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...
'Elvis: Direct from Graceland' gets 5-star Review: Australia's 'Elvis: Direct from Graceland' exhibition gets a 5-star review in Arts-Hub magazine. It includes..
This expansive showcase of the entertainer's evolution in style has an astounding amount of detail. Chronologically and thematically arranged, the Bendigo Art Gallery exhibition allows audiences to access the life of a private man in a pre-digital public arena, when celebrities’ private time could counterbalance the intrusions of their fame.
The music filling every room exemplifies distinct career stages. Memphis’s Sun Records, the studio of Elvis’s inaugural recording, is showcased first.
Young Elvis’s Depression-era clothes have a hand-me-down quality which contrasts with the custom-designed suits and stage costumes of later years. Showbiz designer Bill Belew’s ‘riveting contemporary take’ for the ‘68 Comeback Special, signalling Elvis’ return featured clever incorporation of the singer’s ‘cultural roots — the working-class dreamer, the Southern preacher, the youthful rebel’.
... Elvis' exuberant Vegas costumes, over 15 jumpsuits, many with matching capes, allow all-round access. Corners of the capes are flicked over to display the shiny undersides of contrasting colour under the heavy fabric topsides, emulating perhaps what a Vegas audience would have seen as Elvis moved around the stage.
Film footage of opulent furnishings and scenic exteriors further draw the audience into Elvis’s private haven.
Activities for kids are masterfully interwoven, as
are Elvis’s personal effects: school books, opulent jewellery from later years, guitars, vehicles and ornaments from Graceland such as his bedside gold telephone. Accompanying photographs show the performer in action with these items.
Go here to Arts-Hub for full review. - - . Go here for ticket info. (News, Source;AH/ElvisInfoNet)
Austin Butler discusses "ELVIS": Austin Butler plays Elvis in Baz Luhrmann's new biopic that will guide viewers through Elvis' life from relative unknown to the biggest musician on the planet.
Butler recently spoke about Elvis and how the film became an emotional journey for him.
Elvis was a searcher and would consume books about spirituality such as Kahlil Gibran and Hermann Hesse. "It was experiences like that that really showed me how much gospel-influenced Elvis on a musical level, on a spiritual level, on the way he moved, and the freedom of his body. I remember walking into this little chapel,
with all these period microphones, and they’re stamping their feet. I stood in the centre and tears poured down my face and chills down my spine.
Gospel music was so important to Elvis. You know, I think it was an incredible gift us getting to go down to Nashville and record with some of the most amazing gospel singers I’ve ever heard.
When we first started, it really felt like when you're a kid, and you put on your father's suit, and the
sleeves are much too long, and the shoes are like boats on your feet. At the beginning, I thought, this is impossible. You know, how could I possibly do anything but feel like I'm less than this superhuman individual? But as time passed I started to feel like I grew into it. And suddenly, I felt Elvis' humanity more.
Baz also directs in a way that we tried so much to get it right.. So we had tapes where it was just purely for getting every finger to be in the exact same way that he moved. And then some we would just throw it away and allow just visceral life to come.
We were in Nashville and so headed to Memphis. Priscilla was at Graceland and I met her.
I walk in, and I’m just waiting in the living room. Eventually, she walks in. She’s so ethereal. It took my breath away.
She looked me in the eyes. Something so profound about staring into the eyes meant so much to Elvis. It gives me chills right now. She said, ‘you have a lot of support'. She hugged me, and that was so huge for me getting that blessing. ELVIS opens in cinemas June 24 2022. Go to EIN's spotlight for more great movie news and images (News, Source;Various/ElvisINet)
Sunday 27 March 2022
'Glen Glenn' Dead aged 87: Rockabilly performer "Glen Glenn" (aka Orin Glenn Troutman) has died aged 87.
'Glen Glenn' is known to Elvis fans due to photos of them relaxing together at LA's Knickerbocker Hotel when Elvis was filming 'Loving You'.
However they had also met earlier backstage at Elvis San Diego performance on April 4 1956(below)
It was through Bill Black's friendship with influential bass player Fred Maddox that Glen Glenn got to meet Elvis.
While relatively unknown "Glen Glenn" would make a professional come-back with the European rock'n'roll shows of the 80's
As 'wiki' notes, "Glen Glenn" was born in Joplin, Missouri, and relocated with his parents to California in 1948. Troutman was raised on the classic traditional country sounds of the deep South and was related to Porter Wagoner by marriage. In the early 1950s, he formed a duo with guitarist Gary Lambert, called the Missouri Mountain Boys, and began playing country music in bars in Los Angeles. They soon began performing on local TV shows, and met singer and guitarist Eddie Cochran, who became a formative influence. In late 1957, he signed with Era Records, adopted the name Glen Glenn, and in January 1958 his first single was released, "Everybody's Movin'" backed with "I'm Glad My Baby's Gone".
He was soon drafted, and, while Era continued to release his records, was unable to promote them. After
leaving the Army in 1960, he transferred to the Dore label and made some more pop-oriented recordings, which were unsuccessful. He continued to perform occasionally with Lambert, while also working outside the music industry. In 1977, Ace Records in Britain released a compilation of his rockabilly recordings, and his career was reinvigorated.
While he never gained the same fame and public recognition as such fellow West Coast rockabilly pioneers as Eddie Cochran and Ricky Nelson, Glen Glenn's talent far outweighed his luck in the music business, and his classic sides have become the stuff of legend among rockabilly fans as well as such roots rock giants as Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan, all of whom have covered his tunes on-stage.
When asked about Elvis 'Glen Glenn' noted, "Elvis was such a nice guy. For me being a nobody in those days, a young little rockabilly that nobody in the world knew, Elvis treated me good. And I've had other entertainers that weren't anything like Elvis that didn't - but Elvis treated you just like a normal person.
He means more to me than any singer. He's done
more for music to me than any performer. Hank Williams was my favorite country singer, but Elvis... there is nobody like him. What do you call it, charisma or something, Elvis had something that the impersonators just don't have. Everything Elvis does is Elvis, he doesn't copy nobody.. There's only one Elvis Presley." (News, Source;ETMHM/ElvisInfoNet)
‘Elvis: Celluloid Sell-Out!’ from FTD: Chris Giles of the Elvis Shop London has posted some neat sample pages of the new FTD book ‘Elvis: Celluloid Sell-Out!’ from author Bob Pakes.
The book contains 448 pages and over two thousand images of Worldwide Elvis Presley movie memorabilia from 1956-1958.
It’s packed with movie posters, lobby cards, press-books, publicity stills, programs, standees, heralds and much more!
Plus 2 bonus CDs featuring the soundtracks from ‘Love Me Tender’, ‘Loving You’, ‘Jailhouse Rock’ and ‘King Creole’.
Chris Giles notes, "Here’s a few Sampler Pages of what to expect with this fantastic new Book.
The book brings you Artwork from around the World that were used on their Elvis Promotion for the Movies, including many fabulous images that many will have never seen before plus the History behind them all.
Over 4 years of painstaking research by Bob Pakes this is truly a Gem that will grace anyone's collection that loves Elvis history."
"A Star Is Born": The latest issue of the excellent UK magazine, Vintage Rock includes several Elvis related items, SUN: Year One (article); Elvis Presley The Complete RCA Studio Masters 1956 – MRS (review); Elvis Like A Black Tornado – Live At Boston Garden 1971 (review) and A Star Is Born. The latter is excerpts from Gary Parker’s soon to be published book (April-May), 'The Sonic Swagger of Elvis Presley'. They include: ..... ... “The door to the control room was open,” Sam Phillips recalled later, “the mics were on, Scotty was in the process of packing up his guitar, I think Bill had already thrown his old bass down – he didn’t even have a cover for it – and the session was, to all intents and purposes, over. Then Elvis struck up on just his rhythm guitar, That’s All Right, Mama and I mean he got my attention immediately. That was what I was looking for!”
.... In the decades since that moment – the second that Elvis launched into That’s All Right – has been characterised as either one of the most monumental cultural events of the 20th century, or in the words of Sinatra, the birth of “a music sung, played and written for the most part by cretinous goons.” For Sam Phillips, it was the sound of the wall that separated white audiences from the music he loved about to crumble. “Get yasself a wheelbarrow load of mad hogs", Dewey Phillips screamed as he cued up That’s All Right for his listening audience, “and run ‘em through the front door and tell ‘em Phillips sentcha! This is Red, Hot And Blue comin’ atcha from the Hotel Chisca. And now we got somethin’ new!
