|
|
Elvis' #1 Pop Singles on Cashbox, USA: Heartbreak Hotel (1956) Don't Be Cruel (1956) Hound Dog (1956) Love Me Tender (1956) Too Much (1957) All Shook Up (1957) Teddy Bear (1957) Jailhouse Rock (1957) Don't (1958) Stuck On You (1960) It's Now Or Never (1960) Are You Lonesome Tonight? (1960) Surrender (1961) Good Luck Charm (1962) Return To Sender (1962) In The Ghetto (1969) Suspicious Minds (1969) Burning Love (1972) (The Cashbox chart is now defunct) Elvis Facts: Elvis was 5' 11" tall
Elvis' natural hair color was dark blond
Elvis' blood type was O Positive
Elvis' shoe size was 11D
One of Elvis'( maternal) ancestors, Morning White Dove (born 1800, died 1835), was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian
Elvis' uncle, Noah Presley, became Mayor of East Tupelo on January 7, 1936
The Presley family moved to Memphis on November 6, 1948
Elvis was issued a Social Security card in September 1950 with the # 409-52-2002
In 1954 some of the shows played by Elvis & The Blue Moon Boys were at the Overton Park Shell; the Bel-Air Club; Sleepy-Eyed John's Eagle's Nest Club and the Louisiana Hayride
Elvis' first manager was Scotty Moore, then Bob Neal, before signing with Colonel Tom Parker
The first DJ to play an Elvis record was Fred Cook (WREC), not Dewey Phillips (WHBQ). However, Dewey had the distinction of being the first DJ to play an Elvis record in its entirety
Elvis once dated famous stripper, Tempest Storm
Elvis was filmed from the waist up only during his 3rd and final appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
In the 50s Elvis was friendly with rising stars, Natalie Wood, Robert Wagner and Ty (Bronco Lane) Hardin
Gladys Presley was 46 years old when she died, not 42, as many books suggest
The Roustabout album sold 450,000 copies on its initial release, 150,000 copies more than any of the preceding three soundtrack LPs. It was Elvis' last "soundtrack" album to reach #1 on the major album charts in the US
Elvis received $1m for filming Harum Scarum (aka Harum Holiday). The film grossed around $2m in the US
Elvis and Priscilla married on May 1, 1967
They were officially divorced on October 9, 1973
Elvis earns nearly $3.5m in 1968 and pays just over $1.4m in income tax
Elvis' return to live performing in Las Vegas on July 31, 1969 was in front of an "by invitation only" audience. Stars in attendance included Wayne Newton, Petula Clark, Shirley Bassey, Burt Bacharach and Angie Dickinson
On January 9, 1971, the national Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) announced Elvis as one of "The Top Ten Young Men of the Year". Elvis spoke at the official awards ceremony on January 16
"Elvis: Aloha From Hawai" made entertainment history on January 14, 1973, when it was beamed around the world by satellite. In the Philippines it drew 91% of the audience, in Hong Kong 70%. The viewing audience was estimated at more than 1 billion
For his 4 week Hilton Vegas season in August 1973 Elvis received $610,000 Sales of Elvis' 1973 album, Raised On Rock, were less than 200,000 units on its initial release
Elvis paid $2,959,000 in income tax in 1973
In December 1976 Elvis was sworn in as a special deputy sheriff of Shelby County (Memphis) by Sheriff Gene Barksdale
Elvis' final live concert was in Indianapolis on June 26, 1977 When Elvis died, he and his father Vernon, were embroiled in an FBI investigation called Operation Fountain Pen More than 1,500 books have been published about The King in more than 30 languages
At Dec 2005 Elvis' biggest selling album in the US is the budget priced, Elvis' Christmas Album, with accredited sales of 9 million units (fingers crossed it reaches 10 million to give Elvis his first "Diamond" award)
By early2006, Sony BMG's "collectors label", Follow That Dream, had released more than 50 Elvis CDs
During the 1980s, tour guides at Graceland stated that Elvis' biggest selling album (globally) was Moody Blue, with sales exceeding 14 million
While Sony BMG estimates Elvis' global sales exceed 1 billion, the company is unable to substantiate this figure. Accredited sales worldwide are estimated to be less than 400 million
|
Released in Australia this week is what is possibly the best Elvis tribute artist release of 2006. Australia's award winning El Gamble, on the eve of his return to live performing, has recorded a stunning 20 track compilation of adrenalin fuelled Elvis ballads and rockers. Review and ordering details appear below next image
