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WE WISH YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR
2004/12/31/ Andylon / Erik / Robin
UK #1 Hits Box Preview.
A preview of the CD-single
version of the 18 UK #1 Hits box set.
The Dutch edition comes with a collectable spin featuring the logo of
this
special series.
Each single comes with the original US cover art as a slipcase
and the UK
cover around the single.
The CD itself is presented as a vinyl single, including the vinyl
grooves.
The bar-code are made as a sticker to be removed.
2004/12/31 http://www.click2music.nl/elvis
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
TODAYS UK 'SUN' NEWSPAPER.
Today's 'Sun' Newspaper is well worth
buying. In addition to an article
about Elvis topping a poll for 'Best Hairstyle of All-Time', it
features an
Elvis Special with a whole page devoted to reviewing each single from
the
new Singles Box Set. This section has that great side-on face picture
of
Elvis in black leather from the 68 TV Special. There is also a
competition
where you can win a copy of the Set in addition to a trip to Graceland.
2004/12/31 Brian Quinn / Ep.Gold.Com.
Billboard Chart Updates.
U.S. Billboard Elvis Chart listings for
the week ending January 8, 2005:
Comprehensive Albums - Elvis 30 #1's down 12 to #192
Top Pop Catalog Albums - Elvis 30 #1's up 7 to #26
Top Country Albums - Ultimate Gospel down 6 to #58
Top Country Catalog Albums - Elvis 30 #1's up 1 to #5
Top Christian Albums - Ultimate Gospel down 1 to #28
Top Holiday Albums - It's Christmas Time down 5 to #28
Hot 100 Singles Sales - That's All Right up 9 to #38 (sg)
Hot 100 Singles Recurrent - Blue Christmas up 4 to #19
Adult Contemp. Recurrent - Blue Christmas up 4 to #13
Hot 100 Recurrent Airplay - Blue Christmas up 4 to #19
Hot Dance Singles Sales - Rubberneckin' up 5 to #20
Dropping off the charts this week are:
Comprehensive Albums - It's Christmas Time was (#168 last week)
Top Country Catalog Albums - Christmas Peace (was #23 last week)
Top Pop Catalog Albums - It's Christmas Time (was #25 last week)
(sg - sales gainer, gg - greatest sales gainer, ne - new entry, re -
re-entry)
2004/12/31 www.elvischarts.com
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
Elvis On BBC.
Starts 2030 - 2130 Tuesday 4 January
The programmes will be available to hear again for seven days after
transmission via the BBC Radio Player.
As anyone with more than a passing interest in popular music may know,
January 8th marks what would have been the 70th birthday of the 'King
of
Rock 'n' Roll' - Elvis Presley. Radio 2 commemorates the occasion with
a
revised two-part series simply titled 'Elvis'.
Programme one:
For the first programme in this series, Paul Gambaccini presents a
personal
essay of life in 50's America. He was five years old and living in the
Bronx
when Elvis Presley released his first single in 1954.
Whilst many black artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Nat 'King' Cole
were
regular broadcasters, the thought of young Rhythm & Blues artists
presenting
their music to conservative American TV audiences was another matter.
When
Elvis exploded onto TV screens he bridged the gap between black and
white,
and helped break down all sorts of barriers.
Programme two:
In the second programme, Paul Sexton looks at the marketing and
exploitation
of the Elvis name and image, and the apparent never-ending source of
new and
alternative recordings that have continued to appear since his death,
and
asks if Elvis is worth more dead than alive?
More Details : http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/documentaries/elvis.shtml
2004/12/31 http://www.bbc.co.uk
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
Jennifer Holden Recovering Update.
Jennifer Holden's recovery doesn't go
as well as she and the doctor had
hoped it would.
The visit that Jennifer had promised to the Belgian Elvis Matters
"somewhere
in January" has been postponed again, on doctor's advice.
2004/12/30 http://www.elvismatters.be
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
No TCB Game.
The toy manufacturer that announced a
TCB board game, earlier this year, now
stated that the producer had withdrawn his money, making this project
chance-less.
James Burton, John Wilkinson, Sonny West and Kathy Westmoreland were
supposed to lend their picture and voice to this special game.
2004/12/30 http://www.elvismatters.be
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
Did Jesse Garon die at birth...book
update.
On 12 November we added news of a new
book, Elvis Presley's Twin, Jesse
Garon..The Records Show He Died...But Did He? by Stan Knight. At that
time,
"hazy" pr for the book led a number of sites to assume the
release was a
non-fiction story and the latest in a series of Elvis "conspiracy"
tales.
Now that the book has been released it is evident it is in fact a
NOVEL
being marketed with a clever "what if" tagline.
2004/12/30 http://www.elvisinfonet.com
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
ELVIS TOPS HAIRSTYLE POLL.
IT'S the King of the cuts... Elvis
Presley's quiff and legendary sideburns
have been voted the most iconic male hairstyle of all time.
Presley shocked polite society in the early 50s but came to symbolise
the
rebelliousness of rock and roll.
Elvis eventually had his locks shorn off when he was drafted into the
US
Army in 1958 - making front page news around the world.
Trendy David Beckham was runner-up in the poll of 1,500 men by Argos,
commissioned to support its mens' grooming range.
Beckham sparks a nationwide rush to the hairdressers every time he
changes
his look.
In the last few years the soccer star has sported shoulder-length hair,
a
Mohican and Rio Ferdinand-style "cornrows" but is probably
most famed for
his £300 skinhead.
Headache
Third in the influential locks list was reggae legend Bob Marley's
magnificent dreadlocks. Marley's hair, flailing in his wake while
singing in
concert, is one of the classic pop images of the 20th century.
A spokesman for Argos said: "For most men, doing their hair is a
real
headache - they can't be seen to spend longer on it than the girls.
"To come up with a unique and pioneering look is extremely
difficult - it is
a very fine line between a look that's iconic and one that's inane.
"Over the last few years, we've seen a sharp rise in the number
of grooming
products designed specifically for men."
Other famous hairstyles which were included in the top 20 slick list
were
those of the original 1950s cinema rebel James Dean, along with singer
Michael Jackson's Afro and Brit luvvie Hugh Grant's foppish mop.
This is the hair style top 10:
1. Elvis Presley, 2. David Beckham, 3. Bob Marley, 4. The Beatles, 5.
Hugh
Grant, 6. George Michael, 7. David Ginola, 8. James Dean, 9. Boy
George, 10.
Prince William.
2004/12/30 Brian Quinn / Ep.Gold.Com.
Elvis water is hot on market.
Weird just got weirder!
The Belmont man who on eBay sold water from a cup that Elvis drank
from in
1977 for $455 Saturday is now auctioning a one-day appearance of the
cup on
what would be Elvis' 70th birthday.
Wade Jones said he got so many requests to sell the Styrofoam cup
during the
water auction that he saw an opportunity.
"Only about five people have seen the cup so it will be a big
event if it
came out," Jones said. Elvis would have turned 70 on Jan. 8, and
Jones
figured people would hold events marking the date.
Jones is asking for a minimum bid of $300 plus two roundtrip airline
tickets
to the destination, local transportation and hotel lodging, security
for the
cup and an adequate display area that includes a locked display case.
The
auction lasts through 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
The person who bought the water also inquired about the cup, he said.
"They
asked me what would I take for it," he said. "Everything has
a price." So
far, the one-day cup appearance has not garnered any bids. "I
figured hey,
someone might have a restaurant or big event," Jones said, adding
that he
wouldn't mind a weekend out of town answering questions about the cup.
"If the Virgin Mary grilled cheese was going to be at Carolina
Place Mall
wouldn't you go see it?" he asked. "This one is the long
shot." Jones'
reference to the Virgin Mary goes back to the auction of a cheese
sandwich
that a seller said looked like the biblical mother of Jesus.
2004/12/30 The Free Press - Dana Haydock Freedom ENC Freedom
Staff Writer / Ep.Gold.Com.
Bilko's Gold Cuts Out Now.
The Bilko release "Bilko's Gold
Cuts" is out now. It is a compilation of the
best outtakes that has been released by Bilko through over the years,
and it
includes 3 unreleased tracks. The songs that has been released before
are
now in a better quality, especially the songs that has been released
on the
CD "Hang Loose" sounds much better on this one. The booklet
contains 12
pages loaded with rare pictures.
2004/12/30 E-Mail / Ep.Gold.Com.
The Elvis International Shop Is Open
At Saturday New Years Day.
The Elvis International Shop in the
Netherlands is open on Saturday January
1st and Sunday January 2nd 2005 - 1300. PM - 1800 PM.
