Tuesday, May 16, 2023

May 15 - Encore Settlement (Updated)

Joseph Tunzi shared that his new book 'Elvis Encore Performance VII: The Chicago Blues' will be out May 31, 2023. 

Publicity stated: This book will feature photos from Elvis' performance at the Chicago Stadium on June 17, 1972. It comes with a bonus 2023 "pocket" Elvis calendar.

The book 'The Definitive Vinyl Artwork of Elvis Presley, Vol. 2: The Back Covers' is planned for the end of 2023 or early 2024. 


Dispute Settled

According to CNN Priscilla Presley has reached a settlement agreement over her petition questioning the validity of her late daughter Lisa Marie Presley’s will.

“The parties would like to report that they’ve reached a settlement,” Ronson J. Shamoun, Priscilla Presley’s attorney, told Judge Lynn Scaduto at a court hearing in Los Angeles.

The agreement pertains to the Promenade Trust, which names Riley Keough, Lisa Marie Presley’s oldest daughter, as the beneficiary of her late mother’s estate. Details of the agreement were not discussed in court. Attorneys for the parties said they plan to file a motion to seal the settlement agreement.

The judge asked for the settlement and the motion to seal to be filed by June 12 and set another hearing in the case for August 4.

“The families are happy,” Shamoun told reporters outside court. “Everyone is happy, unified, together and excited for the future”. Justin Gold, attorney for Riley Keough, told CNN “she is very content”.

Priscilla Presley said in a statement that her family is “pleased that we resolved this together.”

“My family has resolved all confusion as it relates to our plea to the court and request for document interpretation after my daughter Lisa Marie’s untimely passing,” she added. “Although the media identified such a plea as a lawsuit, I want to make clear that there was never any lawsuit filed against my beloved granddaughter.”


A lawyer for Riley Keough didn’t return a request for comment.


Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis Presley’s only child, died in January after being hospitalized following an apparent cardiac arrest at her California home.

Priscilla Presley disputed a 2016 amendment to her daughter’s will which states that Lisa Marie Presley removed her mother and former business manager, Barry Siegel, as co-trustees, replacing them with her children Riley and Benjamin Keough. Benjamin Keough later died in 2020.

The petition, filed in January and obtained by CNN, alleged that Priscilla Presley did not receive the amendment while her daughter was alive, as required by her Trust, and that the document misspells Priscilla’s name. The petition also alleged that the amendment was not witnessed or notarized and questioned the authenticity of Lisa Marie Presley’s signature.

Lisa Marie Presley’s cause of death remains under review, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner.

Bill Baize Died

Bill Baize, tenor singer of Blackwood Brothers Quartet and J.D. Sumner and The Stamps, died. He was 83. R.I.P. and thank you for the music. He sung as part of The Stamps as Elvis' backing group on records and on tour from 1971 to 1976. That year Baize began a long running solo career.


Baize contributed to the recording session for the 'Promised Land' LP and was there at and was present at the Jungle Room sessions. It is Bill Baize who sings the fabulous falsetto high note at the end of 'Burning Love' and you can see him in action in the 1972 movie 'Elvis On Tour'.

The Blackwood Brothers Quartet lovingly stated: "Legendary tenor, Bill Baize, graduated to heaven on May 15th."

Sam Thompson posted: "Bill was a great singer and good man.  Elvis loved Bill singing 'The Lighthouse' ... So many of us gone now".

Graceland posted: Remembering Bill Baize

In the world of gospel music, there are certain individuals who leave an indelible mark on the hearts of audiences and fellow musicians alike. Bill Baize, the cherished tenor member of the renowned Stamps Quartet, was just that person to Elvis and Graceland. 

Graceland was saddened to learn of Bill Baize’s passing on May 15. He left us with memories of his extraordinary talent and unwavering embodiment of faith which captivated both Elvis fans and gospel music fans.

Bill’s most memorable performances with Elvis – from singing “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” to crafting the “Burning Love” rock ‘n’ roll lyric all love to sing (“ahhh”) – will forever leave a lasting impact on Elvis fans. 

With the voice of angel that could yield powerful performances, Bill would always share a radiant smile and a genuine warmth that made him approachable and beloved by fans. Bill Baize understood the transformative power of music and used it to uplift, encourage and inspire others. 

