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'NEW HAVEN ‘76': Following on from his appearance in Fort Worth, Elvis rocked New Haven, Connecticut on July 30 at the Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum. Featuring photos from Steve Barile’s archives, New Haven ’76 is a 1-CD 5” digipack. A credible live version of Return To Sender is featured as a bonus track from Hampton Roads Coliseum on August 1, 1976. NEW HAVEN ’76 tracklist: 1)Also Sprach Zarathustra 2)See See Rider 3)I Got A Woman / Amen 4)Love Me 5)If You Love Me (Let Me Know) 6)You Gave Me A Mountain 7)Help Me 8)All Shook Up 9)(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don’t Be Cruel 10)And I Love You So 11)America 12)Jailhouse Rock 13)Funny How Time Slips Away 14)Introductions – incomplete 15)Early Mornin’ Rain 16)What’d I Say / Johnny B. Goode 17)Love Letters 18)School Days 19)Hurt 20)Hound Dog 21)Hawaiian Wedding Song 22)Can’t Help Falling In Love 23)Closing vamp BONUS SONG 24) Return To Sender

ROCKIN’ ACROSS TEXAS, This will be released in October as a 2-CD 5” set. It features Elvis live in Amarillo, Texas at the Civic Center, June 19, 1974 and Fort Worth, Texas at the Tarrant County Convention Center, Recorded July 3, 1976.     This CD only version contains the same content as featured in the acclaimed FTD book that is now deleted. See EIN review of original Book/CD release here.

THE JUNGLE ROOM SESSIONS, Vinyl: A Limited Edition – 2 Disc set. It contains all of the tracks featured on the CD edition and several added outtakes from other releases. Supplied in a new gatefold sleeve featuring additional Graceland images, it will be pressed on 180-gram vinyl and DMM Copper mastered at Abbey Road Studios,London. Side 1: 1)MOODY BLUE (takes 7,5) 2)BITTER THEY ARE, HARDER THEY FALL (takes 3, 4, 5) 3)SHE THINKS I STILL CARE (takes 1, 2) 4)PLEDGING MY LOVE (take 3) 5)THE LAST FAREWELL (take 2) Side 2:6) HURT(take 3) 7) DANNY BOY (take 8) 8) LOVE COMING DOWN (take 3) 9) NEVER AGAIN (take 11) 10) FOR THE HEART (take 3) 11) BLUE EYES CRYING IN THE RAIN (take 2) 12) I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN (take 5) Side 3:13) WAY DOWN (take 2) 14) IT’S EASY FOR YOU (take 1)15) PLEDGING MY LOVE (unedited master) 16) HE’LL HAVE TO GO (rough-mix mst) 17) MOODY BLUE (take 6) 18) SOLITAIRE (take 3) Side 4:19) LOVE COMING DOWN (take 4) 20) FOR THE HEART (take 1) 21) SHE THINKS I STILL CARE (takes 3, 4) 22) BITTER THEY ARE, HARDER THEY FALL (take 1) 23) HURT (take 5) 24) DANNY BOY (take 9) 25) FIRE DOWN BELOW (instru) 26) AMERICA (closing part only)

GOOD TIMES: to be released December 7th Godd Times is a 2-disc set in the classic album series. Originally released in 1974, this great album featured the legendary “Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues”, “My Boy” and “I’ve Got A Thing About You Baby”. In addition to the masters, it will contain many great outtakes from the Stax Sessions of 1973. The package features the 7” inch digipack format with 12-page booklet. The full tracklisting will follow. For the cheapest FTD prices in Australia & New Zealand - check out the Elvis Info Network FTD shop. Click HERE. (News, Source;ElvisUnlimited/Elvis Matters/FTD)

The King's Ransom Museum in Las Vegas: After years of touring with The King's Ransom Elvis Presley Museum.  Owners Russ Howe & Bud Glass have signed with The Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas! Grand opening will be October 21st. We are planning many exciting events. Hope to see you there!  More news to follow real soon.                   (News; Source; MartyLacker)

'Dayton Reloaded' new Deluxe release: From the producers of the INTERNATIONAL label and DAE comes this first BOXCAR label release focusing on Elvis’ tours of 1974. The 2 CD set features both the afternoon and evening performances of October 6, 1974 at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio. The recording source used for this release is taken directly from the original soundboard tapes and is professionally remastered by DAE for optimum sound quality. The accompanying lavish hardback 100 page glossy book, features a well detailed essay on the tours of 1974 proceeding up to October, (and including 1956) and is packed, with rare and unpublished photographs and unpublished documents. Dayton Reloaded will be presented in exactly the same deluxe box format as the sold-out release 'Internationale 1971'. Stunning quality audio, unpublished photos, coupled with a beautiful art layout all make this a fascinating audio/visual release. Released October. Click here for more info & full promo images. (News, Source;Boxcar)

Red West interview featured in new RSVP magazine: The interview about Red West's film work features some nice comments: Robert West, better known as "Red" has long exceeded the average entertainer's 15 minutes of fame with a resume that boasts acting. stuntwork, songwriting, and even a gig as Elvis' bodyguard. However his most recent role in the movie Goodbye Solo has taken his star power to new heights at the ripe old age of 73. West says the director, Ramin Bahrani, definitely got the best performance of his career. As West puts it, “I like characters that are a little different than I am, to see what I can do with them.” Red West: I remember going every Saturday to the movies and seeing Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, and saying, "Oh boy. I want to do that." I never dreamed I would make movies, but fortunately I grew up with Elvis here in Memphis. He opened up the first door for me out there with Nick Adams, who starred in "The Rebel" TV series, and many other things. Nick helped me go further, then Robert Conrad didn't just open the door, he kicked it open for me in 'Black Sheep Squadron'. That show opened up bigger parts that have been corning ever since, so I owe a lot of people a lot.

Elvis' Martin Guitar and Michael Jackson's outfits up for auction: A guitar played by Elvis Presley in his final Las Vegas show and a dazzling array of outfits worn by Michael Jackson are on offer in an auction of Hollywood memorabilia. The guitar Elvis played on his last Vegas gig is among the lots. Also up for grabs is one of the original whips used by Indiana Jones actor Harrison Ford during 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.' And Star Wars fans can bid on an original Stormtrooper helmet from the 1983 hit movie 'The Return of the Jedi'. Elvis Presley's Martin D-28 guitar was played by 'The King' during a performance at the Las Vegas Hilton in December 1976. Elvis, who died eight months later, gave the instrument to his bodyguard Sam Thompson in January 1977. On the back of the guitar is some plastic residue where the belt on Elvis's jumpsuit melted because of the heat of the stage lighting. Described as 'one of the most significant guitars to ever reach the market', the lot is expected to sell for up to £50,000. The colourful Michael Jackson costumes were all worn by the young King of Pop and his brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon during their 'Jackson 5' days.

"The Boss" talks about our collective debt to the King: Onstage, Bruce Springsteen once remarked on our collective debt to Elvis in this way: "It was like he came along and whispered a dream into everybody's ear and then we dreamed it." Springsteen has gone on to do the same, shouting it out instead, commonly. Who does not recognize his pedal-to-the-metal lines, like, "The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive" (from "Born to Run")? The quotation above about Elvis is taken from Springsteen biographer Dave Marsh's "Glory Days," but it could easily have appeared in Lewis P. Masur's "Runaway Dream: Born To Run and Bruce Springsteen's American Vision." (News, Source: Chicago Tribune)

Aussie chart update: On tomorrow's ARIA Music DVD Chart, Elvis: The King of Rock 'n' Roll slips one spot to #15 after 72 weeks in the chart and a high position of #4. (News, Source: ARIA)

A Day in Dayton: Hot on the heals of ''The Return Of A Prodigy'', the Gravel Road Music import label starts a new CD series entitled "A Day In ...". The first release in this series will be a double CD set entitled ''A Day In Dayton'' and is due in the first week of October. The set features both performances from October 6, 1974 in Dayton, OH. and are taken directly from the original soundboard tapes.

A Day In Dayton - Volume 1 - October 6 1974 (2:30 pm). Dayton OH: 2001 Theme / See See Rider / I Got A Woman / - segued medley with - / Amen / Love Me / If You Love Me (+ reprise) / Its Midnight / Big Boss Man / Fever / Love Me Tender / Hound Dog (+ reprise) / Band Introductions / Guitar Solo ( featuring James Burton ) / Drum Solo ( featuring Ronnie Tutt ) / Bass Solo ( featuring Duke Bardwell ) / Piano Solo ( featuring Glen D Hardin ) / All Shook Up / Teddy Bear / - segued medley with - / Don’t Be Cruel / Heartbreak Hotel / Why Me Lord ? / Promised Land / You Gave Me A Mountain / Let Me Be There (+ reprise) / Hawaiian Wedding Song (+ reprise) / Can’t Help Falling In Love / Closing Vamp

A Day In Dayton - Volume 2 - October 6 1974 (8:30 pm). Dayton OH: 2001 Theme / See See Rider / I Got A Woman / - segued medley with - / Amen / Love Me / If You Love Me / Fever / Big Boss Man (+ 1 false start) / Love Me Tender / Hound Dog / The Wonder Of You / Blue Suede Shoes / Band Introductions / Guitar Solo ( featuring James Burton ) / Drum Solo ( featuring Ronnie Tutt ) / Bass Solo ( featuring Duke Bardwell ) / Lawdy Miss Clawdy ( featuring Glen D Hardin ) / All Shook Up / Teddy Bear / - segued medley with - / Don’t Be Cruel / Heartbreak Hotel / Why Me Lord ? (+ reprise) / That’s All Right (+ 2 false starts) / Blue Christmas / Let Me Be There (+ reprise) / Hawaiian Wedding Song (+ reprise) / Johnny B Goode / Can’t Help Falling In Love / Closing Vamp. (News, Source: Elvis News)

The "first" Dr. Nick book or "When Elvis Meets the Dali Lama" (Book Review): In December 2009-January 2010, Dr. Nick's long awaited memoir wil be published. Some fans will recall that back in 1990 his story was announced for publication as Who Killed Elvis Presley? For varous reasons that biography was never published, however in his wildly entertaining book, When Elvis Meets the Dalai Lama, Murray Silver reveals the story behind the failed book attempt as well as many other colorful stories about Silver's brushes with celebrity, both secular and sacred. Be it the first female to direct an X-rated film to eccentric Memphis Mongo, pro-wrestling, rock groups of the 70s, the Dalai Lama, race relations and the assassination attempt on Dr. Nick's life, When Elvis Meets the Dalai Lama is a wide ranging, provocative and wildly amusing book. Read EIN's detailed review

DVD: Is this new music documentary DVD value for money? Hombre Divertido, from blogcritics.org, offers his perspective on the merits of the Ashley Judd narrated release. What Hombre finds is a mixed bag - a well presented production with some technical issues. Read Hombre's full review

Elvis church services in Holland: The Dutch priest and well-known Elvis fan Fred Omvlee has a ‘successor’. Rev. Arjen van der Spek has decided to do five Elvis Church Services, inspired by the popular Elvis-church services of Fred Omvlee. The title of the services – “Elvis in Church, Sing 2 the King” tells it all: the priest will focus on Elvis’s respect for his religion and love for gospelmusic, and invites the church goers to sing along with the choir. According to our information, the church choir has rehearsed no less than 11 different gospel songs. Here are the dates and places (all in the Netherlands, at 7 pm): Rijssen – October 25 Holten – November 1 Vroomshoop – November 15 Wierden – November 22 Enter – December 6 (News, Source: Elvis Matters)

Elvis In Concert.......touring Europe in 2010

Elvis Showcases Features On The Price Is Right: Today, September 25, The Price is Right on US TV station, CBS, will feature two all Elvis-themed showcases, one featuring a trip to Graceland, and the other a trip on The Elvis Cruise. You will want to be sure to tune in to this special episode. (News, Source: EPE)

Elvis The King of Las Vegas - book preview: This is a preview of the upcoming book "Elvis - The King Of Las Vegas". The photobook covers Elvis Las Vegas years between 1956 and 1976; his concerts, the holidays, his wedding, a list of all the stage suits Elvis used on stage and more. The book is due from the Flaming Star fan club and set for release October 2009. (News, Source: Elvis News/ Flaming Star)

Jailhouse Rock book release from JAT: Here's the art cover of next JAT Productions book "Jailhouse Rock". This new book by Jim Hannaford and Joseph Tunzi will be out on December 1, 2009. (News, Source: Elvis News/FECC/ JAT)

Fierce bidding expected on NZ 'Easy Come, Easy Go' LP: The movie soundtrack of Easy Come, Easy Go, was only released on 12" album (vinyl) format in 2 or 3 countries around the world, including Australia and New Zealand. A copy of the New Zealand album is currently listed on eBay and is expected to reach a high price. (News, Source: eBay)

A Little Less Conversation: Elvis and Sex: Amazon UK has this book release by Alanna Nash listed. Details: Arum Press, 25 March 2010, Hardcover: 320 pages, ISBN-10: 1845135113/ISBN-13: 978-1845135119. The title suggests it may be a different edition (with less pages) to Ms Nash's upcoming book, Baby, Let's Play House.(cover shown opposite).

