WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL THE EP.GOLD READERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

2002/12/31 Ep.Gold.Com.

E1 AND FINISH ALBUM CHART.

Elvis 30 #1 Hits ends this fabulous year by remaining at #3 on the Finnish album chart. So, it´s been 13 weeks on the chart, 2 weeks at #1, and the lowest chart position is #4. 

2002/12/31 Kari Paju - Finland / Ep.Gold.Com.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK.

This will be the last: "Pic Of The Week" in 2002.

This time a picture of Elvis heading for Studio - B 1971.

Go to the menu Pic Of The Week or 


2002/12/31 Ep.Gold.Com.

AUSTRALIAN CHART UPDATE.

In the Australian Album Chart the E 1 Album dropped from No # 6 to No # 8 this week.

2002/12/31 Bob Hayden / Ep.Gold.Com.

THE TV SPECIAL: ELVIS - LIVES, BROADCASTED FOR THE DUTCH TELEVISION RTL 5 NEW YEARS EVE, 2003.

The Dutch Television Company RTL 5 will broadcast on New Years Eve the TV Special : "Elvis - Lives " , at five minutes past twelve.

A great Happy New Year for the Dutch Elvis Fans.

2002/12/31 Ep.Gold.Com.

NEW GERMAN ELVIS BOOK.

In Germany a new book will be published with the title 'Elvis Presley - Ein Leben für den Rock’n’Roll (A life for Rock And Roll). This 320 pages photo biograpy contains over 300 (partly unreleased) photo's from the early fifties until 1977. The release date is March 2003 , the price should be around the 30 Euro.

2002/12/31 Elvis Clu Berlin / ElvisNews / Ep.Gold.Com

NO BONUSTRACKS.

The re-releases of 'Elvis 56', 'Heart And Soul', 'Great Country Songs' and 'Can't Help Falling In love - The Hollywood Years' will not contain any bonus tracks as was announced earlier. According to a promotion flyer from BMG Australia the track listing is the same as the original releases. The CD's are remastered from the original master tapes using 96 kHz. 24-bit digital transfers (DSD technology) for optimum sound quality.

2002/12/31 EIN / ElvisNews / Ep.Gold.Com.

ELVIS: BEHIND THE IMAGE - The Book 

High quality hardcover book printed on premium paper stock
Approximate size: 8 1/4" x 11 1/2" (Din A4)
more than 120 pages
More than 400 beautiful photographs
Release date: January 2003

ELVIS: BEHIND THE IMAGE - The Book will include some of the images from the DVD, but will mostly contain photos that were not included on the DVD plus...MEMORIES FROM THE PRIVATE JOURNAL ENTRIES OF SANDI MILLER to go along with her personally taken photos of Elvis, as well as the inside of many of Elvis' homes in California. 

Sandi was a fan who became a good friend to Elvis and was there for many private parties, quiet times at home and even rehearsals at RCA studios. She kept a journal of her numerous encounters with Elvis and as a result has MANY volumes of her memories ... so every detail is as fresh as the day it happened. This adds much more depth than a typical Elvis photo book and compliments the photos very nicely. 

A handful of the photos may be recognized, but many more are included that go with each set to give a large number of photos that have never been seen. This with the great stories that accompany the photos give a totally unique book that is a nice break from the many books that have simply a date or caption that is incorrect for the most part. 

Also included in ELVIS: BEHIND THE IMAGE - The Book are some incredible photos from the RUSS HOWE collection. Russ has a way of finding and sharing the most obscure "killer" Elvis photos the fans really love to see! This will be a book Elvis photo lovers will not want to miss. 

In an effort to bring the highest quality product at the lowest possible price to the fans, this large hardcover book will sell for much less than the typical $ 50- $ 75 charged for most books of this quality and for less than most soft cover books as well. 

RETAIL: $ 39 *plus $ 7 shipping & handling for US, shipping & handling for Non-US residents will be calculated individually to minimize fees

To minimize your postage costs, please keep in mind that the book is manufactured in Germany and therefor pay attention to the following:
Please direct all U.S. inquiries to: budglass@behind-the-image.com
Please direct all European inquiries to: greg@behind-the-image.de

For photos of the front and backcover of the book, for more details about BEHIND THE IMAGE -The Book and the up-coming Volume 2 on DVD ... please visit our official web site at:
www.Behind-The-Image.com (English Edition)
www.Behind-The-Image.de (German Edition)

2002/12/30 Andylon Lensen / Praytome / Behind The Image. Germany - USA / Ep.Gold.Com.

Three New Import Releases

Out now are three new import CD's in the series 'Elvis in The Hilton'.
All three are on the label Tupelo. "The sound is not that good from all three "audience" also the coverart could be much better." according to SGE.
Most of the photographs, used for the coverart, were copied from the recent publication 'Elvis: Caught In A Trap'.
This label has also released the soundboard recording from "Elvis The Concert '97" that was mentioned a couple of days before.

Volume 1, "Flip, Flop & Fly",  contains the live recording from September 2, 1973 (midnight show)


Elvis In The Hilton Vol.1 - Flip, Flop & Fly

Tracklisting :
Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - Love Me - Steamroller Blues - You Gave Me A Mountain - Trouble - Long Tall Sally/Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin' On/Mama Don’t Dance/Flip Flop & Fly/Hound Dog - Love Me Tender - Fever - Bridge Over Troubled Water - Suspicious Minds - band introductions - My Boy - I Can't Stop Loving You - An American Trilogy - The The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Mystery Train/Tiger Man - How Great Thou Art - A Big Hunk O' Love - Release Me - What Now My Love - Can't Help Falling In Love - 

Elvis In The Hilton Vol.2 - Trouble In Vegas

Volume 2 contains the live show August 30, 1973 (dinner show) at the Hilton Hotel.
This one was released before on the CD-R "Getting Down To Business"

Tracklisting:
Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - Love Me - Steamroller Blues - You Gave Me A Mountain - Trouble - Blue Suede Shoes - Rock Medley - Love Me Tender - Fever - Bridge Over Troubled Water - Suspicious Minds - Band introductions - Release Me - I Can't Stop Loving You - An American Trilogy - A Big Hunk O' Love - The The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - How Great Thou Art - Can't Help Falling In Love - 



Elvis In The Hilton Vol.3 - Whole Lotta Shakin' In Vegas

Volume 3 contains the live show from August 11 and August 19, 1973 (Midnight show) at the Hilton Hotel.
The August 11 show was already released on the import "Vegas Showman" from "Stage Entertainment" only the Vegas Showman release is complete.

