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'High Spirit In Vegas' & 'Getting Down To Business' CDs: For the first time these two concerts will be available under their original titles, but not on CD-R and at the correct speed. High Spirit In Vegas and Getting Down To Business were recorded from the audience but quality was above average for this type of material. Both should be released soon on the Vegas Strip label.

High Spirit In Vegas - Las Vegas, NV September 2, 1973 MS: 1- Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra 1:02 ; 2- C.C. Rider 3:21 ; 3- I Got A Woman / Amen 4:26 ; 4- Love Me 1:40 ; 5- Steamroller Blues 2:48 ; 6- You Gave Me A Mountain 3:11 ; 7- Trouble 2:02 ; 8- Rock Medley : Long Tall Sally/Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On/Mama Don't Dance/Flip Flop And Fly/Hound Dog 2:37 ; 9- Love Me Tender 1:32 ; 10- Fever 2:37 ; 11- Bridge Over Troubled Water ( with reprise ) 5:24 ; 12- Suspicious Minds 4:05 ; 13- Introductions of the band and celebrities : Hugh O' Brian, Marty Allen and Vernon Presley 3:45 ; 14- My Boy 3:24 ; 15- I Can't Stop Loving You 2:18 ; 16- An American Trilogy 4:25 ; 17- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 3:16 ; 18- Mystery Train / Tiger Man 3:12 ; 19- How Great Thou Art 3:38 ; 20- A Big Hunk O' Love 2:08 ; 21- Release Me 2:12 ; 22- What Now My Love 3:08 ; 23- Can't Help Falling In Love / Closing vamp 1:58

Getting Down To Business - Las Vegas, NV August 31, 1973 DS: 1- Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra 1:09 ; 2- C.C. Rider 3:21 ; 3- I Got A Woman / Amen 4:20 ; 4- Love Me 1:32 ; 5- Steamroller Blues 2:46 ; 6- You Gave Me A Mountain 3:09 ; 7- Trouble 2:04 ; 8- Rock Medley : Long Tall Sally/Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin' On/Mama Don’t Dance/Flip Flop And Fly/Hound Dog 2:35 ; 9- Love Me Tender 1:40 ; 10- Fever 3:31 ; 11- Bridge Over Troubled Water 3:57 ; 12- Suspicious Minds 3:52 ; 13- Introductions of band and celebrity : Charlton Heston 2:41 ; 14- My Boy 3:19 ; 15- I Can't Stop Loving You 2:15 ; 16- An American Trilogy 4:01 ; 17- A Big Hunk O' Love 2:30 ; 18- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face ( beginning only ) 0:58 ; 19- How Great Thou Art ( reprise only ) 1:32 ; 20- Can't Help Falling In Love / Closing vamp 2:01 (News, Source: FECC)

SonyBMG provides FREE Elvis music via Internet: SonyBMG, one of the world’s biggest record labels, has made music by its artists free to listen to over the internet. The record label has signed a deal with We7 to stream songs on user’s computers accompanied by a short advert. The new deal will give music fans access to the complete back-catalogues of Elvis Presley and other artists including Michael Jackson, Britney Spears and others.

Speaking to BBC’s Newsbeat, the boss of We7 Steve Purdham, said the deal will give “free music in return for some of your time.”

The new service, which launched on April 28, will build the profiles of its users so that adverts are target specific to each person. Once users have listened to the songs they will also have the option to pay to download the tracks to their computer or MP3 players.

We7 is seen as the latest effort to try and control the growing problem of music piracy, which has seen the sale of traditional recorded formats, such as CDs, decline rapidly over recent years. (News, Source: AP)

Why the lyrics to Hound Dog were changed: Hound Dog" is a twelve-bar blues written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and originally recorded by Willa Mae "Big Mama" Thornton in 1952. Other early versions illustrate the differences among blues, country, and rock and roll in the mid 1950s. The 1956 remake by Elvis Presley is the best known version. This is the version that is #19 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. "Hound Dog" was also recorded by 5 country singers in 1953 alone, and over 26 times through 1964.

Thornton gave this account of how the original was created to Ralph Gleason. “They were just a couple of kids, and they had this song written on the back of a paper bag.” She added a few interjections of her own, played around with the rhythm (some of the choruses have thirteen rather than twelve bars), and had the band bark and howl like hound dogs at the end of the song. In fact, she interacts constantly in a call and response fashion during a one minute long guitar "solo" by Pete Lewis . Her vocals include lines such as: "Aw, listen to that ole hound dog howl.. OOOOoooow", "Now wag your tail", Aw, get it, get it, get it". Thornton's version is a slow, powerful, country blues.

Record producer Bernie Lowe suspected that "Hound Dog" could potentially have greater appeal, and asked Freddie Bell of Freddie Bell and the Bellboys to rewrite the lyrics to appeal to a broader radio audience. "Snoopin' round my door" was replaced with "cryin' all the time", and "You can wag your tail, but I ain't gonna feed you no more" was replaced by "You ain't never caught a rabbit, and you ain't no friend of mine." This new version of "Hound Dog" was recorded on Lowe's Teen Records in 1955 ((TEEN 101 with "Move Me Baby" on the flip side, two of four songs the group did with Lowe that year). The regional popularity of this release, along with the group's showmanship, yielded both a tour, and an engagement in the Las Vegas Sands Hotel's Silver Queen Bar. (News, Source: Wikipedia)

"I went outside but couldn't see anyone until my niece pointed to the slate. I was totally taken aback, absolutely amazed. The image was not there when we put the slate in the garden. I just don't know what to think," she said.

Going on to say that one of her friends has already offered a four figure sum for the slate she said "I don't want to sell it. I look at it every day to see if the image is still there."

Shown a picture life-long Elvis fan Gaynor Thomas of Cardigan said: "I'm not entirely convinced it is Elvis but there is a real likeness."

Currently saving to become one of more than 600,000 people who visit Graceland annually she said: "If it becomes possible I will definitely go and see the slate, and I'm sure very many other Elvis fans would be interested." (Odd Spot, Source: Charmaine Voisine/ John Adey, Tivy-Side Advertiser)

Memphis Mafia members dispute Radford Ellis claim: EIN received the following message from Marty Lacker after yesterday's story about Radford Ellis' claim Vernon Presley offered him a job as Elvis' double:

"Although my memory is still very good, just to be sure and fair I checkerd with Billy,Sonny and Lamar and NONE of us remember anyone by the name of Radford Ellis. Seems like, although he's a bit harmless in his story, Ellis is another bullshitter like Billy Miller.

At least one of the four of us was with Elvis every day during the period Ellis states and he was not a friend of Elvis.

These people come up with their stories because Elvis and in this case Vernon too, is gone but they forget one big thing, we are still here. These people don't understand that we know just about everything Elvis did and who he did it with and who was around. In many instances we knew more than his father, Priscilla and certainly Lisa Marie.

I don't say that to make ourselves important. Fame and a $1.25 will get you on the bus. It doesn't mean anything to us. All we do is state fact and we tell it like it is for a number of reasons. One being that Elvis is too important of a historical icon for false information to be put out there.

First of all, that's the way it should be with anyone. It's a dis-service to Elvis just as it is a dis-service to the millions of worldwide fans. They often complain that they don't know who or what to believe about Elvis,us and all those years and that's one reason we have been sticlers for the truth.

There are a number of things in that story sent in by EP Gold that Ellis stated that are so unlike Elvis to do and I will leave that alone for now.