The Elvis International Shop" Netherlands.
Sionstraat 12
1947 J.T. Beverwijk
The Netherlands.
For more Information you are able to call :
TUESDAY TILL SUNDAY 1300. PM - 1800 PM.
06 47 87 25 78
Other Countrys Dial : 00 - 31 - 6 47 87 25 78.
2004/12/30 Ep.Gold.Com.
"Born To Rock"
http://www.behind-the-image.de/htm-data/news/englisch/index.htm
Born To Rock - The Content.
2004/12/30 http://www.behind-the-image.de
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
Tickets Now Also For Sale At The
International Elvis-Shop The Netherlands.
The Elvis International Shop"
Netherlands.
Sionstraat 12
1947 J.T. Beverwijk
The Netherlands.
For more Information you are able to call :
TUESDAY TILL SUNDAY 1300. PM - 1800 PM.
06 47 87 25 78
Other Countrys Dial : 00 - 31 - 6 47 87 25 78.
2004/12/30 The Elvis International Shop /
Ep.Gold.Com.
Elvis on Worst Rock-Star Actors
List.
Blender Magazine has compilied a list
of the worst rock star actors of all
time. Of those "not making the grade", at #5 is Elvis.
Number four is Jon
Bon Jovi; #3 is "Glitter" star Mariah Carey; Bob Dylan
ranked at #2 and at
#1 the magazine lists Madonna: "She's always cast as the femme
fatale yet
cannot 'do' sexy". Britney Spears just missed the top five,
coming in at #6.
2004/12/30 Associated Press / Ep.Gold.Com.
An Exclusive Ep. Gold
Interview With Larry Geller.
Especially for the Ep.Gold. readers
there will be soon an exclusive
interview with Larry Geller for the readers, conducted by Andylon
Lensen.
Please write your questions on the Ep.Gold.messageboard.
2004/12/30 Andylon Lensen / Ep.Gold.Com.
AMC's 24-Hour Elvis Movie
Marathon.
Amercian Movie Classics will have a
24-hour Elvis movie marathon in
recognition of Elvis's birthday on January 8, 2005. Check your local
listings and the AMC site: http://www.amctv.com/section?CID=0-EST
for titles
and times.
In between films will be some special short segments AMC recently shot
at
Graceland and around Memphis.
2004/12/30 EPE / Ep.Gold.Com.
Bilko's Gold Cuts Out Now.
The Bilko release "Bilko's Gold
Cuts" is out now. It is a compilation of the
best outtakes that has been released by Bilko through over the years,
and it
includes 3 unreleased tracks. The songs that has been released before
are
now in a better quality, especially the songs that has been released
on the
CD "Hang Loose" sounds much better on this one. The booklet
contains 12
pages loaded with rare pictures.
2004/12/30 E-Mail / Ep.Gold.Com.
Elvis, One for the Money.
The King of Rock Sold His Soul for a
Song.
It's been two weeks since Elvis Presley was acquired in a cash and
stock
deal valued at $100 million, and still hardly anyone seems to have
noticed,
let alone gotten worked up about it. There were the obligatory
mentions in
the business pages. There were groans in the visitor forums of some
Elvis
Web sites -- "the seven deadly sins come to mind," sniped
one fan. But not
much more.
Sort of surprising, isn't it? We're talking about ownership of the
preeminent icon of American pop culture, and like any icon, this one
is in
some important way our creation. A businessman named Robert Sillerman,
who
made a fortune buying and selling radio stations and concert venues,
now
owns the King and he's going to sell him -- or his likeness, anyway --
in
markets he calls "under-Elvised." That means cities like Las
Vegas and
countries like Japan where, he said in interviews, images of Presley
are
surprisingly hard to find.
Photo: Elvis Presley's manager, Col. Tom Parker, heavily influenced
his
decisions, including the notoriously cheap sale of royalty rights to
his
back catalogue. (AP)
Sillerman has gobs to invest in all sorts of ventures, and he could
slap
Elvis on mugs, T-shirts and souvenir mini-bowling balls from here to
Okinawa. Lots of Presley partisans will salute this international
product
rollout, and anything else that raises the profile of their hero. But
that
alone won't explain the silence that greeted the size of the King's
ransom.
No, to understand that you need to know this: Elvis is the greatest
sellout
in American history.
Not just in the history of rock-and-roll, mind you. He's the greatest
sellout, period. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who sold out
more,
sold out earlier, sold out with greater regularity. Elvis started
selling
out almost as soon as he caught on and he didn't stop until -- well,
he
never stopped actually. Which is why the Sillerman purchase never
raised
anyone's dander. It makes perfect sense in the context of Elvis's
entire
life.
Actually, it makes perfect sense in the context of American history.
We've
always been a little ambivalent about selling out; we do it more often
and
more grandly than any nation on Earth. The first recorded use of the
phrase,
according to the Oxford English Dictionary, referred to "the
proposed
sell-out of the State of North Dakota to the infamous Louisiana
Lottery
Company." We can only imagine what that must have been about. The
year was
1890.
The classic sellout, of course, involves trading your ideals for money,
which Presley did. He was a celestial, once-in-a-century talent.
Nonetheless, he ended up squandering his gifts singing cheesy bossa
novas,
acting in lousy movies and taking the easy money. While Presley was
occasionally disgusted by the dreck he was asked to sing in the
studio, and
while he resented hack scripts like "Harum Scarum," perhaps
the worst of his
many movies, he was never bothered enough to make a fuss, at least not
a
fuss that would improve his material.
If your only goal is to sell, quality be damned, you have lots to sell
and
nothing to sell out. That's an ethos with legs, as it happens. If you
want
to understand Snoop Dogg or 50 Cent or any number of rap stars, you
need to
understand Elvis. Those guys owe the man.
Before we get to why, let's be clear that Elvis can't be entirely
blamed --
or credited, if you prefer -- with his innumerable sellouts. Elvis was
needled and psychologically badgered into nearly every deal that
shaped his
professional life by his manager, Col. Tom Parker. A former carny
whose
quick-money philosophy shadowed every dotted line that Elvis signed,
Parker
was notorious for two-bit schemes. He once charged admission to see a
horse,
billed as the world's smallest, that was actually just a pony, buried
up to
his knees.
But leave that aside. At the time that Elvis started selling out --
arguably
when he all but gave up on rock in the early '60s -- the idea of a
rock star
selling out didn't exist. Rock then was just a type of music that was
huge
with the kids. The expectation was that something else would replace
it,
soon. Only later, when it was clear that rock wasn't going away --
when it
took on the spiritual significance of a religion -- was the idea of
"selling
out" your rock-and-roll roots even possible.
By the mid-'60s, Elvis was basically a spectator at the revolution in
pop.
He spent most of his studio time on easy-listening soundtrack albums
for a
series of increasingly crummy films. He just couldn't turn down a big
check,
even if some of those decisions were stupendously ill-advised. In
1973, when
they both were in need of a cash infusion, Elvis and Col. Parker sold
to RCA
the artist's royalty rights to all of Presley's back catalogue, for a
measly
$5 million. But for that notorious deal, the price tag on Elvis
Presley
Enterprises, which is the entity that Sillerman recently bought 85
percent
of, would have been many times larger.
"Elvis died when he went into the Army," John Lennon said
when Presley
actually expired in 1977. It's a sentiment you'll hear from more than
a few
of his early and ardent fans. But the critics have always been
outnumbered
by the admirers. They don't fret much about how Presley is
merchandised.
It's one of the things that Elvis had in common with his audience.
"A handful of people wrote e-mails saying the sky is falling when
the
[Sillerman] deal was announced," Jack Soden, the CEO of Elvis
Presley
Enterprises, said Tuesday. "But a significant majority understand
that this
is a good thing. That this will allow the legacy of Elvis to grow and
prosper."
Presley was rock music's first franchise and today he's as close to a
one-man Wal-Mart as any artist will ever get. This is his legacy to
today's
performers.
Take Snoop Dogg. Right now, according to Rolling Stone magazine, the
Dogg is
getting paid by T-Mobile (for an ad) and Vital Toys (for an action
figure),
and XM Satellite Radio (for a monthly show), and Pony Sneakers (for
the
Doggy Biscuitz shoe line), by the makers of VSOP Passion Blend, a
booze, and
by the naughty lads behind "Girls Gone Wild" videos, who
license his name
for a "Doggy Style" line of tapes.
You hear anyone calling Snoop a sellout? Nah. He and every other
platinum
rapper are the true heirs to Elvis's brand-it-now, sell-it-soon
approach.
