Released today by the Hard Luck import-label is the compilation CD "I Am Going To Have To Play The Piano On This". This release is limited to 300 copies.
From the press-release:
From his earliest recordings, Elvis would sit at the studio piano and get in the mood for a session by singing some of the old and great songs. Sometimes he would go to the piano between takes or between songs, perhaps to center himself by returning to his roots. Fans have always greatly enjoyed the survived recordings of Elvis at the piano, although strangely enough a full album of these recordings was never released. Until now....
Housed in a stunning jewel case with 8 page full color booklet with great ‘Elvis at the piano’ pics and liner notes, this is a release you simply can’t ignore. It has a very limited edition of only 300 copies.
Tracks:
1. Introduction by Elvis / After Loving You ( take 2 ) 2. Old Shep ( take 5 ) 3. ( There’ll Be ) Peace In The Valley ( For Me ) ( take 1 ) 4. Playing For Keeps 5. Wear My Ring Around Your Neck ( piano overdub ) 6. The Fool ( home recording, 1959 ) 7. What Now My Love ( home recording, 1966 ) 8. Beyond The Reef ( undubbed master ) 9. If I Loved You ( home recording, 1966 ) 10. You’ll Never Walk Alone ( take 2 ) 11. I’ll Hold You In My Heart ( unedited master ) 12. Blueberry Hill / Lawdy Miss Clawdy ( Live, FEB 23 1970 CS ) 13. I Will Be True ( unedited master ) 14. It’s Still Here ( take 5 ) 15. I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen ( undubbed master ) 16. Rags To Riches ( Live, Pittsburgh, DEC 31, 1976 ) 17. Where No One Stands Alone ( Live, February 16, 1977) 17. Unchained Melody ( Live, Rapid City, June 21, 1977 – undubbed )
Bonus - MGM Rehearsal July 15, 1970:
18. How The Web Was Woven / Mona Lisa / My Wish Came True
(Source: FECC)
The TNT Records import-release "Bicentennial Superstar Elvis - Volume 2", containing a soundboard recording from October 20, 1976 as recorded in South Bend, Indiana.
Tracks:
Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman / Amen - Love Me - If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - You Gave Me A Mountain - Jailhouse Rock - Help Me - All Shook Up - Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - And I Love You So - Fever - Steamroller Blues - Band Introductions - Early Morning Rain - What'd I Say - Johnny B. Goode - Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt) - Bass Solo (Jerry Scheff) - Piano Solo (Tony Brown) - Love Letters - School Day - Hurt (With Reprise) - Hound Dog - Funny How Time Slips Away - Little Darlin' - Can't Help Falling In Love - Closing Vamp / Announcements.
Elvis - Opening Night 1975
The AudiRec import-label released the CD "Elvis - Opening Night 1975" containing an audience recording of the March 18, 1975 Opening Show as recorded at the Hilton International Hotel in Las Vegas. The CD, limited to 300 copies, comes with an 16 page booklet.
Tracks: Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman / Amen - And I Love You So - Let Me Be There (With Reprise) -It's Midnight - Big Boss Man - Green Green Grass Of Home (First Live Version) - Burning Love - Love Me - Fairytale (First Live Version) - Band Introductions - Lead Guitar Solo (James Burton) - Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt) - Bass Solo (Duke Bardwell) - Piano Solo (Glen D. Hardin) - Electric Piano Solo (David Briggs) - Orchestra Solo (Joe Guercio Orchestra) - My Boy - I'll Remember You - Promised Land - Your Love's Been A Long Time Coming (Instrumental Excerpt] - Until It's Time For You To Go - Introduction Of Glen Campbell - When It's My Time (J.D. Sumner & The Stamps Quartet) - If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - Can't Help Falling In Love - Closing Vamp
From Elvis In Murfreesboro
The TNT Records import-label, in cooperation with the Audionics import-label, released the CD "From Elvis In Murfreesboro". This CD contains a soundboard recording of the May 7, 1975 performance by Elvis Presley as recorded at Mid Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN
Tracks: Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman / Amen - Love Me - If You Love Me (Let Me Know) - Love Me Tender - All Shook Up - Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - The Wonder Of You - Burning Love - Band Introductions - Johnny B. Goode - Drum Solo (Ronnie Tutt) - Bass Solo (Jerry Scheff) - Piano Solo (Glen D. Hardin) - School Day - Bridge Over Troubled Water - T-R-O-U-B-L-E - I'll Remember You - Let Me Be There - An American Trilogy - Funny How Time Slips Away - Hound Dog - Little Darlin' - Can't Help Falling In Love
Elvis Auction
They are little more than four sheets of paper, but since they bear Elvis Presley's signature and record a seminal moment in his young career – his 1950s appearances on the Shreveport-based show Louisiana Hayride – they could fetch up to $50,000 at an upcoming auction.
