Sony Music will release Elvis Is Back!: Legacy Edition(2-CD) on
March 1st. This is an odd but interesting release as it combines both Elvis'
classic album, Elvis Is Back with his second, non movie, secular album
released after he returned from the army, Something For Everybody. This
upgraded CD features the original LP tracks as well as the 12 songs
chosen for singles for each respective album, and every track is sublime. Both
CDs highlight how the addition of the single releases (It's Now Or Never, A
Mess Of Blues, Are You Lonesome Tonight? and His Latest Flame, Little
Sister, Good Luck Charm) of the time would have benefited each album if
some or all had been added. It was customary to not include singles on albums.
Currently available are the two albums in the FTD Classic Album series, for the
serious fan they contain not only the album tracks and singles but also many
out-takes (usually referred to as alternate takes) as Elvis went through the
recording process. These offer a glimpse into how Elvis recorded, and indeed
produced his albums and songs, it is often a delight to listen to Elvis talk or
joke between takes and often you can find an alternate take that you really
love that is just special to listen to. These are for the real fans out there!
Make Me Know It
Fever
The Girl Of My Best Friend
I Will Be Home Again
Dirty, Dirty Feeling
Thrill Of Your Love
Soldier Boy
Such A Night
It Feels So Right
The Girl Next Door Went A'Walking
Like A Baby
Reconsider Baby
Stuck On You
Fame And Fortune
It's Now Or Never
A Mess Of Blues
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
I Gotta Know
Surrender
Disc 2: Something For Everybody (1961)
There's Always Me
Give Me The Right
It's A Sin
Sentimental Me
Starting Today
Gently
I'm Coming Home
In Your Arms
Put The Blame On Me
Judy
I Want You With Me
I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell
I Feel So Bad
(Marie's The Name Of) His Latest Flame
Little Sister
Good Luck Charm
Anything That's Part Of You
Elvis Is Back - A Must have album
Elvis Is Back! ..... Elvis returned to
Nashville's Studio B on March 20th 1960, just 15 days after coming
home from his army stint for Uncle Sam. Elvis had been away from the music
scene for nearly 2 years and the charts were no longer full of the excitement
of fifties Rock 'n' Roll but had given way to a smoother sixties sound. Elvis
knew too well that just one year out of the music business can kill your career
and, although he had made some home recordings while in Germany, Elvis hadn't
recorded in a Studio since June 1958!
While 1968 is named as Elvis' 'Comeback' nothing could have been
more important than this 1960 session & no one could have been more
concerned than Elvis himself. Would he still be as important to his teenage
fans now that he was 25 years old? Could he still select suitable hit material
in this new decade?
Would his new sound even be relevant?
Of course, Elvis always rose to a challenge and tended to produce
his best work under pressure. When the session finished there could be no doubt
that from his explosive first recording 'Make Me Know It' to the very last
moment, as dawn was breaking, 'Reconsider Baby' this might be the best music
that Elvis would ever produce. In an amazing two nights work Elvis recorded
eighteen classic tracks including seven Gold records! When the LP was
originally released surprisingly it did not sell as well as expected, and GI Blues would sadly do better.
However, had it included the mega-selling Hit singles recorded at the same
session (Stuck On You, It's Now or Never, Are You Lonesome Tonight) there is no
doubt that it would have sold multi-millions.
Now, at last, this upgraded CD features the original LP tracks as
well as the 12 songs (Stuck On You, Fame And Fortune, It's Now Or Never, A
Mess Of Blues, Are You Lonesome Tonight?, I Gotta Know, Surrender and
I Feel So Bad, (Marie's The Name Of) His Latest Flame, Little Sister, Good Luck
Charm, Anything That's Part Of You) chosen for singles for each respective
album, and every track is sublime.
From the exciting feel of Elvis blasting away that Army
despondency on his first recording 'Make Me Know It', to the beautiful pop of
'Girl of My Best Friend' & 'A Mess Of Blues', the pure musical genius of
the blues of 'Like a Baby' & 'It Feels So Right' along with the emotion in
the ballad 'Soldier Boy' - Elvis covered every musical style.
While the Gold singles are well-known, two LP tracks also stand
out as some of Elvis' most important recordings of all-time. 'Reconsider Baby',
recorded in one magnificent live-take, captures Elvis as he is consumed in the
passion of the music and working with such a great band. The wailing sax of
Boots Randolph combined with Elvis' intense vocal is hard to beat. Similarly
Elvis' growling moan of 'Such A Night' pushed this lightweight Drifters' song
into another league all together. Here the new idea of using dual drummers
(Buddy Harman & DJ Fontana) never would be bettered,
helping urge Elvis an awe-inspiring performance. While Elvis was never
recognised as a song-writer, his all-important contribution as an arranger/producer
is perfectly demonstrated here. Elvis' whoop of joy at the end really says it
all!
This was a very different sound to the Elvis of the fifties,
smoother, more mature and with a new beauty and strength to his voice. This
was a powerful statement that no one could deny 'Elvis Is Back!'
There are three Elvis albums that every fan should own. 'Elvis Presley' his essential first LP, 'From Elvis In Memphis' the
1969 comeback LP, and 'Elvis Is Back'. The
importance of these 3 LPs cannot be overstated.
