Welcome to the "Elvis Information Network", home to the best news, reviews, interviews, Elvis photos & in-depth articles about the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Aaron Presley...
Priscilla in Australia to Open Bendigo Elvis Exhibition: In another massive coup for the region, Elvis’ former wife Priscilla Presley is coming to Australia to launch the Elvis: Direct From Graceland exhibition in Bendigo, Victoria, this March.
The exhibition, 'Elvis: Direct from Graceland', curated by Bendigo Art Gallery will run from March to July and draw visitors from around Australia, celebrating the life and legacy of the “King of Rock’n’Roll” Elvis Presley. Priscilla will launch the exhibition at the Bendigo Gallery on March 19.
The exclusive exhibition will feature 300 artefacts owned by Elvis, including a wide range of costumes and ultra-cool outfits, vintage memorabilia, and treasured items from his beloved Graceland home.
Fashion highlights include Elvis and Priscilla’s wedding outfits, the repurposed ’68 Special costume he wore to meet President Nixon, the diamond-encrusted Maltese cross necklace designed by Linda Thompson, and a dazzling array of Vegas jumpsuits and military uniforms.
Personal treasures include his gold telephone, baby clothes from his daughter Lisa Marie, karate gi, his first job application, his first-grade crayon box from Tupelo, a 1976 Red Bicentennial Custom Harley Davidson, and the bongos Priscilla gifted him on their first Christmas together in Graceland.
As part of Priscilla’s trip, the international guest will join an in-conversation panel with Elvis: Direct from Graceland Curator Lauren Ellis and Graceland Archives' Angie Marchese at an exclusive event for Bendigo Art Gallery members.
Priscilla will provide fascinating insights into her life with Elvis and share touching anecdotes about one of the world’s most iconic entertainers. 10am The Capital for in-conversation with Priscilla
11am Bendigo Art Gallery for exhibition preview
If you’re not already a member, you can join to secure your tickets to Priscilla’s only public appearance here. Bendigo Art Gallery (News, Source;Bendigo/EIN)
'Aloha From Hawaii' FTD 3CD set OUT NOW: When seeking key career highpoints, Elvis’ multi-faceted musical legacy certainly divides opinion amongst fans and critics alike. However, if one goes by the sales and the audience viewing numbers too, there is only one answer. Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite.
- RCA’s double album of the show was released throughout the world in February and shot to the #1 spot in many countries including the U.S. The album went to #1 on the Billboard album chart and reigned supreme from late February until late October, re-entering in late December for another two months. Today in the U.S. the album stands at 5.5 million sales and is certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA.
- To acknowledge this achievement, FTD is proud to present an upgraded re-release of Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite utilizing the talents of successful Memphian recording engineer Matt-Ross Spang who has newly remixed the original broadcasted show and the after-concert 3:00 AM crowd-less masters including rehearsal performances for the first time. Also included is the Sony Legacy 2013 remix of the rehearsal show from January 12. (Recommended by EIN!See review). The set is at your ELVIS dealer now.
- Packaged in FTD's ‘complete sessions’ style 8” x 8” slipcase, this deluxe 3-CD contains a 28-page color booklet, great photos, memorabilia and insightful essay.
CD3 Features the extra tracks recorded after the audience had gone home (EIN Note: Who thought that was a fair idea!!) several of these outakes / rehearsals have not been previously released officially.
Baz Luhrmann's new biopic 'ELVIS' will finally be released to the cinemas on June 24 2022.
It was as far back at May 2014 - eight years ago - that EIN first reported that fellow-Australian Baz Luhrmann had started working on his concept for a stunningly fabulous ELVIS movie. At the time there were plenty of skeptics that didn't believe that this Academy award-winning director of The Great Gatsby, Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, Australia and Moulin Rouge could be interested in an ELVIS biopic but we were proved right. In our in-depth spotlight EIN presents all the stories, interviews and drama that have accompanied this brilliant achievement since those early days of 2014.
Baz Luhrmann & Austin Butler Interview: This week Nelson George, US author, music and culture critic and filmmaker posted a fascinating interview with Baz Luhrmann & Austin Butler. It is well worth seeing and includes cool footage from the film.
The interview includes...
Austin Butler, "I don't remember a moment in my life that Elvis wasn't a part of it. That's the thing about Elvis, he has sort of become the wall-paper of society. He was such a superhuman figure. so to me it was the curiosity to finding out who he was as a person. and delve into studying everything I could on him, watching every bit of footage countless times, reading everything I could, and talking to as many people as I could and getting down to who he really was a man. That I found really intriguing."
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Baz Luhrmann,"What's so great about that is, we didn't take it, so much as live it. We lived the Elvis journey. ... To the fans, thanks so much for stepping through the door. And after an incredible three year journey and the privilege of this film-making experience I hope to see you all in a theatre very very soon."
To find out what happened when Austin Butler met Priscilla - Go to YouTube here And go HERE for EIN's"ELVIS" Movie Spotlight. (News, Source,ElvisInfoNet)
New Elvis Presley Movie Won't Forget His Army Service: Even the US Military.com is promoting the new Elvis movie. They write... Australian director Baz Luhrmann is finally ready to unleash "Elvis," his epic biopic of the Army veteran and king of rock ‘n’ roll.
The studio has just released the first trailer.
We get a brief glimpse of Presley in his Army uniform in this trailer, providing confirmation that the movie will portray the King's decision to accept his draft status and leave his career behind to serve at the height of his musical career.
Of course, the other reason that Germany is important in the Elvis story is that's where he met his future wife, Priscilla Beaulieu. Priscilla was the 14-year-old stepdaughter of U.S. Air Force officer Paul Beaulieu, and her family was stationed in Germany when she met Elvis at a party in Bad Nauheim in 1959.
They eventually married in Las Vegas when she
turned 21 in 1967. There are a lot of fuzzy details in between, but Priscilla moved to Memphis, Tennessee, at some point and lived with Elvis' dad and stepmother a few blocks from Graceland while she finished high school.
If you were really planning to tell the story of Elvis in detail, you'd plan a 10-season HBO or Netflix series and give each shocking twist and turn its own chapter. Luhrmann, director of such flashy movies as the 1996 "Romeo + Juliet" with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, "Moulin Rouge" and the 2013 version of "The Great Gatsby," prefers to take a couple of hours to blow the audience away with his spectacular camerawork and blaring soundtracks. (News, Source;Military.com/ElvisInfoNet)
'The Birth of Rock 'n' Roll: 70 Years of Sun Records' New Book: From two of Rock History's best authors Peter Guralnick and Colin Escott, 'The Birth of Rock 'n' Roll: 70 Years of Sun Records' With a foreword by Jerry Lee Lewis! - Out October 18, 2022.
A fascinating look at the history of Sun Records, the label that started Rock n’ Roll, told through 70 of its iconic recordings.
In Memphis, Tennessee, in the 1950s, there was hard-edged blues playing on Beale Street, and hillbilly boogie on the outskirts of town. But at Sam Phillips’ Sun Records studio on Union Avenue, there was something different going on – a whole lotta shakin’, rockin’, and rollin’. This is where rock ’n’ roll was born.
Sun Records: the company that launched Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Carl Perkins. The label that brought the world, “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Breathless,” “I Walk the Line,” “Mystery Train,” “Good Rockin’ Tonight.”
The Birth of Rock ’n’ Roll: 70 Years of Sun Records is the official history of this legendary label, and looks at its story in a unique way: through the lens of 70 of its most iconic recordings. From the early days with primal blues artists like Howlin’ Wolf and B.B. King to long nights in the studio with Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis, you will see how the label was shaped and how it redefined American music. Accompanying the recordings is the label’s origin story and a look at the mission of the label today, as well as
“Sun Spot” sidebars - a fascinating dive into subjects such as how the iconic logo was created, the legendary Million Dollar Quartet sessions, and how the song “Harper Valley, PTA” funded the purchase of the label.
Written by two of the most acclaimed music writers of our time, Peter Guralnick and Colin Escott, and featuring hundreds of rare images from the Sun archives as well as a foreword by music legend Jerry Lee Lewis, this is a one-of-a-kind book for anyone who wants to know where it all started.
Publisher: Weldon Owen (October 18, 2022) 256 pages. (above image is not the cover) (News, Source;Goodreads/ElvisInfoNet)
'The Jordanaires: The Story' New Book for 2022: From Backbeat books, with a released date of November 2022, 'The Jordanaires: The Story of the World's Greatest Backup Vocal Group' by Gordon Stoker, Michael Kosser, and Alan Stoker (Gordon Stoker's son). The publicity notes... The greatest backup group in the history of recorded music undoubtedly was the Jordanaires, a gospel group of mostly Tennessee boys, formed in the 1940s, that set the standard for studio vocal groups in the '50s, '60s, '70s, and beyond. In their sixty-five-year career, from 1948 through 2013, the recordings they sang on have sold an estimated eight billion copies. They sang on more than 200 of Elvis's recordings, including most of his biggest hits. They were in three of his best-known movies, appeared with him on most of his early nation-wide TV shows, and toured with him for many years. Throughout Elvis's early career, they were his most trusted friends and probably his most positive influence. 'No telling how many thousands of miles we rode together over those fourteen years'remembered Gordon Stoker, the group's manager and high tenor, and most of those miles were good miles, with lots of laughs, and lots of talk about life. While the Jordanaires' bread and butter may have been Nashville's burgeoning recording industry, it seemed that there was always a plane waiting to take them cross country to the pop sessions in L.A. They sang on most of Ricky Nelson's biggest hits and over the years backed up Andy Williams, Fats Domino, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Dinah Shore, The Everly Brothers, Glen Campbell, Patti Page, Neil Young, Perry Como, Loretta Lynn, Ringo Starr, Tom Jones, Andy Griffith, Bobby Vinton, Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, Billy Ray Cyrus, Clyde McPhatter, and about 2,100 other recording acts.
Out November 15, 2022. Paperback 278 pages (News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
EIN’s Nigel Patterson spent a weekend consulting Google Translate and exploring what is featured in an absorbing, richly narrative and visual, 155 pages of Elvis Italian style.
'Elvis UK3' Book Update: One of EIN's favourite books of last year has been updated. The authors state.. We are pleased to let you know that Elvis UK3 has now been updated, as we promised we would do from time to
time as any important information cropped up. This was – and is – one of the major advantages of producing this book in a digital flip book form.
Importantly though, readers don’t need to do anything: by the time you read this, the update will have been carried out. However, as a courtesy, we felt that it was sensible to let you know that, in response to customer feedback, some very minor changes and corrections have been made – mainly a few numerical errors on catalogue numbers (digits inverted etc) – but, most importantly, some additional information has been incorporated into the text.
Plenty of pages have had minors corrections but there are also plenty of additions including details of FTD’s 'Aloha From Hawaii' deluxe edition as well as their recent 'The Pot Luck Sessions'.
Coming soon from the writers of the 'Elvis UK' book trilogy: UK Elvis authors John Townson and Gordon Minto have announced their latest book (to be released “very soon”) - 'Elvis UK Cover Story The Ultimate Guide to Elvis Presley’s British EP & LP Sleeves 1956-1977'.
They add that fans can always contact us about any of their books, or anything else, via their website.
We are always very pleased to hear from fellow collectors.
Finally, we would like to thank you all for your continued interest, support, and enthusiasm for our projects.
(News, Source: Elvis UK)
New book critical of Elvis, Colonel Tom Parker and Vernon Presley in management of Elvis’ financial affairs:'Leaving the Building The Lucrative Afterlife of Music Estates' (Eamonn Forde) In the thoroughly researched and absorbing book, much space is devoted to the Elvis estate, as the original template for the “afterlife” of deceased musicians estates. Author Eammon Forde draws attention to the unsophisticated approach to managing Elvis’ affairs and is critical of Elvis’ naiveté regarding financial matters and both Colonel Tom Parker and Vernon Presley: Parker could not help himself and was finding whole new ways to go beyond the 50 per cent of Elvis’ earnings he was already taking. By 1977, Parker had grown his share of Boxcar to 56 per cent, with only 22 per cent of its profits going to the Elvis estate and the remaining 22 per cent going to Tom Diskin, Parker’s long-term assistant.
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Within two days of Elvis dying, Parker – via Boxcar – signed a deal with merchandise company Factors Inc. to give it the exclusive licence to exploit then name and likeness of the star. Parker was rewarded handsomely for that Factors deal. “Factors paid Boxcar”, and thus the Colonel, $100,000 upfront and guaranteed him an annual income od $150,000.” The “boy” (as Parker would call Elvis) was to be a cash cow for many years for all those who swooped in to keep his name in the public eye by keeping the cash registers ringing.
Regarding Elvis’ father, Vernon, Forde comments: Most alarmingly, Elvis took financial guidance from his own father, Vernon, a man wholly unsuited to the job of keeping America’s most famous high-roller in check. Vernon operated on pure instinct, refusing any suggestion of tax breaks, which he found too complicated to consider,“ recalled Priscilla. “He let the IRS figure Elvis’ taxes and had done so ever since Elvis had been audited while in the Army and assessed eighty thousand dollars in back taxes. ‘Let’s just pay the taxes, Daddy,’ Elvis said. ‘I make enough money. I’ll make a million dollars and I’ll give them half.’
The book also contains all lists of the Forbes Posthumous Rich (Deceased Musician) List from its inception in 2001 to 2020. Elvis ranked #1 for seven of the first eight lists and has not been out of the top 5 since. Other deceased musicians discussed in the voluminous book include John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson and Bob Marley. (News, Source:ElvisInfoNet)
New book: 'Alas Poor Elvis, I Knew Him BUBBA': This new book (nonfiction, 50,000 words) examines the impact of Elvis Presley on the culture of America and the rest of the world. Its editor/ commentator is Howard Denson, one of the leaders of the Florida First Coast Writers’ Festival, which sponsored a whimsical contest similar to the Best of Bad Hemingway and the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contests. Entrants invariably wrote about themselves as they recalled their encounters with Elvis in concerts or performances. Often they recalled when their daughters first encountered the animal energy of Elvis as part of the girls’ awakening sexual awareness. The submissions range from adoring to cynical, from complimentary to judgmental. The submissions came from all over North America. The collection also includes the insights of the late Steve Allen, who featured Elvis on his comedy-variety show. Did the "hound dog" section humiliate Elvis?'ALAS, POOR ELVIS, I KNEW HIM, BUBBA' gives a different perspective. - (as does our own EIN spotlight on Steve Allen !) (News, Source: Amazon/EIN)
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‘Get close to the stage and I’ll sing a song for your date’: When Elvis Presley sang a song to Jim Sinay's girlfriend in a Las Vegas casino early in the 1970s, companions for the evening show eagerly asked the Stark County native if he really knew the famed singer.
