June 12 - German Top 10

An unknown import label re-issued the 1982 LP 'Elvis In Germany' on CD. The CD, packed in a digi-pack, contains the original album, interviews, the complete 'Elvis Sails' and several bonustracks.

Tracklisting:
1.Wooden Heart (muss I Denn) 2.I Love Only One Girl 3.C'mon Everybody 4.Frankfort Special 5.Tonight's All Right For Love 6.Today, Tomorrow And Forever 7.G.I. Blues 8.Tonight Is So Right For Love 9.Five Sleepy Heads 10.Fool 11.I Love Only One Girl (Take 1) 12.G.I. Blues (Take 7) 13.Tonight Is So Right For Love (Take 4) 14.C'mon Everybody (Take 3) 15.Fool (Take 1) 16.Elvis Arrival In Germany (Ray Barracks, Friedberg, 2nd October 1958 ) 17.Apron Strings * (Private Home Recording Bad Nauheim, Germany, Summer 1959) 18.I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen * (Private Home Recording Bad 19.Nauheim, Germany, Summer 1959) 20.Elvis Sails: Press Interview With Elvis 21.Elvis Sails: Newsreel Interview 22.Elvis Sails: Pat Hernon Interviews Elvis.

Aussie Top 10

Here are the top 10 songs as voted by Australian fans so far to form the tracklisting for the Elvis By Request: The Australian Edition CD. Already we can see signs of fan favourite's coming through and that the double album release will be quite unique. An American Trilogy did not chart in Australia but is currently in the No. 1 spot, likewise, Little Egypt also did not chart and rounds out our sample at No. 10. Edge Of Reality was a unique Australian hit reaching No. 2 in January 1969 and has so far been voted as the 4th most popular song.

1.    An American Trilogy
2.    In The Ghetto
3.    Are you Lonesome Tonight?
4.    Edge Of Reality
5.    Always on my mind
6.    Suspicious Minds
7.    Love Me Tender
8.    Can't Help Falling In Love
9.    It's Now Or Never
10.  Little Egypt

(Source: Elvis Info / Elvis Australia)

June 11 - John Forever

John Wilkinson's wife Terry Wilkinson has just sent us the following message: "John is in the hospital, and is recovering. He will be back home soon. But PLEASE: if fans want to send cards, send them to ElvisMatters and Peter will forward them to us. Please do not use our private address, but send the cards and letters to Peter only. Also, do not call as John needs all the rest he can get, but email peter@elvismatters.com with any questions you may have. We would kindly ask all webmasters to repost only the news on ElvisMatters.com. That's how we will communicate to all the fans. Thank you for your good thoughts and prayers. John is doing OK and will be back home soon."

Email cards are welcomed at peter@elvismatters.com. Regular mail cards can be sent to: Peter Verbruggen/ElvisMatters - 140 Postelarenweg 140 - 2400 MOL - Belgium

Volume 5 Forever

Volume 5 in the 'Elvis Forever' series was re-issued by an unknown import label with additional alternate takes as bonustracks. 

CD 1:
I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone - Mystery Train - I Was The One - Love Me - Rip It Up - That’s When Your Heartaches Begin - Party - Flaming Star - I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell - Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello - Never Ending - Puppet On A String - I’ll Remember You - Let Yourself Go - Big Boss Man - Too Much Monkey Business - Stay Away - Edge Of Reality - My Little Friend - Kentucky Rain
CD 2:
Let’s Be Friends - The Sound Of Your Cry - (That’s What You Get) For Lovin’ Me - A Thing Called Love - Seperate Ways - It’s A Matter Of Time - Raised On Rock - Spanish Eyes - T-R-O-U-B-L-E - Way Down - Pledging My Love - He’ll Have To Go
Bonus Songs:
Fame And Fortune (Take 9) - What Now, What Next, Where To - (Master Inclusive Studio Count-In) - Something Blue (Take 6) - Gonna Get Back Home Somehow (Take 6) - Five Sleepy Heads (Master Inclusive Studio Count-In) - It Hurts Me (1968 NBC Special) - Any Day Now (Take 1 ) - Sweet Angeline (Vocal Overdub) - Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain (Remix) - Always On My Mind (Overdubbed Version)

(Source: Elvis Club Berlin)

June 10 - From Elvis To Vinyl

The Friday Music label re-issued the classic 'From Elvis In Memphis' album on vinyl with a fold-out cover.

