It may be the gateway to Whitehaven and Memphis' most iconic tourist attraction, but Elvis Presley Boulevard "has lost all visual and contextual cohesion" and "aesthetic quality," a new city plan says. That's a bureaucratic way of saying it's downright ugly. But a joint city and state initiative would provide a nearly $50 million makeover for a three-mile stretch of the Elvis Presley corridor, improving its appearance and safety while better accommodating pedestrians and bicyclists.
The city has applied for a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant to help fund $20 million worth of improvements along the 1.6 miles of the boulevard from Craft Road south to Shelby Drive.
For the adjoining 1.3 miles between Craft and Brooks Road, the Tennessee Department of Transportation has pledged to spend $27 million on similar improvements over the next few years.
The enhancements are outlined in the "Elvis Presley Boulevard Revitalization Plan," which emphasizes the street's importance as a commercial, tourist and residential artery. The boulevard is the route traveled by some 17 million visitors to Graceland over the last 29 years, and it serves as a gateway to Whitehaven and the "aerotropolis" being developed around Memphis International Airport. Some 31,000 vehicles travel it daily, according to TDOT figures.
Yet long stretches of the street are lined with fast-food joints, title-loan businesses, low-end motels, shuttered businesses, vacant parking lots and gauntlets of utility poles and wires. The result is a "disconcerting visual clutter" that diminishes safety and economic vitality, the plan states.
The city project, which could begin by late 2013, would rebuild Elvis Presley Boulevard by relocating overhead utilities and installing landscaped or specially designed medians and new street lighting. It also would add or rebuild sidewalks, curbs and gutters and provide for upgraded crosswalks, shared vehicle-bicycle lanes and improved bus stops.
The result, said City Engineer John Cameron, would be a more complete road. "Right now, it's a very auto-related street," he said. The Tiger grant would bring in $12 million, with the city and Shelby County chipping in $7 million and $1 million, respectively.
Cameron said that while the project would help Graceland -- and an expansion planned by Elvis Presley Enterprises -- others would benefit, too, including business owners, residents and the larger community.
"It's not strictly about the tourism," he said. Jack Soden, CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises, concurred, saying the boulevard is a gateway to several neighborhoods and commercial areas. Improving it could help boost property values, leading to increased tax revenues, he said.
The project also could improve Memphis' image, Soden said, noting that "people from all over the world" travel the boulevard. "We've been interested in improving the appearance of Elvis Presley Boulevard for over 20 years," he said.
Elvis Presley Enterprises, whose parent firm, CKx, was purchased by a private-equity group this year, has been working on plans to add attractions in the Graceland area. But those plans are being "reshaped" in the wake of the economic downturn, Soden said. Attendance at Graceland hovered around 600,000 annually for many years, but it has dipped this year as a result of the poor economy and what Soden describes as sensationalized reports in the national media about Mississippi River flooding this spring.
Elvis Presley would literally give you the shirt off his back, says Larry Strickland, who as a member of J.D. Sumner & The Stamps sang backup for Elvis in his last years.
Strickland recalls during the making of one album, they were all hanging out at Graceland, when Elvis announced he was getting rid of his old wardrobe. He called each member of the group upstairs to give them some of his discarded clothes.
"I would look at him and say, 'Yeah Elvis, I can have that hemmed up; I can make that work,' " Strickland says with a chuckle. "I walked away with three or four of his shirts and one of his kind of outfits. It wasn't a stage outfit, but it looked like it could have been."
Strickland still has his Elvis garments, more as mementos rather than as actual articles of clothing. But this weekend the Nashville resident, who went on to great success as a singer and manager outside of The Stamps, will slip back into his Elvis shirt figuratively for one of his semi-regular reunions with surviving members of The Stamps. As part of this week's Elvis birthday celebration, Strickland and the Stamps will perform Saturday morning at the Graceland Ticket Pavilion. In the afternoon, the Stamps and others will participate in "Conversations on Elvis" at the Memphis Marriott East.
"I figured out the other day that I'm probably the youngest guy left of everybody that toured with Elvis on stage," says Strickland, who at 65 is three years younger than his predecessor in the Stamps, the Oak Ridge Boys' Richard Sterban. "I'm going to be the last man standing if I keep my health."
Strickland was born a pastor's son in North Carolina. From an early age, his father would take him to "gospel singings," where he first got hooked on the music. Growing up, some of his favorite performers were Sumner and the Palmetto State Quartet from neighboring South Carolina.
As a teen, Strickland began performing in a series of gospel groups, breaking only briefly for military service. He was back at it in 1974 when he got the call to audition for The Stamps, who had started with Elvis three years earlier.
"... I literally went from being a weekend, part-time kind of singer to full time on stage with Elvis overnight," he says of his heady change in circumstance.
Strickland stayed with The Stamps through Elvis' death in 1977 until the group's breakup in 1980.
