May 27 - Charts

The official UK charts for the week ending May 27, 2016:

• The "If I Can Dream" CD dropped off the Official UK Album chart. 
• The "If I Can Dream" CD dropped from  #76 to #85 to on the Official UK Album Sales chart. 
• The "If I Can Dream" CD dropped from  #58 to #70 to on the Official UK Physical Album Sales chart. 

Current UK sales of the "If I Can Dream" total 1,042,422 units approxomately.

European Chart

• The "If I Can Dream" CD climbed from #92 to #81 on the Official Scottish Album chart. 
• The DVD "Elvis On Tour" reentered the Belgian Music DVD chart at #7 this week. 

Australian Charts

The DVD "The King Of Rock’n’Roll“ re-entered the Australian Music DVD charts at #32. 

(Source: FECC / The King's World)

May 26 - Memphis Reissue Service

Due for release August 3, 2016 from the Memphis Recording Service are "Blue Hawaii - The Expanded Alternate Album" and "The Complete Louisiana Hayride Archives 1954 - 1956". 

Tracks Blue Hawaii - The Expanded Alternate Album:
Blue Hawaii (Take 1FS Take 7M) - Almost Always True (Take 1FS Take 8M) - Aloha Oe (Take 4FS & SPM) - No More (Take 1FS Take 13M) - Cant Help Falling In Love (Take 27FS Take 28FS Take 29M) - Rock-A-Hula Baby (Take 4FS Take 5M) - Moonlight Swim (Take 3M) - Ku ui po (Take 8LFS Take 9M) - Ito Eats (Take 6FS Take 7FS Take8FS Take 9M) - Slicin’ Sand (Take 18LFS Take 19M) - Hawaiian Sunset (Master) - Beach Boy Blues (Take 1FS Take 2M) - Island of Love (Take 11FS Take 12FS Take 13M) - Hawaiian Wedding Song (Take 2M)

The Alternate Outtakes: No More (Take 3LFS) - No More (Take 9) - Rock-A-Hula Baby (Take 1FS) - Ito Eats (Take 1MM Take 3FS) - Slicin’ Sand (Take 15FS Take 16FS Take 17) - Beach Boy Blues (Take 3MM) - Island of Love (Take 3FS, Take 5FS, Take 10FS) - Aloha Oe (Take 2) - Aloha Oe (Take 3) - Aloha Oe (Take 5SPM) - Aloha Oe (Take 7SPM) - Aloha Oe (MASTER OF SECTION 2) - Cant Help Falling In Love (Take 1FS Take 2FS Take 3FS Take 4FS) - Cant Help Falling In Love (Take 5LSF) - Cant Help Falling In Love (Take 6FS, Take 7FS) - Cant Help Falling In Love (Take 8LFS) - Cant Help Falling In Love (Take 9) - Cant Help Falling In Love (Take 10FS Take 11FS Take 12FS) - Cant Help Falling In Love (Take 18FS Take 23MM)

Tracks The Complete Louisiana Hayride Archives 1954 - 1956:
First Louisiana Hayride Show - 16.10.1954:
Hayride Begins Jingle - Introduction / That's All Right - Blue Moon Of Kentucky
15.01.1955: Hearts Of Stone - That’s All Right - Tweedle Dee
22.01.1955: Money Honey - Blue Moon Of Kentucky - I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine - That’s All Right
30.04.1955: Tweedle Dee
16.07.1955: I’m Left You’re Right She’s Gone
20.08.1955 Baby Let’s Play House - Maybellene - That’s All Right
Last Louisiana Hayride Show - 16.12.1956:
Heartbreak Hotel - Long Tall Sally - I Was The One - Love Me Tender - Don’t Be Cruel - Love Me - I Got A Woman - When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again - Paralyzed - Hound Dog - Elvis Has Left The Building - Hayride End Jingle
Bonus Songs: June Carter Talks About Elvis On The Hayride - Maybellene (Tunzi Remix).

(Source: Memphis Recording Service / Elvis Aktuell)

May 25 - Taking Care of Vinyl Covers

It appears the cover upcoming "Taking Care of Business" book from FTD / Flaming Star received an update. The top image is the first cover, the second one is the new image found on the The Man And His Music website. 

This 430-page illustrated hardback book will detail Elvis’ personal life and public career between October 1970 and January 1971. Produced by David English, Pål Granlund and EMM’s very own Paul Richardson, the book will be accompanied by audio from the November 1970 tour.


Vinyl

Due for release on June 3, 2016 from the Socadisc label is a vinyl re-issue of "Blue Hawaii", "Elvis in Love", "Number One Hits", "Rocks on", "Sings Songs from His Movies" and "Gospel Times". The latter with The Jordanaires.

(Source: FECC / Now Dig This / Amazon France)

May 24 - Import-releases

The AudiRec import-releases "Opening Night At Lake Tahoe" containing an audience-recording of the April 30, 1976 Opening Show and "Hilton Showroom Volume 3" containing an audience-recording of the December 6, 1975 Dinner Show performance have been released. 

(Source: Elvis On CD)

May 23 - The Profile

Due for re-release from The Profile Collection label on August 12, 2016 is the 2CD biography interview set "The Profile".