We just thought your readers should know the truth." (News, Source: Marty Lacker)

Local fans still have vivid memories of brushes with Elvis: In the wonderful world of Elvis Presley fandom, there's always more.

Unflagging interest in all things Elvis means that even 30 years after Presley's death, there are more stories to hear and more images to see. In that sense, the King is definitely not dead.

Two weeks ago, after reading an Associated Press story about newly discovered 1972 Presley concert photos, I shared a picture I have. It shows Presley in the 1950s, when he apparently visited the Dallas radio station KLIF. My late father-in-law David Muhlstein, a radio news director there, is standing right next to Elvis.

Seeing that was all it took to coax a few Herald readers into sharing their personal Presley pictures. I also heard from far-flung Elvis fanatics, who sent theories about my photo. A Danish gentleman, Brian Petersen, is such an Elvis aficionado he believes he can precisely pinpoint the date of my picture -- Aug. 10, 1956. Another e-mail directed me to a message board where Elvis fans guessed at the timing of my photo based on Presley's sideburns.

My goal was to find other candid shots.

Diane Woodall's snapshot may be the fuzziest of the bunch, but the Everett woman has a good story to go with it. Her mother, Arlene Dinsmore, worked at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. She was there while Presley was filming "It Happened at the World's Fair."

Along with the picture her mother took -- Presley flanked by police officers -- Woodall sent a statement her mom wrote about the scene.

Dinsmore wrote that during the time Presley was at the fair, "September Fourth to the 17th, 1962," he was walking to the Seattle Monorail one day with two police officers. "I rushed up to him and grabbed his arm and told him I had two daughters who would like his autograph. He very kindly signed two World's Fair postcards for me," she wrote.

In 1999, Woodall's mother went so far as to have her statement, with the Presley picture attached, signed and stamped by a notary public.

The story behind it may be a riddle, but the photo Mark Hibbert sent looks to be a sharp-looking Elvis posed with a hotel maid -- to me, that maid looks pretty nervous. Hibbert of Marysville said the picture was taken by his late grandmother, Wynn Barry, who was a beautician at Seattle's posh Olympic Hotel.

Describing Barry as quite a character, Hibbert said she lived an elegant life in San Francisco before divorcing and moving here. At the Olympic, she once styled the hair of opera star Maria Callas, among other famous clients. During the Seattle filming of "Cinderella Liberty," Hibbert said, his grandmother landed his brother, Scott, a role as an extra in the 1973 James Caan movie.

About the Presley photo, though, Hibbert is short on details. Searching the Internet, where Elvis Web sites trace an almost day-by-day history of Presley's life, I could find no mention of him being in Seattle in 1966 -- the year marked on the photo's border. Along with his 1962 World's Fair visit, Presley sang at the old Sicks Stadium and in Tacoma on Sept. 1, 1957. HistoryLink.org, an online encyclopedia of Washington state, puts Presley in Vancouver, B.C., and in Spokane on Aug. 31, 1957.

Perhaps Elvis made an unreported Seattle visit, or Hibbert's grandmother photographed him on her travels elsewhere. "If my grandmother saw Elvis, she would have pinned him down," said Hibbert, who runs a Marysville music studio, Whiskey Ridge Recording.

In the mid-1960s, Hibbert played bass guitar in a successful local band, Axis Drive. The band was a regular at Seattle's Warehouse Tavern, and once backed up Bobby Sherman. It was hardly Elvis fever, but Hibbert recalls girls throwing jelly beans at the band.

Retired KJR disc jockey Danny Holiday, who lives near Stanwood, sent me a picture of Presley taken with Holiday's mentor and close friend, Red Robinson.

Taken at Vancouver's Empire Stadium on Aug. 31, 1957, the day before Presley played Seattle, it shows a 22-year-old Elvis with Robinson, then 20. Robinson, who emceed the Vancouver concert and is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is still heard on Vancouver's CLEAR-FM, 104.9, every Saturday night.

A half-century ago, Holiday said he went with his parents to Vancouver to see Elvis. "The Vancouver show only lasted 20 minutes because the crowd rushed the stage," Holiday said.

In the summer of '57, Presley's "Teddy Bear" had been a No. 1 hit. With the smoldering look of a star at his peak, Presley posed with the fresh-faced Robinson while holding a cute prop, a plush toy bear.

"Red still has the bear wrapped in plastic," Holiday said. (News, Source: Julie Muhlstein, Herald Columnist / www.epgold.com)

Retiring CBI boss got car from Elvis: Bob Cantwell, director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, has announced his retirement, ending a 44-year law enforcement career that brought him into close contact with two of the most famous figures of the 20th century.

Cantwell, who has been CBI director since July 1, 1999, was working for the Denver Police Department in 1976 when he befriended Elvis Presley on a moonlighting job and was given a Cadillac by the singer.

He was one of three officers the singer gave a luxury car.

Cantwell was still with Denver when he was assigned to a security detail for Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother Teresa in Estes Park in the late 1980s. Cantwell worked with the Colorado Department of Corrections before he was named to the CBI post.

He expects to leave the CBI in late May or early June.

"I've grown up with law enforcement," he said this week. "I love it. I just love helping people."

Cantwell, who's turning 65, isn't sure what he will do when he retires.

He's had some job offers, he said, and he's thought about working cold cases or finding a ghost writer to help him write a book about his career. But he's not worried about what he will do next.

"When God shuts one door, he opens another," said the graduate of Metropolitan State College and the FBI National Academy.

Cantwell's successor will be selected through a competitive process. Peter Weir, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety, will make the final selection. The job pays $11,073 to $11,859 a month. (News, Source: Marilyn Robinson: www.rockymountainnews.com /www.epgold.com)

In 1972 during a 2am conversation with Harold Lloyd, Elvis' first cousin, at the Graceland guard house, the phone rang. It was Elvis. Radford was then invited to come to the house and show off his customized motorcycle. After looking at the bike, Elvis asked if he could take it for a ride. A few minutes later Elvis returned and a friendship began that lasted until Elvis' untimely death in 1977.

Radford saw Elvis perform live 3 times and was personally invited to many parties and get togethers at Graceland and the Memphian Theatre, many of which included Christmas and New Year's Eve parties. Elvis gave Radford a rawhide fringe jacket and a TCB necklace that he removed from around his own neck. These things are still in his posession to this day.

It was at one of the many parties at Graceland that Radford performed Elvis for Elvis. It was at this time that Vernon Presley offered him a job as Elvis' double. Radford was to be a decoy for Elvis after concerts. The job would have included leaving the arena dressed as Elvis, getting into a limo and driving to the airport and/or the hotel to divert an onslaught of fans while Elvis safely left the building. Due to a conflict with his 1st wife, Radford turned down the job.

In 1973 or 1974 while Elvis returned from riding a big black horse named "Sombitch" (a name recieved after throwing Elvis), he gave Radford the nickname "Chief," a nickname he still uses to this day.

After Elvis' death in '77, Radford stopped doing his tribute to Elvis out of respect for his friend and to persue his own musical career. Radford fronted many bands in the late 70's and 80's including The Diamond Steel Band which achieved much success in the southeast region of the US.

He also worked with producer, Fred Morris in Nashville, on a solo career. While performing for audiences throughout the country Radford has often been asked to perform Elvis songs. He reminded so many people of Elvis that requests started pouring in for him to perform an Elvis tribute. So after much thought and consideration, Radford Ellis put together "Thanks For The Memories" as a tribute to Elvis' fans and a personal message to an old friend.