Zo zal de verpakking eruit zien van de komende "Legacy" RCA release "Elvis Is Back", die eind februari verschijnt. Eerdere releases waren "On Stage" en "From Elvis In Memphis". De tracklisting publiceerden we al eerder op deze site.
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- Gemiddelde waardering: 3/5 - (2 Stemmen) Categorie:Algemeen Tags:Lay-out legacy Elvis is Back
01-01-2011
Miner's Memphis visit worthy of the King
Miner's Memphis visit worthy of the King
MEMPHIS, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Chilean miner Edison Pena, the Elvis fan trapped underground for months, gets a chance to visit his idol's haunts and celebrate his birthday next week.
Graceland spokesman Kevin Kern said Pena will get "the King-sized Elvis visit" with a private tour of Elvis' Memphis home, airplanes and car museum, The Commercial Appeal reported Friday.
Graceland collaborated with the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Tupelo, Miss., Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Peabody Hotel, Delta Air Lines and American Dream Safari for Pena's visit.
Plans call for Pena to cut the giant cake on Graceland's front lawn on the Jan. 8 observance of what would have been Elvis' 76th birthday, which the miner says is just fine.
"I'm not a greedy person," Pena said. "I'm a person who receives gifts that life has given me."
Pena's Memphis visit also includes attending practice of the Memphis Grizzlies professional basketball team with a chance to meet Spanish-speaking players Marc Gasol of Barcelona and Greivis Vasquez of Caracas, Venezuela, The Commercial Appeal said. He will be honorary duckmaster at The Peabody before attending an Elvis-themed Memphis Grizzlies-Utah Jazz game.
He also will have a private recording session at Sun Studio before attending the Elvis Birthday Pops concert by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.
While in Elvis's hometown of Tupelo Jan. 9, Pena will receive the key to the city and visit the Tupelo Hardware Store where Elvis got his first guitar.
Afgelopen zaterdagavond kreeg een totaal andere wending dan wat wij van te voren hadden kunnen verwachten. Op vrijdag 17 december is hemel en aarde bewogen om te proberen Jenson Bloomer met zijn Mondo Carne band vanuit Engeland naar Nederland te laten vliegen, maar niets mocht baten. Alle vluchten werden gecancelled. Vlak daarna kwam de volgende domper: de geluidtechnicus belde af, hij zag het niet zitten om te komen. Op de ochtend van de meeting belde tot overmaat van ramp ook nog eens de band 'Profile' af. Dit alles vanwege het slechte weer. Gelukkig hebben we een aantal zeer efficiente medewerkers en met zijn allen hebben we naar onze smaak alsnog het publiek gegeven waar ze voor kwamen: Een spetterende Christmas Party. Mijn speciale dank gaat daarom uit naar: Rogier van Luyken, Eric en Anneke van Rooy, Lore Audio ( het geluidsbedrijf dat ons op het allerlaatste moment nog de helpende hand kwam bieden), de band met bandleden van The Clarks. Over de hele avond gezien gaat de grootste lof voor improvisatie en prestatie uit naar Mark Elbers. Zonder enige voorbereiding heeft hij een waanzinnige show neer gezet, zowel solo als een geweldige finale met The Elvis Imperials. Jenson Bloomer onze lead vocalist werd op deze manier op een zeer waardige manier vervangen.
De Elvis Imperials waren werkelijk groots. Muzikaal gezien briljant! De nieuwe leden van The Imperials doen niets af aan hun voorgangers, wat een oorstrelende mix van stemmen. Terry Blackwood en Joe Moscheo waren beiden onder de indruk van het Nederlandse publiek en het enthousiasme waar ze mee zijn ontvangen.
Dank aan iedereen die heeft meegewerkt en deze avond hebben mogelijk gemaakt. En dank aan iedereen die ondanks het slechte weer is gekomen, het bewijst maar weer eens hoe loyaal Elvis fans zijn aan hun held! We mochten na afloop veel enthousiaste reacties ontvangen, waar we natuurlijk enorm blij mee zijn. Uiteraard komt er een uitgebreid verslag in magazine 265.
Thank you Jenson and Monde Carno band for trying to come over, we are really sorry you missed the show but we appreciate you TCB-ing for Elvis.
With special thanks to Joe, Terry, Royce and Darryl. You did a show we will never forget!
Bovenstaand ziet u foto's van informele momenten, soundcheck en de show
Eindelijk! Na maanden voorbereiden zijn ze in Nederland. Rond 19.15 uur landde het vliegtuig met aan boord The Elvis Imperials. Ze gaven direct aan dat ze enorm uitkijken naar hun optreden van aanstaande zaterdag in Den Haag. Voor dit unieke evenement zijn nog wat kaarten te koop aan de zaal. Wees er snel bij want: "op is op". Op bovenstaande foto ziet u The Elvis Imperials bij hun aankomst op Schiphol.
Ik was aanwezig op deze avond. Ik dank het bestuur voor hun inzet om er toch nog wat van te maken. Tot een volgende elvis meeting. - Zooroo.