Bill recently shared with us how blessed he felt to be part of the Elvis world, which sums up how we all felt about him as well:

“I feel that I have been one of the most blessed people on earth to have been able to work with Elvis when I did, and I cherish all the fond memories that I have of that time. I have wonderful memories of the days that we spent working in Hawaii on the Aloha From Hawaii show, and wonderful memories of when I spent days there working on the 40th anniversary show. I miss the fans and their enthusiasm about being at Graceland, and I definitely miss my dear friends there at Graceland. I feel like I have been one of the most blessed people on earth to have been able to work with Elvis when I did.”

Bill, an ordained minister, spent his life singing gospel. He sang tenor for the "Smitty Gatlin Trio" from 1966 - 1967 and later sang tenor for "JD Sumner And The Stamps Quartet" from 1971 - 1976. Baize performed with gospel quartets like the "Echoes of Calvary," "The Illinoisans," "The Trailsmen Quartet," and into the professional spotlight with the "Smitty Gatlin Singers." He was with the "Stamps Quartet" from 1971 to 1976 and took the gospel to the world through their highly respected spot with Elvis. 

(Source: JAT Publishing / CNN / Hollywood Reporter / Blackwood Brothers Quartet on Faceboo / Elvis Information Network / Graceland)

Monday, May 15, 2023

May 14 - The Airplanes and The King

Carlos Varrenti published the third, updated English edition of his book 'Elvis Presley: The Airplanes & The King'.

The 1st edition was in Spanish (200 pages) and the revised and expanded 2nd edition (400+ pages), in English. However, the book was not widely available. The 3rd edition (285 pages) focuses on the content and features new information, but also has information from the second edition removed to make the book affordable for more fans. 

This 285-page paperback edition is available through Amazon. 

Description: As an aeronautical engineer and lifelong Elvis Presley fan, I have always been fascinated by the King's connection to aviation. Since my first visit to Graceland in 2001, I have been compiling every detail I could find about Elvis and his planes - every short paragraph in a book, every video, every photograph, and every bit of information. Now, I am thrilled to share this wealth of knowledge and unique Elvis stories in the third edition of 'The Airplanes & the King'.

This book provides a detailed account of Elvis's aviation history, featuring photos and stories from 1955 through 1977. It offers a fascinating look at Elvis's life on tour from an original and compelling perspective. The book includes archival material, personal stories, and stunning imagery that will captivate aviation enthusiasts and Elvis fans alike. Whether you are a die-hard fan or simply curious about the King's connection to the skies, 'The Airplanes & the King' is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of aviation and popular culture.

I'm proud to add that I wrote the foreword for this new edition of this book. I can recommend it, in the reviews of the previous editions of this book you can read why.   

Review: "Los Aviones Y el Rey" (released July 2021)
Review: "The Airplanes and the King" (released August 2022).


Elvis’ Women On Amazon Prime

Elvis Presley’s relationship with the women closest to him is to be revealed in an Amazon Prime Video documentary series.

Premiering this week, Elvis’ Women aims to “uncover a man who was much more complex than the public perception of the titular American icon,” according to the show’s synopsis.

Elvis’ Women goes offstage to reveal more about the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll through the eyes of the women whose love for the man endures: his nurse, his fiancĂ©, his live-in girlfriends, his many dalliances and fans.

Episode one sees his rise to fame in the 1950s recounted by the various women he dated at the time while revealing a mama’s boy who never recovered from his mother’s sudden death, while the second instalment follows the ups-and-downs of his relationship with Priscilla Beaulieu and Ann-Margret. Episode three charts his post-Priscilla search for true love in the 1970s, towards the end of his life.

Update June 2023: 

In case you missed it, Elvis’ stepbrother David Stanley alleged in the new documentary Elvis’ Women that the late legend died by suicide rather than a shocking cardiac arrest, saying, “He premeditated taking the medications that killed him. Love, hurt, pain, exposure - he just couldn’t take it anymore.”

However, Elvis’ former fiancĂ©e Ginger Alden is slamming Stanley’s claim that Elvis died by suicide to avoid his inappropriate relationships from coming to light.

“Unfortunately, Elvis’ step-brothers have changed stories and even fabricated some tales I know to be false over the years,” she said. “One brother [of the three] later created a complete garbage story about suicide years back and it looks like he resurfaced with it again.”

So since the documentary came out, Stanley has apologized for those comments.

He wrote to Instagram (and subsequently removed the comment section), “I am sorry for the derogatory comments I made in a documentary about Elvis that was filmed last year. There is no excuse for my comments and I can fully understand why you would be angered.”

