April 16 - Blues & Soul Live Live Live

The import label Captain Video announced the re-release of the Messiah Productions DVD-Recordable simply titled "Elvis Live Live Live" in May 2010. It contains more unreleased footage than the DVD-Recorable release from January 2010 including - for the first time ever - the complete "Always On My Mind" rehearsal from "Elvis On Tour". This was only ever seen before in part, on the movie "This Is Elvis". 

The factory pressed DVD has only a Limited Edition run of only 1000 copies and is available during the month of May.


Blues & Soul Records


The 2010/6 edition - #93) of the Japanese Blues & Soul Records magazine features Elvis Presley on the cover.



I Love Elvis


The Dutch Weton Wesgram label released another Elvis 3CD-set in their "I Love ..." CD series in Germany. 

Elvis Favorite Horse

Breyer Animal Creations to unveil The Elvis Presley Collection at BreyerFest.

From the press-release:

The horse-loving spirit of Elvis will ride again this summer when Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. and Breyer Animal Creations, a division of Reeves International, Inc., join forces to launch Breyer’s Elvis Presley Collection of the horses of Graceland at the model horse maker’s annual festival, BreyerFest®, to be held July 23-25 at the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY.

The Breyer Elvis Presley Collection is a tribute to Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s favorite horses, past and present, and the collection will be launched at BreyerFest this year to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the birth of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

“As always, we’re launching the Breyer Elvis Presley Collection with a collectible Traditional® Series portrait model of Elvis’ registered American Quarter Horse Rising Sun, a gorgeous palomino named in honor of one of his favorite songs,” said Stephanie Macejko, Vice President of Marketing and Product Development at Breyer.

“Elvis enjoyed horses and loved having them at Graceland,” said Priscilla Presley. “I’m happy to share this part of his legacy with the equestrian world in this anniversary year and to add my voice to those who support equine welfare.”

BreyerFest® will also launch the opening of the Elvis Presley Graceland Stables Exhibit at the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park. The exhibit, borrowed from the vaults at Graceland, will include Elvis’ saddles and bridles, video footage of the family riding, and other historic archival materials on loan from the stables at Graceland. The exhibit will open BreyerFest weekend and will be on display throughout the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, to be held Sept. 25-Oct. 10, 2010.

(Source: ElvisNews / Elvis World Japan / Elvis Presley Enterprises)

April 15 - On Tour Art And Summer Kisses Over Troubled Water

The New Moon import label announced the release of the CD "Bridge Of Troubled Water" containing a previously unreleased soundboard recording of Elvis' March 31. 1975 M/S. 

Five tracks have already been released by the Follow That Dream label but all the other tracks are unreleased. This release came with a 12-page booklet, containing a selection of live photographs from the March 1975 Las Vegas engagement as well as informative liner notes.


Tracklisting


01. Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen (medley) - 04. Love Me - 05. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - 06. And I Love You So (with false start) - 07. Big Boss Man (false start only) - 08. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - 09. The Wonder Of You - 10. Burning Love - 11. Band Introductions (incomplete) - 12.School Days (incomplete) - 13. Fairytale - 14- I'll Remember You - 15. Let Me Be There (with reprise) - 16. Hound Dog - 17. Bridge Over Troubled Water - 18. Little Darlin' (with false starts) - 19. Introduction of Liberace - 20. Hawaiian Wedding Song - 21. Can't Help Falling In Love - 22. Closing Vamp

This is another cover for the same release that floated on the World Wide Web.


















On Tour Art-work


The artwork of the 2010 Blu-ray edition of "On Tour", "Blu-ray Collection" and "Elvis 75th Anniversary Collection" movie blu-ray box-set was spotted by fans. 



Three different blu-ray releases will be available in the USA in August. On Tour Will be released on DVD and Blu Ray.