Tracklisting:
Also Sprach Zarathustra - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - Love Me - You Gave Me A Mountain - Love Me Tender - Blue Suede Shoes - Long Tall Sally/Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On/Mama Don't Dance/Flip, Flop And - Fly/Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On - Fever - What Now My Love - Suspicious Minds - Introductions - Help Me Make It Through The Night - An American Trilogy - A Big Hunk O' Love - How Great Thou Art - Can't Help Falling In Love - See See Rider - I Got A Woman/Amen - Love Me - Steamroller Blues - You Gave Me A Mountain - Trouble - Blue Suede Shoes - Long Tall Sally/Mama Don't Dance/Flip, Flop And Fly/Jailhouse Rock/Hound Dog - Love Me Tender - Fever - Bridge Over Troubled Water 

2002/12/30 Solid Gold Elvis / EP.Gold.com

( EXTRA ) PICTURE OF THE WEEK.

This time we have (again) a private shot from Elvis, while he is attending a Live- Concert from Tom Jones in 1974.
Go to the Menu : Pic Of The Week or


2002/12/30 Ep.Gold.Com

E1 TOP 75 ALBUM CHARTS IN UK.

Elvis 30 # 1 HitsAlbum climbed two spots from No # 10 to No # 8 this week.

2002/12/30 Dot Music / Ep.Gold.Com.

SWEDISH CHART UPDATE.

In the last weekly Swedish charts for this year we can find Elvis at the following positions: 
In the Midprice Album Chart: #2 with 'White Christmas', on the Album Chart: # 3 (total 13 weeks) with 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' and finally on the Single Chart: # 43 for the 28th week, Elvis vs JXL with 'A Little Less Conversation'.

2002/12/30 ElvisNews / Ep.Gold.Com.

END OF THE YEAR CHART IN NORWAY.

In Norway the single 'A Little Less Conversation' was the #3 best selling single of the year.

2002/12/30 ElvisNews / Ep.Gold.Com.

REAL VIDEO '68 COMEBACK SPECIAL FROM BMG CANADA.

"68 Comeback Special" (from BMG Canada) 
RealVideo (Hi, Lo) (11:48) 
Hound Dog - All Shook Up - Heartbreak Hotel - Jailhouse Rock - One Night(unreleased version) - Baby What You Want Me To Do(unreleased version) - Tryin' To Get To You - Lawdy Miss Clawdy - Tiger Man 

"Elv1s 30 #1 Hits" Radio Special (from BMG Canada) 
RealAudio 
Pt.1 (33:02) 
Pt.2 (44:44) 
Pt.3 (37:42) 

2002/12/30 BMG Canada / Ep.Gold.Com.

EVERYTHING ELSE THAN JUST ALL RIGHT, MAMMA.

Everything else more than just all right, mama
It's been a banner year for the King and He...

Former KC dude Jack Soden, that is. The guy who presides over all things Elvis worldwide from his Memphis base just outside Graceland.
"Oh, yes, Elvis had a huge year in 2002," Soden says. "Elvis is on a roll, so we're going to follow through. We're really amping up."

Look for another major RCA CD release in 2003.
"Based on the success of his `30 No. 1 Hits,' there will be more big releases," Soden says.
And a new DVD release of Elvis' '68 Comeback Special is in the pipeline as well, Soden says. Just in time. The current version of the legendary television concert is out of production and sells for well over $100 on eBay and Amazon.

"We've got a complete DVD compilation for the '68 Comeback Special coming out," Soden says. "A lot of stuff was shot that ultimately wasn't aired. So all that film is going to be included in a new DVD release in '03."
A long-awaited Lisa Marie Presley CD is expected this spring as well.
"And 2004's going to be an interesting year," Soden says. "It's the 50th anniversary of Elvis' career. He recorded `That's All Right (Mama)' in 1954."

Then there's the matter of Cowtown shrink Donald Hinton and his claim that Elvis is alive and poised to reappear. Most recently Hinton's assistant, Linda Johnson, said Elvis had actually spoken with Soden recently.
"I, of course, have never spoken to Dr. Hinton or anybody who thinks he's Elvis Presley," Soden says. "What I can tell you is, Elvis is dead. And these folks are either amusing themselves or think they're going to exploit some opportunity.
"You know, it may be the weirdest Elvis story in Kansas City, but we get nonsense like that from here or there all the time."


2002/12/30 Hearne Christopher Jr. The Kansan City Star / Elvis from Poland / Ep.Gold.Com

NOW YOU ARE ABLE TO VOTE FOR OUR WEBSITE ELVIS COLLECTORS GOLD

Dear Ep.Gold.readers,

We would like to ask you a personal favor.
We have subscribed us to the Organisation Elvis Find. Com.
They have just started a new policy with their voting for the Elvis- Worldwide -Websites.
All the Ep.Gold readers have been very loyal by voting in the past.
Now this voting does NOT excist anymore.

So, we would like to ask you, to vote again, this means it's for the 1st time registered.
Hope you will, it only takes a few seconds.

First fill in your e-mail adress and a password AND in a few seconds you will get a confimation from ElvisFind.Com. you are now able to vote... fill in the e-mail adress and password AGAIN ...and you are logged in and able to vote for our Website Elvis Collectors Gold ( http://www.epgold.com )

Click on the name Elvis Collectors Gold and then go to the rankin for voting ElvisFind scores......

