November 02 - Chart Files 1

A new release for audiophile fans was announced; "The Elvis Files 1.1". For collectors this isn't interesting, all material is taken from earlier releases or created for this CD.

From the press-release:
Audiophile fans will like the great sounding stereo masters from Kid Galahad (The stereo masters as featured on the FTD album were muddied and with annoying added reverb.) and Hound Dog is from a master tape source – You won’t believe your ears! Also the Louisiana Hayride live broadcast on this CD is without any overdubs (the MRS label released this with a bass overdub from the original master). 
The 1960 home demos presented on this CD are in stereo (with the exception of track 22). These recordings were recorded with two microphones. You’ll Never Walk Alone is an audience recording – on this CD in the best possible sound! The 1977 live recordings all recorded from soundboard and once again in the best sound available!
The authenticity of the WHBQ broadcast is questionable but it’s a very nice addition to this CD. Sun Studios sold this recording on cassettes in the late ’80s. Also a very nice addition are the 3 overdubbed tracks from the Blue Suede Shoes ballet.
Includes an 8-pages booklet with recording information and photos.

Tracklisting:
That’s All Right (WHBQ ‘Red Hot & Blue Radio Broadcast - Sommer 1954) - I Forgot To Remember To Forget (Louisiana Hayride - 01.10.1955)

Master Take:
Hound Dog (From Master Tape source)

'Blue Suede Shoes'-Elvis-Ballet:
Young And Beautiful (Overdubbed‘) - One Night (Overdubbed) - Frankfurt Special (Overdubbed)

Kid Galahad - Original Edited Masters In Stereo:
A Whistling Tune - This Is Living - Home Is Where The Heart Is - Riding The Rainbow - I Got Lucky - King Of The Whole Wide World

1960 Home Demos - Stereo:
You’ll Never Walk Alone (Partial) - If I Loved You - The Lord’s Prayer / If I Loved You (Reprise) - I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder - An Evening Prayer (Partial) - Make Believe - She Wears My Ring - Sweet Leilani (#1) - Sweet Leilani (#2) - Sweet Leilani (Reprise)

19.07.1975 E/S Nassau:
You’ll Never Walk Alone (Elvis At The Piano)

1977 Live Recordings:
Release Me (18.02.1977 - Columbia) - Tryin’ To Get To You (18.02.1977 - Columbia) - Blue Christmas (26.03.1977 - Norman) - Bossom Of Abraham / You Better Run (29.03.1977 - Alexandria) - Mystery Train / Tiger Man (03.05.1977 - Saginaw) - Can’t Help Falling In Love (03.05.1977 - Saginaw) - Polk Salad Annie (23.04.1977 - Toledo) - Big Boss Man (29.04.1977 - Duluth) - Bridge Over Troubled Water (29.04.1977) - My Way (01.05.1977 - Chicago)

Weekend Chart

The CD "It’s Christmas Time" climbed from #149 to #124 on the American Album chart. On the Holiday Albums chart the CD climbed from #7 to #6. 
The "The Real... Elvis" compilation dropped from #31 to #44 on the Irish Album chart. The CD "La Collection RTL" fell off the Compilation Albums chart.


Hot Shots And Cool Clips Released

Volume 6 in the "Elvis Hot Shots And Cool Clips Vol. 6" series from JAT Publishing was released. This volume will be housed inside a reproduction of a rare 1975 Hilton Showroom Menu. The DVD will include Las Vegas 1972, Kansas City 1972, Chicago 1972, afternoon show and more (but no Elvis Presley singing).


Wednesday Night Roll Over!

The Straight Arrow importrelease "Wednesday Night Roll Over!", containing an audiencerecording of the March 26, 1975 Midnight Show as recorded at the Las Vegas Hilton, was released. 

(Source: Essential Elvis / The King's World / Billboard / FECC)

November 01 - A Matter Of Spring Gold

The ShowRoom Records and management 3 import labels announced the release of two new CDs entitled "Spring Spirit ´74" and "A Matter Of Duty".

From the press-release Spring Spirit ´74:
Here´s the next new release from Showroom Rec. The title is "Spring Spirit ´74" It is an audience recorded Dinner Show from February 9,1974 in Las Vegas and comes in a 16 page booklet. 