Songs beget films, films beget endorsements and endorsements beget
more
songs. It's the great shameless cycle of American commerce, and proof,
if
any were needed, that the King is gone but he's not forgotten.
2004/12/30 David Segal - Washington Post Staff
Writer / Ep.Gold.Com.
Elvis Rock-Star Actors
List.
Blender Magazine compilied a list of
the worst rock star actors of all time
rounding out the top five is Elvis Presley. Number four is Jon Bon
Jovi.
Number three is "Glitter" star Mariah Carey. Bob Dylan is at
number two and
at number one the magazine lists Madonna, she's always cast as the
femme
Fatale "Yet cannot 'do' sexy. 'Britney Spears just missed the top
five,
checking in at sixth.
2004/12/29 Google / Ep.Gold.Com.
New Release 10" vinyl Rising
Star.
The releasedate for Elvis Unlimited
Sweden's 10" vinyl Rising Star is now
set to 17th of januari 2005. There will be only 500 copies made.
2004/12/29 http://www.elvisunlimited.se
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
Jailhouse Rock Added To National
Film Registry.
The movie "Jailhouse Rock"
was selected among 25 films by the National Film
Registry of the Library of Congress to be preserved for all time.
"Jailhouse
Rock" which showcased Elvis Presley in ultimate rebel mode, the
edginess in
this 1957 film was toned down in later Presley pictures.
The 25 films selected this year to join the Library of Congress'
National
Film Registry, and the year in which they premiered:
"Ben Hur" (1959)
"The Blue Bird" (1918)
"A Bronx Morning" (1931)
"Clash of the Wolves" (1925)
"The Court Jester" (1956)
"D.O.A" (1950)
"Daughters of the Dead" (1991)
"Duck and Cover" (1951)
"Empire" (1964)
"Enter the Dragon" (1973)
"Eraserhead" (1978)
"Garlic Is As Good As Ten Mothers" (1980)
"Going My Way" (1944)
"Jailhouse Rock" (1957)
"Kannapolis, NC" (1941)
"Lady Helen's Escapade" (1909)
"The Nutty Professor" (1963)
"OffOn" (1968)
"Popeye the Sailor Meets Sinbad the Sailor" (1936)
"Pups is Pups (Our Gang)" (1930)
"Schindler's List" (1993)
"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (1954)
"Swing Time" (1936)
"There It Is" (1928)
"Unforgiven" (1992)
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington made the selections after
evaluating nearly 1,000 titles nominated by the public and consulting
staff
and advisers, the library said. "The films we choose are not
necessarily the
'best' American films ever made or the most famous," Billington
said in a
statement. Rather, they are chosen because they have "cultural,
historical
or aesthetic significance." A film's selection recognizes its
place in
American film and cultural history, he said. "The registry stands
among the
finest summations of American cinema's wondrous first century."
The registry was established by Congress in the 1988 National Film
Preservation Act, and each year, 25 movies are added. The Library of
Congress works to ensure that each film in the registry is preserved
for all
time.
2004/12/29 Google / Ep.Gold.Com.
Elvis Rules In British Hit
Singles And Albums List.
The Guinness British Hit Singles and
Albums book ranks artists every year
according to how many weeks they have spent in the UK singles and
albums
charts. Elvis Presley still tops the list having notched up 2463 weeks
in
the UK singles and albums charts - more than the time he was alive for.
This year, US band the Red Hot Chili Peppers are the only new entry -
making
it to number 97. Those who have a chance of getting in next year
include
Britney Spears, Eminem, Westlife, Radiohead and Iron Maiden, according
to
the list's compilers. Spandau Ballet has fallen out of the top 100,
while
Michael Jackson is the highest climber as he is now number eight. The
acts
which have climbed the list include The Stereophonics to 84, The Corrs
to
89; Guns n' Roses to 74; and Robbie Williams to 43. George Michael has
risen
to 56; R.E.M to 32; Cher to 68 and Simply Red to 26. Those to fall
down the
list include Electric Light Orchestra to 54; Bruce Springsteen to 47;
Blur
to 91; and Mike Oldfield to 48.
British Hit Singles & Albums editor David Roberts said: "It's
very rare to
get new acts breaking into the Top 100, so this really is an
incredible
achievement".
Rank Artist Weeks Total
1 Elvis Presley 2463
2 Cliff Richard 1972
3 Beatles 1742
4 Queen 1725
5 Madonna 1653
6 Elton John 1615
7 The Shadows 1578
8 Michael Jackson 1477
9 David Bowie 1459
10 U2 1402
2004/12/29 Google / Ep.Gold.Com.
GILMOUR IN ROCK'N'ROLL TRIBUTE
CONCERT AT ABBEY ROAD - UPDATE.
Photo:Abbey Road Studios, London.
Last week (with an update a couple of days ago), we reported that Pink
Floyd's David Gilmour took part in a special concert held at London's
legendary Abbey Road Studios, to record a a celebration of 50 years of
rock'n'roll.
With thanks to the executive producer of the whole production, Pierre
Sarazin, we now have more detail on this one-off performance, that
will be
seeing the light of day during 2005.
Pierre told us "We shot 15 days ago (2 & 3 December 2004) in
High Definition
in the legendary studio 1 at Abbey Road Studios a TV special around
Scotty
Moore, called "The Guitar That Rocked The World". Scotty
Moore was the first
manager of Elvis (even before the recording at Sun of "That's
Alright Mama"
in 1954) and was his guitarist from the early days until 1970 when
Elvis
left to Las Vegas.
"With his guitar slicks on "That's Alright Mama" and
"Heartbreak Hotel"
Scotty Moore is widely considered as the inventor of the sound of
rock'n'roll.
"After the mythical "68 Comeback Special" on NBC (now
released on DVD with a
huge success in the US and around the world) Elvis was due to tour
with
Scotty in Europe. One knows today why Colonel Parker prevented this
project.
"Scotty Moore has therefore realized, for the 70th anniversary of
the birth
of Elvis, in front of our cameras the dream of the King.
"During this recording session 27 titles among the biggest hits
of Elvis
were revisited. The best guitar players have participated to this
project
with Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Bill Wyman, Ron Wood,
Martin Taylor, Albert Lee...
"On this occasion Scotty Moore, Jerry Schilling (very close
friend of Elvis
from 1954 to 1977, manager of Graceland, member of the board of Elvis
Enterprises...) gave long interviews (one and a half hours altogether).
All
the invited stars also replied to our questions (two hours altogether).
"The exclusive photos of this event were taken by Jean-Marie Périer.
His
last visit to Abbey Road was in 1966 when he was the official
photographer
of The Beatles for the Sergeant Pepper's sessions!
"The sound was recorded by Patrice Cramer in 48 tracks in the
legendary
control room of Abbey Road Studios. The TV special in HD (high
definition),
which lasts 90 minutes, mixes these exclusive interviews together with
the
songs of the King performed by the best English musicians. In the
programme
David Gilmour performs "Don't".
"The team that realized this programme is composed of:
Director: Massimo Manganaro
Light director and designer: Jean-Pierre Joubert
Sound: Patrice Cramer
Exec Producer: Pierre Sarazin
API Productions / MH4 GmbH / All Stars Inc production.
The DVD rights for the world are held by TF1 video, and the DVD and CD
will
be released during the second quarter of 2005."
Our thanks to Pierre for this information, and description of the
event.
We're currently awaiting more information on the broadcast and
releases next
year. As and when we have more for you, we'll let you know.
2004/12/29 http://www.brain-damage.co.uk
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
Legendary Guitarist Hank Garland
Dies.
Legendary country, rock and jazz
guitarist Hank Garland, who performed with
Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline, Charlie
Parker
and many others, has died at the age of 74.
Garland died of a staph infection Monday at Orange Park Medical
Center, said
his brother, Billy Garland.
In the 1950s and '60s, Walter "Hank" Garland was the talk of
Nashville,
known for musical riffs that could take a recording from humdrum to
dazzling, as he did on Elvis hits like "Little Sister" and
"A Big Hunk of
Love." He had his first million-selling hit at 19 with "Sugar
Foot Rag," a
famous country tune. "He is heralded as a quintessential
Nashville studio
guitarist," musician Wolf Marshall said in an e-mail interview
earlier this
year.
In addition to performing with Elvis and other stars in Nashville,
Garland
was at the forefront of the rock 'n' roll movement, enjoyed a
prestigious
career as a country virtuoso, pioneered the electric guitar at the
Grand Ole
Opry and inspired jazz instrumentalists such as George Benson. He
jammed in
New York City with George Shearing and jazz great Charlie Parker.