CD Review - "Echoes of the King"It's time to dust off your blue suede shoes. The latest album from Australia's legendary El Gamble, the Aussie with the Elvis voice, is the best of his career! From the opening lines of the first track, Elvis' 1960 'B" side, "Make Me Know It", you can just feel you are in for a special treat with this album. Its strengths lie in El Gamble's amazing vocal ability, a potent song mix and strong production values. The balanced blend of ballads, rockers, gospel and 60s pop offers a near perfect blend of music all sung in great style. An added bonus is the inclusion of tracks we rarely hear. How long is it since you've heard the haunting "Fool", the bluesy "It Feels So Right" or Elvis' last single release before his death, "Way Down"? Those who like to relax to Elvis' love songs are well catered for with very strong versions of the perennial favorite, "Love Me" (replete with audience reaction) and the monologue infused, "Are You Lonesome Tonight?". Pop lovers are transported back to a simpler, bygone time as El Gamble makes us smile while he impressively delivers "Good Luck Charm", "His Latest Flame" and "The Girl Next Door Went A Walking". Also on offer is a great rendition of the late 50s classic ballad, "A Fool Such As I", one of Elvis' favorite gospel tracks, "Lead Me, Guide Me", and a rousing medley comprising "Heartbreak Hotel", "Hound Dog" and "All Shook Up". In the middle of the album the artist treats us to several big ballads including "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Let It Be Me". Closing the album are two more powerful songs, the Marty Robbins' penned "You Gave Me A Mountain" and an emotional, flute based, "An American Trilogy". There are many standout tracks on "Echoes of the King". El Gamble's vocal is exquisite as he soars into the heavens on "I Believe", while he brings the house down with a pumping version of "Johnny B. Goode", a recording which will have you dancing in the aisles. "If I Can Dream" is eerily reminiscent of Elvis' closing number from the '68 Comeback Special while "Early Morning Rain" is so delicately sung that you can feel the light drizzle falling down. Symbolising its title, the use of "echo" on the recordings works very well giving the album a nice feel. Similarly, on many tracks there are nice touches with innovative use of orchestral instruments, backing vocals and sounds. Verdict: "Echoes of the King" is possibly the best Elvis tribute artist release of 2006. Australia's award winning El Gamble, on the eve of his return to live performing, has recorded a stunning 20 track compilation of adrenalin fuelled Elvis ballads and rockers. If you only buy one Elvis tribute album this year "Echoes of the King" won't disappoint. It is an album you will play time and time again. Aussie fans can catch El Gamble's return to live performance on Saturday 12 August at the Parkes Leagues Club in NSW. Don't miss it! Read more Other El Gamble CD reviews In The King's Shadow, Volume 1 In The King's Shadow, Volume 2: The Rock 'n' Roll Years
Click to comment on this review
|
Quote: "Elvis Presley is the supreme socio-cultural icon in the history of pop culture" (Dr. Gary Enders) Quote: "Elvis is the 'glue' which holds our society together....which subconciously gives our world meaning" (Anonymous) Quote: "Eventually everybody has to die, except Elvis" (humorist Dave Barry) Quote: "He is the "Big Bang", and the universe he detonated is still expanding, the pieces are still flying" (Greil Marcus, "Dead Elvis") Quote: "I think Elvis Presley will never be solved" (Nick Tosches) Quote: "He was the most popular man that ever walked on this planet since Christ himself was here" (Carl Perkins) Quote: "When I first heard Elvis' voice I just knew I wasn't going to work for anybody...hearing him for the first time was like busting out of jail" (Bob Dylan) Quote: "When we were kids growing up in Liverpool, all we ever wanted was to be Elvis Presley" (Sir Paul McCartney) Quote: "You can't say enough good things about Elvis. He was one of a kind" (Johnny Cash) Quote: "And don't think for one moment he's just a passing fancy....he's got enough of it to keep him on top for a long time" (R. Fred Arnold, Fury magazine, Aug 1957) Quote: "It isn't enough to say that Elvis is kind to his parents, sends money home, and is the same unspoiled kid he was before all the commotion began. That still isn't a free ticket to behave like a sex maniac in public" (Eddie Condon, Cosmopolitan) Elvis records reaching #2 & #3 on the Cashbox Pop Singles chart: #2: A Fool Such As I (1959) #2: A Big Hunk Of Love (1959) #3: Hard Headed Woman (1958) #3: One Night (1958) #3: (You're The Devil) In Disguise (1963) Elvis Facts: Tickets for Elvis' show on March 29, 1957 in St. Louis cost $2.00 to $2.50 While in Germany Elvis was hospitalised with tonsillitis in October 1959 Despite being an illegal immigrant, photographic evidence shows Colonel Tom Parker traveled to Canada with Elvis in 1957 Elvis strongly believed there weren't enough good songs in King Creole to justify releasing a soundtrack album. RCA initially agreed, releasing two very successful EPs from the movie. A soundtrack LP eventually followed During the 1960s Elvis had his own football team, Elvis Presley Enterprises, which played in the Memphis touch football league. In the 1962 final, EPE narrowly lost to Delta Automatic Transmission, 6-13 In Clambake, (Elvis) Scott Hayward's driving licence shows February 23, 1940...taking 5 years off Elvis' real age In the 1970s Elvis was offered $5m to stage a concert in front of the Pyramids in Egypt. When the Colonel declined the offer, Saudi billionaires raised the offer to $10m
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