Tracklisting:
01 See See Rider 2:52 02 When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again 0:15 03 I Got A Woman / Amen 4:26 04 The Lord's Prayer 0:07 05 Love Me 1:30 06 Trying To Get To You 2:01 07 Sweet Caroline 2:12 08 Love Me Tender 1:48 09 Fever 2:50 10 Johnny B. Goode 1:36 11 Hound Dog 1:18 12 Polk Salad Annie [incl. false start] 3:29 13 Killing Me Softly [Voice] 2:53 14 Spanish Eyes 3:09 15 Why Me Lord [Voice] 2:48 16 Suspicious Minds 3:32 17 Band Introductions 1:46 18 Introduction of Pierre Adidge 0:28 19 I Can't Stop Loving You 2:14 20 Help Me 2:35 21 An American Trilogy 3:49 22 Let Me Be There [incl. reprise] 3:26 23 Can't Help Falling In Love 1:38 24 Closing Vamp 0:37 

A Matter Of Duty
Here we have another new release due to be released soon from the "management" label titled "A Matter Of Duty" that is recorded live on stage in Mobile, Alabama on August 29,1976 Evening Show and comes with a 12 page booklet. 

Tracklisting:
01 Also sprach Zarathustra 1:04 02 See See Rider 3:29 03 Elvis talks 1:44 04 I Got A Woman / Amen 5:58 05 Elvis talks 1:52 06 Love Me 2:22 07 If You Love Me (Let Me Know) 3:14 08 You Gave Me A Mountain 3:49 09 All Shook 1:02 10 Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel 2:14 11 And I Love You So 3:19 12 Jailhouse Rock 1:53 13 Fever 3:02 14 America The Beautiful 3:06 15 Band Introductions 2:21 16 Early Morning Rain 1:00 17 What'd I Say 0:46 18 Johnny B. Goode 1:05 19 Drum Solo [Ronnie Tutt] 1:27 20 Bass Solo #1 [Jerry Scheff] 1:32 21 Bass Solo #2 [Jerry Scheff] 1:04 22 Piano Solo [Tony Brown] 1:36 23 Electric Clavinet Solo [David Briggs] 1:06 24 Love Letters 2:47 25 School Days 1:04 26 Hurt #1 1:52 27 Hurt #2 1:57 28 Hound Dog 1:20 29 My Heavenly Father [Kathy Westmoreland] 3:29 30 Elvis talks 0:49 31 That's All Right 2:20 32 Mystery Train / Tiger Man 3:13 33 Can't Help Falling In Love 1:38 34 Closing Vamp 1:45
total playing time 72:21
Bonus tracks: 25.11.1976 ES, Eugene / Oregon , 35 It's Now Or Never 2:57 36 Hurt 2:03 37 Hawaiian Wedding Song 2:33 

Going For Gold

Going on previous rate of sales for 'An Afternoon In The Garden' and 'The Essential Elvis' (2CD) Brian Quinn made a conservative extrapolation and estimate their sales as of this week are:

• 'An Afternoon In The Garden' - 498,098 Units. Estimated gold qualification within 2 weeks.
• 'The Essential Elvis' (2 CD) - 972,734 Units (including double sales under RIAA rules). Estimated platinum qualification around March, 2013.
• The 'Christmas Duets' sales are difficult to predict but as of 8th September, 2012 were 490,322 Units.

(Source: FECC / ElvisMatters)

October 31 - A Marker For Historical Bricks

The Memphis/Shelby County School Board has given permission to place a historic marker in front of Humes School. Fans and locals hope to have an unveiling ceremony in January, during Elvis Week. L. C. Humes High School, better known as simply Humes High School, was a high school located in Memphis, Tennessee. It was open from the 1930s through 1967 as a high school and is most remembered as Elvis Presley's high school. Elvis graduated from Humes on June 3, 1953 (60 years ago next year).

Chisca Hotel Saved

The Chisca Hotel near Beale Street has been saved and will be renovated. The radio station rooms, where Dewey Phillips worked and where he was the first DJ ever to play an Elvis song plus conduct the first interview with Elvis, will be restored and be open for tours. According to the Commercial Appeal, a local investor group closed on a $900,000 purchase of the long-neglected hotel Friday from the Church of God in Christ. Developers have said the project would cost about $20 million, including $17 million in private investment, if the 99-year-old original building is only redeveloped. Expanding the work to include a 1960s era motor court addition would push the total to $24 million, including $21 million private. The City Council has committed $2 million to blight remediation on the project, and the Downtown Parking Authority would spend another $1 million to buy and renovate a parking garage that serves the site. 