Even though Elvis has long since "left the building," Radford will hold these memories and the private conversations with Elvis very deep in his heart and soul. So when you see a Radford Ellis show, you are not watching the usual impersonator or tribute artist, you are watching a friend say "Thanks For The Memories." (News, http://members.tripod.com/~radfordellis/bio.html /EP Gold)

"He Touched Me Radio Special" CDR promo: This is the first issue of the He Touched Me Radio Special. (News, Source: Barry McLean)

Original Album Classics: Due for release from SONY / BMG on July 16, 2008 is the five CD budget set "Original Album Classics". (News, Source: Elvis News)

Chart update: On the US Billboard chart the "ELV1S 30 #1 Hits: remains #1 on the Top Country Catalog Charts for the 4rd week in a row. The album is #14 on the Top Pop Catalog charts (last week #12) and on the Billboard Comprehensive Albums Chart is is listed at #130 (last week # 122).

On the Swedish Singles Top 60 DJ Spankox Re: Version of "Baby Let's Play House" climbs to #27 in it's fourth week on the chart. On the Mid-price Albums chart "The Essential Elvis Presley" drops from #6 to #9 while the "ELV1S 30 #1 Hits" compilation fell off the list. The compilation DVD "The King Of Rock And Roll" drops from #4 to #10 on the Music DVD Top 20.

In The Netherlands "ELV1S 30 #1 Hits" climbed to #25 on the Back-catalogue Chart. (News, Source: Elvis News)

More feedback on Elvis visiting London: EIN asked the person with Elvis during his time in Germany, Lamar Fike, for a comment on the claim Elvis secretly visited London. Succinctly, Lamar replied:

The only time Elvis was given permission to leave Germany during his service was when he was allowed to make a trip to Paris. He hired a limo to take him and the guys in his entourage, there and back. With him were:- Red West, Lamar Fike and great army buddy, Rex Mansfield. Check out Rex`s excellent book `Sergeant Presley` co-written with his wife Elisabeth, who also worked as Elvis`s live-in secretary in the house in Bad Nauheim during those years. (No mention in the book of a `London trip`.)

On the Paris trip they did get to meet some Brits....a troupe of English dancing girls from a Paris nightclub they went to, who spent an evening with the guys in El`s hotel suite playing scrabble and discussing Parisian architecure. Then of course, there was his stopover in Prestwick on the way back to the USA and demobilisation.

But that was the total sum of Elvis`s `extra-Germanic` activities to foreign countries. Period!

Also, no way would he have gone to London on his own! At the very least Red & Lamar would have gone too. They were at his side for all `off-base` actvities, plus Rex also. They even had two fist-fights in Paris with guys pissed off at their `gals` being more in love with The King than them.

And yet no-one recogised the most famous face on the planet...flying to and from London...on his own........ in 1958?
Yes..of course!

Finally why would this still be such a state- secret...in 2008? (The CIA might assasinate Tommy?) If it happened, why not confirm it, instead of mysterious talk of pledges of silence. You can tell from Steele`s response that he doesn`t want to call his mate a liar in print, or actually confirm it, otherwise he`d be going along with the fantasy, so he`s masked it all in press double-speak, which actually, speaks volumes! Kenwright should go into business with Jeffrey Archer.

PS: Tommy has also mentioned in the past, that he saw Buddy Holly & The Crickets playing live in Norfolk Viginia, when he was out there as a Merchant seaman. He recalls they sang `Not Fade Away`.A few things to ponder in relation to this:- Steele was out of the MN and doing his first stint at the 2-I`s by July 1956. At that time there were no `Crickets`, Holly was still trying to get something away in Nashville..and `Not Fade Away` was a year off.

"Elvis On Tour" DVD release discussion: The FECC board posted a number of interesting messages about Elvis On Tour, the only Elvis film yet to be officially released on DVD:

Ricky: During Elvis Week last summer, I asked Tom Brown of Turner Movies the same question.. He claimed it will come out, although he couldn't say exactly when. He went on to say that he had the movie poster from EOT hanging on the back of his office door as a daily reminder. I was further disappointed when he stated he wasn't aware of the this particular messageboard. I pointed out, he should read some of the opinions of those more knowlegible of Elvis than the average fan on say...Elvis Insiders. No one wants this more than me, since I was at the 4/9/72 evening show. I always state to folks, that as an extra in the film, I ended up on the cutting room floor.....unless.....an outtake exists!

Pourlemoment: I think we should start a letter campaign asking, begging, pleading with Turner for this release! If they get enough mail maybe they'll get around to it. In fact we should campaign for complete TTWII AND EOT official releases.(meaning every single inch of footage, every single minute of sound!)

Contact Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. at the following address:

One CNN Center
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Everybody to your pen and paper (or is that too archaic?)......Sylvie

New iTunes Elvis releases + CD release "True Love": Due for release on the Pagasus label on June 9, 2008 is the budget compilation "True Love".

On iTunes two new albums were released by Bluebird Music (see photos opposite), although the release date states January 1, 2008, these twenty tracks virtual albums just popped up in the results. (News, Source: Elvis News)

ELVIS A LEGENDARY PERFORMER - TALKING AND MORE I: A new part of the A Legendary Peformer series - "Talking And More I". The release of this CD with 18 tracks will be next week. Tracklisting:

1. Elvis At NBC (Steve binder, Alan Blye and Chris Beard talking with Elvis about the live segment for the NBC TV Special) 2. Elvis As The One Called Charro! (radio movie spots) 3. Elvis In Texas (interview, Odessa, Texas, 1960) 4. Back On Stage (Las Vegas show excerpts, 1969) 5. The Sweet Inspirations (show excerpts, 1974-1977) 6. Strung Out - Remix (remix of Elvis telling the audience that he is absolutely pissed of by the head-lines and stories from the tabloid press) 7. The Elvis Hour Ed Parker (radio program) 8. 'The Exorcist' Girl (recorded on tour) 9. High School Interview (1956) 10. To Whom It May Concern (radio program with Lisa Marie Presley - Lisa talks about her debut album) 11. A Billboard Presentation (1956) 12. Jingle All The Way (recorded in Las Vegas) 13. With Elvis On Stage - The Story ('After season' interview with John Wilkinson) 14. The Show Taht Never Was (radio spot for the Elvis show, August 20,. 1977) 15. New Years Eve 1975 (Elvis speaks about the show) 16. Germany, March 1959 (Dick Clark calls Elvis) 17. Germany, August 1959 (Dick Clark calls Elvis) 18. Happy Birthday Elvis! January 8, 1960 (Dick Clark calls Elvis) Pre-order Now: 17,95 Euro plus postage from EP Gold

Elvis 2nd in UK hero poll: A new poll of people under 25 conducted by Sky.com found that the singer was rated above Princess Diana in the top heroine category.

Babyshambles singer/guitarist Pete Doherty was voted the second most popular male hero, behind footballer Stephen Gerrard.

Psychologist Donna Dawson told PA that Winehouse may have topped the poll because she "seems to portray a certain sense of vulnerability or having had to fight against some adversity in their lives".

Among the general population, with categories not restricted by gender or age, Winston Churchill was voted top hero figure. Elvis Presley came second. (News, Source: NME /Elvis News)

Marty Lacker comments on claim Elvis toured London with Tommy Steele (see story yesterday): Tommy Steele's claim that Elvis contacted him and spent a day in London with him is total bullshit.