Next to that you are also able to leave a comment seperate at User Comments.


Really would be appreciated,
HERE IS THE LINK TO VOTE FOR OUR WEB SITE.ELVIS COLLECTORS GOLD.


2002/12/29 Ep.Gold.Com.

The Man In White Vol.3 - Release date: January 2003

Today we recieved the news that the following import release "The Man In White Vol.3" will be released in the second week of January 2003. Here you can take a look at the coverart. And hopefully we have a nice surprise for you next week ;-)

Tracklisting:
That's All Right / Amen - I Got A Woman - You Don't Know Me - I Got A Woman / Mystery Train - Tiger Man / Folsom Prison Blues / I Walk The Line / Monologue / Love Me Tender / Johnny B. Goode / Whole Lotta Shakin' - Blueberry Hill / The Wonder Of You / You've Lost That Loving Feeling / Polk Salad Annie / Introductions / Oh Happy Day / All Shook Up / Blue Suede Shoes / One Night / Bridge Over Troubled Water / Suspicious Minds / Can't Help Falling In Love Bonus Tracks (August 1970): Memphis Tennessee / Sweet Caroline / Sweet Inspiration / More / Bridge Over Troubled water

2002/12/29 Solid Gold Elvis / Ep.Gold.Com.

HAIL TO ELVIS, KING OF SALES.

Chances are, Presley never closed a sale or pocketed a purchase order in his life, but that doesn't mean we can't learn a lot from the King 

Elvis Presley is the King of Rock 'n' Roll, and I don't think that there is the shadow of a doubt that Elvis Presley Enterprises, which controls his estate, is the undoubted king of sales and marketing. This summer, I visited Graceland, sacred ground for Presley fans. The experience got me all shook up.

Consider: Elvis Aaron Presley died 25 years ago, yet his home in Memphis sees more than 600,000 visitors every year. After the White House, it is the second-most visited home in the U.S. Given that Elvis died in 1977, you might assume that seniors represent the bulk of pilgrims to Graceland's shrine. Not so. Half the visitors are under 35. 

LARGER THAN LIFE. Except for five shows in Canada, Elvis performed only in the U.S. -- yet there are fan clubs in 45 countries and 40% of his records are sold outside the U.S. It is estimated that better than a billion Elvis records have been sold -- more than any other artist. Of those releases, more than 140 albums and singles have been certified gold, platinum, or multiplatinum -- again, more than any other artist. His estate generated $37 million in the year ending June, 2002, and THAT leaves any and all deceased artists in the shade, including Peanuts creator Charles Schulz and Beatle John Lennon. 

While Elvis really has definitely left the building, it's obvious his legacy continues to touch many -- including those of us who have goods and services to sell. Here are a few timeless lessons we can learn from Elvis and his music. 

Shake, Rattle, and Roll. Elvis was famous for those gyrating hips, and there's no reason why you can't put some excitement into your presentations, too. For example, I recently spoke with a representative of an outfit I was considering hiring. At our first meeting, the salesperson brought two advertising specialty items and a one-inch thick book filled with information on the outfit. Her selling style sure needed some sizzle, though, so much so that the presentation should have been marked Return to Sender. 

I would have preferred if she left the toys back at the office (we know it's the customer who pays for them in the end) and focused instead on probing my needs and concerns. Then she could have given me just a few pages of important information, saving me the time of wading through the whole, entire book. Or, after hearing me describe my needs, she could have marked the pages of greatest interest. For now, it's Are You Lonesome Tonight? for that sales rep. 

Don't Be Cruel. I don't mean to knock promotional giveaways and sales gimmes. There are some great specialty items out there, ones that can really make your outfit stand out in the crowd. A creative, experienced salesperson in this area is worth seeking out. Just remember, before you look at any catalogs, have your goal firmly in mind. Be clear on what are you trying to achieve with what kind of customer. Then ask the rep for some fresh suggestions that will get prospects buzzing about you and what you have to offer. 

You Ain't Nothing but a Hound Dog. A friend recently remarked on a particular salesperson who had been riding her to buy, wondering if such tactics are what good salesmanship is all about. Whoa! In sales, hounding a customer doesn't qualify. Following up is always good, but it needs to be done with an appropriate level of energy -- and at the correct moment. 

When I was a young salesperson, I sold a very specialized product that connected two different types of computer networks -- something that was very rarely needed (or wanted, as I learned, but that's another story for another column). Anyway, in the last week of a lousy quarter, my boss told me to call my one warm prospect twice a day, every day, until he agreed to buy. I'm glad I didn't. That would have made me both a real Hound Dog and a lousy salesperson, one with an alienated client. It could have led to Heartbreak Hotel. 

Money Honey. So many salespeople are afraid to talk about money. So, when it's time to talk dollars and cents, speak with confidence. Customers often will try to rush you into naming a price. That's fine, in fact it's encouraging because it demonstrates that they are interested. But never forget that it is the smart salesperson who should be controlling when the subject of price is raised. In every sales cycle, there is an appropriate time to talk money -- the moment when it's Now or Never. Too early, and you won't have developed the customer's hunger and laid the groundwork to justify the sum you are asking. Too late, and the prospect is frustrated, wanting only to know if he or she can afford it. 

I recommend practicing this part of your presentation obsessively -- in front of a mirror, with peers, alone in the car, even in the bathroom before you go in to deliver your presentation. If you're nervous about naming the price, your customers are going to smell that anxiety and use it to their advantage. 

Blue Suede Shoes. Being a salesperson means that the people with whom you deal have certain expectations. It's the same for those in other occupations, too, be they doctors, lawyers, librarians, or the guys riding the garbage truck. The good news is you can use these assumptions to your advantage. As I pointed out in my previous column, "Image: The Winning Suit", it pays to look the part. 

Also, your customers have probably encountered at least a few -- and quite possibly a good many more -- terrible salespeople, which explains those Suspicious Minds we so often encounter. If you take the time to hear and comprehend your customer's needs, you can really stand out from the competition. Don't fall for the easier selling path of A Little Less Conversation. 