A four-page contract between Presley and International Broadcasting Corporation (the former owner of KWKH Radio in Shreveport) for the young singer to appear on the weekly music show is appraised between $30,000 and $50,000 in the catalog for the Julien's Auctions event on May 16 in New York.
Hayride was the legendary Grand Ole Opry-style radio, and later television, program which originated from Shreveport's Municipal Auditorium and featured up and coming and established country musicians and singers.
Presley made his first appearance on the program on Oct. 16, 1954, performing "Blue Moon of Kentucky" and his newly released song "That's All Right." As his fame grew, he was signed to a Hayride contract the next year. Julien's says the Sept. 8, 1955 Presley Hayride contract was only the second performance contract he signed in his career. Elvis, then 20, signed the paperwork in red ink, with his parents as witnesses.
"The contract stated that Presley would appear on the program for 52 consecutive Saturdays beginning on November 12, 1955. Presley performed only 18 of those Saturdays," according to the item description. According to the auction house, after manager Col. Tom Parker discovered Presley, the contract was bought out for a reported $10,000.
At auction, Julien's is also offering with it two letters of authenticity: one from Louisiana Hayride archives owner Joey Kent and the other from former radio personality Frank Page, who died in 2013.
The May 16 auction features personal and professional items from Presley's legendary life and career. The contract for Hayride is among the highest-priced items. Among the others are Presley's 1971 Blackhawk car (valued between $400,000 and $600,000), his TCB "Taking Care of Business" tour bus ($150,000 and $200,000), one of his military uniforms ($20,000 to $40,000) and a copy of his marriage certificate with Priscilla Presley ($25,000 to $30,000).
(Source: Elvis Aktuell / Elvis Information Network / Juliens)
The MxF import-label released their second volume in the trilogy dedicated to Elvis Presley's historical performances at Uniondale Nassau Coliseum. This second CD is entitled "Uniondale Hysteria, Second Day" and features the June 23, 1973 8.00 PM as recorded in Uniondale.
Vinyl releases
The vinyl re-issue of "Elvis Presley's Gold Records Volume 4" has been released on 180gr. vinyl.
Tracks:
Love Letters , Witchcraft , It Hurts Me , What'd I Say , Please Don't Drag That String Around, Indescribably Blue , (You're The) Devil In Disguise , Lonely Man , A Mess Of Blues , Ask Me , Ain't That Loving You Baby , Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello
The Vee Tone Record "Love Me" compilations have been released on black and pink vinyl. The compilations contain 8 singles released on the His Mastes Voice label between March 1956 and March 1957 in the United Kingdom. Both releases are limited to 500 copies.
(Source: FECC / Elvis Aktuell / Vee Tone)
The Xtra release “Elvis Presley Hymnbook”, containing 16 gospel recordings, has been released.
Tracks:
Peace In The Valley - It Is No Secret (What God Can Do) - I Believe - Take My Hand, Precious Lord - His Hand In Mine - (I'm) Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs - In My Father's House - Milky White Way - Known Only To Him - I Believe In The Man In The Sky - Joshua Fit The Battle - He Knows Just What I Need - Swing Down Sweet Chariot - Mansion Over The Hilltop - If We Never Meet Again - Working On The Building.
(Source: Elvis Aktuell)
Graceland is pleased that an agreement has been reached for Elvis’ two airplanes, the Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II to remain at Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis permanently. The planes have been available for tours in the Graceland visitors’ center since 1984.
Both Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley tweeted that the two planes once owned by Elvis Presley will stay forever at Graceland.
Graceland released a statement Sunday saying the Lisa Marie and the Hound Dog II, two custom-designed airplanes once owned by Presley, will remain permanently at the Memphis tourist attraction centered on the life and career of the late singer.
The announcement ends confusion about the future of the planes, once used by the King for travel to performances after he bought them in the 1970s.
The larger plane, a Convair 880 named after Presley's daughter Lisa Marie, is like a customized flying limousine, complete with a large bed, a stereo system, conference room and gold-plated bathroom fixtures. It was renovated after Presley bought it from Delta Air Lines. Presley took his first flight on it in November 1975.
When Presley died on Aug. 16, 1977, Presley's pilot flew the Lisa Marie to California to pick up Presley's ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, to bring her back to Memphis.