It seems Steele is just another person who has come out of the woodwork since Elvis died that has made false claims about themselves and Elvis. They think because he's gone they can get away with it but they forget the that we, the original guys who were close to him for 20 years and more, are still here. At least one of us and most times more, were with him just about everyday for all that time. Many days 24/7. We know what he did and who he did it with. Tommy Steele was never with Elvis in London because Elvis was never in London. The only time Elvis was in any part of Great Britain is when his army plane made a brief landing to refuel in Prestwick, Scotland on his way home from the army in Germany.

Who Steele did meet is Lamar Fike, who says that he went to London back then while he was in Germany with Elvis. He went with a couple of guys and met Steele as part of a group. He spent a few hours with him and the others but he never went to Parliment as Steele claims or any other sightseeing tour with him.

Hope that sets the record straight for people.

Steele went to work at the Hilton — then the International Hotel — as a photographer in 1970. Streisand was the headliner at the International when it opened in 1969, but then it was Elvis.

“He would do two shows a night, seven nights a week, for four weeks,” Steele says. “I don’t know how he did it, but that’s how all the entertainers used to do here. They never had a day off.”

She lost track of how many times she saw Elvis. She would attend his shows even if she had to pay for them. She often joined members of the public who were invited to his suite.

“It was the only way he could meet normal people,” Steele says. “They would just invite people up to his rooms. Music would be playing. He’d sometimes demonstrate his karate kicks. He’d chitchat with everyone, mingle with the little groups of people who were all around the suite. He was such a gentleman to me. It breaks my heart that things happened the way they did.”

It wasn’t unusual for her to bump into Priscilla Presley and their daughter, Lisa Marie. “The last time I saw Lisa Marie was in the showroom. She was about 6 years old. A gorgeous child.”

When Steele arrived from South Carolina in 1964, she worked in data processing at the Nevada Test Site. “A bus would pick up employees in the morning and take us home in the evening. It was 180 miles round-trip, an hour and a half each way.”

She lived in the Naked City neighborhood near South Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue. In those days it was a trendy part of town where showgirls lived and sunbathed by the pools, hence its nickname. “I never saw anyone naked, but they did have awfully tiny little bikinis.”

She married Charlie Steele, music teacher by day and drummer in relief bands in the casinos by night, and they moved to different parts of town. “I loved Las Vegas back then. You could go anywhere in 15 or 20 minutes.”

After her job at the test site ended, she went to work taking pictures in the Hilton’s showroom and lounges. “I was really shy. I had the hardest time walking up to people and asking them if they wanted their picture taken.”

She moved back to South Carolina for four years but returned to Las Vegas and worked at Saks Fifth Avenue when the Fashion Show Mall opened in 1981. She returned to the Hilton to work in the accounting department.

“When I left, Siegfried & Roy were a small part of ‘The Lido’ show at the Stardust. When I came back, they had a show of their own.”

“I always wanted to live where people wore long gowns and gloves and fixed their hair,” she says. “When I first moved here, that’s what you did. You dressed up.” (News, Source: Jery Fink, Las Vegas Sun)

Elvis event in Italy: Thanks to Dennis Skopaz for the following message about Elvis 2008 in Italy:

I wanted to inform you that the venue for the Elvis 2008 Original Cast will be the Conservatory of Music of Milan. Elvis goes Classic! all information available in english language at www.onenightwithelvis.it

Netherlands chart update: In the Netherlands the "ELV1S 30 #1 Hits" compilation still sells. It climbs from #34 to #25 on the Back-catalogue Top 50 chart. (News, Source: Elvis News)

Did Elvis visit London?: If we are to believe (and EIN doesn't) various forum and website postings, Tommy Steele's current manager, Bill Kenwright, claims Elvis contacted the British rock 'n' roller while The King was in Germany and subsequently spent a day with him touring the sights of London. To EIN it sounds like some clever pr to reignite Tommy Steele's career. Two reports from UK media say:

For 50 years, English fans believed that the charming Elvis Presley never kept his foot on their land. But according to reports, the king of rock 'n roll did pay a secret visit to Great Britain. It has been believed that Presley's visit to Scotland was his sole trip in the UK.

But according to theatre tycoon Bill Kenwright, Elvis, then 23, visited his pal Tommy Steele in 1958. "Elvis flew in for a day and Tommy showed him round London. He showed him the Houses of Parliament and spent the day with him," The Sun quoted him, as saying.

Entertainer Tommy, 71 - regarded in the 50s as the UK's answer to Elvis - said: "It was two young men sharing the same love of their music."

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Mainly the files relate to the big truths about Elvis, how he's still alive, how he worked for both the CIA and the Mafia and how his plans for a chain of Heartbreak Hotels were scuppered by a lawsuit from Trust House Forte. There is one folder, however, that has particular pertinence this morning, the folder marked Elvis in Britain.

For the past 48 years the received wisdom has been that Elvis only set foot in the UK once, stopping at Prestwick airport on his way home from army service in Germany in 1960. He never left the airport, but told the locals he encountered: "This is quite a country. I must see more of it." He never did.

Or so the story goes, at least. For yesterday on Ken Bruce's Radio 2 programme The Tracks of my Years, a shadowy account emerged of an alternate history, one in which Elvis made another trip to the UK two years previously. A trip to London in fact, where he was escorted round the capital by Tommy Steele, the bloke who sang Little White Bull.

The story was revealed by Bill Kenwright, theatre impresario and chairman of Everton football club, and despite knowing that his mate Tommy doesn't like to talk about it, he didn't half go on at length.

"I remember him telling me about when Elvis came to England very quietly", Kenwright I-wanna-tell-you-a-storied.

"Evidently Tommy got home one night and the phone rings. A voice says, 'They tell me you're good.'

'Elvis' says the voice. 'Get outta here', says Tommy. 'Are you as good as me?' says Elvis ... and they started this mock rivalry.

"It all came from that. It's quite something isn't it - the thought of them wandering around London together? But the impression I got was that they never got out of the car."

So not quite the missing link between Elvis, Marilyn and the moon landings then, but it's enough to persuade the Daily Mail to turn over their page three to the tale, and send some hack to Woking's New Victoria theatre, where Steele is currently appearing in Doctor Dolittle, to ask the 71-year-old about his secret past.

In a written note to the paper, presumably slipped under a door after five hours of haranguing, Steele revealed his disquiet at the revelation: "It was an event shared by two young men sharing the same love of their music and the same thrill of achieving something unimaginable.

"I swore never to divulge what took place and I regret that it has found some way of 'getting into the light'. I can only hope he can forgive me."

What do you mean, "can"? In the present tense? You don't mean to say ... He couldn't possibly ... Someone call the CIA! (Source: Paul MacInnes, Guardian UK)

Ed Bonja discovers 70 previously unpublished Elvis photos: Elvis Presley's official stage photographer Ed Bonja was going thru his thousands of prints this week, and discovered SEVENTY (70!) shots of Elvis that have never been seen or printed before. "It was truly amazing", Ed told us on the phone. "I hadn't seen that part of my archive in years, and all of a sudden - there they were." It's unclear yet as to how Ed will share the prints with the fans. (News, Source: Elvis Matters)

USA chart update: Elvis 30 #1 Hits is #1 on the Top Country Catalog Charts for the 3rd week in 2008. At the same time the album is number 12 on the Top Pop Catalog charts (last week number 15) and on the Billboard Comprehensive Albums list, #122 (last week # 140). No Elvis DVD's charted this week on Billboard. (News, Source: Elvis For Everyone/Elvis Gold)

ELVIS PRESLEY - THREE BRITISH KTEL ALBUMS ON CD - RARE!!!: These great CDs are very rare. Many UK fans were virtually raised on these LPs, and now you can obtain them on three great CDs. The CDs are very impressive - in black vinyl. They look exactly like the original records, only in CD form. The CDs even have grooves! These are the real deal, not CD-Rs. The packaging is also just like the original. High quality in thick, laminated card.