A major benefit of really knowing your customer is you can follow up in ways that are more meaningful. For instance, if your customer is interested in swing dancing and you happen to spot an article about the pastime's resurgence, cut it out and clip it to some information about your company or products. That will tell your customers you get their drift when they sing Love Me Tender. 

A Fool Such As I. One of the surprises about visiting Memphis was the dearth of Elvis imitators. I expected to find them on every corner, but didn't see a single one. Worldwide, there are estimated to be a whopping 35,000 Elvis clones. The selling lesson? Be original. It's dandy to imitate the very best salespeople, but that won't help to develop your own personal style. If you're terrific and original, others will want to copy you -- maybe even 25 years after you've passed over. 

Elvis' motto was "Taking Care of Business," TCB for short. I saw those letters plastered on just about everything Elvis -- and it makes a good motto for selling, too: We take care of business by taking care of customers and our own businesses. Graceland is an excellent example of TCB, and Jack Soden, CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises, deserves a lot of credit. I'd recommend a visit to Graceland by anyone who wants their customers singing Stuck on You. Happy Selling! 

2002/12/29 Michelle Nichols - Business Week - Magazine / Elvis From Poland / Ep.Gold.Com.

THE WEAKEST LINK ON NEW YEARS DAY BBC TV IN BRITAIN.

It features 9 of the best Elvis Tribute Artists in Britain being quizzed by the ferocious Anne Robinson. See pictures from the programme and story at http://www.elvisisinthebrowser.com/impersonator/weak-link/weakest_link.htm

2002/12/29 Ep.Gold.Com.

CANADA'S TOP 10 POP CHARTS

TORONTO (CP) - The following is Music World's top 10 CDs based on national sales for the week ending Dec. 21. 

1 Up! - Shania Twain 
2 Elv1s: 30 No. 1 Hits - Elvis Presley 
3 8 Mile Soundtrack - Various Artists 
4 MuchDance 2003 - Various Artists 
5 It Had To Be You - Rod Stewart 
6 Let Go - Avril Lavigne 
7 The Eminem Show - Eminem 
8 This Is Me... Then - Jennifer Lopez 
9 Big Shiny Tunes 7 - Various Artists 
10 40 Licks - Rolling Stones 

2002/12/29 The Canadian Press / Ep.Gold.Com.

ELVIS TO GO PLATINUM AGAIN ON 68th BIRTHDAY.

Graceland Mansion is planning four days of festivities early next month to celebrate what would have been Elvis Presley's 68th birthday. 

The party will center on an Elvis Presley Day proclamation ceremony at Graceland Jan. 8, Elvis' birthday. The ceremony is to be held on Graceland's front lawn, with city, county and Graceland officials taking part. 

At the ceremony the late singer will be awarded gold and platinum records from BMG/RCA for last year's remix hit, "A little less conversation." An open house at Presley Place is scheduled to follow. 
Other activities during the four-day hullabaloo include a Gospel brunch at Elvis Presley's Memphis restaurant on Jan. 5 and an Elvis stamp 10th anniversary commemoration at the restaurant the following day. 

Stan Perkins, son of singer Carl Perkins, will perform the night before the birthday ceremony at Graceland. 
All activities will be held at Graceland, Elvis Presley's Memphis or the Peabody Hotel. Details are available at http://www.elvis.com.

2002/12/28 Memphis Business Journal / Ep.Gold.Com.

GERMAN END OF THE YEAR CHART.

In the german end of the year charts the single 'A Little Less Conversation' #30 and the compilation 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' is the 24th best selling / popular album of the year. 

2002/12/28 ElvisNews / Ep.Gold.Com.

ELVIS SIGHTINGS SCHEDULED AT LIBRARIES.

Elvis Presley will be shaking up Metropolitan Library System customers the week of Jan. 6-11 with a series of appearances at area libraries. "It's hard to imagine that Elvis would have been 68 years old on Jan. 8, but our Elvis will be a lot younger than that," said Scott Carter, director of public relations. "This is an Elvis you'll recognize."
Geoffrey Voss, a musical theater major at the University of Oklahoma, will portray The King. Voss has appeared in more than a dozen live productions and one independent film. 
Carter said the library system plans to put Elvis to work. Elvis is scheduled to appear at these Metro Libraries: 
Jan. 6 -- Del City and Midwest City / Jan. 7 -- Southern Oaks and Capital Hill. / Jan. 8 -- Ralph Ellison and Choctaw. / Jan. 9 -- Bethany and Warr Acres. / Jan. 10 -- Belle Isle and Downtown. / Jan. 11 -- The Village and Edmond. 

2002/12/28 NewsOK / Ep.Gold.Com.

LISA MARIE PRESLEY'S DEBUT ALBUM SET FOR APRIL RELEASE.

The release date for Lisa Marie Presley's debut album as a singer/songwriter is April 8, 2003, according to an update recently posted on Lisa's site. We'll post alerts about any additional details as we receive them. 

2002/12/28 EPE / Ep.Gold.Com.

ELVIS STILL TOP OF ALL TIME CHART.

ELVIS Presley is still number one in the all-time hit list, moving further ahead of his closest rival Sir Cliff Richard - but young pretenders Oasis and Kylie Minogue are climbing rapidly up the charts. 
After returning to number one with A Little Less Conversation this year, the King has now spent 1,185 weeks in the charts, according to the music bible, Guinness British Hit Singles. 

Sir Cliff, who failed to make his customary mark in a festive chart dominated by TV creations, is lagging 30 weeks behind. 
Although he topped the charts with Millennium Prayer in November 1999, Sir Cliff has not had a Christmas number one since Saviour’s Day in 1990. 
After a superb year, during which she spent 40 weeks in the charts, Kylie has moved up a whopping 15 places, from 40th to 25th. In so doing, she surpassed stars such as Whitney Houston and Prince in the list of the most popular chart acts of all time. 