From the press-release:

Warner Home Video will release, Elvis On Tour, the Golden Globe-winning documentary that followed Elvis on a 15-city tour of the United States in 1972 on August 3 in newly-restored and remastered Blu-ray and DVD versions. The Blu-ray release will be packaged as a Blu-ray book filled with Elvis photos, quotes, trivia, a tour itinerary, set lists, costumes, and background information about the filming techniques used.


The "Elvis Blu-ray Collection" contains all available blu-ray titles 'On Tour', 'Viva Las Vegas' and 'Jailhouse Rock'.


Warner will also release a Blu-ray package of 'Elvis on Tour', 'Jailhouse Rock' and 'Viva Las Vegas', and will make each of the films available on DVD by themselves. The Blu-ray editions were ready three years ago, but have been held back for the 75th Anniversay year, 2010. It's all been remastered for high definition and the Blu-ray comes with DTS-HD audio and a book filled with photos, trivia, a tour itinerary and more.

Remastered in High Definition with 16 x 9 2.40 letterboxed image, as seen in the theatrical release.

Blu-ray audio will be DTS-HD Master Audio (5.1 Surround); DVD audio will be Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround.

Packaged as a Blu-ray book filled with Elvis photos, quotes, trivia, a tour itinerary, set lists, costumes, and background information about the filming techniques used.

Elvis 75th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition


Warner Home Video will also release the Elvis 75th Anniversary DVD Collection with 17 of his films, including the new Elvis on Tour and fan favorites, Jailhouse Rock and Viva Las Vegas. Besides the 14 feature films and three documentaries, the box set includes a 40-page commemorative book with iconic shots from behind the scenes of his movies and stage performances, and insightful career highlights notes.

The collection, packed in sparkly, Vegas-inspired, holographic foil with 10 reproduction memorabilia pieces including studio correspondence and signed Elvis Presley checks, is a great gift set for fans of all ages. Select titles also feature commentaries and/or making-of featurettes.

This DVD collection packages together 17 Elvis titles (all the same as existing solo releases) in one box along with the following UCE content:

• Commemorative Concert Photo Book with Iconic Shots from Behind the Scenes of His Movies and Stage Performances and Insightful Career Highlights Notes.
• 10 Reproduction Memorabilia Pieces, Including Studio Correspondence and Signed Elvis Presley Checks.

The collection will include the following DVD titles:

• Elvis on Tour
• Jailhouse Rock
• Viva Las Vegas
• It Happened At The World’s Fair
• Kissin’ Cousins
• Girl Happy
• Tickle Me
• Harum Scarum
• Spin Out
• Double Trouble
• Stay Away, Joe
• Speedway
• Live a Little, Love a Little
• Charro!
• The Trouble with Girls
• Elvis: That’s the Way It Is
• This is Elvis


Elvis Flaming Star & Summer Kisses

Packed in a new model jewel-case with a reproduction of the 1965 art-work is the CD "Elvis Flaming Star & Summer Kisses"; the CD contains 18 tracks including several alternate and rare versions. 
















Tracklisting

1. Flaming Star - take 2
2. Mean woman blues - take BX-07
3. Loving You - take K-03
4. Teddy Bear
5. Its Now Or Never - take 1
6. Hot Dog
7. Summer Kisses, Winter Tears - take 9
8. Party - take A-07
9. Lonesome Cowboy
10. Got A Lot O´ Living To Do - take R-13
11. True Love
12. Are You Lonesome Tonight - take 2
13. Black Star
14. Return To Sender - master with longer fade- out
15. Follow That Dream - take 4
16. Tender Feeling - undubbed stereo version
17. Sound Advice - take 1
18. Wild In The Country - with latin percussion overdub  

(Sources: Elvis Unlimited, ElvisNews, Elvis Information Network, The Digital Fix)

April 14 - C(KX)ommitted To Whitehaven & Idols

Graceland's corporate owner was in Memphis on Wednesday bearing assurances that he's committed to a massive redevelopment of the area surrounding Elvis Presley's iconic home.

