January 05 - Searching For The Charts (Updated)

The "Christmas by Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic orchestra" drops from #17 to #95 on the Official UK Album chart for the week ending January 5, 2018. In fact, it is the only Christmas album left in the Top 100.

• The 6 DVD set "The Elvis Collection" dropped from #13 to #23 on the Official UK Music DVD chart. 

Charts Down Under

• The "Elvis Christmas With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" is listed at #9 on the New Zealand Album chart. 
• The "Elvis Christmas With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" is listed at #12 on the Australian Album chart. 
• The DVD "Elvis – The King Of Rock’n’Roll – 30 Hit Performances And More" climbed from #27 to #24 on the Australian Music DVD chart. 

Billboard Charts

• The "It’s Christmas Time" climbed from #53 to #52 on the Billboard Album Top 200 chart.
• The "Elvis Christmas With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" climbed from #144 to #116 on the Billboard Album Top 200 chart. 
• The "Classic Christmas Album" dropped from #126 to #192 on the Billboard Album Top 200 chart. 
• The "It’s Christmas Time" is listed at #71 on the Billboard Album Sales chart.
• The "Elvis Christmas With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" is listed at #58 on the Billboard Album Sales chart. 
• The "Classic Christmas Album" is listed at #81 on the Billboard Album Sales chart. 
• The "Classic Christmas Album" is listed at #37 on the Billboard Rock Album chart. 
• The "ELV1S 30 #1 Hits" is listed at #49 on the Billboard Rock Album chart. 
• The "It’s Christmas Time" is listed at #8 on the Billboard Country Album Sales chart.
• The "The Classic Christmas Album" is listed at #29 on the Billboard Country Album Sales chart.
• The "ELV1S 30 #1 Hits" is listed at #41 on the Billboard Country Album Sales chart.
• The "Ultimate Gospel" climbed from #20 to #27 on the Billboard Christian Album Sales chart.
• The "Playlist: The Very Best Gospel Of Elvis Presley" is a new entry at #44 on the Billboard Christian Album Sales chart.
• The "Elvis Christmas With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" climbed from #5 to #4 on the Billboard Classical Album chart. 
• The "The Wonder Of You" climbed from #16 to #13 on the Billboard Classical Album chart. 

On the US Billboard Holiday Album chart "It’s Christmas Time" is listed at #12, "Elvis Christmas With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" is listed at #23 and the "The Classic Christmas Album" is listed at #34.

European Charts

• The "Christmas by Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic orchestra" dropped from #72 to #192 on the Belgian Album chart. 
• The "ELV1S 30 #1 Hits" compilation climbed from #49 to #47 on the Belgian Mid-price Album chart.
• The "Christmas by Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic orchestra" dropped from #25 to #30 on the Austrian Album chart. 
• The "Christmas by Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic orchestra" dropped from #78 to #85 on the Swiss Album chart. 
• The "Elvis – El Disco De Oro" is listed at #22 on the Spanih Album chart.

Priscilla on "The Searcher" Documentary

Priscilla Presley was interviewed by Billboard on the upcoming HBO documentary "The Searcher" which is due early this year.

In the film, you share a great deal about Elvis that you never have before.
​People know about his generosity, about his love of his mother, but he didn't have the peers he should have had. It would have been great to sit around with the guys and talk about, “My gosh, do you ever get nervous onstage? Do you miss your wife? Do you ever forget your lines?” He didn't have that.

You were so young when you met Elvis. Were your parents concerned?
Our relationship was too big for my parents; they didn't understand it. He courted me for two years before he asked me to join him in Graceland. It was two years begging my dad, until finally I told my parents, “You’re ruining my life; you have to let me go.”
Colonel Parker hangs over the film like an avenging angel.
Elvis was so grateful Colonel Parker took him where he wanted to go. The hardest thing was realizing that Parker was a great promoter but didn't know anything about music, or about his subject, Elvis Presley.

The film ends with Bobby Kennedy’s death and Elvis’ extraordinary rendition of “If I Can Dream” from his comeback special in 1968. What were Elvis’ politics? 
Elvis was for peace. He didn't understand this whole thing with Vietnam. But he didn't get involved in politics. It was the one thing you didn't do: an entertainer was to entertain.

Elvis didn't live long enough to see your acting career. Were you sad that he didn't get to watch your films? 
To be honest, Elvis wouldn't have wanted me to be in them. I don’t think he would have wanted to share [me] with anyone.