Collecting Elvis


Volume 22 in the German "Elvis-Sammlung" by DeAgostini and EPE was released. Besides the DVD "It Happened At The World's Fair", a magazine, memorabilia reproductions and a mini-poster from the movie "Viva Las Vegas".


(Source: ElvisMatters / Elvis Sammlung)

October 29 - Midnight Glitter

The Touchdown importlabel announced two new CD releases for November. 

From the press-release:
The first CD "Midnight Delight" included for the first time the complete midnight show from August 19, 1975 in very good quality! The CD will come as you're used to it by now with a 16-page booklet with lots and lots of rare pictures from Elvis' shortest engagement in Las Vegas. The second CD "Glitter Of The Night Life" will come as a 2 CD set which offers you on the first CD the former unreleased dinner show from August 10, 1973, in very good sound quality! The second CD includes recordings from August 11 & 19, 1973 in excellent quality. The shows have been released before, but at the wrong speed and in a much inferior sound than you can hear them now.

Tracklisting Glitter Of The Night Life

CD 1 - 10.08.1973 D/S:
See See Rider -  I Got A Woman / Amen - Love Me - Steamroller Blues - You Gave Me A Mountain - Trouble - Blue Suede Shoes - Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin´Goin´On / Mama Don´t Dance / Jailhouse Rock / Whole Lotta Shakin´Goin´On - Love Me Tender - Hound Dog  Fever - What Now My Love - Suspicious Minds - Introductions - My Boy - I Can´t Stop Loving You - An American Trilogy - Mystery Train / Tiger Man - Release Me - Teddy Bear / Don´t Be Cruel - Can´t Help Falling In Love - Closing Vamp
Bonus Song:
Bridge Over Troubled Water (10.08.1973 M/S)

CD 2 - 19.08.1973 M/S:
Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman / Amen - Love Me - You Gave Me A Mountain - Love Me Tender - Blue Suede Shoes - Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin´Goin´On / Mama Don´t Dance / Flip,Flop & Fly / Whoel Lotta Shakin´Goin´On - Fever - What Now My Love - Suspicious Minds - Introductions (Incomplete) - Help Me Make It Through The Night - An American Trilogy - A BIg Hunk O´Love - How Great Thou Art - Can´t Help Falling In Love / Closing Vamp

11.08.1973 M/S:
See See Rider - I Got A Woman / Amen - Love Me - Steamroller Blues - You Gave Me A Mountain - Trouble - Blue Suede Shoes - Long Tall Sally / Whole Lotta Shakin´Goin´On / Mama Don´t Dance / Jailhouse Rock / Whole Lotta Shakin´Goin´On - Love Me Tender - Fever - Bridge Over Trouble Water (Incomplete)

Tracklisting Midnight Delight:
See See Rider - Bathroom Story - Blue Suede Shoes n- Young And Beautiful - Are You Lonesome Tonight? - If You Love Me Let Me Know - Softly As I Leave You - It´s Now Or Never - Polk Salad Annie  - Band Introductions (Part One) - Johnny B. Goode - Drum Solo - Bass Solo - Piano Solo - Band Introductions (Part Two) - Introduction Of"The Righteous Brothers" - T-R-O-U-B-L-E (With False Start) - Why Me Lord? - Love Me Tender - All Shook Up - Love Me - Hound Dog - My Boy - Elvis Talks To The Audience - Can´t Help Falling In Love - Closing Vamp

(Source: FECC)

October 26 - Scotty And Alfred On The Mystery Train

Out in July 2013 is the newly revised & updated release of 1997's 'That's Alright Elvis' now called "Scotty and Elvis: Aboard the Mystery Train" by Scotty Moore and James L. Dickerson. No cover image yet available.