"We still traveled," he says of the last years. "Of course after (Elvis) died our shows turned into tribute shows. A lot of our programs were about him. A lot of Elvis fans instead of gospel fans were coming to see us, so we were having to do all these tributes singing his music. We would do the gospel songs that we did with him, and J.D. would sit around reminiscing about Elvis."
Frustrated, Strickland and some other members of the group left to form a country band. Strickland found greater success, however, working behind the scenes as a producer and manager. Most notably, he helmed the career of his wife of 22 years, country star Naomi Judd of The Judds, after their 1989 marriage.
"It was very interesting but much harder," says Strickland of the transition to the role he still fills for Judd. "There was a lot of detail stuff and having to go from an artist and being in a position where I was the one being catered to being the one who had to do all the catering."
Except for his periodic Stamps reunion, Strickland stayed away from singing until 2008, when he was recruited by his old favorites The Palmetto State Quartet to sing bass. A year later, he bought the group name from retiring senior member Kerry Beatty. Since then the group, recently expanded to a quintet, has adopted a busy tour schedule, traveling last year with the reunited Judds among others. Last spring they released a new CD of country-style gospel, Grace.
"One thing led to another and next thing you know I'm back in it full time," says Strickland, who will return to Memphis in August, the 35th anniversary of Presley's death, for an "Elvis in Concert" event featuring surviving band members performing to old concert footage of the King. "The music just draws you in. I love gospel music. And I just love Southern gospel quartet style of music."
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Gospel Concert Celebration
Featuring former members of J.D. Sumner & The Stamps; 8 a.m.-9:15 a.m. Saturday at Graceland Ticket Pavilion. Tickets: $25, available at guest services inside the pavilion.
Graceland Trivia Tour 4:30 p.m. Event starts at the Graceland Ticket Office. Guests are invited to tour Graceland Mansion and the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum while simultaneously answering trivia questions to which answers can be found on the Graceland tour. Adult and junior versions of the trivia tour will be available. Prizes for both adult and junior versions to be announced. Tickets for adults are $32.00; children 7-12 are $15.00; children 6 and under are free. To buy tickets, call Graceland Reservations at 800-238-2000 or 901-332-3322
Over the years, we received so many questions about Elvis Presley's time in Vegas that we've created a whole page devoted to them.
No Elvis fan's trip to Las Vegas would be complete without first stopping at the Las Vegas Hilton. Though remodeled several times over the last 30 years, the Hilton was the epicenter of Elvis' 1969-1976 Vegas performances. A statue located just outside the lobby entrance marks Elvis' time at the hotel and there are employees at the hotel who fondly remember the King's concerts.
If you are looking for an Elvis tribute artist who truly captures the spirit of the King, we recommend Legends in Concert at Harrah's. At the Imperial Palace, you can check out the hotel's auto collection which boasts a Cadillac once owned by Elvis.
Aria hotel at CityCenter is home to "Viva Elvis," a Cirque du Soleil show that pays tribute to the King through dancing, acrobatics, video and, of course, the music of Elvis. Located next to the theater is a gift shop that sells all things Elvis from Elvis Barbie dolls to Elvis Pez dispensers.
Finally, if you are looking for a Vegas souvenir with a little Elvis flair, check out Bonanza Gifts. Located at the intersection of the Strip and Sahara Avenue, this store boast numerous Vegas tchotchkes with an Elvis theme.
Elvis in Vegas timeline
Las Vegas has never forgotten the King. 365 days a year, the city celebrates the spirit of Elvis Presley in a variety of ways. Below, we've given you a chance to remember Elvis in his Vegas heyday 1969 - 1976.
The following timeline follows Elvis' Vegas appearances. The links will take you to articles and advertisements that appeared in the Las Vegas Sun newspaper during those years.
April 23 - May 9, 1956: Elvis' first Vegas appearance
Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret are in Las Vegas filming what would be Presley's 15th film, "Viva Las Vegas." The film wouldn't be released until June, 1964.
Thirteen years after his first appearance, Elvis returns to Las Vegas. He is booked for a four-week, 57-show engagement at the newly built International Hotel. The show breaks all existing Las Vegas attendance records. Elvis' first live album is recorded during the shows.
Another popular month-long appearance at the International Hotel. MGM films some of the rehearsals and stage performance for its documentary "Elvis - That's the Way It Is."
January - February, 1971
Another month-long appearance at the International Hotel.
Elvis returns to Las Vegas and appears at the International Hotel, now called the Las Vegas Hilton. During his month-long appearance he is given the Bing Crosby Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. This award would later be renamed the Lifetime Achievement Award presented each year during the Grammy Awards. Elvis was 36 years old.
Elvis dies at Graceland in Memphis, Tenn. In Las Vegas, fans and friends mourn the passage of an entertainment and Vegas legend.
By Kristine McKenzie & Jennifer Whitehair VEGAS.com
Welcome to Las Vegas, where Elvis has definitely not left the building.
On the eve of the 30th anniversary of his death, the king of rock 'n' roll still reigns supreme in the "entertainment capital of the world."
