July 05 - Elvis CDs Remembered

Carlton Books announced the release of the book 'Elvis Remembered: 1935 - 1977'. The 120 pages book is due October 11, 2012. 

From the publisher:
Elvis passed away in 1977 but his spirit lives on. His records still sell, his movies are still hugely popular and his concerts are still discussed by new generations of fans.
The Elvis Presley estate has tens of thousands of photographs and miles of video footage from all eras of Elvis' career and fans' hunger for new imagery and information on the King remains unsated. This book adds up to a beautiful, desirable package, ideal for any Elvis fan

Import CD's Released

The import CD's 'Lonesome Summer Breeze' (Straight Arrow) and volume 4 in 'The Bicentennial King' (Millbranch Music) series were released. The first one contains an audience recording of the August 25 - 1972, Dinner Show while the latter holds an audience recording of the July 26,1976, Evening Show.

(Source: Elvis Club Berlin / Elvis On CD)

July 04 - FTD Bootleg Shipped

The Follow That Dream Collector's label releases were shipped tot the dealers. The double CD, "G.I. Blues", the concert recording "From Hawaii To Las Vegas" (January 25, 1973 from Las Vegas) and the vinyl re-issue of the "Elvis - That's The Way It Is" should find their way to the fans later this week.

Bootleg Book

The new book 'Bootleg Elvis', detailing the vinyl bootlegreleases of Elvis Presley from  the early days of bootlegging until 2012, was shipped to the dealers too. 

(Source: FECC)

July 03 - Gold For Sale

Up for sale now is the Gold Piano which Elvis gave to his Aunt Nash in the 1970s and now you can own it for less than 3 Million Euro (US$3.8 Million). 

Here is the description:
“My name is Mr Cocciolone and I am representing the 148 Investment Group so if you have any questions about this item please feel free to contact the 148 Investment Group. This piano was bought 21 years ago by 148 investment for the sum of US $2 million and moved for display into the Nashville Music Hall of Fame. Priscilla had this piano gold leafed for Elvis as a anniversary surprise back in 1968. 

(Source: ElvisMatters)

July 01 - The SUN Goes Down On Import Chart

The Victrola importlabel announced the release of the double CD-set 'SUNsational – From Sunrise to Sunset 1953-1977' documenting the continuing influence of SUN Records on Elvis’ career.

From the pressrelease:
At first sight this may seem like yet another SUN anthology, but nothing could be further from the truth. Actually, this groundbreaking release focuses on the influence of SUN records on Elvis’ career after he left the label. This 2CD-set contains almost 80 tracks (!), and though there are a few Sun recording present to place the other recordings into their proper perspective (including a few real rarities like the SUN rehearsal of ‘How Do You Think I Feel’), the majority of tracks are from the early 60s to ’77. There’s cool bits of dialogue, home recordings, rehearsals, studio outtakes, live recordings… Highlights include a neat home recording of ‘That’s All Right’, Elvis on stage talking about his 2nd record ‘Tiger Man’, a tremendous version of ‘When It Rains, It Really Pours’, Elvis receiving a Sun album from a fan, a noisy but oh so cool ‘Mystery Train’ mastered from a near-mint 78 (and not one of those lifeless ‘remastered’ versions), and much, MUCH more, all providing a fascinating new perspective on Elvis’ career. A lot of research was done for this remarkable release, and we believe that this is an important release and a logical companion to “A Boy From Tupelo” on FTD. This release is attractively packaged in a deluxe 2-panel digipack with a neat booklet, which contains a great essay as well as many rare photos. The Sun Elvis will never die, and this release underscores that point.