Description:
When Elvis Presley first showed up at Sam Phillips's Memphis-based Sun Records studio, he was a shy teenager in search of a sound. Phillips invited a local guitarist named Scotty Moore to stand in. Scotty listened carefully to the young singer and immediately realized that Elvis had something special. Along with bass player Bill Black, the triorecorded an old blues number called "That's All Right, Mama." It turned out to be Elvis's first single and the defining record of his early style, with a trilling guitar hook that swirled country and blues together and minted a sound with unforgettable appeal. Scotty was there every step of the way as both guitarist and manager, until Col Tom Parker, pushed him out. Scotty and Elvis would not perform together again until the classic 1968 "comeback" television special. Scotty never saw Elvis after that. With both Bill Black and Elvis gone, Scotty Moore is the only one left to tell the story of how Elvis and Scotty transformed popular music and how Scotty created the sound that became a prototype for so many rock guitarists to follow. Thoroughly updated, this edition delivers guitarist Scotty Moore's story as never before.

Alfred Wertheimer's "The Kiss" Featured In New Book

The man who captured Elvis during his rise to stardom is currently featured in a new book dedicated to the most notable photographers of our time. In a new article titled "The Faces Behind the Lens," Alfred Wertheimer is seen with his famous photo "The Kiss."
According to the Daily Mail, photographer Tim Mantoani reveals the faces behind some of the most memorable photos of the last generation. Wertheimer's "The Kiss" portrays 21-year-old Elvis in a passionate kiss with a woman backstage at the Mosque Theater in Richmond, Virginia on June 30, 1956. In this new coffee table book titled "Behind Photographs: Archiving Photographic Legends," Mantoani has compiled 153 portraits of the world's most famous photographers and their most iconic images. "My hope is that this project will become a way for future generations to not only appreciate the photography of our time, but the photographers as well."

Charts

Only one album to mention that is doing the rounds on the Billboard charts. The King' festive album, 'It's Christmas Time' appeared on the following Billboard Charts for w/e 3rd November, 2012:

• Top 200 Albums - 'Its Christmas Time' re-enters at # 149
• Catalog Albums - 'Its Christmas Time'  jumps from # 23 to # 14
• Holiday Albums - 'Its Christmas Time' drops from # 4 to # 7.

The CD "Elvis By Request" dropped from #80 to #92 on the Australian Album chart. The double CD "La Collection RTL" dropped from #43 to #38 on the French compilation chart. "The Real... Elvis" dropped from #28 to #31 on the Irish Album chart.

(Source: Elvis Information Network / EPE / Elvis Express / The King's World)

October 25 - #3 Dead Earner

Elizabeth Taylor surpassed Michael Jackson as the highest-earning dead celebrity in the past year, with her estate pulling in $210 million, much of it from the auction of her jewels, costumes and artwork, Forbes said on Wednesday. In addition to the Taylor auction, which totaled $184 million, the actress, who died in 2011 at the age of 79, also earned $75 million from sales of her top-selling perfume White Diamonds. Jackson, who died in 2009, dropped into second place with earnings of $145 million, followed by Elvis Presley with $55 million.

(Source: Forbes)

October 23 - Preview Files

You can now listen to the new studio duet of "If I Can Dream" by Elvis and Celine Dion. It's one of the tracks on her new CD "The Best of Celine Dion & David Foster", available in Asia only for now. The collection of 17 songs, all produced by Celine´s long time friend David Foster, includes the biggest hits by Celine as 'The power of love', 'All by myself', 'Because you loved me', 'To love you more' and some famous duets such as this one. Also features 'When I fall in love' with Clive Griffin and 'All the way' with Frank Sinatra. 



The 'If I Can Dream' virtual duet with Elvis was first performed on the American Idol TV special "Idols Give Back", a charity show broadcast on US TV in April 2007 to raise money for poor people in Africa and the USA.


Preview Files

This is a preview of the "The Elvis Files Volume 1 1953-1956" by Erik Lorentzen which is due December 2012. 

October FTD Releases In Stock
 
The October 2012 Follow That Dream releases were released. Two titles in the 7” 2CD series: ‘From Elvis Presley Boulevard’ and ‘Hits of the 70’s’ and the classic ‘Elvis Country’ on vinyl. 

(Source: ElvisMatters / Elvis Australia)

October 22 - With A Humble Heart

The Straight Arrow importlabel announced the release of the double CD set "With A Humble Heart" containing the  Sunday, February 3, 1974 inner and midnight shows.