Emerging from a City Hall meeting with City Council, Greater Memphis Chamber and Graceland officials, Robert F.X. Sillerman, chairman and CEO of CKx Inc., had some advice for Memphians:


"They should get out of their chairs and go to Graceland five or six times now and five or six times again during the year so they can say they remember it before we turned it into the spectacular that it is going to be."


Sillerman, whose entertainment company added Graceland to its portfolio in 2004, and his legal team met with council chairman Harold Collins, chamber president John Moore and Elvis Presley Enterprises CEO Jack Soden.


Collins said discussion included the status of plans to improve Elvis Presley Boulevard and importance of a top-quality redevelopment for residents of long-established Whitehaven neighborhoods that border the site. Public improvements and the creation of a tourist-development zone are among incentives that city government has put on the table.


"There was some discussion about timetables, but there was nothing definite except for Mr. Sillerman making a commitment that they were willing to do the development," Collins said.


This is a project that's going to be a massive undertaking. It's important that before it's unveiled, the community gets to share in the presentation of the project," Collins added. "It's important that Mr. Sillerman understands this is a high level of people he's going to be talking to when he unveils his plan."


City engineers have scheduled a meeting to present preliminary information about the road project and get residents' input from 6 to 8 p.m. April 26 at Whitehaven Community Center, 4318 Graceland.


The revamp of Whitehaven's main street will start at the Brooks Road intersection and extend perhaps as far south as Shelby Drive, with state of Tennessee approval necessary since it's also U.S. 51.


Collins said Sillerman didn't give details of the development master plan, which CKX said in its annual report last month was being reconfigured after original designs were discarded.


"He did not talk specifics of what the design would be or what it would look like, and I did not press him on that," Collins said. Chamber officials wouldn't comment, citing confidentiality of pending development matters.


CKX confirmed sale rumors last month after The Wall Street Journal reported that the company might be sold to a private-equity division of JP Morgan Chase. CKX spokesman Ed Tagliaferri said Wednesday that there was nothing new on the potential sale.



10 Elvis Presley songs that deserved a closer look for Idols

USA Today published 10 Elvis Presley songs that deserved a closer look. The problem with Tuesday's American Idol wasn't so much the performances themselves -- even Andrew Garcia and Aaron Kelly didn't do a horrible job singing -- it was with the choices of material. For every Katie Stevens, who had a very clear message to send by covering Jimmy Reed's Baby What You Want Me to Do, there was an Andrew, who clearly missed the boat with Hound Dog.

And here's the problem with Hound Dog: That song didn't make any sense even when Elvis did it -- one of the reasons Steve Allen made him sing the song to a basset hound back in 1956. For one thing, it's a woman's song, which Elvis would have learned from Big Mama Thornton's R&B hit. Elvis' record got over because it sounded great and because it was freaking Elvis Presley singing it. Those are precisely the wrong reasons to pick a song on American Idol.

Here are 10 other songs from the King's catalog that the Idols should have listened to at least once more before making their choices for last night.

1. I Need Somebody to Lean On: This torchy ballad from Viva Las Vegas is one of the great hidden treasures of the Presley catalog
2. Mystery Train: Elvis' early rockabilly reworking of Junior Parker's tune mixes grief and fear with swagger and nervous energy. Plenty of other artists -- like The Band and Grace Potter & the Nocturnals -- have taken this song in different directions, giving the Idols lots of options for inspiration.
3. Kentucky Rain: Not sure who from this season's cast could have pulled off this tune, which is pretty rangy, but it has always been one of my favorite Elvis hits.
4. Love Letters: This beautiful waltz ballad might have been a better option for Andrew -- or even Aaron, if he hadn't been so ballad-heavy this season already.
5. Surrender: This song, a revamping of the Italian standard Come Back to Sorrento, has a big melody and Latin rhythm that would have made it a much better choice for Siobhan Magnus than Suspicious Minds.
6. Guitar Man: Probably the only guy who could've pulled off this Jerry Reed song would have been Casey James, but it couldn't have gotten him any worse comments from the judges than Lawdy Miss Clawdy did.
7. Long Black Limousine: Somber, yes -- it's about a funeral procession, after all -- but I would have liked to see Andrew Garcia try his hand at this relative obscurity from the same sessions that produced Suspicious Minds.
8. Stranger in My Own Home Town: Another great blues tune from Elvis' late-'60s Memphis recordings, this one written by Percy Mayfield.
9. I'll Remember You: Another good ballad option.
10. Clean Up Your Own Backyard: The message from this bluesy country tune (from one of Elvis' worst movies, The Trouble With Girls) might have been a little too pointed for any of this year's contestants to get away with. Actually, it's the tune I would have picked for Adam Lambert if they'd had an Elvis night last year.