The Australian pop princess, who recreated herself as a sexy pop diva after an early career as a clean-cut soap actress, has had a string of hits this year, including Come Into My World and In Your Eyes. 
These have helped her to make a colossal leap in the list, which is based on the number of weeks an act has spent in the charts throughout their career. 
Each year the upper reaches of the Guinness list barely change as they are dominated by classic artists with decades of hits from the days when songs stayed in the charts for months. 

Elvis Presley and Sir Cliff are followed by the Shadows, Elton John, Madonna, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart, the Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Queen. 
Within the whole top 20, the only change has been Status Quo pushing past Stevie Wonder to take 13th position. 

Oasis climbed from 29th to 21st with hits such as The Hindu Times. 
This has helped them to pass the late Lonnie Donegan, UB40 and crooner Jim Reeves. 
Robbie Williams is at 66 this year, up nine places from the previous year. 

Dance group New Order are the only new entry in the entire Top 100 acts of all time, going in at 98, 21 years after they scored their first hit with Ceremony, and squeezing Neil Sedaka out of the top 100. 

Kylie, who made her name as Charlene Mitchell, the Erinsborough schoolgirl in Australian soap Neighbours, had her first hit with the Stock, Aitken and Waterman single, I Should Be So Lucky, in January 1988. 
It spent 16 weeks in the charts and reached number one. 

Kylie, now 33, then clocked up another 12 successive top ten hits, giving her the best ever female chart career start. 

To date, Kylie has released eight studio albums, six long-play videos and 39 singles throughout the world. 
This year, she has also achieved fame in the United States, with her album, Fever, selling more than one million copies. 
But experts said that despite her rise up the hit list, Kylie had no chance of overhauling Elvis. 

"There is absolutely no chance whatsoever. Kylie has had a great album, but who remembers the two before?" said Tom Robinson, product manager of Fopp Music in Cockburn Street, Edinburgh. 

"When Elvis had his number one this year, we sold a lot and have sold a lot over Christmas. There have been sporadic Elvis things on the telly. 

"Westlife have had 11 number ones, but I would doubt that they would have the same sort of cultural effect as a band like the Beatles. They will never be able to touch bands like Elvis, the Beatles and the Stones. They are cultural icons. 
"Record companies are always remarketing old acts. Perhaps the anniversay angle, they will be making sure acts are not forgotten." 

Allan Irvine, customer service manager at the Virgin Megastore, in Princes Street, Edinburgh, agreed. 
"There is no way anyone could catch up with the likes of Elvis," he said. 

"The way the chart works now, people are only in the chart for three or four weeks, and at number one for one or maybe two weeks. In those days people could be at number one for ten weeks. So they won’t catch up." 


2002/12/28 John Staples / Lisette Johnson, The Scotsman / Ep.Gold.Com.

“ELVIS – SINGING AND BOXING” .
with Johnny Burnette, Dorsey Bunette, Paul Burlison by Henry Harrison 

“These Great Ones Came From Tennessee”

“Elvis is watching you” our Golden Gloves Boxing Coach whispered in my ear. “He came through the back door a few minutes ago while you were sparing”. Wiping the sweat from my eyes I looked around the stage in Dave Wells Community Center where we always trained for the North Memphis Golden Gloves. (Our boxing tournament and training center was held in the Dave Wells Community Center, on Chelsea Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee.) “I remember just staring at Elvis and wondering why he was there”. “Red” West, his constant companion and bodyguard, was standing beside him. “Red” stood tall and strait. He was all-state center from the Humes High School football team and was very much a man. Elvis seemed to stand on his right foot with his head tilted to slightly to one side. He seemed to be watching and considering every movement we made while we were training for Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament. Elvis, always accompanied by “Red”, would come to the gym on different occasions to watch us train however he never put on the boxing gloves. He seemed to save that for his career in the movies. I have often wondered if these trips to the gym, to watch us box, influenced him in the boxing movies he would make a little later in his career.

While Elvis was watching us train for the North Memphis Golden Gloves Tournament Johnny Burnette, Dorsey Burnette and Paul Burlison (later world renowned “The Rock and Roll Trio”) would be in the Gaston Community Center training for the South Memphis Golden Gloves. Paul had discontinued his boxing career at this time but he would still go to the gym to help Johnny and Dorsey in their Golden Gloves training. All Three were Golden Gloves Champion. In fact all three won the South Memphis, the City of Memphis and the Mid-South Golden Gloves tournaments. Johnny was always so energetic and handsome. We would tease him because when he was hit with a left-jab by and opponent his well groomed hair would go up into the air and come back down in the same place! His hair was never out of place. Dorsey was just a little mean. His left hook would stagger many, many boxers including some leading professional boxers in Shreveport, Louisiana. 

Paul Burlison’s stunning knockout of a leading contender in Memphis made him known as one of the outstanding boxers in Memphis, Tennessee.

Personally, my boxing career would bloom a few years later. In the boxing season a few years after meeting Elvis, Johnny, Dorsey and Paul I would defeat the U. S. Military Boxing Champion in Little Rock, Arkansas; win the Sugar Bowl Boxing Championship in New Orleans, Louisiana; be presented the outstanding boxing trophy after winning the North Memphis, the Memphis City and the Mid-South Golden Gloves championships in Memphis, Tennessee; be presented with the “Outstanding Sportsmanship” trophy in Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois (the same year Cassius Clay won the “Outstanding Boxing” trophy as a light-heavy weight). Later in the year, after winning two fights in National AAU Boxing Tournament in the Boston, Gardens in Boston, Massachusetts I would be forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a cut under my chin which required stitches. 

I boxed in Boston with Tony DeMarco, trained by Peter Fuller, managed by “Rip” Valenti until an accident crushed the elbow in my left arm. This forced me to stop my boxing career.