From the press-release:
Straight Arrow is continuing their popular collector's series of 2 shows from one evening, released in a single package. This time the producers have chosen two excellent performances from Sunday, February 3, 1974 at the Las Vegas Hilton.
On this collection there are worthy performances of revived songs like “Tryin’ To Get To You”, “Sweet Caroline” and a powerful “Polk Salad Annie”, The December ’73 Stax sessions are represented here with pleasant renditions of “Spanish Eyes” and “Help Me”. “An American Trilogy” is as powerful as ever and Elvis' passion for Olivia Newton-John’s “Let Me Be There” is evident too, with the ending being reprised in both shows.
As fans have come to expect from us, the tapes are of very good quality, sourced from early generation copies of the original cassettes. The double digipak contains liner notes and is filled with photos from the Montgomery, AL, March 6th, 1974 show, due to a lack of quality images from Presley’s January-February 1974 engagement.
As usual, these recordings have been carefully engineered to be presented in the best possible sound. 

Tracks: CD 1 / Sunday, February 3, 1974 Dinner Show:
01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. Tryin’ To Get To You - 06. Sweet Caroline - 07. Love Me Tender - 08. Johnny B. Goode - 09. Hound Dog - 10. Fever - 11. Polk Salad Annie - 12. Killing Me Softly with His Song (Voice) - 13. Spanish Eyes - 14. Why Me Lord? - 15. Suspicious Minds - 16. Introduction of vocalists, musicians - 17. I Can't Stop Loving You - 18. Help Me - 19. An American Trilogy - 20. Let Me Be There (with reprise) - 21. Can't Help Falling In Love - 22. Closing Vamp / Announcements.

CD 2 / Sunday, February 3, 1974 Midnight Show: 
01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. Tryin’ To Get To You - 06. Sweet Caroline - 07. Love Me Tender - 08. Johnny B. Goode - 09. Hound Dog - 10. Fever - 11. Polk Salad Annie - 12. Killing Me Softly with His Song (Voice) - 13. Spanish Eyes - 14. Why Me Lord? - 15. Suspicious Minds - 16. Introduction of vocalists, musicians - 17. I Can't Stop Loving You - 18. Help Me - 19. An American Trilogy - 20. Let Me Be There (with reprise) - 21. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - 22. Can't Help Falling In Love - 23. Closing Vamp / Announcements. 

Vinyl For Christmas

The Cargo Records budget label will release there "Songs For Christmas" compilation on vinyl on October 26, 2012. 

RCA (Sony Music Austria) will re-release the CD "Blue Christmas" in their "Krone-Edition" series on November 16, 2012.

Vinyl From Hawaii


Friday Music is honoured to announce the release of the following 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl LPs.
'Friday Music' is honoured to announce the 40th Anniversary limited edition deluxe 2 LP 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl release of the RCA Victor Elvis Presley classic Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite.
Mastered impeccably from the original RCA Victor Records tapes by Joe Reagoso & manufactured at R.T.I., with original gatefold die-cut cover and inserts this number one chart multi-platinum smash continues to be one his most enduring recordings.
Featuring 24 hits like Burning Love. Can't Help Falling In Love, and Steamroller Blues,

From the press-release:
The show was choreographed and staged like nothing ever before and featured a multitude of musicians, the Hawaiian Islands, the appreciative and excited audience, and of course, The King Of Rock And Roll - Elvis Presley. The multi-platinum Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite set also was a blockbuster as it hit the top number one spot on the charts in 1973, making this one of the biggest albums of his career as well as one of the most revered live concert albums of all time proving once again Elvis Presley's career was unlike any other in music history. This live master piece takes off with the Memphis blues rocker See See Rider and his huge seventies hit Burning Love. He follows these up with his tip of the hat to his friends The Beatles with the soulful balladry of Something. More of Elvis' own favorites follow with the Hank Williams' ballad I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry and his rockin' interpretation of Chuck Berry's classic Johnny B. Goode. The album also features a nice helping of solid Elvis top chart hits like Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, A Big Hunk Of Love and his smash single interpretation of James Taylor's Steamroller Blues. As a tribute to his Hawaii audience, the ever thoughtful King Of Rock And Roll closed the show with his masterpiece Can't Help Falling In Love from his film Blue Hawaii. In total, the album showcases a very historic Elvis Presley performance which has truly gone onto become the definitive live concert album in his amazing catalog of hit gold and platinum recordings.