He added, “I love and will always love Elvis and being part of his family. He is more than worthy of the love you have for him. He loved you. I love you, and all I can ask of you is for you to forgive me for my irresponsible actions.”

(Source: Carlos Varrenti / IMDB / Deadline)

Sunday, May 14, 2023

May 14 - Vinyl for Everybody

Due for release from the Not Now recordlabel are re-issues of Elvis' original albums 'Something for Everybody' (on pink colored vinyl) and the 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' Soundtrack (on blue colored vinyl).

Publicity stated: Set in Hawaii, Presley’s eleventh film Girls! Girls! Girls! featured the usual combination of exotic locations, plenty of songs and Elvis in fightin’ mood. Released in 1962, it features the notable Return To Sender, Earth Boy, Because of Love and the title track Girls! Girls! Girls! which was originally penned by Leiber & Stoller for The Coasters in 1961. Side One includes Where Do You Come From, which was not in the film but is included on the soundtrack album. In 1993, the U.S. Mail issued its Elvis Stamp and noticed that there was an increase in the number of letters it was obliged to return… zealous fans of the ‘King’ had marked the correspondence ‘Return to sender – address unknown’.

Tracks 'Girls! Girls! Girls!': Girls! Girls! Girls / I Don’t Wanna Be Tied / Where Do You Come From / I Don’t Want To / We’ll Be Together / A Boy Like Me, A Girl Like You / Earth Boy / Return To Sender / Because Of Love / Thanks To The Rolling Sea / Song Of The Shrimp / The Walls Have Ears / We’re Coming In Loaded.  

With the release of the Gospel album, His Hand In Mine during December 1960, Something For Everybody was the first non-religious Presley album to be released since Elvis Is Back! and the contrast couldn’t have been greater. None of the songs had ever been previously released in any form and were divided equally into ‘the ballad side’ and ‘the rhythm side’. With all of the tracks recorded at RCA Studios, Nashville, in March 1961, except for I Slipped, I Stumbled, I fell, which was recorded at 20th Century Fox Studios in Hollywood six months earlier in October 1960.

Tracks 'Elvis for Everyone': There’s Always Me / Give Me The Right / It’s A Sin / Sentimental Me / Starting Today / Gently /I’m Comin’ Home / In Your Arms / Put The Blame On Me / Judy / I Want You With Me / I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell. 

(Source: Pascal Matteo / Not Now Music)

Saturday, May 13, 2023

May 13 - Charts May 2023 - Week 2 (Updated)

The weekly global Elvis Presley chart update. In the United Kingdom Elvis' chart presence is declining with 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' and 'Las Vegas Summer Festival 1972' dropping off the charts. The latter album dropped off the Irish and Scottish charts too.

In the United States the 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' compilation made a re-entry on the main Billboard Top 200 chart after dropping off that chart just last week. 

The 'Burning Love' LP dropped off the chart after entering it last week.

U.S. Billboard charts:

  • Billboard Top 200 Album chart: 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' makes a re-entry at #172.
  • Billboard Soundtrack Album chart: 'ELVIS' Soundtrack' climbed from #21 to #20. 
  • Billboard Top Country Album chart: 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' climbed from #26 to #25.
  • Billboard Top Rock and Alternative Albums chart: 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' makes a re-entry at #35.

Official U.K. charts:

  • Official Album chart: 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' climbed from #42 to #34. 
  • Official Streaming Album chart: 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' dropped from #30 to #31. 
  • Official Soundtrack Album chart: 'ELVIS' Soundtrack dropped from #23 to #30. 
  • Official Country Compilations chart: 'From Elvis in Nashville' dropped from #11 to #12.
  • Official Film chart: 'ELVIS' dropped from #10 to #14. 
  • Official Video Chart Top 100: 'ELVIS' dropped from #5 to #6. 
  • Official DVD chart: 'ELVIS' remained steady at #5.  
  • Official Blu-ray chart: 'ELVIS' dropped from #14 to #18. 
  • Official Films On Disc chart: 'ELVIS' remained steady at #5.  
  • Official Music DVD chart: 'Elvis The Searcher' remained steady at #25.  
Irish IRMA charts:

  • Official Irish Album chart: 'ELV1S 30#1 Hits' dropped from #64 to #77.
  • Official Irish Video chart: 'ELVIS' dropped from #5 to #8. 
(Source: Official Chart Company / UK Mix Forum / Billboard / IRMA)

May 13 - Really Blue Hawaii

Due for release from the Memphis Mansion recordlabel on 180 Gr. blue colored vinyl is a remastered re-issue of the 'Blue Hawaii'. The album is limited to 300 copies. 