Good people, this is Elvis Presley!” And with that, a Presley record was played over the public airwaves for the first time." EIN Note: “Snippets” of Elvis’ first SUN single had been played on another Memphis radio station earlier that day. However, Dewey Phillips was the first to play either side of the single in their entirety.
For more Read EIN’s interview with author Gary Parkerand Vintage Rock Magazine site (News, Source: VR,ElvisInfoNet)
.
.
.
.
Mavis Staples, Booker T. and Priscilla among Memphis 'Music Hall of Fame' class of 2022: Mavis Staples, Booker T. Jones, Priscilla Presley and other members of some of the world's most famous music families are among the notables who will be inducted this year into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame - reports the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
The eight honorees in the Hall of Fame's class of 2022 will raise the roster of inductees to 90, making for a roll call that includes Kings (Elvis and B.B.), a Queen (Aretha Franklin), a Black Moses (Isaac Hayes), several reverends (including Al Green), and a Wolf (Chester Arthur Burnett, better known as Howlin' Wolf).
Some of the honorees, such as Mavis Staples, have been performing for more than six decades, yet remain active. Executive director John Doyle said, "Many of these icons are still doing what they do — creating music."
The honorees are selected by a committee made up of local and national musicians, writers, educators and other music experts.
“It is difficult, because there are literally hundreds of deserving Memphis musicians yet to be honored, with new musical candidates emerging annually," Doyle said.
"Some have more name recognition, Grammys or records sold, but the Hall prides itself for not being a popularity contest." In fact, teachers and disc jockeys are in the Hall, alongside legends of pop, rock, rockabilly, blues, soul, rhythm-and-blues, swing, jazz, country, hip-hop and opera
These are the eight 2022 inductees into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame:
- Mavis Staples: After the Chicago-based Staple Singers took their songs of hope and freedom to Stax in Memphis, they hit the top 40 charts eight times in the 1970s, with such anthems as "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There." Mavis established herself as a star presence and has remained a solo star in the decades since. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and has recorded with Bob Dylan and Prince.
- Priscilla Presley: Priscilla Beaulieu moved to Memphis in 1963 and attended Immaculate Conception High School before marrying the King of Rock 'n Roll in 1966. In 1979, she was named executor of Graceland, and worked to ensure that the legacy of her late husband would continue to be meaningful, and that Elvis' popularity would continue.
- Fred Ford (1939-1999). Achieved fame as a baritone saxophonist, playing in clubs around the country; backing such artists as Charlie Rich and Rufus Thomas at recording sessions at Sun and Stax;
- Jim Gaines: This Memphis native became one of the industry's most successful studio wizards, working as a sound engineer and producer on such famed albums as the Steve Miller Band's "Fly Like an Eagle," Van Morrison's "St. Dominic's Preview," George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone," Huey Lewis' "Sports" and Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Pride and Joy."
- Booker T. Jones: Previously inducted in 2012 as a member of the Stax instrumental combo Booker T. & the MG's, this Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winner will be recognized for his work as a solo artist, studio musician, composer and producer of classic albums, including Willie Nelson's "Stardust" and Bill Withers' debut.
- Ronnie Milsap: Moving to Memphis in the late 1960s, the North Carolina-born Milsap recorded here at Chips Moman's American Sound Studio before he relocated to Nashville and became a top country artist.
- Billy Lee Riley (1933–2009): Though he never achieved the household-name status of SUN colleagues as Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash, Riley remains revered for such uninhibited explosions of musical mayhem as "Flyin' Saucers Rock and Roll" and "Red Hot."
- J.M. Van Eaton: The Memphis-born rock-and-roll drummer and producer was a foundational architect of the liberating Sun sound, serving as in-house drummer on "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" and other epochal records by such artists as Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and fellow class of 2022 inductee Billy Lee Riley (News, Source;MemphisCommAppeal)
Today "Learn about official Elvis NFT and Metaverse project": EPE are getting'down with the new millennium and this afternoon (2pm Eastern Time) they are running a on-line workshop on
"Learn about NFTs with the official Elvis NFT and Metaverse project"
EPE says...As one of our valued Elvis fans you’re invited to our first preview of the Elvis On-Chain project.
Learn about the brave new world of NFTs and how we’re bringing Elvis to the metaverse.
Learn with us and Web3 experts, as we give an important announcement, share the ways you can get involved, and capture your feedback.
Be one of the first to hear about the Elvis On-Chain NFT & Metaverse project, brought to you by the Elvis Presley Estate and blockchain studio Run It Wild. Date: March 24th 14:00 ET
Register here: https://meet.zoho.com.au/AsJH2Wzn7j
Can't attend? Register and we’ll send the recorded version of the webinar to you.
EPE say "Looking forward to seeing you!" (News, Source;EPE)
Tuesday 22 March 2022
'ELVIS: Prodigy of SUN Records' New Book: Erik Lorentzen's Elvis Files presents 'ELVIS: Prodigy of SUN Records' an 800-page two book deluxe-package formatted as an illustrated day-by-day travelogue and date book chronicling Elvis' early career and life through newspaper clippings, memorabilia and many unique and rare photos in superb quality. 'ELVIS: Prodigy of SUN Records' is set to be the most comprehensive early Elvis bible on the market today.
Many hours of research through digital libraries uncovered new facts and interesting anecdotes from Elvis' early life and career from '35 till '55. From Old Saltillo Road to the magic of SUN recording studios the first Louisiana Hayride appearances and everything in between.
This book comes with a string of never-before-seen photos dated from 1935 through to 1955.
BUT WAIT, we're not done yet - a 10 inch vinyl bonus LP with twelve songs comes with this release!! The early Elvis SUN recordings in the best possible sound.
The world's first atomic powered singer mixed blues, pop and hillbilly / country to create an electrifying new music that was called Rock'n'Roll and changed the influence of music in the world forever.
Also you will get 9 glossy early SUN promotional photos with your order, all presented in a printed paper sleeve.
A collection of stories: many of Elvis early childhood friends sharing their memories in these issues.
Elvis' time in primary and secondary school is extensively discussed as well as his first loves (not only girls) and his roots for Gospel music.
A collection of jaw-dropping photos and, of course, the near to complete story from Elvis' birth until his big break in 1955.
An unmissable reference book for all fans.
Out this summer from Erik Lorentzen / Robert van Beek and ELVIS FILES
More info coming soon...
(News, Source;EL/ElvisInfoNet)
'The legacy of Elvis Presley lives on in new Australian exhibition': The brand new ELVIS exhibition in Bendigo, Australia is getting lots of publicity.
Australian Vogue reported...
.. The legacy of music and style icon Elvis Presley lives on in a new exhibition-
Well, it's one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready now go, cat, go… to Bendigo. The historic city in Victoria is attracting travellers thanks to the latest regional gold rush that is 'Elvis: Direct from Graceland', a new biographical exhibition that explores the private life and legacy of larger-than-life icon, Elvis Presley.
Already rating as the fastest-selling exhibition in the history of Bendigo Art Gallery, 'Elvis: Direct from Graceland' marks another coup.
Previous exhibitions include Marilyn Monroe, and Grace Kelly: Style Icon and if there’s a consistent curatorial line threading through the gallery’s crowd-pleasing exhibition program, it is the enigma of the icon – a theme they dissect through the fashion ephemera and personal effect of the rarefied few who transcend time.
Arguably, no celebrity shares the same depth of cultural significance and devotional worship as Elvis. His legend and fashion legacy will soon explode on the big screen thanks to 'ELVIS', Baz Luhrmann’s viscerally rich biopic which is set to be released mid-year. It reveals the ripple effect across fashion and form and showcases Elvis’s enduring impact on the cult of celebrity and style.
But while Baz was negotiating the logistics of an oncoming pandemic, BAG’s curators were independently kite-flying the possibility of an exhibition premised on Elvis’s private side. Jessica Bridgfoot, the director of Bendigo Art Gallery, recalls the first Zoom call being made from her home to Graceland during the 2020 lockdown, and the evolution of an improbable proposition into the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of archived Elvis artifacts ever to be displayed in Australia. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition paying homage to one of the most influential
figures of the 20th century,” she says. “This is not a travelling exhibition… it goes straight back to Graceland when over. It is absolutely a triumph". 40 years and 20 million visitors later, Graceland is the most visited historic home in the United States after The White House. The enduring legacy of Elvis is testament to the determination, staying power and sense of ‘right’ that sums up the now 76 year-old Priscilla Presley.