Het zat er al een poosje aan te komen, maar helaas moeten wij op deze eerste kerstdag aan u meedelen dat Myrna Smith van ons is heen gegaan. Alweer een grote klap in de Elvis wereld, na het kort geleden overlijden van Sherrill Nielsen. Myrna is geruime tijd ziek geweest, zoals wij eerder vermeldden. Myrna was dol op haar muziek en fans. Zij stond van 1969 t/m 1977 met Elvis op het podium als backing vocal. Op 20 oktober 2002 kwam Myrna voor de eerste keer naar Nederland tijdens een Elvis meeting in Dordrecht, zij verzorgde daar samen met de overige "Sweets" en "The Imperials" de backing vocals van Jenson Bloomer. De dag daarvoor zong zij in Belgie bij de fanclub Elvis Presley Society. Zij heeft tot op het laatste moment hoop gehouden te herstellen om vervolgens weer te kunnen toeren. Helaas, dit mocht niet zo zijn.....Rust in vrede Myrna.
I Saw her in Dordrecht oktober 2002. R.I.P. Myrna. (zooroo)
Zangeres Myrna Smith (69) overleden
Myrna Smith.
ROTTERDAM - Zangeres Myrna Smith is op kerstavond op 69-jarige leeftijd overleden in een ziekenhuis van Los Angeles. De zangeres was een van de originele leden van The Sweet Inspirations, die in de jaren zeventig als achtergrondkoor van Elvis Presley dienden.
Smith leed al geruime tijd aan een vermoeiende nierziekte, laat de officiële Nederlandse fanclub Elvis Matters weten. Presley vroeg The Sweet Inspirations voor zijn grote comeback in Las Vegas, nadat ze in 1968 een grote hit scoorden met het nummer Sweet Inspiration.
Een jaar eerder verzorgde de groep de achtergrondzang bij de hit Brown Eyed Girl, van Van Morrison. In 1994 kwamen The Sweet Inspirations opnieuw bij elkaar en in 2004 zongen zij als achtergrondkoor bij enkele nummers van The Killers.
Myrna Smith sloot zich in 1965 aan bij de groep die werd in opgericht door Cissy Houston, de moeder van Whitney Houston. Hierna maakte Smith carrière als liedjesschrijver, voor onder anderen de ex-Beach Boy Carl Wilson. In februari trokken The Sweet Inspirations nog door Europa met de videoproductie Elvis: The Concert, dat ook in een uitverkocht Ahoy speelde.
Myrna Smith, die voor haar carrière een tijdlang als leerkracht werkte, liep in maart een longontsteking op waarna haar gezondheid hard achteruit ging. Een beroerte en nierfalen zorgden ervoor dat Smith sinds oktober aan haar bed was gekluisterd. (NOVUM/BVDL)
Tussen de vele sneeuwbuien door is het team van It's Elvis Time druk bezig met de laatste voorbereidingen voor de Elvis Christmas Party in Den Haag. The Elvis Imperials en It's Elvis Time kijken er naar uit u vandaag te mogen begroeten in Den Haag. De zaal is ook met het openbaar vervoer heel makkelijk bereikbaar (neem vanaf Station Den Haag Centraal tram 3 richting Loosduinen, uitstappen halte Mozartlaan).
The Elvis Imperials in Nederland!
Eindelijk! Na maanden voorbereiden zijn ze in Nederland. Rond 19.15 uur landde het vliegtuig met aan boord The Elvis Imperials. Ze gaven direct aan dat ze enorm uitkijken naar hun optreden van aanstaande zaterdag in Den Haag. Voor dit unieke evenement zijn nog wat kaarten te koop aan de zaal. Wees er snel bij want: "op is op". Op bovenstaande foto ziet u The Elvis Imperials bij hun aankomst op Schiphol.
Aanstaande donderdag wordt Sherrill Nielsen begraven. De herdenkingsdienst is in Cullman, Alabama. Sherrill (Shaun) Nielsen, wordt naar Texas gevlogen en begraven naast het kindje van Sherrill en Brenda, SherRee Elicia Nielsen. Ed Hill, Butch Owens en Bill Baize zullen daar hun laatste eer betuigen door voor Sherrill en de aanwezigen te zingen. Wij wensen hen daarbij heel veel kracht, want deze klap is bij iedereen hard aangekomen.
Sherrill (Shaun) Nielsen overleden
IN MEMORIAM
Na eerdere berichten dat er longkanker bij Sherrill (Shaun) Nielsen was vastgesteld, moeten we u nu de verdrietige mededeling doen dat hij afgelopen vrijdag 10 december rond 11.00 uur is overleden. Het nieuws werd bekend gemaakt door Donnie Sumner, neef van J.D. Sumner. Dit is een zeer groot verlies voor de familie en vrienden van Sherrill, maar ook zeker voor alle Elvis fans over de hele wereld. Ons diepste medeleven gaat uit naar Brenda Nielsen. Via onderstaande link kunt u luisteren naar Elvis en Sherrill.