These CDs are only sold as a set (as seen) and NOT individually. Remember, you are buying all three titles

CD 1 - THE ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE (1981): Introductory Fanfare (2001) / See See Rider / Blue Suede Shoes / Johnny B. Goode / Are You Lonesome Tonight? / Never Been To Spain / You Don't Have To Say You Love Me / The Impossible Dream / Band Introductions / An American Trilogy / In The Ghetto / Suspicious Minds / Love Me / Burning Love / Words / Polk Salad Annie / I Can't Stop Loving You / Can't Help Falling In Love.

CD 2 - LOVE SONGS (1979): It's Now Or Never / She's Not You / Love Letters / Anything That's Part Of You / Surrender / Kentucky Rain / Suspicious Minds / You Don't Have To Say You Love Me / I Just Can't Help Believing / The Wonder Of You / Can't Help Falling In Love / Always On My Mind / Love Me Tender / Loving You / I Want, You, I Need You, I Love You / Wooden Heart / Are You Lonesome Tonight? / Just Pretend / Until It's Time For You To Go / Memories.

CD 3 - INSPIRATIONS (1980): Crying In The Chapel / It's No Secret (What God Can Do) / A Thing Called Love / Bosom Of Abraham / In My Father's House / An Evening Prayer / Amazing Grace / How Great Thou Art / Lead Me, Guide Me / The Impossible Dream / (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me) / I'm Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs / I Believe In The Man In The Sky / Mansion Over The Hilltop / Padre / Where Could I Go But To The Lord? / He Is My Everything / Somebody Bigger Than You And I / He Touched Me / Known Only To Him. (News, Source: EP Gold/Amber Smith)

Among the highlights are powerful performances of "Polk Salad Annie", "America The Beautiful", "Burning Love", "Just Pretend" , while on Opening Night we have "It’s Midnight,” performed with absolute show-stopping brilliance and the rare version of “You’ve Lost the Love Feeling” and “ My Boy”.

The packaging will come with a 12 page booklet professionally edited, picture disc, relevant liner notes, original memorabilia and more than 15 photographs covering practically all of the seasons jumpsuits. These are two great shows... the package, the 79,52 minutes of superb music give us definitely something unique We Hope The Definitive one in reference to Elvis’ December 1975 Vegas Season. Don’t miss it!!!! CD Total Time 79.52 min.

December 06, 1975 MS Show: Tracklist: 01.2001 Theme; 1:08 02.C. C Rider; 3:25 03.I Got A Woman/Amen; 7:02 04. Love Me; 3:45 05. Fairytale; 4:41 06. And I Love You So; 4:09 07.All Shook Up; 1:00 08. Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel; 2:15 09. Hound Dog; 2:07 10. Happy Birthday; 0:37 11.Polk Salad Annie; 4:44 12. Introductions; 1:08 13.Johnny B. Good; 0:56 14.Drums Solo; 1:27 15.Bass Solo; 1:14 16. Piano Solo; 1:41 17. Hail, Hail Rock 'n' Roll; 1:02 18. Just Pretend; 3:57 19.How Great Thou Art; 3:02 20. Burning Love; 2:44 21.Softly As I Leave You; 2:44 22. America the Beautiful; 2:26 23. It's Now or Never; 3:07 24.Can't Help Falling in Love; 1:57 TIME 62:30

December 02, 1975 OP Show: 25. Big Boss Man; 2:52 26.It's Midnight; 3:23 27. Early Morning Rain; 2:52 28.You've Lost the Loving Feeling; 4:17 29: My Boy; 3:56 TIME 17:52 (News, Source: FECC)

Dancing With The Stars spoiler - Priscilla eliminated!: Despite committing to the cause and calming her nerves each week with yoga and candles, Priscilla Presley became the latest celebrity casualty Tuesday on "Dancing With the Stars."

The 62-year-old actress, who came into the results show in last place, failed to capture enough viewer votes to overcome her low score. Judges said her rumba was dull and technically imprecise, awarding her just 21 out of 30 points.

"It lacked spontaneity for me," said head judge Len Goodman. "It was too careful. I was disappointed with the performance."

Online Elvis novel - "Pure Elvis": Following in the tradition of the original online serialised Elvis novel (from the late 1990s), The Strange Case of the Lost Elvis Diaries, comes Stefano Boscutti's online novel, Buscotti's Pure Elvis. The storyline revolves around the crazed weekend when Elvis decided to visit President Richard Nixon in search of a Federal Drug Enforcement Agent badge. A new chapter is posted each day. (News, Source: Chris Bamford)

ELVIS PRESLEY - 40 GREATEST HITS ON 2 CD - RARE!: EP Gold advises: This great double CD is very rare. Many fans were virtually raised on this double LP, and now you can obtain it on two great CDs.

The CDs are very impressive - in black vinyl. They look exactly like the original records, only in CD form. The CDs even have grooves!

The tracks have been digitally cleaned and remastered, and they sound incredible. The packaging is also just like the original. High quality in thick, laminated card.

CD 1: My Baby Left Me / Heartbreak Hotel / Blue Suede Shoes / Hound Dog / Love Me Tender / Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do / Teddy Bear / Party / All Shook Up / Old Shep / Don't / Hard Headed Woman / King Creole / Jailhouse Rock / Big Hunk O' Love / I Got Stung / One Night / A Fool Such As I / I Need Your Love Tonight / Stuck On You

CD 2: Surrender / His Latest Flame / Rock-A-Hula Baby /Fever / It's Now Or Never / Are You Lonesome Tonight / Wooden Heart / Wild In The Country / There's Always Me / Can't Help Falling In Love / Good Luck Charm / She's Not You / Return To Sender / Devil In Disguise / Crying In The Chapel / Guitar Man / In The Ghetto / Suspicious Minds / There Goes My Everything / Don't Cry Daddy

Upcoming Highlights for SIRIUS Radio:

Tuesday 8 April 2008

'Royal Gambit In Richfield' - New Import CD: As recorded live at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio; October 23, 1976. The "Straight Arrow" label is proud to announce the release of a new CD this April entitled "ROYAL GAMBIT IN RICHFIELD." It’s our first release of a 1976 show and this particular concert has been selected for several reasons.
Elvis' autumn and winter '76 bicentennial tours were rather good, compared to the often miserable summer '76 personal appearances. The 41-year old King was looking better and actually singing with interest and passion again. The October 23rd Richfield concert (a village about halfway between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio) was probably the longest and best of the tour, running for a generous 80 minutes.
Finally, the audio-quality of the recording is really stunning, especially considering the fact that it was taped from the audience in a large stadium. Producers were able to obtain an ORIGINAL TAPE recorded by the same person that taped the Johnson City and Orlando 1977 concerts released by STRAIGHT ARROW in 2006 as "TENNESSEE STARLIGHT" and "GOING BACK IN TIME", respectively. Among the Richfield highlights are powerful performances of "And I Love You So", "America", "Hurt", "Heartbreak Hotel" and especially "How Great Thou Art," performed with absolute show-stopping brilliance. It is followed by an always-welcome, return-to-the roots medley of "Mystery Train / Tiger Man." (EIN agrees that this is one of the best pre-December concerts in 1976)