Living in Memphis, Tennessee in the 1950s and getting to know Elvis Presley, Johnny Burnette, Dorsey Burnette, Paul Burlison, Jerry Lee Lewis (that’s another story) Charlie Rich, Johnny Cash, Lee Denson, Dickey Lee and later working with the legendary Carl Perkins has inspired me to build THE INTERNATIONAL ROCK-A-BILLY HALL OF FAME, INC. in honor of these great musicians and friends. Our hall of fame is built in Jackson, Tennessee which is about an hours drive from Memphis in Carl Perkins hometown of Jackson, Tennessee. In it these great artists become alive again. 

We also have a ROCKABILLY FESTIVAL every year in August, the weekend before Elvis Week in Memphis, to raise money and continue the operation of The Hall of Fame. This year’s festival is August 8th, 9th and 10th, 2003. Live performances will be held in the Carl Perkin’s Civic Center, Jackson, Tennessee. Some information is available on our web page www.rockabillyhall.org

You are invited to join us in honoring these history making artists.

Henry Harrison, President.

THE INTERNATIONAL ROCK-A-BILLY HALL OF FAME, INC.

Business office 
531 Riverside Drive 
Jackson, Tennessee 38301 
Telephone (731) 423-5440

Museum
105 N. Church Street
Jackson, Tennessee

EMAIL concrete@usit.net (I operate the Hall of Fame out of my Concrete Block factory in order to save money) 

2002/12/27 Arjan Deelen / Henry Harrison / Ep.Gold.Com.

ELVIS SUPERBIT DVD'S FROM MALAYSIA.

In Malaysia two new Elvis DVD's were released in Superbit format. The titles are 'King Creole' and 'Aloha From Hawaii' and both discs are picture discs. The DVD's are not packed in the usual long-box version but is in the normal CD size jewel box.

The Superbit DVD's have a better picture and sound by deleting unnecessary data from the disc to create space for better sound and vision. These discs are encoded at a double bit rate in comparrison to the usual DVD's.

2002/12/27 ElvisNews / Ep.Gold.Com.

Hi Everyone,

Happy Holidays to all the Ep.Gold readers.

I am attaching a RARE photo of Elvis Backstage to the Louisiana Hayride

2002/12/27 Bob Klein / Ep.Gold.Com.

MORE CHOCOLATE.

Available now are new collectible tins from Russell Stover containing Elvis Chocolate. 

2002/12/27 ElvisNews / Ep.Gold.Com.

4 REMASTERED CD'S WILL BE RELEASED ON JANUARY 7th, 2003 IN USA.

2002/12/27 Elvis World Japan / Ep.Gold.Com.

E 1 BOOTLEGS RAIDED IN MALAYSIA.

In Malaysia Enforcement Teams are going all out to conduct raids especially in the North of Malaysia, the sea-side Holiday Resort called Penang, which is a heaven for bootlegs. The CD's are mostly snapped up by the foreign tourists.

The authorities are not only after Elvis' CD but all pirated stuffs, but of-course the 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' is the biggest CD at the moment. At least six different bootleg versions of this CD are available.

The Government has been conducting many raids on and off, but the bootleggers mostly are crippled temporarily, after a few months they usually come back. This time, it is the biggest raid, the Police closed some factories and made several arrests.

2002/12/27 ElvisNews / Ep.Gold.Com.

ELVIS 30 # 1 HITS CERTIFIED QUADRUPLE PLATINUM IN AUSTRALIA.

The 'Elvis Lives' special is a promotional vehicle for the album Elvis 30 #1 Hits and should see the recently certified (in Australia) 'Quadruple Platinum' CD (sales now exceed 280,000 units downunder) achieve strong ongoing sales well into the first quarter of 2003. 

2002/12/27 EIN / Ep.Gold.Com.

GOLD IN FRANCE.

The CD 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' is certified Gold in France and close to Platinum. The French fan club Elvis My Happiness received the award last Wenesday in Paris. The award can be seen in The Elvis my Happiness Shop in Paris. 

2002/12/27 My Happiness / ElvisNews / Ep.Gold.Com.

KYLIE OVERTAKES WHITNEY IN ALL - TIME TOP 100 UK.

Pop princess Kylie Minogue has shot past stars such as Whitney Houston and Prince to claim a place as one of the most popular chart stars of all time.
The Aussie star’s string of hits this year– including Come Into My World and In Your Eyes – has seen her make a colossal leap in the list based on weeks spent in the charts.
She moves up from 40th to 25th position in the list compiled by the Guinness British Hit Singles book authors.
The upper reaches of the list barely change each year as they are dominated by classic artists with decades of hits from the days when songs stayed in the charts for months.
But Kylie has clocked up more than 40 weeks in the top 75 this year to push her up the league.
The list is topped as ever by Elvis Presley with 1,185 weeks on the chart. And 25 years after his death, The King furthered his lead with summer hit A Little Less Conversation, giving him an extra 12 weeks.
His nearest rival, Sir Cliff Richard, would have to spend another 30 weeks on the chart to close the gap.
The only change in the entire top 20 in the past year has been Status Quo leapfrogging Stevie Wonder, switching from 14 to 13.

Oasis have been big climbers, rising from 29 to 21 through hits such as The Hindu Times in 2002 and passing the late Lonnie Donegan and crooner Jim Reeves.
Robbie Williams is at 66, up nine places from the previous year.
New Order are the only new entry in the entire Top 100 acts of all time, going in at 98, 21 years after they scored their first hit.
They squeezed Neil Sedaka out of the list.
Compilers of the British Hit Singles music bible assembled the list depending on the number of weeks spent in the chart, taking into account chart positions if there are any ties.