This is the latest information from Carole Drexler:
"On Nov. 23, Myrna was sent from dialysis to the hospital & will remain there for several days. Myrna was sent to the hospital because her blood pressure was very low. There is a problem with the stent in Myrna's arm where the dialysis machine connects & they must surgically correct it. Will keep you updated.
When I saw Myrna on Nov. 21, she was about the same, very weak, she sleeps a lot & not much interaction. We read her all the cards you send. Myrna wants everyone to know how much she appreciates your love & prayers, all the cards & gifts. Myrna received a large banner from the Elvis Cruise & a healing jade charm from New Zealand.
Elvis Unlimitedyesterday posted an update on Myrna Smith, who provided backing vocals for Elvis from 1969 to 1977 as a member of the Sweet Inspirations. Myrna continues to be very weak, her health is not good, & she sleeps most of the time. She is still getting dialysis three times a week, reports the site.
Voor de Diehards, Myrna Smith Interview Q : How did you get started singing for Elvis Presley show.
A : Well we had recorded in 1967 a song in Muscle Shoals. We had a session there. Atlantic sent us there to record. And, the session was going O.K. but there weren't any songs that kind of stood out. So a couple of the guys left the session, went into another room. Maybe 40 minutes later they came back with a song that was named after us called "Sweet Inspiration." And, it went on the album and it was our big hit and Elvis heard that song and liked it. And, so he got his people to get in touch. We didn't have to audition. He just knew that we were the ones that he wanted to sing because he wanted a soulful, R&B, gospel sounding female group and a gospel male group. He had it all planned. And so we did it without an audition. He just liked our record. He liked it so much he used it on Suspicious Minds too. But same writer though, same bass player.
(Right: The ever-youthful Myrna Smith gets close with the lucky EIN interviewer! - Sydney 2004)
Q : Where did you meet Elvis?
A : Well, we were starting rehearsals July of 1969 and we were all on the stage at what was then called the International and Elvis hadn't arrived yet, nor his entourage. And we're sitting there waiting for him to come in and all of a sudden he walks onto the stage, walks right over to us and plants a kiss on each one of us. That's how we met him.
(Right: The ever-youthful Myrna Smith gets close with the lucky EIN interviewer! - Sydney 2004)
Q : How were those rehearsals?
A : Well, he gave us pretty much a lot of freedom. Because what had happened was, his people had sent us probably a million albums. And we tried to have a rehearsal, but it didn't work because we weren't too familiar at the time with Elvis material and it was just we were bombarded with too much. So we waited until we got to Las Vegas to learn the songs. And as we rehearsed it we realized, "Oh I know this." But our backgrounds weren't the same sometimes as was on the record. But, he gave us the freedom to do that.
Q : Tell us about your first night in Vegas at the International.
A : I remember Elvis being very, very nervous. And I remember thinking, Gee I hope he has a good crowd. Because I knew he hadn't performed live on stage like that for a number of years, I think 10 years. So I was just hoping that, I had butterflies for him and was I surprised.
Looking back at them, the 1976 & 1977 seem to be such sad years.
Q : Tell us about the relationship between Elvis and his audience?
A : He was very playful with the audience and I think he really cared about his fans. He wanted to give them a good show. But he sometimes got upset because I know the show was loud. And sometimes you'd see people their fingers in their ears and he'd get upset about that, saying, "They just have old ears." Because for us on stage, we have monitors, we hear something completely different from what the audience hears. But I know it's loud, but that's what rock 'n' roll supposed to be.
Q : The first performances outside was the Houston Astrodome. There was a story behind that.
A : Well, Elvis -- the Rodeo didn't want us to come. There was a message sent to leave the black girls, they didn't need the black girls. And so Elvis responded with, "Well if they don't come, I don't come." But he was really upset about it. There was one person in particular who had sent the message. So when we got there, we were greeted by this little blonde in a convertible and she had to drive us around and she was his daughter. So Elvis always made sure he got even. I'm sure he said, "And I want your daughter to drive them." But, when it was happening we didn't know. We learned that later.
ESTELLE BROWN
The Sweet Inspiration
ED BONJA
BILL BELEW
WILLIAM TAYLOR JR.
BILLY STANLEY
TOM JONES
AL DVORJN
SCOTTY MOORE
RONNIE TUTT
SHAUN NIELSEN
BOBBY MORRIS
MARIE JENKINS
SAM THOMSOM
SUE AN LANGDON
RICHARD DAVIS
MILLIE KIRKHAM
THE MEMPHIS HORNS
NANCY ROOKS
SUSANNE LEIGH
ESTELLE BROWN
The Sweet Inspiration
ED BONJA
WILLIAM TAYLOR JR.
BILLY STANLEY
TOM JONES
AL DVORJN
SCOTTY MOORE
RONNIE TUTT
SHAUN NIELSEN
BOBBY MORRIS
MARIE JENKINS
SAM THOMSOM
SUE AN LANGDON
RICHARD DAVIS
MILLIE KIRKHAM
THE MEMPHIS HORNS
NANCY ROOKS
SUSANNE LEIGH
Q : Tell us about Elvis generosity?