Decoding” the truth behind Elvis myths and conspiracy theories: Since Elvis’ death in 1977 the Elvis world has always been a rich one for outlandish, fanciful and amazing stories.  From Elvis abducted by aliens in 1977 to numerous illegitimate children and Elvis still being alive, the stories have found a wide and receptive audience. One man has spent more than a decade researching, analysing and exploring these stories….....Patrick Lacy.  In 2006, Patrick’s book Elvis Decoded: A Fan’s Guide to Deciphering the Myths and Misinformation was published. Wh

What has been said about Elvis Decoded:

Patrick Lacy (author): Years ago as I was reading scores of Elvis books, I noticed that a lot of the information in inconsistent, uneven, or just flat wrong. Some errors seemed to be innocent mistakes, some errors...maybe not so innocent. So as I noticed these conflicts in the information, I started making a note of them, and over the past 10 years or so I have compiled them into what became my book. I do not believe this type of research and analysis has been offered to Elvis fans before. In "Elvis Decoded," I have offered comparative analyses of the many facts and figures that permeate Elvis World, and I have laid them side-by-side to determine what seems to be correct, and what seems to be incorrect. Contrary to the sentiments posted on your website, I have not endeavored to write, "The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Instead, I have examined the facts that *other people* have offered as "the truth," and I have attempted to determine if the facts stand up under scrutiny. Many times, they do not.

AuthorHouse (Publisher): Elvis Decoded... Author Patrick Lacy has written a book that is long overdue: a detailed, in-depth examination of the facts and figures that permeate the many Elvis books, websites, articles, and public boards. He sorts through all the information and puts things in proper perspective. Elvis Decoded also covers scores of other questions and topics that have been largely ignored or mishandled over the past 29 years. The author offers a unique perspective on the toughest questions and the most complicated issues in the Elvis Universe, and explains how things got so confusing. Elvis Decoded - A Fan's Guide to Deciphering the Myths and Misinformation is presented in a Q&A format, and offers an examination and comparison of the numerous Elvis source materials.

Also included in the book is the author's own research into other topics that have remained largely unaddressed since Elvis's death in 1977. More information can be found at the companion webpage: http://hometown.aol.com/elvisdecoded/newindex.html Rave reviews for Elvis Decoded: A Fan's Guide... "...Lacy has an uncanny ability to take these different versions of the same event and, without any sleight of hand, make the real truth appear, as if by magic, using the simple power of reasoning and elimination... The author's sincere search for the truth and his years of unbiased Elvis research shine through...I highly recommend this book to any Elvis fan." ---Jim Cox, co-author, with Nancy Rooks (Elvis's maid), of "Inside Graceland" "Finally - a book on Elvis Presley that is not only warranted but sorely needed. Author Patrick Lacy sifts through a mountain of information and dissects the singer's life and death with the precision of a surgeon and the analytical mind of a forensic scientist..." ---< AllExperts.com. at expert Elvis an volunteers currently and Presleys?), ?The Breakers? Record Roll Rock>

EIN: Patrick Lacy's Elvis Decoded is a much needed exploration and expose of many myths and misinformation in the Elvis world. It is not perfect, but it is an impressive start in sensibly assessing the mythical Elvis world in a studious, rigorous way, devoid of fanciful rhetoric. It is essential reading for anyone seriously concerned with finding the truth.

Tony Lee Trout (on Amazon): I will say that I fell for the "Is Elvis Alive" craz when it began in the late 1980s but after doing research, there's no way that Elvis is alive and he's not coming back. After reading this book, it did get me curious again to the possiblity of Elvis being alive but I know better. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and reading Patrick's opinions and the book, to me, is very well written and researched.

C. Sands (on Amazon): This is the book I wished I had purchased several books ago! Author Patrick Lacy has done painstaking research surrounding the last days - and death - of Elvis Presley. His sleuthing and subsequent documentation of various events plaguing both fans and interested observers alike are carefully laid down on paper. Without ego or arrogance, Lacy allows the reader to make up his or her mind by presenting as much detailed evidence as possible with as much coherence as possible. Elvis himself would have been proud. Definitely a book not to be without.

 Read EIN’s full review of Elvis Decoded

Visit the Elvis Decoded Blogspot 

Visit EIN's Elvis Conspiracy page

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Publishing executive Freddy Bienstock dies: After a long illness, Freddy Bienstock, a music publishing industry legend and founder of Carlin Music, died yesterday at his Manhattan home. He was 86.

Bienstock, who served on the National Music Publishers Assn.'s board of directors for nearly 20 years, founded Carlin Music in 1966 by acquiring the Belinda Music catalog and built it into a catalog with more than 100,000 songs.

"More than an icon and leader in the music publishing industry, Freddy was a cherished friend and colleague," said NMPA chairman Irwin Robinson. NMPA president and CEO David Israelite, added, "Freddy's passion for music and commitment to artists and songwriters made him a giant in our industry, and his legacy will not soon be forgotten."

After emigrating to the U.S. before the start of World War II, Bienstock began his career in the stock room of publisher Chappell and Company, later becoming its chairman. During his career Bienstock worked with such songwriters and music business executives as Leiber & Stoller, Cliff Richards, Bobby Darin, Ray Davies, U2, John Sebastian, Tim Hardin, Eric Burdon, James Brown, Peter Allen, William Bolcom, Ernesto Lucuona, Norman Dello Joio, Carol Bayer Sager, Kander & Ebb, Koppleman & Rubin, Marvin Hamlish, Stephen Sondheim and, Elvis Presley. According to his company bio, Bienstock worked closely with Presley, who often relied on the publisher to choose the songs he recorded.

Today, the Carlin catalog has an extensive catalog of classical, country, classic pop and standards as well as being a leading Broadway musical publisher.

Bienstock is survived by his wife Miriam; his daughter Caroline, who is COO at the company; Caroline's husband Douglas Rodriguez; his son Robert, who is senior VP of business at Carlin, and his wife Ellen; and five grandchildren.

Services will be held, at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday (Sept. 23) at Riverside Chapel, 333 Amsterdam Ave. in New York. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Bienstock's memory to: Children's Rights; 330 Seventh Avenue; 4th Floor, New York, NY 10001. (News, Source: Ed Christma/Marty Lacker)

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Circle G ranch for sale: You could own a piece of pop culture, but it'll cost you a pretty penny. Elvis Presley’s old ranch in Horn Lake, known as the Circle G is now up for sale. Prudential Realty put up ‘for sale’ signs yesterday. The asking price for the King of Rock n' Roll's old ranch is 6.5 million dollars. For that amount, you'll get 154.5 acres of land. Desoto County records show Elvis Presley bought the property back in 1972. It was sold in 1977-- the year of his death. The family that now owns the land purchased it in 1980. Since then, there have been a few attempts to sell it. Seven years ago, it appeared the old ranch would be the site of a Circle G resort- complete with shops, golf courses and hotels.

That deal-- and another one to turn it into a Stars resort-- both eventually fell through. “We tried to get it sold two times. Stars was the last one, but the money never came through. We got it through the Planning Commission, but the money didn't show” says Prudential Realtor Rodger Motz.

Now, once again, a piece of Elvis' past is up for sale. The property just went on the market last month. So far, Prudential says they haven't heard from any potential buyers. The old Elvis ranch sits at the corner of Highway 301 and Goodman Road in Horn Lake. (News, Source: eyewitnessnews  - www.elvismatters.be/www.epgold.com)

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Budget CD round-up: An exclusive release from Weltbild is the 4 CD set "Love Me Tender". It contains 96 tracks and was released August 2009. In the Netherlands the Weton-Wesgram budget label released the 60 track 3CD compilation "I Love Elvis Presley" on 3 Jewelcases in a cardboard box on August 14, 2009. The 20 track compilation "Fabulous" was released on the Musicpro label on September 4, 2009. The 5CD set "The Legend" was released on the Entertain Me label earlier this month. The single disc "Christmas With Elvis" featuring 14 Christmas and Gospel recordings and the oldies "I Beg Of You" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" was released September 2009. Three hours of Elvis Presley music were collected on the 3 CD set "The King" and released earlier this month. (News, Source: Elvis News)

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Elvis Touring in the 70s Volume 1: The FECC board listed this new CD release of previously issued material. Released by the King Records import label the double CD set features 17 tracks on each disc. The sets contain remastered "new wavelab audio sound" - concert recordings and are limited to 1000 copies each.

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'Jailhouse Rock' and 'From Sunset to Vegas' FTDs now out!: Elvis Unlimited advises that the September 2009 FTDs are now available. FTD page

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Love Me Tender "live clips from the 50s" DVD: A budget collection of fifties live clips entitled 'Love Me Tender" was released on September 4, 2009. (News, Source: Elvis News/ Elvis Presley Gesellschaft E.v. 

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FLOODING THE MARKET: October 5th 2009 will see 130 Elvis download releases as advertised by the music chain, HMV. Elvis suffered artistically throughout history by RCA flooding the market with releases. Parker started this by choosing quantity over quality in the 1970's. And here we are in 2009 and still the flood shows no sign of letting up. (News, Source: www.elvis-express.com  /  www.epgold.com)

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Madonna To Match Elvis: Madonna will match Elvis Presley's record of 11 UK Number One albums this weekend with her new greatest hits, according to reports. "Celebration" is on target to overhaul Muse's "Resistance", which took the top spot last Sunday.

Midweek sales suggest the pop icon is a few thousand copies ahead of Matt Bellamy and co's fifth studio effort. Madonna claimed her first chart-topper in 1984 with "Like A Virgin", but remains some way behind The Beatles in the all-time list. (News, Source: EP Gold)

 

'Follow That Dream' Graceland CD Pre-Order offer: The four latest Follow That Dream CD releases are now available to pre-order at ShopElvis. EPE are offering a free T-shirt when you pre-order any two new FTD titles! Go here for T-shirt offer There are more pre-order savings with any one new FTD release where you can also save 10% on items in the Jailhouse Rock & Las Vegas Merchandise Departments. - Jailhouse Rock FTD and From Sunset to Vegas FTD will ship week of Oct 12, 09 - Good Times FTD and Rockin' Across Texas FTD will ship the week of Nov 30, 09

For the cheapest FTD prices in Australia & New Zealand - check out the Elvis Info Network FTD shop. Click HERE. (News, Source;EPE/EIN)

ELVIS 'The Man And His Music' #85 Out Now: The latest issue of Elvis: The Man And His Music is out now with a packed 42 pages of great Elvis interviews and articles. The main feature is on the Memphis 1969 Celebration but there's also a fascinating article on the fake or genuine King Creole outtakes as well as all the Elvis News & recent CD reviews - plus lots more including...   - 'Calling All Vinyl Collectors' Gordon Minto checks out FTD's recent Vinyl releases. - Book Reviews - 'Elvis In Gold' & Ken Sharp's 'Vegas '69' - Origins Of The Memphis '69 Songs - 40 Years Of 'Suspicious Minds' - the history behind one of The King's Greatest Hits - It's Midnight .. Or Is It The Dinner Show? Keith Flynn confirms what was released & recorded in 1975 - An interview with Chips Moman, the Producer of the classic 1969 Memphis Sessions. In this interesting unpublished interview Arjan Deelen asks, "Can you remember what you were doing when you heard of Elvis' death?" Chips Moman: We were doing an album on Joe Tex in Nashville when Elvis died, and I remember that Dan Penn came in, and he had tears rolling down his eyes. He said, "Man, Elvis just died". I'll tell you, that was the day the music died.

It was like somebody hit you in the stomach, and it also left you with a distraught feeling, because it was unnecessary. That was the worst of it all. There wasn't a human being around him that would ever tell him, "Don't do that". No one would ever tell him anything the way I told him. He was so controlled by Tom Parker. Tom Parker would tell him no, but no one else. That's sad. To me, the reason that he didn't have a lot of hits anymore is the same reason that he died. Because nobody would say anything." If you are interested in Elvis and his music, then EIN thoroughly recommends subscribing to this great magazine. You can order this special issue or click here for full subscription details. (News, Source;EIN)

Tom Jones' shock at Elvis Presley's gun: Tom Jones was once left shocked when he found Elvis' gun in his dressing room lavatory. The veteran Welsh singer struck up a close friendship with The King and they would often spend time together when they were in the same city on tour. But on one occasion, after Jones appeared at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, he was stunned to find a silver-plated Colt .45 automatic pistol on his toilet cistern after Presley had used the bathroom. Elvis, of course, had a fascination with guns. Jones tried to discreetly hand it back, only to see the Jailhouse Rock hitmaker shrug off the incident. He says, 'I wrapped it up in this towel, took it out and said, very quietly, 'Er, Elvis, you left your gun in the toilet.' And Elvis just goes: "Aw shit man, ma .45", and stuck it in his belt. I was trying to be very discreet about the whole thing, but he couldn't have cared less.' (News, Source;ElvisInfoNet/SanjaM)

Unique Australia ELVIS Number Plate Up-For-Sale: Three letters and two digits have defined the Bennetts' existence. Stan Bennett will tell you it was his quick thinking and sense of adventure that created history, outwitting the lady at the transport department to walk away with a number plate that soon became a multi-million dollar marketing tool for Personalised Plates Queensland (PPQ). "I was in the line waiting to register my plate and was originally going to put Maree's initials and year of birth on it, like everyone did, but I told the lady at the desk a fib and said our relationship was a bit rocky and I didn't want to risk it," Mr Bennett said.