CD1 – Total playing time: 79:13
Sun Records Interview Excerpt Recorded February 27, 1970; Houston, TX - My Happiness (Peterson/Bergantine) Recorded July 18, 1953; Sun Records, Memphis, TN - That´s When Your Heartaches Begin (Raskin/Brown/Fisher) Recorded July 18, 1953; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - Recording For Mother Interview Excerpt Recorded March 24, 1956; Warwick Hotel, New York, NY - That´s When Your Heartaches Begin (Raskin/Brown/Fisher) Recorded June 24, 1968; Dressing Room at NBC, Burbank, CA - Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Bill Monroe) Recorded June 25, 1968; Dressing Room at NBC, Burbank, CA - That´s All Right (Arthur Crudup) Recorded November, 1973; The Thompson Home, Memphis - „That´s All Right Interview Excerpt Recorded August 9, 1956; Peabody Auditorium, Daytona Beach, FL - That´s All Right (Arthur Crudup), takes 1, 2 Recorded July 5, 1954; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - That´s All Right (Arthur Crudup) „Red Hot & Blue“ Radio Broadcast by D.Phillips on WHBQ; Summer 1954 - Dewey Phillips Reference Recorded July 5, 1976; Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN - I Love You Because (Leon Payne), takes 1, 4, 5 Recorded July 5, 1954; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - Harbor Lights (Kennedy/Williams), take 2 Recorded July 5, 1954; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - Tiger Man (Louis/Burns), jam Recorded June 4, 1970; RCA´s Studio B, Nashville, TN - Tiger Man Monologue Recorded August 20, 1970; International Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - Mystery Train / Tiger Man (Parker/Phillips/ Louis/Burns) Recorded August 3, 1969; International Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - „Blue Moon Of Kentucky“ interview excerpt Recorded May 14, 1956; Sawyer Auditorium, Lacrosse, WI - Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Bill Monroe) Recorded March 19, 1955; Eagles Hall, Houston, TX - That´s All Right (Arthur Crudup) Recorded July 5, 1976; Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN - Blue [/b[b]]Moon (Rodgers/Hart) Recorded August 19, 1954; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - Blue Moon (Rodgers/Hart) Recorded June 24, 1968; Dressing Room at NBC, Burbank, CA - I Got A Woman (Ray Charles) Recorded March 19, 1955; Eagles Hall, Houston, TX - I Got A Woman (Ray Charles) Recorded June 24, 1968; Dressing Room at NBC, Burbank, CA - When It Rains, It Really Pours (William Emerson), takes 7, 9, 11 Recorded November, 1955; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - When It Rains, It Really Pours (William Emerson) Recorded June 24, 1968; Dressing Room at NBC, Burbank, CA - Tiger Man (Louis/Burns) Recorded August 11, 1973; International Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - „First Time On Stage“ interview excerpt Recorded March, 30, 1972; RCA Studio, Hollywood, CA - Baby, Let´s Play House (Arthur Gunter) Recorded March 19, 1955; Eagles Hall, Houston, TX - That´s When Your Heartaches Begin (Raskin/Brown/Fisher) (fragment) Recorded August 31, 1957; Empire Stadium, Vancouver, Canada - That´s All Right (Arthur Crudup) Recorded August 20, 1955; The Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, LA - That´s All Right (Arthur Crudup) Recorded July 15, 1970; MGM Studios, Culver City, CA - That´s All Right (2) (Arthur Crudup) Recorded July 15, 1970; MGM Studios, Culver City, CA - Elvis receives the "Sun Sessions" LP from a fan Recorded December 13, 1975; International Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - Tomorrow Night (Coslow/Grosz) Recorded September, 1954; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN -How Do You Think I Feel (Walker/Pierce) Recorded February (March), 1955; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - How Do You Think I Feel (Walker/Pierce) Recorded September 1, 1956; Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA - When It Rains It Really Pours (William Emerson) Recorded February 24, 1957; Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA - „Successful Career“ interview excerpt Recorded February 25, 1961; Claridge Hotel, Memphis, TN - I Got A Woman (Ray Charles) Recorded March, 25, 1961; Bloch Arena, Honolulu, HA - Tiger Man (Louis/Burns) Recorded August 19, 1970; International Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
CD2 – Total playing time: 79:47
"Rhythm and Blues" interview excerpt Recorded June 8, 1956; Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA - Baby, Let´s Play House (Arthur Gunter) Recorded February 4, 1956; The Dorsey Bros. Stage Show, New York, NY - I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow version) (Kesler/Taylor), takes 13, 12 Recorded February (March), 1955; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (Kesler/Taylor) Recorded February (March), 1955; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - It Wouldn’t Be The Same Without You (Wakely/Rose) Recorded January 4, 1954; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - I’ll Never Stand In Your Way (Heath/Rose) Recorded January 4, 1954; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - „Good Rockin´ Tonight“ interview excerpt Recorded August 5, 1956; Tampa, FL - Good Rockin’ Tonight (Roy Brown) Recorded March 19, 1955; Eagles Hall, Houston, TX - I Forgot To Remember To Forget (Kesler/Feathers) Recorded July 21,1955; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - Trying To Get To You (Singleton/Mc Coy) Recorded July 21,1955; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - Trying To Get To You (Singleton/Mc Coy) Recorded March 16, 1974; Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN - That´s All Right (Arthur Crudup) Recorded October 6, 1974; University Of Dayton, Dayton, OH - I Got A Woman (Ray Charles) Recorded January 28, 1971; International Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - Baby, Let´s Play House (Arthur Gunter) Recorded July 29, 1970; MGM Studios, Culver City, CA - Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Bill Monroe) (one liner) Recorded September 28, 1974; University of M.C. Field House, College Park, MD - I Got A Woman (Ray Charles) Recorded July 24, 1970; RCA Studios, Hollywood, CA - Mystery Train / Tiger Man (Parker/Phillips/ Louis/Burns) Recorded September 6, 1976; von Braun Civic Center, Huntsville, AL - That´s All Right (Arthur Crudup) Recorded January 26, 1970; International Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin´) (Jimmy Wakely), take nr. unknown Recorded September 1954; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - Milkcow Blues Boogie (Kokomo Arnold) Recorded November (December)1954; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - I Got A Woman (Ray Charles) (one liner) [b]Recorded January 15, 1968;[/b] RCA´s Studio B, Nashville, TN - I Got A Woman (Ray Charles) Recorded August 14, 1970; International Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - I Don´t Care If The Sun Don´t Shine (Mack David) Recorded January 22, 1955; The Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, LA - You’re A Heartbreaker (Jack Sallee) Recorded November (December)1954; Sun Studio, Memphis, TN - „Rock´n´roll“ interview excerpt Recorded July 10, 1956; Radio Station Studio, New Orleans, LA - That´s All Right (Arthur Crudup) Recorded March, 25, 1961; Bloch Arena, Honolulu, HA - I Got A Woman (Ray Charles) Recorded January 28, 1956; The Dorsey Bros. Stage Show, New York, NY - Trying To Get To You (Singleton/Mc Coy) Recorded August 11, 1971; International Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - That´s When Your Heartaches Begin (Raskin/Brown/Fisher) Recorded December 4, 1956; Sun Records, Memphis, TN - Mystery Train / Tiger Man (Parker/Phillips/ Louis/Burns) Recorded September 3, 1973; International Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - I Got A Woman (Ray Charles) Recorded November 10, 1971; Boston Garden, Boston, MA - Trying To Get To You (Singleton/Mc Coy) Recorded April 24, 1977; Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, MI - Just Because (Shelton/Robin) Recorded September, 1954; Sun Records, Memphis, TN - Mystery Train (Parker/Phillips) Recorded July 21, 1955; Sun Records, Memphis, TN - Tiger Man (Louis/Burns) Recorded June 25, 1968; Dressing Room at NBC, Burbank, CA - That´s All Right (Arthur Crudup) Recorded July 24, 1970, RCA Studios, Hollywood, CA - Back To Sun Recorded May 16, 1971; RCA´s Studio B, Nashville, TN