On the Las Vegas Strip, Elvis' spirit lives on in shows like "Legends in Concert" and "Viva Elvis." Hundreds of couples tie the knot in Las Vegas each year with "Elvis" officiating at their wedding and the city is home to the world famous Flying Elvi -- a 10-member skydiving team dressed as the king.
Everywhere you look, from a rusted sign in the Neon graveyard that proclaims "Elvis slept here" to the $9.99 gold-rimmed sunglasses and sideburns at "World's Largest Gift Shop" on the corner of Sahara Avenue and the Strip, Elvis lives on.
Graceland may be home to his shrine but it's Las Vegas that pays homage to the spirit of Elvis the entertainer.
Elvis' enduring popularity in Vegas is a tribute to the bonds forged between the singer and the city in a seven-year run between 1969 and 1976, a period fondly remember as the "Vegas Years." It's a legacy that continues to this day.
"He was the show in town -- the one everyone wanted to go to because he was just really hot and was coming back with new music," said singer Terry Blackwood, a member of the Imperials who sang backup for Elvis. "Everyone wanted to see Elvis."
A rocky start then the romance
Elvis first performed in Las Vegas in 1956 when he was just 21 years old. He was booked in the Venus Room at the New Frontier hotel, which billed him as "The Atomic Powered Singer."
While he was already becoming quite popular with teens around the country, Elvis was not the typical Las Vegas Strip entertainer of the time and his shows were met with a cool reception.
Bill Willard, a reviewer for the Las Vegas Sun newspaper, panned Presley's performance writing, "For the teen-agers, the long, tall Memphis lad is a whiz; for the average Vegas spender or showgoer, a bore. His musical sound with a combo of three is uncouth, matching to a great extent the lyric content of his nonsensical songs."
Willard may have captured the dismay that older Vegas audiences had with the young upstart, but Las Vegas resident Ed Jameson caught a vision of the future Elvis would have in Vegas.
Penning a rebuttal to Willard's review, Jameson wrote, "He is not a Rock 'n' Roller nor is he a cowboy singer. He is something new coming over the horizon all by himself and he deserves his ever-growing audience. Nobody should miss him. Parents would do well to take their children to hear him. It would be a good way to get to know and understand your own kids."
Elvis ended his two-week run unable to capture success in Vegas, but that didn't end his relationship with the city. While he wouldn't return to a Las Vegas stage for 13 years, in 1963 he spent several weeks in town to film the hit movie "Viva Las Vegas," which co-starred Ann-Margret.
The movie was a huge success, costing only $1 million to make and earning $5 million. It also spawned what many consider Sin City's theme song, "Viva Las Vegas."
"Viva Las Vegas" also featured a Vegas wedding between Elvis and his co-star Ann-Margret. Four years later, reality mirrored the cinematic fairytale when Elvis' real-life love story played out in Las Vegas. On May 1, 1967, at age 32, he married Priscilla Anne Beaulieu, 21, at Milton Prell's Aladdin Hotel.They were wed in a quiet eight-minute ceremony in Prell's suite at the hotel.
Success onstage at the International
Despite his history in the city, it wasn't until The International hotel opened in 1969, that Elvis truly became synonymous with Las Vegas. While Barbra Streisand opened the showroom at the International, Elvis would make it world famous.
In 1969 Elvis performed his first show at the International to a sold-out crowd and he went on to perform regular engagements at the property for seven years -- a total of 837 consecutive sold-out performances in front of 2.5 million people.
The sheer numbers from these performances are mind-boggling. In one 29-day period Elvis entertained 101,509 guests, bringing in $1.5 million in ticket sales. In the course of his 800-plus performances in Vegas, Elvis sold $43.7 million in show tickets, about $250 million in 2007 dollars. In the months when Elvis was performing, 1 in 2 visitors to Las Vegas saw his show.
The hotel became the Hilton in 1971 and over the years more people saw Elvis perform there than anywhere else in the world.
Blackwood recalled the opening show on July 31, 1969 as a who's who of the entertainment business, with an audience full of celebrities including Tom Jones, Juliet Prowse and Sammy Davis Jr.
"He (Davis) was a big Elvis fan. He was right down in front -- front row center -- and right in the middle of the show Elvis specifically singled out Sammy Davis Jr. and walked down to the edge of the stage where Sammy was seated and took off one of his big rings -- I don't know what kind of ring it was -- but he just handed it to Sammy and Sammy was thrilled of course."
Elvis performed two shows a night -- at 8 p.m. and midnight for a month-long stretch at a time. Blackwood said he'd usually get to bed about 3 a.m. but sometimes the group would be up all night.
"On average of about once a week, Elvis would come to our dressing room and say, 'Hey guys, would you come up to the penthouse tonight -- I'd love for you to come up and just hang out with me.' Of course when Elvis invites you, you can't say no. So we would all go up to the penthouse. He wanted to go up there and sing."
Blackwood said the penthouse would be filled with food, drinks and Elvis' Memphis friends.