The audio for the 15 tracks was reworked by Anthony Stuchbury. He stated: this mix, never heard before, has been created using the same skills developed to realize the ‘Mono II Stereo’ releases. Isolation of particular instruments enabled new stereo placements to be made to create this brand new mix.

The original RCA movie soundtrack included versions (takes) of some songs that were not the ones used in the actual movie, those versions have now been used to better illustrate the original movie soundtrack experience, along with a couple of surprises that will only be revealed when listening to the album.

A note for the collectors: When first released by RCA the backing vocals were placed to the left as opposed to them being in their correct position on the right, that was a confirmed mistake and is now corrected.

Tracks: Blue Hawaii / Almost Always True / Aloha Oe / No More / Can’t Help Falling In Love (Movie Version) / Rock A Hula Baby / Moonlight Swim / Ku-u-i-Po (Movie Version) / Ito Eats / Slicin’ Sand / Hawaiian Sunset / Stepping Out Of Line / Beach Boy Blues (Movie Version) / Island Of Love / Hawaiian Wedding Song.


Single Re-Issues

The French LMLR / V.P.I. record label released colored vinyl re-issues of the 7-inch singles ‘Any Way You Want Me’ (South Africa) and ‘Kid Galahad’ (Peru). All singles are limited to a one-time-run of 200 copies.

‘Any Way You Want Me’ will be available on off white, silver, red and black colored vinyl. ‘Kid Galahad’ comes on clear, red, off-white, gold and blue colored vinyl.

(Source: Anthony Stuchbury / Sounds)

Thursday, May 11, 2023

Review Come What May

What if … Elvis had released more contemporary albums during the mid-sixties, showing he took his recording career seriously? Unfortunately he didn’t, with the exception of his award winning gospel albums. The REEL-Trax import label stepped in, and filled a void in the Elvis catalog with this compilation. 
Let’s pretend we’re listening to an original album.  

Design

The design of this set is top notch, with a smashing picture from ‘Spinout’ in great quality. It can compete with some of Jimmy Carpenter’s Follow That Dream LP designs e.g. the ‘Roustabout’ and ‘Spinout’ albums. And look at that hair! But he gets away with it, even sixty years later. The booklet mentions a vinyl release of this set, I’m sure this cover will look even better on a 12-inch sized LP. 

Inside the six-panel digipack, the liner notes detail the “what if RCA had released a contemporary album in between all the soundtrack albums” theory, giving this album a theme. Added to that are the covers of several hits and advertisements.

Content

The double set contains a selection of Alternate Takes. On the first disc we get 27 tracks, presented as an album. On the second disc 21 songs by our man, presented with some studio banter. Added to that are 4 demo’s, sung by Red West. 

The latter learns us two things, firstly that Elvis follows the lead-vocal presented on the demo’s pretty close, and secondly, that Elvis is a better singer than Red, even if he is singing his own compositions. 

According to the booklet, the first 12 tracks are taken from the forthcoming vinyl edition of 'Come What May'. And I must say that tracks like the titles song ‘Come What May’, ‘Tomorrow Is A Long Time’, ‘Love Letters’, ‘Fools Fall In Love’ and ‘Tell Me Why ‘ (an unreleased Stereo Master), ‘God's Gonna Cut 'Em Down’ (aka ‘Run On’), ‘Indescribably Blue’, ‘Joshua Fit The Battle’ and several others make a nice compilation album from today's perspective. 'Ill Remember You' is a bit of an odd choice, compared to the other songs, but was perhaps chosen since Hawaiian music was popular in the mid-sixties. The question remains if this selection would have been a success when this selection of songs had been released in 1966.  

‘If Every Day Was Like Christmas’ in the middle does not work for me, nice as it is, it should have been placed at the end. But overall, this LP could have been a ‘Something for Everybody’ Volume 2. The other songs selected for this compilation were released outside the U.S. and U.K. in countries like India and the Philippines (on the RCA record label). Funny to see those songs being released as singles and charting in various countries worldwide. It shows we all love different parts of the wide Elvis catalog.  

The second disc features pretty much the same titles, but as different (spliced) takes with some additional chatter, just like we know from the Follow That Dream label. Playing the discs in a row, you get a different listening experience. 