"I knew she was a huge Elvis fan so I crossed out my wife's plate and put ELV 15 instead, the lady processed it and I had the first ever letters-for-numbers plate." The one-of-a-kind plate has a Memphis registration, propelling it above all other imitations and helping it become the face of PPQ. "They came to me and asked if they could use it for their billboards, which were all over the place for a few years," Mr Bennett said. "The campaign made $7 million dollars profit last year — that's why they are pretty fond of me at PPQ. "I've made them a lot of money," the charismatic former truckie said. So revered is the plate that of all the years it adorned his truck, it was never vandalised or stolen. But the time has come for the retired couple to part with plate, in the small comfort that its sale will more than cover the price of their new Bargara residence. "It will be sad, but it's going to buy me a house," Maree, Stan's wife of 49 years, said. The ELV 15 plate would fetch $1 million in Indonesia and, of course, the United States of America, where the king of rock 'n' roll is worshiped. But the Bennetts say they'll settle for a mere $400,000. "That's all we need to be happy," Stan said. (News, Source;CarolynM/ElvisInfoNetwork)

'The Final Homecoming' finished artwork: Here's the final art cover for the next release by Audionics/ Fort Baxter. By popular demand! For those who missed Fort Baxter's 1997 "GOODBYE MEMPHIS" 2СD, Audionics / Fort Baxter will release in a limited edition the 2CD-set titled "THE FINAL HOMECOMING" (AUDIONICS 2009-05-2 / FORT BAXTER CS-1005). This release will contain the famous July 5th, 1976 Tour finale as recorded live from the mixing desk in Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, Tennessee. To achieve the best possible sound quality, Audionics / Fort Baxter worked with 1st generation DAT copies of the original soundboard tapes, as originally used for the 1997 release. The sound was restored in a renowned studio and is a significant improvement over the original release. As usual, this new release will come in a beautifully designed packaging with a 16-page booklet, containing a selection of live photographs from the July 5th, 1976 Memphis concert as well as informative liner notes. This 2CD is set for release in September. One of the show highlights is a sensational version of ''That's All Right, Mama''. He sings it with gusto, saying: "they said he can't do that stuff anymore, by God just watch me!". He also sings a few lines of ''Jambalaya'' as well as a rare-for-the-period '' One Night '' . Our next release will contain an unreleased soundboard recording. More details soon. See tracklist below - announced Sept 6: (News, Source;Audionics)

Elvis Presley new Digital Print online Shop: A new licensing agreement between Artopia and EPE now allows fans to choose from a large selection of vintage Elvis images to create unique items 24 hours a day, thanks to the innovative design-on-demand website Artopia.com. Select from Elvis album covers, film posters or still photos of the King himself to create one-of-a-kind keepsakes and gifts. Customizable items include t-shirts, mugs, wallets & purses, laptop skins and even life-size images of Elvis for your wall. For more information about Artopia.com and Everything Elvis Store - Click Here. (News, Source:EIN/EPE)

Indie Memphis Film Festival to screen Elvis: '68 Special at Overton Park's Historic Shell: Elvis is returning to one of the places where it all started. More information about the "'68 Special" showing has been added to the festival Web site where you can find out more about the other films in the festival. As part of the 12th annual Indie Memphis Film Festival, which takes place from October 8 to 15, Indie Memphis is bringing the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll back to the Levitt Shell in Overton Park with a free outdoor screening of the concert film, "Elvis: ‘68 Special," at 7 pm, Friday, October 9. In the event of rain, the screening will be held the following Friday. "This is certainly a highlight of this year’s Indie Memphis Film Festival and a great way to say thank you to the community that has supported us for all these years," said Erik Jambor, Executive Director of Indie Memphis. "Seeing Elvis perform on a 20-foot screen with the amazing sound system of the Levitt Shell promises to be an experience not to be missed." "Elvis changed the world with his performance of ‘That’s All Right’ at the Overton Park Shell 55 years ago," said Scott Williams, vice president of marketing at EPE, "It’s exciting that a whole new generation of Memphians will be able to experience that song and many others in the same venue in 2009."

Sunday 20 September 2009

Elvis The Beauty Queen & Me DVD promo clip: You can now watch the short but exciting promo clip for the forthcoming EE:UK DVD project with Jeanne LeMay Dumas. It's out in a few days and contains a great deal of TOTALLY UNSEEN footage of Elvis on stage in 1973 and 1974. (News, Source: Essential Elvis/EP Gold) Watch the trailer Read full details and pre-order the DVD from 'Essential Elvis'

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'Lost Symbol': Dan Brown's New Book Has Nothing on Real-Life Conspiracies: Dan Brown's latest novel, "The Lost Symbol," is flying off the shelves -- but some of the greatest conspiracy stories can be found for free online. Read the one about a troubled music icon's relationship with his skin doctor? It sounds like more on the death of Michael Jackson, but in this case it's about Elvis Presley, the "king of rock 'n roll," who died 42 years ago at the age of 42. There are books written on the FBI's Elvis files , but you can read them yourself, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act.

Amid newspaper clippings and hard-to-read scanned copies of what seem to be mimeographed reports are some really interesting passages, including, in part 3, Elvis's criminal complaint of blackmail against a South African dermatologist who was giving him skin treatments for an undetermined problem while Presley was stationed in Germany after being drafted into the Army. The blackmailer, it turned out, was not really a medical doctor.

There is also an account, in the first batch of papers, on Presley's tour of the FBI building in 1970. Presley did notmeet with then-FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, who had been advised against meeting with Elvis because of the King's strange personal appearance and the fact that he was then embroiled in a paternity suit, ultimately discredited, in Los Angeles.

On the tour of FBI headquarters, Presley told FBI personnel that "in his opinion on one has ever done as much for his country as has Mr. Hoover," and that he, Presley, considered the director the "greatest living American." Presley also met with President Nixon -- a meeting for which there is photographic evidence -- and after his tour of the FBI "privately advised that he has volunteered his services to the president in connection with the narcotics problem. Nixon responded by furnishing Presley with an agent's badge from the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Presley, described by FBI agents in the memo as having "a bizarre personal appearance," had the badge Nixon gave him in his pocket for the tour of the FBI.

He went on to tell the agents that he felt "the Beatles laid the groundwork for many of the problems we are having with young people in their filthy unkempt appearances and suggestive music while entertaining in this country during the early and middle 1960's." The documents also include descriptions of assassination threats made against Presley when he served in the Army in Germany in the late 1950s. (News, Source: Z. BYRON WOLF, ABC News)

Read the full article which includes other conspiracies: UFOs, Roswell

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Aussie chart update: On tomorrow's ARIA Music DVD Chart, Elvis: The King of Rock 'n' Roll holds steady at #14 after 71 weeks in the chart. (News, Source: ARIA)

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Roy Allan Eddins........Chevrolet dealership owner, Elvis and a brown paper bag: Roy Allan Eddins stood out as the consummate self-made man, rising from a job as a clerk in a parts department at a Memphis car dealership to owner of one of the largest Chevrolet dealerships in the county.

"He was an old-school businessman," said his son, Mark Eddins, owner of Friendly Chevrolet in Dallas. "He did business based upon handshakes, his word and his reputation."

Mr. Eddins, 82, died Tuesday of complications related to surgery. Services will be Saturday at Restland Funeral Home. Possessing a keen business sense, Mr. Eddins was an insightful judge of people, family members say.

"He was one of the smartest men that I've ever met," said Tracy Watson, one of his sons-in-law. "He was not formally educated, but you could sit down in a business meeting and he could figure it out in his head before anybody with calculators could do it."

Born in Memphis, Mr. Eddins was from a family of meager means. His was a hardscrabble childhood at the height of the Great Depression. Eddins trained as a military pilot toward the end of World War II. The war ended before he completed training. Mr. Eddins' love of cars led to a lifelong career.

He started as a clerk in the parts department at Chuck Hutton Dodge in Memphis in 1946, quickly rising to sales manager. One of his greatest memories was selling a used Cadillac to a young Elvis Presley in the 1950s, his son said.

"The salesperson ran inside and said, 'Boss, Elvis Presley is outside,' and my father said, 'Well, great, who is that?' " Mark Eddins said.

Elvis made a lowball offer on the car. He and Mr. Eddins haggled back and forth until they reached a selling price.

"Elvis asked dad if he had a piece of paper," Mark Eddins said. "Dad had a brown paper bag. He tore off one side of the paper bag and Elvis wrote, 'Pay to the order of Memphis Bank and Trust' and then he signed it. My dad said, 'What is that?' Elvis replied, 'I have all my money in Memphis Bank and Trust.' He said, 'I guarantee you they will take this.' "

"The check is framed in the dealership to this day," he said. (News, Source: TANYA EISERER / The Dallas Morning News)

Saturday 19 September 2009

Elvis makes another comeback!: It is interesting to see how opinions and values change over time. On June 5, 1956, Elvis Presley rose to national fame with his controversial performance of "Hound Dog" on the Milton Berle show. After singing it up tempo, he then began a slower version. His exaggerated, straight-legged shuffle around the microphone stand would create controversy as would his vigorous leg shaking and hip thrusts in time to the beat. Presley's "gyrations" would create a storm of media comment. The next day's national press, commonly used such words as "vulgar" and "obscene" because of the strong sexual content perceived in his act. Television critics across the country slammed the performance for its "appalling lack of musicality," "vulgarity" and "animalism".

The New York Times wrote of his talent the day after his appearance on the Berle show: "Mr. Presley has no discernible singing ability. His specialty is rhythm songs which he renders in an undistinguished whine; his phrasing, if it can be called that consists of the stereotyped variations that go with a beginners aria in the bathtub. ...He is a rock and roll variation on one of the most standard acts in show business: the virtuoso of the hootchy-kootchy. His one specialty is an accented movement of the body that heretofore has primarily identified with the repertoire of the blonde bombshells of the burlesque runway".

After his appearance on the Milton Berle show, Presley would appear three times on the Ed Sullivan show. The final broadcast would feature camera shots of the singer only from the waist up. At the end of Presley's final performance on the show, Sullivan declared that Presley "is a real decent, fine boy" and that they never had "a pleasanter experience" on the show.

Cosmopolitan wrote in December of 1956 about Elvis: "It isn't enough to say that Elvis is kind to his parents, sends money home, and is the same unspoiled kid he was before all the commotion began. That still isn't a free ticket to behave like a sex maniac in public."

Of course we know the rest of the story. Presley came back from society's fear of Rock and Roll to become "The King" and a cultural icon. Presley is reported to have sold over one billion single records and albums, which makes him the biggest-selling solo artist of all time. As of 2007, over a quarter century after his death, Presley still holds the top spot for best-selling solo artist in U.S. history (according to the RIAA.) Presley has had 149 top 100 singles in the United States. He has had 30 songs reach the top of the charts.

Elvis Presley is the only performer to have been inducted into four music "Halls of Fame":the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, the Rockabilly Hall Of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. His face has adorned a United States postage stamp and his former home, now a museum, Graceland, has been declared a national historic landmark

In the late 1960s, composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein remarked: "Elvis is the greatest cultural force in the twentieth century. He introduced the beat to everything, music, language, clothes, it's a whole new social revolution... the 60's comes from it."

In 2002, 46 years after the critical review of Presley's controversial "Hound Dog" performance on the Milton Berle show , The New York Times wrote: "For those too young to have experienced Elvis Presley in his prime, today’s celebration of the 25th anniversary of his death must seem peculiar. All the talentless impersonators and appalling black velvet paintings on display can make him seem little more than a perverse and distant memory. But before Elvis was camp, he was its opposite: a genuine cultural force... Elvis’s breakthroughs are under appreciated because in this rock-and-roll age, his hard-rocking music and sultry style have triumphed so completely."

Even thirty years after his death, Elvis Presley has just made another comeback. Forbes.com is reporting that Elvis Presley regained the top spot on its list of the highest-earning deceased celebrities. Elvis had ruled the list of thirteen deceased legends until last year. Elvis had estimated earnings of $49 million to regain the top spot in the year ending last month.

Time changes the values and opinions of people in society. Talent that was considered vulgar and "hootchy-kootchy" in 1956 can be described as a "genuine cultural force" forty six years later. However, Elvis Presley's incredible popularity has remained a constant in America for more than the last fifty years. (News, Source: buzzle.com, 2007)

About the author: James William Smith has worked in senior management positions for some of the largest financial services firms in the United States for the last twenty five years. He has also provided business consulting support for insurance organizations and start up businesses. Mr. Smith has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Boston College. He enjoys writing articles on political, national, and world events. Visit his website at http://www.eworldvu.com

Cirque du Soleil "Elvis" update: Brian Quinn tells EIN: " Have just heard through a very reliable source that the final song in this show "Will bring the house down". I genuinely don't know what it is but it certainly sounds intriguing!!"

It has also been revealed that leading ETA, Leo Days will play Elvis in the production. Leo has won several ETA contests and appeared in the famous Legends in Concert show.

Visit Leo's website

The Music And The Legend: The Essential Elvis DVD/book set: According to Elvis Club Berlin a 4 DVD box with the original title The Music And The Legend: The Essential Elvis will be released somewhere on September 21st. (News, Source: Elvis News/Elvis Club Berlin)

Friday 18 September 2009

Suspicious Minds in NZ Digital Top 10!: It's 2009 and Elvis is riding high on a digital chart "downunder". Brian Quinn tells EIN that on the New Zealand chart (week ending September 26, 2009): Source: Billboard.........Here's the Top 10: #1 (3) Sexy Bitch - David Guetta feat. Akon #2 (4) Sweet Dreams - Beyonce #3 (NEW) Rock Your Body - Justin Timberlake #4 (NEW) On Call - Kings Of Leon #5 (NEW) Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson #6 (NEW) Down - Jay Sean feat. Lil Wayne #7 (NEW) All My Life - Foo Fighters #8 (NEW) Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley #9 (7) I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - Pitbull #10 (9) I Gotta Feeling - The Black Eyed Peas As supplied by Mael on the UK Mix Forums.

Elvis Cirque Du Soleil update: Secrets are spilling out from the new 1,800-seat Aria theater at CityCenter, where the Cirque Elvis show will be presented. Vincent Patterson will direct the show, which will feature a live band and female vocalists accompanying the songs and music of Elvis.