(Source: Amazon)

May 22 - Sold!

A Gibson guitar that Elvis Presley was given by his father has sold for $334,000 (£230,000) at at an auction at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York. It is thought that Vernon Presley changed the finish on the Gibson Dove to black after his son earned a black belt in karate. Presley gave the guitar to a fan during a concert in North Carolina in 1975.

Elvis Presley's first piano, a Stroud piano from 1911, sold for $140,000. Elvis Presley bought the piano at the age of 20 at O.K. Houck Piano Company Inc. Memphis, on September 30 1955 for $ 281.75. Presley paid $ 50 as deposit, and the balance was paid over 11 months. Later the piano stood in the room of Joe Esposito at Graceland. Eventually Christine Strickland, his cook, get the piano. After her death, the piano was sold to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame Museum in July 1992, where it was on display until 1999. In October of that year the piano was sold at auction in Las Vegas. Today, the piano was offered at Julien's Auctions. 

(Source: BBC / Julien Auctions / Elvis Matters)

May 20 - Follow Elvis And Johnny

The May 2016 Follow That Dream releases "NBC Special", "Las Vegas 1975" and the vinyl "The King Creole Monitor Mixes" have been released. 

"Elvis" ('68 Comeback) Special". The first disc includes the original album plus the expected Bonus tracks. Disc 2 contains, somewhat disappointingly this includes the material previously released on the excellent FTD 'Let Yourself Go' but also includes 9 previously unreleased tracks. 'Let Yourself Go' however was edited into a "making of the NBC Special" audio documentary. Now we get a more thorough look into the session tapes.

"LAS VEGAS 1975" - double-pack soundboard concert release. The album features two of Elvis' best concerts from his Las Vegas March/April 1975 season. The March 22 concert is considered one of the best concerts of the season and was first released on the Fort Baxter bootleg 'A Profile Vol. 2'. Elvis is in fine voice and the excellent set-list includes Big Boss Man, It's Midnight, Promised Land, My Boy as well as the one-off 'You're The Reason I'm Living' (as previously issued on the 'Live In Las Vegas' BMG box-set). 

The Las Vegas March 22, 1975 MS is by far the best concert from the season so although previously bootlegged the concert is an essential release. The April 1, Dinner Show is also a great addition with a fine song line-up and Elvis in a fantastic mood - the bonus songs were also very carefully chosen. The April 1 concert was previously released on bootleg back in 2009 by Southern Comfort/Fort Baxter and it is an excellent show.

"King Creole The Monitor Mono Mixes" contains mixes that were recorded by RCA's studio engineer separately to the King Creole album Masters and include the few outtakes of the session that have been released. Tracks include, As Long As I Have You (long version - take 8 ), Crawfish (unedited master) and King Creole (first version - take 18). This release comes on clear 180 Gr. vinyl.

Charlie, Bring Me The Request Box


Also released is the Straight Arrow import title "Charlie, Bring Me The Request Box". A 5 CD set covering the "Elvis Summer Festival 1975" that ran August 18 to 20, 1975 at the  Las Vegas Hilton Hotel.

Elvis And Johnny 

Due for release from the French VPI label is the vinyl double pack "Johnny - Elvis: Quand Johnny Reprends Elvis". The set contains tracks by both Johnny Hallyday and Elvis Presley and is limited to 1000 copies on red and blue vinyl. 

Side A: I Got Stung - Baby I Don´t Care - Hound Dog - Trouble - Don´t Leave Me Now - Blue Suede Shoes - Money Honey - Teddy Bear - Heartbreak Hotel

Seite B: J´Suis Mordu - Sentimental - Hound Dog - La Bagarre - Premier Amour - Blue Suede Shoes - Money Honey - Ton pettit Ours En Peluche - Je Me Sens Sie Seul.


(Source: Amazon / FECC / UEPS)

May 19 - EPE Graceland Ready For Westside Construction

Elvis Presley Enterprises applied this week for more construction permits for work totaling $21.3 million across the street from Graceland.

The company will replace the complex of decades-old tourist buildings that house souvenir shops, dining and an exhibit of Elvis' cars. Elvis Presley Enterprises had pulled a permit in February for preliminary construction totaling $6.7 million. Dirt work started a few months ago behind the existing buildings along Elvis Presley Boulevard at Craft Road.

The company applied for three more permits this week, for $18.1 million worth of work at 1064 Craft, for $1.1 million of work at 1126 Craft and for $2.2 million of work at 1116 Craft.

The documents describe the planned construction as "core and shell construction'' and the pouring of the foundation.

Grinder, Taber & Grinder is the contractor and Hnedak Bobo Group is the architect for the project whose total cost will be $30 million to $35 million.

Elvis Presley Enterprises calls it the "Westside Project'' because the buildings are on the west side of the street across from Graceland.

The old buildings will be removed and replaced with 200,000 square feet that will house a new museum of Elvis’ cars, two restaurants, a multipurpose building, six retail spaces, a museum themed “Elvis the Entertainer,’’ and other exhibits.