Priscilla noted,“Everything, everything was special about life at Graceland. That was our whole world – our horses, hanging out with the guys, the fireworks, it was very, very private. We would go to the movies late at night. Elvis was able to get the latest movies, before anyone else had seen them, We would leave home right after the Johnny Carson monologue and head out to the theatre. Sometimes it was three or four in the morning, back home at 7.30am.
I read a couple of books and one of them made fun of his Las Vegas suits, calling them Liberace suits… it really hit me, I got a bit angry, because this person didn’t know Elvis Presley and why he had those suits. Elvis wanted to give his audience something to take home. He started wearing regular suits, then he met Bill Belew who was an unbelievable designer. They started designing together. First it was simple suits and it went from there. Elvis would say, “I need something a little more, I want to give a show that audiences will remember”. And progressively, one after the other, they were a little bit more embellished, a little bit more flamboyant with semi-precious stones. He wanted the audience to have something to talk about. It was always about the audience…giving them a show, letting them go home with memories.
I think my favourite exhibits are the books, because he would read at night. We might come home from a movie at 2 o’clock in the morning or later, and he would go right to the books and start reading. He would read to me and I had to go to school the next morning. I would be so tired. And he would say, “you’re not listening to me woman.” ( laughs). There were so many of them piled up on the floor. I made a special book case for him, that went under the bed. I was afraid that he would step on the books and trip… I put them all away and showed him and said you don’t have to worry now, you are not going to trip over them. What do you think happens? The books go right back on the floor. He didn’t care. He was an avid reader.” 'Elvis: Direct from Graceland' is a ticketed event from 19 March to 17 July, 2022 at Bendigo Art Gallery -
-- Go here to see the full Vogue article. (News, Source/V/ElvisInfoNet)
'On Stage' Legacy CD Re-Release: Once again the 'Music-On-CD' label are re-releasing the old SONY / RCA / Legacy recordings for 2022.
This time the 2010 double RCA-Legacy version of 'On Stage'. The publicity notes... Back in 1970 ‘On Stage’ was an important step in Elvis’ live album releases and his musical back-on-stage renaissance. Elvis showed that he could find great country-funk-rock songs like stunning versions of Tony Joe White’s “Polk Salad Annie”, John Fogerty’s “Proud Mary” and Neil Diamond‘s “Sweet Caroline” while at the same time Elvis put his very soul on the line with an amazing “Release Me” and “Let It Be Me.” While the previous ‘Elvis In Person’ marvelously captured the stunning dynamite of a resurrected Elvis, ‘In Person’ is basically an album of old rock-n-roll hits, a stunning look-back with a slight look forward with ”Suspicious Minds” and “In The Ghetto”. On both albums Elvis is accompanied by James Burton, The Imperials and The Sweet Inspirations.
From 'Music-On-CD' - MOCCD-14178
Format: 2 CD - priced at £21 = US$28 To be released May 6, 2022.
See EIN's in-depth 2010 'On Stage' review here (News, Source;Amazon/ElvisInfoNet)
Saturday 19 March 2022
FTD - Three New April Releases: FTD have announced three new releases for next month. A 1976 double-soundboard, a Kid Galahad double Vinyl LP, plus a new book on 'Elvis Presley movie memorabilia 1956-1958'. 1- 'Elvis: Madison to Pine Bluff ’76': As part of its ongoing live on tour series, FTD is pleased to announce the release of ‘Elvis: Pine Bluff To Madison ‘76’.
Released as a 2-CD 5” digi-pak, this set features two shows: Dane County Coliseum, Madison, Wisconsin October 19, 1976 8.30pm and Pine Bluff Convention Center, Arkansas, September 8, 1976 - 830pm. FTD have already releases plenty of soundboards from this tour including the day before Sioux Falls, Oct 18 (Bruce Jackson: On The Road With Elvis CD2) and September 6, 1976 Afternoon and Evening shows ‘Elvis In Alabama: The Last Double Date’
Both these 1976 shows - especially the Pine Bluff Closing show - are recommended by soundboard collectors
See 'FTD / SONY CD News 2022' for tracklists
2- “Kid Galahad” (2-LP Limited Edition)
FTD is pleased to announce the release of the first official ‘Kid Galahad’ vinyl soundtrack album. It is hard to believe that it was 60 years ago that this movie first made its debut. “King Of The Whole Wide World” sounds as fresh today as it did then.
This 180gram 2-LP limited edition contains all the original soundtrack masters and many excellent alternative outtakes.
EIN finds this particularly surreal as one of the first Elvis 45rpm singles I ever bought was the ‘Kid Galahad’ EP.
... and now it is a double-vinyl release!
3- Book – ‘Elvis: Celluloid Sell-Out!’
FTD Books presents ‘Elvis: Celluloid Sell-Out!’ from author Bob Pakes.
448 pages and over two thousand images of Worldwide Elvis Presley movie memorabilia from 1956-1958.
It’s packed with movie posters, lobby cards, pressbooks, publicity stills, programs, standees, heralds and much more!
Plus 2 bonus CDs featuring the soundtracks from ‘Love Me Tender’, ‘Loving You’, ‘Jailhouse Rock’ and ‘King Creole’.
EIN Notes – Bob Pakes previously published the stunning book ‘The EPE Catalog’ 400 pages and over 1,450 images on every weird and wonderful product that was part of the immensely successful 1956 Elvis Presley merchandise train. See EIN’s interview with Bob Pakes here.
There can be no doubt that this book will be as thorough – though why fans need the movie soundtracks is anyone’s guess.
(News, Source;FTD/ElvisInfoNet)
Priscilla Opens Australian Elvis Exhibition: The brand new 'Elvis: Direct from Graceland' exhibition at The Bendigo Art Gallery in Australia was opened today by Priscilla Presley.
The exhibition features around 300 authentic artifacts owned by Elvis Presley, including military uniforms, his 1976 Red Harley Davidson and an amazing array of his famous jumpsuits
Amid the hundreds of Elvis personal items in the new Elvis exhibition a handful stopped Priscilla her tracks on her pre-opening private tour, sparking deep memories and emotions.
A set of bongos. A wedding dress. A crisp white suit. And an old, well-thumbed copy of The Prophet, a book of prose poems by Kahlil Gibran. The bongos were her first Christmas present to Elvis: it was 1959 and 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, the daughter of an air force captain, was falling in love with the 24-year-old singer, already a star, who had been drafted into the army and based in Germany.
She had scoured Wiesbaden for a present for the man who seemed to have everything he wanted,
and settled on the $45 bongos (her father paid for them). “Bongos! Just what I always wanted,” Elvis said when he opened the present.
The wedding dress, obviously. It was 1967 and she had to shop on the quiet: “We didn’t want the publicity, we didn’t want the fanfare. Finally I got one. I wanted it very simple, I didn’t want it to be flashy in any way.” Then there was the White-suit: the one Elvis wore to sing If I Can Dream, the heartfelt finale to his ’68 Comeback Special, his first performance in almost a decade, after he tired of the Hollywood grind and moved to reignite his passion for live music.
Amazingly, it was the first time Priscilla had seen Elvis perform live. She saw him in a new light in that moment, and in the Las Vegas shows that followed. “I became a fan. I could not believe what I was seeing and it was like, ‘Oh my god’. This is what I loved about him ... it just was a beautiful sight – how he performed, how he moved, how comfortable he felt. I was very, very proud of him. That was him. That was what he loved more than anything.”
And, in a little side room off the exhibition, a pile of books selected from Elvis’ bookshelf. Among them, Robert Kennedy’s profound analysis of the issues confronting 1960s America, To Seek a Newer World. And The Warren Report, the detailed official investigation into the assassination of JFK. Elvis was a voracious reader: Priscilla would try to tidy his books under the bed into a suitcase, but more kept piling up on the bedroom floor where he tossed them.
One book from those late-night bedroom reading sessions
together drew her eye in particular: The Prophet. It was a book he read so often he almost had it memorised: he was drawn to passages such as “the musician may sing to you of the rhythm which is in all space, but he cannot give you the ear which arrests the rhythm, nor the voice that echoes it”. In one copy he underlined that passage and made a note below it: “a singer can sing his songs but they must have an ear to receive the song”.
He bought a copy for her, too, and wrote notes for her in it.
Priscilla says it is a sentimental, “very difficult” experience to see Elvis’ life revealed in such an extensive exhibition. “Do I get emotional, yeah, I do, Elvis was a truly very special person.”
His greatest fear that he confided in her was that he would not be remembered beyond his lifetime.