Includes a deluxe, full-colour, 16-page booklet with approximately 30 photos from the actual show, taken by four different photographers.
Tracklist: 1. Also Sprach Zarathustra - 2. Opening Vamp / C. C. Rider - 3. I Got A Woman / Amen (medley) - 4. Love Me - 5. Fairytale - 6. You Gave Me A Mountain - 7. Jailhouse Rock - 8. All Shook Up - 9. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel (medley) - 10. And I Love You So - 11. Little Darlin' (excerpt / intro only) - 12. Fever - 13. America The Beautiful - 14. Polk Salad Annie - 15. Band Introductions - 16. Early Mornin' Rain - 17. What'd I Say - 18. Johnny B. Goode - 19. Drum Solo (by Ronnie Tutt) - 20. Bass Solo (Blues - by Jerry Scheff) - 21. Piano Solo (by Tony Brown) - 22. Electric Piano Solo (by David Briggs) - 23. Love Letters - 24. School Day - 25. Hurt (with last part reprise) - 26. Hound Dog - 27. Danny Boy (by Sherrill Nielsen) - 28. Walk With Me (by Sherrill Nielsen) - 29. Heartbreak Hotel - 30. How Great Thou Art - 31. Mystery Train / Tiger Man (medley) - 32. Can't Help Falling In Love - 33. Closing Vamp & Announcements. Approximate running time: 79:50 ( News, Source;StraightArrow)

Joseph Pirzada (MRS) talks to EIN - Part 2: - - Readers Feedback added to yesterday's controversial interview.

"Opening Night - January 1970" new import CD release: The Madison label will release the CD "Opening Night - January 1970" very soon. This CD contains a soundboard recording of the January 26, 1970 opening show. It comes with a professionally designed 16-page booklet, liner notes, memorabilia and photographs from Elvis' second Las Vegas season. This show of course has been released on bootleg previously, however this upgrade promises to sound ever better. From the publicity:
The soundboard recording of the January 26, 1970 opening show was overall of poor quality because of severe microphone overload. It ain't perfect but NOW, and for the first time you will be able to enjoy this great concert in its entirety. This excellent new source has been greatly improved into a surprisingly fuller, dynamic and warmer sound, and without any doubts the best-ever sound fidelity attained on this amazing opening show of January 1970.
This limited edition of "Opening Show - January 1970" will come with a professionally designed 16-page booklet, liner notes, memorabilia and photographs from Elvis' second Las Vegas season. Don't miss out soon a remarkable concert and Closing Night - February 1970's perfect companion, Opening Night - January 1970.
Tracklist: 1- Opening /All Shook Up, 2- That's All Right, 3- Proud Mary, 4- Don't Cry Daddy, 5- Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel, 6- Long Tall Sally, 7- Let It Be Me, 8- I Can't Stop Loving You, 9- Walk A Mile In My Shoes, 10- In The Ghetto, 11- True Love Travels On A Gravel Road (with false start), 12- Sweet Caroline, 13- Polk Salad Annie, 14- Introductions, 15- Kentucky Rain, 16- Suspicious Minds, 17- Can't Help Falling In Love. (Track 17 is previously unreleased in full.) (News, Source Madison)

Priscilla 'Dancing With The Stars' Week 4. Featuring Priscilla & her partner Louis Van Amstel doing the Viennese Waltz. She dances to Aretha Franklin's classic 'Do Right Woman' - and you even get to see her on roller-skates! Click here to see her US TV performance on Week 4

(News, Source:EIN/Sanja Meegin)

Learn To Play Elvis With Scotty Moore And DJ Fontana: Elvis' original band mates, DJ Fontana and Scotty Moore, will have videos up tomorrow showing you how to play five of the King's classics including "Jailhouse Rock", "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Hound Dog" on the iVideosongs website. From the press release:
iVideosongs is a new site that teaches viewers how to play songs completely and accurately. The cool thing about the site is that they have licensed full rights to its songs, so fans can be assured that they are learning the complete and accurate version of "Don't Be Cruel" - just as it was written by Elvis. Many of the songs are taught by the original artists with color commentary, are shot in high-def and once downloaded, can be placed on devices such as iPods, iPhones and more. Go here for more information.

(News, Source; ElvisNews/ivideosongs.com)

Elvis, Sinatra, Speilberg’s Super Agent McElwaine passes: A service for Hollywood executive Guy McElwaine, who passed away on April 2 after a 2 month illness, was held on Saturday in Westwood. McElwaine wore many hats which included being a publicist at MGM, the head of ICM’s film division, head of production for Ray Stark, Columbia and Morgan Creek. Born in Southern California, McElwaine aspired to become a professional baseball player, but had to give up that quest when he hurt his arm. McElwaine’s brilliant business sense, and his charming character were his stock and trade, and he utilized those skills to a successful 50 year career.
His family, which included his daughters Dawn and Alexandra, were at his bedside when he passed away. McElwaine had lived life in a large way. He had been married at least nine times. He became one of the guards of the old Hollywood, having been associated with people such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and as Steven Spielberg’s first agent. Guy McElwaine was 71. (News, Source;SanjaMeegin)

"Elvis Sings" new import compile CD: A double CD collection of themed Elvis tunes called "Elvis Sings…" is to be released by the new label 'Inspiration.' It's always amazes me man, what concepts people come up with! With 57 songs in total, includes two "English songs"!
From the press release:
Elvis sings… Beatles songs, Hawaiian songs and even Beethoven…??? Surprised? Besides recording songs that were written for him Elvis’ Elvis also covered many songs that were originally written and recorded by some of the biggest names in the entertainment field and at the same time some of the best songwriters in the world. Among them are names from different music genres like Arthur Crudup, Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison from The Beatles, Kris Kristofferson and of course some of Little Richard’s songs. Little Richard didn’t write the songs himself, but he influenced the writer and made the songs his own. Just listen to the four Little Richard songs Elvis covered and you won’t be in any doubt who Elvis is trying to sound like.