"He'd sit at the piano or one of our guys would sit at the piano and would play and we'd sing gospel music and that's about all we would do. Or he had a big stereo and he would play black gospel groups. He loved traditional black gospel music. We'd listen to it and go over and sing it. He had a ball singing ... I would say I've never known a man who loved music more than Elvis."
Janie Steele worked as a camera girl, taking pictures of guests in the showroom during Elvis' 1970s shows. She was also lucky enough to get to socialize with Elvis after the shows.
"I was invited by one of his employees to come up to the suite between shows. I took one of my co-workers with me. He was just so nice and so handsome. I was overwhelmed. I don't think I said very much. We sat with him while he ate his dinner along with lots of other people that were there also."
Steele also often got to watch Elvis' performances at the Hilton. "We were allowed to stand in the back of the showroom or sometimes we could sit on the steps that led down to the floor of the showroom. I saw so many that I lost count -- pretty good for someone who thought she would never see him."
Tickets to Elvis' dinner show were $17.50 and included lobster or steak. The midnight show, which included drinks, cost a little less, but those who wanted a close-up view of Elvis had to pay a bit more.
"The maitre'd had to have made a fortune by being tipped to get down front," Blackwood said. "I'm thinking probably $100 to $200 would have gotten you front row or right near the stage."
The Imperials worked with Elvis until 1972 and Blackwood said the group always enjoyed working with him.
"I really liked Elvis and I really appreciated more than anything his genuineness. He was just a Southern gentleman. He was always kind and polite to people."
Steele agreed. "He was always a gentleman with me, he always acknowledged me when he saw me at work. He was funny and witty. I wasn't disappointed at all. I am still amazed that I saw his shows let alone met him," she said.
Blackwood said he was also struck by Elvis' intense love for people. "I never saw him really be rude to the fans. They could be quite demanding at times and he was always nice to them."
Blackwood said the one thing he wants people to know about Elvis is that he always took his music seriously and gave his all to his fans.
"He was passionate about his music. He was passionate about giving the people his very best. He was passionate about hiring musicians and singers that he felt were the best he could give. In that sense he was really a perfectionist about his music. He was serious about it. I think a lot of the time there are music people who think he was not serious and he was just having fun -- and he was doing that -- but he was very serious about what he wanted the people to experience when he sang."
Even though Elvis was scheduled for more appearances at the Hilton, December 2-12, 1976, turned out to be his last engagement there. Elvis died of a heart attack on Aug. 16, 1977 at his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tenn.
The legacy
Elvis was fated to never perform again in Las Vegas, but the city never forgot the entertainer. Perhaps it was fated that a city which embraced Elvis the entertainer, would want to hold on to Elvis the myth. Even before his death, tribute artists were performing as Elvis. The King used to love catching Brendan Boyer's impression of him, during the Irish Show Band's performances in the Stardust Lounge in the '70s. Las Vegas continues to offer tributes to Elvis nightly, 365 days a year.
A year after Elvis' death a statue was dedicated in his honor at the Hilton hotel. Initially on display outside the Hilton showroom in a glass case, the statue was moved outside of the hotel's front door in 2006.
At the Hard Rock Hotel, one of Elvis' '70s jumpsuits, a gold lamé jacket and a guitar are enshrined under glass. While at the Hard Rock Café gold records, belts, a smashed guitar and a telegram from Elvis and the Colonel to the Beatles are just some of the Elvis memorabilia on display.
In 2010 the Strip's entertainment titan, Cirque du Soleil, partnered with CYK and its subsidiary, Elvis Presley Enterprises, plus MGM Mirage to create an Elvis Presley show at CityCenter, an $8 billion, 66-acre hotel, entertainment, dining and retail project at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip.
The show is a combination of live music and singers, projections and dance along with the latest multimedia sound and lighting.
"We are working closely with our partners to ensure the public will have an unforgettable encounter with the King of Rock and Roll," said Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil. "Elvis had a unique relationship with his adoring fans in Vegas and a large part of our mission is to recreate the excitement and the spirit of joy he generated here."
Elvis in CONCERT DATE: May 25 1977 (8:30 pm). Rochester NY.
Elvis in CONCERT DATE: May 25 1977 (8:30 pm). Rochester NY.
CONCERT DATE: May 25 1977 (8:30 pm). Rochester NY.
A Virtual Sellout Greets Elvis as the King Returns to Town by Jack Garner Rochester Democrat & Chronicle May 26, 1977
There was a moment there when old Elvis almost cut loose. Yes sir, midway through his performance at the War Memorial last night, some great rock songs began to fly. The show opened in standard fashion and before a standard virtual sellout. (Just 33 seats short of total.)
J.D.Sumner and the Stamps sang a few gospel tunes, showcasing Sumner's rumbling low bass; The Sweet Inspirations did some sweet inspiring; and the comic had some new laughs and some old laughs- After the intermission, came Elvis' opening trademark - the theme from "2001". (Yeah, I know, it's piece of classical music, too, but we're dealing with Elvis here.)