A : To a fault. Elvis was generous to a fault, I think. He gave away most of his fortune, y'know, when he was alive. He rewarded you because it made him feel good. And if he had something, he wanted to share it with you. And you could eat dinner at his house. Even if he stayed upstairs, y'know, dinner was still served at Graceland. And, then you could just sit around and wait for him to come downstairs and we'd go to the movies. And, he just gave us jewelry all the time, big rings that covered half my knuckle. And, he gave me an El Dorado. And he's given a lot of people that he didn't even know lots of things.
Q : Do you have specific gift that is special?
A : I have a gold purse. It's a little square gold purse that he gave me. And when he gave it to me it was full of silver dollars and he signed it inside, Love Elvis. That's pretty dear to me. And, well the reason he gave me the car, the car was dear to me, I just didn't feel that he had to do it. But he did. He felt that he had to do it because there was a little misunderstanding.
And some of the girls walked off stage. Well all of the girls walked off stage, Kathy, Estelle and Sylvia. But I was privy to information that they were not because I had been with Kathy the night before, so I knew what was going on. And the other, Sylvia and Estelle didn't. And, you never try to upset Elvis before a show and he was told not to introduce Kathy in a manner that would embarrass her. And so he introduced all of us in a manner that embarrassed us. So the girls walked off and I stayed and he put a ring on my finger and we talked tussled. Finally, I just kept it because it was holding up the show with him pushing it on my finger and me pulling it off. And then I was on the plane with him and Lisa Marie and, because I was with Jerry Schilling at the time. And, I took off the ring and I said I like the way this looks on you, and I put it on his finger. And he had the most hurt look in his eyes because if he gave you a gift, he didn't want you to return it. Because he didn't know how to say I'm sorry about anything. It's hard for him to say "You know what, I'm really sorry I did that." But he gave all the girls gifts, y'know, a couple of nights later because they missed a couple of nights. And, the next night he took that ring, threw it in the audience.
And a couple of weeks later I guess it was, I was at the house and he'd bought all these cars. I think 11, 12, 14 cars for the guys and all and himself. And I heard him ask Jerry "Come -- Jerry, I want to ask you a question?" Jerry went. And the question that he wanted to ask Jerry was "Is it all right if I buy Myrna a car?" And Jerry said sure. But he didn't tell me. He asked me if I would go with him to the Cadillac dealer to pick out a car for his dad because he's forgotten to buy his dad a car. I said sure. So I go and we pick. I pick out this brown, I don't know what it was, but a nice brown big Cadillac for his dad. And, it's nighttime. The place is closed. We're in the lot. Takes his flashlight out and goes looking, asks me what my favorite color was first. And goes looking around til he found a blue El Dorado and said, "There's your car." And, y'know, how do you respond. You're like What? What? But it was because he had to give me something. If I didn't accept the ring, I had to accept the car, y'know, or he would have just kept doing something like that. But I really appreciated it.
Q : Elvis did have a tender heart?
A : Very. He was easily embarrassed and easily hurt and very forgiving because I've seen people do things to him and -- y'know, he'd be angry at first, really angry. Then he'd calm down gradually and then he'd show them nothing but love. Buy 'em some incredible house or whatever.
Q : Can you explain Elvis sense of humor?
A : Sick. We used to call him squirrelly. Cause he knew we didn't like guns and he loved them. And every night he would come into our dressing room because we were right across from him. After he changed clothes from his show clothes, he'd come into our dressing room, especially if he had a new outfit he wanted us to see. And, he would always take out the gun just because we were scared of it, and start laughing. But, he liked to play with water guns. Y'know, he'd shoot us onstage. We got water guns. He'd come with bigger with machine water guns. So he was very playful.
Q : Were there a lot of hijinks backstage?
A : Not before show. Mostly it was, he would do it onstage. He would do things onstage. But we would do things to him too, like take black tape and put it on our teeth and then when he looked over we'd smile. Do things to crack him up. But he was so nervous before a show that he wasn't ready to play around.
Q : Can you think of one practical joke on the girls?
A : Oh, on us? Elvis really cared about our feelings a lot and he never let anybody disrespect us except for him. Y'know, but he did it playfully. I can't think of any practical joke that he played on me, but yeah, I can. I don't know if it was a joke or not. He took me for a ride in his, let's see, it was a yellow Pantera. He had this little sports car and he asked me if I would take a ride with him. He was so proud of this little car. It was a two-seater. And so I got in the car with him and we'd go down -- leave Graceland, go through the gates and he must have been doing 130 miles an hour. And I knew he was trying to frighten me so I'm just sitting there, y'know, trying to be cool, just sweating. But he kept looking over at me. As we got back, he pulls up to the front. I got out and he said, "How do you like it?" I said, "Oh, it's O.K." And because he didn't frighten me, he took a gun and he shot the car! He just shot the dashboard. And I think that's pretty expensive car, isn't it?
Q : Oh yeah.