Elvis also recorded quite a few songs that were built on old European or Hawaiian melodies or songs. Some even became classics like "It’s Now Or Never", "Wooden Heart", "Can’t Help Falling In Love", "Surrender" and "My Way".
The Inspiration label decided to include studio, live, rehearsal and even home recordings to make this compilation as complete as possible.
The first CD contains the cover songs. The second CD starts with the only known recording of Elvis singing bass in a trio to the tune of Beethoven’s "Moonlight Sonata". An informal home recording that wouldn’t make sense to release to the wide public, but a charming pearl for music lovers. What follows are the four musical songs that Elvis sang during his career. Only two of them were released during his lifetime. The first two are home recordings of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s "If I Loved You from the musical Carousel and Make Believe from the musical Showboat. Then follows You’ll Never Walk Alone" from the musical "Carousel" also by Rodgers and Hammerstein and the last one in the musical genre is a live recording of "The Impossible Dream" from "The Man Of La Mancha". The remainder of CD 2 contains all the French, Italian, Spanish, German, Hawaiian and English songs that Elvis recorded. Some of them he sings like they originally were written and some were rewritten with English lyrics. In the situations were the lyrics were changed we have mentioned the original title right after the English title.
Elvis Sings… brings you for the first time ever a collection of all these recordings by Elvis Presley. We hope that you will enjoy Elvis Sings…!
Tracklisting: CD 1:
Arthur Crudup songs: [01] That’s All Right [02] My Baby Left Me [03] So Glad You’re Mine
Bill Monroe songs: [04] Blue Moon Of Kentucky [05] Little Cabin On The Hill (Million Dollar Quartet) [06] Summertime Is Past And Gone (Million Dollar Quartet) [07] I Hear A Sweet Voice Calling (Million Dollar Quartet) [08] Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong (Million Dollar Quartet)
Hank Williams songs: [09] Your Cheatin’ Heart [10] I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry (Home recording) [11] I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry (Live) [12] Men With Broken Hearts (Live) [13] Jambalaya (Live)
Little Richard songs: [14] Rip It Up [15] Ready Teddy [16] Long Tall Sally [17] Tutti Frutti
Chuck Berry songs: [18] Maybellene (Live) [19] Brown Eyed Handsome Man (Million Dollar Quartet) [20] Memphis Tennessee [21] Too Much Monkey Business [22] Johnny B. Goode (Live) [23] Promised Land [24] School Days (Live)
Ray Charles songs: [25] I Got A Woman [26] What’d I Say
Bob Dylan songs: [27] Blowing In The Wind (Home recording) [28] Tomorrow Is A Long Time [29] Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right [30] I Shall Be Released
Beatles songs: [31] Something (Live) [32] Hey Jude [33] Get Back [34] Yesterday (Live) [35] Lady Madonna
Kris Kristofferson songs: [36] Help Me Make It Through The Night [37] For The Good Times [38] Why Me Lord (Live)
CD 2: Beethoven Composition [01] Moonlight Sonata (For piano, C-sharp-minor, opus 27 no. 2) (Home recording)
Musical songs: [02] If I Loved You (From Carousel) (Home recording) [03] Make Believe (From Showboat) (Home recording) [04] You’ll Never Walk Alone (From Carousel) [05] The Impossible Dream (From The Man Of La Mancha) (Live)
French songs: [06] Almost Always True (Alouette) [07] Can’t Help Falling In Love (Plaisir d’Amour) [08] Let It Be Me (Je T’Appartiens) (Live) [09] My Way (Comme d’ Habitude) (Live) [10] My Boy (Parce Que Je T’Aime Mon Enfant)
[11] What Now My Love (Et Maintenent) (Live)
Italian songs: [12] Surrender (Torna A Sorrento) [13] No More (La Poloma) [14] Ask Me (Io) [15] Santa Lucia [16] O Solo Mio (Live) [17] It’s Now Or Never (O Solo Mio)
Spanish songs: [18] Guadalajara [19] Alla’ en el Rancho Grande [20] It’s Impossible (Somos Novios) (Live)
German songs; [21] Wooden Heart (Muss I denn) [22] Tonight Is So Right For Love (Barcarolle) [23] Tonight Is All Right For Love (Geschichten Aus den Weinerwald) [24] Five Sleepy Heads (Wiegendlied)
Hawaiian songs: [25] Aloha Oe [26] Drums Of The Island (Bula Lai) [27] Hawaiian Wedding Song (Ke Kali Nei Au)
English songs: [28] Old McDonald [29] Stay Away (Greensleeves)
(News, Source: Email)

Monday 7 April 2008

Joseph Pirzada (MRS) talks to EIN - Part 2: In July 2007 EIN published what turned out to be one of our most controversial interviews ever...with Joseph Pirzada, the man behind the Memphis Recording Service (MRS) organisation. In the past few years MRS has released some of the best ever audio-visual and photo journal Elvis releases including MRS Volumes 1 & 2; Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley; and The Complete New York Sessions.

FINALLY...here is the concluding part to Joseph's controversial interview.

Read the interview

In part 1 of his interview with EIN Joseph took aim at a number of Elvis world identities and really stirred things up with his comments on a number of issues. To say the response from readers was very polarised is an understatement! While many fans applauded the quality releases from MRS a number of other fans found fault with how they perceived MRS had obtained parts of its material for the releases.

In the concluding part to his interview Joseph again does not hold back, and also answers his critics from part 1 of the interview. Joseph addresses:

claims he has "stolen" both audio and visual material for his releases
the issue of "public domain" and legal advice he has received
his "perceived bitterness" towards a number of people in the Elvis world
takes aim at (and exposes) Johnny Saulovich aka Dr John Carpenter (and EIN publishes the photo of the infamous and outspoken Saulovich which has been circulating in the Elvis world for some time)
how he obtained the incredible Elvis live in Tupelo audio-visual footage
his legal team still waiting for a response from Sony BMG
the audio work for Sony BMG by Kevan Budd and David Bendeth
the audio fidelity of MRS releases
issues Sony BMG/FTD an audio challenge!
the chart success of the MRS single, My Baby Left Me
sales of MRS releases compared to FTD releases
Sony BMG's policy of endlessly rehashing and recycling Elvis material
the "politics" behind the book Inside Graceland and the MRS book which will overshadow that release
his involvement with the That's Alright Mama dance remix
Ernst Jorgensen's ongoing Sun project

Read the interview

Elvis in Germany celebrated 50 years on: Fifty years ago this week, Elvis Presley and his parents came to Fort Hood, where the junior Presley trained with Alpha Company, 37th Armor Battalion, 2nd Armored Division, as a light truck driver in a tank crew. On March 28, 1958, local attorney Chester Crawford and his wife rented a home on Oakhill Drive in Killeen to the Presleys, who lived there for 25 weeks, during which the music superstar underwent basic and advanced individual training to become a soldier.

Elvis Presley lived in this house on Oakhill Drive when he was stationed at Fort Hood in 1958.(Herald/JOHN A. BOWERSMITH)

Pvt. Presley was inducted into the Army at Fort Chaffee, Ark., four days before he arrived at Fort Hood. On Sept. 19, 1958, he and 1,360 other 3rd Armored Division replacements left Fort Hood for Friedburg, Germany. Though the man that would be known as the King of Rock and Roll wasn't here long, his legacy lingers in memories and the occasional promotion.dia frenzy

Gerald Skidmore was managing editor of the Killeen Daily Herald in 1958 and was at the news conference when Elvis arrived at Fort Hood. Skidmore remembers Elvis' arrival as chaotic. He was one of three reporters covering Elvis' departure the following September.

The news conference on March 28, 1958, was the only authorized press event with Elvis. Reporters were told they were not permitted to interfere with Elvis' training. Reporters from radio stations filled the back of a truck on which Elvis stood, "trying to get one word into their recorders," Skidmore said in an interview this week.

Reporters were later invited to interview Elvis at a mess hall while he ate a fish and fries dinner, Skidmore said. Elvis' departure was very different. It was quiet at the railhead, where Elvis boarded a train for California before heading to Germany, Skidmore said.

Elvis didn't talk to the media, and he appeared emotional, still affected by the recent death of his mother, Gladys, Skidmore said.

Despite the Army's request to allow Elvis to train just like any other soldier, the residence at 605 Oakhill Drive in Killeen, located off U.S. Highway 190, was a gathering place for many Elvis fans while he lived there. Newspaper stories from that time suggest that fans regularly flocked to the home, and on some nights, if he was not too tired, Elvis would come out the front door and sign some autographs. Many cars and fans crowded the street, lawn and porch of the home, sometimes as many as 100 per night, newspaper stories stated. "People were waiting for him every day," Skidmore said.