The Final Import Top 40 

The ElvisNews website published the final Elvis Import Top 40 list. After 15 years the oldest Elvis-list on the internet has come to an end due to a decline in votes from visitors of the site. The last # 1 has been there for a very long time during these years: 'American Crown Jewels'. The list was a cooperation with the For Elvis CD Collectors Only website. As a tribute to this list the complete final Import Top 40 for June 2012:

1 American Crown Jewels (1996)
2 A Greensboro Revolution! (2008)
3 Finding The Way Home (1999)
4 A Hot Winter Night In Dallas (1998)
5 Totally Stung (2001)
6 The Brightest Star On Sunset Boulevard, Volume 1 (1998)
7 Elvis At Full Blast (1995)
8 Guaranteed To Blow Your Mind (1997)
9 The Brightest Star On Sunset Boulevard, Volume 2 (1998)
10 From Sunset Blvd to Paradise Rd (1996)
11 Burning In Birmingham (1998)
12 A Profile - The King On Stage (1995)
13 A Profile - The King On Stage, Volume 2 (1996)
14 Just Pretend (1991)
15 24 Carat Gold (1997)
16 Desert Storm (1996)
17 You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' (2001)
18 One Night Only! (2006)
19 Holding Back The Years (1995)
20 Hello Memphis (1997)
21 If You Talk In Your Sleep (1994)
22 Adios, The Final Performance (1993)
23 There's Always Me, Volume 2 (1995)
24 Closing Night - February 1970 (2007)
25 A Capital Performance (Madison) (2002)
26 Rebooked At The International (2011)
27 Fairy Tales (1994)
28 Red-Hot In Richmond (2008)
29 It's A Matter Of Time (1993)
30 Let Me Take You Home (1995)
31 Absent Without Leave (1999)
32 Goodbye Memphis (1997)
33 Opening Night, 1969 (1993)
34 Event Number 8 (2000)
35 All Things Are Possible (1995)
36 Black Diamond (1998)
37 A Capital Performance (LMP) (2002)
38 The Hampton Roads Concert (2004)
39 Moody Blue & Other Great Performances (1995)
40 Don't Think Twice (2000)

FTD Top 40 June 2012
The Jungle Room Sessions CD drops down the list while the Top 3 consists of classic albums only now. The current top 5:
1 (1) Elvis Is Back! (2005)
2 (2) That's The Way It Is (2008)
3 (4) Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old) (2008)
4 (3) The Jungle Room Sessions (2000)
5 (5) Good Times (2009)

(Source: FECC / ElvisNews)

June 30 - Elvis Delayed (Again)

The Follow That Dream Collector's label announced the that the June 2012 releases have been postponed once more. The double CD's, "G.I. Blues", "From Hawaii To Las Vegas" with the complete sample of 25 January 1973 performance from in Las Vegas and the vinyl re-issue of the "Elvis - That's The Way It Is" should be available early July 2012.