Top 100 artists of all time according to the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles (last year’s position in brackets):

1 (1) Elvis Presley 
2 (2) Cliff Richard 
3 (3) The Shadows 
4 (4) Elton John 
5 (5) Madonna 
6 (6) Diana Ross 
7 (7) Michael Jackson 
8 (8) Rod Stewart 
9 (9) The Beatles 
10 (10) David Bowie 
11 (11) Frank Sinatra 
12 (12) Queen
13 (14) Status Quo
14 (13) Stevie Wonder 
15 (15) Paul McCartney
16 (16) Tom Jones 
17 (17) Rolling Stones
18 (18) Bee Gees 
19 (19) Roy Orbison 
20 (20) Everly Brothers
21 (29) Oasis
22 (21) UB40
23 (22) Shirley Bassey 
24 (23) Perry Como
25 (40) Kylie Minogue
26 (24) Jim Reeves 
27 (25) Lonnie Donegan
28 (26) The Hollies 
29 (27) Four Tops
30 (28) Whitney Houston
31 (30) Pat Boone
32 (31) The Supremes
33 (32) Prince
34 (33) Donna Summer
35 (41) Janet Jackson
36 (34) Hot Chocolate 
37 (35) Frankie Laine
38 (36) Beach Boys
39 (37) Billy Fury
40 (38) Slade
41 (39) Shakin’ Stevens
42 (42) Madness
43 (48) George Michael
44 (44) U2
45 (46) Mariah Carey
46 (43) Electric Light Orchestra
47 (45) Abba
48 (47) Adam Faith
49 (62) Celine Dion
50 (49) Nat ’King’ Cole
51 (50) Petula Clark
52 (51) The Who
53 (52) Connie Francis
54 (56) Bryan Adams
55 (53) Depeche Mode
56 (54) Engelbert Humperdinck
57 (59) Andy Williams
58 (55) T. Rex
59 (64) Pet Shop Boys
60 (57) The Jacksons
61 (58) Olivia Newton-John
62 (60) Ken Dodd
63 (61) Frankie Vaughan 
64 (63) Phil Collins 
65 (65) Cher
66 (75) Robbie Williams
67 (66) Tina Turner
68 (67) Fleetwood Mac 
69 (68) Duran Duran 
70 (69) The Tremeloes
71 (72) Bon Jovi
72 (70) Manfred Mann
73 (94) Steps
74 (71) The Kinks
75 (73) Simply Red
76 (74) Boyzone 
77 (76) Gene Pitney 
78 (77) Dusty Springfield
79 (78) Herman’s Hermits
80 (79) Brenda Lee 
81 (80) Wet Wet Wet 
82 (81) Showaddywaddy 
83 (82) Eurythmics 
84 (83) Kool and the Gang 
85 (84) The Jam 
86 (85) Erasure 
87 (86) Temptations 
88 (87) Marvin Gaye 
89 (88) Bananarama 
90 (89) Duane Eddy and the Rebels 
91 (90) Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 
92 (91) David Essex 
93 (92) Bill Haley and his Comets 
94 (93) John Lennon 
95 (95) Cilla Black 
96 (96) Kim Wilde 
97 (97) Stranglers
98 ( – ) New Order
99 (98) David Whitfield 
100 (99) Buddy Holly 

2002/12/27 Anthony Barnes - PA News / Ep.Gold.Com.

WHO KILLED THE KING?

So wich planet ( or planets ) was responsible for poor Elvis' demise?
Could it have been Jupiter? Or the dark and frightening Pluto?
There are questions that Astrology can answer
Read the inside story about Elvis & Astrology.

Go to the Menu Reviews or


2002/12/24 Robyn Taylor / Ep.Gold.Com.

DUTCH END OF THE YEAR CHART.

In the Dutch 2002 year overview Elvis did very well. The single 'A Little less Conversation' is #8 on the Top 100 Most polular Records, # 7 On the Top 100 Best Selling Singles 

2002/12/24 ElvisNews / Ep.Gold.Com.

E 1 CHARTS.

In the U.K. the CD 'ELV1S 30 #1 Hits' moves back up to #10 from #11 in the album chart. It dropped to #6 from #5 in Australia, but moved up to #8 from #15 in Denmark. E1 climbed one spot up to #3 from #4 in Finland and is #16 in France.

The album is a complete sell out in Malaysia, still #1 on the Official Best Seller Charts. New stocks from BMG will only come in after Christmas on December 27th, these will not have the special cover fold-out posters anymore. Meanwhile, bootleg copies are flooding the markets. There are 6 different versions with different covers, picture discs, different coloured labels etc.

2002/12/24 Various / ElvisNews / Ep.Gold.

BILLBOARD ROUND UP.

The annual tally comes as the recording industry steps up efforts to combat online piracy and retail counterfeiting, both of which continue to erode sales. 

In all, the RIAA certified 134 multiplatinum releases, 121 platinum records and 257 gold releases (500,000 in sales). Two hits complications each sold more than 3 million units; the Rolling Stones' "Forty Licks" and Elvis Presley's "Elvis: 30 #1 Hits." And Presley's catalog moved another 11.5 million units for the year. 

2002/12/24 ElvisNews / Ep.Gold.Com.

PICTURE OF THE WEEK.

Now we have a private picture of Elvis & Priscilla, a night out.
Go to the menu "Pic of the Week" or


2002/12/24 EP.Gold.com

E1 IN FINLAND.

Elvis 30 # 1 Hits climbed up one spot on the official Finnish album chart and is now at # 3.

2002/12/24 Kari Paju - Finland / Ep.Gold.Com.

ELVIS COMES BACK, AND SWEDES ROCKS.
Best singles of 2002 run the gamut

By G. Brown
Denver Post Popular Music Writer

Here are one man's picks of the top 20 singles of the year: 

1. "A Little Less Conversation" by Elvis Presley vs. JXL - The first-ever Elvis remix sets a standard that follow-up projects may struggle to meet. JXL's inspired blend of techno sounds in no way detracts from the King's style. Now Elvis the maverick musician, not the caricature or B-movie actor, is newly appreciated 25 years after his death, and a whole new generation can experience him at the top of the charts. How cool is that?

2. "Hate to Say I Told You So" by the Hives - The Strokes are Spin magazine's choice for Band of the Year? That's so 2001. There should have been more space for Sweden's sharp-suited Fab Five and this irresistible assault of frenzied, thrashy garage-pop.