"Why sure," Sinay said. "We both work in the same place. He's a friend of mine." Amid pats on the back and the shaking hands, Sinay avoided explaining that only technically were they co-workers. Sinay was a craps dealer at the International Casino – now the Hilton – where Elvis was appearing. Not long after the singer had come into the dealer's room for a break with his three bodyguards prior to his performance, he had struck up a casual conversation with Sinay. Presley asked Sinay his name, questioned where he was from, and queried if he'd ever seen his show.
"I told him, 'No, but I am bringing my date in Sunday to see you.' He asked me what her name was, and I told him it was Liz. He then said, 'Jim, get close to the stage and I will sing a song to her for you.' I was smiling and then replied, 'Elvis, you got a deal.'
"Well, I didn't say a word to Liz about what happened for fear that Elvis might forget, or it was just talk."
"We go to the show, and I knew the maitre d’, so we got seats three rows from the front of the stage. Elvis starts his show, sings about four songs and is walking along the front
of the stage when he spots me sitting with this beautiful lady. He nods his head, turns to face the audience and says, 'Ladies and gentlemen, I have a friend in the audience who brought his girlfriend with him to see the show.'
"He then turns our way, walks over to where we were sitting, stops about five feet from us and says, 'Liz honey, this is from my friend Jimmy and me to you.' He then starts singing."
The song Presley sung that night was "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me," and it began with the lyrics "When I said I needed you, you said you would always stay." Elvis crooned those words, and the rest of the lyrics to the song, while looking at Liz, who was "gasping for breath and jumping up and down in her seat. Liz hugged me over and over again during the show and especially afterwards. That night, was a very very special one for me. I will never forget what happened during the Elvis Show ... Yes, Elvis, wherever you are, 'Thank you my friend.'"
The memory is one of many that Sinay has been recalling in recent weeks for his friends on social media. Most are tales of his time in "Sin City" that he included in his collection of casino memories,
"When It Was Great" a book about "old Las Vegas" that he wrote with Wid Bastian in 2016. That memoir still is available through online booksellers. For more immediacy check out his Facebook page (News, Source: Gary Brown, The Canton Repository)
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Friday 18 February 2022 ... .. ELVIS ELVIS ELVIS .. ...
'ELVIS' Baz Luhrmann Trailer: Finally fans get to see a full trailer for the new Baz Luhrmann 'ELVIS' biopic. And it looks splendid. While no actor could really look like the real ELVIS, Austin Butler has some cool acting skills, fine enough for you to spend disbelief for two hours of fabulous Luhrmann-style OTT cinematic homage to the King.
Luhrmann is one of the most stylistically eccentric directors known for his lavish, musically-inclined movies such as 'Moulin Rouge!' and 'The Great Gatsby'. His magnificent style shines through in the new trailer posted last night.
Austin Butler as Elvis looks great rocking out to his early audiences, gyrating on US tv through to later Las Vegas superstar years. Tom Hanks as Col Parker delivers a full on threatening performance.
The press interview with Australian Baz Luhrmann included... “The great storytellers like Shakespeare, they didn’t really do biographies, they used a life as a canvas to explore a larger idea ... The life of Elvis Presley could not be a better canvas in which to explore America in the ’50s, the ′60s and the ’70s. That 42 years, until his death in 1977, is three great lives put into a short period of time.
I had the privilege, as the ultimate outsider, to be allowed into the world of Elvis."
That meant having a place to work in the Graceland barn for 18 months and recording Butler singing in the same studio Elvis used in Nashville.
Luhrmann said one of the challenges was showing a modern audience how strange and shocking the young Elvis was to audiences more familiar with country music, with his rock and roll look, swivelling hips and singing style. “Elvis was the original punk in some regards. He was wildly provocative ... there really were riots."
The relatively poor quality of Elvis’ early recordings in mono and “somewhat nostalgic” required inventive thinking for the singing scenes.
Luhrmann revealed.. “We came up with an unusual language – a musical language – for the film. Austin would sing all the young Elvis.
But from the ’60s on, we would blend it with the real Elvis. So when you hear 'In The Ghetto' it is Elvis."
Luhrmann said he learnt how much black music and culture were essential to the story of a musical legend who was surprisingly spiritual.
Austin Butler confirmed... “For maybe a year before we even started shooting, I was doing six, seven days a week of voice coaching and working with different experts and just trying to get the register to be in the right place and the dialect and the way Elvis inflects and everything. But ultimately we realised the life is what’s important ... You can impersonate somebody but to find the humanity and the life within and the passion and the heart, I had to release myself from the constraints of that.”
EIN Notes how fabulous it was to see 'ELVIS' on the front page of today's Melbourne major newspaper 'The Age'.
'Sold Out Vol.13' DVD: Pyramid's latest DVD compilation is out. See your Elvis dealer to order. The publicity states.. Over the past year we have released some amazing 8mm footage that has surprised many of you, much of it unknown to most fans. Now get ready for The Best!
One of the highlights on this new release is an almost-complete 1974 concert in fantastic quality. And the concert itself is a classic, with Elvis at his finest. The Omaha July 1, 1974 footage is a fresh high resolution transfer from the actual 8mm film and it looks absolutely stunning. You can even see the details in his suit. This 48-minute film is a true delight, and one of the best 8mm films in existence. Elvis is in a great mood, he’s joking with bandmembers and the audience, and he’s singing up a storm on songs like “Trying To Get To You” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You”. An absolute must-see! There are 14 different 8mm films on “Sold Out volume 13”, covering the period 1970 – ’76, starting with Mobile ‘70. Plenty of footage from ’71 – ’73 that really makes you feel like you are there. Especially the June ’72 films put you right in the audience. In Chicago, he was clearly mindful of where he was, because he added a lot of blues to his setlist. The ‘Get Back’ medley is cool, with a different guitar-solo by JB. There’s also fascinating footage from ’75 and ’76, showing Elvis in various unusual outfits, including the two-piece that he favored in April ’75. And from the ill-fated Summer Festival ’75, the one-time-only ‘Penguin suit’. Three hours of rare Elvis 8mm concert footage… What are you waiting for? (News, Source;Pyramid/EIN)
New Italian ELVIS DVDs!: Re-Released last month two great Elvis DVDs with unusual covers.
'Pugno Proibito' (Forbidden Fist) aka Kid Galahad.
Remastered in HD.
from the 'Sinister Film' label
Runs 92 minutes
With Italian (overdub) or English.
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Also 'Delinquente del Rock N Roll' (Jailhouse Rock)
94 minutes
With Italian (overdub) or English.
Elvis Record Store Day 2022 French Vinyl: Announced for Record Store Day, 23 April 2022, two neat VINYL collections from France.
'Elvis Presley - Les Disques En Or D'Elvis'
In a lavish deluxe cardboard boxset, the 3 volumes of the Elvis’ Golden Records collection with alternative takes, a 12-page booklet & a memorabilia poster.
The collector’s edition in Marble (RED, BLUE & GOLDEN) vinyl is limited to 1,500 units Worldwide.
A 'Public Domain' compilation feauturing Elvis' classic hits from ,Heartbreak Hotel', 'Hound Dog' through to 'Little Sister', 'Good Luck Charm' and 'Anything That's Part Of You'
Go to the Culture Factory link to see the complete tracklist
'Elvis: Blondes, Brunes & Rousses' (It Happened At The World's Fair)
The original Soundtrack of the early 60's Movie "It Happened At The World's Fair" ("Blondes, Brunes & Rousses" in French). Fantastic album made up of alternative takes that for the most part have never been released on vinyl. This Deluxe edition includes a 16 pages booklet and is limited to 1,500 units Worldwide.
Limmited Red/Yellowsplatter marble Vinyl.
MRS 'Elvis: Mono To Stereo 1956' CD Review: At the end of last year the UK based MRS label released their Double CD/ Book 'Elvis: Mono To Stereo - The Complete RCA Studio Masters 1956'.
The set contains the complete 1956 RCA studio master recordings in mono and (DES extracted) stereo versions. These were thirty classic RCA recordings that would help change the future of popular music.
The accompanying 20-page booklet includes photographs and memorabilia plus introductory notes.
While 'DES Stereo' remastering can sometimes reveal new details about classic MONO studio recordings, trying to create believable stereo from echoey mono masters is not that easy, even when using "highly advanced sound processing techniques".
Can classic mono tracks such as 'Hound Dog', 'Don't Be Cruel', 'My Baby Left Me' and 'Heartbreak Hotel' really sound better in DES stereo?
Baz Luhrmann new ELVIS Biopic: Elvis author Trina Young is posting regular updates on "The latest news on Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley film".
She has written to EIN pointing out that the new trailer in full will be out this Thursday.
Young has been been updating her Luhrmann movie news article for two years now: Go here to 'elvis-news.com/elvis-movie'
(News, Source;TrinaYoung/EIN)
Australian fans – can you help – 1968-69 Gold Cadillac tour “downunder”: Noted Aussie researcher / author, Bob Hayden, is in the process of preparing a revised (and final) DELUXE edition of his popular book, Elvis Presley’s Gold Cadillac Tour of Australasia 1978-69.
Bob is looking for additional material for the revised edition and is hoping Aussie-NZ fans may have paper clippings or photographs in their collections/scrapbooks of when they saw the Cadillac “downunder”.
If anyone can help, Bob can be contacted by email: elvis2594@gmail.com
(News, Source: Bob Hayden/EIN)
More about Elvis’ Gold Caddy tour: In 1965, Elvis Presley's manager Col Parker made a decision that only a man at the height of his powers could conceivably dream he’d get away with: he sent Elvis' Gold Cadillac out on tour, in place of him. Yup. Elvis was so hot, and so in demand, that crowds of otherwise sane humans flocked to see his car. Just, you know, sitting there. Sure, it was gold, and sure, it belonged to Elvis, but it was hardly the most inspired decision. Still, on the first day of the tour, 50,000 people rocked up to a theatre in Atlanta to check out the King’s wheels and crowds stayed steady as the vehicle hit each stop.
If only to prove the pointlessness of this whole enterprise, the car was shipped to each location – it wasn’t even driven there. In 1968, he repeated his feat in Australia and New Zealand, this time upping the ante by sending a few of his Gold records on tour with the vehicle. Aussie fans could buy a souvenir photo of the Cadillac with the car’s specs printed on the back. What delirious teenage girl wouldn’t want such a prize? (News, Source: Nathan Jolly, The Music Network)
Nashville Elvis Festival 2022: Elvis fans from around the world will gather in Nashville, Tennessee March 24-27, 2022 for the 6th annual Nashville Elvis Festival, celebrating the music and legacy of the King of Rock & Roll. After pausing for the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the 4-day festival will welcome back fans at the Jamison Theater in The Factory at Franklin, located just south of downtown Nashville in the charming suburb of Franklin, Tennessee.
EIN notes that sadly Elvis and his musicians are not appearing - only a special guest spot from Larry Strickland of The Stamps.
There are an array of competiton winning Elvis Impersonators (sorry, ETAs) if that is what you want. Plus the knowledgable Tom Brown.
'Elvis Is Back' Double-CD re-issue: The Music-On-CD label has announced the double-CD version of "Elvis Is Back!". This features the original 'Elvis Is Back!' LP plus 'Something For Everybody' and another relevant 12 hit singles.
This is a reissue of the SONY 2014 'Elvis Is Back' Legacy edition.
It's a nice compilation - but surely no Elvis fan needs yet another version of both albums?
Bonus Songs are Stuck On You, Fame And Fortune, It's Now Or Never, A Mess Of Blues, Are You Lonesome Tonight?, I Gotta Know, Surrender, plus I Feel So Bad, Marie's The Name) His Last Flame, Little Sister, Good Luck Charm, That's Part Of You.
Out in April 2022
(News, Source;MonCD/ElvisInfoNet)
European TCB-Weekends 2022: Austrian Dennis Jale is organising 3 different European ELVIS-TCB-Weekends for 2022! 1. Portoroz: April 20 - 24, 2022
Directly at the Golden Slovenian Riviera
After the Rock’n’Roll Concert with the TCB-Band (Glenn D. Hardin, Larry Strickland, Ginger Holladay) enjoy a stroll at the promenade and breath in the salty sea breeze of the Slovenian Riviera.
30 Minutes to Trieste/Italy or 90 Minutes to Venice!
Go here for more info.
.. also coming up.. 2. Vienna: April 29 - May 1, 2022
City of Music and Waltz!
Sight Seeing, Concerts, After Show Party, Signing Session, Foto Session and much more... 3. Bad Homburg: May 6 - 8, 2022
The first European Home of Elvis!
Follow us on the footsteps of Elvis’ first European home back in 1958. - At the 5* Steigenberger Hotel - former Ritter’s Park Hotel, Elvis stayed at this Hotel until he moved to Bad Nauheim
All info here at Dennis.Jale. (News, Source;DJ/ElvisInfoNet)
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Thursday 10 February 2022
Jerry Schilling turns 80! It is always incredible that some of Elvis' close-long-term-friends are still alive and kicking and still working in the Elvis World.
The delightful Jerry Schilling turned 80 years old on February 6, 1942.
It was sixty-eight years ago that in 1954 a gangly 12-year-old North Memphis youth named Jerry Schilling first met a wild hillbilly cat known as Elvis Presley on a local football field.
The two forged a close friendship that lasted from the mid-'50s until Presley's death in 1977.
Jerry Schilling was a trusted friend and confidante who enjoyed an eyewitness take on life inside the gates of Graceland.
Schilling has always been a great exponent of the Elvis story and has been involved in multiple books and documentaries
Priscilla has recently stated that she and Jerry Schilling have a constant dilemma of struggling with aspects of Elvis projects, but overall prefer to be a part of them to look out for the man they knew personally. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JERRY SCHILLING Go here to EIN's interview with Jerry Schilling and lots more...
(News, Source;SM/ElvisInfoNet)
Billy & Jo Smith on Elvis meeting The Beatles: The Uk Tabloids are still using Elvis as click-bait. Recently they recalled more about Elvis meeting The Beatles.
.. ELVIS and The Beatles met only once at Elvis' home in L.A. Recently Billy Smith and his wife Jo shared their amazing memories of the night, including a story that they weren't sure if they should disclose it or not.
The five super-stars, whose stars start Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, only met once at Elvis’ Los Angeles home of Perugia Way, Bel Air on August 27, 1965.
Elvis was accompanied by his inner circle and Elvis' cousin Billy Smith was there with his wife Jo and the pair have spoken of that day on their YouTube channel Elvis Fans Matter.
Jo remembered: “We got to meet The Beatles like 1-on-1. They were great, just as nice as they could be. Really, really nice. Every single one of them. I mean that was like unbelievable to people and friends of ours back here in Memphis, that we actually got to meet The Beatles.”
At first, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr were totally starstruck by their idol.
Jo recalled: “When they came in to see him and Elvis was waiting for them there, they just stood, they didn’t say a word. They just stood and stared at him.
So Elvis said: “Look if y’all not going to talk I’m going to go to bed!”