Graceland officials have said they plan to move Elvis’ gold records, guitars, jumpsuits and other memorabilia from the mansion into the new space.

The tourist facilities will be greatly expanded on a 46-acre site that includes land acquired from where Craft Manor and other apartment complexes once stood.

The two Elvis airplanes will stay in place.

The Westside Project will eventually mean the demolition of Heartbreak Hotel, but only after completion this fall of the new 450-room resort hotel called The Guest House at Graceland. The Guest House is on the east side of Elvis Presley Boulevard, north of Graceland.

Juliens Auctions
 

On Saturday, May 21 at 10am local time the auction 'Music Icons' takes place in the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City. It is organized by the auction house Julien's Auctions. The catalog contains 83 lots with Elvis memorabilia, including jewelry, clothing, a piano, and the Aloha guitar that was offered for sale at Graceland auction in January, but with the minimum price was not met. Since yesterday, visitors of the Hard Rock Cafe on Times Square can view the auction items.


The legendary Gibson Dove guitar played by Elvis during the famous Aloha from Hawaii concert in 1973 is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the auction. Not only during this show Elvis used the guitar but also more than 100 other live performances from 1971 to 1975. This Ebony Gibson Dove guitar, with an estimated $ 300,000 to $ 500,000, is one of the most important guitars in music history.

If you have money to spare click here: >>> Music Icons Auction Catalog.

(Source: Commercial Appeal / Thomas Bailey Jr. / ElvisMatters)

May 18 - The Beat Is Back

Expected soon is from the E.P. Collector import-label is a 2CD set entitled ”The Beat Is Back” containing an audiencerecording of the April 21, 1976 performance in Kansas City, MO. The running-time is 84:33 minutes.

From the press-release:

As per the March 1976 tour, the April tour was a short one - Elvis played just 8 shows in 7 days - but only 3 days after tour closing in Spokane, Elvis started his last-ever season in Lake Tahoe. Most of the April concerts were solid and the shows were longer, with very enjoyable set lists.

Note: Shane Kiester was replaced on piano by Tony Brown and Ronnie Tutt was back on drums, replacing Larrie Londin.

Among the concert highlights are ”Steamroller Blues“, ”Heartbreak Hotel”, ”My Way”, “Hurt“ and ”Burning Love”. There are other great performances, but one single performance stands out in particular - an unique, dramatic rendition of „How Great Thou Art“! Elvis' vocals on this are unbelievable, and this is a serious candidate for 'best live version ever'.

The April 21st, 1976 show is previously unreleased. The producers were looking for good sounding recording for more than 2 years. Finally they got 3 different tapes. The best sounding one was selected for release and small parts were repaired using secondary sources, to make the recording 100 percent complete.

The CD is packaged in a nicely designed double digipak filled with a glowing concert review from the local press and a collection of cool images taken on April 21st, 1976 in Kansas City, MO. With Ronnie Tutt back in band, the beat was back, too!

Tracklist CD-1:
01. Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001 Theme) - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. medley: I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - 06. You Gave Me A Mountain (with false start) - 07. Steamroller Blues - 08. All Shook Up - 09. medley: Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - 10. Heartbreak Hotel - 11. My Way - 12. Polk Salad Annie.

CD-2:
01. Band Introductions - 02. What'd I Say - 03. Drums Solo (Ronnie Tutt) - 04. Bass Solo (Jerry Scheff) - 05. Piano Solo (Tony Brown) - 06. Electric Piano Solo (David Briggs) - 07. School Day - 08. And I Love You So - 09. Hurt - 10. Help Me - 11. Burning Love - 12. America (The Beautiful) - 13. How Great Thou Art - 14. Little Darlin' (with false start) - 15. Funny How Time Slips Away (with reprise) - 16. Hound Dog - 17. Can't Help Falling In Love - 18. Closing Vamp & Announcements - 19. Elvis In Kansas City announcement.

US Charts

Elvis Presley has no entries on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart for the week ending  May 28, 2016.
The "If I Can Dream" CD rises from #7 to #4 on the Classical Album Chart.

UK Charts

The "If I Can Dream" CD is listed at #95 on the UK Album Chart for the week ending May 20,  2016. It is also listed at #76 on the Album Sales Chart and #58 on the Physical Album Chart.

EU Charts

The "If I Can Dream" CD is listed at #92 on the Scottish Album Chart.

(Source: e-mail / Brian Quinn / FECC)

May 16 - Elvis On Tour - The Standing Room Only Tapes

A new exclusive 4 CD set has been released by the Magnetic import-label. It features The Standing Room Only Tapes rehearsals recorded in March and April 1972. These rehearsals are presented here in their best sound quality available, and for the very first time reunited in a single box-set with a nice booklet featuring related pictures, paperwork and memorabilia. 

The set contains material recorded between March and April 1972 at RCA Studio C, Hollywood.

CD 1 - The Mock Up Studio Sessions: 30.03.1972
CD 2 - The Rehearsals (Part 1 - 31.03.1972)
CD 3 - The Rehearsals (Part 2 - 31.03.1972)

CD 4 - The Buffalo Rehearsal: 05.04.1972

(Source: FECC)