June 09 - A Massive Book Campaign Down Under

Elvis Australia mentions that the Follow That Dream book and CD set, 'A Boy From Tupelo: The Complete 1953-55 Recordings' will weigh a whopping 5kg (11 Pounds). The long awaited FTD SUN Project has been announced for release on August 16. 'A Boy From Tupelo : The Complete 1953-55 Recordings' includes for the first time in one collection every known Elvis Presley SUN master and outtake, plus two private records Elvis paid for with his own money, as well as trilling radio and concert performances from the period. This 3 CD package features 10 previously unreleased cuts.

Campaign

Sony Music Australia have begun an online advertising campaign for the Elvis By Request: The Australian Edition CD on Google, Facebook and YouTube. This continues on from radio promotions on stations, including 2CH 1170 Sydney, Magic 1278 Melbourne, 4BH 882 Brisbane and Cruise 1323 Adelaide.
Presleyana VII

Presleyana VII to be released during Elvis Week 2012: The 7th edition of Jerry Osborne's popular Elvis Presley Price Guide 'Presleyana' will be presented in Memphis, during Elvis Week. The book has several new features, such as: 

1) Elvis’ LP catalog now divided into two easy-to-locate categories. 
2) Newly updated “buyers beware” & “counterfeit information”. 
3) Complete up-to-date listings of all the SONY/BMG "Follow That Dream" LP releases. 
4) All of Elvis’ standard RCA releases and reissues completely updated. 
5) Many “Verifications Pending” resolved. 
6) Full color pages picturing all bonus items and stickers that came with all of Elvis' U.S. album releases through the years.
Charts

The following releases appeared on the Billboard Catalog Album Charts in the U.S. (w/e 16th June, 2012):

• 'Elvis: The Very Best Of Love' selling some 1,790 copies. Total sales to date: 272,160 copies.
• 'An Afternoon In The Garden' selling some 1,643 copies. Total sales to date: 470,849 copies.
• 'Heart And Soul' selling some 1,419 copies. Total sales to date: 561,499 copies.
• 'Elvis Rock' (Compilation) selling some 1,094 copies. Total sales to date: 169,396 copies.
• 'Elvis Country' (Compilation) selling some 1,032 copies. Total sales to date: 110,843 copies.
• 'Elvis Inspirational' (Compilation) selling some 1,008 copies. Total sales to date: 89,153 copies.
• 'The Essential Elvis Presley' (2CD) selling some 1,007 copies. Total sales to date: 350,274 copies (minimum).
• 'Elvis Christmas' selling some 14 copies. Total sales to date: 599,531 copies.

(Source: Elvis Australia / Elvis Matters / Brian Quinn)

June 07 - I'm A Japanese Elvis Fan

Sony Music Japan started a campaign for a Japanese edition of the 'I'm An Elvis Fan' CD. Fanc can vote at:  www.elvisfan.jp

Thank You

EPE's thank you to Elvis fans: "It was 30 years ago today (June 7, 1982) that we stood on the front steps of Elvis home and welcomed fans from around the world for the very first tours of Graceland. Since that first day, almost 18 million guests have walked through the home Elvis loved. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank you, Elvis fans, for being part of this remarkable journey we have all taken together. Like you, we look forward to the future and all the great opportunities Graceland gives us to share the legacy of Elvis Presley.

Sincerely, Jack Soden and Priscilla Presley".

(Source: Elvis World Japan)