April 13 - 20th Century International Idol At The Heartbreak Hotel

Phantom Imports released the double CD/ DVD set "Heartbreak Hotel".  


The set was released as a tin box containing three cardboard sleeves with the discs. The 26 audio tracks include 'Mystery Train', 'I've Got A Woman', 'Jailhouse Rock' and more. The 21 video tracks include 'Witchcraft/Love Me Tender' with Frank Sinatra, 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Love Me Tender' and more. Videos are in Black & White and from various TV performances. 

Twentieth Century Rock And Roll Artists


The Promo Sound budget label released a twenty track Elvis Presley compilation in their "Twentieth Century Rock And Roll Artists" series. 


Elvis International Magazine


Publisher Kjell Bjornestad announce the April 2010 issue of the 'Elvis International Magazine'.

Sanctioned by EPE it doesn't however look like it offers too much new to Elvis aficionados; this edition features articles on Elvis' Aloha jumpsuit and Joe Esposito explains why Elvis liked holidaying in Hawaii so much.


Sherill Nielsen Update



Brenda Nielsen wrote an update about the health of her husband Sherill Nielsen who is fighting lung cancer.

Sherrill is still undergoing a very rigorous schedule of treatments: He has daily radiation treatments (he refers to these as being barbecued), then he has weekly chemo therapy (5 hours) and weekly erbitux therapy (4 hours). ... We met with his cancer doctor on Thursday, but the doctor says it is too soon to give us any type of prognosis. He wants Sherrill to have the full 2 months of agressive daily treatments (this should be around the middle of May) ... and then they should be able to see where we are. ...

We have a dear friend in Belgium (Jerry Deewood) who was able to send Sherrill a prescription for a 'miracle' cough pill. One of the biggest problems that he has had was constant non-stop dry cough being produced from the cancer and pneumonia. This has made him so extremely week. He, for the first time, has been able to sleep throughout the night without coughing. Thank you Jesus!! ...

Thank you all for your continued prayers on his behalf. He has enjoyed reading and receiving the many e-mails from his fans throughout the world. I guess that is when you stop and realize all the many lives you have touched. Keep the prayers coming. We know that we serve an awesome God. ...

I know that Sherrill would love to pick up the phone and talk to each of you personally, but right now he is too weak to do this.

We love you all

Brenda and Sherrill 


Elvis American Idol



This week’s American Idol is all about the music of Elvis. Each
contestant will bring his favourite Elvis song. Viewers in the UK can see the episode on Thursday and repeated on Saturdays. The song selections from the acts are; ‘Lawdy Miss Clawdy’, ‘Saved’, ‘Baby, What You Want Me To Do’, ‘Can't Help Falling In Love’, ‘Hound Dog’, ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, ‘Suspicious Minds’, ‘A Little Less Conversation’ and ‘In The Ghetto’.

April 12 - Showtime At The High Sierra For The Rockin' Rebel

The Follow That Dream label announced the release of two new titled and the deletion of one of their present titles. 