It opens with a new splice of ‘God's Gonna Cut 'Em Down’ (Takes 1 and 6). It is presented as an unreleased version, but that goes for every newly created splice. Again, an entertaining presentation where the movie songs find their place in between the gospel, pop and country style songs. There is a bit much ‘Hawaiian-themed’ music on this set, but that music was popular at the time, so a logical choice by the producers. 

The audio was remastered for this release and it sounds solid, with the exception of the demo’s - especially ‘Sleepless Nights Endless Days’ - but that is kind-off to be expected with material like that. 

The recent release 'Presley Style - Lost Elvis Songwriter Demos 1961-1963' by P.J. Proby "suffers" from the same problem. Interesting to hear none the less. 

Conclusion

The album is well-designed and entertaining. Sixties fans will certainly enjoy this compilation.  

Listening to the variety of music and the quality of his vocals, it is a pity most that Elvis wasted his talents on mediocre material. Fortunately this ‘Something for Everybody” type album shows it wasn’t all bad. 

Had compilations like this been released by RCA during those “wasted years”, we probably would have thought differently of Elvis’ musical legacy as the soundtrack albums could have been separated from the real album releases for what they really are.

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

May 10 - Elvis Summer Festival Vinyl

The latest Memphis Recording Service vinyl release 'Elvis Summer festival 1972' arrived at the dealers, over a week early for the original release-date of May 19, 2023. 

The 2-LP set, as usual available on black and on clear vinyl, features The August 11th and August 12th Evening Show performances, as recorded a the Las Vegas Hilton during Elvis' 1972 Summer Festival. The audio has been restored and remixed to stereo. 

(Source: UEPS)


Tuesday, May 09, 2023

May 09 - Greatest Vinyl

The Dynamic record label announced the July 7, 2023 release of the 16-track compilation LP 'Greatest Hits'. 

Description: Elvis Greatest Hits on 180-gram vinyl is the ultimate collection for any fan of the biggest star of the 20th century. With 16 of his biggest and most loved songs, this LP showcases the evolution of Elvis's career, from mono hits before his army days to crystal-clear stereo hits after his service. 

Plus, the stunning new sleeve design perfectly captures the essence of the King of Rock n' Roll.

(Source: Pascal Matteo / Amazon)

Sunday, May 07, 2023

May 07 - IFTA Awards

Actor Austin Butler has won the award for 'Best International Actor' at the 2023 Irish Film and Television Awards. 

The awards were handed out to the winners at Dublin’s Royal Convention Centre in Dublin, Ireland. 

The IFTA Film & Drama Awards are awards given by the Irish Film & Television Academy for Irish television and film, the awards began in 1999. The ceremonies recognize Irish creative talent working in film, drama, and television, and winners receive a cast bronze statuette. 


Rethinking Release Dates

The academic book, 'Rethinking Elvis', edited by Dr. Mark Duffett, originally announced for release last year, has been rescheduled by Oxford University Press for publication on November 1, 2023.

Mark Duffett is the author of 'Counting Down Elvis: His 100 Finest Songs' and 'Elvis: Roots, Image, Comeback, Phenomenon'. 

(Source: Facebook / IFTA / Elvis Information Network)

Saturday, May 06, 2023

May 06 - Australian Cinematographer of the Year

The Australian Cinematographers Society named Mandy Walker cinematographer of the year at its national awards in Sydney, marking the first time the society’s Milli Award - presented since 1968 - has ever been won by a woman.

Walker also took home the Gold Tripod in the Feature Films - budget AUS$2 million category - for her work on 'ELVIS'. Again she is the first woman to win this award.

The Milli Award is yet another glass ceiling smashed by Walker in the last 12 months, having also been the first woman to ever win the AACTA Award for Best Cinematography and the American Society of Cinematographers feature film award for Elvis. Walker was also just the third woman to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography. She was also nominated for a BAFTA.

Walker told the audience at the ACS Awards that she was proud to be the first woman to win the Milli and that she hoped many more will follow. “It’s an honor and privilege to have won the Milli and to have worked on Elvis with so many Australian filmmakers who are undeniably at the top of their game. As a team we created an incredibly special piece of cinema,” said Walker.

“Australian cinematographers continue to create some of the best work across the globe and thus, again, I am truly humbled to win this award.”

(Source: Australian Cinematographers Society / IF Magazine)