“I got a little teary-eyed actually. Because this is what I think he wanted. To be shared, to be remembered. It’s a dream come true.”
Elvis: Direct from Graceland is at Bendigo Art Gallery, Victoria from March 19 to July 22. Go here for ticket info.
Priscilla also spoke to Australian ABC radio with Brian Nankervis to reminisce on life with The King life behind closed doors at Graceland and much, much more. (Go here to the ABC for the interview)
(News, Source;ABC/SMH/ElvisInfoNet)
New book release - 'Elvis August 1956 Hollywood Bound August 16 - 31': The latest photo-journal by prolific Elvis author-researcher, Paul Belard, is now available. The book features well over one hundred b&w and color/colorized images as well as a wide array of important archival material from the time. This is an excerpt from the book:
... On August 16, Elvis flew to Los Angeles to star in his first movie. He was welcomed at the airport by a group of fans, some of whom carried banners inscribed “Elvis for President.” He stayed at the Knickerbocker Hotel. There, photographer Ed Braslaff took multiple pictures of Elvis in a variety clothing, or lack thereof, in his room and on the roof of the hotel. Most pictures were published in the book Elvis 1956 Reflections. On the 24th, while on the set, Elvis recorded three of the songs that would appear in the film. Preliminary work began on the 25th. At that time, the film was still titled The Reno Brothers.
In late August, Debra Paget and Elvis were interviewed by Jules Archer. Archer was an American author of many books on U.S. history, political events, and personalities.
.
The interview titled Stop Hounding Teenagers! appeared in the magazine Writer’s Digest in November 1956. It is one of the best articles written about Elvis. Towards the end of the interview, to the question, “Elvis, do you think that your popularity with teenagers could be harnessed to fight delinquency and to keep kids on the right path”, Elvis replies: “I’d be right proud to help any way I could to influence kids to do the right thing. If I can help any civic, charitable or religious drive by sending a special message, or posing for a special picture, I’ll be happy to do so. That goes for Protestants, Catholics, Jews - white or colored.. We’re all God’s children, and I don’t care what a man’s color or religion is. If my influence can help people, especially teenagers, solve their problems, I hope they’ll let me help.”
At the time of this interview, Tupelo and Memphis and most of the South were still segregated. For Elvis to admit he did not care about a man’s color or religion took courage. For those who still think Elvis was a racist, this article is a must-read.
The book is available on Amazon and the author can be contacted at: pbelard@hotmail.com (News, Source: Paul Belard)
'SOLD OUT Vol14. DVD: From the Pyramid label. The publicity says.. We are going to take you to the Las Vegas of the early 70s: the sights, the sounds. 8mm film from Elvis’ Summer Festival 1973 is pretty rare, but we have managed to obtain good footage and are presenting it here. Dressed in his ‘Snowflake’ jumpsuit, his repertoire includes a ballsy ‘Steamroller Blues’. Also neat to see Emory Gordy on bass subbing for Jerry Scheff. There’s also great concert footage from 1974, and as always his interplay with the fans is a highlight. When a fan says she’s waited 20 years to get a kiss, he says, “Honey, you must have rusty lips by now!” Also the Pittsburgh 1976 New Year’s Eve show. All shot from the same angle by the same person. Elvis was ready for this New Year’s Eve concert, and today it stands as one of his finest performances from the final years. There’s lots more: Abilene ’77 as filmed by Rex Martin; Tampa & Atlanta ’75 - fun footage with an animated Elvis; the Las Vegas opening show from August 1975 (GREAT show!); Binghamton ’77 and plenty more. There’s so much to enjoy: Elvis having fun with the audience, with the band…. Teasing Kathy Westmoreland with her ‘see-through blouse’, calling J.D. Sumner ‘Hovie Lister’…. Goosebump-inducing moments, like a gorgeous ‘My Boy’, the LAST version of ‘Suspicious Minds’, a SENSATIONAL ‘How Great Thou Art’, a rare-for-1977 ‘Lawdy Miss Clawdy’, Elvis asking for the lights to be turned on and performing ‘Funny How Time Slips Away’ in one of the most unusual arenas that he played in the seventies (you MUST see this!!)…. (News, Source;Pyramid/EIN)
Wednesday 16 March 2022
‘Elvis’ World Premiere at Cannes!: Great news that the Baz Luhrmann ELVIS biopic will have its World Premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
Warner Bros is hyping up its upcoming film ELVIS with a premiere just as flashy as the man himself. The movie will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival a month before its theatrical release. While no specific date has been selected yet it will have to be between May 17 to May 28.
Luhrmann has previously opened the French Riviera Film festival with both Moulin Rouge! in 2001 and The Great Gatsby in 2013.
Luhrmann’s first movie since The Great Gatsby, ELVIS explores the
life and music of Elvis Presley, seen through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager. The story delves into the complex dynamic between Presley and Parker, from Presley’s rise to fame to his unprecedented stardom, against the backdrop of the evolving cultural landscape and loss of innocence in America.
Variety had predicted the film will play at Cannes along with 'Top Gun: Maverick', George Miller’s 'Three Thousand Years of Longing', David Cronenberg’s 'Crimes of the Future',
Wes Anderson's 'Asteroid City' among others..
The Cannes Film Festival’s Official Selection will be unveiled at a press conference in Paris during the second or third week of April. -
ELVIS is set to hit Cinemas on June 24. (News, Source;Variety/ElvisInfoNet)
Now available – 'The Roots of Elvis: The True Origin Story Revealed by DNA & New Research': Gary Lindberg, author of the controversial books Letters from Elvis and Brando on Elvis, has released his latest book which sets out to examine myth and correct factual errors in the accepted genealogy of Elvis Presley. The book description is:
... Within the genetic maze of his ancestors lie the deep roots of Elvis Presley, the relatives with whom he shared DNA and who influenced him in unknown and unpredictable ways. He was a product of his ancestors—their habits, traditions, traits, lifestyles and values. Just as his parents’ genes were shared through the union of sperm and egg, his ancestors’ beliefs and values were indelibly shared with him through the telling of family stories and the imprinting of attitudes. But Elvis’s public origin story is a mess of myth and factual errors that is finally corrected. In Roots of Elvis, you will learn, among many other things, startling new facts about:
- Elvis’s Cherokee and Jewish ancestry—fact or fiction?
- The Presley matriarch who had nine children but never married.
- The identity of Elvis’s unknown great-grandfather.
- The mystery of Gladys Love Presley’s middle name.
- The secret of Elvis’s birthplace.
- The genetic mutation that may change Elvis’s origin story.
The book is available in softcover and Kindle formats. (News, Source: EIN/Amazon)
.
.
.
.
Just released - 'Elvis Presley Australian 45RPM Extended Play Covers (Books 1 and 2)': Noted Australian author-researcher, Bob Hayden, has published his latest Elvis books. In full colour, the two volumes provide the front and back covers for all (variations) of Elvis’ Aussie 45RPM EP releases plus Manufacturer’s Details which help to differentiate between releases of the same title. The books have a flexi-cover and the paper stock is high quality gloss.
Book 1 has 88 pages and Book 2, 92 pages.
The books will appeal to collectors.
The author can be contacted at: elvis2594@gmail.com (News, Source: ElvisInfoNet)
'Rock ‘n’ Rose' novel for October release: The second novel by Suzan Holder (wife of Noddy Holder from glam rock group, Slade) is due for publication in October. Suzan’s first novel, Shake It Up, Beverley, was Beatles inspired, this upcoming novel 'Rock ‘n’ Rose' is Elvis inspired. From the book description: “Music mad Daisy has a family mystery to solve. She heads to Memphis, the birthplace of Rock 'n Roll - to uncover the link between her Nana Rose and The King. She finds both romance and the truth behind the gates of Elvis Presley's Graceland. Pack your Blue Suede Shoes for a rockin' rom-com!”
The book cover is not yet available. Visit the author’s site
'Disc Jockeys, Preachers, and Elvis' New Book: From author/DJ Ron Brandon 'Disc Jockeys, Preachers, and Elvis' is a self-published biography.
Ron Brandon was the person who recorded Elvis' 1956 live performance in Tupelo and our Elvis legacy would be less rich had he not done so and then sent Elvis a personal copy!
Which Joan Deary luckily found and released on 1984's 'The Golden Celebration' set.
The book details "55 years of Behind The Scenes stories of Disc Jockeys, Rock & Roll, and Elvis.. as told by the author that lived them"
It includes "23 chapters, 96 pages, 150 photos many in color, 9x11 inches, large type easy to read, excellent quality."