And in December ...

Limited edition 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl 55th Anniversary release of the RCA Victor holiday classic Elvis' Christmas Album by Elvis Presley in all its high fidelity glory. Mastered impeccably from the original monophonic RCA Victor Records tapes by Joe Reagoso at Friday Music Studios with Kevin Gray and manufactured at R.T.I., Elvis' Christmas Album includes the original gatefold artwork which includes the ground breaking original gatefold LP cover elements as well a super rare LP booklet with the classic 1957 images from his historic Jailhouse Rock film. 


(Source: FECC / Amazon / Elvis Australia)

October 19 - Chart King

After an eight weeks chart run the French "La Collection RTL" compilation fell off the Wallonian Album chart in the French speaking part of Belgium. This CD dropped from #29 to #34 on the French Compilation album chart. 

The CD "The Real... Elvis" climbed from #40 to #28. 

In it's ninth week on the Australian Album Charts, the "Elvis By Request: The Australian Edition" CD has dropped from #80 to #98. This will almost certainly be the albums last week in the ARIA Top 100.

Billboard

On the current Billboard Holiday Album chart, Elvis sits at #4 with "It's Christmas Time" selling 2,428 copies this week and 1,389,465 in total. The "Best Of Love" sold 1,162 copies this week and 301,010 copies in total. "Viva Las Vegas" sold 513 copies this week and 38,156 in total.

Also on Billboard:
Christmas Time Is Here: It's time to say hello to the Christmas albums on the Catalog chart again, as Elvis Presley's "It's Christmas Time" is the first one out of the gate this year at #23 Catalog. It's not unheard of to have Christmas albums on the October charts. Two years ago, Michael W. Smith's "It's A Wonderful Christmas" was on the charts in the last two weeks of October (and was even #1 on October 30). In 2009, "The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection (EP)" was on the chart by the end of October, and Josh Groban's "Noel" accomplished the feat in 2008 and 2009. There were no Christmas albums on the chart at the end of October last year, but a couple of albums showed up for an odd week in September: Susan Boyle's "The Gift" and Anuna's "Christmas Memories". 

The King

Sony Music (Columbia Europa) will release a 3CD budget set entitled "The King".

Tracklisting
CD 1:
Blue Suede Shoes - Joshua Fit The Battle - Don´t Be Cruel - Rip It Up - Rock A Hula Baby - Heartbreak Hotel - (There´ll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me) - I Will Be Home Again - When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again - All Shook Up - I Believe - If We Ever Meet Again
CD 2:
Jailhouse Rock - I Want You, I Need You, I Love You - I Believe In The Man In The Sky - Love Me Tender - Young Dreams - Mystery Train - Can´t Help Falling In Love - Hound Dog - You´re A Heartbreaker - Summer Kisses Winter Tears - Young And Beautiful - Blue Moon
CD 3:
Tutti Frutti - Thats All Right - Shake Rattle And Roll - Blueberry Hill - True Love - Are You Lonesome Tonight? - It´s Now Or Never - Fever - Wear My Ring Around Your Neck - Pocketfull Of Rainbows - Surrender

(Source: Ultratop / FECC / The King's World / Elvis Club Berlin)

October 18 - #1 Single Artist At the Hilton

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Official Singles Chart, the Official Charts Company revealed The Official Top 10 Biggest Selling Male Singles Artists Of All Time! Ding! Ding! One month to go! Yes, in just a little over four weeks from now we will be grabbing our balloons and party poppers to celebrate 60 glittering years of the Official Singles Chart; the institution that has kept pop fans like you and me salivating with anticipation on a weekly basis since we were knee-high to a grasshopper.

In the meantime, how’s about we all get our inner chart geek limbered up for the big occasion with The Official Top 10 Biggest Selling Male Singles Artists Of All Time.
Elvis Presley tops the chart with combined sales of over 21.7 million singles.  And despite his tragic death in 1977, Elvis’ legacy lives on strongly in the UK.  Over the last decade, The King Of Rock And Roll has sold over 5.7 million albums and 2.2 million singles (this includes 1.3 million track downloads).  In the last 18 months alone he has sold an incredible 317,000 albums and 333,000 track downloads. 
Elvis scored his first UK hit way back in 1956 with Heartbreak Hotel, which peaked at Number 2.  And it was a year later that he eventually landed his first UK Number 1 with All Shook Up.  Oh, and while we’re at it, let’s not forget that Elvis still holds the record for the most Number 1 singles, 21 in total.  His biggest selling single was 1960’s It’s Now Or Never, which also hit the top spot in 2005.