June 06 - Pure Virtual Gold

A new original album will be re-issued on CD through an import label. This time the 1975 ‘Pure Gold' album will be released on a golden disc. 
From the press release:
Pure Gold was a 1975 compilation album released as part of RCA's budget "Pure Gold" series of albums. Though at this point in his career Presley was focused more on the country music market, this compilation focuses more on earlier material than his 1970's hits. "Kentucky Rain", "Fever", "It's Impossible", and "In The Ghetto" are true stereo mixes. All other tracks are in "electronically reprocessed" stereo. When this album was eventually issued on CD for the first in the early 1990s, the 6 songs from the 50's were restored to original monaural sound. The album wasn't a strong seller when it was first released in 1975. It was certified Gold on 9/12/1977, Platinum on 3/20/1988 and 2x Platinum on 3/27/1992 by the R.I.A.A. The front cover photo features Elvis from his ' Aloha from Hawaii' concert in 1973.
In Europe the album was released, with a different cover, in RCA's 'Take-Off' series. Released now in a stunning 3- panel digipack is an Alternate Album Of 'Pure Gold'. Containing masters, first takes, master takes and other rarities! Limited edition real pressed gold disc limited edition of 500 copies! The disc is GOLD on the back (playing side) and has gold vinyl grooves on the label side!!  There's a (removable) sticker on the digi-pack front cover saying 'Limited Edition Gold Disc' - This is a very limited release so order your copy now.
Tracklisting:
1. Kentucky Rain (take 1)
2. Fever (take 1)
3. It's Impossible (live, incl. false start)
4. Jailhouse Rock (spliced master)
5. Don't Be Cruel
6. Frankie And Johnny ( take 1 )
7. I Got a Woman ( take 7)
8. All Shook Up ( take 10 with count-in)
9. Loving You ( farm version 2 take 14)
10. In the Ghetto ( take 1 )
11. Love Me Tender ( stereo master )
12. Clean up Your Own back Yard ( undubbed master take 6 )
13. Kentucky Rain (take 7 )
14. Fever ( take 2-3)
15. It's Impossible ( live, original remastered album version)
16. Jailhouse Rock (take 6 )
17. I Got a Woman (take 6) ?
18. Loving You (main version, master take)
19. In the Ghetto ( backup vocal overdub master)
20. Clean Up Your Own Back Yard ( original remastered album version)
21. Frankie And Johnny (takes 2-6)

Virtual Elvis Presley

Digital production company Digital Domain Media Group (NYSE: DDMG) announced today that it has signed an exclusive agreement with CORE Media Group (formerly CKx) to jointly develop, produce and own a series of “virtual” Elvis Presley likenesses for a range of entertainment projects – from shows and appearances to film, TV and multi-platform productions throughout the world. 
Digital Domain Media Group, the only company whose employees have received an Academy Award for creating a completely believable computer-generated (CG) human, created the CG likeness of Tupac Shakur for Dr. Dre’s recent show at the Coachella Valley Music Festival. CORE Media Group, a portfolio company of Apollo Global Management LLC, is the driving force behind such iconic brands as Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance.”
“This is a new and exciting way to bring the magic and music of Elvis Presley to life. His lifelong fans will be thrilled all over again and new audiences will discover the electric experience of Elvis the performer,” said Elvis Presley Enterprises President and CEO, Jack Soden.  “The high level of quality entertainment that both CORE Media Group and Digital Domain deliver gives us great confidence that these projects will help continue the growth of Elvis’ rich legacy all over the world.”  Elvis Presley Enterprises is a division of CORE Media Group.
The companies have already begun work on the virtual Elvis Presley likenesses and will announce when and where audiences can expect to see the first virtual Elvis performances. 
“Elvis is the most iconic, most recognized performer on the planet, and we are thrilled to have been chosen to bring new performances and original shows where fans can have their own, new experiences of Elvis,” said Digital Domain Media Group Chairman and CEO John Textor. “In addition to being a dream project on the creative side, this agreement enables us to participate in the success of any number of potential virtual Elvis appearances.”
“As we look for new ways to offer audiences our intellectual property across multiple platforms, this partnership is the perfect fit for CORE Media, and exactly the type of announcement you can expect to see more of from us,” said CORE Media Group President Marc Graboff.  “Clearly the team at Digital Domain is at the leading edge of the virtual experience arena, and we are anxious to get working on this exciting project.”
With more than 150 albums and singles certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum, Elvis Presley continues to show the world why he's the King. From Broadway plays and live entertainment to books, movies, television, music, and concerts, Elvis sightings occur every day, all over the world. With more than six million fans on Facebook, over 70,000 official app downloads and more than five million unique visitors annually to Elvis.com, he is also now the King of Digital.
From Digital Domain’s work on “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” to “TRON: Legacy,” “X-Men: First Class” to Tupac Shakur, the company has spent a decade and tens of millions of dollars in perpetual development perfecting its technology, tools, and techniques to create realistic computer generated humans.