Zowie Bowie’s big band conductor, trumpet player David Perrico, will be one of Cirque Elvis’ musical directors. Elvis’ Memphis and Nashville master tapes have been re-digitized by Cirque’s recording engineers to isolate him so the only male voice in the show will be his!

Cirque’s resident Las Vegas Senior VP Jerry Nadal said: “Elvis will be a biographical structure, with appearances by characters based on his wife, Priscilla Presley, and his manager, Col. Tom Parker. The story is divided into various sections of Presley’s life, and all has the approval of everybody connected to the late King. This is a tribute to Elvis’ life, so we’re focused on his contributions to the entertainment world and not the dark side.”

Priscilla and CityCenter chief Bobby Baldwin have already seen a run-through and given a huge thumbs-up approval. The entire CityCenter cast moved from Montreal to live here and is now in the final months of rehearsals before the opening.

Cirque expanded its powerbase in Las Vegas by veering from its solely circus-themed shows when it premiered The Beatles Love at The Mirage. Then it went one step farther by building an entire show around one performer, Mindfreak star Criss Angel. It continues the expansion from full circus themes with the upcoming tribute, although there will still be the famed acrobatics, I’m told, to heighten the Elvis entertainment experience. (News, Source: Brian Quinn)

She Played Elvis - A Pilgrimage to Graceland - new book release by Shady Cosgrove: Price: AUD $26.99 inc. GST/ ISBN 13: 9781741757248. A quirky, funny and quietly moving memoir that tells of a road-trip that a young American immigrant undertook with her boyfriend on a pilgrimage to Graceland, travelling across America on Greyhound buses, busking Elvis songs along the way. Description: She Played Elvis is the story of a trip that Shady, a young American immigrant to Australia, undertakes with her Australian boyfriend to rediscover her homeland - which, after several years in Australia, doesn't necessarily feel like 'home' anymore. As part of the journey, the pair decide to make a pilgrimage across America, travelling on Greyhound buses, to get to Graceland for the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, with Shady busking and singing Elvis songs at cities and towns along the way. As they travel across America, memories of her past begin to surface and Shady realises that while she is coming to understand the meaning of 'home', she is also untangling the knotted threads of her difficult relationship with her estranged, erratic, unreliable and often violent father.

A moving, witty and original meditation on the idea of pilgrimage, family, home and loss, She Played Elvis is a classic road story and a journey of self-discovery set to an Elvis soundtrack; a story told with a clear-eyed, intelligent, unforgettable grace.

Reader reviews:

"She Played Elvis is an engaging dissection of personal and national identity; and how we extract meaning from experiences... Shady Cosgrove’s writing style is intimate, yet unflinching and clear-headed." - Alisom McCallum

"A story of awareness and self-discovery, written in a very clever and witty way, an enjoyable read." - Cheryl Moulton

About Shady Cosgrove: Shady Cosgrove lives in the Illawarra with her partner, Scott, and teaches creative writing at the University of Wollongong. Her work has appeared in Best Australian Stories 2006, Antipodes, Southerly and Overland.

Wednesday 16 September 2009

CD Review - From Elvis In Memphis (40th Anniversary Legacy Edition): From Elvis In Memphis represents Elvis's highest point recording a studio album. Re-issued as The Memphis Record (1987) and subsequently Suspicious Minds: The Memphis 1969 Anthology (1999), in 2009 Sony BMG's Legacy series has issued a masterful 40th anniversary 2CD edition, with stunning remastering work by the legendary Vic Anesini. EIN presents its massive 7,000 word strong analysis of Elvis' landmark album. With many great visuals from the sessions and informative sidebars, we delve deep into the music, go behind the scenes in the recording studio and discover the many aural delights of this 2009 masterpiece! Read EIN's review

How did Elvis influence dancing?: Elvis Presley is well known as the King of Roll and Roll, but this man had an influence in the areas of movies and dancing as well. If you aren’t aware of his influence over dancing then you definitely need to keep on reading. It is hard to imagine that when Elvis first was on TV, appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show, shaking his hips to his music outraged many people. They felt his moves were too sexual in nature and they also believed that he was a white man trying to dance like he was black. For a while it became quite a controversy for him to be on shows. In fact, many of the producers only wanted to show him from the waist up so that they wouldn’t offend their viewers. Even so, there was no stopping the following that Elvis developed in part due to his amazing dancing abilities. It seemed that people all over the world just couldn’t get enough of him.

His concerts in Las Vegas and other venues around the world always sold out. Many of those that came to see him made it clear that while they loved his voice they were there for many other reasons. Among them was the fact that they loved his dance style and it was wonderful to see him offering something so new and so energetic to the crowd before him.

Many teenagers loved this rock and roll man, and it also offered them a way to freely rebel against their parents. They also found his style of dancing gave them something new to work with that wasn’t a rehash of what their parents had been dancing to. The fact that they could call this their own was magical and it allowed it to really take of. There aren’t many people who were teenagers in that era that don’t remember dancing to Elvis music and loving it.

Many of the movies that Elvis played roles in included music and dancing as well. These roles set a new boundary for what could be seen on the big screen. It helped to pave the way for the public to take an interest in dancing at a new level as well. They were willing to take those moves that they saw from Elvis and try them out on their own in many instances as well.

Unfortunately, a great deal of the dancing that Elvis did wasn’t really appreciated until after his death. Many believe he was decades ahead of his time with the visions that he had. He wasn’t a rebel as so many critics back then labeled him. Instead he was an artistic genius. If you ask any great dancers or musicians out there today many of them will tell you that one of their inspirations has always been Elvis.

Today there are many people that try to successfully impersonate both the sounds and the dance moves of Elvis. You can find plenty of them in Las Vegas at shows as well as being offered for weddings. Of course it takes a great deal of skill to be able to pull this one off successfully. The critics are very tough on these impersonators so only the best of the best are hired.

There is no denying that the legacy of Elvis is alive and well today. There are so many remarkable things that he was able to accomplish in his lifetime. History will always remember him though as a man that was able to balance music with dancing, and who was creative enough not to let society or the industry limit his talents. (Article, Source: BB Articles)

Special-Edition 'Vegas Elvis Harley-Davidson Street Glides' Now Available: To commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Elvis Presley’s triumphant return to live performances in Las Vegas in 1969, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE) and Graceland Harley-Davidson are offering a special edition 2009 Harley-Davidson Street Glide with Elvis imagery and additional extras worthy of the King of Rock ‘n” Roll. From the front fender to the rear wheel, the world has never seen a bike like the Vegas Elvis Harley-Davidson Street Glide with its customized Elvis packaging. This limited-edition motorcycle offered by Graceland Harley-Davidson and Bruce Rossmeyer’s Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson and licensed by EPE will pay tribute to Elvis’ record breaking engagements in Las Vegas starting in the summer of 1969.

When he opened at the International Hotel for a four-week, 57-show engagement, it broke all existing Las Vegas attendance records. Iconic imagery of Elvis’ Las Vegas performances will be found on the fuel tank, front and rear fenders, fairing and saddlebags. This bike also offers plenty of “bling” for buyers with custom wheels and seat, LED lights and a chrome package worthy of a king. To make the deal even sweeter, a limited-edition St. Blues Bluesmaster Guitar, customized to reflect the look of the motorcycle, will also be included with each of the five limited-edition motorcycles. The Vegas Elvis Harley-Davidson and St. Blues Guitar feature custom paint from O’s Custom Paint of Memphis. Both the motorcycle and guitar will be numbered to reflect their unique, collectible status and certificates of authenticity will also be provided by EPE. The bikes and guitars will be numbered in coordinated sets.

Buyers of the limited edition motorcycle and guitar will also be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime bike delivery experience during the 2009 Holiday Lighting Ceremony in Memphis.

These limited-edition bikes and the exciting delivery package are available for $50,731.69. For more information or details on the Vegas Elvis Harley-Davidson Street Glide, call Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson at 662-349-1099. (News, Source: Road Racing World/EPE)

Lisa Marie and Danielle Riley at Michael Jackson funeral - the photo!: On Thursday 10 September we published the following item:

Lisa Marie and daughter Danielle Riley attending Michael Jackson funeral (burial): Here is the first photo of Lisa Marie and daughter Riley arriving at Michael Jackson's funeral. It was initially reported that Lisa arrived at the funeral with her husband, Michael Lockwood. But from the image shown, she was accompanied by her eldest daughter, Danielle Riley Keough. The women reportedly sat in the back and Lisa Marie became very emotional as Michael Jackson's casket arrived at Forest Lawn. Lisa also was seen giving Michael's Mother Katherine (who was extremely distraught) an embracing and comforting hug. (Source: Elvis Unlimited)

EIN Comment: We suspect that Elvis Unlimited, the priginator of the story and photo, used an archival photo of Lisa Marie and daughter Danielle Riley together. All sites do this, including EIN, when an actual photo relating to a particular news item is unavailable. But well done Elizabeth in picking up the discrepancy!

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Mafia Elvis: This is volume 6 in the Polish newspaper series entitled Mafia Elvisa. This CD was released through one of the most popular daily newspapers in Poland, Gazeta Wyborcza (Election Gazette), in conjunction with Radio Złote Przeboje (Golden Hits Radio). Tracklisting: 1. The King Of The Whole Wide World 2. Talk About The Good Times 3. You Asked Me To 4. I Got A Feelin' In My Body 5. Paralyzed 6. Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues 7. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry 8. Polk Salad Annie 9. Mystery Train / Tiger Man 10. Walk A Mile In My Shoes 11. I Just Can't Help Believin' 12. You Gave Me A Mountain 13. Unchained Melody (News, Source: Henryk Matraszek/Elvis News)

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Collingwood Festival identity running to aid cancer foundation: Kathleen DeNike advises: I am participating in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure, on Sunday, October 4th and I am asking for your support for a cause that is very important to me. Help create a future without breast cancer by making a donation today! Donating online is quick, easy and secure. Your donation will be added to the critical funds raised by the Run, and will be directed towards research, education and awareness programs. Thank you. I appreciate your support!

Elvis stamp in France: Here is a promo sheet for the forthcoming French stamp! (News, Source: Jean Michel Scesa/ www.epgold.com)

Tuesday 15 September 2009

Sonny West working on new Elvis biopic "Fame & Fortune": According to today's press reports ... "Elvis Presley is set to star on the big screen from beyond the grave - the rock 'n' roll legend's former bodyguard will tell all in a forthcoming biopic about his life with the tragic entertainer!" The former bodyguard of Elvis Presley has agreed to give a tell-all account of his life with the iconic singer for a forthcoming biopic. Presley's ex-security guard Sonny West will reveal his behind-the-scenes perspective of the troubled star's rise to fame and struggle with drug addiction in new film Fame & Fortune, reports Daily Variety. West was employed by the musician from 1960 until 1976, one year before he suffered a fatal heart attack in his Graceland mansion. Presley's former associate will also co-produce and co-write the movie as part of the deal signed with Toronto-based company RLF Victor Productions for the feature-length film Fame & Fortune. Go here for EIN's exclusive interview with Sonny West. (News, Source;SanjaM)

Colonel Parker exhibit in Country Music Hall of Fame: Mysterious and shrewd, Colonel Tom Parker revolutionised the business of promotion and management while guiding the careers of Eddy Arnold, Elvis Presley, and others. Marking the hundredth birth anniversary of the late music industry legend, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will pay tribute to Parker in a spotlight exhibit featuring personal photos, correspondence, documents, apparel, a scrapbook, and other artefacts from throughout his controversial career. The exhibit opens in September. Go here to EIN's special Spotlight on "The Dark Side Of Colonel Parker". For more CountryMusicHallofFame info click here. (News, Source;EIN/EPE)

Charro Bartender died Sunday - aged 78: Jon Patino of Las Vegas, NV, who acted with Elvis in the movie, 'Charro', and was a veteran of the Korean war, is dead at 78. After several months in hospital care, he died Sunday, September 13, from complications of a stroke and diabetes. Patino had a small part in the TV series "Mannix", and was a former Los Angeles nightclub owner and lounge entertainer. He also enjoyed creating art with original pen and ink drawings or colorizing black and white photos with markers. For 'Charro', Jon played the Mexican bartender in the opening scene of the movie. He liked to tell the story of trying to teach Elvis some Spanish, but Elvis could not roll his R's. Jon also was frequently in the audience for Elvis' shows in Vegas and California, and attended parties in Elvis' Hilton suite. Patino leaves behind a long-time girlfriend and many friends in Las Vegas, most of them Elvis fans that he considered as family. (News, Source;epgold/www.elvicities.com)

Stanford Thompson Has Passed Away: Stanford Thompson, the father of Linda and Sam Thompson, has passed away at Linda's home in California. Elvis loved both parents and bought them a home just yards from Graceland. Linda said today, "Thank you for praying for my dear father. He passed away peacefully tonight, surrounded by family and loved ones. I was blessed to have him live with me for the past 10 years. He was a good, kind, patient, and devout man... I know that he is now an angel in God's Heaven, and with my mother. He was a WWII vet, and lived a good life of unselfish service to others. I will miss him immeasurably. I will love him always." Our thoughts and prayers are with Linda, Sam, Louise and all the Thompson family. (News, Source:AndrewHearn)

Monday 14 September 2009

Why was this Elvis related book never published?: J. Randy Taraborrelli is one of the most well known celebrity biographers with millions of books sold around the world. Taraborrelli’s usually sensational celebrity biographies read like a ‘who’s who” of the entertainment world.  They include books on: Frank Sinatra Madonna Princess Grace Michael Jackson Elizabeth Taylor Cher Diana Ross Motown Records the Kennedy women Marilyn Monroe Whitney Houston Carol Burnett However, despite his success with these subjects, there is one biography he could not get on the book shelves……….his book about Lisa Marie Presley. Despite significant pre-publication publicity in tabloid magazines around the world, Taraborrelli’s book: Elvis, Priscilla, Michael & Me, a biography of Lisa Marie Presley, was never published.