The CD "Showtime! Birmingham / Dallas ’76" is a 2-Disc Set that features Elvis in top form at 2 great shows! It comes packaged as a 5” digipack with 8-page booklet. The Birmingham Show is from the Jefferson County Coliseum and Dallas from the Memorial Auditorium.

The CD "High Sierra" features mainly the performance from May 21, 1974 at the Sahara Tahoe Hotel with additional highlights from other shows that month. It is released in a 5” digipack format with an 8-page booklet. 


CD & Vinyl End Of Stock 


The Follow That Dream label also announced that their release "So High, outtakes from the 1966-1968 Nashville recording sessions, will deleted from the calatogue as soon as the current stock with FTD is sold out. The vinyl releases 'Blue Hawaii' and 'Standing Room Only' are also getting near the end of stock.

Rockin' Rebel


Volumes one,two and three of original bootleg series "The Rockin' Rebel" ware re-issued on CD in the U.K. by the Dutch Elvis Corner label which released the CDs in 2009 in The Netherlands.

Tracklisting High Sierra


01 See See Rider 
02 I Got A Woman / Amen 
03 Love Me 
04 Trying To Get To You 
05 All Shook Up 
06 Love Me Tender 
07 You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me 
08 Hound Dog 
09 Fever 
10 Polk Salad Annie 
11 Why Me Lord 
12 Suspicious Minds 
13 Introductions 
14 I Can’t Stop Loving You 
15 Help Me 
16 Bridge Over Troubled Water 
17 Let Me Be There 
18 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 
19 Big Boss Man 
20 Can’t Help Falling In Love 
21 Closing Vamp 


Bonus songs 


22 Johnny B. Goode 
23 Steamroller Blues 
24 Spanish Eyes 
25 How Great Thou Art 
26 It's Now Or Never 
27 I’m Leavin’ 
28 Introducing Billy Eckstine 


All tracks recorded live at the High Sierra Room at the Sahara Tahoe Hotel, Stateline, Nevada 
Tracks 1-21 recorded May 21, 1974 at the dinner show 
Tracks 22 & 27 recorded May 25, 1974 at the midnight show 
Tracks 23, 24 & 25 recorded May 19, 1974 at the dinner show 
Track 26 recorded May 23, 1974 at the dinner show 
Track 28 recorded May 27, 1974 at the 3:00 a.m. show


Tracklisting Showtime!


Disc 1 – BIRMINGHAM – December 29, 1976


01) Also Sprach Zarathustra 
02) See See Rider 
03) I Got A Woman / Amen 
04) Love Me 
05) Fairytale 
06) You Gave Me A Mountain 
07) Jailhouse Rock 
08) It's Now Or Never 
09) Trying To Get To You 
10) My Way 
11) Polk Salad Annie 
12) Introductions/Early Mornin’ Rain 
13) What’d I Say / Johnny B. Goode 
14) Love Letters 
15) School Days 
16) Funny How Time Slips Away 
17) Hurt 
18) Hound Dog 
19) For The Good Times 
20) The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 
21) Unchained Melody 
22) Mystery Train/Tiger Man 
23) Can’t Help Falling In Love 
24) Closing vamp


DISC 2 – DALLAS – December 28, 1976


01) Also Sprach Zarathustra 
02) See See Rider 
03) I Got A Woman / Amen 
04) Love Me 
05) Fairytale 
06) You Gave Me A Mountain 
07) Jailhouse Rock 
08) It's Now Or Never 
09) Trying To Get To You 
10) Blue Suede Shoes 
11) My Way 
12) Polk Salad Annie 
13) Introductions/Early Mornin’ Rain 
14) What’d I Say / Johnny B. Goode 
15) Love Letters 
16) School Days 
17) Hurt 
18) Hound Dog 
19) Unchained Melody 
20) Can’t Help Falling In Love 
21) Closing vamp 


The original source tape is damaged. We have chosen to keep track 6 & 7 on this release for historical reasons in spite of the damage. However “Hound Dog”, performed between “Hurt” and “Unchained Melody” was beyond any element of repair and has consequently been left out.