(Source: Elvis Information Network / EPE)

June 05 - Elvis Regenerated On DVD

The Italian DJ Spankox released an exclusive megamix of the 10 newly remixed Elvis Presley's songs that will be released on his new remix-album 'Re:Generation'. 

The album, produced by Spankox aka Agostino Carollo with additional production by Highpass., is due on iTunes on June 5, 2012 and will released on CD on June 27, 2012. 
Tracklisting:
1. Little Sister / 2. Flaming Star / 3. I Feel So Bad / 4. As Long As I Have You / 5. Judy / 6. I’m Coming Home / 7. Crawfish / 8. In Your Arms / 9. I Want You With Me / 10. King Creole.


Maestros from the Vaults: The Elvis Collection DVD

The 3 DVD set 'Maestros from the Vaults: The Elvis Collection' is due for release on July 16, 2012 on the Anvill label. 
Description
Through a stunning collection of interwoven performance footage spanning throughout the Kings career; intimate interviews with some of Elvis’ closest confidantes, and the critical perceptions of a leading team of journalists and critics, we fill in every gap, highlight every awe-inspiring high and deal with the undeniable lows of this brilliant artist. Members of the Jordanaires; old hands of the road teams; Elvis experts; broadcasters and even wife of the late Col. Parker, Loanne Parker give their honest accounts of a great man consumed by his own fame.
This is the album that started it all, the ultimate candidate for the term classic. Featuring the talents of DJ Fontana on drums and the legendary Scotty Moore on guitar and the celebrated Jordanaires on backing vocals. The album Elvis Presley is the first LP to be recorded by Elvis and represents the undisputed defining moment of the rock 'n' roll era.
This is the independent and uncensored review of an all time classic, which includes immortal tracks such as Blue Suede Shoes, Money Honey, Blue Moon and Tutti Frutti.

(Source: FECC / YouTube / Zavvi)

June 04 - Elvis By Request

Sony Music Australia started a campaign in which Australian fans can vote for their favourite Elvis tracks to celebrate the 2012 35th Anniversary from one of the 711 Elvis Presley master recordings. The final tracklisting will compile the CD 'Elvis By Request'. The Australian CD promotion states:

This is a very special 40 track double CD release where Australian Fans vote for their favourite Elvis track from a listing of every master track. This will then turn into a release to mark the 35th Anniversary since Elvis' passing. 
The voting promotion is from Monday June 4 until Friday July 13 and then from this Sony will get the album track listing for the album. Pre-order the CD online before July 13 for your name to be included with other Australian fans on an exclusive fan edition poster (to be sent with your CD). Fans outside Australia may order the CD however only residents of Australia can have their name on, and receive this exclusive poster. No exceptions.
Click here to vote!

Elvis Presley

The Music Digital budgetlabel will re-issue the 5 CD-set 'Elvis Presley' on July 30, 2012.

Top Selling Music Act

The Official Charts Company today released the Top Selling Singles Acts of all time in the UK. twelve act sold over 10 million records. The Top 10:

01 The Beatles 21.9 million 

02 Elvis Presley 21.6 million

03 Cliff Richard 21.5 million
04 Madonna 17.6 million
05 Michael Jackson 15.3 million
06 Elton John 14.8 million
07 Queen 12.6 million
08 ABBA 11.2 million
09 David Bowie 10.6 million
10 Rihanna 10.4 million

(Source: Elvis Information Network / Elvis Australia / Elvis Club Berlin / FECC)

June 02 - Follow That Teen Idol Breakout

Teen idols are a special kind of rock star – their popularity may fall as fast as it rises, but it tends to rise higher and inspire more ecstatic adoration than any other kind of artist. Rolling Stone features 'The Top 25 Teen Idol Breakout Moments' in chronological order, from Frank Sinatra in 1942 to One Direction in 2012. Elvis is third on their chronological list.

ELVIS - America had never seen anything like Elvis Presley when he burst onto the scene in the mid-1950s. His dance moves were so sexually suggestive that he was filmed from the hips up during his debut appearance on the Tonight Show. If anything, the censorship made him even more irresistible to teenagers across the country. Everyone wondered what exactly was going on underneath that camera. Nationwide mania for Elvis lasted until he joined the army in 1958, but it peaked in 1956 when he scored Number One singles with "Heartbreak Hotel," "Don't Be Cruel," "Hound Dog" and "Love Me Tender." Regardless of how badly he squandered his gift in the 1960s and 1970s, the image of Elvis gyrating his pelvis on national TV is permanently planted in the memories of an entire generation. Countless artists decided to devote themselves to rock & roll in that very moment.