Claims in the book, pre-publicised in 1997 in magazines including New Idea in Australia, included that:

So why wasn’t Elvis, Priscilla, Michael & Me published?

From what EIN can ascertain, legal action was initiated against the book by unspecified parties (either Lisa Marie/EPE or Michael Jackson) and the decision was taken not to proceed with publication.

New releases from iTunes: Released on September 11, 2009 on the Carinco Neuen Medien label is the 25 track virtual compilation "Good Rockin' Tonight" volumes 1 to 3 with respectively 13, 26 and 25 tracks. The compilation "The One And Only (Christmas Songs)" with 12 Christmas tracks was released by the same label on the same date. (News, Source: iTunes/Elvis News)

Aussie chart update: Elvis: The King of Rock 'n' Roll rose 5 places to #14 on this week's ARIA Top 40 Music DVD Chart. The title has now been on the chart for 70 weeks with a high position of #4 and is currently certified 2xP. (News, Source: ARIA)

New MP3 book release: Love Me Tender : The Elvis Presley Story written and narrated by Geoffrey Giuliano. Unabridged edition available from Barnes & Noble. Only available from bn.com for delivery to USA addresses. ISBN-13: 9781601361714.

Ed Hill (from Stamps Quartet) named 2009 Gospel Hall of Fame Inductee: From Ed Hill's Website: The 2009 Southern Gospel Music Association (SGMA) class of inductees includes Ed Hill, Harold Lane, Don Light, Bill Lyles, Elizabeth "Lady" Mull, Billy Todd, and Charlie Waller. The official induction ceremony will occur as part of the festivities of SGMA Day, Oct. 7, 2009. “I know the inductees, their families, fans and friends will be pleased to hear of this honor,” said Charlie Waller, SGMA executive director. “We will certainly be planning an outstanding induction ceremony this year.” The day generally features a fun-filled day of concerts, dinner and the induction of the 2009 Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame newest members. The Southern Gospel Music Association is a non-profit organization that maintains the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame, the only facility honoring this genre of music, for the historic preservation of the accomplishments of the music and its people. (News, Source: Elvis Matters)

Saturday 12 September 2009

Cirque du Soleil "Elvis" show update: The newest yet-to-be-titled show, directed by Vincent Paterson, will feature the famous Elvis catalog of songs, re-orchestrated and sung by a group of live female vocalists and a live band. Cirque has access to the old master tapes and has been able to isolate Elvis' voice. "The only male voice you'll hear in the show," says Nadal, "will be that of Elvis." Current plans call for a mostly biographical structure, involving appearances by characters based on Col. Tom Parker and Priscilla Presley and divided into the various sections of the King's life. This is a fully approved affair by the Elvis camp, so don't expect much of the man's famous dark side. "This is a tribute to Elvis' life," Nadal says, "so we're not going to go there. We're focused on his contributions to the entertainment world." (News, Source: Brian Quinn) Note: An earlier news story dated 3 September (also from Brian Quinn) indicated that the title of the show may be "Viva Elvis". Elvis Unlimited recently reported that Cique du Soleil Inc. had registered the domain names: VivaElvis.Com and VivaElvisLasVegas.Com Update 14 Sep: The young boy who will portray Elvis at 11 years old, Connor Blackley, will sing in the show due to there being no Elvis recordings from this period. (Source: Brian Quinn)

Miss Tennessee visits Graceland: The brand new Miss Tennessee 2009 Kristen Motil, visited Graceland this week. She is walking in the footsteps of another Miss Tennessee, from the year 1972. Linda Thompson, who became famous by being Elvis' girlfriend for several years. (News, Source: Elvis Matters)

Poplar Tunes closes its doors: Sad news from Memphis. Without any advanced notice, Polar Tunes has closed it's doors yesterday. The record shop was visited by a young Elvis and they were the first to sell his records. The historical location was a regular stop during our Graceland Tours. Once again, a pice of history in Elvis' hometown is gone. The store is a victim of changing music tastes, digital downloads and the Internet. (News, Source: Elvis Matters)

Elvis fan becomes next US Ambassador to Australia: TOP lawyer from California who has known Barack Obama for 20 years and played a big role in his campaign for the White House is to be the next US ambassador to Australia. The US President will today announce Jeff Bleich as his choice to fill the vacant ambassador's position in Canberra. The appointment of Mr Bleich follows a history of presidents favouring friends and political supporters for the comfortable diplomatic post. But Mr Bleich's closeness to the Obama administration as a senior counsel to the White House since March indicates the importance placed on the US relationship with Australia.

It also reflects Mr Obama's growing bond with Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, after the pair announced initiatives on climate change at the G8 summit in Italy in July. Mr Bleich, 48, an over-achieving lawyer known for his work with more than 20 charity and community organisations, is likely to bring extraordinary energy to his new diplomatic job.

Currently on leave from his position as a litigation partner in the San Francisco office of legal firm Munger Tolles & Olson, Mr Bleich is a former president of the California State Bar and the San Francisco Bar Association. He chairs the board of trustees at California State University and is adjunct professor at the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.

Two years ago, a colleague from a rival law firm, Michael Tubach, remarked: "Basically, Jeff is Superman. He seems to be able to do everything." Mr Bleich and his wife, Becky, have two teenage sons and a younger daughter.

Among colleagues, he is known for his "luminous" personality and fascination with Elvis Presley memorabilia, which adorns the walls of his law firm office among many degrees and awards.

A former student at Harvard, like Mr Obama, where he graduated with the highest honours, Mr Bleich met the future president 20 years ago when they were interviewed as potential clerks to the then chief judge of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. (News, Source: Brian Quinn/The Australian)

Story of "In The Ghetto": Scott "Mac" Davis, an Atlanta-based songwriter, had some success in 1968 thanks to Elvis Presley and "A Little Less Conversation". His real break came in 1969, with a social-comment number. He'd been struggling to pen a song about growing up on the wrong side of the tracks and thought back to his childhood in Lubbock, Texas. Working down in Georgia, Davis set his song way up north, on a grey Chicago morning. It tells the story of how a hungry child turns to violence to escape his impoverishment. As the boy dies with a bullet in his back, another baby is born in the ghetto. His title was "The Vicious Circle" but it seemed to Davis that the desperation in the song wasn't so different to that in the wartime Jewish ghettos, so he changed it.Presley was heading for American Sound Studios in Memphis and needed material. "In the Ghetto" sounded right for the times, and it trailed the album From Elvis in Memphis in April 1969. (News, Source: Robert Webb, The Independent)

Watch EIN in the next few days for its in depth review of:

"From Elvis In Memphis" (40th Anniversary Legacy edition)

Don't leave home without your Elvis Visa Card: USA based Elvis fans can now carry Elvis plastic. The Elvis Presley Visa affinity Platinum Rewards credit card features one of five designs chosen by fans during Elvis Week last month. Four of the photos are Elvis performing live, and the fifth is rare shot of Elvis in front of Graceland. Cardholders will not only be able to earn points, but proceeds from the card will benefit the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation. Details can be found at: http://www.cardpartner.com/app/epe (News, Source: AP)

Thursday 10 September 2009

Book Review - "Elvis Presley A Biography": There are many well researched books on the market about Elvis.........Kathleen Tracy's biography, released by a noted publisher (Greenwood Press) is NOT one of them. Read what EIN thinks why this book is so bad!

It Happened At The World's Fair - Instantaneous Discs: Thanks to Brian Quinn for this very interesting item: Whilst surfing the web recently I came across the following: Between the soaring popularity of recorded sound on the discs of the early twentieth century and the high-fidelity recording capabilities of magnetic tape achieved after World War II lies the brief but enthusiastic niche of the instantaneous disc. Developed in the 1930s and used well into the late 1940s, 1950s and 1960's as an inexpensive and accessible method of recording, the instantaneous disc was different from commercially distributed records. The instantaneous disc – sometimes called lacquers, acetates , transcription discs, old time radio (OTR) recordings, Insta-discs, dubs, or reference recordings – was a “compromise of ease of engraving and playback life,” composed of softer materials than mass produced phonographs and thus more fragile and susceptible to the hazards of playback.

Rare French Film Poster - King Creole

(Translation: Brawls with the Creole King)

New Spankox Remix Album: These are the cover-art and tracklisting of the new DJ Spankox "Re Mixes" album which is being released in cooperation with EPE. This album is a re-issue of the original "Re: Versions" CD and contains the same contains 14 remixes and 1 video. The first edition comes as a limited edition Vinyl/CD in a deluxe digipack with a 24 pages booklet.

Bonus Video:

Lisa Marie and daughter Danielle Riley attending Michael Jackson funeral (burial): Here is the first photo of Lisa Marie and daughter Riley arriving at Michael Jackson's funeral. It was initially reported that Lisa arrived at the funeral with her husband, Michael Lockwood. But from the image shown, she was accompanied by her eldest daughter, Danielle Riley Keough. The women reportedly sat in the back and Lisa Marie became very emotional as Michael Jackson's casket arrived at Forest Lawn. Lisa also was seen giving Michael's Mother Katherine (who was extremely distraught) an embracing and comforting hug. (Source: Elvis Unlimited)

Read more: Elvis or Michael Jackson - who is the bigger star?

Funnyman dating Elvis' granddaughter?: Funnyman JONAH HILL has sparked rumours he's dating LISA MARIE PRESLEY's model daughter RILEY KEOUGH, after the pair was spotted getting close during a night out in London The Superbad star's love life has been given a boost since his recent rise to fame. Hill, 25, entertained 20-year-old Keough throughout the night after they arrived together at London nightclub Boujis last month (Aug09). And new pictures of the pair leaving hand-in-hand at the end of the night have prompted rumours they're an item. A source tells America's Star magazine, "Jonah and Riley partied side by side all night. She had her hand on his leg and was whispering in his ear... (She was) laughing at every word he said." (News, Source Contact Music)

They couldn't be further removed, but the IT industry can learn a lot from the 'King' of rock and roll Elvis, he's still an influential figure 32 years after his alleged death, will you be?: This year would have been Elvis Presley's 74th birthday. Even though he's been dead for over 30 years (we think), he's still a powerful figure in the entertainment industry. But his influence doesn't have to stop there. What lessons can we learn from Elvis that we can apply to our jobs as IT professionals? Don't be afraid to take chances. His first hit, "That's All Right Mama," sounded like garden-variety country blues. But within a year he was singing "Heartbreak Hotel," "Hound Dog," and "Don't Be Cruel," merging the blues with the evolving sounds of rock 'n' roll. The lesson? Take the initiative to expand your job duties to places where you see an unmet need in your organization.

Sometimes duty trumps desire. Elvis did his stint in the Army when he was called upon to do so, and earned the approval of his fans. Remember that if you're a programmer stuck doing maintenance because your company is short-handed. Patience isn't easy, but it's often rewarded.

Showmanship works. Plenty of other performers had voices just as good as Elvis, but Elvis put on a show no one else could match. While your work may be rock-solid, don't forget to market yourself, your department, your product. The most successful firms and individuals combine intrinsic worth with an adequate portion of self-promotion.

Do one thing and do it well. In Elvis's case, that was singing. Have you seen his movies? That they don't cause actual physical pain is about the best you can say about most of them. During most of the '60s, when he concentrated on his film career, the quality of his recordings suffered. Don't try to split your time among too many activities, and wind up doing none of them well.

All things in moderation. The medication that killed Elvis might have helped him had he not gone overboard. Too much of a good thing can be just as bad as too little. Remember this before you institute rigid policies with no room for flexibility, and don't forget to take time for yourself.

Leave a legacy. If he were around today, would The King be as popular as Britney Spears, Eminem, or even The Beatles? Who knows? But even though he's gone, we still enjoy his music. Make sure your organisation remembers you fondly when you move on. Hire carefully, document your work, and take time to do the little things that will help your company succeed even in your absence.

If I've stretched the metaphor in this column, don't be cruel and let your hound dog mess on my blue suede shoes. We in the ghetto of IT journalism sometimes get all shook up and can't help falling in love with a concept. I'm just pleading for your suspicious minds to love me tender.