April 11 - Breakup Chart And Chart Milestone

Elvis Presley’s "Always On My Mind" is one of the decade`s most popular break-up songs. A news daily reports, the list of Top 10 breakup songs for men by Askmen.com:

1. Back Off Bitch – Guns N Roses.

2. Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac

3. (I Hate) Everything About You – Three Days Grace

4. Hurt – Nine Inch Nails

5. (I Just) Died in Your Arms – Cutting Crew

6. I Will Survive – Cake

7. Always On My Mind – Elvis Presley
8. This Love – Pantera
9. Achy Breaky Heart – Billy Ray Cyrus
10. No Woman, No Cry – Bob Marley & The Wailers

Global Chart Update - Week 14

On the ARIA Music DVD Chart, "Elvis The King of Rock 'n' Roll" compilation DVD celebrates 100 weeks in the chart.

Coming in at #20 (down one spot from last week) and certified 2XP, the release is the first Elvis title to register 100 weeks on any of the ARIA charts.

US:



US (Soundscan) sales, as of this week:
• Elvis: 30 #1 Hits - 4,625,459 (sold 2,351 copies this week)


Canada: 


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


Australia:


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


Top 50 Catalogue Albums:
• #25 (28) The King


Korea:


Top Albums - weekly shipments chart:
• OUT (23) Elvis: 30 #1 Hits

(Source: Mizoram Express.com / Elvis Infonet.com)

April 10 - Auction Result

Two dark blonde hand-tied wigs, supposedly worn by Elvis Presley, sold for $6,572.50  US Dollars while the estimate was $3,000 - up.


While working at MGM, possibly for Kissing Cousins though the date suggests it was later rented for a subsequent production. The wig # 1300B includes the MGM studio stock card. The wig record card has "Stock No. 1300B", the date "2-11-66", and "original Player: E. Presley" typed on it. There are some pencil note markings as well. Description: Dark Blonde Modern.

The wig 1300A includes the original MGM studio cardboard box. The front of the box has been labeled "1300 B, DK. Blonde Modern, E. Presley". Both wigs are made from human hair and are in overall Fine condition. Wig 1300B has the nape extension dated 2-11-66 and has been restyled for photography. The box has been badly moisture-stained and the top cover has a broken corner. The wig box is in Fair condition. The studio card has a 1/2" tear. Otherwise it is in Very Good condition. From The MGM Wig Archive. 


(Source: Elvis Unlimited.com)

April 9 - Jailhouse Vinyl

The vinyl re-issue of the classic "Jailhouse Rock" on the Follow That Dream collectors label was released. 

April 8 - Poplar Tunes

The icon neon sign of the former Memphis music store, Poplar Tunes, where the first Elvis Presley records were sold, lights up again. 

Hal Lansky and the H.A. Balton Sign Company could save the iconic neon sign and donated it to the 'Memphis Rock and Soul Museum'. From now on, the restored sign shines again in the museum that is located close to Beale St. A piece of Memphis and Elvis history is saved.

April 7 - Back In Place

The EPE management did not loose any time with the reperation of the Graceland Gates. The Graceland gates are now repaired, re-painted and back where they belong. The driveway to the mansion was only one day without the iconic gates. Construction workers placed the repaired gates back where they belong. 

For the first time since the incident, EPE published on official reaction:


For obvious reasons, security at Graceland and Heartbreak Hotel must remain confidential. Corporate policy prevents us from being able to address or answer specific questions or concerns regarding security matters.


Of course, Graceland has a well-trained and staffed security department utilizing all the latest technology. Additionally, we have an excellent relationship with the Memphis Police Department and all other city support agencies.



Elvis On Tour Blu-Ray & DVD Australian Releases July 28

Warner Australia will release Elvis On Tour in both Blu-ray and standard DVD formats on July 28. We are advised that unlike in the USA the local Blu-ray package will not be the deluxe book format.