Elvis '69

JAT Publishing announced that the book 'Elvis 69' will be released mid July 2012. The book is hardcover and 128 pages and contains over 160 black and white and color images on Elvis at the movies and in the studio.

(Source: Various / JAT)

The Best News Stories Of 2012 (So Far)

One of the big pros of the world wide web is that it brings people together. Through our blogs, Troy and I met and decided to look back together at some of the highlights of the 35th anniversary year; 'A Trip Down 2012'. 

This year, I blogged over 150 posts, often with multiple news items in each one. That means the Elvis world is very much alive. Picking a top 10 wasn’t easy, so I picked ten items that stuck with me as a fan. I listed them chronologically.
Troy, webmaster of The Mystery Train Blog, looked back at the ten best stories so far this year, he listed them as a Top 10 of the best news stories 2012 (so far). Both lists are posted on both websites as an example of collaboration.

January 08 – Cool

Some highlights are very simple, on this day the French Elvis My Happiness fan club announced the release of the book ‘Le Jour Ou Elvis Chante A Paris’. Although my French isn’t good enough to read the book, I was stunned by the cool image on the promotional CD that came with it. That’s one cool dude.

January 26 – For God And Country
3764 Blvd. Publishing announced the release of the ‘For God And Country’ deluxe book, CD, and later vinyl set ‘For God And Country’. I really like this ‘last’ concert Elvis Presley performed as a ‘rocker’ and blame the Colonel for not recording it.
The label met stiff competition when the UK-based Memphis Recording Service released the same 1961 Hawaiian concert a few months later. Fan reactions were both positive and negative (beautiful book, mixed on the remastering of the sound). The 3764 Blvd. edition is still set for release this summer, this time facing competition from plans of the official Follow That Dream collectors label. 

February 06 – #1

Speaking of cool covers, the cover of Elvis Presley’s debut album topped Shortlist.com's 50 Coolest Albums of All Time list. Besides calling the cover ‘iconic’ and taking note of classic hits such as "Blue Suede Shoes," the Shortlist refers to John Lennon's quote - "Before Elvis there was nothing" and describes "the boy from Tupelo, MS" as a catalyst for rock 'n' roll. I can’t agree more with the website. I have this album hanging on my wall, and it never bores me. It is very energetic.

March 27 – Welcome Home Elvis

The Follow That Dream collectors label has recently branched out with other parties for their releases. The first one with the Behind The Image team didn’t work out, and neither did the ‘Elvis Fashion’ book with the Norwegian Flaming Star fan club, as it was filled with grammatical errors. However, with the ‘Welcome Home Elvis’ book, the Danish / Norwegian team came back with a bang presenting a really cool King in a very cool book. With these books, I always have to think back on Ger Riff’s book. Wouldn’t it be great if the Follow that Dream label teamed with the master himself?

April 02 – Almost April Fool

I kind of felt like a fool for not noticing that the previous announcement of the auction of a pair of blue suede shoes, said to be signed by Elvis Presley in 1956, were not the right ones. 

The two pairs of shoes on the images that I posted with the article were not the same type of shoes. It would have been a great April Fools' Day joke if it had been planned just one day earlier.


April 16 – Bootleg Elvis
The book ‘Bootleg Elvis’ was first mentioned on the For Elvis CD Collectors forum in 2011. In April of this year, the five collectors behind the book sent out the first official press release. Besides Ernst Jorgensen’s SUN book, this is the #2 book on my really-need-to-buy-this-year list. I know there are a lot of Elvis Presley bootlegs around, for I've collected quite a few of them. Being from the younger generation, my collection consists mainly of CDs. This book will hopefully give me a look into Elvis bootlegging history on vinyl. I’ll probably find some nice items to look for.

April 23  - Finally FTD Information

One of the things the Follow That Dream label lacked from day one is information: on releases, planning, ship dates, and, most important of all, background in accompanying booklets. The label bought the official Follow That Dream URL and has the foremost Elvis Presley expert, Ernst Jorgensen, as the producer heading the team, so what is holding them up?
A lot of fans volunteered to step in, and the Japanese Elvis For Sound Fans Only fan club actually did. I don’t have their book on the first 111 FTD releases, but it deserves a spot on this list for their initiative! I’ll have to find a copy to see what the book covers. For Now I can do with the review from The Elvis Information Network.

May 06 – A Trip Down Memory Lane

The Boxcar release ‘Graceland Through The Years – 1957 – 1977’ was first announced four years ago in an interview on the Elvis Information Network website. On this day, the label showed the result of four years of work.
I must say, I'm really looking forward to this one. I have the official EPE book, and I walked the grounds of Graceland in person over ten years ago. I expect this book to be a well-documented trip down memory lane.