Thank ya vurry much. (News, Source: Amber Smith)

Wednesday 9 September 2009

'Elvis: The Biography' by Jerry Hopkins - an alternate Book Review: The first serious Elvis biography was published in 1971. Reaching the top of numerous best seller lists around the world, Jerry Hopkins biography of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was irresistible reading for millions of Elvis’ fans and those simply wanting to understand more about the 20th century‘s pre-eminent cultural icon. The 2007 edition of 'Elvis The Biography' combined revised editions of the earlier two volume biography. Back in 2007 EIN's Nigel Patterson reviewed the book positively stating that, "Finally, a definitive one volume biography about Elvis - a mandatory inclusion in all fan's Elvis libraries." EIN's Piers Beagley now examines the book, finding it full of major errors and, as an 'updated book', a real failure! He states that, Jerry Hopkins has "put his career on 'automatic pilot' and stopped growing. He weakened his standards. He wasted his talent"! Read EIN's new review of this classic Elvis biography and Have Your Say. Is it a worthy updated re-release after all? (Book Reviews, Source;EIN/PiersBeagley)

Graceland Featured on NBC's The Today Show: All eyes were on Graceland this morning at NBC’s The Today Show broadcast live from Elvis Presley’s famous Memphis mansion. As part of the inaugural “Where are we TODAY?” segment, a production team from The Today Show arrived at Graceland Wednesday afternoon to scout possible locations for video clues to be aired during the show. Early Thursday morning a “video clue” aired showcasing the “mystery location” with a LIVE picture focused on the phone sitting on a table next to the couch in the Jungle Room at Graceland. Viewers were then asked to go to TheTodayShow.com to send in their guess as to the location of the LIVE satellite video feed. Friday morning the Today Show team returned for the LIVE reveal that showed viewers unable to identify the location as Graceland in Memphis, TN. Click here to watch the video clip of Graceland’s “Where are we TODAY?” segment on the Today Show website. (News, Source;EPE)

Jay-Z to surpass Elvis chart-record! - Really?!: Media news stories today says that the chart-topping US rapper Jay-Z will surpass Elvis Presley in the history books if his new album claims Number One in America. They state that Jay-Z is set to overtake The King with "The Blueprint 3", his 11th studio record, which is out on Monday. Both are currently tied in second place with ten chart-toppers, although they are nine behind The Beatles in the all-time list. The news comes as the hip hop don prepares for a string of UK dates, supporting Coldplay in Manchester, Glasgow and London. Jay-Z's new single, "Run This Town", is currently at Number One in the British singles chart. Sadly factors such as true "Singles sales" no longer apply in this era and the cheap/disposable factor of downloads have totally distorted the importance of these charts.  Elvis' early chart-topping singles used to sell over 1 million  - about twice the sales of top pop Albums of the time. Nowadays chart-topping CDs or full downloads can sell 10 million while Singles can get to number one on sales of only a few thousands. So the news-breaking comparisons of top "singles sales" makes little sense within pop music history.   (News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)

"Recorded Live On Stage" double-package: This is the cover art for the new RCA International released double CD pack. The 2CD set combines two live Elvis albums 'Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis' and 'As Recorded At Madison Square Garden'.     (News; Source:SanjaM)

I Was The One - Blue Vinyl release: Rockwell Records re-issued their first vinyl release "I Was The One" on blue-wash vinyl. This edition is limited to 250 individually numbered copies and features Elvis' earliest studio recordings from 1954, 1955 and 1956.             (News, Source:ElvisExpress)

Monday 7 September 2009

Understanding Elvis - The Dark Side of Fame: One of the best authors on Elvis is Professor Susan Doll who has written more than 10 thoughtful and insightful books about the King. Unlike a number of other academic authors, one of Professor Doll's strengths is her ability to present both factual and analytical perspective which is accessible to all readers. Professor Doll is also noted for her balanced view on the Elvis story. In Elvis Presley with profiles of Muddy Waters and Mick Jagger, Professor Doll provides another lucid and insightful examination of things Elvis. The book is part of World Book's excellent Biographical Connections series where the life of a central figure is bookended by shorter overviews of a figure before and after them which in some way connects to the central figure. Doll writes on Elvis' decline: 'Presley's self-destructive habits worsened during the 1970's, after he returned to performing in concert and leading a hectic, rootless life on the road. His worst problem was his dependence on certain prescription drugs. Presley had several health problems, including back pain, weight gain, digestive troubles, and several eye afflictions. Treatment for these conditions put him in the hospital several times between 1971 and his death in 1977.

He was also hospitalized for throat ailments, pleurisy (an inflammation of the lining of the lungs), and hypertension (high blood pressure). He abused the prescription drugs used to treat the ailments, particularly pain medication and diet pills. These drugs often left him in a state of mental confusion or led to erratic behavior. Presley's lack of connection with the real world also contributed to his erratic behavior. His behavior was not extreme, but it was unusual by normal standards.'

Note: Elvis Presley with profiles of Muddy Waters and Mick Jagger has been out of print for several years. Released essentially as a 'library acquisition', it can be found in many libraries.

From Memphis To Madison Square Garden: RCA International releases the two live albums "Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis" and "As Recorded At Madison Square Garden" as a double CD set October 2, 2009. (News, Source: www.epgold.com)

Aussie chart update: Elvis: The King of Rock 'n' Roll maintains traction on this week's ARIA Top 40 Music DVD Chart. The release slips 4 places to #19. It has been on the chart for 69 weeks, reached a peak of #4 and is certified double Platinum. (News, Source: ARIA)

CD Review: Pledging My Love (David Cazalet): Leading ETA, David Cazalet, has released his latest album, Pledging My Love. It is essentially a wonderful tribute to Elvis’s great love song period of the early to mid 60s.  Elvis' songbook is so vast that it can be easy to forget just how many emotive and from the heart tracks he recorded. Cazalet is a seasoned performer and his strong and melodic voice works very well with the 17 songs he has chosen for his latest album. With Cazalet in fine form, Pledging My Love is one of those albums which s easy to play over and over again. Read EIN's full review

"Completely Elvis" invades Australia 4 leading ETA's including Shawn Klush the world's #1 November 2009.......visit the official website for tour dates and more info

Why Cybill Shepherd dumped Elvis!: Actress Cybill Shepherd has revealed that she dumped her one-time boyfriend Elvis Presley after he tried to make her take prescription drugs. She said in a TV interview: "He once said to me, 'Take these pills' and he had these pills in his hand. I flushed them down the toilet." Moonlighting star Cybill, 59, who dated Elvis in 1973, said after that she returned his emerald and diamond ring.

She also compared Michael Jackson to Elvis, saying: "That level of fame is unsurvivable".

Memphis Mafia member, Marty Lacker comented to EIN:

Cybill is continuously using Elvis for publicity because of the fact that she's basically over the hill in Hollywood and she can't get any on her own. The fact is, she was the dumpee not the dumper. (News, Source: mirror.co.uk/Marty Lacker)

Read Marty's page on EIN

Sunday 6 September 2009

Elvis' flight suit for sale on eBay: This Shelby County Sheriff Department Jumpsuit was presented to Elvis Presley by Tom B. Morgan Jr. on August 15, 1977 while he was visiting Elvis at Graceland, his Memphis home. The Jumpsuit was a gift to Elvis from Sheriff Gene Barksdale and Tom B. Morgan Jr. to wear while aboard the Lisa Marie during flights between cities on his upcoming concert tour. This suit is the standard departmental jumpsuit, green in color, with a full front zipper closure, short sleeves and a collar. Elvis`s name and rank (Chief Deputy) are embroidered in gold above the right breast pocket and above the left breast pocket is the Metro Aviantion Patch. Also, on Elvis's Jumpsuit were the SCSD Patch on the right shoulder and the Swat Team Patch on the left shoulder. Elvis tried on this jumpsuit in Tom`s presents and was wearing it later when Tom left Graceland. This Jumpsuit may very well be the last gift Elvis received before his untimely death. After Elvis` death, Mr. Vernon Presley gave this jumpsuit to Tom B. Morgan Jr. in appreciation for coordinating the security of the house and grounds of Graceland along with his staff during the time of Elvis`s funeral. Tom spend about a week at Graceland after Elvis`s death helping with security. (News, Source: eBay/Elvis Matters)

EIN Note: Since publishing this item we received a number of comments indicating that given Elvis' weight in 1977 it would not have been possible for him to fit in to this quite svelte looking jumpsuit.

(Online Animation Review) The Elvis and Jack Nicklaus Mysteries: EIN has long said that the key to Elvis’ enduring popularity and is not so much his musical legacy, but his prolific and widespread socio-cultural impact.  From the global proliferation of ETAs (of variable quality), through 1,000 tribute songs and even more Elvis books, to the many films and daily mention of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll in all forms of our print, audio-visual and online media, Elvis’ impact on the world continues to be evident and perhaps a largely subliminal one.

In the field of animation, The Australian Children’s Foundation produced the entertaining Lil Elvis Jones and the Truckstoppers series and in the US, Jeff Martin has masterminded a sublime 3 episode short animation titled The Elvis and Jack Nicklaus Mysteries.

Released in 2000 this set of 3 short animated features is an absolute delight!  Teaming two of America’s best known icons to form a “Hardy Boys” type duo was a stroke of genius by creator, writer and director, Jeff Martin.

Each episode, developed with production company Icebox, runs for between 4 and 5 minutes.  The visuals are colourfully rich and crisp as is the clear audio track. With great and simple plot lines each episode is a joy to watch with nice balance between its drama and humor.  The online cartoons also feature a great rockabilly theme sung by Chris Anderson over the closing credits.

I’m not going to say anything more about The Elvis and Jack Nicklaus Mysteries except that they are exciting, different and engaging, so WATCH THEM!!!

If only Jeff Martin had produced more for our enjoyment! 

The 3 episodes are:

The Bullet Hole – Elvis goes golfing with the Golden Bear and murder ensues

E Pluribus Murder – who really killed JFK?

Twin Killing - Elvis is framed for a series of crimes and comes face to face with the man he thought was dead

(To watch each episode click the episode title above)

Verdict:  Watch ‘The Elvis and Jack Nicklaus Mysteries’ at your own peril. I’m warning you, you will soon be hooked by these sublime, guilty pleasure animations.

Comment on this review

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The Final Homecoming 2CD: By popular demand! For those who missed Fort Baxter's 1997 Goodbye Memphis 2СD, Audionics / Fort Baxter will release in a limited edition the 2CD-set titled The Final Homecoming (Audionics 2009-05-2 / Fort Baxter CS-1005). This release will contain the famous July 5th, 1976 Tour finale as recorded live from the mixing desk in Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, Tennessee. From the press-release: To achieve the best possible sound quality, Audionics / Fort Baxter worked with 1st generation DAT copies of the original soundboard tapes, as originally used for the 1997 release. The sound was restored in a renowned studio and is a significant improvement over the original release. As usual, this new release will come in a beautifully designed packaging with a 16-page booklet, containing a selection of live photographs from the July 5th, 1976 Memphis concert as well as informative liner notes.

This 2CD is set for release in September. Don't miss your opportunity to get the ultimate release of that legendary final Memphis show! One of the show highlights is a sensational version of That's All Right, Mama. He sings it with gusto, saying: "they said he can't do that stuff anymore, by God just watch me!". He also sings a few lines of Jambalaya as well as a rare-for-the-period One Night.

The next Audionics release will contain an unreleased soundboard recording. More details soon.

Tracklisting: CD 1: 01. Introduction: Also Sprach Zarathustra - 02. C. C. Rider - 03. I Got A Woman / Amen - 04. Love Me - 05. Fairytale - 06. You Gave Me A Mountain - 07. All Shook Up - 08. Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel - 09. And I Love You So - 10. Jailhouse Rock - 11. Fever - 12. America The Beautiful - 13. One Night - 14. That's All Right - 15. Blue Christmas - 16. Introductions by Elvis of vocalists, band - 17. Early Morning Rain (John Wilkinson).

CD 2: 01. What'd I Say (James Burton) - 02. Johnny B. Goode (James Burton) - 03. Drum solo (Ronnie Tutt) - 04. Bass solo (Jerry Scheff) - 05. Piano solo (Tony Brown) - 06. Electric Piano and Clavinet solo (David Briggs) - 07. Love Letters - 08. School Day (Joe Guercio Orchestra) - 09. Hurt - 10. Hurt (full reprise) - 11. Hound Dog - 12. Funny How Times Slip Away (with reprise) - 13. Help Me - 14. How Great Thou Art - 15. Softly As I Leave You - 16. Introductions by Elvis of Vernon Presley - 17. Polk Salad Annie - 18. Jambalaya (partial) - 19. It's Now Or Never - 20. Can't Help Falling In Love - 21. Closing Vamp and announcements.

Approx. running time: 90:32 (News, Source: Elvis News)

The Unknown Elvis: These are great new photos from Elvis' appearance at the Oakland Auditorium on June 3, 1956 from the San Francisco Chronicle archives. (News, Source: http://www.examiner.com/)

THE KING & I: Coming to BBC radio in 2010 is 'Rob Brydon's World Of Elvis - The Las Vegas Years'. Welcome to Las Vegas, where Elvis has not left the building.

Graceland may be home to his shrine but it's Las Vegas that pays homage to the spirit of Elvis the entertainer and British comic performer Rob Brydon explores this unique part of the King's career as part of the Elvis Presley Season for BBC Radio 2 next year. (News, Source: www.elvis-express.com/www.epgold.com)

Gordon Stoker is doing OK: Elvis Unlimited spoke exclusively with their buddy Gordon Stoker recently. He was feeling good and sounded very upbeat! Gordon had been sick a few months ago but then got a thumbs up to travel to Memphis during Elvis Week for Marion Cocke's chairty dinner at the Peabody. After performing at the dinner, Gordon felt ill. He was admitted to the Baptist Memorial Hospital for a few days. Gordon tells ElvisUnlimited.com exclusively that he is feeling great and enjoying visits from friends and time home with his lovely wife Jean. Gordon just had a visit from country singer, Hank Williams Jr, son of Hank Williams. Gordon used to work with Hank Sr. And he shared some incredible stories with us which we will feature in an upcoming issue of Elvis Unlimited. Keep Rocking, Gordon! And we ask that everyone keep positive thoughts and prayers for Gordon!

Elvis returns to the Shell: On July 30th, 1954, a young Elvis Presley played what is considered his first real public concert at the Overton Park Shell. Elvis' first single for Sun Records, the now-legendary "That's All Right (Mama)," had just been released, and Presley was a relatively unknown opening act on a multi-artist bill headlined by country singer Slim Whitman. Elvis would perform several shows at the shell over the next year, before becoming the biggest star rock-and-roll would ever know. This fall, the King returns, in a way, to the venue that launched him when Elvis, the 1968 NBC television special now popularly known as "The '68 Comeback Special," will be screened in the park as part of the 12th Indie Memphis Film Festival. The screening will take place at 7 p.m., Friday, October 9th, at the recently refurbished and renamed Levitt Shell. The screening is being presented by Elvis Presley Enterprises and co-presented by the Levitt Shell and the Memphis Flyer. It will be free and open to the public.