Being separated and watching him basically work himself to death -- was that painful to see again?
No. Even though we were divorced, we remained very close. We had long conversations at night. He wanted to perform, to get out. He had nervous energy. In fact, he wanted to go all over the world. He wanted to explore.

(Source: Brian Quinn on FECC / Billboard / FECC)

January 04 - Gold Award For Elvis (updated)

The British Phonograph Industry (BPI) awarded Elvis Presley a Gold Record Award for the "Christmas With Elvis And The and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" for selling over 100,000 copies. The album was awarded a Silver Award on December 22, 2017.

The "Christmas With Elvis And The and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" has sold 143,500 (all formats) in 2017 and is ranked the 37th Best Selling UK Album for that year. 'The Wonder Of You' - Elvis And The RPO has sold 84,000 (all formats) in 2017 and is ranked 84th Best Selling UK Album. Overall TWOY has sold 542,000 (all formats) since its original release.

August 16, 1977

The Stanley brothers initiated another Elvis Presley movie project entitled "August 16, 1977" through their Impello Entertainment company.

From the movie website:
August 16, 1977 was a day that changed the music world forever – when young American Rock & Roll Super Star Elvis Presley was discovered dead at his Graceland Mansion in Memphis, TN. In the film August 16, 1977 we follow in almost real time the events of three individuals before, during, and after this incomprehensible event that would change their lives and forever alter our world’s entertainment landscape. Thrust into a scenario of unprecedented drama with unimaginable consequences, these key characters respond with shock, outrage, determination and courage. 
Woven together, their seemingly disparate perspectives make one of the most intriguing and powerful stories never told. From producers Billy, Ricky and David E. Stanley August 16, 1977 is the true story behind a tragic day in history you thought you knew, but didn’t, and couldn’t, until now… 40 years later.

Priscilla Presley's Father Paul Beaulieu Has Died

Priscilla Presley's father, Paul Beaulieu, has died. "Paul Beaulieu — Priscilla's stepfather since the age of three and the man that introduced Priscilla to Elvis Presley in Germany — passed away in the Brentwood, CA home that Elvis gave to him at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4 from kidney failure. He had been in declining health for several years," a source exclusively revealed to us.

The insider told Closer that Priscilla's stepfather will not be buried in Virginia's Arlington National Cemetery. He is thought to instead be laid to rest in Holy Cross Cemetery in Virginia. Funeral services for Paul are expected to take place sometime next week in Santa Monica, CA and many members of Priscilla's family, including daughter Lisa Marie Presley and granddaughter Riley Keough, will attend. A source close to her family told Closer that Priscilla is trying to keep the news of her father's passing quiet at this time to avoid paparazzi interest in the matter.

In a recent exclusive interview with Closer Weekly, Priscilla opened up about first meeting her future husband, Elvis, in 1959 after her stepfather, Paul, introduced the two. At the time, Priscilla was just 14 years old and living with her family in Wiesbaden, Germany, where Paul was working as an Air Force officer. Elvis was also stationed there as an Army sergeant.

"I’ll never forget it," Priscilla said, adding that although Paul introduced her to Elvis, he was not too keen on them dating at first. "My father said, 'Absolutely not!' My mother said, 'I won’t let you walk across the street to see Elvis Presley!' I knew this was going to be a battle." When Elvis wanted to see Priscilla again, she recalled that her father "interrogated" her. "He wanted to know, 'What happened the first night? Why does he want to see you again?'" Priscilla then revealed that Elvis came to her house "in full uniform" to speak to her parents. "He came absolutely decked out in white gloves, hat, everything! Already he won my father over! They talked for an hour and a half," she said. Our thoughts are with Priscilla and her family as they mourn Paul's passing.

(Source: FECC / BPI / Impello Entertainment / Closer Weekly)

January 02 - Elvis In Hollywood

Joe Tunzi's JAT Publishing will release a new book entitled "Elvis In Hollywood". The book is a joint venture using the archives of the two collectors Russ Howe and Bob Klein and should be available spring 2018.

(Source: FECC)

January 01 - Rebel with a Cause Cover-art

Here are the temporary cover-art and track listing for the upcoming Follow that Dream / Flaming Star co-production "Rebel With A Cause '56" book / CD set by authors David English and Pal Granlund. 