May 16 – The Work Of A Man From Denmark
May 15, 2012 marks the day of the first real glimpse into the actual FTD SUN release. The Official UK Elvis Presley fan club beat the official announcement of the release of ‘A Boy From Tupelo’ by one day. Speaking of days, I’m counting the days until I hold this five-kilo Holy Grail of the Elvis world in my hands. I’ve always had a real soft spot for the birth of rock 'n' roll, and now I can experience it as complete as it will probably ever get.


May 26 – Volume Five
The fifth volume in ‘The Elvis Files’ book series from the Norwegian Flaming Star fan club was released. The series documents Elvis Presley’s life and achievements in a very informative and well illustrated manner. It is a bit overhyped, has some flaws, and seems to simply collect some of the material from the internet. Still, there is nothing Elvis that compares to this body of work, so it stands out as the ‘Illustrated Biography’ of Elvis Presley. The fifth volume documents the years 1969 and 1970, when Elvis Presley became king of the whole wide world again. Besides the first six years of his public life, these years are the most iconic.


Over to you Troy!

Kees, Elvis Day By Day

The Best news Stories Of 2012 (so far)

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley. With almost half of 2012 already in the record books, this seems like a good time to look back at the ten best stories so far this year.

#10 A revitalized dream 
In 2012, noted Elvis soundboard expert Ciscoking began consulting with Sony's Follow That Dream collectors label for Elvis fans. The first result of that collaboration was April's Another Saturday Night, capturing a previously unreleased 1975 concert in Shreveport, Louisiana. Involving an extremely knowledgeable fan is a huge step forward for FTD's sometimes dubious soundboard series. 
Earlier this month, Elvis Presley Enterprises' official Elvis.com site showed some love for the label by rolling out a rejuvenated FTD section - complete with audio clips, posters, and movie trailers. Ciscoking has hinted that a dedicated FTD site may finally be on the way, but the Elvis.com section at least provides a temporary destination for those wanting to learn more about the various releases.


#09 Celebrating Elvis, the father 
Lisa Marie Presley in February launched a new exhibit at Graceland, "Elvis... Through His Daughter's Eyes." Nine-years-old when her father passed away, Lisa Marie presents memories of her time with him. The exhibit includes home movies, toys, and even Lisa Marie's crib. All too often, Elvis today is seen only as an image or trademark - like Mickey Mouse. Lisa Marie's very personal exhibit instead places a much-needed focus on the real man behind that image. 

#08 Tour Graceland without leaving home 

In March, Elvis.com rolled out 360 degree, panoramic tours of Graceland's exterior, foyer, den, and racquetball building/trophy room. What better way to entice fans to visit in person than to allow a virtual preview? The real question is, will the forthcoming virtual Elvis live in virtual Graceland? While I love the virtual Graceland concept, I have to admit, the thought of a virtual Elvis (in 2D "hologram" form) creeps me out. 


#07 I Am An Elvis By Request Fan 
In May, Sony Music solicited online votes from fans on which Elvis songs should appear on a new CD, I Am An Elvis Fan. Unfortunately, Sony restricted the voting choices to less than a hundred of the 700-plus Elvis masters - not to mention thousands of alternate and live cuts released since his death. Sony Music Australia took this concept one step further in June. For Sony Music Australia's Elvis By Request 2-CD set, fans can vote for any Elvis master, as well as many tracks released since 1977. I've pre-ordered both CDs, but I'm most looking forward to the Australian edition. 

#06 Sweetening through the ages 
The most interesting Elvis releases these days tend to be not from the main Sony label, but from the FTD label. In March, FTD released Our Memories Of Elvis Volumes 1, 2, & 3. The 2-CD set contains the original 1979 and 1980 albums, as well as a third volume and additional tracks prepared but never released. The concept is simple, the recordings have been remixed to remove certain instruments and background vocalists to strip them down to a "pure" sound. While the results may still be artificial compared to truly undubbed versions, it is still an intriguing concept and a welcome release. 


#05 Grace through the storm 
Lisa Marie Presley released her third album in May, Storm & Grace. Her best release yet, the album is consistent, well-written, well-performed, and well-produced. My favorite songs on the album are "Over Me," "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet," "So Long" and "Un-break." The other tracks are solid as well. 

#04 "Some of y'all never been down South too much" 
In its top-notch Classic Album series, FTD released its version of On Stage in March. I consider On Stage second only to That's The Way It Is as the best album of Elvis' career. By my count, this marks the fourth different configuration of this album (the original 1970 version, the 1999 special edition, the 2010 Legacy edition, and now the 2012 FTD edition). Why, then, is this latest reissue even worth mentioning? In addition to the original album, this 2-CD set contains additional tracks from his February 1970 Las Vegas engagement, many of them previously unreleased. 