Then came three songs in the same sequence as I've heard them two other times in the last three years - C.C.Rider, I Got a Woman and his old ballad Love Me. His voice was a lot stronger than it was here 10 months ago, however. He dipped confidently into the lower baritone ranges and sprang powerfully into the strong sections of the songs.
Elvis, 42, wore what looked like the same gold-trimmed white jumpsuit he had here last year and looked about the same in weight (which is too much, but what the heck.) He continued working through some newer country and gospel-flavoured tunes. The came a big, too-fast, loud and splashy Jailhouse Rock with the background voices and "Hot Hilton Horns" both working hard. Still standard.
Then Elvis introduced one of the background singers with an Irish tenor voice who sang a verse of O Sole Mio which Elvis converted into his old hit It's Now Or Never. Aha, the first new tune in the recent repertoire. And then, things started to happen. Elvis sang a rollicking and rocking Little Sister, one of the better tunes from his middle period and a song I've never known him to do in concert. Next came a medley of two early classics Teddy Bear and the great Don't Be Cruel. Hot dog, Elvis is going to get goin' tonight!
A superb rock ballad from his Sun Record days - Trying to Get to You - was next and it fit right in. And then, he let the moment go. He introduced the Italian-Irish tenor again to sing Danny Boy and a gospel tune and the momentum went right out the door and down the Genesee River. There was one more brief moment - a strong reading of One Night - and that was it.
He went from that great blues ballad to a nothin' new version of My Way, for which he actually had to read the words on a sheet of paper. He's got hundreds of great songs from his career in his head and he's reading a Sinatra song! He'd done 45 minutes by now and devoted almost all the last 15 minutes of his set to introducing his vast entourage, including ol' Charlie Hodge, who gives Elvis his water and scarves on stage.
Then came a perfunctory Hound Dog and a weak Can't Help Falling in Love which he laughed through. The crowd knows that means it's the end so the rush was on for one last touch, a look, anything to spark once more that incredible feeling they have for this one-time Memphis truck driver. And then he was gone
Na de ontzettend aangename TCB Cruise afgelopen maand, is ElvisMatters in samenwerking met Gullivers Reisen alweer klaar met het cruise-pakket voor september 2012. En het allerbeste nieuws is: die cruise wordt nog groter én goedkoper! En vergeet niet: wie via ElvisMatters boekt, krijgt een exclusieve avond aangeboden in het gezelschap van alle Elvis-gasten. Voor vele fans was die avond HET hoogtepunt van de cruise!
De cruise van 23 tot 30 september omvat 8 dagen heerlijke zon, 7 nachten aan boord van een top-de-luxe cruise schip. De Norwegian Epic is het modernste en grootste cruiseschip in Europa. Gebouwd in 2010, bevat het maar liefst 19 verdiepingen met meer dan 20 restaurants, room service, 24/24 pizza-dienst, theaters, zwembaden, whirlpools, fitness-ruimtes, discos, clubs, bars, casinos de lijst in eindeloos. Negentien verdiepingen vol entertainment!
Ook de Elvis-gasten zijn van top-niveau met de TCB Band, LINDA THOMPSON (!), Sam Thompson, Jerry Schilling, én er worden de komende weken en maanden NOG speciale Elvis-gasten aangekondigd!
Reisschema: Dag 1 - Barcelona vertrek om 18 u. Dag 2 - Cruising day. Dag 3 - Naples (Capri). Dag 4 - Rome (Civitavecchia). Dag 5 - Pisa (Florence). Dag 6 Nice (Villefranche). Dag 7 - Marseille. Dag 8 - Barcelona.
De prijzen voor deze ALL IN luxe cruise variëren van 599 euro per persoon voor een inside state cabin tot 999 euro voor een cabine met balkon en zeezicht en 1199 euro voor een suite. Wie zeker wil zijn van een plaatsje aan boord, doet er best aan zo spoedig mogelijk in te schrijven. Dat kan via peter@elvismatters.com. Houzee!
The 3rd book in Erik Lorentzen's The Elvis Files series is volume 4 and handles 1965-1968. Is it as attractive as the first two parts that were issued?
Design
The massive book count 569 pages, including some page-sized ads. Just like the previous volume it handles the movies in depth. This information is decorated with tons of pictures. Thumbing through the book is a delight by itself.
Content
The book starts with some publicity shots and a part adapted from Fortas book From Memphis To Hollywood before its time to go on with the immortal Harum Scarum. Of course many pictures of the set, the movie and some publicity shots. There are some candids included from the time the movie was made. Talking about candids this book contains many of them. Those impromptu moments always have something special.
Frankie and Johnny and Paradise, Hawaiian Style are next. The header by Piers Beagly The Beatles were recording Rubber Soul, Bob Dylan was writing Like a Rolling Stone, and Elvis was singing Queenie Wahines Papaya says it all! The articles from the magazines at the time werent too positive either, why didnt he get awake earlier? Its the death of Bill Black is the main referrer to better times
1966 starts with some candids in the snow at Graceland before continuing the movie-years with Spinout. Double Trouble and Easy Come, Easy Go (contender for the title worst Elvis movie) follow. Clambake is the first 1967 movie, with quite some wardrobe shots making it more or less funny. Then its time for the wedding and honeymoon, with tons of more or less known pictures. Speedway has a bit extra because of Nancy Sinatras presence. Stay Away, Joe closes 1967.