Chapters include sections on radio stations WTUP Tupelo 1956, WMOC Chattanooga 1962, WNOE and Marty Lacker New Orleans 1963, 'Radio Music Report' magazine, Sex Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll, as well as the story of 'Elvis comes home to Tupelo' and Brandon's discovery of the Elvis Mystery Kisser!
... This was a one-man project. I wrote and did all the associated work in putting this little publication together, graphic artist, layout, editing, rewriting, digging through cardboard boxes from dank, dark corners of closets, fighting with an ancient computer that refused to acknowledge upgrades, and all sorts of mayhem and cusswords. Everything but the printing. Self-publishing is what it's called. But what it means is that I got to make all the decisions, which is the only way I would have considered the project. My thanks to all who contributed and cooperated in one fashion or another. I wish that we could have done 1000 pages and put more photos in.. maybe next go round. I hope that you enjoy reading as much as I did putting it all together. My thanks to each of you for all those years in the radio / rock and roll business. How were we to know that it wouldn't last forever?
EIN's book review coming soon.
(News, Source;RB/ElvisInfoNet)
Erik Lorentzen Hacked: For your safety Erik Lorentzen has warned his friends and ELVIS FILES subscribers that his account was recently hacked and to please ignore the FAKE email that went out. ... "This is to inform everyone that I've been Hacked and some of you if not all of you who have
ever been in contact with me directly or The Elvis Files have been
receiving Fake emails which appears to be coming directly from Me or The
Elvis Files.... The emails says this and it is ALL FAKE " Erik L
DEAR ELVIS FRIENDS,
THE ELVIS FILES VOLUME 8....
After 3.500 pages and almost 10.000 photos.
It's time for THE FINAL CHAPTER....
Pre order now by sending E125
by PayPal to: sales@elvisfiles.no
And get this 50 x 60 poster from Johnson City for free with the book. -
TCE ERIK
Sunday 13 March 2022
"Elvis - The Legend" Re-Publish for 2022: The collector's book 'Elvis - The Legend: The Authorized Book from the Official Graceland Archive' from author Gillian G. Gaar is being re-published for this year's major ELVIS anniversary. The publicity notes..Elvis passed away in 1977 but his spirit lives on. His records still sell, his movies are still hugely popular and his concerts are still discussed by new generations of fans. The Elvis Presley estate has tens of thousands of photographs and miles of video footage from all eras of Elvis' career and fans' hunger for new imagery and information on the King remains unsated. This publication is a beautiful, desirable package, ideal for any Elvis fan.
This book tells the personal story of Elvis and his relationships with those near and dear to him and contains more than 150 colour and black and white photographs from the Graceland archives, accompanied by insightful text from an author with a proven Elvis track record.
To take you closer than ever before to the King, 30 items of rare memorabilia are carefully reproduced on the page, including personal letters, receipts, telegrams, publicity material and other fascinating items which provide a new insight into the life of a legend.
There are photographs of Elvis himself, Elvis with friends and family, and all manner of personal artifacts, including guitars, jewelry, clothing, vehicles and more.
Hardback: Publisher: Mortimer 192 pages. OUT 9th Jun 2022
'The Birth of Rock 'n' Roll: 70 Years of Sun Records' New Book: More info on this new books from 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.
The foreword by Jerry Lee Lewis includes...
...When I first heard about Sam Phillips and SUN Records I knew if I could play for Sam, he could make me a star; he was the man I needed to see to really get things going. He already made Elvis a hit and if he could do it for Elvis, he could certainly do it for Jerry Lee Lewis.
- Recording at Sun were some of the best days of my life. It was much different back then than it is today. To cut a record today you need thirty people but back in those days we would just show up and let 'er rip. When I recorded "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On" Sam didn't want to record it at first. He wanted me to record "It'll Be Me," which I did, but that wasn't what people wanted to hear. They wanted to hear real Rock and Roll. I kept after Sam until he agreed to do it. We cut that song just like we'd done it on stage; something that would never happen today. When it came out I was right, it was what the people wanted to hear. It was real rock and roll and that's what we did at Sun, we cut real rock and roll records. That was the beginning of it all. Rock and roll started at Sun Records and without Sun there would be no rock and roll.
- Elvis asked me how I was possibly going to follow up "Whole Lotta Shakin'Goin On." Well, I wasn't too worried about that so just turned to him and said "Oh, I'll think of something" and walked away. Of course, we followed-up with "Great Balls of Fire" which we originally recorded for a movie called "Jamboree." ... I didn't feel like that original take was quite right. It was good but I knew it could be better. We took that song back to the studio at Sun, re-cut it, and the rest is history.
- A lot of people have asked me over the years what I think of Sam Phillips and it's sure that we didn't always see eye to eye but, you know, he was like a brother to me. He helped me get my start, and for that I will forever be grateful. There will never be another like him and there will never be another Sun Records. That's where it all started; with Sam, and Carl, and Roy, Johnny, and, of course, ole Jerry Lee. Sam Phillips and Sun records changed the whole world.
- I can't believe it's been 70 years since Sam founded Sun records and I'm blessed to be here to celebrate it with my fans, Sam's fans, Sun Records' fans. God Bless you all. ---
- Jerry Lee Lewis
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 OUT October 18, 2022 256 pages.
EIN reckons this will be a sensational book.
(News, Source; Amazon/ ElvisInfoNet)
.
.
.
.
Alton Mason "Little Richard" with Baz Luhrmann: Alton Mason is an American model - GQ named him 2019 male model of the year- who stars as Little Richard "the architect of rock and roll” in Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming ELVIS blockbuster movie. VMan magazine recently featured an interview with him and Baz Luhrmann where he discusses how he landed the coveted role of Little Richard plus his influences fueling his forthcoming foray into music.
The article includes .. Baz Luhrmann: You’re known for modeling which, I mean you were getting Model of the Year Award, so that says everything. But from the moment I met you I was aware of two things: you danced and you )
not only loved music but you made music. Talk a little bit about your dad and the Mahalia connection. I think he’s from Shreveport, which I think features very much in Elvis’ life. Alton Mason: Yes, absolutely. It’s actually crazy how my parents are so influential with the way I was raised and how it correlates to the Elvis film. On my mom’s side, we have Mahalia Jackson, on my dad’s side, he’s from Shreveport, Louisiana. So we have deep, deep, deep roots in Louisiana. And before I even flew out to Australia I spent a lot of time in the South, really getting familiar with the energy and the essences. BL: It’s the beginning of a very long road. It’s a lifetime journey, revealing yourself. One of the great joys for me is identifying an artist. And no artist that I work with, no matter what their background is, gets to play every string on their instrument in their entire career. And so, building an environment where they can just reveal a new string is important. I think we see that in you playing Little Richard in the movie. There’s such an important scene, later in the film, where you’re hanging out with B.B. King … and all of the intensity you brought to the scene, it’s another string on your instrument. I mean, you were really present in the movie as this character. You were Little Richard.
This full interview appears in VMAN 48 Click here (News, Source;VMan/ElvisInfoNet
'The Pot Luck Sessions' Deluxe FTD Review: Released back in December 2021, 'The Pot Luck Sessions' was the eighth in FTD’s “complete sessions” packages. An 8 inch deluxe 5-CD package featuring a 28-page booklet with an insightful essay, record and session data, memorabilia and rare photos. The set includes remastered complete RCA sessions from Elvis' June 25 and October 15 1961 and March 18-19 1962 recording sessions.
The set features a good number of previously unreleased outakes and EIN also uncovers plenty of Elvis studio discussions that had been previously edited out on earlier "Classic Album" releases such as Elvis saying, “Here we go already. How do like that
arrangement, Red?” an important question to his friend Red West who
had composed the song 'That’s Someone You Never Forget'.
Laurel Goodwin - ‘Girls! Girls! Girls!’ - Dead at 79: Laurel Goodwin, who made her movie debut opposite Elvis Presley in Girls! Girls! Girls! and co-stared in the first Star Trek pilot episode has died aged 79.
Goodwin died February 25 in Cathedral City, California, her sister, Maureen Scott, announced yesterday.
Born on Aug. 11, 1942, in Wichita, Kansas, Goodwin moved to San Francisco where she began working as a model when she was only 7 years old.
Paramount studio signed her to a seven-year contract when she was only 19.
In Hollywood, she studied acting with Jeff Corey and, when he was away his fill-in was Leonard Nimoy!