This broke the ice and caused The Beatles to start laughing. Billy said: “It was a good night. It should have been filmed.”
The five men then needed an activity to continue their newfound bond.
His wife continued: “Elvis had this table… and I probably shouldn’t tell this…too late now! Elvis had this roulette table
that turned. And I remember them playing… and they lost a lot of money that night because they played.”
Billy disputed that they lost a lot, but his wife added: “To me it was a lot of money. 10 dollars was a lot of money to me.”
The evening was catered by Elvis’ long time cook, a large woman called Alvena Roy.
Jo said: “She stepped on Ringo’s foot and I can remember him saying, ‘Oh! She’s almost mashed me bloody toe off!’”
Jo also recalled: “I can remember George going downstairs, out to the pool. It was at night time and I can remember him going down and going out and walking around the pool alone. He was kind of like the quieter one to me. But every one of them were great. It was not an all-night thing, it was just for about 35 or 40 minutes… we spent the whole evening with them and went out to see them off.”
Jo remembered how the movie magazines at the time captured the farewell between Elvis and The Beatles.
One headline was: “The night Elvis shared his women with The Beatles.”
Paul McCartney later acknowledged, “It was one of the great meetings of my life. I think he liked us. I think at that time, he may have felt a little bit threatened, but he didn’t say anything. We certainly didn’t feel any antagonism. I only met him that once, and then I think the success of our career started to push him out a little, which we were very sad about, because we wanted to co-exist with him. Elvis was our greatest idol, but the styles were changing in favour of us.” Go HERE to EIN's spotlight on 'ELVIS Meet The Beatles'
(News, Source;UK Tabloids/ElvisInfoNet)
Sunday 6 February 2022
Elvis still tops the UK Charts: From last week's Official Charts it is still outstanding that Elvis tops the UK chart statistics despite the fact that he refuses to record any new material! Total Weeks on the UK charts for both Singles and Albums combined. 1. Elvis – 2817 weeks (1307 weeks for singles) (1510 weeks for albums)
2. Queen - 2295 weeks (462 weeks for singles) (1833 weeks for albums)
3. Ed Sheeran - 2293 weeks (1200 weeks for singles) (1093 weeks for albums)
4. Michael Jackson - 2245 weeks (711 weeks for singles) (1534 weeks for albums)
5. Cliff Richard - 2091 weeks (1180 weeks for singles) (911 weeks for albums)
6. The Beatles - 2081 weeks (461 weeks for singles) (1620 weeks for albums) - ELVIS’ UK Chart Singles 21 No.1's. 76 Top 10’s. 139 Top 40’s
80 weeks at No.1 - 386 weeks in Top 10 and 1062 weeks in Top 40
- ELVIS’ UK Chart Albums 13 No.1’s. 53 Top 10’s. 95 Top 40’s
66 weeks at No.1 - 556 weeks in Top 10 and 1062 weeks in Top 40
UK # 1 Singles Artists 1. Elvis - 21
2. Beatles - 17
3. Cliff Richard / Westlife - (both with 14)
4. Madonna / Ed Sheeran (both with 13)
5. Take That - 12 UK # 1 Albums Artists
1. Beatles - 16 2. Elvis, Robbie Williams and Rolling Stones (all with 13)
3. Madonna and Bruce Springsteen (both with 12)
4. David Bowie - 11
5. U2; Michael Jackson; Rod Stewart; Eminem; Queen and Abba (10)
UK "Top 10" Albums Artists 1. Elvis - 53
2. Cliff Richard - 46
3.Bob Dylan and Rolling Stones (both with 41)
4. Frank Sinatra - 40
5. Rod Stewart - 37
and this week's UK Top 100 Albums - 4th February, 2022. - Elvis 'The 50 Greatest Hits' is back up to #60 in the UK Album Chart with 147 weeks already on the chart
while the MRS release 'Like A Black Tornado' is at #60 in the UK official 'Physical Albums' chart and #64 in the 'Album Sales Chart'
(News, Source;BrianQuinn/ElvisInfoNet)
‘It gives me chills’ Priscilla on Elvis: The Sydney Morning Herald featured an article this weekend on the up-coming ELVIS exhibition coming to Bendigo, Victoria It included.. In the history of popular culture, few images are as iconic as those of the so-called “king of rock and roll” Elvis Aaron Presley. With more than half a billion records sold globally since 1956, he is the best-selling solo artist in music history – his place in the history books feels assured.
And yet since his death in 1977, at the age of just 42, Elvis seems to survive mostly as an intangible image and also in a genre of “Elvis” films which capture his swivelling hips and unrivalled charm.
Priscilla explains, “What you saw is what you got on stage. You saw Elvis' personality. Sometimes he’d talk to the audience and was so transparent about things. He always had a lot of energy. But he was also a very caring man, very concerned about people. And he took care of his family.
He cared naturally, and wanted to please his audience so much, he would visit his fans at the Graceland gates because he wanted to thank them for being fans. That’s why people loved the show because you got to see a side of Elvis that people loved to see.”
'Elvis: Direct from Graceland', a curated exhibition of more than 300 artefacts from Presley’s private and professional life, opens next month at the Bendigo Art Gallery (with, COVID willing, Priscilla in attendance).
The artefacts range from the eccentric, his first job application, and his first-grade crayon box, to the very personal, such as his wedding tuxedo, Priscilla’s wedding dress and his military uniforms.
His glittery jumpsuits are there plus his iconic guitars. His 1976 red Bicentennial custom Harley-Davidson motorbike is there and bright red 1960 MG convertible from the movie Blue Hawaii. “When I see them on display, it just gives me chills sometimes. His father is the one who saved everything. Everything. Not one thing was let out of his hands because he didn’t want anybody to take anything and sell it.
What’s so crazy is that he had things that I haven’t seen, or have been in storage for such long periods of time. To know that I’m sharing Elvis, stories, and artefacts that he owned, is great. I want to share them because I want people to know who Elvis was, how he lived, what he bought, what was given to him, his favourite things.
People don’t believe it when I say that Elvis was shy by nature, but he pretty much closed himself off to the world. He had his guys who were around him, not only to protect him, but to be there for him, to fend for him, and that was basically our world. And he didn’t want to mingle that much because he just felt better with people that he knew. So, he would never go out.
Elvis never bragged, he loved his fans and wanted to do a good show and was nervous when he didn’t do a good show. As a human being, he was pretty special.
“I asked him one time, how do you know when you sing a song, how do you know the fans are enjoying it? Because sometimes they would be really quiet, listening to every word. But he said, when they start yawning, I know I am not doing my job. So he made sure that never happened. That’s why he put on such a great show.”
After Elvis' death Priscilla became the custodian of his legacy. “I take it as a big responsibility. I'm fulfilling dreams that Elvis Presley was never able to fulfil, and I’m straightening out the falsities that people thought about Elvis. It’s just about keeping his legacy true to who he was and I do feel a big responsibility to that.
We don’t have many of us left any more, and I take it very seriously. I’m very choosy about what I do. I want to represent him in the way that he would represent himself, or maybe in the way that he didn’t have the opportunity to.”
In one sense, the exhibition is a way for Elvis’ fans to explore his life. But in another, it is a window into the man and his music for a generation who have never encountered him before. The preservation of Elvis’ artistry, Priscilla says, is the most important thing. “It’s extremely important that people see the life he lived. You get to know Elvis, the man, who he was, what he liked.
It opens the doors. We all know his music, but this is a chance to know more about the man.”
Such exhibitions are rare, certainly on this scale. “We don’t do it that often, we really don’t. We’ve done it in London, but this one is huge. It’s a big undertaking.”
And nobody would be more amused by it, she adds, than Elvis himself. “To still have people, crowds, going to his home, he would just not believe it. I just picture him with a smile. It’s beautiful to see people talk about him, or write to me about him, that they still play his records. It’s like the legacy goes on, and whatever I can do to help that along, I’m willing to do.” 'Elvis: Direct from Graceland' opens at the Bendigo Art Gallery on March 19.
Go here for Tickets
Go here for the complete SMH story. (News, Source;SMH/ElvisInfoNet)
Wednesday 2 February 2022
'Elvis: South Bound- Tampa / Atlanta '75' FTD in-depth Review: Mid 1975 found Elvis back in good form and having fun on stage. This 5" digipack double-soundboard features two more concerts from Elvis' 1975 Spring Tour. The Tampa April 26, 1975 Afternoon show at Curtis Hixon Convention Center plus Atlanta Omni Coliseum May 2, 1975 Evening Show.
Unfortunately soundboards from the start of this tour all have the same inherent 'problem' a HEAVY bias towards Piano tracks, there was often very little drums or orchestra in the mix. So can this release show us anything new?
But while collectors are right to be a little reticent about “Afternoon Shows” this soundboard is surprisingly enjoyable...
Happy 54th Birthday Lisa Marie!: It's hard to believe but yesterday was Lisa Marie's 54th birthday. Lisa Marie was born February 1st 1968, nine months to the day after Elvis and Priscilla's wedding in Las Vegas on May 1, 1967.
Sadly Lisa Marie has suffered some terrible traumas in the past few years. But unlike many celebrity children Lisa Marie has been famous her entire life, pretty much every second.
Cameras were in Priscilla’s Baptist Memorial Hospital room in Memphis, Tenn., after Lisa Marie was born in 1968. And they even followed her parents, with Priscilla in a wheelchair, as they headed home for the first time.
While she has been through some terrible times she feels that she has always felt the "hand" of her father guiding her.
Lisa Marie explained when looking at a new Graceland exhibition, “There was a quote from Elvis on the wall as I was leaving the exhibit, which said something like: 'Becoming a father is the best thing that's ever happened to me.' I had never seen it before, so that was really cool.
I knew there was a great love there. There was a really strong connection there since the minute I can remember. It kind of reinstates what I felt was the truth, which is that I felt like I was the most important thing to him.”
'ELVIS 45' Graceland Giveaway: As part of their ELVIS 45 celebration, Graceland will be giving away 1,000 special ELVIS 45 RPM records of “Can’t Help Falling in Love / Rock-a-Hula Baby” to select visitors who tour Graceland on February 12, 2022.
Unlike some of the later unique vinyl giveaways this is new re-print of Elvis' 1961 classic Number One Single.
Graceland notes, All guests who purchase tickets at least 48 hours in advance, up to 1000 tickets, automatically qualify to receive a record when they visit, subject to availability. Remaining records will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis for walk-up ticket purchasers, subject to availability.
'Elvis Presley News Report February 2022: Elvis super-fan Emiel Maier presents all the recent news including... the 45th ELVIS anniversary year has begun, Aloha box-set new release, Tupelo birthplace, Bill Black and where his double-bass ended up..
‘Sold Out vol.12’ DVD: One night in 1977, probably sensing that things were not going well for him, Elvis asked his gospel group J.D. Sumner & The Stamps to join him center stage. Surrounded by his favorite singers, Elvis sang the gospels that he loved the most, including ‘Bosom Of Abraham’ and ‘You Better Run’. He was now finally part of a gospel group, like he’d dreamed of in his teens. It was a stunning moment, and fortunately it was captured on 8mm film. No doubt this the most significant unreleased Elvis footage to emerge in recent years, and we are proud to release it for the first time on ‘Sold Out volume 12’.
There’s more from that final year, including a raunchy ‘One Night’ from May ‘77, a longer-than usual ‘Early Morning Rain’ and a powerful ‘Unchained Melody’ (nearly complete too!), sung for the last time. We’ve included a number of films from the final concerts in Cincinnati and Indianapolis, including SENSATIONAL close-ups. It’s very moving to see the Indianapolis footage and realize that these are his final moments on stage.
There’s also fantastic footage from the great touring years, 1971 and ’72, with Elvis in fantastic form, delighting the crowds with a sincere ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’, a wild ‘Hound Dog’ with a rockin’ guitar solo, a superb ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ with reprise, and much more. Up-close & clear, this is quality footage that you will revisit time & again.
This is one of our finest releases yet. A lot of restoration work (80+ hours) was done to present these unique 8mm films the best way possible, without compromising the integrity of the original footage. This is an essential release - Order your copy now from your favorite dealer. (News, Source;Pyramid/EIN)
LEGO reveals 31204 Elvis Presley – “The King” as next Art mosaic for Spring 2022: Along with a slew of other sets, LEGO has taken the wraps off the next Art mosaic set for Spring 2022. Slated to be available March 1 along with the 31205 Jim Lee Batman Collection set, the new Elvis set marks the first time the King has graced a LEGO set.
The set contains 3,445 pieces and includes instructions for three different portraits of the rock n’ roll legend. - GO HERE for info
We expect it to retail for US $120 | CAN $150 | UK £105. (News, Source:Brothers Brick)
'From Elvis in Japan' Promo Clip: Last year EIN reviewed David Ward’s excellent book, 'From Elvis in Japan'.
For those wanting to know more about it, David has released an informative 12 minutes YouTube video taking the viewer through it. Click here to YouTube
Elvis Stopped His Bodyguards throwing Michael Jackson’s Brother out of an Elevator: In a 2001 interview with ABC News, Michael Jackson said The Jackson 5 met many celebrities when he was young. Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, and Sammy Davis Jr. were all in The Jackson 5’s orbit. Michael said Elvis and Davis repeatedly told the members of The Jackson 5 not to do drugs. Michael never forgot their advice. During an interview with USA Today, Jackie recalled his interactions with Elvis and his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. “I remember Elvis, he was the nicest guy. He was always bringing his daughter to our shows all the time, that’s how Michael first met her. Elvis would stand way in the back while his daughter would sit in the front.” Notably, Michael married Lisa Marie.
Jackie said Elvis helped him out of a pickle. “One time I was going on the elevator at the MGM Grand Hotel [in Las Vegas] and I was going the back way because I had another performance to do,”
Jackie said. “When Elvis would go somewhere, he had an army with him and so his security guys didn’t know who I was and they were about to throw me out of the elevator.”
The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll didn’t mind sharing an elevator with a member of The Jackson 5. “Elvis said, ‘Wait, hold on, that’s a Jackson right there, you don’t throw him out. Leave him here,'” Jackie recalled.
EIN NOTE: The Jackson 5 actually met Elvis at the Sahara Tahoe hotel on May 26 1974.
During the concert Elvis introduces The Jackson 5 who are in the audience as "one of the hottest groups around, they are really fantastic.. - they open here tomorrow night, so go and see them".
It would be the following night that 6-year-old Lisa Marie – who was also in the audience – would meet her future husband Michael when Jerry Schilling took her backstage after The Jackson’s opening night show..
See FTD Review 'Lake Tahoe 74'.
(News, Source:CheatSheet/ElvisInfoNet)
Yours Cruelly, Elvira!: Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (aka Cassandra Peterson) publishes her spooky memoir this month.
