March 11 - Elvis Unlimited

The Danish Elvis Unlimited published volume 43 of their fan-club magazine featurin an article on Geraldo Rivera who hosted The Elvis Cover Up for ABC's 20/20 television program in 1979 and more. 

March 10 - Full Force At The Auctionblock

The import CD "At Full Force" - a remake of the original Fort Baxter release "Hot Winter Night In Dallas" - was  released by the Audionics label.

The entertainment auction by 'Gotta Have Rock And Roll' closed. The auction had 278 lots with Elvis releated items. The lot with the highest minimum bid price - the set of 3D concert pictures - remained unsold. The asking price of $35,000 was just to high to attract buyers. Personal belongings of Elvis however, are still very popular. The first place is shared by two items. The denim jacket and pants from 'Stay Away Joe' and the red suede jacket that can be seen on many promo pictures are both sold for $34,529 each.

Jailhouse Rock Jackets Real?

From several fan forums:

Last week, the Gotta Have It! Music Memorabilia Auction went live on gottahaverockandroll.com and on that was a red jacket said to be the one worn by Elvis during publicity shots for the 'Jailhouse Rock' movie. The estimate was $10,000 but after 9 bidders it sold for a massive $41,434.80, but is the jacket even real?

When this one sold in New York, there was another red jacket claiming to be the very same as the same thing on display at the Hard Rock Cafe in Gothenburg, Sweden. So which one, if any, are real?

The New York auction one had two labels sewn inside. First is "Macgregor" who manufactured it & below that is a "Lansky's" label. One fan over on a forum tells he showed the picture to Bernard Lansky and asked if it looked like the real thing and he said it didn't. If it had a Lansky tag, it was made for Lansky's, otherwise it would just have the tag of the original manufacturer.

Another fan points to a THIRD jacket which is on display at the 'Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame Museum' in Orlando and the tag apparently clearly stated Elvis Presley and MGM. So we have THREE Jailhouse Rock jackets and no real way of knowing what one is the definitive one so to speak.

The Rock n Roll hall of fame does sound more likely but with Bernard Lansky saying the label thing would never happen then it does look like it's a 41 thousand dollar fake?

March 9 - Memphis Photographer Passes Away

Retired Memphis photographer Charles Nicholas has passed away at 88. Nicholas photographed Elvis Presley among many other Memphis celebrities and news events. In one of his more iconic photos, Elvis Presley stands outside Graceland. Night has fallen, and The King is posing in the door of a new car. The lighting from a chandelier at the front of Graceland warms the scene. The shimmering light reflects off the black car, adding another glow as Elvis unleashes that famous smile/sneer.

This photograph published March 7, 1965 in the first issue of Mid-South, the now-defunct Sunday magazine. Elvis complained of the long sessions with photographers making movie publicity stills: "I try to cut the time down to three or four hours, but sometimes you have to pose for six or eight. A man only has so many different smiles, and I don't have many."

Elvis Presley fiddles with an electric bass inside Graceland in this photograph published March 7, 1965 in the first issue of Mid-South, the now-defunct Sunday magazine. Elvis had misgivings about allowing pictures to be made inside his home. "It's not that I don't want pictures," he said. "You know what I mean. Some people might think I am looking for publicity or trying to exploit my home. I certainly don't want anyone to think that."

Some 200 fans waited at Union Station to welcome Elvis Presley home from his stint in the U.S. Army Monday March 7, 1960. His manager, Col. Tom Parker, was close behind. He was wearing a (non-issue) dress blue Army uniform made in Germany. Elvis was discharged at the rank of sergeant, but the tailor had mistakenly given him the stripes of staff sergeant. The formal white shirt was a gift from Frank Sinatra delivered by his daughter, Nancy, Thursday (March 3) on Elvis' first day back in the U.S.

Vegas Variety Released


The Rainbow Records import label released the complete performance of Elvis Presley´s Las Vegas Dinner Show from exactly one week after his triumphant return to live appearances on July 31st, 1969. The set is volume 3 in their "Vegas Variety" series. 

March 8 - Calendars And Charts

Spring of 2010 has not even begun, but here are some calendars for next year. 


The same goes for the book-market, the release of the paperback book "The Elvis Presley Experience" by Jay Allen Sanford and Aaron Sowd was announced for release by Bluewater Productions on January 3, 2011.