A : But I remember, it was Vale, Colorado. And, we couldn't go out during the day so we would go out at night. And all the guys were there and their girlfriends. We'd go out at night, but we wouldn't ski. We would take little, like garbage can tops, just little things, and go down, slide down the hill or he had a ski bike like, and the police came, y'know, security or whatever, came and because they had all ready smoothed out the slopes for the next morning and we were messing it all up. And Elvis has on this ski hat, it was covering this part of his face and his whole head and they said "You guys, y'know, you can't do this. You have to leave." And Elvis walks up and says "Don't you know who I am?" Guy says, "No, I don't know who you are, I'm Elvis Presley. Sure!" And he shows him his face and says, "Oh, we'll have fun." So he takes me up on one of those bikes. I'm sitting on the back and he's driving and we just tumble all in the snow and tear it up. But it was fun. None of us got hurt. He was a daredevil. He drove fast. But he's a very good driver. He'd take out his little siren and put it up there. Stop people if they were speeding. Walk up to their car. But can you imagine being pulled over and Elvis Presley walks up to your car and says I want you to slow down. He didn't give you a ticket.
PORTIA - COLIN - MYRNA - ESTELLE
Q : Tell us about rehearsals with Joe Guercio.
A : When Joe Guercio became conductor for the orchestra at the Hilton and we had to open the show. We did like 20, 22 minutes before the comedian. Before Joe we kinda put our show together ourselves and Joe thought that we could be more Vegas, more slick. And so he put together with our input, and sometimes his ideas overpowered ours because they were better, he'd come up with three or four songs that we should do in our set. And then he would rehearse us. He would have our charts done and he would rehearse us with Ron Feur who's a great audio player. And then we'd have, I mean, the whole orchestra would have parts. And we had our own rhythm section that we took with us. And he'd make sure that our rhythm section couldn't read music, they just played. So he'd make sure that they knew what they were doing. So I think our show really improved when Joe became conductor.
And a lot of times people aren't given credit. But I'd just like to give Joe credit because, y'know, he's put together lots of things for lots of entertainers. He's worked for Gladys Knight. He put together things for her that he's never gotten credit for. He worked with Natalie Cole. And, you know the thing that David Foster with her and her dad? Well, Joe's never been given credit for that. But that was Joe's idea. Y'know, he just wants the credit. And I hope that this stays in so he'll get credit for that. Because he did it long before David Foster ever put it on a record. He's a wonderful man and Elvis loved him because he's a jokester. I hated Joe when I first met him.
Q : Why's that?
A : Because he just walked up to me and just pinched me on the butt! I went like "How dare you?" and he laughed. I said this is a crude man. But then his wife was around, he did it around his wife. I says "Oh, that's just Joe."
ESTELLE BROWN - PORTIA GRIFFIN - MYRNA SMITH - 2009
Q : How did you prepare for the Aloha concert?
A : Well actually we didn't have to do any more preparation than normal. That was all in the hands of directors and producers and the Colonel. Elvis had to look gorgeous and he did. He looked absolutely stunning on that show. He was down to a good weight. He was down to the weight that he was when I first met him in 1969. And when he came on that stage he had on a chocolate brown suit and no shirt and he was dark, tan and most gorgeous man I've ever seen. And, he wanted to look good for the Hawaii thing. But actually, I don't think we really knew what was going on. They said satellite, y'know. And it didn't click with me. It was just a TV show as far as I was concerned. I think we were informed that it was gonna be satellite, but that was so new to me, and I'm not technical at all. So I didn't know that it was going to be shown the way it was.
Q : Why did Elvis want to record at Graceland only?
A : Well, I only remember one time that he recorded at Graceland. That was the last album, cause I was there on that one. But, I remember going to sessions at RCA when he was recording. And, we were supposed to do a session on Nashville that I was at, but he didn't make it to that one. He cancelled at the last minute and we all had to go home, but he paid us. But he didn't feel, that's when he was not feeling very sure of himself. And he was tired of doing the same thing. He wanted to start branching out and doing other things. He wanted to act really badly, but not the kind of movies he was acting in. He wanted to be a dramatic actor. And, he was very hurt when a couple of things that were offered him he couldn't do because of, y'know, ego problems.
Q : Like "A Star is Born," for example?
A : Yeah. Well, the Colonel told him that it would be a problem because, there would be a problem with billing because who was gonna get top billing? Elvis or Barbra Streisand? And, of course, Barbra Streisand had brought the idea to Elvis. She and Jon Peters came to the dressing room one night and they were down there until about 5 o'clock in the morning and they were talking to Elvis and he was so excited. They explained the concept. So excited. And then, next night he came down to do the show and it was just like somebody had pulled the rug from under him. He was just real down because the Colonel had talked him out of it for professional reasons. And, Elvis really wanted to do it and he would have been great in it.
1979
Q : Is there a story about Priscilla and Elvis?
A : A story about Elvis and Priscilla. Just that they were great parents. And they both have hearts of gold. Elvis had a heart of gold. Priscilla has a heart of gold still. I mean, I had some personal problems and recently, and I get a phone call and she says, "Myrna, you know, if there's anything you need, you can call me." And I know she means that, y'know? And her mom was trying to help me with my house. Y'know, I was trying to buy this house that I already bought and I was having some problems and her mom is in real estate. She was helping me. Priscilla was helping me. Her sister, Michelle, Gary. I mean, they just, it's a wonderful family.
Q : How was he the last couple of years?