His detailed session logbook reads like a "Who's Who" of the
stars of
country music, including Brenda Lee, Mel Tillis, Marty Robbins, Boots
Randolph, Conway Twitty, Hank Williams Sr. Garland worked with Elvis
from
1957 to 1961, and was playing on the soundtrack for his movie "Follow
That
Dream" in 1961 when a car crash put him in a coma for months.
The crash injuries and a series of 100 shock treatments administered
at a
Nashville hospital left him a shadow of his former self. He had to
relearn
everything from walking and talking to playing the guitar.
Billy Garland claims the crash was no accident, that it was an
attempted
killing by someone in the Nashville record scene.
Garland spent the final years of his life fighting ill health, trying
to pry
royalties out of record companies and talking with Hollywood about a
movie
based on his life.
Garland started playing guitar at age 6 and appeared on radio shows at
age
12. He was discovered at the age of 14 at a South Carolina music store
where
he had gone to buy a guitar string. He soon would set Nashville on
fire.
"He was born with talent," said Billy Garland. "A
God-given talent."
2004/12/28 Ron Wood - Associated Press /
Ep.Gold.Com.
American Sound Studio band
On January 8, the legendary American
Sound Studio band will be back in
Memphis.They will be performing at the New Daisy Theater. The show
will
be presented by Elvis Unlimited, The Official Fan Club Of Denmark.
Elvis Unlimited, well known in Scandinavia for numerous Elvis themed
shows, will be presenting this concert in Elvis' hometown Memphis
for the very first time.
The show will commemorate Elvis
Presley's 70th Birthday.
The men behind the '69 Sound - the American Sound Studio Band:
Bobby Wood (Piano)
Bobby Emmons (Organ)
Mike Leech (Bass)
Reggie Young (Guitar)
Gene Chrisman (Drums)
The American Sound Studio band is also known as The 827 Thomas
Street band (The address where the American Sound Studio used to be
located). This is the only studio band in the US that has ever had
number 1 hits
on all the charts (Easy Listening, Rock, Soul, Country, Pop and even
Jazz). From 1967 to 1971, they played on no less than 120 hit albums.
23 of those went to number 1 on Billboard.
Besides playing with Elvis, the band has also recorded with many other
big American artists. Among their biggest hits are, BJ Thomas's Hooked
On A Feelin', Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline, The Boxtops' The Letter,
Dusty Springfield's album, Dusty In Memphis (including the hit single
Son
Of A Preacher Man), The Highway Men (all three albums). Also a good
portion of Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings albums. They also played on
the legendary Class Of '55 album with Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis,
Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison.
The Back To Memphis show will be a unique chance
to see this legendary band perform all the hits that they recorded
with
Elvis.
The American Sound Studio band:
Bobby Wood (Piano)
Bobby Wood started in the music business back in the 1960's. He had a
small hit back then with the song, If I'm A Fool For Loving You. In
1969, during a session with Elvis, Bobby presented the song to him.
Elvis recorded it immediately.
Bobby Emmons (Organ)
Bobby Emmons started his career by playing piano for Joe Tex in
Memphis.
After a short while, he changed to organ. In the mid 1960's, he joined
Bill Black's Combo for a short while.
It was during that time, when Bobby met the guitarist Reggie Young.
In 1966, Bobby Emmons released an album titled, Blues With Beat And An
Organ.
Mike Leech (Bass)
Mike Leech was originally a horn player. But changed to bass after
seeing Charlie Rich's bass playing.
His first recording as a bass player was with Kimball Coburn on No
Reason Why. The first hit that he played bass on was the Born A Woman
album with Sandy Posey (She also sang backup for Elvis in the 1960's).
Mike Leech was on tour with Merle Haggard from 1986 to 1988
Mike was not the only bass player in the American Sound Studio band.
Tommy Cogbill also played bass. Tommy died in 1982.
Reggie Young (Guitar)
The name Reggie Young does not ring a bell to that many people outside
the music business. But if you mention the guitar licks on songs like
Suspicious Minds or In The Ghetto, most people know who you're talking
about. Reggie started his
career in Memphis in the 1950's. In 1956, he became a regular
guitarist
at the Louisiana Hayride. Around 1960, he joined Bill Black's Combo.
Besides playing on all those legendary recordings with Elvis, Reggie
has
also played with many famous artists from Garth Brooks to Earth, Wind
&
Fire.
Reggie was the regular guitarist for Johnny Cash back in the 1980's.
He
also played on the Highway Men albums.
Gene Chrisman (Drums)
In the 1960's, before becoming a member of the American Sound Studio
band,Gene played drums for Jerry Lee Lewis. When Chips Moman, founder
of
the
American Sound Studio, heard Gene at a Jerry Lee Lewis concert, Chips
hired him right away. Gene is a fantastic drummer!
On stage with the legendary band will be three well known European
singers.
Stephen Ackles, Bobo Moreno and Maarten Jansen. Along
with Jon Kevin Mulkey from Nashville, they will perform their
versions of classic Elvis songs like Suspicious Minds, In The Ghetto,
Don't Cry Daddy, Rubberneckin', Kentucky Rain and many others.
Stephen Ackles from Norway is a well know country singer in
Scandinavia. He has won many prizes and has had a few hits through the
years. Bobo Moreno from Denmark has a career as a jazz singer.
Maarten Jansen is from Holland but performs and makes records in
Denmark. All three of them are very good professional singers.
Facts about the show:
Back To Memphis
70th Birthday Celebration
Date:
January 8, 2005 - 8:00 PM. Doors open at 7:00 PM.
Venue:
New Daisy Theater
330 Beale Street
Memphis, Tennessee
Ticket price $ 45
Tickets can be ordered from Elvis Unlimited at www.elvisunlimited.com
<http://www.elvisunlimited.com/>
or by mail at info@elvispresley.dk
<mailto:info@elvispresley.dk>
or at
the door the night of the performance.
Yours sincerely
Lars Gjeding
Elvis Unlimited
Stemannsgade 9 C
8900 Randers
Denmark
Tlf. +45 8642 9696
Fax. +45 8642 8484
E-mail: <mailto:lars@elvispresley.dk>
lars@elvispresley.dk
2004/12/29/Elvis Unlimited /
EPGold.com
New Picture Of The Week Added
PICTURE
OF THE WEEK 44
2004/12/28/ Robin Klarenbeek / EPGold.com
Amen,
August 18th, 1975, Opening Show
2004/12/28/ Robin Klarenbeek / EPGold.com
My
Way (Saginaw, April 25, 1977) Soundboard Recording
2004/12/28/ Robin Klarenbeek / EPGold.com
FTD TOPIC IS UPDATED
2004/12/27/Robin Klarenbeek / EPGold.com
'JAILHOUSE ROCK' TOP THE CHARTS?
The King may yet return to rule the
singles chart
The UK singles chart, maker and breaker of musical reputations for
half a
century, will crown its 1,000th No 1 in the new year. Band Aid 20's Do
They
Know It's Christmas?, the 997th, has held top slot for the past four
weeks.
But how long can that last? The festive spirit disappears faster than
a
designer sweater at a 75-per-cent-off sale. Starting next week, all of
Elvis's 18 former chart toppers are to be re-released to mark the 70th
anniversary of his birth. Jailhouse Rock will come out as a single,
making
it possible for The King to compete for top spot with such legends as
Steve
Brookstein's cover version of Phil Collins's Against All Odds. The
record
company calls it "the most ambitious singles release campaign in
the history
of the UK record industry" - not least because rumours of the
artist being
alive are greatly exaggerated. But Elvis's deadness could work in his
favour.
Top of the Pops, where each week's No 1 is performed, is not a place
where
being alive seems mandatory. As the Queen drummer Roger Taylor said:
"It's
all about not actually playing, you know, pretending to sing,
pretending to
play." Secondly, a dead singer rarely makes impolitic remarks
about
commercialism that can so jeopardise sales. Could this be why so many
artists (Buddy Holly, John Lennon, Aaliyah, Freddie Mercury) get to No
1
posthumously? Last, it is impossible to predict exactly when a No 1
will be
announced, and the wait and heightened expectations can truly torment
an
artist. But does that faze Elvis? No, sir. Performance pressure is so
much
less daunting when you are dead. And there's no deciding whether or
not to
go with the rhinestones.
2004/12/28 The Times UK / Ep.Gold.Com.
It's Now Or Never For Elvis.
More than 27 years after he was
officially declared dead Elvis Presley is
poised to make history by claiming the 1,000th British chart No 1.
Since his death in August 1977 Elvis has been sighted in any number of
unlikely places, ranging from burger bars and supermarkets to funeral
parlours and sheepdog trials.