The smaller jet, a JetStar named the Hound Dog II, was also used by Presley. The planes were sold after Presley's death, and they were eventually purchased by a company called OKC Partnership.
OKC Partnership and Graceland agreed to park the planes at Graceland in the mid-1980s, and tours of their opulent interiors became popular with visitors. Their agreement called for OKC Partnership to receive a cut of ticket sales in return for keeping the planes at Graceland. But the fate of the planes became cloudy last year. In an April 7, 2014, letter to OKC Partnership, Elvis Presley Enterprises said it was exercising its option to end the agreement and asked OKC "to make arrangements for the removal of the airplanes and the restoration of the site on or shortly after April 26, 2015."
Fans responded with critical postings on Priscilla Presley's Facebook page. She answered fans by asking them to "please calm down."
Earlier this month, Shelby County's land use board approved a proposal by OKC Partnership to move the planes to a lot not far from Graceland. The plan called for the planes to be installed as an outdoor display and museum for tourists to visit. The plan was approved Tuesday by the Memphis City Council.
It seemed like the planes were destined to move after the council vote. But Graceland's statement on Sunday appeared to end such plans.
"Graceland is pleased that an agreement has been reached for Elvis' two airplanes, the Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II to remain at Elvis Presley's Graceland in Memphis permanently," the statement said.
Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, said on Twitter that Graceland now owns the planes and they will remain at Graceland "4 ever."
"We own them and have fun plans 4 them as well," she said on Twitter. She did not elaborate further.
OKC Partnership declined immediate comment Sunday.
(Source: Lisa Marie Presley / Priscilla Presley / Associated Press)
Due for release on May 27, 2015 from Not Now Records is the 3 CD set "At The Movies".
(Source: Amazon)
Songwriter Sid Tepper, best known for his work writing songs for Elvis Presley, died on Friday (April 24) of natural causes. He was 96.
Tepper's publicist confirmed the news to Billboard, adding that he died at his home on Williams Island in Miami Beach, Florida surrounded by his family.
Tepper wrote 45 songs for Presley, but also wrote tracks for other artists including Frank Sinatra, Jeff Beck, The Beatles, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Ray Charles, Louie Armstrong, Wayne Newton, Robert Goulet, Nancy Wilson, Eartha Kitt and more.
Some of his most well-known songs include "The Lady Loves Me" performed by Presley and Ann-Margret as well as "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane," "Kiss of Fire," "G.I. Blues," "Red Roses For A Blue Lady," and "Don't Come Running Back To Me."
Although Tepper and his songwriting partner Roy C. Bennett wrote extensively for Elvis, they never met him. All their Elvis songs were for his movies, including the title number for "G.I. Blues" (1960) and "The Lady Loves Me," sung as a poolside duet with Ann-Margret in "Viva Las Vegas" (1964).
By the time they wrote for Elvis, Tepper and Bennett were already established songwriters. Their first big hit, "Red Roses for a Blue Lady," was recorded by Vaughn Monroe in 1948. Over the years it was covered by Sinatra (on a radio show), Andy Williams, Paul Anka, Wayne Newton and others, including Vic Dana, who got it back on the bestselling charts in 1965.
Elvis needed the songwriting duo's kind of material.
"When Elvis started to make the movies, they needed non rock-and-roll writers, people who could come up with special material songs and ballads," Tepper said in a 2005 interview for the book "Elvis Presley: Writing for the King," by Ken Sharp.
Tepper and Bennett would be given movie scripts and asked to write for specific scenes. But they were not the only songwriters approached — others were asked to submit songs for the same scenes.
"The way it worked was that it was actually a competition," Tepper said in the Sharp interview. "To be honest, it was a little downer feeling that we had to compete with the other writers because Roy and I had a life before Elvis....
"We wrote songs for all the stars of our generation."
Tepper and Bennett, who both wrote music and lyrics, often beat out the competition. On "Blue Hawaii" (1961) alone, they have five credited songs.
They were especially good at writing for specific situations. "The Lady Loves Me" comes at a point in "Viva Las Vegas" where Presley's flirtations with Ann-Margret are getting him nowhere, though he remains supremely confident.
He sings:
I'm her ideal, her heart's desire
Under that ice she's burning like fire
To which she shoots back:
The gentleman has savoir-faire
As much as an elephant or a bear
Tepper and Bennett never had a big hit with an Elvis song — many of them were novelty numbers. For "Girls! Girls! Girls!" (1962), they wrote "Song of the Shrimp" with lyrics from the point of view of a shrimp.