#03 Practice, practice, practice 
Scheduled for release this month from FTD is From Hawaii To Las Vegas, which presents a January 25, 1973, rehearsal at the Las Vegas Hilton. One song from this rehearsal, "I'm Leavin' It All Up To You," was first issued as a bonus track last year on FTD's uneven Stage Rehearsal CD. Originally recorded on cassette tape, From Hawaii To Las Vegas probably will not be the kind of CD you would want to throw on at a party - but it should provide valuable insight to fellow Elvis historians. Included are two runthroughs of "Separate Ways" - a song that, as far as anyone knows, Elvis never actually performed in concert. 


#02 Not a typical compilation 
With I Am An Elvis Fan and Elvis By Request on the way, 2012 may be seen as the year of the fan compilation. However, many fans have been making Elvis compilations for their own personal use for years - whether on cassette tape, CD-R, or iPod playlists. In May, one particular Elvis playlist made the news. Lisa Marie's Favourite Elvis Songs features his daughter's selections. Her 12 picks range from 1960-1972, with a full two-thirds coming from the 1970s. With selections like "Just Pretend" and "I'm Leavin'," Lisa Marie's list proved to be both unique and terrific. Sony should hire her to advise on future Elvis compilations.
 

#01 From Alabama Street to Union Avenue 

After years of rumors and speculation, the announcement of a release date and early details for FTD's seemingly mythical "SUN project" has to take the number one spot. No contest. One of the most anticipated Elvis Presley releases ever, A Boy From Tupelo: The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings will include a 512-page book detailing the activities of Elvis in that time period as well as three CDs worth of material. The set gathers every known Elvis SUN master and outtake, plus demos and live performances. It includes ten previously unreleased tracks. The SUN project has been FTD chief Ernst Jorgensen's baby for the past several years. A Boy From Tupelo reportedly tips the scales at 5 kilograms (11 pounds), meaning it weighs more than most newborns! Delivery is currently expected for August 16. 
What will the rest of 2012 bring to the Elvis world? Will A Boy From Tupelo live up to expectations? What other surprises are in store? Find out by keeping it tuned to the Elvis Day By Day blog. 


Troy Y., The Mystery Train Blog

June 29 - DVD Honors

This is the box for the seven 2012 repacked re-issues from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Release-date August 7, 2012.

The American Band To Be Honored

Marty Lacker announced that "I'm proud and happy to announce that the American Band aka The Memphis Boys will be honored with a Beale Street Blues Note on Beale Street in Memphis at 5:PM, August 13th."
In addition the award ceremony, the band will be giving a concert across the road from the Graceland mansion, behind where the Lisa Maria airplane is located on August 14th (pm) sponsored by EPE. Chips Moman and Marty Lacker both plan to attend the event as long as Chips has recovered from his hip replacement surgery by then. EPE is erecting a huge temporary building that supposedly will hold 1,000 people to see the concert.

Christmas Lights On A Friday Night

The Straight Arrow import label announced the release of the CD 'Christmas Lights On A Friday Night'.

The pressrelease:
As the final month of 1976 rolled around, Elvis arrived in Las Vegas for what would be his 15th and final visit as a performer, playing 15 concerts to some very mixed press reviews. By all accounts, health and weight issues had unfortunately contributed to a lowering of the very high standards Elvis had once embraced as a live artist. Still, the fans always came, and sometimes Presley showed more than a hint of the magic that made him the greatest singer of all.
On this collection are the second and third appearances of the ten-day stand, and Elvis is in quite good form, including seasonal favorite "Blue Christmas" along with favorites like "Tryin' To Get To You", "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "America the Beautiful" and the powerhouse gospel of "How Great Thou Art". As always, his rendition of "Hurt" is thrills both audiences. It was a Friday night to for any fan to savor throughout the holiday season. As fans have come to expect, the recordings are of very good audio quality, sourced from original master tapes recorded by British super-fan "Gemini.” The double digipak is filled with liner notes and photos from both shows that December 3rd. Again, these recordings have been carefully engineered to be presented in the best possible sound. Tracks:

CD 1 / Friday, December 3, 1976 Dinner Show:
01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - 06. You Gave Me A Mountain - 07. It's Now Or Never - 08. One Night - 09. All Shook Up - 10. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel -11. And I Love You So - 12. Fever - 13. Polk Salad Annie - 14. Introduction of vocalists, musicians - 15. Early Morning Rain (John Wilkinson) - 16. What'd I Say (James Burton) - 17. Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt) - 18. Bass Solo (Jerry Scheff) - 19. Piano Solo (Tony Brown) - 20. Electric Piano and Clavinet Solo (David Briggs) - 21. Love Letters - 22. School Day (Joe Guercio Orchestra) - 23. Hurt - 24. Hound Dog - 25. Blue Christmas - 26. Can't Help Falling In Love - 27. Closing Vamp