In the Elvis' Girls! Girls! Girls! Goodwin played the wholesome rich girl Laurel Dodge, who battles with Stella Stevens for the affections of Elvis’ tuna fisherman and helps him get the boat he always wanted. The two memorably share a dance in the clever “The Wall Have Ears” number.
Goodwin also portrayed the elder daughter of Jackie
Gleason in Papa’s Delicate Condition (1963) and appeared in The Glory Guys written by Sam Peckinpah.
In 1964 Goodwin was cast with Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock in “The Cage” the Star Trek pilot.
Goodwin would later appear on episodes of Get Smart, The Beverly Hillbillies and Mannix before retiring from acting in 1971 and going into nursing.
Talking about working with Elvis, Laurel Goodwin noted, “Although it was my first film role and I was a little nervous, Elvis was very sweet and endearing. We got along wonderfully, we became good friends. I came from San Francisco I grew up in a sophisticated kind of world, and I felt his world was much more sheltered even though he was a huge star. I knew about Elvis' entourage but never felt threatened by them and we had a great time. We used to play touch football together and we had fun.
I spent time on the movie-set with him talking about philosophy and I’d get Elvis to sing to me a cappella! It was a great thrill as he had a God’s given voice and a cappella was even better than the records I’d heard".
- See her complete interview in Gates of Graceland: 2017 Laurel Goodwin shares stories from 'Girls! Girls! Girls!' (News, Source;Michael/ElvisInfoNet)
1971, Elvis sell-out crowd of 12,000 in Baltimore: When Paul McCartney rocks Oriole Park this June, he’ll be the latest in a line of iconic performers to play Baltimore through the years. McCartney has performed here before, of course, with the Beatles before a convulsive crowd at what was then called the Civic Center in 1964.
What other talent has magnetized the town? The Bee Gees and Rolling Stones; Paul Simon and James Brown, Springsteen, Sinatra, Dylan and Rihanna. Count Elvis Presley among them.
In 1971, the king of rock ‘n’ roll staged a brisk, 50-minute show at the Civic Center (now Royal Farms Arena) before a capacity crowd, many of them 30-somethings who screamed and carried on like the teens they’d been when Elvis Presley first wiggled his hips and curled his lips in the 1950’s. The 12,000-seat performance sold out in a day. The morning that tickets went on sale at 10 o’clock, hundreds of fans, some of whom arrived at 4 am, queued up in a line that stretched 1 1/2 blocks. No surprise: Their idol had sold more than 250 million records and starred in 30 movies. For days before the concert, pleas for Elvis tickets peppered The Sun’s classified section, to wit: “HELP! I need 1 or 2 tickets for Elvis show. Matter of life and death.” “Two desperate girls need tickets to Elvis show.”
Scalpers who came by the $5-$10 tickets sold them for as much as $100 each. The media raced to the fore.
Two weeks before the concert, WCBM-AM aired a 12-part broadcast of “The Elvis Presley Show” a partisan chronology of his life.
On the big night (Nov. 9), the arena dimmed its lights, an 18-piece orchestra played a triumphal intro ”Also sprach Zarathustra” and Elvis strode out in gleaming attire, with a ring on every finger. There were shrieks, shouts and “wild, almost blinding stroboscopic lights as flash bulbs fired off and The King strutted across the stage in a white jumpsuit, red scarf and red-and-white jeweled cape,” The Washington Post reported.
.. Elvis belted out 21 songs, from his own hits ”Love Me Tender,” “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Hound Dog” to those of others ”Johnny B. Goode,” “Amen” and “Proud Mary”. If you could hear him at all. “Each twitch of that famous left leg brought another chorus of frenzied screams, as did ... his partial splits after several songs,”
The performance was punctuated by faux karate chops (Elvis had a black belt) and a partial striptease. At one point, he hurled his scarf into the crowd; it disappeared in a sea of outstretched hands. During one steamy ballad, he took off his belt. Women went nuts and might have stormed The King if not for the 24 security guards who ringed the stage. Presley also toyed with his audience, changing the lyrics of several songs. During a rendition of “It’s Now Or Never,” a 20-million seller, he sang, “Your lips excite me, for thy sake don’t bite me.” No one seemed to mind. And then it was over. Elvis left the building.....
For the full story and Elvis' sad 1977 return - see the Baltimore Sun. (News, Source: Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun)
Did Elvis jam on piano at Robert Mitchum’s Christmas party?: Before ruining the story EIN would say that the answer is "NO"!
However Sally Cook posted this very interesting item on the Elvis Education Forum group on Facebook: It is always a good day when I learn something new about Elvis. Today is such a day! ”Robert Mitchum’s second son Chris vividly illuminates the family Christmas party where Elvis Presley jammed on piano with his dad and considered being in “Thunder Road” a moonshine-fueled chase romp that’s since gained cult classic immortality. Meanwhile, in the accompanying lead photo a 22-year-old sizzling Presley is seen at the Saddle and Sirloin Club in Chicago, Illinois, on March 28, 1957, during a press conference hours before commanding the stage of the International Amphitheatre. Presley had not performed a tour date in over four months, instead concentrating on the filming of his second movie, director Hal Kanter’s entertaining “Loving You.” . EIN Note: while there is no doubt that Elvis went to Robert Mitchum's home to discuss the possibility of them staring in 'Thunder Road' -
George Klein confirmed in his book that Elvis, he and Arthur Hooten went to Robert Mitchum’s Canyon Road, LA home - there is basically no
chance that Elvis turned up at a Mitchum invited Christmas party since Elvis was in Memphis all of that December.
The story is still of interest since this was an early point where Col Parker stopped Elvis doing a dramatic film due to the possibility of it not making enough money and Parker possibly losing control of "the kid".
Go here for the whole interview with Chris Mitchum,plus heaps of corrections by Jeremy Roberts. (News, Source: Sally Cook/FB/EIN)
.
.
.
.
Tuesday 8 March 2022
'..And Then There Was Elvis' Sneak Peak:Virginia Coons was a super-SUPER-fan. Her interest started with Elvis’ breakthrough in the mid-fities and continued to her very last day. She has met Elvis multiple times and was the direct link between America and England. She maintained contacts and ensured that the latest releases of LPs and 45s found their way overseas. She not only had contact with Elvis but with everyone close to him including Priscilla, Col. Parker's office and RCA. There are so many fun-to-read stories its incredible.
Virginia has hundreds of memories now curated by her daughter ─ Elaine Christan ─ in a 400 page hardback book. Many personal stories summarized in a beautiful book "And Then There Was Elvis - A Superfan's Adventures in the Elvis World" with many high resolution photos, personal candids etc . . . made available by MEGA collector Erik Lorentzen. Erik's stunning photo collection is known worldwide.
Elaine translated her mother's journey into writing, so many beautiful stories brought together in one book.
Anyone who reads The Elvis Files magazine will be familiar the way Virginia remembered Elvis and penned her memories... Erik Lorentzen has sent EIN a "Sneak-Peak" at some of the pages, describing the book as...
"Can there be better personal stories more interesting than this, combined with the unique photos?
And the book is full of such stories and pictures.
This is my favourite book looking at the personal life of Elvis and his fans." - (News, Source;EL/ElvisInfoNet)
'Elvis At Stax' VINYL Reissue: The Music-On-Vinyl label are re-releasing the 2013 'Elvis At Stax" double-album this time on Blue Vinyl. The publicity notes... Riding high on the success of Aloha From Hawaii, Elvis did something remarkable. He decided that his next recording project would be on his home turf Memphis, Tennessee. The most desirable studio in town was the red-hot STAX - the launching pad of such greats as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave and Isaac Hayes.
In 1973, Elvis assembled the very best musicians in town - members of Booker T. and The MGs, The Memphis Boys and his own TCB band to create the ultimate band and he searched for fresh new material that would reflect his new path. Songs as “I Got A Feelin' In My Body” and “Loving Arms” demonstrate an artist looking to broaden his palette and his reach.
All of the Stax material has been collected on Elvis At Stax and tells the great story of Elvis' new path.
The album is available as a limited edition of 2000 numbered copies on solid blue coloured vinyl.
This is a re-release of the SONY 2013 double-album and includes a neat selection of outtakes.
Catalog#MOVLP872 -
Release date: 15 April, 2022 - Priced around US$30 on pre-order. Go to 'Elvis: All The CD News 2022' for the full tracklist
(News, Source;MOV/ElvisInfoNet)
Tommy Steele wanted 'forgiveness' from Elvis after secret meeting:This story is total lies but yet again the UK Tabloids are re-cycling this rubbish in 2022. EIN is posting this so as to let everyone a) Have a laugh b) Know that it is bull-shit. The UK Express has posted.. ELVIS had a secret meeting in London, UK, with Tommy Steele in 1960, but once the news got out about their rendezvous, the British singer was extremely remorseful about what had happened.