It should be on many Elvis fans radar, as.. "Due to a complicated relationship with her mother, Cassandra left home at 14, and by age 17 she was performing at the famed Dunes Hotel in Las Vegas. Run-ins with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Tom Jones helped her grow up fast. Then a chance encounter with her idol Elvis Presley, changed the course of her life forever, and led her to Europe where she worked in film and traveled Italy as lead singer of an Italian pop band’.
Are you trying to sell your Elvis collection or valuable Elvis items?: If you have valuable Elvis collection or items (eg. “authenticated” Elvis signature or Elvis owned clothing, original Elvis SUN Records or genuine Elvis acetates) and want to sell them, you may wish to discuss listing your items as part of the April 28 Rockhurst Sports, Rock & Roll, Entertainment and Americana auction. The Rockurst team is visiting the following cities in coming weeks: New York / New Jersey, Los Angeles, and St. Louis, and is always available in Chicago. Contact (773) 612-0918 for details. If you do live near any of the above listed cities you can also contact Rockhurst with details of your items/collection at: jeff.marren@rockhurstauctions.com IMPORTANT: Please note Rockhurst only lists truly valuable items. If you have an “average” Elvis collection a perusal of Elvis items on ebay is a good indicator of values and what sells and what doesn’t. It is the “authenticated” Elvis owned items and highly collectable Elvis records etc, that collector’s want and that Rockhurst lists! (News, Source: Rockhurst)
'Pop Star Assassin in Suspicious Minds' – new book for release in May 2022: This interesting book by Ed Lavallee looks to be very different and, potentially, lots of fun. According to the pre-publication blurb:
... The year is 1977. The King is dead, and the world mourns. But... When a mysterious briefcase turns up in his dressing room, Bruce, a coke-addled Elvis impersonator finds himself wedged between a Mob boss out to avenge the death of his only son, and a government conspiracy with far-reaching, world-ending ramifications, all in an attempt to discover the true identity of his father's killer.
... Questioning whether or not his entire life up until that moment has been a lie, Bruce sets out on a mission to discover the truth behind his own identity and that of his father. His mission throws him headlong into the heart of a government conspiracy perpetrated by a shadow agency known as "The Chamber". Their endgame: world domination at the hands of an unstoppable army of dead celebrity Look-A-Like(TM) robot assassins.
With his life unraveling around him, Bruce joins forces with a rag-tag troupe of unlikely misfits willing to do whatever it takes to uncover the truth behind The Chamber, and make those responsible pay. Fighting their way to The Chamber's inner sanctum, Bruce and company set into motion a chain of events that lead them to a final confrontation with the mysterious, nigh-omnipotent figure, Nietzsche. The encounter forever transforms Bruce and leaves him a marked man on the run. (News, Source: Amazon UK)
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News from earlier this week . . . . .
'Vintage Rock #55': UK's Vintage Rock magazine turns back the clock 65 years to the big bang of UK rock’n’roll when Bill Haley thrilled the nation’s teenagers in 1957 as the first big-name US star to tour these shores.
They also celebrate the 70th anniversary of the formation of Sun Records and take a glimpse at the seminal label’s first 12 months as it established a name for itself.
ELVIS makes an appearance via an extract from Gary Parker’s superb new book 'The Sonic Swagger Of Elvis Presley'(see news item below).
New columnist Graham Fenton makes his Vintage Rock debut and we also meet Mike McCartney who gives us a flavour of what it was like witnessing brother Paul create timeless hits with John Lennon in his own front room.
Packed reviews section includes ELVIS, Dorsey Burnette, Big Mama Thornton and Eddie Fontaine.
'The Sonic Swagger of Elvis Presley' New book: Journalist Gary Parker is publishing, 'The Sonic Swagger of Elvis Presley: A Critical History of the Early Recordings' as a paperback on 30 March 2022.
The publicity notes.. Elvis Presley's clever manipulation of his numerous interests remains one of the music world's great marvels. His synthesis of country, rhythm & blues and gospel created an inventive mixture of hair-raising rock & roll and balladry, with one foot in delta muck and the other in a country hoedown. This history focuses squarely on the music of Presley's groundbreaking early years and includes a comprehensive analysis of every Presley recording session from the 1950s. Chapters deftly illustrate how Presley, and his musical compatriots Scotty Moore and Bill Black, fused two distinctly American musical forms―country and blues―to form what would come to be known as "rockabilly." Also detailed is Presley's influence on music and how his contributions are still celebrated today.
Gary Parker is the author of numerous works in such publications as the Los Angeles Times and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Publisher: McFarland - Paperback 277 pages.
out 30 March 2022
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
Books announced for release in the first quarter of 2022: The world of Elvis books continues to be a rich and varied one. The following titles are listed for publication during January to March:
The Airplanes & The King, Carlos Varrenti (January – English language edition)
...And Then There Was Elvis: A Superfan Adventures in the Elvis World, Elaine Christan and Virginia Coons (January)
Elvis On Tour October 1976/Elvis The Spirit of ‘76, Kieran Davis (just released; reissue of “two” books – almost “Sold Out”)
Elvis Day By Day 2021, Kees Mouwen (just released)
Elvis Presley: Magical Graceland!, Mary Jordan (just released)
Bill Brown’s Ear By Ear: Heartbreak Hotel – A Lesson on the Style of Elvis Presley (Beginner Level), Bill Brown (January – Audible Audiobook)
Elvis and the Birth of Rock and Roll , Alfred Wertheimer, Chris Murray, Robert Santilli (February – reissue; multi-lingual)
Elvis Vinyl Discography from Easter Europe: Yugoslavia-Romania, Piotr Soczynski (February)
Bill Brown’s Guitar Ear By Ear: One Night – A Lesson Style of Elvis Presley (Beginner Level), Bill Brown (February – Audible Audiobook)
The Sonic Swagger of Elvis Presley: A Critical History of the Early Recordings, Gary Parker (March)
The Comprehensive USA Artwork Guide to Elvis Presley Tapes, Joseph A. Tunzi (first quarter)
Elvis Presley: Love Me Tender, Michael O’Neill and Carolyn McHugh (March-April)
In Dreams of Johnny Lee Presley (Brother to Elvis Aron Presley), Johnny Presley and Kerrie Picolo (March-April)
And consistent with EIN’s aim to provide the widest selection of Elvis “related” information:
Toy for a Sex Monster!: Feminized for Bigfoot, kidnapped for breeding and rescued by…Elvis?, Grace Mansfield (just released, Softcover/Kindle)
Elvis fans in the UK and USA can now purchase 'Elvis Day By Day 2021' via Amazon>>
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Meat Loaf and ELVIS: With the sad news that “Meat Loaf” died recently on 20 January, EIN was reminded of two Elvis-Meat Loaf related connections. One unbelievable story that Meat Loaf was “starstruck” when Elvis visited him after a performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in L.A., and Meatloaf’s strong recording of the song, Elvis in Vegas:
... Late singer and songwriter Meat Loaf was reportedly “starstruck” upon meeting Elvis Presley during a performance of the musical The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Before the debut of his multimillion-selling album Bat out of Hell, Marvin Lee Aday, otherwise known as Meat Loaf, was an actor in the stage production, written by Richard O’Brien, of the musical ahead of the now-iconic feature film. Meat Loaf couldn’t believe his luck that the King of Rock and Roll came to see the show, which was an instant hit during its run in London’s West End at the Comedy Theatre.
In interviews the singer told how he was starstruck upon meeting The King of Rock and Roll.
“The only time I ever got that way, oh my God, was when I met Elvis, and I couldn’t talk to him,” Meat Loaf said remembering when Elvis supposedly checked out the pre-movie stage version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
“Elvis came to see Rocky Horror, and everyone else who had played Eddie over in England had tried to do an Elvis impersonation,” Meat Loaf says. “That’s what they said to me when we started doing it out in LA.
I looked at them and go, ‘Why would you want an Elvis impersonation? Why wouldn’t you want Eddie to be his own human being?’ They go, ‘Well, OK,’ and that’s what Elvis talked to me about.
“He goes,‘Well, I hear everyone wants to do an Elvis impersonation [for Eddie], but you didn’t.’ The one thing I did say to him was, ‘No because there’s only one you and only one me.’ That’s all I said to him.”
EIN NOTE: Somewhat sadly we do not believe this story. If Elvis went to The Rocky Horror Picture Show then someone in his entourage would have known and retold the story. And if Elvis went backstage then surely the star of the show, Tim Curry, or someone else would have noted the fact and also told the story.
Meat Loaf’s recording of 'Elvis in Vegas' can be found on his “full throttle, guitar riff and emotion driven”, 2010 album, Hang Cool Teddy Bear...... or listen to Meat Loaf’s'Elvis in Vegas' (viaYouTube) ... I was just fifteen, And the world was mine, And I watched my dreams, Come to life on that night, I was standing tall, Felt I would never die, And I watched it all, In the white spot light I saw Elvis in Vegas, I saw Elvis in Vegas, I saw Elvis in Vegas, I saw Elvis in Vegas... (News, Source: EIN/YouTube)
'From Elvis In Memphis’ CD Re-Release: The Dutch label 'Music On CD' is re-releasing the 2009 'RCA Legacy' expanded double-cd set next week. Their publicity notes.. 'From Elvis In Memphis’ was a No.1 album in 1969 and deservedly so. Here Elvis is approaching his peak as an artist having made his glorious 1968 TV special. "Back In Memphis" continues in the same vein. "Inherit The Wind" and "This Is The Story" rank alongside "True Love Travels On A Gravel Road". These are probably The King's two best studio records. The legacy edition including 14 bonus tracks then concludes with a run through of the Elvis Presley singles from that time like “Mama Liked The Roses”, "Suspicious Minds", "Don't Cry Daddy", "Rubberneckin'" (original version) and "Kentucky Rain". Individually the albums were fantastic, put them together on this legacy set with the extras, and you have an unsurpassed master from “The King Of Rock And Roll". EIN Note: It is the same tracklist as in 2009 and also features the extra ten 'Mono' singles. See EIN's detailed 'FEIM' review here
This title will be released on February 4, 2022. - £7.99 on Amazon UK (News, Source;Amazon/ElvisInfoNet)
Kane Brown and Elvis: Kane Brown is a massively successful US country artist. In 2017 Kane Brown became the first artist to have simultaneous number ones on all five main Billboard country charts. His 2018 album 'Experiment' topped the Billboard album charts. He is also big ELVIS fan.
Recently he revealed, when asked what music he enjoys, - “Sam Cooke and Elvis - Usually that is what surprises people the most, from what I can tell when I mention it.”
When asked to name a record he wished he could’ve performed on because he loved it so much. He named the famous compilation album 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong: Elvis’ Gold Records, Volume 2. “Elvis had something about him. He could just sit on stage and sing and these girls would go just crazy and I feel like, y’know, they can relate to it.”
In a New York Times article he also named Elvis as his "cultural necessity". “Elvis was just his own thing, man. My nana was a huge Elvis fan; I remember she used to have this crazy bedazzled Elvis purse she would take everywhere, that was just his face blown up on a purse.”
Brown had a strong reaction to Elvis’ songs as he grew up. “As I got older, I started listening to his music, and if you really listen, he’s not scared to do anything,” Brown said. “I find myself trying to sound like him all the time, on ‘Blue Christmas’ or ‘Hound Dog.’ However long this world goes on, Elvis’ll still be talked about.”
19 of Kane Brown’s songs have charted on the Billboard Hot 100. (News, Source:Tabloids/ElvisInfoNet)
EIN Exclusives and News from earlier in January ...
(Book Review) 'Don't Be Cruel, Elvis: The Bill Black Story': It is easy to forget that, in the beginning, Elvis was only one part of a trio put together by Sam Phillips, which included Bill Black on bass and Scotty Moore on lead guitar.
The unique sound that emerged from their early sessions was the result of a close collaboration of like-minded musicians and an engineer who wanted to generate something as yet unheard. Bill Black's contribution to Elvis’ success went beyond the bass playing. His antics on stage — twirling his bass, riding it as if it was a bronco to be tamed, trading corny jokes with Elvis — delighted the audiences. Scotty confirmed that, “If it hadn’t been for Bill, we would have bombed many times in the early days.”
Memphis Mansion’s Henrik Knudsen fortuitously befriended Bill Black's family and was entrusted with the family’s treasured scrapbook.
Using this key source, plus the investigative power of author Paul Belard, key rock'n'roll bassman Bill Black finally gets the biography he deserves with this impressive 260 page book.
Packed full of rare photos, great stories and interviews, EIN's Piers Beagley spent some quality time enjoying this very fine tribute to "Blackie" a great musician and a true character ... go here to find out more.. (Book Review, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
'Elvis Day By Day 2021' Out Now:The hardcover edition of 'Elvis Day By Day 2021 - The Year In Review' yearbook by author Kees Mouwen has been released by Poplar Tunes Publishing and Memphis Mansion Publishing. The paperback edition should be available next week.
Like the previous volumes on 2018, 2019 and 2020, it covers everything Elvis Presley from this past year on 350 pages.
All the news as it happened and when it happened with 60 in-depth reviews on
the important music, movie and book releases by Elvis fans, Elvis-experts and Elvis-authors from around the world, making this volume a real 'international edition'.
'The Airplanes & The King' at The Printers: The two new Elvis Files books that were delayed at the end of last year are now at the printers.
The extremely well-received spanish book 'The Airplanes & The King' by Carlos Varrenti is now being republished as an English version.
Expanded to an amazing 400 pages with a lot of unreleased material from Elvis Files' vaults!
The English version is printed as a High quality Hardback book.
Elvis Files Erik Lorentzen says "Be sure to get your copy and order now"
EIN has seen the preview pages and it is an absolute stunner.
New Book 'And Then There Was Elvis - A Superfan's Adventures in the Elvis World' contains all the stories and photos of superfan Virginia Coons. Her memories were curated by her daughter, Elaine Christan, into this 400-page hardback book. All her personal memories and stories, illustrated with many hi-res photos plus candid
pictures from Erik Lorentzen's collection come together in this memoir by Elaine Christan and Virginia Coons..
With so many fascinating and personal stories, it's a Elvis collector's delight. Pre-Order now via Elvis Files.
Dallas Frazier Composer has Died: American country music musician-songwriter Dallas Frazier has passed away, aged 82.
Born in Spiro, Oklahoma, but raised in Bakersfield, California, Frazier started out working for country singer Fermin Husky at the age of 12, however, he first saw success as a songwriter with the #1 hit Alley Oop, recorded by The Hollywood Argyles in 1957.
Amongst the other songs he wrote were 'There Goes My Everything', its gospel-themed variation 'He Is My Everything', 'Wearin’ That Loved On Look' and 'True Love Travels On A Gravel Road' all of which were recorded by Elvis. 'There Goes My Everything' also earned Frazier a Grammy nomination. He also wrote The Oak Ridge Boys 1981 classic 'Elvira' and four country #1s for Charlie Pride including '(I’m So) Afraid of Losing You Again' and 'I Can’t Believe That You’ve Stopped Loving Me'.