Before going on with the movies, a baby was born in 1968 and of course the book covers the birth of Lisa-Marie thoroughly. Live a Little, Love a Little precedes the famous visit to Tom Jones in April and the Hawaii holiday in May. Then it is time for the comeback publicity shots, pics from the recording sessions, press conference, rehearsals and of course the special itself theyre all there! Next to the great pictures (unfortunately they differ in quality) it is fun to read the positive press about it!
Then its time for a quite different Elvis the bearded one! Charro gets quite some coverage and there are even nude pics included! Maffia Elvis closes the movies with The Trouble With Girls, before the book finally finishes with another pile of candid moments.
Conclusion
This volume carries quite some candid pictures, which I happen to like, but because of the nature the quality is not as good as movie stills or publicity shots. To some that may be a minor, but to me those shots make Elvis more human and less God-like. Its amazing how much time that man took for his fans!
Here is the long-awaited tracklisting for the new FTD double-vinyl album of 'Elvis Sings Guitar Man'. As always this will be Re-mastered from original tapes, Vinyl cutting by Abbey Road Studios, 180 Grams heavyweight vinyl and Strictly limited pressing.
Side One: Guitar Man (takes 11, 12) / Big Boss Man (takes 7,9) / Love Letters (take 8) / Just Call Me Lonesome (takes 5,6) / Come What May (take 6) / Mine (original master) / Fools Fall In Love (original master)
Side Two: I'll Remember You (vocal overdub, unedited master) / High Heel Sneakers (take 7, unedited master) / Down In The Alley (take 6) / Indescribably Blue (vocal overdub, take 1) / Tomorrow Is A Long Time (takes 1,2)
Side Three: Big Boss Man (take 2) / Just Call Me Lonesome (takes 3,4) / Down In The Alley (takes 2,3,4) / Come What May (takes 3,4) / We Call On Him (take 8) / Singing Tree (remake, takes 1,2,3) / Guitar Man (take 10)
Side Four: Love Letters (take 2) / Fools Fall In Love (takes 1,4) / Singing Tree (takes 10,13) / You Don't Know Me (take 2) / Come What May (take 7) / High Heel Sneakers (take 5)
Here are the details on the 2-CD Classic Album version containing both Masters and Outtakes from these May 1971 sessions. The 2xCD set packaged in deluxe, fold-out format sleeve (7" EP size) with booklet featuring photos and memorabilia. This will be an interesting FTD for the many previously unreleased outtakes.
Tracklist:
He Touched Me / I've Got Confidence / Amazing Grace / Seeing Is Believing / He Is My Everything / Bosom Of Abraham / An Evening Prayer / Lead Me, Guide Me / There Is No God But God / A Thing Called Love / I, John / Reach Out To Jesus plus outtakes: Amazing Grace (Takes 1, 2 & 5) / The Lord's Prayer / Lead Me, Guide Me / He Touched Me (Takes 2, 3 & 4) / Johnny B. Goode / I've Got Confidence (Takes I & 2) / An Evening Prayer (Takes 3, 5, 7, 8 & 10) / Seeing Is Believing (Takes 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 14) / A Thing Called Love (Takes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 9) / Reach Out To Jesus (Takes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 & 10) / He Is My Everything (Takes 2 & 4) / There Is No God But God (Takes 2, 3, 4 & 5) / I, John (Take 2) / Bosom Of Abraham (Takes 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7)
With only 50 copies of each color known to be in existance, these colored Moody Blue Albums rank among the most sought-after collector's records in the entire Elvis world. There are 5 albums in the complete set, each valued at 1500 $US or more and it's only seldom that they show up on eBay. However the most rare Moody Blue we've laid eyes on, is en experimental picture disc with the cover of A Legendary Performer Vol.2 in the grooves. That particular one of a kind record sold recently for 10,000 $US... This set of 2 will go for less than 2500 $US.
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Christmas with Elvis... and the Elvis Imperials: bestel tijdig
Christmas with Elvis... and the Elvis Imperials: bestel tijdig
Nog minder dan 140 tickets te gaan en dan zijn we... sold out! Kerstmis op zn mooist: dat is Christmas With Elvis and the Elvis Imperials. Op Zondag 18 december sluiten we het concertjaar af met een indrukwekkende kerstshow in CC De Schalm in Veldhoven (NL) met een live band, Kerstkoor, Bouke en de originele Elvis Imperials. Kerstmuziek zal nooit zo lekker hebben geklonken als dan, op 18 december.