A : I don't know what they saw, but he wasn't depressed when he was around us because we kept him laughing. When I would be around him when the other girls were not, he didn't seem to be, I mean he would have days when he wasn't up to par, just like the rest of us. But I had no idea that, I mean I'd seen him in the hospital with liver problems, with sleep problems and just staying awake for weeks without sleep. And he was all turned around. Like I am, y'know. I go to bed at five o'clock in the morning. Sometimes, y'know. But, I can't go to sleep before three because it's just from the lifestyle. But I've learned not to take anything to come. I go to sleep when my body finally gets tired because, y'know, taking medication to make you go to sleep means you're gonna have to take medication to wake you up. And then you have to take medication to keep you even. So, if I don't sleep, I just don't sleep.
Q : There was no air-conditioning in Rapid City?
A : I don't remember it, no air conditioning?
Q : There was a new building.
A : Oh yeah!
Q : Elvis make-up looked smeared.
A : Well he didn't actually wear that -- oh well, because they were filming, yeah. Yeah. When they did that special I thought Elvis looked great. When you're around somebody a lot, you don't notice that they've put on weight. Plus I had seen him heavy before and he lost it. But, he had been so much heavier before that, that when I saw him I thought he looked fabulous. Jerry called me after we had done the taping and said, "Well how did Elvis look?" I said, "He looked great". And then when I saw the show after Elvis died, I went like "Oh, my God. He didn't look like that to me". But, y'know, when you love somebody I guess, you know, you want them to look good, so they do.
Q : Were you on the way to Portland when you found out he passed away?
A : Yeah, we were in the air. And, I guess the pilot got information for us to turn around and go back to Burbank, because we were on the show plane. And, we thought probably we had left somebody and so we landed so we could tell them to tell the person we left to take a commercial flight, or whatever. And to find out what was wrong. And I don't remember where we landed. I think it was Utah. I'm not sure. Because, Marty Harrell is the one that went into -- it seemed like a small airfield, but I didn't get off the plane cause -- everybody got off and I was just sick of it, y'know? And Marty came back on the plane and said "Myrna, why don't you get off because what I have to
Here we have the tracklist for "Jailhouse Rock Vol 2"
DISC 1 01) Jailhouse Rock (2001) takes 1,2,3,4 02) Jailhouse Rock (2001) take 5 03) Treat Me Nice (2003) (first movie version) takes 1,2,3 04) Treat Me Nice (2003) (first movie version) takes 4,5 05) Young And Beautiful (2005) (jail version) take 1 06) Young And Beautiful (2005) (jail version) take 2 07) Young And Beautiful (2005) (jail version) take 3 08) Dont Leave Me Now (2016) (unused movie version) take 1 09) Dont Leave Me Now (2017) (hit record version) takes 1,2,3,4,5,6 10) Dont Leave Me Now (2017) (hit record version takes 7,8 11) Treat Me Nice(2003) (first movie version) takes 6,7 12) Treat Me Nice(2003) (first movie version) takes 8,9 13) I Want To Be Free (2010) (record version) takes 1-8 14) I Want To Be Free (2010) (record version) take 9 15) I Want To Be Free (2011) (first ending) takes1,2 16) Young And Beautiful (2006) (Florita club version) take 1 17) Young And Beautiful (2006) (Florita club version) take 2 18) Dont Leave Me Now (2017) (hit record version) takes 9,10 19) (Youre So Square) Baby I Dont Care (2015) takes 1,2,3,4
DISC 2 01) Jailhouse Rock (2001) take 6 02) Jailhouse Rock (2001) (takes 7,8) 03) Jailhouse Rock (2002) (ending) takes 1,2 04) Dont Leave Me Now (2016) (unused movie version) take 2 05) Young And Beautiful (2006) (Florita club version) takes 3,4 06) Young And Beautiful (2006) (Florita club version) takes 5,6 07) Treat Me Nice (2003) (first movie version) takes 10,11,12,13 08) Dont Leave Me Now (2017) (hit record version) takes 11,12,13 09) Treat Me Nice (2003) (first movie version) takes 14,15 10) I Want To Be Free (2010) (record version) takes 10,11 11) I Want To Be Free (2012) (second ending) takes 1,2,3,4,5 12) Dont Leave Me Now (2017) (hit record version) takes 14,15,16,17,18 13) Young And Beautiful (2006) (Florita club version) take 7 14) Treat Me Nice (2003) (first movie version) takes,16,17,18,19 15) Dont Leave Me Now (2017) (hit record version) takes 19,20, 21
ORIGINAL EP REVISITED 16) Jailhouse Rock 17) Young And Beautiful 18) I Want To Be Free 19) Dont Leave Me Now 20) (Youre So Square) Baby I Dont Care 21) Treat Me Nice (record version)
France: 'Elle' - November 2004; 'Jalouse' - June 2005; 'L'Officiel' - June & August 2005 Japan: 'Elle' - February 2005 Korea: 'Vogue' - 2005 Spain: 'Telva' (Supplement) - September 2005 UK: 'Elle' - May 2005 US: 'Vogue' - August 2004
It looks like the Belgian release of the 'Viva Elvis' cd will be supported by a large promo campain. The biggest National TV and Radiostations will air promos, presentations and contests around this release. It is remarkable that Sony is using two different covers in their communication. On the right, there is the well known cover, on the left a cover that Sony is using since today. We do hope they don't make the mistake by using this cover. With the 'Love Me Tender' title and the small Viva Elvis logo, it looks just another compilation. The release date is still Nov 8. Sony now also printed all samples and sounds that are used in the remixed songs.