He has been a priest, a policeman and a lorry driver. One fan even
claimed
to have spotted him returning a Dyson cleaner to the John Lewis
department
store in Welwyn Garden City.
Record company executives are now, however, plotting to resurrect him
in the
incarnation that won him fame, fortune and iconic status - as a pop
star.
Sony BMG hopes that by releasing all of Elvis's previous chart-toppers
he
will be able to claim the coveted 1,000th number-one slot early in the
new
year.
Band Aid 20 became the 997th No 1 with Do They Know It's Christmas?
and it
has led the singles chart for four weeks.
The X Factor winner Steve Brookstein has been tipped as the 998th with
his
single Against All Odds, which has sold 40,000 copies so far, taking
the No
2 position and with Band Aid sales expected to slow now Christmas is
past.
Elvis's 18 previous No 1s are being re-released over 17 consecutive
weeks
from January 3 to April 25, starting with All Shook Up and ending with
A
Little Less Conversation.
Strict chart rules mean All Shook Up is ineligible because it will
come in a
collectors' box, so Jailhouse Rock will be released on the same day.
The
record label has described the attempt at claiming the 1,000th No 1
for
Elvis as "the most ambitious singles release campaign in the
history of the
UK record industry". Gennaro Castaldo, an HMV spokesman, said:
"With Band
Aid 20 currently occupying the top spot, it's difficult to predict
precisely
when the 1,000th No 1 will occur. However, there's a possibility that
it
could fall to Elvis, which would be a fantastic and truly fitting way
to
celebrate the landmark.
"Sales of singles around this time of year tend to be at their
lowest. So if
Elvis fans are out in force to buy his reissued No 1s, there's every
chance
this could happen." The 1,000th No 1 will be one of the last
based on sales
of singles in the shops alone. In the next few months the chart will
be
changed to incorporate internet downloads.
Hits for a King:
1 All Shook Up (June 14, 1957)
2 Jailhouse Rock (Jan 24, 1958)
3 One Night/I Got Stung (Jan 23, 1959)
4 A Fool Such As I/I Need Your Love Tonight (April 24, 1959)
5 It's Now Or Never (Nov 3, 1960)
6 Are You Lonesome Tonight (Jan 19, 1961)
7 Wooden Heart (Mar 9, 1961)
8 Surrender (May 25, 1961)
9 (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame (Nov 2, 1961)
10 Rock-A-Hula Baby/Can't Help Falling In Love (Feb 1, 1962)
11 Good Luck Charm (May 10, 1962)
12 She's Not You (Aug 30, 1962)
13 Return To Sender (Nov 29, 1962)
14 (You're The) Devil In Disguise (July 4, 1963)
15 Crying In The Chapel (May 27, 1965)
16 The Wonder Of You (July 11, 1970)
17 Way Down (Aug 13, 1977)
18 A Little Less Conversation (June 22, 2002)
... and other chart toppers:
The first No 1: Here In My Heart Al Martino (1952)
No 100: Do You Mind Anthony Newley (1960)
No 200: Help! The Beatles (1965)
No 300: Knock Three Times Dawn (1971)
No 400: Don't Cry For Me Argentina by Julie Covington (1977)
No 500: A Little Peace Nicole (1982)
No 600: China In Your Hands T'Pau (1987)
No 700: Twist and Shout Chaka Demus and Pliers (1993)
No 800: Bootie Call All Saints (1998)
No 900: Lady Marmalade Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya and Pink
(2001)
2004/12/28 Google / Ep.Gold.Com.
Graceland Mansion Closed Due To
Ice.
Graceland Mansion has closed due to
inclement weather in Memphis. Ice has
covered most of the city, and to prevent and danger to the guests or
staff,
EPE have decided to stop tours. They anticipate opening again on
Monday
Decemeber 27th, resuming normal operating hours. Please call their
toll-free
number, 1-800-238-2010, prior to coming to confirm they are open.
EPE apologizes for the inconvenience and wish you and your family a
happy
and safe holiday.
2004/12/27 EPE / Ep.Gold.Com.
Twenty Days And Twenty Nights.
New import release titled "Twenty
Days And Twenty Nights" with rehearsals
and other alternate recordings from 1970-1972.
Track listing:
Runnaway / Cotton Fields / Stagger Lee / Alla' En El Rancho Grande /
Peter
GunnTheme / Twenty Days And Twenty Nights / Crying Time / Froggy Went
A
Courtin' / Ghost Riders In The Sky / My Country Tis Of Thee / Havana
Gila /
Cattle Call - Yodel / The Lord's Prayer / Polk Salad Annie #1 / Polk
Salad
Annie # 2 / Patch It Up / Bridge Over Troubled Water / Can't Help
Falling In
Love / Don't Be Cruel / Cattle Call - over The Rainbow / El Paso /
Lighthouse - I John - I Need Your Lovin' / I Didn't Make It On Playing
Guitar / The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face / Don't Think Twice, It's
Allright
Bonus Radio Spots:
Elvis, That's The Way It Is #1 and #2 / Elvis On Tour #1 and #2.
2004/12/27 Email / Ep.Gold.Com.
Elvis In Munich Book.
"Elvis In Munich", by
Andreas Roth, will be available as of tomorrow,
December 28, 2004.
2004/12/27 http://www.elvis-in-munich.de
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
Holland Ready For 18 #1 Box
Set
Just before christmas a lot of fans
received a special flyer outlining the
details on how to get this box and all the singles. Only in Holland,
fans
will get a special 18 No.1 collectable pin with the boxset!
Major promotion is on the way as a lot of newspapers and popmagazines
will
review the boxset in the week of January 8th. On Dutch Radio 2 they
will
present a different single each week in the program 'Schiffers.FM',
starting
in the second week of January.
This week a special E-card will also be send out by BMG Holland. The
great
part is that if all the Dutch fans will sign in on the boxset and
order the
boxset, Elvis will get back in the dutch charts!
2004/12/27 http://www.click2music.nl/elvis
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
Man Sells Elvis Water.
News from the "I don't know what
to do with my money" section: a North
Carolina man says he's sold three tablespoons of water on eBay for
$455.
They supposedly came from a cup used by Elvis Presley.
Wade Jones said he was 13 when he saw the King perform at the old
Charlotte
Coliseum in 1977. He says Elvis took a sip from a cup of water as he
introduced his band.
Jones says he went to the stage after the show to snag a souvenir.
When
police wouldn't give him one, he persuaded them to give him the cup --
and
they agreed.
Jones says he likes Elvis, but is just a casual fan. He decided to
auction
his souvenir after reading about a grilled cheese sandwich supposedly
bearing the image of the Virgin Mary being sold on eBay for $28,000.
2004/12/27 Google / Ep.Gold.Com.
Elvis six times in Golden Top
200.
Popular Belgian station Radio 2
broadcast their Golden 200 on December 26th,
as compiled by the listeners. Elvis made it (only) six times
into the chart
with the following titles + positions: "Love Me Tender"
(161) - "Always On
My Mind" (148) - "Jailhouse Rock" (136) - "Are You
Lonesome Tonight" (81) -
"It's Now Or Never" (55) - "Suspicious Minds" (43)
Top position was claimed
by Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody".
2004/12/27 http://www.elvismatters.be
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
Cybill Shepherd on sex with Elvis.
As part of her recent one-woman
stand-up show in London, actress Cybill
Shepherd included vivid descriptions of her sexual escapades with
lovers
including Elvis, Don Johnson and Jeff Bridges.
2004/12/27 Sunday Telegraph / Ep.Gold.Com
TCB-Band In Österreich
Hallo,
4 Konzerte nach Österreich
14.
Jänner 2005: Wiener Metropol in Wien
13. Jänner 2005: Wiener Metropol in Wien
16. Jänner 2005: Wiener Metropol in Wien
18. Jänner 2005: Posch-Halle in Wels
2004/12/28/EPGold.com
It Happened At The Worlds Fair UK
release.
HMV will be releasing this DVD as an
HMV exclusive in the UK on 25th January.
Available for pre-order at www.hmv.co.uk
2004/12/27 HMV UK /
Ep.Gold.Com.
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
2004/12/25/ Andylon, Erik & Robin
"Elvis" casting call.
The makers of a CBS miniseries about
Elvis Presley will hold a casting call
Sunday afternoon in Metairie. The series, "Elvis," which
stars Jonathan
Rhys-Meyers as Presley, as well as Randy Quaid and Rose McGowan, needs
actors and extras. Interested candidates should bring a photograph to
the
Clearview Mall between noon and 6 p-m on Sunday. The series is set to
begin
shooting in early January in New Orleans.