In 1988 Frazier left the music industry and became a minister.
Suffering from post-stroke complications he died on 14 January 2022, 53 years to the day after Elvis laid down his first recording of one of his songs, 'Wearin’ That Loved On Look'. Dallas Frazier RIP: 27 Oct 1939 - 14 January 2022 (News, Source;NeilC/ElvisInfoNet)
The Pope Digs Elvis: Pope Francis’ music library contains nearly 2,000 CDs and 19 vinyl records, according to the Vatican cardinal who is curating the collection.
While it is mostly made up of classical music, it also includes: an old album of Édith Piaf’s greatest hits; Argentine tango tunes, especially by Astor Piazzolla; and a 25-disc collection of Elvis Presley’s Gospel songs, said Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture.
In an interview Cardinal Ravasi said he was not at all surprised when he saw images of Pope Francis walking out of a Rome music store with an album tucked under his arm Jan. 11.
It began when the pope sent him a few CDs, saying he knew how much the cardinal liked music, too.
“I replied that I would love to know what music he likes and that’s how it started,” with the pope regularly sending him music, the cardinal said. “I told him I was thinking of creating a music library and, at one point, he sent me a whole box of discs (saying), ‘I’ve already listened to these.’”
While the pope’s collection is mostly made up of classical music, it also includes a 25-disc collection of Elvis Presley’s Gospel songs.
(EIN NOTE: The biggest Gospel set would be "I Believe". So perhaps Pope Francis has bought every Elvis Gospel CD ever released! That is true dedication.) The cardinal said the pope told him his love of music came from listening to an opera program on the radio with his mother when he was a boy. (News, Source;CF/ElvisInfoNet) - -(the image is EIN photoshopped!)
'Aloha From Hawaii' FTD 3CD set: When seeking key career highpoints, Elvis’ multi-faceted musical legacy certainly divides opinion amongst fans and critics alike. However, if one goes by the sales and the audience viewing numbers too, there is only one answer. Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite.
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RCA’s double album of the show was released throughout the world in February
and shot to the #1 spot in many countries including the U.S. The album went to #1 on the Billboard album chart and reigned supreme from late February until late October, re-entering in late December for another two months. Today in the U.S. the album stands at 5.5 million sales and is certified 5x Platinum by the RIAA.
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To acknowledge this achievement, FTD is proud to present an upgraded re-release of Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite utilizing the talents of successful Memphian recording engineer Matt-Ross Spang who has newly remixed the original broadcasted show and the after-concert 3:00 AM crowd-less masters including rehearsal performances for the first time. Also included is the Sony Legacy 2013 remix of the rehearsal show from January 12. (Recommended by EIN!See review)
- Packaged in FTD's ‘complete sessions’ style 8” x 8” slipcase, this deluxe 3-CD contains a 28-page color booklet, great photos, memorabilia and insightful essay.
CD3 Features the extra tracks recorded after the audience had gone home (EIN Note: Who thought that was a fair idea!!) several of these outakes / rehearsals have not been previously released officially. Go here for full tracklist and details - - - - - Priced around £45 = US$62 - To be released next month.
(News, Source;FTD/ElvisInfoNet)
Saturday 8 January 2022 - - - - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELVIS ! - - - -
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELVIS
EIN wishes Elvis all the best, where ever he is, celebrating his 87th Birthday.
Sixty years ago today in 1962 Elvis celebrated his 27th birthday at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas - (photo right).
Elvis was there with Memphis girlfriend Bonnie Bunkley as well as Joe Esposito & friends. Elvis also met up with one of his favourite songwriters Don Robertson.
President Nigel Patterson of the Elvis Information Network Fan Club (Australia's oldest Elvis fan club) was also there to present Elvis with a special Birthday cake.
'Elvis Birthday Proclamation Ceremony Replay: Happy Birthday, Elvis! On a very chilly January day, EPE along with a faithfull bunch of Elvis fans gathered at Graceland to celebrate Elvis' birthday. The 'Elvis Birthday Proclamation Ceremony' was earlier today at Graceland with reserved but free admission.
The video includes a neat look at what cool events are planned for 'ELVIS 45'. Priscilla cut the huge cake, along with Jack Soden.
Just as last year, Elvis decided to stay upstairs and watch from his bedroom window. You can watch the REPLAY ceremony, including all the ELVIS 45 promotions, it runs 26 minutes.
"ELVIS 45" Year-long Celebration: Elvis Presley’s Graceland will be celebrating the life and legacy of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll throughout 2022 in commemoration of the 45th anniversary of his passing in 1977. ELVIS 45 will include special events, giveaways, new exhibit openings, and concerts at Graceland during the year, plus exclusive merchandise offerings and more!
The yearlong celebration kicks off this week during Elvis’ Birthday Celebration on January 6-9 in Memphis. Additional Elvis 45 events planned for 2022 include Graceland traditional annual events like Ultimate ETA Weekend, Graceland Performing Arts Camp, Elvis Week 2022,Holiday Lighting Weekend, and Christmas Tours: plus, one-time events including a Valentine’s Day Package,Jailhouse Rock Party, Memphis Music Weekend and more.
- As part of ELVIS 45, Graceland is offering the highly collectible ELVIS 45: The Sapphire Collection featuring a 2022 Graceland Annual Pass, limited-
edition records, plus other exclusive items. Additionally, Graceland will be giving out 1,000 special ELVIS 45 RPM Records to visitors in Memphis who tour on six select days in 2022. - Graceland will also open four new exhibits in 2022:'Rock On' in early January, a replica guitar exhibit in partnership with Gibson Guitars; 'Elvis: Dressed to Rock' on May 7, featuring jumpsuits and stagewear from 1969-1977; 'Graceland: Welcome to My World' on June 7, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Graceland opening to the public; and 'Dear Elvis' in August, an exhibit honoring Elvis fans.
Go here to EPE for all the details (News, Source;EPE/ElvisInfoNet)
Six Unique 45RPMs for Graceland visitors 2022: EPE have announced yet another great reason (or six) to visit Graceland in 2022!
For six days in 2022, Graceland will be giving out 1,000 special ELVIS 45 RPM Records to visitors who tour on these select days.
Record giveaways are scheduled for:
- Saturday, Feb 12: Can’t Help Falling in Love / Rock-a-Hula Baby
- Sat, April 9: Jailhouse Rock /Treat Me Nice
- Sat, May 7: Suspicious Minds /You’ll Think of Me
- Sat, Sept 24: Memphis, Tennessee/ That’s All Right (custom-pressing)
- Thursday, Nov 17: Blue Christmas/ Merry Christmas Baby (custom-pressing)
- Sat, Dec 10: I’ll Be Home for Christmas / Peace in the Valley (custom-pressing)
All records will feature an ELVIS 45 custom jacket and only be available by touring Graceland on these dates.
The custom-pressings are one-of-a-kind A/B side combination that is unavailable anywhere in the world! EIN really likes the look of the 'Memphis, Tennessee/That’s All Right' (custom-pressing)
Go here to Record Giveaway at EPE for more info
(News, Source;EPE/ElvisInfoNet)
Interview 'The Airplanes & The King' with Carlos Varrenti & Robert Van Beek:As promised a few months ago, the extremely well-received spanish book 'The Airplanes & The King' by Carlos Varrenti is now being republished as an English version.
Not only that but it has now been expanded to an amazing 400 pages with a lot of unreleased material from Elvis Files' vaults!
The English version is printed as a High quality Hardback book.
Printed and distributed by The Elvis Files Team, EIN has seen some preview pages and it is an absolute stunner.
EIN is delighted to be able to talk with the author Carlos Varrenti - as well as Elvis Files designer Robert Van Beek to find out more.
We find out more about Carlos Varrenti's Argentinian background, how he came to be involved with designer Robert Van Beek and The Elvis Files for the expanded reprint, what highlights are in the book and what new stories fans will be able to discover within the covers. Go here as EIN's Piers Beagley asked the questions..
'ELVIS: Like A Black Tornado - Live At Boston Garden 1971’ New CD: The official anouncement.. UK Label ‘Memphis Recording Service’ (MRS) will release a CD Deluxe titled ‘Like A Black Tornado - Live At Boston Garden 1971’ on 28th January 2021.
CD contains a captivating performance from one of Elvis’ earliest tours of the 1970s. Performed and recorded in Boston on 10th November 1971, this show demonstrates the raw energy and spirit Elvis displayed when performing away from his Las Vegas engagements, reminding everyone that, finally, he was back!
For the first time ever, this recording (formerly in mono) has been remastered, carefully restored, and remixed to true stereo using the most sophisticated technologies. The accompanying 40-page booklet includes rare photographs and memorabilia taken from this performance, along with introductory notes.
'The Airplanes & The King' English Version -ORDER NOW!: As promised a few months ago, the extremely well-received spanish book 'The Airplanes & The King' by Carlos Varrenti is now being republished as an English version. The Prologue was written by Elvis expert Carlos R. Ares.
Not only that but it has now been expanded to an amazing 400 pages with a lot of unreleased material from Elvis Files' vaults!
The English version is printed as a High quality Hardback book.
EIN has seen some preview pages and it is an absolute stunner.
Check out these YouTube Trailers - Trailer 1- and brilliant flip-through >
Trailer 2
The author notes, 'As an Aeronautical Engineer, and a huge Elvis Presley fan, I have always wanted to write a book on Planes and the King. Since my first visit to Graceland, back in 2001, I have been extremely intrigued by Elvis' history with his aircraft and his link to aeronautics in general. In my life every little detail, every short paragraph in a book, every video, every photograph, every little note or information related to Elvis and his planes, was always marked and kept in my personal archive. In 2021 all this information, along with some unique Elvis stories, has now been beautifully arranged in this glorious book, for every Elvis fan." Printed and distributed by The Elvis Files Team!
- - EIN will publish an extensive interview with the book's authors this monday
(News, Source;CV/ElvisInfoNet)
'The Making of Jailhouse Rock' New FTD Deluxe Set: Following on from FTD / David English's excellent 'The Making of Viva Las Vegas' comes another Elvis movie in-depth exploration with the December 2021 publication of 'The Making of Jailhouse Rock'.
FTD's David English and Pål Granlund present the in-depth backstory on how the MGM movie 'Jailhouse Rock' starring Elvis Presley and Judy Tyler was made.
This Deluxe collector's edition includes two hardback books, providing a fascinating and comprehensive insight from script to screen into the making of the film PLUS 3CDs and a 45rpm single.
'The Making of Jailhouse Rock; The Movie' is a 365-page deluxe hardback book featuring many newly discovered photographs, details of deleted scenes, pages from the script, shooting schedule, memos, contracts, and cast and crew memories. 'The Making of Jailhouse Rock; The Music' is a matching 85-page book featuring photos, documents and detailed session information, including pages from a newly found MGM recording session log.
Also included with this release are 3 CDs containing the entire recording sessions mixed for the first time, from the original binaural tapes to mono sequences in session order.
It includes the previously unreleased complete Instrumental Versions of (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care, featuring Elvis on Bass Guitar.
Also included will be a special "collectible 45rpm" with a reproduction of the "Vince Everett" Treat Me Nice single as seen in the movie Jailhouse Rock.
Suggested price from Elvis Shop London is £180 = US$250 plus postage
'Elvis: '72 Summer Festival' Book Review: Published back in 2019 by author Kieran Davis, this impressive hardcover book focuses on Elvis' 1972 stunning summer season in Las Vegas. With every performance examined in detail over 160 pages, it features rare on-stage photographs, plenty of memorabilia, exclusive original tour documents and best of all fan diaries detailing Elvis' every move.
Packed with rare pics, multiple concert reviews, detailed tracklists, articles on meeting Elvis, an examination of his new stage attire and much much more.. it is one of the most comprehensive books ever written about Elvis' 1972 summer season.
It has been described as a labour-of-love by a true Elvis fan who wanted to self-publish a worthy book for true Elvis fans. Originally Sold Out, the book has now been re-printed for 2021
First ‘ELVIS’ Movie Teaser: Australian director Baz Luhrmann is taking care of business.
The filmmaker shared a teaser trailer for his upcoming Elvis Presley biopic starring Austin Butler as the iconic musician.
The brief video which Luhrmann shared via Instagram included a shot of Butler from behind as a young Elvis and other shots of the singer walking backstage in his recognizable performance wear.
The video ended with the letters TCB and the date June 24, 2022.
Baz Luhrmann noted, "Made a little something to let you good people know we are taking care of business on June 24, 2022."
The ELVIS biopic was originally supposed to release on June 3rd, 2022 but thanks to Luhrmann's tweet it's been confirmed the film has been pushed back to June 24th, 2022. Luhrmann's latest film will be released only in theaters and not in a hybrid fashion.
Warner Brothers has been trying to move away from their previous pandemic distribution plan, which saw film released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. (News, Source;Insta/ElvisInfoNet)
NOV 12 - "Elvis: Back in Nashville" Out Now!: The official announcement from SONY that the long-awaited box-set is officially released. The SONY publicity notes... This comprehensive collection chronicles Elvis’ fabled 1971 marathon recording session that would be his final session in Nashville.
These pristine recordings reveal some of the most compelling singing of his career and include “I’m Leavin’,” “My Way,” and “If Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear To Tread).” EIN NOTE: Sadly the song is called "Fools Rush In" and not “If Fools Rush In"! "Elvis: Back in Nashville" is an essential addition to any collection.
Like its predecessor 'Elvis: Back In Nashville' is designed to showcase Elvis and his core band as they sounded during the actual sessions without orchestral overdubs and vocal accompaniment. A key difference between Elvis’ 1970 and 1971 Nashville sessions is that many of the 1971 recordings included backing singers; therefore, 'Elvis: Back In Nashville' offers a variety of song performances both with and without vocal augmentation. This amazing collection is available on vinyl 2 LP 12” edition and 4-CD Box Set! (News, Source;Sony/ElvisInfoNet)
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“Elvis Presley: Exodus” 1971 LP: When RCA released the best of Elvis' 1971 secular recordings spread over two albums and singles it was a grave error which ended up diluting the quality of Elvis' seventies releases.
The alternate compilation “Elvis Presley: Exodus” would have been a potentially vital LP in Elvis' musical legacy.
With the official 'Elvis: Back In Nashville' about to be released and to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the recording sessions, EIN contributor George Smith has taken the opportunity to lay the ghosts to rest to assemble his definitive collection of secular 1971 tracks: this is the 1971 album that should have been. “Elvis Presley: Exodus” - the album that was never released - is an exploration of adult relationships expressed through the medium of folk music.
In this fascinating spotlight he has collected his thoughts regarding the songs and the circumstances surrounding their recording and has much to say about this lost masterpiece. Don't miss this sensational article as George Smith reflects on Elvis' 1971 Nashville Sessions and the album that never was...