CD 2 / Friday, December 3, 1976 Midnight Show:
01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - 06. You Gave Me A Mountain - 07. Jailhouse Rock - 08. Intstrumental Intermezzo - 09. It's Now Or Never - 10. Bridge Over Troubled Water - 11. Tryin' To Get To You - 12. Blue Suede Shoes - 13. And I Love You So - 14. Softly As I Leave You - 15. America the Beautiful - 16. Introduction of vocalists, musicians - 17. Early Morning Rain (John Wilkinson) - 18. What'd I Say (James Burton) - 19. Johnny B. Goode (James Burton) - 20. Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt) - 21. Bass Solo (Jerry Scheff) - 22. Piano Solo (Tony Brown) - 23. Electric Piano and Clavinet Solo (David Briggs) - 24. Love Letters (with false start) - 25. School Day - 26. School Day (reprise) - 27. Hurt - 28. Hound Dog - 29. How Great Thou Art (with false start) - 30. Can't Help Falling In Love - 31. Closing Vamp



Elvis Portugal 



The Portugues Blitz magazine - July edition - has a 5 page article on Elvis. 
The article is about Elvis' first recording on July 5th, 1954.

(Source: Amazon / Burning Star / FECC)

June 28 - Southern White Teen Stars With Gold Records

Oxford University Press announced the release of the book 'Elvis Presley: A Southern Life' by Joel Williamson with January 15 2013 as the release-date.


From the publisher:
"It is hard to believe that there would be any fresh takes on a figure as written about as Elvis Presley. Joel Williamson, an eminent Southern historian, has been working on Elvis for over twenty years and in this biography examines Presley as a product of his time and place in Southern culture, as well as the culture of the Southern girls and women who became his first fans. Rather than interpreting him through the lens of the rise of rock 'n roll and its impact on performers, Williamson looks seriously at the roots of Elvis' life, particularly his "country come to city" family, Tupelo and Memphis in the Depression and wartime years, and the ways in which this shaped his generation of first fans.
He discusses how Presley became the subject of unprecedented interest as a figure of sexual desire for people who, by the standards of their time and place, were not supposed to express sexual ecstasy, especially in public. While Elvis could not understand why he and his music were seen as a threat to good morals, he nonetheless took advantage of female sexual desire for him but lived in fear that the public would see him as a lecherous man who got away with a lifestyle of sexual indulgence.
While he drew on black music, especially gospel, and popularized it for white audiences, and worked with black musicians, he never took a public stand in the Civil Rights Movement bubbling around him in Memphis and the places around the South where he performed. Williamson notes how the early years of performing set the pattern of Elvis' career, leading to long periods after age 23 when he was not making music of much consequence or performing live, but his fans from the early years remained obsessed with him. In the later part of his career, when he performed regular gigs in Las Vegas and toured second-tier cities, he moved beyond the South to a national audience who had bought his albums and watched his movies, but the makeup of his fan base did not substantially change.
Nor did Elvis himself ever move up the Southern class ladder despite his wealth. And, as Williamson notes, many residents of Memphis ignored or were ambivalent about the resident of Graceland during his lifetime. Williamson's work does not attempt to displace Peter Guralnick's Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love but offers a highly readable account of the Presley family, especially Gladys and Vernon, their class, their finances, their religion, and the opportunities for men and women of Elvis' generation and region. It is not a tell-all account by someone who was associated with Elvis, but a historically informed biography by a scholar who moved to Memphis to teach in 1964. Through his emotionally powerful biography emerge the good Elvis, the bad Elvis, and the psychopathic Elvis."


White Artists With Soul


To celebrate Black Music Month, Chart Watch collated a list of the biggest white artists in the history of Billboard's R&B chart. That may seem to be an odd way to celebrate Black Music Month, but it dramatizes that black music has influenced countless artists in a wide range of genres. Elvis Presley, whose hits 'That's All Right (mama)', 'Hound Dog', 'Mystery Train', 'I Feel So Bad', 'High Heel Sneakers', 'Crying In The Chapel' etc were remakes of earlier R&B hits, is the most successful white artist in the history of the R&B chart, which is now called Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Twenty-one white artists rank among the top 500 R&B hit-makers in chart history in chart researcher Joel Whitburn's indispensable book Hot R&B Songs 1942-2010. The roster includes numerous blue-eyed soul singers (George Michael, Daryl Hall & John Oates), a rap icon (Eminem), disco stars (KC & the Sunshine Band), a pop provocateur (Madonna) and funk stars - but Elvis stands out above all. 
As James Brown the God-Father of R&B and Soul noted, "I wasn’t just a fan, I was his brother. Last time I saw Elvis alive was at Graceland. We sang ‘Old Blind Barnabus’ together, a gospel song. I love him and hope to see him in heaven. There’ll never be another like that soul brother."