Presley famously never left the USA. (EIN, Yes he did!)
The rumours were that his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, did not want to travel overseas because of his dubious citizenship in America. But in 1958 Elvis was conscripted by the US Military and was forced to serve in Friedberg, Germany.
Two years later, in 1960, he returned, but not before a secret stop-off in London, UK.
The story goes that Elvis touched down in Prestwick Airport, Glasgow, for 90 minutes during a layover during his journey home. The airport even has a one-of-a-kind sign commemorating the event that tells of the only time Elvis ever journeyed in the UK.
Elvis greeted fans at the airport before saying: "This is quite a country. I must see more of it."
With that, he reportedly jetted off to London, UK, where he was driven around the streets before embarking on a behind-closed-doors rendezvous with Tommy Steele.
Tommy was a British icon at that point. He rose to fame in the 1950s with a number of rock and roll songs including Singing The Blues, Johnny B Goode, and Peggy Sue. He also made the switch to the silver screen in films such as Half a Sixpence and Tommy The Toreador.
The teenage pop star was instantly compared to the King himself. So then, when Elvis touched down in London, he wanted to make his presence known. He met Tommy, but the story got out.
And years later Tommy felt terrible about the news as he had apparently vowed for his meeting with Elvis to stay secret forever.
While there was no commercial deal or contract signed between Tommy and Elvis - it was just two peers meeting for the first time and enjoying one another's company - their hangout was supposed to stay secret.
In 2008 Tommy was asked directly about meeting Elvis for the first time, and he replied with great regret. He said in a statement: "It was an event shared by two young men sharing the same love of their music and the same thrill of achieving something unimaginable. I swore never to divulge what took place and I regret that it has found some way of 'getting into the light'. I can only hope he can forgive me."
Elvis' unexpected visit with Tommy was recalled by Bill Kenright, a producer who worked with the British star.
Bill remembered in 2008: "I remember Tommy telling me about when Elvis came to England very quietly. Evidently, Tommy got home one night and the phone rings. A voice says: 'They tell me you're good.' Tommy says: 'Who's this?' 'Elvis' says the voice. 'Get outta here!' says Tommy." And it wasn't long before the two rockers began a cheeky, lighthearted rivalry.
Elvis even quizzed the star: "Are you as good as me?"
Bill noted that the pair seemed to hit it off, but their time together never went further than a back-alley meet-up in a car. He said: "It all came from that. It's quite something isn't it - the thought of them wandering around London together? But the impression I got was that they never got out of the car."
Elvis and Tommy reportedly never saw one another again. (EIN, What a surprise!) The King continued to dominate the charts in the USA (and the rest of the world) in the years that followed. Tommy switched to theatre and film, making him a household name throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s.
In 2020 Tommy was knighted by the Queen, making him Sir Tommy Steele, OBE EIN NOTE: This meeting never took place. Elvis never visited the UK outside of Prestwick Airport.
As Marty Lacker (RIP) told EIN back in 2014 ..
.. I have commented on this bullshit story in the past.
Steele, like a few other so-called celebrities have told false stories using Elvis to gain publicity for themselves. Allow me to state this is plain English. AT NO TIME AND AT NO PLACE, LONDON OR ANYWHERE ELSE, DID ELVIS MEET TOMMY STEELE !!!!!!!
Fact is I never heard Elvis say Steele's name in the 20 years I was close to him and I doubt he even knew who he was. - Marty Lacker (Go here for EIN's 'Ask Marty Lacker') (News, Source;TabloidRubbish/ElvisInfoNet)
Friday 4 March 2022
12 reasons to get excited about ELVIS Movie: It is great to see mainstream articles promoting the new Luhrmann ELVIS biopic.
Recently 'Flicks' (Australian website that proudly supports and invests in local film and pop-culture writers) published a neat article stating the.... 12 reasons to get excited about Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis extravaganza. 1. The musical moments!
Baz Luhrmann movies always feature cleverly repurposed pop, from young hearts running free in Romeo + Juliet, to the anachronistic mashups of Moulin Rouge! and the chart-topping Great Gatsby soundtrack. We’re sure to hear other tunes from the 50s through to the 70s getting the same revitalised treatment.
2. Austin Butler totally embodies The King of Rock and Roll Damn, that face, the voice, those moves! Butler truly looks like Presley..
3. Tom Hanks’ kooky voice as Colonel Tom Parker This is the film that Hanks and wife Rita Wilson suffered through COVID for, so the loveable actor’s turn as Presley’s domineering manager should be worth the effort. 4. The film could make Elvis seem sexy and dangerous again
Most of the trailer focuses on Elvis, his pelvis, and the controversial impact both had on America’s conservative post-WW2 culture... with a swipe of emo eyeliner, it seems Baz is revamping Presley’s initial image as a rebellious rock ‘n roll bad boy.
5…. Whilst also revealing the Black roots behind his popularity
A young Presley’s awakening is shown to take place in a Mississippi revival tent, where gospel and blues music overwhelm the boy. Cleverly, Luhrmann’s Elvis will reintroduce modern audiences to some of those original influences, giving them their belated dues… 6. Today’s music, fashion and screen stars play legends of yesteryear
Cyrano star Kelvin Harrison Jr. plays B.B. King, model Alton Mason is Little Richard, and rising country star Yola will bring her world-class vocals to the role of Sister Rosetta Tharpe. 7. The director is credited for his writing three times, on his first film in almost a decade
As well as a “story by” credit, Luhrmann gets a further two screenplay credits—seemingly for his work with two distinctive writing teams? 8. Olivia DeJonge’s bouffant hairstyles as Priscilla
Australian actress Olivia DeJonge as Presley’s teen bride Priscilla 9. We’ll see Presley’s downfall as only Baz can imagine it
“This could all be over in a flash”, Elvis utters, but in fact The King’s downfall was drawn out over years of addiction, ego, poor health and a rapidly changing outside world.
10. Australian actors play Presley’s family, at home and on the road
The casting of Richard Roxburgh and Helen Thomson as mom and pop Presley makes sense when you remember this whole thing was shot in Queensland, not Graceland. 11. Catherine Martin’s rhinestone-studded costumes
She’s Baz’s wife, she’s the most Oscar-awarded Australian in the Academy’s history, and she’s certain to knock our blue suede shoes off with countless outrageous period costumes. 12. Recreations of real concerts will make The King’s biggest fans swoon
Includes a faithful staging of the ’68 comeback special, where a leathery King proved that he’s still got it after years in the army and in Hollywood.
For the complete article plus extra photos go to 'FLICKS' (News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
Elvis the Man & His Music #135 Out Now: EIN's favourite music magazine Elvis the Man & His Music March 2022 issue is out now.
Articles include...
- The 1962 Tour - that never was.
- That Reminds Me...
- Albert Hand
- Material Choices - I Believe...
- Missing In Action: The Nashville Duets
- Readers' letters
- CD, DVD & Book Reviews
Blue Mountains Elvis Festival 2022: The Australian Blue Mountains Elvis Festival (near Sydney) is happening this weekend. Based at Katoomba RSL and Palais Royale the festival is back after being rescheduled in the last two years.
It includes 13 main concerts, After Show Parties, Wrap Party, Opening Gala Dinner, Gospel Show, King of the Mountains Singing Competition, Dinner Shows, Free Lounge Entertainment.
Performers include .. Gordon Hendricks (UK), Brendon Chase (NZ), Brody Finlay (AUS), Che Orton (NZ) • Johnny Angel (NZ), Jacqueline Feilich (She Is the King) and more...
Gary kindly took time to discuss what we can expect in his new book, Jethro Tull, and things in-between.
Elvis’ Sun recordings vs. RCA early recordings, the muddy Mississippi delta plains, Elvis’ swirlingly innovative mixture of hair-raising rock & roll and balladry.
'ELVIS WEEK 2022' Details: EPE have finally released the first details about ELVIS WEEK 2022. The publicity states... We are so excited to be able to share what we have planned for Elvis Week 2022 - and we can't wait for you to join us here in Memphis for this historic celebration.
Graceland will be welcoming fans from around the world on August 9-17 for Elvis Week 2022, as we mark the 45th anniversary of Elvis' passing and honor the man, the star, the icon - the King of Rock 'n' Roll!