(Spotlight, Source;GS/ElvisInformationNetwork)
"Elvis Back In Nashville" 8/10 Review: It's great to see the mainstream music press already giving truly positive reviews to the new "Elvis Back In Nashville" box-set that comes out next week. UNCUT uk music magazine have already reviewed it noting.... "The King's final recordings in the country music capital"
Elvis Presley was more ambitious than his late career output might suggest.
During his 1971 sessions in Nashville, he cut tracks for his dream project: a folk-rock record featuring songs by Buffy Sainte-Marie, Kris Kristofferson and others. Sadly, it never saw the light of day, and tracks from those sessions were scattered across cookie-cutter collections throughout the'70s. 'Elvis Back In Nashville' collects those recordings in one place, showcasing his stylistic range (gospel, carols, standards... you name it) and offering a glimpse of what might have been.
Despite being sold as a nostalgia act, Elvis was absolutely devoted to whatever he song he was singing. He immersed himself in the story and invested each line with nuance and character, whether it's the casually funky "Put Your Hand In The Hand" or the delicate "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (recorded while he had the flu). Box-Set rates 8/10. Extras: 6/10. Archival photos and liner notes by David Cantwell.
You can also have a sneak preview of 30 seconds of every track via PlatoMania -CLICK HERE to listen
(News, Source;NP/ElvisInfoNet)
MRS presents 'ELVIS: September 1970' in-depth Review:MRS's new 2CD deluxe set features a new previously unreleased soundboard
from 2nd September 1970 and a bonus CD that covers the final rehearsals at the International Hotel on August 10th before the start of the summer
festival.
In September 1970 Elvis was still excited to be back on stage and performing for his fans.
Newspaper reviews of his concerts wrote about the excitement and fun Elvis was having back on-stage.
This brand-new previously unknown concert captures Elvis feeling 'loose-as-a-goose' yet still performing with a real intensity. His live versions of ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’’, 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' were truly exceptional this evening.
The accompanying 40-page booklet of the CD deluxe includes rare photographs and memorabilia taken during these engagements along with introductory notes.
Exhibition 'Elvis: Direct from Graceland' for Victoria, Australia: The Australian southern state of Victoria has scored and unprecedented Elvis Presley exhibition for early 2022.
This major new biographical exhibition exploring one of the most iconic and influential figures of the 20th Century. Elvis: Direct from Graceland, will open on 19 March 2022 at Bendigo Art Gallery.
Exclusive to Bendigo, VIC, the exhibition will explore Elvis’ stellar career, his larger-than-life persona, lesser-known aspects of his early years, interests and personal life, and his radical sense of style.
In a major coup the Gallery has been able to secure unprecedented access to the Graceland archives to present a comprehensive exhibition on the world’s greatest and most popular artists. Elvis: Direct from Graceland will feature around 300 authentic artifacts owned by Elvis direct from the icon’s Graceland home - including his military uniforms, his 1976 Red Bicentennial Custom Harley Davidson, and an amazing array of his famous jumpsuits to personal items like Lisa Marie’s baby clothes, Elvis’ first job application and the 1st grade crayon box he took to school. Visiting Australia for the first time ever is a bright red convertible 1960 MG from the movie Blue Hawaii, the only car from his films that Elvis actually owned and had brought to the Hawaii location to get around in his free time.
The exhibition will also feature many items that rarely travel beyond the Graceland gates, including Elvis’ wedding tuxedo and Priscilla’s wedding dress, two costumes from the acclaimed television performance known as the ‘68 Comeback Special, and garments from his eclectic home wardrobe.
Graceland's Angie Marchese stated, "While Elvis was never able to visit Australia himself, it brings us great pride at Graceland to know that his legacy and music lives on there. We look forward to sharing a glimpse into Elvis’ life with the fans in Australia.”
Key periods in Elvis’ life and career will be covered, including his early years living in the ‘shotgun shack’ in Tupelo, Mississippi, his break-out Sun Studios hit, U.S. Army service, his time in Hollywood, his unforgettable ’68 Special performance, and the glamorous Vegas years.
The exhibition also moves beyond the familiar story of his musical and acting career to present his more private side, his devotion to his parents, his love of books, motorcycles, horses and karate and the haven he created in Graceland for his friends and family. The exhibition includes garments and jewellery worn by Elvis throughout his life, personal items from Graceland, as well as vintage Elvis-branded merchandise, costumes and scripts from the Hollywood movies and much more.
Bendigo Art Gallery Director Jessica Bridgfoot said, “We are so excited to be able to bring this iconic collection to Australia at a time when international travel has been limited.
This is the latest in the international series of exhibitions presented by Bendigo Art Gallery that pay homage to the great style icons of our recent history."
Victoria Minister for Tourism Martin Pakula said: “Landing this exhibition is a major coup for Bendigo and Victoria and thousands of Elvis fans will be marking the dates in their diaries right now.
Whether people come for the jumpsuits, the Harley or just to celebrate one of the great figures in recent history, the benefit will extend to cafes, restaurants and hotels across the region.” Elvis Presley: Direct from Graceland runs 19 March – 17 July 2022 Tickets on sale now at bendigoartgallery.com.au (News, Source;BendigoArtGallery/ElvisInfoNet) - EIN will have more details soon-
(Book Review) Elvis June 1956: June 1956 was another busy month for Elvis Presley and author Paul
Bélard captures the frenzy and excitement of Elvis' rocket-to-stardom in
this new photo-book, ‘Elvis June 1956’.
Elvis' 1956 juggernaut was picking up strength during the month with a series of dynamic live shows across America, appearing on Wink Martindale’s ‘Dance Party’ TV show, violating segregation laws in Memphis, outraging media critics and many parents with his burlesque show rendition of ‘Hound Dog’ on The Milton Berle Show and rehearsing for his appearance on The Steve Allen Show as the highlights.
The book includes some wonderful archive material such as.. - “Singing Sensation Causes Near Riot Here”
- “Writhing Singer Has Long Beach Soxers Wailing”
- "Elvis Sends 6,400 Here Into Frenzy”
- “Presley Leaves You In A Blue Suede Funk”
· “The Presley Problem”
This graphic biography illustrates how our man worked hard getting his career off the ground. All this packed on 220 pages. Go here as Nigel Patterson and Kees Mouwen check out this look at one of Elvis' key months of his career (Book Review, Source:EIN & EDayByDay)
Ronnie Tutt has died Aged 83: Very sad news for all Elvis fans today, finding out that the incredible TCB Band drummer Ronnie Tutt has died aged 83.
Graceland posted a heartfelt tribute...
.."All of us at EPE were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ronnie Tutt. In addition to being a legendary drummer, he was a good friend to many of us here at Graceland. We enjoyed each time he joined us here to celebrate Elvis Week, Elvis' Birthday and many other special occasions. Ronnie was an amazing ambassador to Elvis' legacy - sharing his memories of working with Elvis with fans - as well as bringing Elvis' music to arenas around the globe through later "Elvis in Concert" shows and performances.
Ronnie Tutt played drums for Elvis as part of the TCB Band from 1969 until 1977. He was part of the band put together by James Burton for Elvis' 1969 Las Vegas opening - and stayed with Elvis until his death in 1977.
Ronnie later toured with Neil Diamond's band. He also recorded and performed with the likes of Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, Elvis Costello, Stevie Nicks, Michael McDonald, among others.
Our hearts go out to Donna, his family, his fellow TCB Band members - and to his fans around the world.
He will be deeply missed by all of us."
- Ron Tutt was born in 1938 in Dallas, Texas and was considered a "Child Prodigy" by many as by the age of three he was already enrolled in voice and tap dance classes. He was soon playing violin in his school orchestra, then trumpet and finally playing drums in his final years at school.
He later studied music at North Texas University before moving to Los Angeles as a professional drummer.
Ronnie said, "The two greatest music influences on my life were Elvis Presley and Neil Diamond. Elvis for the flashy, explosive, slightly out of control, style of playing that he needed and Neil for wanting the opposite and a very disciplined drummer."
Ronnie Tutt was a true gentleman, a friend to all, and a delightful person to talk to. He will be missed by all. R.I.P 'Ronnie Tutt' 12 March 1938 - 16 Oct 2021
EIN recommends this delightful interview with Ronnie Tutt at NAMM 'Oral Histories'
Also see theRonnie Tutt page at Drummer World (News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
Book Review 'From Elvis in Japan': David Ward's 'From Elvis in Japan: Elvis Presley Japanese LPs 1956-2018' is the a very detailed and visually attractive Elvis “discography”. It covers Elvis LP (vinyl) releases in Japan between 1956 and 2018, the e-book is full of interesting information about each release and stunning images of the LP covers and discs.
The discography contains information on 131 Elvis LPs released in the “land of the rising sun”, a complete song index, and “value add” sections such as How to Read Elvis’ Name in Japanese, Japanese Albums with US Artwork, and English Lyrics (the translations are often outrageously funny!).
Japan also pressed plenty of unique compilations such as 'Elvis Presley Special 24', 'Elvis on Screen', 'Elvis Presley The Complete Singles (11 LP box set)' and 'Elvis Presley By Request of Japanese Fans'.
Baz Luhrmann Taking Care Of Business!: ELVIS movie director Baz Luhrmann has announced a weekly ELVIS DAY when he will share pictures to get fans involved in his upcoming biopic.
Luhrmann tweeted.. "Still taking care of business here... Thought we’d make Monday, ‘Elvis Day’, dropping you some favorite pics as we go through our journey."
Next summer his new ELVIS biopic will hit cinemas, charting the life and career of The King of Rock and Roll. But with less than a year to go we still haven’t had our first look at Austin Butler as Elvis or Tom Hanks as his manager Colonel Tom Parker, let alone a trailer.
The first set of pictures featured Elvis posing and performing back in the 1950s. The second set yesterday featured the comment, "To Understand The Elvis phenomenon you must first understand the Colonel".
(Interview) Robert Elder, author of (recently released) 'Christmas with Elvis: The Official Guide to the Holidays from the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll' talks to EIN: All fans know how important Christmas was to Elvis. Elvis and Christmas are the subject of a delightful new book by celebrated author, Robert K. Elder. Arranged with the assistance of EPE, the book is informative, colorful, and “party” fun.
Robert recently took time out of his hectic schedule (promoting the book) to talk with EIN’s Nigel Patterson, Robert’s interview covers a range of subjects: - what is in the book
- why Christmas was so important to Elvis
- the assistance he got from not only EPE, but also two other well known authors
- the Christmas with Elvis Bobblehead set; and
- there are also appearances by Kurt Russell, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, U2, and Ernest Hemingway. Read Robert’s full interview
(Interview, Source: Robert K.Elder/ElvisInformationNetwork)
In a fascinating and entertaining interview with EIN’s Nigel Patterson, David discusses: - the extra effort RCA Japan put into Elvis’ LP releases
rare albums
- what you can find in Japanese obi strips on Elvis LPs
- the Elvis LP obi strip doubling as a poster
- Elvis’ record sales in Japan
- the single you need to hold up to the light
- some very funny Japanese transcriptions of English lyrics, and a lot more.
There is also a shout out to Ernst Jorgensen!
Despite what some fans may think, Elvis’ Army years were eventful, full of interesting and sometimes sad, incidents.
Those two years in the Army were important in shaping Elvis as a person.
As Kees notes in his enlightening review, in her book, Trina Young “goes behind the superficial public relations story of Presley’s army years”.
'Elvis: Fort Worth, Texas 1974' FTD in-depth Review: This FTD double-pack features two concerts from Elvis’ third tour of 1974, both performances from Father's Day in Fort Worth, Texas, June 16 1974. Elvis performed four shows at the 14,000 seater Tarrant County
Convention Center in Fort Worth Texas. These were the first four shows
of Elvis' Tour #11 so he was ready to rock. Reviews included, "Elvis put on one sharp, uptown and professional show. Wrapped skintight or loosely white bellbottoms and waist-length jacket. Elvis had the show in the palm of his hand".
In fine humour, at the evening show Elvis jokes that the whole band are from Texas...“John Wilkinson from Waco Texas, Ronnie Tutt from Dallas Texas, Duke
Bardwell from Abilene Texas, Charlie Hodge from Decateur Texas, Voice
from Nashville Texas and Joe Guercio with the all-Texas choir band! And
I’m from Tupelo, Texas." Go here as Elvis soundboard super-collector Geoffrey McDonnell & EIN's Piers Beagley give you the complete low-down on this new FTD double-pack ....
(FTD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
'Think Twice: Elvis in The Studio 1971': The forthcoming 'Back In Nashville' boxset is going to shine the spotlight on Elvis' 1971 sessions which have traditionally been ignored by the official label. In this fascinating and detailed article EIN contributor Shane Brown examines these all too easily dismissed Nashville sessions and discovers some real gems.
It’s very easy to look at the March, May and June 1971 recordings out of context. While the recordings are certainly not up to the standard of those from June 1970, it’s also true to say that Elvis was in a very different place personally by spring 1971.
In June 1970 Elvis was riding the crest of a wave with his recent successes but by January 1971 he was in the newspapers due to an ongoing paternity suit.
The Presley’s marriage was on the rocks and Elvis was having problems with his eyes. However despite all of this there was something very interesting going on during the 1971 sessions. Find out more as Shane Brown investigates these controversial 1971 Nashville Sessions....
(Spotlight; Source;ShaneBrown/EIN)
Don't miss out on one of EIN's most-viewed and controversial interviews of all-time - Mike Stone tells all.
EIN Interview with Mike Stone: Mike Stone has had a long and successful career in athletics, in the entertainment business, as an author, sports instructor, bodyguard and personal fitness trainer.
Mike Stone was also a key figure in the emotional roller-coaster that described Elvis and Priscilla Presley's lives in the seventies. In this exclusive EIN interview Priscilla's ex-partner, karate champion and author talks about his amazing life, including... - Meeting Elvis and Priscilla
- Hawaii, Elvis and Karate
- Being Phil Spector's bodyguard
- Sitting next to John Lennon recording
- Priscilla and karate
- Fans blaming him for Elvis' marriage split-up
- Elvis putting a "Hit" out on him
- Finding peace in the Philippines
- His new autobiography
(Interview) Piotr Soczynski talks to EIN: While serious collectors will be familiar with Piotr Soczynski’s phenomenal work in documenting little known parts of the Elvis recording catalog, most fans will not. This is a great pity, as Piotr, who lives in Poland, has already published five of the best Elvis books in 2021, with two more volumes due later this year and in 2022. These books are:
★ Elvis Army Vinyl Records 1956-1967
★ Elvis Army Vinyl Records 1968-1991
★ Elvis U.S. Demo and Acetates 1953-1965
★ Elvis U.S. Demo and Acetates 1965-1993
★ Vinyl Discography from Eastern Europe, Part 1
★ Vinyl Discography from Eastern Europe, Part 2 (late 2021)
★ Vinyl Discography from Eastern Europe, Part 3 (expected 2022)
The first four volumes sold out quickly earlier this year, while the more recent first volume of Piotr’s Eastern Europe vinyl trilogy is selling fast. The depth of information, glorious visuals, and strong, clean book design have resulted in fascinating “coffee table” releases which will please (amaze) both collectors and the general fan. Piotr recently took time out to discuss
Elvis in Poland and his series of books which are an important narrative-visual record of little understood Elvis vinyl releases. Read Piotr’s full interview with Nigel Patterson and marvel at some great page visuals from the various volumes
(Interview, Source:ElvisInformationNetwork)
'Selling Elvis in 2021' EIN Spotlight: One of the most common questions asked of EIN is "how do I sell my Elvis records?"