The #1 white artist who ranks among the top 500 R&B hit-makers in chart history are:
1. Elvis Presley. The king of rock and roll had 24 top 10 R&B hits, from 1956's "Heartbreak Hotel" to 1963's " Devil In Disguise." Six of them, including "Hound Dog," reached #1. Blues singer Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton had a #1 R&B hit with "Hound Dog" in 1953.


More RIAA Awards?


Executives from Sony Music will emcee a free event at the Elvis Week Main Stage on Wednesday, August 15, as they present multiple awards for releases of Elvis' music that have achieved Gold, Platinum or Diamond status based on RIAA record sales. 


Charts



The following appeared on the Billboard Catalog Album Charts (w/e 7th July, 2012):

• 'Heart And Soul' selling some 1590 copies. Total sales to date: 566,246 copies.
• 'Elvis: The Very Best Of Love' selling some 1579 copies. Total sales to date: 277,512 copies.
• 'The Essential Elvis' selling some 1470 copies. Total sales to date: 451,993 copies. It is a double album and therefore under RIAA rules qualifies for double sales - so for their purposes it has sold 903,986 copies and already been awarded Gold status. Could be in line for a Platinum upgrade - perhaps in August.
• 'An Afternoon In The Garden' selling some 1356 copies. Total sales to date: 474,368 copies.
• 'Elvis Country' (Compilation) selling some 1225 copies. Total sales to date: 116,109 copies.

Teen Pop Stars of the Past


ABC News is calling Elvis the first teen pop star in a recent post titled "Teen Pop Stars of the Past." The recent ABC photo gallery states, "The King of Rock 'n' Roll was the first to wear the teen idol crown. Elvis Presley's stage performances got girls all shook up, starting from when he launched his singing career in 1954." Elvis continues to impact modern day culture and his influence is seen around the world.


(Source: Elvis Club Berlin / EPE / Elvis Information Network)

June 27 - Re: Generated

The Italian DJ Spankox released a new remix-album 'Re:Generation'. The album, produced by Spankox aka Agostino Carollo with additional production by Highpass was previously released through iTunes on June 5, 2012.


Tracklisting:
1. Little Sister / 2. Flaming Star / 3. I Feel So Bad / 4. As Long As I Have You / 5. Judy / 6. I’m Coming Home / 7. Crawfish / 8. In Your Arms / 9. I Want You With Me / 10. King Creole


(Source: Everness)

June 26 - A Collector's Photo From Tupelo

A set of 8 sample pages from the new Ernst Jorgensen FTD book 'A Boy From Tupelo' was shown on the FECC forum, supplied by Cristioto. The preview pages feature plenty of previously unreleased photos, with most of them supplied by the fans who are actually in the photos with Elvis. 


Collecting Elvis

Volume 13 of the DeAgostini / EPE collectors series was released. This volume contains the movie "Seemann Ahoi" ("Paradise, Hawaiian Style"), a mini poster of  "The Trouble With Girls", magazine and memorabelia reproductions.

Hair Sale

A plastic vial containing clippings of Elvis Presley's hair has sold for $4,160 at an auction of celebrity memorabilia in Beverly Hills, California. It is not the first time the King of Rock N' Roll's hair has been put up for auction. The newest collection of clippings was one of several pieces of celebrity memorabilia offered during Julien's Auctions' two-day Sports Legends and Music Icons sale, which took place over the weekend. Objects belonging to the late Michael Jackson, whose third death anniversary was marked on Monday, Amy Winehouse, who died last year, and Whitney Houston, who was found dead in February, were also sold.

The latest clippings of Presley's hair were collected by the late singer's personal hairdresser, Homer "Gil" Gilleland.

"As he worked with Elvis off and on up through the 1970s, Gilleland kept locks of Presley's hair, attaching them to business cards and ultimately giving large collections to friends," Julien's Auctions said in its listing. "There have been several large groupings of Elvis hair sold."

In 2009, a strand of hair Gilleland said he clipped from Presley's head sold at a British auction for about $1,560. A jar containing more of Presley's hair sold for $115,000 in an online auction in 2002.

Also auctioned off at Julien's Auction's weekend sale - a photo of an X-Ray of Presley's arm, taken after he suffered an injury during a karate session in Las Vegas, sold for $9,375. A black leather Harley-Davidson motorcycle jacket and black Lansky Bros. tuxedo pants believed to have been owned by the singer sold for $41,600 and a pair of glass champagne coupes believed to have been used at Presley's 1967 wedding to Priscilla fetched $312.50 at the auction.

Not all items sold. An acoustic guitar signed by Presley, combined with a photograph of the singer performing at a 1976 concert in Syracuse, New York, fetched no bids. It was estimated to be worth at least $15,000.

The Best Fifties Setlist

RCA released the compilation CD 'Setlist: The Very Best of Elvis Presley Live 1950's'. 

(Source: FECC / Elvis Club Berlin / On The Red Carpet / Amazon)