De kerstshows van ElvisMatters zijn inmiddels toe aan de zesde jaargang, en na een succesvolle eerste Nederlandse stop in Tilburg vorig jaar besloten we om onze tenten dit jaar opnieuw op te slaan in Nederland. Eén telefoontje naar Joe Moscheo van The Imperials volstond om de groep te boeken. We stuurden hen de DVD-opname van vorige kerst toe, en ze zeiden meteen ja op het voorstel voor een avondvullende live show.
We hebben nog een kleine 140 tickets te koop. Wie écht geen risico wil lopen, kan nu reeds tickets bestellen via het secretariaat van ElvisMatters, of via de onlineshop.
According to Alanna Nash in an article on the Vanity Fair site Bobbi Owen was the name of the girl Elvis kissed on the famous Wertheimer picture in 1956.
Out by August 16, 2011 The Bicentennial King, Vol. 3 will be Millbranch's third CD with an 8 page booklet containing lots of photos and different original 1976 Shreveport, LA newspaper articles with information regarding the Elvis concert at the Hirsch Coliseum on July 1, 1976. The sound is very good for an audience recording and Elvis is delivering a fine show, being in good spirits. This show has NOT been released yet on cd. All you fans out there know what to expect from Elvis´ Shreveport 76 show - so if you are interested be advised to get your copy as soon as you can.
Tracklist: Shreveport, July 01, 1976 01. Also Sprach Zarathustra 02. C. C. Rider 03. I Got A Woman / Amen 04. Love Me 05. If You Love Me (Let Me Know) 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. Polk Salad Annie 14. Band Introductions 15. Early Morning Rain 16. What'd I Say 17. Johnny B Goode 18. Drum Solo (incomplete) 19. Piano Solo (incomplete) 20. Electric Piano Solo 21. Love Letters 22. School Day 23. Hurt #1 24. Hurt #2 25. Hound Dog 26. Funny How Time Slips Away 27. Happy Birthday (to Bridget) 28. It's Now Or Never 29. Can't Help Falling In Love 30. Closing Vamp
For your reference Ciscoking compiled a list of essential audience recordings, in which he tried to cover all tours and Vegas/ Lake Tahoe engagements.
Vegas Variety Vol. 3, L.V., 6.8.69 DS
Have Some Fun Tonight, L.V., 3.2.70 DS Sheik Of The Desert, L.V., 3.2.70 DS International Earthquake, L.V., 5.2.70 DS Elvis At The Dome 1.3.1970 AS The Man In White Vol. 3, L.V., 14.8.70 MS Double Dynamite, L.V., 19.8.70 DS/MS A Dinner Bell In Vegas, L.V., 20.8.70 DS A Bright Midnight With Elvis, L.V., 20.8.70 MS From Vegas To Macon , L.V., 21.8.70 DS You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling, L.V., 21.8.70 MS The Night When Elvis Sang When The Snow Is On The Roses, L.V., 24.8.70 MS September Nights, L.V., 8.9.70 3 AM Better Than Ever, Miami, 12.9.70 ES On The Road Again , Portland, 11.11.70 The Essence Of Energy, Seattle, 12.11.70
Setting The Season, L.V., 19.2.71 MS, 22.2.71 MS A Thunder In The Night, Lake Tahoe 1.8.71 MS Trying To Get To Memphis. L.V., 11.8.71 DS The Cisco Kid Strikes Again, L.V., 21.8.71 MS Las Vegas Hilton Midnight Show, 31.8.71 MS An Unforgettable Night In Baltimore, 9.11.71 ES
An Unforgettable Night In Little Rock, 17.4.72 ES Live From Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, 12.6.72 ES No Fooling Around, L.V., 4.8.72 OS Red Hot In Vegas, L.V., 23.8.72 MS King Of The Neon Jungle, 3.9.72 3 AM Walk That Lonesome Road, L.V., 4.9.72 CS Tucson, Arizona, Tucson, 9.11.72 ES Long Beach, CA, Long Beach 14.11.72 ES
Turning Up The Heat In Vegas, L.V., 10.2.73 MS You Don't Have To Say You Love Me, L.V., 14.2.73 DS Faded Love, L.V., 15.2.73 DS Kicking And Rolling, L.V., 18.2.73 MS At The Top Of The Game, Phoenix, 22.4.73 ES Total Commitment, Anaheim, 24.4.73 ES Shining In Portland - Portland, 27.4.73 ES High Sierra Fever, Lake Tahoe 7.5.73 MS '73 Stateline, California, Lake Tahoe, 10.5.73 MS Born To Give Us Fever, Uniondale, 23.6.73 AS Mania Atlanta, Atlanta, 30.6.73 AS Stripped Of My Heart, My Soul, Atlanta, 3.7.73 ES Raised On Vegas, L.V., 6.8.73 OS Vegas Variety Vol. 4, L.V., 12.8.73 MS A Profile: The King On Stage, L.V., 20.8.73 MS Caught In The Act, L.V., 26.8.73 MS Take These Chains From My Heart, L.V., 28.8.73 MS The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, L.V., 30.8.73 DS Getting Down To Business, L.V., 31.8.73 DS High Spirit In Vegas, L.V., 2.9.73 MS A Change Of Mind, L.V., 3.9.73 DS