2004/12/25 Yahoo News / Ep.Gold.Com.
Who knew? Elvis knows Santa
Claus.
The two celebrities performed at the
same holiday party at Riverview Home,
7979 State Road, Pennsylvania. The party was coordinated by the
Justice
Frank J. Montemuro, Jr. Lodge #2193, Order of Sons of Italy in America.
"I've never been to an activity or event that kept their
attention for so
long," said Debbie Conway, recreation supervisor for the elderly
and
disabled residential care home. "I spent most of the time
watching their
reactions. It was a great event." Elvis impersonator Michael
Kubach and
Jillian Feurer, a dancer and student at Rock School, entertained the
audience alongside Santa's Elf Sharon Hill. "They were singing,
clapping,
stirring up memories," said Naomi Maisonet, social worker.
2004/12/25 News Gleaner - www.elvisinfonet.com
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
The Website "Elvis: Born To
Rock.
ELVIS: BORN TO ROCK
you don't know this title ? So, that's really strange because in the
past
few weeks we have talked a lot about the latest book from "Bud
Glass
Productions" which is published by "Praytome Publishing",
so you normally
couldn't miss the information about that.
Well, to learn more about this new exciting book, learn the story of
the
creating process and the idea behind the whole project, learn more
about its
content and get a brief preview of the fantastic pictures, the
producers
have extended the website with a special section about "Elvis:
Born To
Rock".
Please have a look at this new section and click here :
http://www.behind-the-image.de/htm-data/news/englisch/index.htm
Merry Christmas - Season's Greetings
The "Behind The Image" - Team and the crew from "Praytome
Publishing" like
to wish you all
a merry, merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
2004/12/24 Andylon Lensen / Behind The Image / Praytome
Publishing /Ep.Gold.Com.
'The Hampton Roads Concert'
Review A Masterpiece!
(Review by Oven Egeland)
This is the third release from Triangle. For the first time they
release a
real CD and not CD-R as their previous two products.
This certainly is a smasher! Examining the cover makes me almost
speechless,
in desperate search for adequate adjectives. The CD is packed in what
is a
mini-copy of a 2-LP foldout cover. It comes with a full color booklet
loaded
with photos - all relevant - and suitable information. It's hard to
imagine
that it can get any better than this!
Even so, what matter most is the content. Inside you find a disc
containing
one of the greatest show ever recorded by RCA during Elvis' lifetime.
Elvis'
performance in Hampton Roads on April 9, 1972 is nothing but
magnificent.
Both performance wise and as regards content. Here Elvis sings a
terrific
'See See Rider', a rocking 'I Got A Woman' and heartfelt version of
'Are You
Lonesome Tonight'. Even more, Elvis has the Stamps to sing a tune by
them
self - 'Sweet Sweet Spirit' - while he just stands in awe of respect,
before
he launches into a great 'Lawdy, Miss Clawdy'. On this concert you
will also
find perhaps the best version ever of 'American Trilogy' and 'You Gave
Me A
Mountain and a breathtaking 'How Great Thou Art'. Still there are many
other
songs that could be mentioned.
As most people are aware of, this concert was filmed by MGM as a part
of
their "Elvis On Tour" production and recorded by RCA for a
potential LP
release. Eventually as many as 7 complete performances from this
concert was
issued on MGM's "Elvis On Tour". The LP release was
abandoned by RCA because
of the release of "As recorded in Madison Square Garden" on
June the same
year.
Later 5 other performances from Hampton Roads was included on the MGM
video
release "The Lost Performances".
The "rest" of the concert has been available on a bootleg CD
called Live In
Virginia from Vicky. The source for Live In Virginia was said to be
the
original "Elvis On Tour" recordings.
Triangle also mentions these recordings as their source for this new
CD.
However, the sound on "The Hampton Roads Concert" is greatly
improved
compared to the previous Live In Viginia. In fact this new product
from
Triangle hold extreme high class as far as sound goes. Even though it
is in
mono, the sound can best be compared with official releases from BMG.
It is
crystal clear, even and well balanced! Some might find it even better
than
on The Greensboro Concert, but it is all a matter of taste. The sound
is
quite similar, but perhaps the Greenboro show has a bit more depth to
it?
Unfortunately this new release from Triangle does not contain the
complete
show. The same songs that were missing on the bootleg Live In Virginia
are
also unavailable here. This means that a great version of 'I Got A
Woman'
(as seen on MGM's Elvis On Tour) and equally splendid version of 'You
Gave
Me A Mountain (also seen on Elvis On Tour), together with an unheard
version
of 'Never Been To Spain' are gone. A crying shame, but we all expect
BMG to
take care of this later.
However, until BMG find it suitable to release this concert, I would -
without a shred of doubt - recommend this CD. Whenever at stereo
release of
this great concert is available, I doubt you will ever find it housed
in
such a great package as The Hampton Roads Concert is.
THUMBS UP and HANDS DOWN!!!
Source: http://home.online.no/~ov-egela/thehampton...adsconcert.html
2004/12/24 Ep.Gold.Com.
Mojo magazine 'Hayride Special'.
If you enjoy Elvis' early music and are
interested in how Elvis managed to
change the course of popular culture, then don't miss the December
issue of
the music magazine Mojo. Renowned author Colin Escott tells the wild,
wild
story of Elvis' early Hayride period. As he says, "When Elvis
Presley joined
the Louisiana Hayride in 1954 he changed music history forever".
The article
also features several excellent early
photographs and, even better, the magazine comes with a free 15 track
CD
that truly captures the importance & excitement of those early
years. While
the CD only features one Elvis track (The Hayride 'Blue Moon Of
Kentucky'),
the others songs present Elvis tracks by original artists. These help
demonstrate just how important Elvis' influence really was. Check out
fascinating tracks like The Drifters' 'Such A Night' (boy did Elvis
really
blow the roof off that version!), Lowell Fulson's original 'Reconsider
Baby'
and even Wanda Jackson's 'Hard Headed Woman'. It is captivating,
timeless,
revolutionary music that any Elvis fan should enjoy. Out now in
Australian
newsagents & music stores.
2004/12/24 www.elvisinfonet.com
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
In-debt Lisa Marie sells most of
Elvis' estate.
Lisa Marie Presley is keeping Graceland
but selling the bulk of the Elvis
estate, including rights to her father's name and image, in a deal
worth
approximately $100 million. The Associated Press reports that Elvis
Presley
Enterprises Inc. announced an agreement Thursday to sell 85 percent of
its
assets to businessman Robert F.X. Sillerman, founder of music and
sports
promoter SFX Entertainment. But why sell an estate that brings in $45
million a year for $100 million? Lisa Marie has $25 million in debts
(of
which she will be absolved under this deal) but on the face of it, the
sale
doesn't seem like a bright move. At least she gets $20 million in
shares of
the new company formed to run the estate. "For the past few years,
I've been
looking for someone to join forces with to expand the many facets of (Elvis
Presley Enterprises), to take it to new levels internationally and to
make
it an even greater force in the entertainment industry," Presley
said in a
statement. Fans of Graceland tours note: The 650,000 visitors a year
will
still be welcome.
2004/12/23 Seattlepi.com / Ep.Gold.Com.
New Elvis BMG website and message
board.
The site dedicated to the 18
number one singles being re-issued next year.
Click Here : http://www.elvis18uk1s.com
2004/12/23 E-Mail / Ep.Gold.Com.
A date with Elvis/ The army days.
Here is the frontcover of the fanclub
CD "A Date With Elvis - The Army Days"
that could be purchased at the meeting from the Dutch fanclub "Elvis
for
Everyone".
There are 21 tracks on this CD, and it is limited to 500 copies.
2004/12/23 E-Mail / Ep.Gold.Com.
Charlie Hodge In Finland,
Elvis's close personal friend and
musician Charlie Hodge comes to Finland in
the end of February next year.
He will be the special guest of The OEPFC of Finland which celebrates
its
20th Anniversary on February 26th. More details later.
2004/12/23 E-Mail / Ep.Gold.Com.
Warner Elvis Dvd's DVD's.
Jack Soden from EPE mentioned a couple
of months ago the release Warner
Elvis Dvd's.
Here is EPE's answer regarding the six Elvis movie from Warner Bros.
which
were announeced by Jack Soden for release on DVD this January.
"Last August, Warner colleagues gave us the information about the
6 DVD
releases prematurely.
The release was tentatively planned for next month but actually was
not
locked in.
The release is now with no set date announced.
The moment Warner gives us official information, we'll post it in News
on
our site."
2004/12/23 EPE / Ep.Gold.Com.
