased out-takes and alternate versions of the soundtrack recording including Elvis’ number 1 hit, ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’. As a bonus, the CD is accompanied by a 40 page book containing many rare and unpublished photographs taken on and off the set of ‘Blue Hawaii’.


Denver Police Department



A piece of Elvis Presley and Denver Police Department history may be torn down to make way for a new Walgreens.
Presley donated money to the department in 1971 for the completion of a gym in the name of a slain officer. The building which housed the District 2 station, including the Nading-Presley Memorial Gym at 3555 Colorado Blvd., is an attractive location, said Walgreens spokesman Robert Elfinger.
“We haven’t signed a lease yet, but, yes, we are looking at that location,” Elfinger said. In 1971, officer Merle Nading was killed while on duty by a gunman at Colfax Avenue and Gaylord Street, according to police.
Presley, who was close friends with former Denver police Captain Jerry Kennedy, was troubled by the news and donated $5,000 to the department, Kennedy said.
“One of Elvis’ great loves was law enforcement. He was in town visiting and heard Merle was killed. He was visibly shaken hearing a police officer had been killed,” Kennedy said.
The news of the station’s demolition came as a surprise to Kennedy.
“I am really sorry to hear that. How sad,” he said.
The department stopped using the gym when the District 2 station moved to its Holly Street location, said Raquel Lopez, spokeswoman for Denver police.
Friends with Elvis since he worked his concert security detail, Kennedy said “The King” was an extremely sincere man.
“He just did those kinds of things,” Kennedy said.


Officials from neither Historic Denver nor History Colorado were initially aware of the building’s significance but now have piqued interest.

Conversations with the King




David Stanley, Elvis former steps-brother, announced the release of the book 'Conversations with the King: Journal of a Young Apprentice'. In his new book (due for release in Hardback in June 2012) David chronicles the spiritual journey he took during his 17 years with Elvis and addresses perhaps today's biggest spiritual challenge: Closing the gap between the higher wisdom that comes through us and our everyday behavior that often contradicts it.

(Source: MRS / FECC / Denver Post / Denver Police)

April 04 - Simply The Best Collection

The Argentinean Garra Record released the CD 'Simply The Best 2'. This set is available as a single CD and in an edition with an additional CD in a CD-case. 

Collecting Elvis 7

Volume 7 of the German "Elvis - The Official Collector's Edition" was released by De Agostini. This volume contains the 1961 movie "Blue Hawaii" and reproductions of Elvis memorabilia from the EPE archives like a receipt from Lansky Brothers, a movie poster for the Elvis movie "G.I. Blues", a poster for the "Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo" and more.

Spring At Graceland

Elvis Presley’s Graceland is the backdrop to the fashion section in April’s issue of At Home Tennessee magazine. The headline which reads, “Graceland in the Spring,” features spring fashion ranging from a floral jumpsuit, featured on the front steps of the mansion, to an over the shoulder red dress featured at the steps of the foyer. An abstract tropical print cocktail dress is perfect for the Polynesian feel of the Jungle Room and the halter top striped maxi-dress adds to the '60s theme of the living room and music room.

Verzamelen (Collecting)

The Dutch collector's magazine 'Verzamelen' features Elvis Presley on the cover. Inside an article on a Dutch Elvis Presley collector.

(Source: eBay / The King's World)

April 02 - On Blue Suede Shoes Through My Photobook

The Dutch Elvis For Everyone announced the release of a new book entitled 'Elvis Walk A Mile In My Shoes'. 

From the press-release:
Elvis For Everyone! Publication has built a good reputation over the years with past photo-books like the highly successful “Images” series. We are now putting the finishing touches on a book titled simply “Elvis Walk A Mile In My Shoes” (A4 size, 140 pages) that will blow our earlier books right out of the water.
The book will contain many amazing photos from 1954 to 1977, and most of these have never been seen before, not even in books like “Elvis Files”. Many of these photos were taken directly from the original negatives and dias, thus ensuring top quality, and some of these come from t  he collection of Elvis’ associates and musicians, one of whom has written the foreword for this remarkable book. The majority of these photos are in stunning color, and in the A4 format you can see all the details with amazing clarity. If you get only one book this year, then make sure that it’s “Elvis: Walk A Mile In My Shoes” – the one book that can actually live up to its hype. Publication: May 2012.

Interesting Bids At Elvis Auction

Although the main Elvis Auction of this celebration year takes place in August (Peabody Hotel, Memphis, during Elvis Week), still the sales of some great items resulted in interesting bidding prices last weekens, at the online auction of Gotta Have Rock 'n' Roll. Among the eye catchers there were these four items.

Jailhouse Rock costume: 32.211 dollar
Red/white casual suit: 22.795 dollar
14 k gold ring diamaonds: 17.270 dollar
A 2 piece pajama: 8.633 dollar 

Elvis's Blue Suede Shoes Withdrawn

A pair of Blue Suede Shoes were said to be signed by Elvis Presley in 1956 and the picture shown was said to prove it. Sadly though, the shoe he is signing is not the same as the one that was set to be auctioned off this weekend. The shoe in the photo is clearly a slip on shoe, it certainly has no laces and therefore must in itself bring doubt onto the actual signed shoe. Perhaps because of the growing doubt of the authenticity, the the was been withdrawn from the auction this weekend. 

(Source: EPG / ElvisMatters)

April 01 - MDNA Beats PRSL?

According to the Official UK Chart Company Madonna retains her title as Queen of Pop as new album MDNA soars straight into the Number 1 slot on the Official Albums Chart this week. MDNA gives Madonna her twelfth #1 album here in the UK meaning she also overtakes music legend Elvis as the solo artist with most #1 albums.


Import And FTD Chart


Import Top 40 March 2012
There was quite some movement in the top 5 this month. Unfortunately it is caused mainly by votes that expired. The number of voters is extremely low now therefor ElvisNews is really thinking of quiting this list after 15 years! 
1 (2) A Greensboro Revolution! (2008)
2 (1) American Crown Jewels (1996)
3 (4) Finding The Way Home (1999)
4 (5) A Hot Winter Night In Dallas (1998)
5 (-) Totally Stung! (2001)


FTD Top 40 March 2012
No visible changes in the Top 5 this month, although Promised Land already made it to #6. Jungle Room Sessions and Nashville Marathon are the only non classic albums in the top 10,
The current top 5:
1 (1) Elvis Is Back! (2005)
2 (2) The Jungle Room Sessions (2000)
3 (3) That's The Way It Is (2008)
4 (4) Good Times (2009)
5 (5) Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old) (2008)


(Source: Official Chart Company /ElvisNews)