Tracks: Elvis Presley Rock ´n´ Roll No. 2:
Rip It Up - Love Me - When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again - Long Tall Sally - First In Line - Paralyzed - So Gald You´re Mine - Old Shep (Take 5) - Ready Teddy - Anyplace In Paradise - How´s The World Treating You - How Do You Think I Feel

The Ed Sullivan Show - 09.09.1956:
Don´t Be Cruel - Elvis Talks - Love Me Tender - Ready Teddy - Hound Dog

The Mississippi-Alabama Fair And Diary Show - 26.09.1956 A/S:

Heartbreak Hotel - Long Tall Sally - Presentations - I Was The One - I Want You, I Need You, I Love You - Elvis Talks - I Got A Woman - Don´t Be Cruel - Ready Teddy - Love Me Tender - Hound Dog - Inhterview With Vernon And Gladys Presley - Interview With Nick Adams - Interview With Judy Hopper - Interview With Elvis

(Source: FECC)

Happy New Year!

December 30 - Charts (Updated)

The "Christmas with Elvis And The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" album is #17 on the Official UK Album Chart for the week ending December 29, 2017. The "The Wonder Of You" album is is #82 on that list. Other Elvis Entries on the UK Charts:

• The "Christmas with Elvis And The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" album is #76 on the Album Download Chart; #16 on the Album Sales Chart; #35 on the Album Streaming Chart; #16 on the Physical Album Chart and #28 on the Record Store Album Chart.
• The "The Wonder Of You" album is #67 on the Album Sales Chart and #63 on the Physical Album Chart.
• The "If I Can Dream" album is #99 on the Album Sales Chart and #89 on the Physical Album Chart
• The 'If Every Day was Like Christmas" album is #31 on the Album Streaming Chart while the "The 50 Greatest Hits" album is #88 on the Album Streaming Chart.
• The "Long Live The King" album is #10 on the Indie Albums Chart while "The King Of Rock 'n' Roll' is #49 on the Indie Albums Chart.
• The "Blue Christmas" song is a re-entry at #75 on the UK Singles Chart and #44 on the Singles Audio Streaming Chart.
• The "The Elvis Collection" DVD set is #13 on the Music Video Chart.
• The “If I Can Dream” album dropped off the Official UK Album chart. 
• The “Elvis – The King Of Rock’n’Roll – 30 Hit Performances And More” DVD dropped from #21 to #27 on the Official UK Music DVD Chart. 

European Charts

• The "Christmas with Elvis And The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" album is #19 on the Scottish Album Chart
• The "The Real Elvis" album is #33 on the Scottish Album Chart
• The "The Wonder Of You" album is #87 on the Scottish Album Chart
• The "Christmas with Elvis And The Royal Philharmonic orchestra" album is #21 on the Irish Album Chart.
• The “Elvis Christmas With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” is listed at #21 on the official Irish Album chart. 
• The “ELV1S 30 #1 Hits” compilation dropped off the Official Irish Album chart. 
• The “Elvis Christmas With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” is listed at #78 on the official Swiss Album chart. 
• The “Elvis Christmas With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” climbed from #84 to #72 on the Belgian Ultrotop Album chart. 
• The “ELV1S 30 #1 Hits” compilation is listed at #49 on the Belgian Ultratop Mid-price Album chart.
• The “Elvis Christmas With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” is listed at #85 on the official Dutch Album chart. 
• The “Elvis Christmas Album” is a new entry at #45 on the official Dutch Mid-price Album chart. 

(Source: Brian Quinn of FECC / The King's World)

December 29 - 2017 EPE Fanclub Presidents CD

Here is the Christmas card / CD that EPE sends to registered fan-clubs as a “Thank You” for their efforts keeping the memory of Elvis Presley alive. It comes with a message from Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley. The CD contains the tracks “Peace In The Valley”, “On A Snowy Christmas Night” and “Winter Wonderland”.

(Source: eBay / EM / Elvis On CD)

December 25 - Christmas Award

The song “Burning Love” was awarded a Silver Award in the UK by the British Phonographic Industry for selling over 200,000 copies. 

(Source: Brian Quinn on FECC)

December 27 - Christmas Love

Released in Japan is this 3 CD Christmas compilation entitled "Christmas Love Album". 

(Source: Amazon Japan)

Merry Christmas!