Goodbye mama shrimp, papa shake my hand
Here come the shrimper for to take me to Louisian'
The songs were in sharp contrast to the gritty numbers that made Elvis an electrifying star. But Tepper made no apologies.
"I believe that Elvis' movies and their songs made a mighty contribution to his career," he told Sharp. "They brought him to the attention of millions of people who otherwise would never have known the greatness of the King."
He said one of his favorite Elvis songs that they wrote was from "Kissin' Cousins" (1964) called "Once Is Enough."
All you got is one life
Living once can be rough
But if you live every day all the way
Once is enough
A vet of WWII where he served for the Special Services performing for the troops, he joined ASCAP in 1947. He won a BMI Award for 1 million plays of Georgia Gibbs' "Kiss of Fire." Additionally he won a Country Music Award for Eddie Arnold's version of "Red Roses For A Blue Lady." In 2002, he was honored in Memphis for his work with Presley.
Tepper was born on June 25, 1918. His wife, Lillian, died 10 years ago. He is survived by 5 children (Susan Tepper-Kopacz, Michelle Tepper-Kapit, Brian Tepper, Warren Tepper and Jackie Tepper), 7 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.
Charts
- The “Heart And Soul” compilation drops from #19 to #25 on the Billboard Country Catalog Album Chart for the week ending May 2, 2015.
- The “Elvis Sings…” compilation entered the Dutch Mid-price Album chart at #41 this week.
- The “Elvis Love Songs” compilation climbed from #89 to #78 on the Official Scottish Album Charts.
(Source: Billboard / LA Times / FECC / Brian Quinn / The King’s World)
Here is the cover-art of the Vinyl Passion release "Elvis In Love". This compilation comes as a double album on 180gr. vinyl and is due May 8, 2015.
Side A: Can´t Help Falling In Love - Hawaiian Wedding Song - Fame And Fortune - A Big Hunk O` Love - Don´t Ask Me Why - Such A Night - Don´t - (Now And Then There´s) A Fool Such AS I - Have I Told You Lately That I Love You - Good Luck Charm
Side B: Are You Lonesome Tonight - Surrender - It´s Now Or Never - I Want You, I Need You, I Love You - Loving You - Love Me - Baby Let´s Play House - Blue Hawaii - Wooden Heart - Any Way You Want Me
Side C: (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear - She´s Not You - As Long As I Have You - The Girl Of My Best Friend - I Love You Because - I Need You Love Tonight - The Thrill Of Your Love - That´s Someone You Never Forget - Fever - Doin´ The Best I Can
Side D: Love Me Tender - True Love - I Was The One - Pocketful Of Rainbows - Stuck On You - Young And Beautiful - One Night - That´s When Your Heartaches Begin - Wear My Ring Around Your Neck - Anyplace In Paradise
Elvis Back In Vegas
At 2 p.m. Priscilla Presley officially opened Westgate’s Elvis exhibit, “Graceland Presents Elvis: The Exhibition, The Show, The Experience,”.
The exhibit, chapel and show are the first permanent presentations from Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises outside of the performer's Tennessee home, launching 59 years to the day that Elvis first performed in Las Vegas with a grand opening to include an appearance by Presley's daughter Lisa Marie.
Why is the date April 23 chosen to open this? The date marks the 59th anniversary of Elvis' first performance in the city at the New Frontier Hotel.
(Source: The King's World / Graceland / ElvisMatters)
The city council of Memphis has just voted a few minutes ago on the Whitehaven planned development that would move two of Elvis Presley’s private jets off Graceland property to a lot at 3850 Elvis Presley Blvd., on the other side of the southern boundary of property owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises.
OKC Partnership, which owns the “Lisa Marie” and “Hound Dog 2,” has a contract with Elvis Presley Enterprises for their current display on the opposite side of Elvis Presley Boulevard from the gates of Graceland. But during contract renewal talks, EPE requested that OKC remove the jets from its property.
Also on the council’s agenda was the second of three readings of an ordinance establishing the Graceland Tourism Development Zone tourism surcharge – 5 percent added onto anything bought on the 120-acre Graceland campus. The surcharge is to pay the debt from the coming redevelopment of Graceland, including the $90 million, 450-room 'The Guest House at Graceland' resort hotel north of the mansion.
(Source: ElvisMatters)
Poplar Tunes was one of the record stores in Memphis to sell rock and roll records to customers, and to supply music for jukeboxes. Many young musicians signed autographs here. Also Elvis came here often after school or of his home to listen to music. The picture shows Elvis Presley at the store in 1957. A Historic Marker will be placed this August on 308 Poplar Avenue.
(Source: Elvis Matters)