Elvis would get out of the car before getting to the house, climb a hill and sneak in through the back door. Presley's neighbors at the time often gave him permission to cross through their backyards in order to avoid the crowds, Skidmore said.

"He was nice and visited with everyone. He was a perfect gentleman and never unkind," Skidmore said.shared

Photos of Elvis Presley dot the walls of the house he lived in with his parents when he was stationed at Fort Hood in 1958.

Lois Ferrell, then Lois Griffin, now a second-grade aide working at Clark Elementary School in Killeen, remembers her encounter with Elvis. Ferrell's mother was working as a telephone operator at a Fort Hood store when Lois came to pick her up one day. Elvis, who called his mother every day at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sundays, came out of the building, spotted Ferrell and her friend, Margaret Wildman, in the parked vehicle and struck up a conversation with the girls.

"I remember it was cold, we had the windows rolled up on the car. He sat in the car with us for 20 minutes and talked. He told us to come back that Sunday, and he would take us to a movie," Ferrell said. That Sunday, Elvis drove the girls to a movie in a leased Cadillac convertible. Ferrell sat beside Elvis, and Wildman sat in the window seat.

"A couple of his Army buddies were at the movie, but they didn't come with us," said Ferrell, who couldn't remember the name of the movie. "He (Elvis) was nice and generous. He bought all the Girl Scout cookies on sale and passed them out to everyone in line at the theater," Ferrell said.

"I remember he said that he wished he could go off post (he was restricted to post at the time, before moving off post) and visit with us in our homes. I had a piano in my house and offered to host a jam session, but he said that it would attract too much of a crowd and make everyone miserable," Ferrell said. "Overall, it was a wonderful experience for a 17-year-old," Ferrell said.
Close encounters in Killeen
Tommy Joe Mills, of Modern TV and Appliance, located at 315 E. Avenue C, recalls his brief interaction with Elvis. In the spring of 1958, Elvis and Sgt. Maj. Bill Norwood came into the store to buy a television set. Elvis was buying the TV for the soldiers in his company. Mills sold him a 21-inch, black-and-white General Electric television set; Elvis wrote a check and signed it, "E.A. Presley." Mills' daughter, Gwen Stewart, then 8 years old, told her father to keep the check. Mills didn't keep it because he needed the money.

"I wish I had kept it," he says now. "It would be worth quite a bit."

Eric Carlile, a next-door neighbor, was 6 years old in 1958. He remembers Elvis climbing up the hill behind his home and sneaking in. He also remembers that on Sundays, women, wearing their Sunday best, formed a line stretching from Elvis' home down the street. They would wait to meet him, get a kiss and have their photo taken with him, Carlile said.n to sender

In August 1958, just before Elvis' departure from Fort Hood, his fans petitioned the Killeen City Council to change the name of Oakhill Drive to Presley Drive, bringing nationwide publicity to the area. In 2006, the 2,400-square-foot house on Oakhill Drive made history again when its owner, Myka Allen-Johnson, put it up for sale on eBay because she could not afford to convert it into a historical landmark. The house is currently for sale for $170,000.

Now, 50 years after his stay in Killeen, local businesses are running Elvis specials. Hooters in Killeen is offering an "Elvis sauce," which is available upon request. The hot sauce is not on the menu because, "Elvis has left the building," said general manager Wayne Young.

In honor of Elvis' stay in the city, Shilo Inn & Suites is offering a Heartbreak Hotel package for guests, said Sherry Hoffpauir, director of sales. The package includes a reservation in the "King" junior suite; a snack of jelly doughnuts, a personal favorite of Elvis; an Elvis Presley greatest hits CD; and an "Elvis Slept Here, You Can Too" T-shirt. (News, Source: Iuliana Petre - Killeen Daily Herald/www.epgold.com)

Feedback added - Lamar Fike talks to EIN: We have added your feedback on Lamar's very entertaining interview

Polish sessionography series: The Polish Elvis Presley Fan Club "Raised On Rock" began realization of a series of four magazines completely devoted to Elvis Presley's recording sessions.

The first issue (Elvis' Sessions 1953-1959) appeared on March, 18, the next will be available in May.

Each issue contains over 80 black and white pages with detailed descriptions of the sessions, songs, recollections of the musicians and a lot of interesting photos.
The series is limited and each magazine has its own individually written number.

It is the first Polish sessionography of the greatest artist of all time - Elvis Presley.

For more information see the website:

www.elvis.raks.com.pl (information) or e-mail: elvistrilogy@wp.pl0(News, Source: EP Gold)

Sunday 6 April 2008

Elvis Is In The Building...During the ReelHeART International Film Festival (RHIFF): It has just been announced that ’Elvis, How Great Thou Art, A Portrait of the Artist’ is an Official Selection of the ReelHeART International Film Festival (RHIFF) June 16-21, 2008. ’Elvis, How Great Thou Art, A Portrait of the Artist’ has been selected as part of the Dance and Music Related category. ReelHeART is dedicated to supporting the need for exposure for all levels of independent filmmakers around the world.

’Elvis, How Great Thou Art, A Portrait of The Artist’, is part of ’The Memphis Lullaby’ stage play (currently in pre-production) The play and film were written by the author of the book ‘The Memphis Lullaby’ - Linda Ann McConnell. The book has received excellent reviews from all over the world including endorsements from people who knew and worked with Elvis. The film was produced to convey and commemorate the musical significance, cultural impact and artistic achievements of one man and to demonstrate how the power of an individual CAN make a difference.

’Elvis, How Great Thou Art, A Portrait of the Artist’ can be seen on Wednesday June 18 2008 at 9.30PM as part of the ReelHeART Venue Program upstairs at Southern Accent Restaurant , 595 Markham Street (1 Block West of Honest Ed’s). Tickets are $6 (includes Free KERNELS Gourmet popcorn)

If you are part of an Elvis Fan Club, please email us for information about Group Discounts

Advance Sales on line April 21, 2008 at www.reelheart.com

Screeners available for press reviews

Contact filmmaker: Linda Ann McConnell

Email: film@thememphislullaby.com

Website:

www.thememphislullaby.com

Annual Elvis Honeymoon Weekend (Hideaway)

Chart Update #1: On this week's ARIA Top 40 Music DVD chart, The Greatest - Elvis Collection jumps 3 places to #33 (2nd week on chart). (News, Source: ARIA)

Chart Upate #2: REMIX OF "BABY LET'S PLAY HOUSE" NEW ENTRY IN SWEDISH CHART AT # 48:

Better than Mariah Carey, new entry at 51: Having received the blessing by Elvis Presley Enterprises and Sony BMG US, the Elvis Presley's new remixed song "Baby Let's Play House" by contemporary DJ/producer Spankox enters this week the Swedish chart at n.48, beating Mariah Carey's Touch My Body that follows at position 51. Elvis enters the chart chasing Flo-Rida feat. T-Pain Low that this week is at position 47 and before Leona Lewis's Bleeding Love, at number 49. Elvis' new remix has already been sitting at the Italian Official Nielsen Charts for 7 weeks, setting the new chart record. Now the help of Swedish Elvis fans is needed to support this release and push the King to the top. The record is available as special limited edition VinylDISC (CD + Vinyl in one: a CD that plays also on a turntable) and is also available as digital download from iTunes and other online stores.

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Song Title Pop Chart Year Released