"Elvis changed the world with his performance of 'That's All Right' at the Overton Park Shell 55 years ago. It's exciting that a whole new generation of Memphians will be able to experience that song and many others in the same venue in 2009," Scott Williams, vice president of marketing for Elvis Presley Enterprises, said in a release announcing the event.

The Elvis special includes the intimate and justly famous concert-in-the-round performances where Elvis, clad in an iconic black leather suit, ripped through some of his classic '50s material surrounded by friends and original bandmates.

For more information on the Indie Memphis Film Festival, which runs October 8th-15th, go to IndieMemphis.com. (News, Source: Chris Herrington, Memphis Flyer)

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New iTunes albums: The Burning Fire label released the 21 track compilation "Love Me Tender - The Valentines Collection" on June 15, 2009. The Play Digital label released the 30 track virtual compilation "The Very Best Of The SUN Years" (with a lot on non SUN recordings). On July 24, 2009 the label released the virtual compilation "60 Original Hits", on on July 27 the compilation "90 Original Recordings" and on August 6, 2009 the label released the 30 tracks compilation "Love Songs". (News, Source: Elvis News/ iTunes)

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Million Dollar Quartet heading to Broadway: Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley — together again. On Broadway.

Good Rockin' Tonight in iTunes: The Le Chant Du Monde label released the 34 track compilation "Good Rockin' Tonight" on August 28, 2009. (News, Source: Elvis News/ iTunes)

Elvis $1.00 USA banknote

Elvis vs. Michael Jackson: At Michael Jackson's revival of a memorial service, Smokey Robinson slapped the lectern and smiled. Michael "will never really be gone," he said emphatically. "He is going to live forever and ever and ever and ever." Robinson's conviction was a balm to the tearful Staples Center crowd that gathered July 7 to remember the King of Pop. No doubt such sentiments will surface again today among family and fans as the singer is finally laid to rest in a private burial at Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, Calif. But as years go by, will Robinson's declaration prove true? Plenty of celebrities have stolen the spotlight in death, only to see their memories fade with the passage of time.

Princess Diana's funeral shut down London and riveted viewers from Kalamazoo to Karachi. A decade later, her role — as a fashionable mother of two with a passion for global causes — has been filled by Michelle Obama. Frank Sinatra once seemed so synonymous with devil-may-care cool that setting a movie in Las Vegas (cue Swingers) practically required referencing that Rat Pack reign. But lately, his chain-smoking men's club seems more a vestige of a less-enlightened age.

Even Elvis Presley, arguably the most enduring of our cultural comets, is burning less brightly 32 years after his death. Many of his once-revolutionary hits would strike a quaint note on a contemporary playlist, and his pop-culture presence seems largely confined to cartoon soundtracks and ubiquitous impersonators.

Jackson's quest for immortality will have its obstacles. Though Elvis' bloated capes-and-collars period was a brief kicker to a storied career, Jackson's last 20 years were light on hits but heavy on high drama, from the hyperbaric chamber and pet chimp to child molestation allegations and disfiguring plastic surgeries.

It remains to be seen whether the memories — and the music — of Jackson's golden era are potent enough to offset not only those oddities but also the controversies that continue to swirl around him, from his abuse of hospital-grade painkillers to his death by homicide. (Comment, Source: Marco R. della Cava, USA TODAY)

Read more...........Elvis or Michael Jackson....who is the bigger star?

Elvis singer kept teenage girl locked in underground dungeon: Katie Peters, 18, was handcuffed, had her mouth covered and hands and feet bound before being locked in a pitch black, 6ft by 4ft cell. Her former boyfriend, Tony Boden, even built a silk-lined coffin complete with hand restraints to keep her in.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that Boden lured Miss Peters to his music shop Soundmasters, in Bilston, West Mids, before seizing her and bundling her down two flights of stairs. There, at the end of a cellar, he had built the prison cell by putting up a false wall made out of MDF, access through which was through a trap door. He even lined the walls with carpet to muffle any noise.

Boden, who sings with a popular rock’n’roll band Footloose using the stage name Tony Denim, hatched his plan after Miss Peters, who he remained infatuated with, ended their 18-month relationship. He enlisted another girlfriend, Sarah Marshall, 21, to keep an eye on Miss Peters throughout her ordeal as he attempted to cover his tracks by organising a search party.

He tried to deflect the search away from him by leaving messages on her mobile, calling her friends for information and making missing person posters. All the while Miss Peters, a gifted musician who met Boden when she taught music at his shop, was left shivering and in terror. She was initially left alone for over four hours – during which time she tried to kick her way out of the room - before Marshall returned to act as jailer and stayed with her throughout the remainder of the ordeal. During that time she ate just one meal, brought from a nearby McDonald's by Boden, who also provided water. Miss Peters had her hands secured behind her back for over 24 hours before Marshall took pity and released the shackles.

She said: "I tried not to panic and although I felt sick and was extremely frightened. I quickly resigned myself to the situation I was in and my survival instincts took over. I knew that if I had any hope of getting out unharmed I would have to try not make them angry or panic. I did not sleep during my time in the cellar as I was in a lot of pain from the handcuffs, which were cutting at my wrists and it was very cold."

She said the incident had a profound effect on her.

When Miss Peters failed to show up after two days, police began to focus on Boden, from Ettingshall, West Mids, and in particular the sprawling, four-floored, 42-room building that housed the shop. On March 2nd they assembled a search team and sniffer dogs and found Miss Peters locked away underground. Boden admitted kidnap and false imprisonment and was jailed for two and a half years. Marshall admitted false imprisonment and will be sentenced later. (News, Source: Nick Britten, telegraph.co.uk)

Thursday 3 September 2009

Name of upcoming Cirque du Soleil Elvis show.....Viva Elvis: Word has filtered in that the rather uninspiring "Viva Elvis" has been chosen as the name of the Cirque du Soleil Elvis production. This news is yet to be confirmed. (News, Source: Brian Quinn)

Book Review: The Genuine Elvis: Photos and Untold Stories about the King By Ronnie McDowell, Edie Hand and Joe Meador Reviewed by Nigel Patterson.  Copyright EIN Released in July, this new book release is a surprise which lives up to its title. The stories and recollections come from a diverse group of family, friends and peers.  Apart from the authors, the reader is treated to many great stories by names we immediately recognise such as Pat Boone, Jerry Schilling, Ray Walker (Jordanaires) and Alfred Wertheimer (photographer), to those we are not familiar with including Howard Hite (Tupelo Hardware Company), Judy Spencer Nelon (the Judy Spencer Nelon Group), Jimmy Angel (friend/performer) and Charles Watt (disc jockey).

All have something interesting and informative to convey.  Jerry Schilling reflects on Christmas with Elvis in 1975; Pat Boone talks about he and Elvis were both essentially “good ole boys”; Judy Spencer Nelon reflects on the importance of gospel music to Elvis and Howard Hite recalls the day Gladys and Elvis came into the store with Elvis wanting a rifle but Gladys wanting him to buy a guitar (and we all know the outcome); while Charles Watts recalls the fans, National Guard, state troopers and local police when Elvis returned to Tupelo for his legendary concert in 1956.  These and many more stories keep the reader enthralled.

The text is nicely balanced by a mix of photos, archival material and artworks.  There are numerous visuals you probably haven’t seen before including Elvis in Sheffield, Alabama during a train stop in the 1950s, Elvis and cousin Gene Smith, Elvis surrounded by black and white fans as he leaves the Hudson Theater in 1956 and a still from the set of Loving You with Elvis, family and cast at lunch.

The real highlight (for me) was Ronnie McDowell’s sublime Elvis artworks.  These need to be seen to be appreciated but it is clear Ronnie would have a very successful other career should he ever decide to give up his day job.  They resonate with rich, vibrant color and each scene depicts an important part of the Elvis story.  You will marvel at (Elvis outside the) Roxy Theater; Lonely Street (Elvis and James Dean); A Tale of Two Kings (Elvis and Clark Gable in Hollywood); Reflection of a King, Elvis and Friends and to name just a few.  My favourite is The World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band: The Rising Sun Edition which is a joy to behold.  McDowell’s prowess with the paint brush is prodigious and will be a revelation to many.

The Genuine Elvis: Photos and Untold Stories about the King is a smallish book with a correspondingly small price.  The book and page design is strong.  Overall, it represents very good value for money!

Verdict: A welcome addition to the bourgeoning Elvis library.  Great stories are complemented by some very rare photos and absolutely stunning artworks by the multi-talented McDowell.

Product Description: Untold stories, candid photographs, and personal memories fill the pages of this ultimate tribute to the king of rock-'n'-roll. From anecdotes about Elvis's high-school years from friend Jimmy Angel to the personal memories of Elvis's best friend, Jerry Schilling, about the Christmas of 1975 and Elvis's cousin Edie Hand's childhood memories of their summertime family reunions, this book is a must-have for fans and collectors of Elvis memorabilia.

This collection features contributions from Elvis's friends and family members, country music star Ronnie McDowell's original paintings, and dozens of remarkable pictures by Al Wertheimer. Highlights include the entries from Pat Boone; Louise Smith, widow of Elvis's cousin Gene; and the never-before-told story of the exclusive 1956 interview disc jockey Charles Watts recorded with Elvis and his mother, Gladys, and father, Vernon.

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"The coupling of Ronnie McDowell's great paintings with an insider's delightful stories about Elvis makes The Genuine Elvis a magic combination." --Dick Clark, American Bandstand

About the authors: Ronnie McDowell is well known to Elvis fans thanks to his tribute song, The King Is gone, and numerous hit songs and successful tours since 1977.  Edie McDowell is a relative of Elvis’ while Joe Meador is a successful songwriter, music manager, producer and performer.

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Genuine Elvis, The: Photos and Untold Stories about the King

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Join the Official Memphis Mafia Organisation: Membership re-opens for very limited time!!! Due to such great reviews from our present members and the requests we've recently had, Lamar and Marty have decided to reopen for a limited time the membership into the Memphis Mafia Organization.  The members are especially enjoying the MMO Newsletters they have been receiving regularly since they joined a few months ago.  For further information on how to join, email Marty and Lamar at mmoinc@yahoo.com. Here is an excerpt from the latest Memphis Mafia Organisation email newsletter:

On February 11, 1979, the ABC Television network presented the Dick Clark production of "ELVIS." It was a movie made for T.V. based on the early years of Elvis' life up until 1969. The editorial staff would like to commend Kurt Russell for his portrayal of Elvis. Although it is virtually impossible for anyone to be exactly like Elvis, Kurt Russell was close. His voice and mannerisms were uncannily near-exact. The problem with the movie was that while they concentrated on Russell's performance, they didn't pay too much attention to truth or authenticity in the story.

To begin with they made Elvis' life seem like one big tragedy. They portrayed sadness in almost every scene. Elvis was not the sad, lonely person they made him out to be. He was not a prisoner in his own home, he lived the life he wanted to live. He loved singing, he loved being on the stage, he loved the money it brought in and he certainly loved spending that money. Sure he was lonely sometimes, who hasn't been, but they missed telling about the crazy fun times he had and those were in the majority. That's why we called him "Crazy."

QVC-Sony/BMG Elvis Memories 3 CD Set: Many thanks to Barry McLean for these images of the 3CD set being sold by the QVC shopping channel.

Whatever happened to….?: In late 2006 one of Elvis’ former girlfriends Sheila Ryan announced her book about life with Elvis.  The news reports at the time said Sonicpastmusic.com had signed Sheila Ryan Caan, former fiancée of Elvis and ex wife of James Caan, to a book and movie deal.

Sheila had written 1000 pages about her life with Elvis and her. According to the press release, the book - titled “Fame on Me” - contains material that has never been shared with anyone about many of Elvis’s heartaches and disappointments and betrayals, the pillow talk this young 20-year-old beauty kept secret for all these years.

In anticipation of the book's release Sheila commenced interviews with TV and print media but her book is yet to materialise despite some smart advance pr:

The book promises a whole new take on the public's general perception of Elvis and his so-called Memphis Mafia and personal details abound. The story begins when the 20 year-old runaway is plucked out of the Las Vegas concert audience by one of Elvis' minions and brought backstage. After a little innocent flirting Ryan went home, only to be summoned back to Elvis' presence as soon as she answered the phone. She never went back to her apartment again.

Similarly, the announced memoir by siblings Linda and Sam Thompson and a rumored book by Elvis’ last girlfriend (fiance?) Ginger Alden, are yet to hit the book shelves.

Wednesday 2 September 2009

(CD Review) ELVIS PRESLEY - From Elvis in Memphis (Evan Schlansky, AmericanSongwriter.com) (RCA/LEGACY) Rating: 5 stars!!! Recorded at the dawn of 1969 at American Sound Studios, From Elvis In Memphis is considered one of Elvis’s very best records, if not the best. It was his first non-soundtrack album in six years, and followed on the heels of the King’s triumphant NBC comeback special that brought his career out of the doldrums.