The global chart update - Week 09, 2010:


United States


Top Christian Albums:
• # ---- (48) An Evening Prayer


Top Country Catalog Albums:
** Not available this week **


Canada


Top 50 Country Albums:
• #27 (37) Elvis: 30 #1 Hits


Australia


Top 40 DVDs:
• #33 (30) Elvis: The King Of Rock ’N’ Roll


Top 50 Catalogue Albums:
• #35 (Ne) The King


United Kingdom


Top 200 Albums:
• #196 (196) Elvis: 30 #1 Hits
• #200 (Ne) Off Duty With Private Presley
• # ---- (170) ELVIS 75 [3CD]


France


Top 250 Comprehensive Albums:
• #193 (149) Greatest Hits: Vol. 2
• #186 (165) Greatest Hits: Vol. 1


Top 40 Compilation Albums:
• #38 (36) Greatest Hits: Vol. 1
• #40 (32) Greatest Hits: Vol. 2


Austria


Top 75 Albums:
• #40 (26) The King - 75th Anniversary Edition [3CD]


Switzerland


Top 100 Albums:
• #87 (80) Elvis 75 [3CD]


   

March 7 - The King Of Cabernet Sauvignon And Debts

In a couple of weeks, a new bottle will be added to the already large Elvis wine cellar. The King Of Rock’n’Roll Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 will be available from May till the end of the year. This is not just an average bottle of wine with a picture of Elvis on the label... it is a high quality wine. The distributor already won lots of prestigious awards with previous Elvis wines.

Michael Jackson’s older brother Tito has reportedly been forced to place a rare Elvis Presley jacket under the hammer to clear debts worth 17,000 pounds.

The 56-year-old was purportedly forced to let go off the item after former friend Matt Fiddes filed a lawsuit against him over an unpaid 12,000-pound bill.

“After Fiddes won the action, which was a third-party debt - order, bailiffs were sent in to recover the money from Tito Jackson’s London agent Ron Winter, who is contesting the order,” the Daily Star quoted a source as saying.

“Goods included a rare Elvis Presley jacket, allegedly a gift from Lisa Marie Presley. A load of gold and silver record discs were also seized, including one for soul star Al Green and another for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Ovation. The bailiffs also seized original film posters for Scarface, Goodfellas and The Godfather,” the source added.

March 6 - Golden Boy

The first 2010 volume of the German "Golden Boy Elvis" magazine was released. It features articles on Elvis' cars, Follow That Dream releases, "Jailhouse Rock" and more.

March 5 - Original Chart King

The Proper Records budget label released the box-set "Elvis Presley & the Original Rock & Roll Kings" in Germany.



Global Chart Update - Week 08, 2010

United States:

Top Christian Albums:
• # 48 (Ne) An Evening Prayer

Top Catalog Albums:
• # ----- (37) Elvis: 30 #1 Hits

Top Country Catalog Albums:
** Not available this week **

Canada:

Top 100 Albums:
• # ---- (95) Édition 75ième anniversaire [2CD]

Top 50 Country Albums:
• #37 (29) Elvis: 30 #1 Hits

Australia:

Top 50 Physical Albums:
• # ---- (44) 50 Australian Top Ten Hits: 1956-1977

Top 40 DVDs:
• #30 (31) Elvis: The King Of Rock ’N’ Roll

United Kingdom:

Top 200 Albums:
• #170 (85) ELVIS 75 [3CD]
• #196 (178) Elvis: 30 #1 Hits

France:

Top 250 Comprehensive Albums:
• #149 (Re) Greatest Hits: Vol. 2
• #165 (Re) Greatest Hits: Vol. 1
• # ---- (180) Elvis: 30 #1 Hits

Top 40 Compilation Albums:
• #32 (Re) Greatest Hits: Vol. 2
• #36 (Re) Greatest Hits: Vol. 1
• # ---- (40) Elvis: 30 #1 Hits

Austria:

Top 75 Albums:
• #26 (15) The King - 75th Anniversary Edition [3CD]

Switzerland:

Top 100 Albums:
• #80 (76) Elvis 75 [3CD]

Sweden:

Top 60 Albums:
• # ---- (41) The Essential

March 4 - John Wilkinson Undergoes Surgery

Elvis Presley's former rhythm guitarist John Wilkinson had surgery and returned home the same day. 

Setting The Season


The SR import label announced the release of "Setting the Season" with focus on Elvis’ live performances in Las Vegas between February 19 and February 21, 1971. This deluxe long digipack , double CD pack is the first SR release dedicated onto Vegas' fourth season.



From the pressrelease:


In spite of the fact that Elvis is getting bored of Las Vegas, he is still able to the end the season by giving life to some terrific shows. Here they are presented in great audio quality , the CD 1 with the complete show from February 19 midnight show and the CD 2 with the unreleased February 22 midnight show taken from an early generation copy of the original master tape, as recorded by a member of the audience. All tracks were digitally restored for your best possible listening pleasure; the sound quality is incredibly good considering the early Vegas Season. The shows are linked from the highlight of February 21 midnight show.