Elvis Week 2022 will offer an unforgettable line-up of concerts, conversations, tributes, and more. 2022 highlights include...
- The August 16 'Elvis Presley in Concer't featuring Elvis on the big screen backed by a live band;
Includes James Burton, Glen Hardin, Terry Blackwood and The Imperials, Larry Strickland and a special appearance by Priscilla Presley.
- All the King's Men, showcasing those who shared the studio and stage with Elvis;
Hear stories from TCB Band members James Burton, Glen Hardin and Memphis Boy Gene Chrisman.
- The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley Dinner Show, where fans can enjoy Elvis' gospel favorites;
Features Terry Blackwood and The Imperials, Stamps' Larry Strickland, The Blackwood Brothers Quartet, and Estelle Brown of The Sweet Inspirations.
- Conversations On Elvis: the man, the music, the legend
Including Priscilla Presley; James Burton, Glen Hardin, Estelle Brown with more guests to be announced.
- The annual Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest and performances by many of EPE's past Ultimate winners;
- The the annual Candlelight Vigil on August 15 where fans gather in quiet remembrance of the king.
Tickets for Elvis Week 2022 officially go on sale on Thursday, March 10!
Check out the schedule of events & tickets here at Graceland website
There will be further special guest announcements and added events (News, Source;EPE/EIN)
'Elvis Presley News Report March 2022: Elvis super-fan Emiel Maier presents all the recent news including... an examination of the new Baz Luhrmann ELVIS movie trailer, Elvis guitar auction, Elvis Lego, Elvis 1975 interview and more..
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)
'Elvis Presley 'Black Star' New Bootleg: "Black Star" originally released as an LP in 1986 and never been published on compact disc since. That is, until now!
The original composite master of “Black Star” was included on this classic release. A song recorded for the film "Flaming Star" in August 1960, but later rejected and re-recorded with a new title "Flaming Star" in October 1960.
Back in 1986 this was the very first outing of this song and until now no official release features the original composite master of this great track.
16 additional tracks are included on this commemorative edition.
Get this fantastic release now to complete your collection! EIN Notes: It includes 'Black Star End Title' Takes 1, 2, 4 & 5 and Flaming Star Takes 5, 6 and 'Flaming Star End Title' Takes 3 & 4.
all previously released on FTD's 'Flaming Star'
Also for some crazy reason 'Slicin’ Sand' takes 10, 16 and 17 also all released by FTD!
This is a limited edition. (EIN is not surprised!) Go to 'Elvis: All The CD News 2022' for the full tracklist
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
'G.I. Blues - Deluxe Movie Edition - Part I, II & III' New Import: From the 'Elvis One' label, new releases that Elvis fans surely don't need when you can watch the movie and listen to the FTD four CD official compilation! The publicity states.. Elvis One presents a deluxe movie edition from G.I. Blues in three parts... Part 1 is an extended soundtrack including the original movie versions and the original MUSIC SCORE for the movie! An unique album mix with all the great music - including many beautiful instrumental versions - recorded for the movie! Never before released on any album... Enjoy this fabulous musical art from 1960 all the way - You'll be surprised !!! Part 2 is the MONOPHONIC SOUND EDITION and contains all the original mono masters, movie recordings, a demo, PLUS commercials. Including for the first time the undubbed movie masters from 'Big Boots', 'Shoppin' Around' and Frankfurt Special'. Also 'Shoppin' Around' (finale) take 14, Whistling Blues and the instrumental versions of 'Shoppin' Around'. Part 3 is the STEREOPHONIC SOUND EDITION and contains all the original stereo masters, a nice collection of outtakes, the replaced album master of 'Didja Ever!' (including the complete take 2 with count-in), and the complete music and chorus takes from 'Tonight Is So Right For Love' ("Barcarolle") and 'Tonight's All Right For Love' ("Tales From The Vienna Woods".)
A great addition to the already released 'G.I. Blues' editions.
Each part contains a 12 pages booklet with photos and (recording) information.
A limited edition of only 500 copies each. (EIN is not surprised) EIN Note: The publicity states it includes ''Shoppin' Around' (finale) take 14', 'Whistling Blues instrumental' and 'Shoppin' Around Instrumental' but these have all been released by FTD! What is the point? (News, Source;ElvisOne/EIN)
'I'm Leavin' - Vols 1 & 2' New Import: Two new releases from Paradise Road Records: The publicity states.. 'I'm Leavin' Vol 1 & 2 contain live audience recordings from August 9 - 16, 1971 - Elvis live at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
These 2 albums contains many rarities and show highlights including 'That's All Right' with break, 'I Need Your Lovin'' (excerpt), a full version of 'Memphis Tennessee', 'Jailhouse Rock', Rip It Up (excerpt), 'Trying To Get To You', 'Help Me Make It Through The Night', 'I Can't Stop Loving You', great live versions from 'I'm Leavin'
and 'The Impossible Dream', and many many others...
Till now we have no soundboards from this season so these audience recordings are the only recordings we have... 'I'm Leavin' - Vols 1 & 2 represents the first week of this season, including recordings from opening night (for the first time on cd) but also from August 10 (dinner and MS), August 11 (dinner show), August 12 (midnight show), August 14 (midnight show) and August 16 (midnight show). All recordings remastered.
The artwork is in the style of the 1971 single 'I'm Leavin', including an 8 pages booklet!!!
And an ultra limited edition. (EIN is not surprised)
Two rarities from Paradise Road Records... Go back to August 1971 and enjoy! EIN Notes: These are AUDIENCE RECORDINGS and have been previously released - most have terrible quality sound. Buyer Beware
Previous releases include 'Opening Night In Vegas', 'I Don't Wanna Sing These Songs' (Aug 12 MS), 'Summer In Sin City' (Aug 14 MS), 'Trying To Get To Memphis' (Aug 16 MS) Go to 'Elvis: All The CD News 2022' for the full tracklist
(News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
'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."
.
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.
.
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)
.
‘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)
.
.
.
.
Elvis Files Magazine #37: Out soon is the latest Elvis Files magazine Issue 37.
Plenty to read and great images from Elvis' November 1970 tour.
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?
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.
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)
'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...
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>>
.
.
(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 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)
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..
(Interview, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
'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
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)
.
.
.
.
“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)
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'.
(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)
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)
(Interview) Dennis van Tiel... the Netherlands: EIN continues its series of interviews with Elvis world identities in different countries, this time discussing “things Elvis” with Dennis Tiel from the Netherlands.
Dennis has published several books about Elvis and is also responsible for the long-running series of “annual” publications, Almost in Elvis.
His view about the Elvis world and what fans can learn from "everything Elvis" is truly fascinating.
As Tiel explains,"'Almost in Elvis' is an initiative for writers, journalists, poets, artist and just passionate lovers of the character Elvis A. Presley. Every issue has is own theme. The style and the design are different every issue and follows the theme of that edition sort of speak. You could consider Elvis is a kind of muse in this context." Go here as EIN's Nigel Patterson discovers more ..
(Interviews, Source;NP/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)
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)
.
.
.
.
'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)
.
.
.
.
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
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
‘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)
Amazon Deals on ELVIS Blu-rays - Beware of excessive prices at some Elvis dealers.
.
.
.
.
'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)
'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)
Copyright the Elvis Information Network.
Elvis Presley, Elvis and Graceland are trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises.
The Elvis Information Network has been running since 1986 and is an EPE officially recognised Elvis fan club.
EIN also has a local Australian national Elvis Fan Club for paid up members featuring quarterly newsletters and an annual EIN Elvis Mega Quiz with special prizes.
The printed newsletters have extra content, articles and reviews to this w
ebsite along with the popular Elvis EIN Mega Quiz.
If you need to know more about the fan club, newsletters, Elvis EIN quiz or EIN membership
' ELVIS EIN QUIZ', Elvis EIN quiz, elvis EIN mega quiz, elvis mega quiz, EIN mega quiz, ELVIS EIN QUIZ, EIN
lvis mega quiz,
Elvis Pesley News, Elvis Presley News, Latest Elvis Presley News, Elvis Presley News,Elvis Presley News, Elvis Presley News, Elvis Presley News, Elvis Presley News, Elvis Presley News, Elvis Presley News, Elvis Presley News, Elvis Presley News, Elvis Presley News, Elvis Presley News, Elvis Presley News, Elvis Presley News, Elvis Presley news, Piers Beagley Elvis presley, piers beagley elvis, piers beagley elvis presley, piers beagley elvis, Elvis Presley News, Elvis Presley News,