Here are the U.S. Billboard Elvis
Chart listings for the week ending January 1, 2005:
Comprehensive Albums - It's Christmas
Time down 42 to #168
Comprehensive Albums - Elvis 30 #1's reenters at #180 (re,sg)
Top Pop Catalog Albums - It's Christmas Time down 9 to # 25
Top Pop Catalog Albums - Elvis 30 #1's up 12 to #33 (sg)
Top Country Albums - Ultimate Gospel down 2 to #52
Top Country Catalog Albums - Elvis 30 #1's up 3 to #6 (sg)
Top Country Catalog Albums - Christmas Peace down 4 to #23
Top Christian Albums - Ultimate Gospel up 3 to #27(sg)
Top Holiday Albums - It's Christmas Time remains at #23
Hot 100 Singles Sales - That's All Right up 2 to #49
Hot 100 Singles Recurrent - Blue Christmas up 5 to #23
Adult Contemp. Recurrent - Blue Christmas down 1 to #17
Hot 100 Recurrent Airplay - Blue Christmas reenters at #23 (re)
Hot Dance Singles Sales - Rubberneckin' reenters at #25 (re, sg)
New entries and Re-entries on the charts include:
- Blue Christmas jumps back on the Billboard Hot 100 Recurrent Airplay
at
#23 after being off the chart for 1 week.
- Elvis 30 #1's reenters the Billboard Comprehensive Album chart at
#180 and
is noted as a sales gainer.
- Rubberneckin' dances its way back onto the Hot Dance Singles Sales
chart
and lands at #25 and is noted as a sales gainer.
Dropping off the charts include:
- White Christmas drops off Billboard Top Holiday Albums. It was #48
last
week.
Notes of Interest include:
- E1 had a good week!
- Must be some Christmas "Rubberneckers" out there as it is
back on the
Dance Sales Chart, where it peaked at #1.
(sg - sales gainer, gg - greatest sales gainer, ne - new entry, re -
re-entry)
2004/12/23 www.elvischarts
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
Elvis Themed Las Vegas
Commercial.
InterCasino.com is to sponsor the Sky
One second series of Las Vegas when it
starts in January.
The sponsorship will involve InterCasino.com adverts at the start and
finish
of the programme, alongside break bumpers for its sub-brands
InterPoker and
InterBingo, with the message "Las Vegas in your home".
The adverts feature a couple who welcome Las Vegas into their home
using
their laptop.
The man turns into Elvis Presley and the woman turns into a Vegas
showgirl.
2004/12/23 Google /
Ep.Gold.Com.
Like A Prince From Another Planet.
A new book titled "Like A Prince
From Another Planet" will be released in
Luxembourg soon. The little information we received further mentioned
that
the book should contain many never before published concert shots from
the
1970's. More information when we have it.
2004/12/24 http://www.elvisunlimited.com
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
FTD CD Elvis On Tour - The
Rehearsal Now In Stock At:
The Elvis International Shop"
Netherlands with a Special FTD Christmas Offer.
Next that new FTD CD Elvis On Tour - The Rehearsal is
available, all
others tiltles on FTD - FTD - Special Editions - FTD Books&Cd's
are also in
stock.
If you buy a second FTD at the The Elvis International Shop in The
Netherlands the price is Euro 35.
This offer is only valid for the Christmas Holidays.
Shop is Open 22 and 23rd December 1800 PM - 2100 PM.
And 2nd Christmas day 26th December 1300 PM - 18.00 PM.
The Elvis International Shop" Netherlands.
Sionstraat 12
1947 J.T. Beverwijk
The Netherlands.
For more Information you are able to call :
TUESDAY TILL SUNDAY 1300. PM - 1800 PM.
06 47 87 25 78
Other Countrys Dial : 00 - 31 - 6 47 87 25 78.
2004/12/23 Ep.Gold.Com.
Hi EP Gold
With the release of the new FTD CD
Elvis On Tour - The Rehearsals, I thought
you may like to link to a list I've made of where you can find
everything
recorded from these rehearsals
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/keith.flynn1/www.keithflynn.com/On%20Tour%20Rehearsals.htm
If you don't want to use it that's ok, just Andylon used my lists a
few
times in the past, so I thought you might be interested
Kind Regards, and Merry Christmas
2004/12/23/ Keith Flynn / EPGold.com
Latest Press Release - "Elvis"
CBS Mini-Series.
JONATHAN RHYS-MEYERS, EMMY AND GOLDEN
GLOBE AWARD WINNER CAMRYN MANHEIM,
GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD WINNER RANDY QUAID
AND ROSE McGOWAN STAR IN "ELVIS," A NEW FOUR-HOUR
MINI-SERIES THAT WILL
BEGIN PRODUCTION IN NEW ORLEANS
IN JANUARY 2005 TO BE BROADCAST ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK
Presley's Master Recordings Will Be Heard In A Biographical Film For
The
First Time
ELVIS, a new four-hour mini-series will start production in New
Orleans in
January 2005, for broadcast on the CBS Television Network. The
fact-based
drama is about the life of Elvis Presley, one of the greatest
entertainers
who ever lived. With the full cooperation and participation of the
Elvis
Presley Estate, his electrifying yet tumultuous story -- from his
humble
beginnings to his meteoric rise to fame -- will be told. Presley's
master
recordings will be heard in a biographical film for the first time.
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers ("Bend it Like Beckham") stars as Elvis
Presley; Emmy
and Golden Globe Award winner Camryn Manheim ("The Practice")
stars as
Gladys Presley; Golden Globe Award winner Randy Quaid ("LBJ: The
Early
Years") stars as "Colonel" Tom Parker, and Rose McGowan
("Charmed") stars as
Ann-Margret.
Elvis Presley's dynamic life story begins in Tupleo, Miss., where he
was
born into poverty to Vernon and Gladys Presley. His looks, talent and
moves
helped to make him the universally proclaimed King of Rock 'n' Roll by
the
age of 21. With a sneer on his lips and a swivel in his hips, he burst
on
the scene with a unique style that provided a catalyst for a
revolution in
music and popular culture unequaled by any other performer.
His life was shaped by the people closest to him, including his father;
his
over-protective mother, whom he adored, and his domineering manager,
"Colonel" Tom Parker. Although Presley was a sex symbol who
made legions of
women swoon, his personal liaisons, including his relationships with
the
actress Ann-Margret and his young bride Priscilla, were troubled.
Known the
world over by his first name, he is regarded as one of the most
important
figures of the twentieth century. Presley died at the age of 42 at his
Memphis home, Graceland, on Aug. 16, 1977.
ELVIS is being produced by Robert Greenblatt and David Janollari
("Six Feet
Under") for Greenblatt/Janollari studio. Howard Braunstein and
Michael Jaffe
("It Must Be Love") are the executive producers for Jaffe/Braunstein
Films,
LTD. James Sadwith ("Sinatra") is directing from a script by
Patrick Sheane
Duncan ("Mr. Holland's Opus").
2004/12/23 EPE / Ep.Gold.Com.
More new book releases.
A new book titled Like A Prince From
Another Planet will be released in
Luxembourg soon. Apparently it will contain many never before
published
concert shots from the 1970's. Just released is a book by Michael
Hodjera
The Return Of The King: An Elvis Novel: "Mystery, magic and
mythology
collide as Elvis returns from exile to Hawaii, only to find himself
confronted by an ageless menace bent on destroying humankind."
Finally, due
out from Zondervan on August 1, 2005 is Velvet Elvis: Repainting The
Christian Faith (ISBN: 0310266637). It will be released both as a
hardback
and in audio CD format. (News, Source: Amazon/ElvisNews/ElvisBookResearch
2004/12/23 http://www.elvisinfonet.com
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
Radio 3FM Auction
There will be an auction held for
Dafur by Radio 3FM.
The complete BMG Netherlands vinyl archive (about 200 records) will be
auctioned.
Date is set for tomorrow December 24th.
2004/12/23/Charley / EPGold.com
"Elvis Lives" Marketing
Campaign Begins.
ELVIS LIVES - ELVIS PRESLEY ENTERPRISES
UNVEILS 2005 CREATIVE CAMPAIGN
Advertising, Collateral and Licensed Merchandise to Feature New
Creative
Concept
MEMPHIS, TN - With Elvis Presley consistently recognized as one of the
most
significant icons in American pop culture, and with continued and
expanding
global popularity among a growing demographic base, Elvis Presley
Enterprises announced today their 2005 branding campaign. The first
execution of the new creative campaign, "Elvis Lives," was
first unveiled in
Memphis on one of a series of regionally located billboards.
2004/12/22 EPE / Ep.Gold.Com.