We are proud to give life to a unique view with almost 160 minutes of great music with Elvis at his best for that season. As a first time for this label, the double CD will come in a deluxe LONG six panel digipack, containing a collection of live rare photographs of the Vegas February 1971 season.

March 3 - The King Of Quiffs And Sideburns And Memphis Boys

Women prefer Brad Pitt's crew cut: According to a research study, which polled more than 4,000 Britons, 50 per cent of men voted for the King's trademark quiff and sideburns. Whereas, David Beckham's coiffured "curtains" hairstyle and eighties radio DJ Pat Sharp's mullet secured 17 per cent and 15 per cent of the poll respectively, reports The Daily Express.

The research, by Head and Shoulders shampoo was conducted to determine who sported the most classic man's haircut.


However, 66 per cent of women found men with crew cuts, sported by sytle icons. Celebrities such as movie star Brad Pitt, had more sex appeal than men with quiffs.



Most Famous Hits

The "Most Famous Hits" DVD was re-issued in Japan. 


The Memphis Boys - The Story About American Studios

The new book "The Memphis Boys - The Story About American Studios" by Roben Jones is out now.

Synopsis:

A detailed history of an unsung recording studio and its lasting impact on rhythm and blues.

Memphis Boys chronicles the story of the rhythm section at Chips Moman's American Studios from 1964, when the group began working together, until 1972, when Moman shut down the studio and moved the entire operation to Atlanta. Utilizing extensive interviews with Moman and the group, as well as additional comments from the songwriters, sound engineers, and office staff, author Roben Jones creates a collective biography combined with a business history and a critical analysis of important recordings. She reveals how the personalities of the core group meshed, how they regarded newcomers, and how their personal and musical philosophies blended with Moman's vision to create timeless music based on themes of suffering and sorrow.

Recording sessions with the Gentrys, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, the Box Tops, Joe Tex, Neil Diamond, B. J. Thomas, Dionne Warwick, and many others come alive in this book. Jones provides the stories behind memorable songs composed by group writers, such as "The Letter," "Dark End of the Street," "Do Right Woman," "Breakfast in Bed," and "You Were Always on My Mind." Featuring photographs, personal profiles, and a suggested listening section, Memphis Boys details a significant phase of American music and the impact of one studio.

Roben Jones of Gallipolis, Ohio, has published poetry in various magazines and in Wild Sweet Notes: Fifty Years of West Virginia Poetry, 1950-1999.

640 pages (approx.),6 1/8 x 9 1/4 inches, 25 b&w illustrations, bibliography, index

Zippin Pippin OK'ed By GB City Council

In May of 2011, you'll be able to enjoy Elvis's favorite ride in Green Bay. That's after the Green Bay City Council votes 7 to 4 to bring the Zippin' Pippin' to Bay Beach. Not the whole coaster, just parts of it. The rest will be built from scratch. Alderman Jerry Wiezbiskie called it a "no brainer". The coaster will be paid for by city-issued bonds, donations, and park revenues.

Through The Gate Winter Edition

The latest Issue - The Winter 2010 Edition - of Through the Gate was released by EPE for their Elvis Insiders fan club. See some photos from the new Elvis Presley: Fashion King exhibit at Graceland, go behind the scenes of Viva ELVIS™ by Cirque du Soleil®, see rare artifacts from Elvis' childhood in Tupelo, read a Q&A with Tupelo and Elvis historian, Roy Turner, and much more. Below is a sneak peek of just a small sample of content from the new 10-page issue. Insiders can log into the members-only website to view the newsletter.

March 2 - Elvis And Fan Favorites Lists

As commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the birth of Elvis Presley continue, Shout! Factory released the 1979 movie "Elvis" on DVD, marking the first time that the well-regarded television miniseries has been available on DVD.

Import Top 40 February 2010

Compared to last month the top 5 has not changed.

The current Top 5 is:

1 (1) A Greensboro Revolution! (2008)
2 (2) American Crown Jewels (1996)
3 (3) One Night Only! (2006)
4 (4) A Hot Winter Night In Dallas (1998)
5 (5) Closing Night February 1970 (2008)

FTD Top 40 February 2010

Compared to last month there are no changes is the top 5. The recent A Minnesota Moment did not gather votes yet.

The current top 5:

1 (1) The Jungle Room Sessions (2000)
2 (2) Elvis Is Back! (2005)
3 (3) That's The Way It Is (2008)
4 (4)  Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis (2004)
5 (5) Elvis Country (2008)


MP3 Album Re-issues

Sony re-issued various original albums in MP3 format on their Legacy Labels. Besides some of the soundtrack re-issues from early 2010 some of the titles are "Welcome To me World", "For LP Fans Only" and "Elvis For Everyone".