At Number 2 in the countdown, with a combined total of 21.5 million singles, it's Cliff! Forget those brilliantly naff Cliff calendars you see in the shops at Christmas time (you know the ones, featuring ‘Cliff on a tennis court’ or ‘Cliff in Hawaiian shirt’), our Cliff is actually a bit of a legend around these parts.
Making his chart debut in 1958 with Move It, which peaked at Number 2, Cliff is the most successful British male solo artist of all time, achieving the rare feat of having a Number 1 single in five different decades.  He is one of only a few artists who have taken the same song to the top of the Official Singles Chart in completely separate chart runs; Living Doll hit Number 1 upon its released in 1959, and then again nearly 30 years later in 1986 with the cast of The Young Ones TV show. Ironically, Cliff's biggest selling single of all time is his 1962 smash, The Young Ones.

The King Of Pop, Michael Jackson, is in third place with a combined sales total of 15.5 million singles.  And what was his biggest single?  Earth Song. Yes, Earth Song! (Which you may remember was also the Official Christmas Number 1 of 1995, the last one before the Spice Girls hogged the festive top spot for three consecutive years!)
This is probably down to the fact that Michael has two of the Top 10 biggest selling albums of all time – 1982’s Thriller and 1987’s Bad – so the UK public were clearly moonwalking down to HMV, Woolworth’s and Our Price in force in the ‘80s to pick up the whole album, rather than what critics and fans consider to be his classic singles... Still, Earth Song?

Elton John (Number 4) and David Bowie (Number 5) complete the Top 5 with combined singles sales totals of 15 million and 10.7 million, respectively.

Wild Tiger At The Hilton


Released today by the MxF importlabel is the fourth volume  in the “Wild Tiger at the Hilton'' featuring the complete and previously unreleased recording of the Las Vegas January 28, 1974 Dinner Show. The Cd has a running-time of 60 minutes.

From the press-release:
After almost five months of rest, Elvis back to the Hilton in better shape and stronger respect the previous season. The early season show here presented is without doubt better as quality respect the one included in the volume 3. Elvis appears concentrate and his performance is superb , He deliveries  a long show, practically 60 minutes….respect the classic 45.00 min. of the rest of the Season. Elvis was very energetic on stage, full of enthusiasm he sang with power and sensitivity, delivering a solid and heartfelt repertoire like the “new” songs “Spanish Eyes, Help me and Let Me Be There recent hit from Olivia Newton-John” and the classic “Trying to Get To You” sang terrifically. At the same time he introduce the oldie  “My Baby Left me” without forget the classic early 70’ songs like You’ve Lost Than Loving Feeling, Polk Salad Annie  and Sweet Caroline.  As you can see from the track list the number of the classic oldies in the show are significant reduced. This season will be the first with the new agreement , Elvis signed two years of contract performed twice at year, but only two weeks at the time rather than the previous four.
Best song:  Let Me Be There
The Love from Elvis for the song  cannot be denied, He able to make the own song.. delivering an original version with a full reprise.
The show is unreleased and complete, 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 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 Season. 
The recording excellent quality and the superb show give to Wild Tiger At The Hilton vol.4  the status of unique. Don’t miss it!

Tracklisting: As recorded live at Las Vegas Hilton, January 28, 1974 DS

01. Intro
02. CC Rider
03. I Got a Woman
04. Love Me
05. My Baby Left Me
06. You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling
07. Sweet Caroline
08. Love Me Tender
09. Trying To Get To You
10. Rock Medley
11. Fever
12. Polk Salad Annie
13. Killing Me Softly (by Voice) 
14. Spanish Eyes
15. Why Me Lord ? (by Stamps)
16. Suspicious Minds
17. Band Introduction
18. I Can’t Stop Loving You
19. Help Me
20. An American Trilogy
21. Let Me Be There (+ reprise) 
22. Can’t Help Falling In Love
23. Closing Vamp


(Source: Official Chart Company / e-mail)