Sadly, the market for Elvis’ recorded material is a shadow of what it was in the decade following his death. The exceptions are high quality original Sun Studio singles and various obscure releases such as test pressings, demos and acetates.
The best time of the year to sell anything ELVIS related is, of course, now around "Elvis Week" in August.
In 2021, demand for Elvis records generally continues to diminish as the sheer volume of Elvis records pressed means most collectors already have what they want, older fans are passing away, and younger fans are not as interested in physical records.
Highlighting the situation, a recent edition of the excellent Vintage Rock magazine featured a fascinating article discussing how the market for 50s vinyl has dipped and which artists and recordings are maintaining buyer interest. Go here as EIN's Nigel Patterson puts a spotlight on the declining vinyl market
(Spotlight, Source;ElvisInformatoinNetwork)
UPDATED- The collapse of the Elvis Bootleg Empire: Has Ernst won the war?’: Back in 1999 Ernst Jorgensen and Roger Semon convinced BMG to let them start the FTD collectors label in order to counteract the Elvis bootleg companies which had been selling unreleased material to fans since the very first vinyl bootleg 'Please Release Me' was issued back in 1970.
Of all the bootleg labels that have come and gone the 'Madison' label was one of the very few that always produced high-quality releases and which happened to start at the same time as FTD. The designs were top-notch and with detailed sleeve notes they easily competed with the legal Elvis releases.
In 2021 ‘Madison’ have returned with the new bootleg ‘A Legendary Performer Volume 9’ but all is not what was promised. The Elvis bootleg vaults are empty and FTD appears to have won the game. Go here as EIN’s Piers Beagley checks out the lack of new material and considers the bootleg era at an end... And EIN wants YOUR SAY -Our article is now updated with YOUR FEEDBACK - and more... (Spotlight; Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
Don't forget that EIN's Elvis Facebook page regularly features fabulous RARE newly discovered photos of Elvis. This month EIN celebrates our 45,000 members! - including several of Elvis' own friends and colleagues So Elvis fans don't miss out on these rare and exciting photographs.
Now with over thousands of great photos, News and with more added every day – including YouTube footage.
"On Tour" 50th Anniversary - FTD vs Lorentzen release:
In the same way that the FTD 'TTWII' Collectors Edition had to include similar photos to Erik Lorentzen's 'TTWII' Summer Festival publication, a debate among Elvis collectors has already started regarding the two new 'On Tour' editions and which one to purchase.
Lorentzen promises the earlier publication this year, whereas FTD are still gathering documentation and unseen images for their 2022 release.
Trouble has also started as Lorentzen has stated about his book, "Unique in this 1200 page edition is that for the first time the complete and very extensive information of all shows and sessions" yet now Ernst Jørgensen has posted that his personal session notes are being used without permission.
It will be difficult for fans to decide which to buy, or both, especially with the extra wait for the David English / Pål Granlund 50th Anniversary FTD 'On Tour' project. Ernst Jørgensen posted the following statement.. "It has come to my attention that some of my personal recording notes are being used in Erik Lorentzen’s forthcoming Elvis On Tour book.
This is disappointing; as Erik has been notified that this information is private and confidential, and prior to publication permission is required, which has not been granted.
Pål, David and myself are working on an 'Elvis On Tour' FTD release for 2022, this information will be included with this release."
We do however also know that FTD will be including audio cds with their publication, the audio content however has not been finalised as yet. (Note: Both images are of course not the actual book covers!) (News, Source; ElvisInfoNet)
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'Elvis UK' Book Re-Issue: Following the successful release of 'Elvis UK3 The Ultimate Guide To Elvis Presley’s British CD Releases 1983-2005' as a Flip book in February 2021, co-authors John Townson and Gordon Minto are pleased to announce that their original book – the long out-of-print Elvis UK – published in 1987 – is now to be made available using the same digital technology but with an additional 60 pages of ‘bonus material’.
Our prime reason for making this book available is due to the constant requests for hard copies as it went out of print in the late 1980s. Unfortunately, a physical reprint was not an option, owing to extremely high production costs – just as it wasn’t for Elvis UK3. However, unlike the latter project - which we wanted to be able to update when required – 'Elvis UK' will be available as a download. The document will not be held on a digital platform and accessed via the internet, but will be available on the buyer’s own device.
Importantly though, the original book appears exactly as it was in 1987 as it has not been possible to make any textl amendments as the book did not exist in a digital form.
The original Elvis UK was a 565 page hard-backed reference book, published by Blandford Press, dealing with the then hitherto largely unexplored subject of Elvis Presley’s UK record releases from March 1956 through to 1986, nine years after Presley’s death. The digital copy of Elvis UK features: Every individual record release – singles, EPs and LPs issued on HMV, RCA and third party labels between 1956-86 – in great detail and in chronological order
- Each entry included detailed track info as well as writers’ names, release dates, and chart entry positions
Every release and re-release carefully cross-referenced
Label and sleeve variations identified and dated
Introductory sections which include background to the issuing companies, comprehensive information about details printed on labels and the process of how records were made
Chronological and alphabetical listings of all main sections, including catalogue numbers and release dates
A various artist section which featured one or more Elvis tracks
A section detailing promotional records
Hundreds of illustrations
An Interview and spoken word index
A full list of every song showing where it appeared, cross-referenced with page numbers
- Plus - 60 pages of bonus material – which includes the following: The Making Of Elvis UK
Golden Grooves
Mastering
LP Re-issues
Fortunately, in transferring Elvis UK into the Flip format none of the original search features have been lost. On the contrary, the comprehensive contents and indexing system built in to the original book has been accentuated by the highly intuitive navigational features offered by Flip. Searching is much easier and quicker.
In our view, this move represents the only sensible and cost-effective way of making this valuable and much-sought after reference work available to a much wider audience – but at the reasonable and affordable price. The download version of 'Elvis UK', complete with 60 pages of bonus material section costs just £20. More about this release (and others in the series) and how to order it can be found on our website –www.elvisukbooks.co.uk (News, Source;GM/ElvisInfoNet)
Book Review: 'Elvis The King of the Rings Vol 1': Author-researcher Paul Belard has released the latest installment in his ongoing Elvis day-by-day biography series, visually (and narratively) documenting Elvis Presley's life and times. Unlike previous volumes, this book doesn’t cover a specific period of time, it covers a “shiny” part of our man's life, his love for big and glittery jewelry, specifically rings. Elvis liked expensive things: cars, motorcycles, clothes, and jewelry. His jewels befitted a king. He wore sumptuous pendants hung on heavy gold chains; huge lavish rings dripping of rubies, sapphires, lapis lazuli, and emeralds; bracelets of gold and precious gems.
The singer Robert Goulet described Elvis’ penchant for generosity: “I remember once we sat together backstage for two hours. And he was a charming, delightful man. And at one point I said, “That’s a beautiful ring you have there.” He said, “You like it?” I said, “It’s beautiful!” He took it off his hand and put it on mine. He gave me his ring.”
Belard's new book features 254 pages dedicated to Elvis’ love of rings.
The photos include close-ups of so much glorious "Bling" along with stories of Elvis wearing them on-stage and even where they ended up. Go here to read our review by Kees Mouwen and Nigel Patterson
(Book Review, Source:DayByDay/ElvisInformationNetwork)
'Jay Thompson and Elvis Presley' Spotlight: In April 1956 Disc-jockey Jay Thompson, from Breckenridge radio station KSTB, interviewed a young Elvis Presley while he was touring through Texas on a string of one-night stands. In that 1956 interview Elvis interestingly revealed that he was previously training to be an electrician, that his first movie would be The Rainmaker and that he did not know Bill Black or Scotty Moore before their Sun session.
In 1982 Elvis fan Scott Wheeler befriended and interviewed Jay Thompson about the experience. Although Jay never actively participated in Elvis-related events or productions in later years he also never sought notoriety for the interview either. However we believe it's important that Jay Thompson be well remembered for his valuable contribution to the history of Elvis.
Book Review - 'ELVIS UK3': Recently published 'ELVIS UK3' The Ultimate Guide to Elvis Presley's British CD Releases 1983-2005' by John Townson and Gordon Minto comprises 1400 pages with over a million words plus 4,000 plus illustrations.
This examination of Elvis’ British releases is an incredibly detailed narrative and visual record of his CD releases in the UK from 1983 to 2005.
The first Elvis CD, 'The Legend' (3CD), was released in the UK in December 1983. Reflecting the fledgling nature of the format, UK fans had to wait another 12 months until the release of not one, but three, Elvis albums, in December 1984. By that time, the flood gates for the CD medium were starting to strain.
As with the authors’ earlier two volumes on Elvis UK vinyl releases, the information in Elvis UK3 is exhaustive.
To say that Elvis UK3 was well-researched would be a serious understatement. There is so much information in this book that it is difficult to comprehensively review it all. While many collectors will be most interested in the technical details for each entry, the author’s narrative is excellent.
Released using the flipbook format EIN tested Elvis UK3 on four platforms - a 28” computer monitor, 14” tablet, iPad 8 and a 6.5” android mobile phone. EIN's Nigel Patterson has spent plenty of time reading through this massive work and here presents his in-depth review ...
(Book Review, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
Elvis "BACK ON DVD!": Paramount have re-released three classic Elvis movies this month on DVD. 'G.I. Blues'- BACK ON DVD! The year was 1960... 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' - BACK ON DVD! The year was 1962... 'Paradise, Hawaiian Style'- BACK ON DVD! The year was 1966...
From Paramount Pictures.-
Release date: March 12, 2021.
From Amazon for $14.99. (News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
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'The Best Use of Elvis Music in Recent Movies': In the first two decades after his untimely death it was rare to hear an Elvis song in a new feature film - and certainly not in a TV advert.
EPE / BMG seemed reluctant to licence Elvis' music which is strange considering the amount of sub-standard Elvis products they were pumping out to fans. But everything changed in 2002 with ‘ALLC' hitting number one all around the world .
So with Baz Luhrmann's ELVIS biopic in production it's a good time to revisit some of the best use of Elvis music in recent movies.
Film producers have discovered that using ELVIS in recent movie soundtracks can be a powerful and positive idea.
From the cartoon Lilo & Stitch to the blockbuster Blade Runner 2049 and the Elton John biopic Rocketman, the use of Elvis songs in the soundtrack can add that something special.
EIN lists Movie blog Screenrant's recently posted Top Ten and also adds EIN readers favourites. Visit our EIN spotlight and also send us YOUR THOUGHTS on your favourite use of ELVIS in modern films.
(Spotlight, Source;SR/ElvisInformationNetwork)
Interview: 'ELVIS UK3' authors John Townson & Gordon Minto: Recently published 'ELVIS UK3' The Ultimate Guide to Elvis Presley's British CD Releases 1983-2005' by co-authors John Townson and Gordon Minto comprises 1400 pages with over a million words plus 4,000 plus high quality black and white and colour illustrations.
It is a massive undertaking that provides the definitive guide to Elvis's UK compact disc releases from the ' The Legend' - the world's first ever Elvis compact disc in 1983 - in meticulous and unprecedented detail.
Every single, RCA, FTD and third party album (all 450 of them!) issued up to 2005 are written about individually in fascinating detail, arranged in chronological order, carefully cross-referenced, while charting and describing company and industry developments along the way. With such a massive book EIN readers have asked questions such as..
- Who is this book actually aimed at?
- Did you learn particular new insights into RCA's marketing on Elvis?
- How important was Roger Semon in changing Elvis' musical legacy
- Was 'The King Of Rock n Roll' box-set the true turning point?
- Should RCA have stuck to 'The Beatles' approach of only one essential release per year?
- Why is it a digital release and not a hard-back? EIN's Piers Beagley interviewed authors John Townson and Gordon Minto to find out more about this amazing work ... Go here to their fascinating and detailed interview
(Interviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
(Book Review) Elvis@Argentina 1963-1969 (Carlos Ares):The second volume in Carlos Ares’ series of “coffee table” books detailing Elvis’ reception in Argentina is another high quality production. With a great balance between informative text, colorful images and impressive archival artefacts, it is a worthy inclusion in any fan’s Elvis library.
It is available in English and Spanish text editions.
'Walk A Lonely Street' Book Review:Recently published Tony Plews, 'Walk A Lonely Street: Elvis Presley, Country Music & The True Story of Heartbreak Hotel' is a unique volume that tells the tale of Elvis Presley’s rise to fame as viewed through the lens of his era-defining first hit record, “Heartbreak Hotel”. Presented as a series of consecutive short stories, it offers a new perspective on Presley’s musical and cultural achievements, and reveals the true and dramatic saga behind the breakthrough song that changed the world.
In EIN Piers Beagley's detailed review he discovers that.. the true joy of this book is Tony Plews’ delightful and engaging writing style. His detailed research and his mix of facts and imagination blend together to create an emotional narrative that really draws the reader in. At times he also adds a nice British, somewhat droll, sense of humour that can make you laugh out loud.
A totally enthralling musical journey, Tony Plews writes with a truly engaging, colourful and passionate style. If your love of Elvis is based upon his amazing musical legacy then this is the book for you....
Go here to EIN's 'Walk A Lonely Street' in-depth review Coming Wednesday.. EIN interviews author Tony Plews
(Book Review, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
‘From Elvis in Nashville’ Box-set EIN In-Depth Review:
A 4CD collection presenting the definitive chronicle of Elvis' 1970 marathon sessions with the "Nashville Cats".
Recorded live in RCA's Studio B over the course of an epic five day run in June 1970 now, for the first time, the sessions are presented in pristine audio, newly mixed by acclaimed engineer Matt Ross-Spang without the added overdubs appearing on earlier releases.
Elvis’ 1970 Nashville session was very different from the previous Memphis sessions or even Elvis’ later sessions. Nashville was a real mix of Elvis recording RCA supplied demos along with one-take spontaneous favourites Elvis threw into the mix.
As Elvis noted, "It don't take much to get these guys going, boy, I'll tell you…. Just give them a "well..." and they're gone. That's what I call 'Sittin' on ready". EIN's Piers Beagley explores this new box-set to discover one of the best Elvis releases in years..
(CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
US CD box-set
US Vinyl
UK CD box-set
UK Vinyl
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‘TTWII 50th Anniversary Collectors Edition’ FTD Book Review: FTD's most expensive set ever published, David English and Pal Granlund bring the complete background story of 'Elvis: That's The Way It Is'. Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the movie's 1970 release, this ultimate collector's edition includes two hardback books, eight cds with over 450 minutes of music,
including newly discovered unreleased performances.
With access to 2,000 original negatives and 35mm slides, restored and repaired, many of which have never been seen before, the book also contains items from the MGM and RCA archives including paperwork, documents, memos and recording information.
Two books, 600 pages, plus all the MGM recorded rehearsals - including 70 tracks officially unreleased.
FTD's most expensive set but with the vast majority of the rehearsals already out on bootleg, can it really be worth the US$270 plus postage. Initially Sold Out and already into its first reprint what makes it so desirable? EIN's Piers Beagley investigates and discovers plenty .. Go here to our 6000 word review including plenty of extracts and stunning images. (FTD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
Arlo Guthrie 'Can't Help Falling In Love With You': A marvelous story for CV19 lockdown.
Folk singer Arlo Guthrie (son of legend Woody Guthrie) tells a truly wonderful life-affirming story of singing Elvis' 'Can't Help Falling In Love With You' at a European folk festival, to 30,000 folk music lovers!
He jokes about choosing a song made popular by 'The King of Folk Singers' Elvis Presley.
Arlo Guthrie teases fellow musician Pete Seeger about him being a core "Folkie" and exactly how Elvis' music fits into the whole equation. After all everyone knows Elvis' music and the world is a better place if you are an ELVIS fan.
Live at Wolftrap, August 8, 1993 Go here to YouTube for a life-affirming 9 minutes. EIN HIGHLY recommended with big THANKS to our friend James Bracken
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
Amazon Deals on ELVIS Blu-rays - Beware of excessive prices at some Elvis dealers.
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'ELVIS In The 2010s' A Personal Review of the Past Decade: Rather like Elvis’s own career, each decade since Elvis’s death appears to have had a theme or identity of its own. Clearly the late 1970s were difficult for RCA as they struggled to find the right direction with which to take their posthumous releases, and so it was the 1980s that was the decade when the company slowly but surely learned how to look back at Elvis's legacy and start to make some sense of it.
The 1990s were when that reached a peak, with the decades boxed sets, and the Elvis in the 90s series, thus bringing virtually the whole catalogue back into print in a coherent way.
The 2000s were when errors of judgement at retail level started to occur (despite huge successes like Elv1s), but also when FTD came into its own and flourished. And so what will we make of Elvis releases of the 2010s when we look back on them from the future? Go here for EIN contributor Shane Brown's personal take on the highs and lows of Elvis product that has come our way over the last decade....
(Spotlight, Source;ShaneBrown/ElvisInformationNetwork)
Both with FREE Delivery
Check deals at other sites.
Elvis LIVE Aug 23, 1969 Album Review + Elvis Concert Review 1969: ..."The atmosphere throughout the entire hotel was nail-bitingly electric! It is difficult for me to describe and paint a true portrait of attending in person this unique occasion - Elvis' Return to Splendor LIVE in 1969 - but I'll try my best. I want, and hope, you will understand the excitement of what has to be the pinnacle of Elvis' career to date!" Joan Gansky was lucky because not only was she in the audience for Elvis' TV musical renaissance of the '68 NBC Special but she also saw Elvis at his most dynamic - first at his August 22nd 1969 Midnight Show and then the following night at his August 23rd Dinner Show. Joan Gansky has written this insightful and emotional article for EIN in 2019, fifty years later, looking back at this special event from 1969 as well as providing her review of the new RCA vinyl album of the August 23rd Dinner Show. One of EIN's most important articles we have ever published- Go here for Joan and Paul Gansky's incredible articles and exclusive photos
(Review/Spotlight, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
'Elvis - Made In Germany’ In-Depth Review: The new MRS 'Elvis - Made In Germany – The Complete Private Recordings’ 4CD set contains more than 3 hours of the private recordings Elvis made while off duty in Germany when he was serving as a soldier in the US army during the 1958 -1960 period and, includes rare tracks from a recently discovered tape comprising over an hour of unheard personal recordings. The 152-page hardback book contains rare photographs and documents plus a comprehensive text provided by Gordon Minto, which discusses each of Elvis’ RCA studio (non-film) recording sessions held during 1957-58, before focusing on the private recordings he made in Germany.
The BONUS CD features the essential RCA studio masters from 1957-58.With such an expansive book, along with hours of Elvis jamming with his friends in Germany, there is plenty to discuss as well as finding out what extra material this set contains over the official releases. Go here as EIN's Nigel Patterson & Piers Beagley provide an in-depth review of this new MRS release
(Book Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
'What was Elvis searching for?' EIN Spotlight: The question is raised – but never answered – in the title of HBO’s recent absorbing, imperfect documentary 'Elvis Presley: The Searcher'.
At the start it seems clear what the teenage Elvis was searching for – an escape from the oblivion of poverty in the American South. Yet his quest was cultural as well as financial.
Later Elvis read obsessively, seeking out such books as The Impersonal Life, Joseph Brenner’s guide to self-discovery and Kahil Gibran’s book of fables, The Prophet. In his copy of Gibran’s tome, Elvis jotted down the line: “A singer can sing his songs but he must have an ear to receive the song”.
So what exactly was Elvis searching for? In this fascinating EIN Spotlight respected author Paul Simpson takes a close look at this all important question which, for some reason, was basically ignored in the recent HBO documentary..
The VINYL Boom: Over 7.6 million vinyl LPs were sold in the USA during the first half of 2018, a 20% increase from the previous year, while in Australia vinyl sales increased by $3 million, the same increase of 20%. In the same period CD sales however dropped by 15%. Elvis vinyl is still selling very nicely with ‘ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits’ recently in the UK Top ten VINYL charts. And there is plenty of Elvis Presley vinyl on offer....
‘ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits’ on GOLD Vinyl: ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits was re-released by Sony Music on GOLD Vinyl on 12 October. UK's Entertainment-Focus have posted this cute review. ... What is there to say about Elvis Presley that hasn’t already been said?
It may be 41 years since the icon died tragically at only 42 years old but his music continues to live on, and likely will forever. It’s actually mind-blowing to think that his music has survived for almost as long as he was alive. In 2002 Sony Music released a new greatest hits collection titled ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits, which dominated charts across the world and sold millions and millions of copies. 16 years on from its original release, ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits has been reissued on 2LP vinyl.
Taking inspiration from the album cover, the release has been pressed on gold vinyl making the whole package feel very special.
Presley was an incredibly prolific artist so getting this collection down to 31 tracks was no easy feat. It also includes the ALLC Junkie XL remix.
What was achieved with ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits though, is a
collection that gives you all the highlights you need from The King’s career to showcase the incredible impact he had on music. The album opens with Heartbreak Hotel and there isn’t a single filler track here.
It’s actually near impossible to pick out highlights across the 2LPs because every single one of these songs is a classic.
Of course no Elvis collection would be complete without Suspicious Minds and that track is near the end of the track listing on the final side.
The release features the artwork from the original 2002 release and it’s a beautiful, high-quality gatefold. I mentioned earlier about the gold vinyl but what I’ve not commented on yet is the sound. The CD version was a little patchy given that the songs were all recorded at different times. It’s not as noticeable on the vinyl release and the quality is crystal clear. The warm crackle of vinyl adds to the overall feel too. ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits is a must-have release for any Elvis Presley fan. While he had plenty of great songs that aren’t featured here, this collection truly is the definitive one to own. There’s not a single bad song here and it’s lengthy enough to give you value for money. The whole vinyl package is fantastic and it looks as good as it sounds. They don’t make artists like Elvis anymore and they probably never will again. (News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
‘ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits’ GOLD Vinyl Double LP.
'ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits' is a must-have release for any Elvis Presley fan.
The Official 'A Boy From Tupelo' Vinyl album is still selling, while there are some interesting Public Domain Vinyl releases out in the UK including'Jailhouse Rock' with 16 tracks even including 'Lonesome Cowboy'! Also the rather odd CD called 'Girls! Girls! Girls! + Loving You' with thirty tracks including Bonus tracks such as 'Is It So Strange' and even 'Good Luck Charm' out 29 October 2018 from Hoo Doo Records!
Mindi Miller Interview with EIN: Mindi Miller was a working actress when she met Elvis in early 1975. She was interested in karate (she performed all her own movie stunts), exploring spirituality and the Bible and so they had a lot in common. Mindi Miller and Elvis bonded over their common interests and soon afterwards he asked her to go on tour with him in April 1975.
She stayed friends with Elvis through the years - along with members of the 'Memphis Mafia' - and attended his funeral.
EIN's Sanja Meegin recently caught up with Mindi Miller to talk about her close friendship with Elvis over the years.
In this fascinating interview she discusses. . . - Her first night with Elvis
- How Elvis persuaded her to cancel her overseas movie & modelling plans
- Their mutual interest in Karate
- Graceland and meeting Lisa Marie
- Attending Elvis' funeral . . . and much much more... Go here for EIN's Sanja Meegin and her intimate and detailed discussion with the delightful Mindi Miller - Now with Reader Feedback.
Official Elvis CD Box-sets at bargain prices through Amazon UK
'Marty Lacker: A Life Well-Lived' & Elvis at American Studio's Interview: It was with immense sadness that last month EIN had to report on the death of our great friend - and a true friend to Elvis - Marty Lacker. We will miss him dearly. Marty is well-known as one of the key members of the Memphis Mafia and also co-Best Man at Elvis' wedding. He was known for both his honesty and being forthright with his opinions. He was the only member of the Memphis Mafia who still watched and commented on recent Elvis News. He had no issue with holding people to account (especially ones who would inflate their importance within Elvis' legacy) and would regularly ask EIN to add his comments or to correct any inaccuracy. Elvis fans often ask about Marty Lacker's background, how he came to meet Elvis, as well as his involvement in the music industry outside of working for The King.
As a prelude to Ken Sharp's fascinating interview with Marty Lacker and a discussion about Elvis' famous American Studio' Memphis sessions, EIN presents "Marty Lacker: a life well-lived" in which Marty tells of his life in the music industry, his friendship with Elvis along with his dislike of the over-controlling Col Parker. Go here to learn all you need to know about Marty Lacker as well as Elvis outstanding Memphis American Sound sessions in 1969. (Spotlight; Source,KenSharp/ElvisInformationNetwork)
Marty Lacker RIP :Sadly Marty will no longer be able to answer all your those fascinating questions, but his honesty and openess should not be forgotten.
- Chips Moman (RIP) later thoughts on Elvis
- Being a consultant on 1979 "ELVIS" movie.
- The demonstrations in Memphis this Elvis Week.
- Felton Jarvis as Elvis' Executive Album Producer.
- The Jungle Room sessions
- Elvis might have some illegitimate children
- Why did Elvis never travel to holiday in Europe,
- Is David Stanley, Holy Priest of truth, OR a liarGo here to 'ASK MARTY' to remember the great man.
(Ask Marty, Source;ML/ElvisInfoNet)
'The World of FTD' In-Depth Review: The new deluxe book 'The World Of FTD' has been received by some lucky fans and Elvis collector Mike Lodge has provided EIN with a very detailed review - of well over 3 thousand words! The book was authored and designed by Keith Flynn with input from a large number of other Elvis specialists including EIN's Piers Beagley, EM&HM's Trevor Cajiao, Geoffrey McDonnell, Gordon Minto and many others. It is 1,200 pages, hardbound three book set, chronicling every release by FTD.The book also features 100s of high-quality photos from the collection Erik Lorentzen
KJ Consulting are proud to publish this Box Set which weighs 8 kilos.
UPDATED - Paul Dowling EIN Interview Part Three: Paul Dowling is without doubt one of the major names in the Elvis World. He started collecting and selling Elvis vinyl over 40 years ago and has one of the world's largest Elvis Presley record collections. He started his "WorldWide Elvis" shop back in the seventies, way before the internet, where fans could get hold of rare Elvis records and memorabilia.
With such a fascination with Elvis, Dowling not only became a big name in the early years of Elvis bootlegs but later became friends with Ernst Jorgensen and helped RCA with various official releases.
In the final part of our fascinating interview Paul Dowling discusses .... - Dodging the FBI agents that were sent after him
- Unreleased Elvis material that still hasn’t come out
- Why does Ernst Jorgensen doubt this claims
- His BMG project 'For The First Time Ever' - what happened
- The true story of obtaining the Million Dollar Quartet tape
- His thoughts on Paul Lichter, Sean Saver, Sherif Hanna, Rex Martin
- Spending time with Alan Fortas
- Jim Curtin, newly added story
'Ultimate Elvis' New Electronic Edition: Announced by Elvis sessions expert Keith Flynn for publication November 1 is the brand new concept of the 1750 page super-deluxe Elvis sessions book 'Ultimate Elvis' Electronic Edition.
This incredible three volume book will now be available as an e-book on an i-pad or android tablet. - Created in HTML5
Fully updated e-books will open in any web browser on any operating system, so no need for separate downloads for different operating systems. - Life-Like 'Flipping' Pages
Flip through pages as if you are reading an actual book, but also being able to zoom-in to view smaller images and captions.
- View as Double or Single pages
View as double pages on a computer or laptop etc, and single pages when viewing in portrait on an i-pad or Android tablet. - Fully Navigational Table Of Contents
Jump back and forth to the sections of the books you want to read, instead of flipping through numerous pages to find what you want. PRICED AT - all 3 Volumes for £60 = US$93
On sale from November 1st 2015. Try Before You Buy -
Download free zip-file containing 27 pages from Volume 1, before you decide to buy the complete set. -
NOTE - These books are MASSIVE so you will need approximately 1GB of spare disc space for these three volumes, -
Click HERE to Keith Flynn's 'Ultimate Elvis' Electronic Edition to try.
Go HERE to EIN's independent review of 'Ultimate Elvis' (News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
Did Elvis Record 'Tiger Man' At Sun?: A question that has puzzled Elvis fans through the years is whether he actually recorded the song ‘Tiger Man’ during his years at SUN studios.
The basic question is why did Elvis refer to 'Tiger man' several times in concert as “The second song that I ever recorded, not too many people heard it”?
And if Elvis DID record it, then why hasn’t any reference to it at SUN or proof of its existence been found?
Elvis would first perform ‘Tiger Man’ in concert at his first 1969 Las Vegas International season and would continue playing it through the years – usually in a medley with Mystery Train - until his last performance at Saginaw on May 3 1977. He would sing it over 150 times on stage! The thought that there might be an acetate or undiscovered tape of Elvis at SUN singing ‘Tiger Man’ is a mouth-watering concept - but is it an unlikely fantasy or strong possibility?
Go here to our detailed 'TIGER MAN' spotlight as EIN's Piers Beagley puts in the hard yards to check the facts from the fantasy . (Spotlight; Source;ElvisInfoNetwork)
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