These are the May 2012 Import Top 40 and FTD Top 40 charts:

Import Top 40 May 2012
The numbers one and two swapped places on the May 2012 Import Top 40 chart. 
1 (2) American Crown Jewels (1996)
2 (1) A Greensboro Revolution! (2008)
3 (3) Finding The Way Home (1999)
4 (4) A Hot Winter Night In Dallas (1998)
5 (5) Totally Stung! (2001)

FTD Top 40 May 2012
No movement in the Top 5 this month. The recent releases 'On Stage', 'Our Memories Of Elvis' and 'Another Saturday Night' received the first votes from fans. and are listed at the bottom of the list.
1 (1) Elvis Is Back! (2005)
2 (2) That's The Way It Is (2008)
3 (3) The Jungle Room Sessions (2000)
4 (4) Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old) (2008)
5 (5) Good Times (2009)

(Source: Rolling Stone / Elvis Information Network / ElvisNews)

June 01- Delayed Memories Of Graceland

Michael Freedland wrote the book 'Elvis Memories - The Real Elvis Presley Recalled By Those Who Knew Him'. The book is due October 4, 2012 from Robson Press.

Synopsis:
"This is not just another Elvis Presley biography, although it gets closer to the real Elvis story than many of the hundreds of other books that have dealt with the life of the man his contemporaries have called The King .
As the author Michael Freedland puts it in his introduction, Everyone knows Elvis . But not the way his close friends, employees and others who entered his life knew him. For this is their story, told in their words. He interviews those who knew Elvis intimately, from the now elderly woman who was at school with him and whose parents foreclosed on the shack they rented to Elvis mother when his father was in jail, to the maid who prepared his peanut butter sandwiches and hamburgers and watched him line up the girls he wanted to take to his bed.
In between, we meet the black man who remembered sneaking into a local cinema with his pal in defi ance of most of the Deep South race laws, members of the so-called Memphis Mafi a who went where he went, laughed when he laughed and suffered when he suffered and usually received a brand new Cadillac for their troubles. There s also his doctor who denies giving him fatal doses of the drugs he collected along with the hamburgers.
Writer and broadcaster Michael Freedland went all over the West Coast and Southland to talk to these people who shared Elvis life, telling the complex Elvis Presley story in a way more true to the real man than the usual collection of dates, film and song titles."

Graceland Through The Years 1957-1977 

Boxcar released the book 'Graceland Through The Years 1957-1977' by Joseph Pirzada. 

Synopsis:
The Boxcar Enterprises, Graceland Through The Years 1957-1977 book is a very special and strictly limited edition. It has a hard cover with an additional hard card outer slip case. The slip case is like Boxcar's previous sold out outing of 'The Final Curtain' from last year. Several years in the making this is one very essential book for every Elvis fan with 450 pages including 1000 photos with many never before published of Graceland and Elvis at Graceland from 1957 to 1977. In addition there is plentiful informative text, original purchase documents and blueprints of the Graceland mansion.

Charts

The following appeared on the Billboard Catalog Album Charts (w/e 9th June, 2012):

• 'Elvis: The Very Best Of Love' selling some 1634 copies. Total sales to date: 270,370 copies.
• 'An Afternoon In The Garden' selling some 1605 copies. Total sales to date: 469,206 copies.
• 'Heart And Soul' selling some 1543 copies. Total sales to date: 560,080 copies.
• 'Elvis Rock' (Compilation) selling some 969 copies. Total sales to date: 168,302 copies.
• 'Elvis Christmas' selling some 14 copies. Total sales to date: 599,502 copies.

Walk A Mile Delayed

The upcoming book, 'Walk A Mile In My Shoes' by Arjan Deelen is delayed from the original May 2012 release-date. The reason is that the author is working on 40 more pages to be added to the book.

We will bring your more details as and when we get news.  

(Source: Elvis Club Berlin / Elvis Australia / Brian Quinn / Elvis Express)