1) Opening (Viva Elvis) + "...We Want Elvis..." + Opening Gershio - Elvis On Tour + "...Are You Looking For Trouble" - Trouble + Dewey Philips Radio Show - Red, Hot and Blue + Elvis - Noises + Elvis Laughing + That's All Right + My Baby Left Me (Snare & Upright Bass) + Elvis - "Baby" + "...and now for...Elvis Presley" + Bass "Ma Baby Left Me" + "Elvis Presley" + Elvis Sings "...Dee Dee Dee Dee..." + Elvis - "...Rock It!..." + Countdown
2) Blue Suede Shoes (Viva Elvis) + "A Real Big Show" Ed Sullivan Show + Guitar From "Plantation Rock" + Milton Berle - doing funny sounds + Milton Berle - "Someone must have stomp on his head." + Tarzan Of Harlem "Are You Hip To The Jive?"
3) That's All Right (Viva Elvis) + Guitar Tap - "I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine" + Guitar Loop - '68 Comeback Special "Tiger" + Man Introducing Elvis For The First Time At "The Louisiana Hayride Show" + DJ Fontana Drum Fill from "You're So Square" + Elvis Sings "Well" - I Got a Woman + Elvis Yells "Hit It!" - Maybellene + The Song As Is - "There's No Place Like Home"
4) Heartbreak Hotel (Viva Elvis) + "Ooooo Lord" Golden Gates Quartet - Remember Me + Elvis Sings "Well" - I Got A Woman + Elvis Sings "Hummm" - I Got A Woman + Elvis Sings "Well Now" - I Got A Woman + Elvis Sings "Well Well" - I Got A Woman + Elvis Says "...Down South" - Polk Salad Annie
5) Love Me Tender (Viva Elvis) + Strings From "Don't Cry Daddy" + Flugel From "In The Ghetto" + Voices - Jordonaires "First In Line" + Elvis Sings "In My Way"
6) King Creole (Viva Elvis) + King Creole Movie Trailer + "Dixieland Rock" Intro + Elvis Sings "...I Put It Down..." from New Orleans + Elvis Sings "Hard Headed Woman" + Outtakes
7) Bossa Nova Baby (Viva Elvis) + Loop - "The Whip" + Scotty Moore Guitar Solo From "Hard Headed Woman" + Drum Fill From "Trouble" - '68 Comeback + Drum Intro From "A Little Less Conversation" + Intro Band "You're So Square" + Sax Solo From "If You Think I Don't Need You"
8) Burning Love (Viva Elvis) + Pat Hernon Interview + Movie Jailhouse Rock "It's Just The Beast In Me"
9) Memories (Viva Elvis)
10) Can't Help Falling In Love (Viva Elvis) + "Known Only To Him" + Elvis sings "Love Survive" - from Suspicious Minds + Elvis sings "Love Me"
11) You'll Never Walk Alone - Piano Interlude (Viva Elvis)
12) Suspicious Minds (Viva Elvis)
13) Love Me Tender (Viva Elvis) + Strings From "Don't Cry Daddy" + Flugel From "In The Ghetto" + Voices - Jordonaires "First In Line" + Elvis Sings "In My Way"
A book with the title Elvis Meets Nixon: A Brief Look At The Oddly True Account Of Elvis Presley´s Visit To The While House was released on October 10, 2010 (isbn 1610422171). The book is written Dylan Stance. This is what the publisher writes about it:
"In 1970, Elvis Presley went to the White House on a whim to request a meeting with the President; his intention: to become an honorary Federal Agent. This is a brief history of what took place.
It still is bitterly ironic and will remain as a historical fact that the King of Rock n Roll, prescribed on more than 14 drugs at the time of his death, was suggested by Nixon to use an anti-drug theme in his songs. The whole of the Nixon presidency can be wrapped up into three words war on drugs. Elvis, dulled down by the military, and Nixon charged with energy by the Presidential campaign, were desperate to win over America."
CD, "Playlist: The Very Best Of Elvis Presley" Jailhouse Rock Don't Be Cruel Lawdy, Miss Clawdy Don't I Need Your Love Tonight It's Now or Never His Latest Flame Surrender Suspicion Guitar Man In the Ghetto You Don't Have To Say You Love Me Burning Love I'm Leavin'
DVD, "Elvis: #1 Hit Performances" Heartbreak Hotel Don't Be Cruel Love Me Tender Hound Dog Teddy Bear Jailhouse Rock Stuck On You Can't Help Falling In Love Return To Sender All Shook Up Are You Lonesome Tonight? In the Ghetto Suspicious Minds The Wonder of You Burning Love Home From the Army Press Conference Press Conference For Madison Square Garden Engagement
1979 