Something Old, Something New, L.V., 26.1.74 OS Checkmate In Vegas, L.V., 6.2.74 MS Live from Roanoke, 10.3.74 ES The Alternative Memphis, Memphis, 17.3.74 AS At The Forum, Los Angeles, 11.5.74 AS Big Boss Man At Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, 24.5.74 DS Conquering The Falls, Niagara Falls, 24.6.74 ES Vegas Birthday Show, L.V., 23.8.74 MS Karate Fever, L.V., 31.8.74 DS It`s Midnight In Vegas, L.V., 31.8.74 MS Vegas Variety, L.V., 1.9.74 DS Chaos In College Park, College Park, 27.9.74 ES October Encore In Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, DS It's Tahoe Time, Lake Tahoe, 13.10.74 MS
Top Acts In Vegas Vol. 5, L.V., 18.3.75 OS Springtime In Nevada, L.V., 25.3.75 DS April Fool's Dinner, L.V., 1.4.75 DS On A April Fool`s Vol. 2, L.V., 1.4.75 CS The Lightning Storm In Florida, Tampa, 26.4.75 ES Live At The Omni, Atlanta, 2.5.75 ES Turn Around, Look At Me At Lake Charles, Lake Charles, 4.5.75 AS Back At The Falls, Niagara Falls, 13.7.75 ES America's Own, Uniondale, 19.7.75 AS You'll Never Walk Alone, Uniondale, 19.7.75 ES Scope`s Hope - Elvis Sells Out, Norfolk, 20.7.75 AS Gyrating Asheville, Asheville, 23.7.75 ES Pieces Of My Life, Asheville, 24.7.75 ES Las Vegas In Gypsy Style, L.V., 18.8.75 OS Cancelled: The Request Box, L.V., 19.8.75 DS and 20.8.75 DS Seasons Greetings From Vegas, L.V., 2.12.75 OS Fairytale In Vegas, L.V., 6.12.75 MS Countdown To Christmas, L.V., 9.12.75 10 PM Las Vegas Moonlight, L.V., 10.12.75 10 PM American Glory, L.V., 11.12.75 10 PM The King Of Entertainment, L.V., 15.12.75 CS Rock Back The Clock, Pontiac, 31.12.75 ES
Phoenix Over Tennessee, Johnson City, 17.3.76 ES Steamrollin Charlotte, Charlotte, 20.3.76 AS California Wave, Long Beach, 25.4.76 ES A Crazy Show At Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, 3.5.76 10 PM Then Sings My Soul, Lake Tahoe, 7.5.76 DS/MS Exceeding All Expectations, Lake Tahoe 9.5.76 CS One Night At The Omni, Atlanta, 5.6.76 ES Matinee Majesty, Providence, 26.6.76 AS Heading For Tulsa, Tulsa, 4.7.76 AS Storming Syracuse, Syracuse, 25.7.76 ES Elvis At Bay, St.Petersburg, 3.9.76 ES Royal Gambit In Richfield, Cleveland, 23.10.76 ES Blue Rainbow, Fort Wayne, 25.10.76 Last Time In Portland, Portland, 26.11.76 ES Rockin' The Northwest, Eugene, 27.11.76 ES The Last Vegas Opening Night, L.V., 2.12.76 OS Here Come The Stars, L.V., 4.12.76 DS Presley At The Hilton, L.V., 5.12.76 10 PM A Private Audience With The King, L.V., 8.12.76 10 PM Vegas Variety Vol. 2, L.V., 11.12.76 MS Black Diamond , L.V., 12.12.76 CS Auld Lang Syne, Pittsburgh, 31.12.76
Hot Time In Miami, Miami, 12.2.77 ES Going Back In Time, Orlando, 15.2.77 ES Néver Ending Demand Vol. 1, Montgomery, 16.2.77 ES Néver Ending Demand Vol. 2, Savannah, 17.2.77 ES King Time In Abilene, Abilene, 27.3.77 ES Elvis Slips Into Austin, Austin, 28.3.77 ES At Cazzie`s House, Ann Arbor, 24.4.77 ES Greetings From Saginaw, Saginaw, 25.4.77 ES I Did It My Way, Green Bay, 28.4.77 ES Duluth Revisited, Duluth, 29.4.77 ES When Elvis Comes Marching In, Chicago, 1.5.77 ES Polk Salad Elvis, Chicago,2.5.77 ES Tonight 8:30 PM, Largo, 22.5.77 ES Funny How Time Slips Away, 23.5.77 ES Augusta: Once And For All, Augusta, 24.5.77 ES Trying To Get To You, Rochester, 25.5.77 ES Second Night, Binghamton, 27.5.77 ES Last Stop In Mobile, Mobile, 2.6.77 ES Since Cincinnati, Cincinnati, 25.6.77 ES The Final Farewell, Indianapolis, 26.6.77 ES