The reissue contains remastered versions of every track to come out of the storied sessions. Elvis poured all of his passions into each cut, including the #3 hit “In the Ghetto,” the story of “a hungry little boy with a runny nose” who turns to a life of crime, written by Mac Davis. An ace backing band and inspired production by Memphis legend Chip Moman helped set the stage for Presley’s return to glory, 34 albums into his career. Country, blues, and soul are the predominant styles here. The raw-voiced opener “Wearin’ that Loved On Look” (a somewhat risqué image from the King) announces a departure from Presley’s smooth-voiced crooner role from the movies. Elsewhere, he puts his back into Jerry Butler’s 1968 r&b hit “Only the Strong Survive” and the classic country songs “I’ll Hold You in My Heart” and “I’m Movin’ On,” a No. 1 hit for Hank Snow in 1950. His pitch-perfect cover of Burt Bacharach’s “Any Day Now” is an attempt to get with the times. The first disc of the reissue also includes covers of “I’ll Be There” and The Beatles’ “Hey Jude,” well worth a listen for any Elvis fan.

The songs are quirkier on disc two, which offers ten tracks that didn’t make the LP. “Like my dad, there’s a dream in my brain,” Presley sings on the melodramatic “Inherit the Wind,” written by Eddie Rabbitt, “In the morning I’ll have to leave again. That’s how it is when you inherit the wind.” The bitter blues “Stranger in My Own Hometown,” which concerns “so-called friends who stop being friendly,” gets to the heart of Elvis’ pain, and he gives it all he has on the country classic “From a Jack to a King.” The lead guitar mimics a sitar on “You Think of Me,” a subtle reminder of the year in which it was cut. Audiophiles will appreciate the 10 bonus mono singles that come with disc two, including non-album tracks like “Kentucky Rain,” and “Mama Like the Roses.” The Memphis sessions also produced the unforgettable “Suspicious Minds” (included here), which would be released as a single that summer, and gave Presley the last chart-topping hit of his lifetime.

Return of a Prodigy to be released this week: The new album from The Gravel Road import label "The Return Of A Prodigy" is due for release this week. This flyer is a small preview of things to come; a remastered soundtrack and 32 pages booklet with reviews, interviews and over 60 photos. Excerpt from the liner notes: During the mid-eighties, RCA Europe had problems getting requested Presley master recordings from the New York archives. Often the answer given was "we can’t find it." Producers Ernst Jorgensen and Roger Semon were ultimately forced to go personally to New York and organize the Elvis tape library. They hoped to find all missing reels related to Presley. In their quest, they came across ampex boxes which were marked “Opening Show.” ….

Tracklisting: Recorded At The International Hotel Las Vegas, August 3, 1969 (Dinner Show)

1. Opening Theme
2. Blue Suede Shoes
3. I Got A Woman
4. All Shook Up
5. Love Me Tender
6. Jailhouse Rock / Don't Be Cruel
7. Heartbreak Hotel
8. Hound Dog
9. Memories
10. Mystery Train / Tiger Man
11. Career story
12. Baby What You Want Me To Do
13. Runaway
14. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
15. Yesterday / Hey Jude
16. introductions
17. In The Ghetto
18. Suspicious Minds
19. Can't Help Falling In Love
20. Interviews
21. Radio spots of 1969 (News, Source: Elvis News)

A wall fit for The King - large collection of Elvis albums makes for great office decor

Bruce Allen has made untold millions managing the careers of music stars like Bryan Adams, Michael Buble and Loverboy. But his real musical love is Elvis Presley. I mean, this is a guy who paid $18,000 US for The King's personal barber chair.

Red Robinson is big on Elvis, too. The legendary rock and roll DJ introduced The Pelvis at his Empire Stadium show Aug. 31, 1957, and collected every Elvis record he ever came across -- about 400 LPs and 300 45s. Robinson recently sold his 4,000-square-foot house in Deep Cove and relocated to a 1,500-square-foot condo in Coal Harbour. He needed to do some serious downsizing, and asked Allen if he wanted to buy his Elvis records.

Naturally, Allen said yes. But he didn't want to just put them on a shelf, or box them up in his storage locker. So he decided to do The Elvis Wall. Basically, Allen filled up an entire wall beside his office with Elvis records. They're arranged six records high and 28 across in a glass display case, and they make a very impressive sight.

There are familiar records (the iconic 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong), obscure records (the soundtrack to the best-forgotten flick It Happened At the World's Fair) and unauthorized "bootleg" records (Elvis Rocks Little Rock, a live recording from 1956).

Some albums have two covers -- the 1966 movie Spinout was called California Holiday in some countries, and Robinson bought both. (They're identical, except for the titles.) The 45 covers are amazing, capturing the movie star Elvis in outtakes from Jailhouse Rock, Kid Galahad, and King Creole.

Many of the records are quite rare, and worth big bucks. There is a bizarre promo 45 called Perfect for Parties, where Elvis chats up records you could play at parties. There is also an odd EP called Elvis Sails, a memento from Elvis's induction into the U.S. Army in 1958.

"NBC went on the troop ship that was taking him to Germany and interviewed him," explains Robinson, who will emcee the Elvis tribute at the PNE Aug. 31.

Robinson thinks the most valuable album in the collection is a mono version of the soundtrack to the 1968 movie Speedway. "They only pressed 300 and said, 'Hold it, people want to listen to it in stereo,'" Robinson explains. "There were only a few made, and it's worth thousands of dollars."

In the middle of all the records is Andy Warhol's 1963 print Double Elvis, featuring Elvis firing a gun in cowboy garb.
"It's not real, it's a copy," admits Allen, 64. "If you had an original it would be a couple of million bucks."

Robinson declines to say how much he sold the collection to Allen for. But mounting the records on the wall has been a big hit with visitors to Allen's office in the old BC Electric Railway station at Carrall and Hastings.

"People come down and take pictures," Allen notes. "It amazes people when they see all the different covers."

The wealth of covers even impresses Allen's star clientele, which includes Adams, Buble, Martina McBride, Anne Murray and Jann Arden.

"It's pretty funny," says Allen. "When my artists walk down here and look at it, in many ways I think it's quite humbling. In another way, if they want to see somebody who was exploited, there was a guy that was exploited, big-time. It's not really something to be proud of, all this stuff up there, cause there was a lot of bad product that RCA put out. The Colonel didn't really protect him."

The Colonel was Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker. After Presley's death, information came out about all sorts of bad deals the Colonel had made for Elvis.

"The repackaging is kind of endless," says Allen. "The most exploited artist of all time, without a doubt."

He points to Presley's Moody Blue album.

"When he died they wheeled that out right away," he notes. "It's very interesting the difference now between Michael Jackson dying and [Elvis] dying. I talked to the RCA [records] guys and they said they were all at a convention. They came in and they said 'Listen Elvis just died, everybody go back to their offices.' And they had trucks just riding around the United States, full of records, to drop them off wherever they could. They just pressed and pressed and pressed and then pressed some more. It was just ridiculous."

Robinson didn't just sell off his Elvis records, he sold off his entire 25,000-record collection. But the 72-year-old still has plenty of memorabilia left from nearly five-and-a-half decades in the music biz. Much of it can be seen by the public at the Red Robinson Theatre in the Boulevard Casino in Coquitlam. His office is down the hallway from Allen, and is adorned with all sorts of vintage pictures of Robinson with the stars he met, from Elvis and Buddy Holly to the Beatles, Ricky Nelson and Tom Jones. The niftiest item, though, might be "Little Ray," a 17-inch high "animatronic" doll of the late Ray Charles.

It looks like a giant bobblehead, with Charles in his trademark sunglasses, smiling, clad in a shiny silver jacket that looks like it's made out of alligator skin. Charles is seated at a piano, and when you press a button, his head bobs, his fingers tickle the ivories and the doll plays What'd I Say and America the Beautiful.

It's so ridiculous, it's sublime. (News, Source: canada.com/John Mackie, Vancouver Sun/www.epgold.com)

"the Collection" CD: This is the cover-art for the upcoming Sony Legacy 3CD set "The Collection" which due in the US on September 29, 2009. It contains Elvis' original albums "Elvis Presley", "Elvis" and "Loving You". (News, Source: Amazon/Elvis News)

Sam Phillips selling Elvis' contract no mistake: When Sam Phillips sold Elvis’ contract to RCA Records, it was no mistake as many people will tell you. I had the honor and privilege of working for “The Father of Rock and Roll”, at his radio station in his hometown of Florence, Alabama. I just got off the air after doing my Saturday afternoon airshift, walked into the sales area and saw Mr. Phillips standing there. I found out in short order that he prefers Sam over Mr. Phillips. He sat down and he told me that radio was his first love, not recording. He was a disc jockey for many years including WREC at that time located in the Hotel Peabody in downtown Memphis. In fact the recording started as a sound effects library for radio production and grew from there. Sun Studios was originally called The Memphis Recording Service with the slogan "We Record Anything, Anywhere, Anytime."

At the time I was young and naive enough to think I could ask him about selling Elvis' contract for $40,000. Sam said "Well first of all it was $35,000 because Elvis got $5,000 and second that was a lot of money back in 1955 especially for an artist that had never had a hit record. He told me at the time RCA made the offer he was considering an offer from Atlantic Records for $25,000. He needed the money to promote Sun's other artist. I knew Elvis had started on Sun but didn't realize he had never had a hit. He said he didn’t have the money to promote Elvis, “Back then the best way to sell records was by touring. With the money I made from the sell of the contract I was able to promote Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.” He paused for a minute, went into his office and returned with an old picture, he said this group played right here in the tri-cities (Florence, Sheffield and Muscle Shoals). It was Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jay Perkins (Carl's brother) and Jerry Lee Lewis. All but Jay were in later years called the Million Dollar Quartet.

Since he brought it up I asked about how Carl Perkins felt about Elvis recording "Blue Suede Shoes" a song Perkins wrote and had recorded himself. Sam said “Carl was in a car wreck on the way to do a TV show (the Perry Como Show) and couldn't tour. Elvis did a cover and had a hit with it bringing in money Carl would have never seen from royalties." He pointed out that in hindsight people think that the Elvis version overshadowed Perkins version. The fact is, Perkins version gave Sun Records their first national hit, selling over a million copies and giving them the cash flow they needed at the time. Perkins took “Blue Suede Shoes” to the top of the country charts and #2 on the pop charts. Elvis’ version (on RCA) stalled at #20 on the pop charts. But the royalties from the Elvis version gave Carl the money he needed during his recovery.

Sam also said that he invested some of the money into Holiday Inn, over the years he made his money back many times over. He had also put on a radio station in 1955, WHER. It was the first all female radio station. Not only the air staff but management as well. A sly grin came across his face as he told me that all the girls applying for the on air staff thought they would be the only woman on staff as was the norm at the time. It wasn’t until they came to work that they realized they were going to be a part of broadcasting history. “At the time” Sam said “people thought I was crazy, that it would never last but WHER was on the air for eleven years.”

Sam was a living legend and an innovator. He took chances by combining black and white music and was the first to cross over the country and rock charts (Elvis later added R&B and topped all three charts). He also had the first “All Girl” radio station; he was truly the first Equal Opportunity Employer. I am proud to have worked for him. (Comment, Source: Mitch McCracken, examiner.com)

Quirky film with great Elvis portrayal: Robert Patrick gives one of the best interpretations of Elvis Presley in the movie Lonely Streetsince Bruce Campbell showed The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll as a nursing home resident fighting mummies in Bubba Ho-Tep. This is the same Patrick who as the cyborg T-1000 terrorized Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, who played Col. Tom Ryan in CBS’ The Unit and who portrayed Johnny Cash’s father in Walk the Line. Patrick regularly pops up in movies and TV as either a villain or iron-jawed tough guys. But Patrick is unrecognizable as any of his signature roles as Elvis – or rather Mr. Aaron -- in the entertaining Lonely Street(Bridge Home Entertainment, $19.99, 88 minutes running time, Rated: R).

Based on Steve Brewer’s first novel in his Bubba Mabry series, Lonely Streetis a quirky, humorous film that also stays faithful to the spirit of the authors’ amusing series.

Bubba (Jay Mohr, Gary Unmarried) is a down-on-his-luck Albuquerque private investigator who takes just about any job to pay the bills.

In Lonely Street, Bubba may have the job of his life when he is asked to keep tabloid reporter Hank Tankersley away from a client – “Mr. Aaron,” who bears a striking resemblance to Elvis Presley. Mr. Aaron (Patrick) attributes his survival to downing wheat-grass shooters and practicing tai chi while living in New Mexico for more than 30 years.

When Hank is killed, Bubba tries to find out what the reporter was planning to do with his story as well as prove that he had nothing to do with the man’s death. The investigation gives Bubba a primer on the music industry, courtesy the scheming pony-tailed record producer Jerry Finkelman (Joe Mantegna) and leads him to the hooker with an agenda Bambi Gamble (Nikki Cox) and tabloid editor, Felicia Quattlebaum (Lindsay Price, Lipstick Jungle).

Mohr shows Bubba’s humor and slacker mentality as well as his innate desire to do the right thing, so evident in Brewer’s novels. Mantegna gives his usual spot-on performance, getting caught in the absurdity and campiness that pervades Lonely Street.

But it’s Patrick with his limited screen time that steals the show, mumbling like Elvis yet also showing a regal quality that made that boy from Mississippi grow up to be The King. Only Campbell in Bubba Ho-Tep can beat Patrick as Elvis.

The short bonuses on Lonely Street’s DVD include a look at how this independent movie got made – which included luck and creative fundraising that falls just short of putting on bake sales and car washes. Mohr also tells how he and Cox (Las Vegas) were married shortly after filming ended more than two years ago.

There are also production stills set to original songs by Elvis impersonator James Brown and a music video.

Lonely Street will make you remember why Elvis was The King; read Brewer’s novels to find out what Bubba did after his brush with Elvis. (DVD Review, Source: Oline H. Cogdill, Mystery Fiction Columnist, sun-sentinel.com)

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