3. "Do You Realize?" by the Flaming Lips - The freak rockers' most conventional-sounding song, in which Wayne Coyne comes to grips with his mortality and need for love: "Do you realize that happiness makes you cry/Do you realize that everyone you know will someday die?"

4. "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World - You can call it "emo," the abbreviated label for "emotional music" that music industry insiders banked on becoming the sound of 2002. But it's not a new sound - not with those '80s power-pop guitars and synth meltdowns.

5. "Don't Let Me Get Me" by Pink - "Get This Party Started" successfully freed Pink from the shackles of being an R&B-pop diva, but this song was refreshingly honest, the kind of self-hate anthem any nu-metal band would be proud of ("Tired of being compared/To damn Britney Spears/She's so pretty/That just ain't me"). Now she's the poster girl for teen-pop fans who have been grounded.

6. "I Had a Good Time" by Boston - Sure, the band's '70s formula might seem a mite musty, but this is classic rock with restraint. And just as it's fading out, a sultry female voice pipes up - "Wanna do it again?" - and Tom Scholz's guitar kicks in for the outro.

7. "I Can't Help You Now" by Bonnie Raitt - A slow-burning nugget, Al Green-style, by the songwriting team responsible for Eric Clapton's No. 1 hit "Change the World." Hers is the better tune, so why was Clapton's more successful? He went for slick radio-ready production; she stayed true to an ambient band sound.

8. "Hands Clean" by Alanis Morissette - A complex confessional dialogue that's insanely catchy to boot. Keep rehashing those old relationships, babe.

9. "Let Me Down Easy" by Chris Isaak - What makes this tender tune is his rich, moody vocal that takes off in the falsetto chorus.

10. "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton - It happens sometimes - a song that has kids wanting to take piano lessons.

11. "When You're on Top" by the Wallflowers - It's hard not to read this breezy single as a take on the band's meteoric rise and descent on the charts - Jakob Dylan taps into his father's croak, deploring that he "didn't know the sky was so shallow" and longing to "start back at the beginning."

12. "Starry Eyed Surprise" by Oakenfold featuring Shifty Shellshock - More than two decades after Paul Oakenfold's DJ days began, the changeful Londoner tries his hand at original material.

13. "Wasted & Ready" by Ben Kweller - In which the 20-year-

old wunderkind popster borrows Weezer's overamped guitar crunch.

14. "Can't Stop Loving You" by Phil Collins - In the once-a-hit-always-a-threat category, this sweet, simple remake of an old Leo Sayer song scores big. If you can't find it on the radio, you'll hear it in the dentist's office.

15. "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!" by Shania Twain - Her latest entry in the exclamatory-rock genre. A countrified ABBA homage, better than "Mamma Mia!"

16. "One Little Victory" by Rush - After a five-year hiatus, following the startling deaths of drummer Neil Peart's daughter and wife within the same year, he kicks off the "Vapor Trails" album with his extraordinarily precise playing - a clean, crisp double-pedal bass intro, hitting open high-hats on the beat, slamming the snare.... He's back!

17. "Lonesome Day" by Bruce Springsteen - The opening anthem on "The Rising," which tries to pick up the pieces of a post-Sept. 11 world.

18. "We Are All Made of Stars" by Moby - A celestial, catchy piece, laden with synth-pop and new wave guitar - reminiscent of David Bowie's "Heroes" period.

19. "Don't Stop" by the Rolling Stones - The kind of single the Stones can still crank out at will, putting the handclap back into rock.

20. "Soak Up the Sun" by Sheryl Crow - A summer-weight song, ready to be put into mothballs.

G. Brown's Rock Talk column appears Sundays in Arts & Entertainment.


2002/12/24 G.Brown - Denver Post / Ep.Gold.Com.

PLAQUE PRESENTATION TO ELVIS PRESLEY ENTERPRISES ON JANUARY 8th, 2003.

Joe DiMuro, Executive Vice President of BMG Strategic Marketing Group will be presenting : Elvis 30 # 1 Hits Album certifications from the United States as well as plaques from around the world.

2002/12/23 Joe DiMuro BMG US / Ep.Gold.Com.

DUTCH ELVIS RADIO SPECIAL.

Rogier van Luyken From It’s Elvis Time, BMG and Mojo along with the fanclubs Elvis For Everyone, Almost In Elvis, Always Elvis and Elvis Today Tomorrow And Forever will attend an Elvis Radio Special with unique recordings of Presley.

A cultural anthropologist will ask the guests about Elvis and everything around this legend. There is no need to say they will speak about the fact that in January it will be 30 years ago that 2,5 million people watched the Aloha From Hawaii Special. 

The Radio special is part of a whole Elvis weekend.

Elvis Weekend:
Saturday, January 11th 2003, 7 AM – 10 PM
every hour an A-side and flipside from an Elvis single.
First part Elvis Special: 7 PM – 10 PM with Rogier Van Luyken, Remo Schorel 

Sunday, January 12th 2003, 9 AM – 6 PM
every hour an A-side and flipside from an Elvis single.
Second Part Special: 1 PM – 3 PM
With It’s Elvis Time, Elvis For Everyone, Almost In Elvis, Always Elvis and Elvis Today Tomorrow And Forever and a cultural anthropologist

This all under supervision of DJ Fred van Veen

Radio station: Rick FM 
106.3 FM -104.5 Cable Uithoorn and wide surroundings 
The Netherlands

2002/12/23 Today Tomorrow And Forever / Ep.Gold.Com.

ROCK AROUND THE RATINGS.

In last week's U.S. TV battle of the bands, Faith Hill outperformed rock legends Elvis Presley and Paul McCartney as well as her hubby Tim McGraw. 

Hill's CBS music special ranked 31st for the week with 11.3 million viewers, followed by Elvis (#36, 10.7 million), McGraw (#40, 10.01) and McCartney (#60 with 8.13 million viewers). Sir Paul did better in Canada, snaring 819,000 fans a week ago Wednesday on CBC.

2002/12/23 Bill Brioux / Ep.Gold.Com.