Elvis TV role for Bend It film star.
Bend It Like Beckham star Jonathan
Rhys-Meyers is to play Elvis Presley. The
27-year-old actor has landed the lead role in a US mini-series about
the
King. He was chosen for his "uncanny" resemblance to Elvis,
said executive
producer Howard Braunstein. "He was the first person I'd ever
thought of for
the role. I watched Bend It Like Beckham and when you see him, you
just say,
'He is Elvis'," Braunstein said.
"He has the physical look and the style that embodies Elvis, both
the
sweetness and the sex appeal." The Irish-born actor got the role
by sending
in a film of himself made up like Elvis and imitating the singer's
distinctive drawl. "It was uncanny - the voice sounded so
authentic,"
Braunstein said. Rhys-Meyers has also appeared in films including
Vanity
Fair and Velvet Goldmine. Scream actress Rose McGowan will play screen
siren
Ann-Margaret, who starred with Elvis in Viva Las Vegas and had an
affair
with him before he married Priscilla. Randy Quaid will play Elvis's
manager
Colonel Tom Parker in the mini-series, called Elvis, for US network
CBS.
2004/12/22 Yahoo News / Ep.Gold.Com.
SFX/SPEA Filing with U.S.
Securities & Exchange Commission.
This is the SFX/SPEA filing with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. The filing makes very interesting (if heavy) reading and
includes that the deal is contingent on a three-year audit of Lisa
Presley's
two combined entities (already underway), and that RFX made a down
payment
to Lisa Presley of $5 million. It also includes details of EPE's
operating
income and states that Lisa Presley will have the right to either
serve as a
director of the acquiring company or be able to designate an
individual to
serve on her behalf.
2004/12/22 http://www.elvisinfonet.com
/ Ep.Gold.Com.
Rhys-Meyers To Play Elvis.
The King is soon to be taken on by
Irish actor, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers of Bend
It Like Beckham fame. The 27-year-old actor has bagged the part of
Elvis in
a new US mini-series because the producer was bowled over by his
physical
similarity to the legendary crooner. Short of implying that Jonathan
is
actually a reincarnation of the King, exec producer Howard Braunstein
has
revealed that he chose the actor for his "uncanny"
resemblance to Elvis. "He
was the first person I'd ever thought of for the role,"
Braunstein said. "I
watched Bend It Like Beckham and when you see him, you just say, 'He
is
Elvis'. "He has the physical look and the style that embodies
Elvis, both
the sweetness and the sex appeal," he went on.
Jonathan, who will appear on our cinema screens in January with the
release
of Vanity Fair starring Reese Witherspoon, didn't exactly just wait
for the
call to come in for the part. Instead, he dressed up as Elvis and sent
a
film of himself imitating the singer's distinctive southern drawl -
and it
plainly worked. Braunstein added: "It was uncanny - the voice
sounded so
authentic." Randy Quaid will play Elvis's manager Colonel Tom
Parker and
Scream actress Rose McGowan will play screen siren Ann-Margaret, who
starred
with Elvis in Viva Las Vegas and had a fling with him before his
Priscilla
days
Rose McGowan To Play Ann-Margret
Contrary to what you may have heard, it takes a hot lady to warm up
any
hunka hunka burning love. Rose McGowan is close to signing on to CBS'
"Elvis" biopic, playing Ann-Margret, one of several women to
stir things up
with the King of Rock 'n' Roll.
McGowan, who plays Paige Matthews on The WB's "Charmed,"
also has a history
of dating rock stars, including a mult-year engagement to Brian Warner,
often known as Marilyn Manson. Other credits for the actress range
from the
features "Scream" and "Jawbreaker" to the Pauly
Shore classics "Encino Man"
and "Bio-Dome."
Randy Quaid To Play Col. Tom Parker.
Randy Quaid will portray The Colonel in CBS' upcoming "Elvis"
minseries.
Quaid is the first major actor to join the cast of the four-hour
project,
which will be the first TV pic to use master recordings of some of
Elvis
Presley's biggest hits.
Cigar-chomping Parker, who was Presley's longtime (and
oft-controversial)
manager, died in 1997, having helped guide the King of rock 'n' roll
to
massive success.
Camryn Manheim will portray Gladys Presley.
Production is set to begin next month on the mini-series with
additional
casting announcements expected in the next few weeks.
2004/12/22 Variety / Ep.Gold.Com.
Brolin Busted for domestic
battery on "Elvis" star.
Former Goonie Josh Brolin is in trouble
for some alleged goon-like behavior.
The actor was busted Sunday and charged with one misdemeanor count of
domestic battery following a squabble with wife Diane Lane at the
couple's
Los Angeles home. The 36-year-old Brolin, who tied the knot with the
39-year-old Lane a little more than four months ago, was booked,
fingerprinted and released on $20,000 bail, according to Los Angeles
City
Attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan. "There was a call placed to
the police
about five minutes to three in the morning on Sunday. Police arrived
and
took Mr. Brolin to the West Hollywood police station where he was
booked [on
the misdemeanor]," Mateljan said, noting that standard procedure
in such
cases is to take the accused into custody, even if there are no signs
of
battery. A source familiar with the incident said Lane exhibited no
"visible
signs" of injury. Ms Lane, who is now one of Hollywood's leading
ladies,
starred in the recent hit Under the Tuscan Sun and earlier played the
role
of Karen, a child afflicted by cerebral palsy, in the little known
tearjerker, Touched By Love, based on the true story, To Elvis With
Love, by
nurse, Lena Canada.
2004/12/22 Yahoo News / Ep.Gold.Com.
55% of voters "disagree"
with Lisa Presley's decision to sell EPE.
CNN.com ran an online poll which
resulted in 55% of voters saying Lisa's
decision to sell EPE was the wrong one.
2004/12/22 CNN / Ep.Gold.Com.
Is the sale of EPE a good or bad
thing?
Elvis fans have reacted quickly and
emotionally to Lisa Presley's sale of
majority interest in EPE to Robert Sillerman. Widespread concern and
condemnation has been registered on messageboards, through email
groups and
via an online petition against the sale.
As owner of EPE Lisa has made a decision, while unpopular with many,
that
she had every right to make and one that we are sure was not taken
lightly
and one that was only done because Lisa fervently believes it is the
appropriate way to ensure the Elvis legacy continues to grow and
prosper.
It is EIN's view that Elvis fans should be optimistic about the sale.
It is well known that EPE's earnings have plateaued in the past two
years
and its business ventures with Elvis Presley's Memphis (now closed)
and
Heartbreak Hotel have not been the success EPE had originally expected
(with
a related, significant capital debt to be met).
Add to the mix the "greying" of the core Elvis demographic
and the
consequent need to open up the Elvis market to a younger generation,
and we
can appreciate how Lisa Presley and the EPE board could see the need
to
inject some real dynamism into the EPE business operation. In a
capitalist
system most major businesses only survive if they grow.
Lisa Presley's decision to sell majority ownership of EPE to Robert
Sillerman has the potential to reap substantial benefits in the future.
Sillerman's business credentials are impressive and it may just be
that it
will be the injection of his proven business skills, new ideas and
ability
to achieve goals that transforms EPE and takes it to the next level.
Many fans fear that the Elvis brand
will become something nefarious and that
the core element of "Elvis = music" will be lost. Elvis
already is a global
icon like Mickey Mouse and Coca-Cola, and while Robert Sillerman is
sure to
develop some new initiatives that will anger (some) fans, hasn't this
has
always been the case anyway - since EPE opened Graceland and began
marketing
Elvis as a "trademark" in the 1980s?
Some of us just don't like progress. Sometimes this is warranted,
sometimes
it isn't.
Rather than get caught up in an emotional reaction to the sale we
should
view the decision as an exciting opportunity to bring the Elvis legacy
to a
larger, 'global' family of fans and to introduce the Elvis icon in new
and
innovative ways to diverse markets worldwide.
Under Sillerman's guidance there is considerable potential to expand
the
Elvis business empire, attract new fans, and as Lisa Presley has
expressly
stated, effectively protect and preserve the Elvis legacy for future
generations.
Is US$100 million enough for EPE?
Several commentators have suggested the sale price undervalues the
worth of
the EPE assets. EIN offers the following analysis.
While Elvis has been the #1 earning
dead celebrity on the annual Forbes
Annual list since it was introduced four years ago, the estimated
earnings
for EPE ($40 million in 2004) are a gross figure. Net profit is more
likely
in the range of $5 million to $7 million per annum.
Capitalizing net profit into the future, it means the sale price
equates to
up to 20 years annual profit based on current net profits.
With plateauing earnings, other business ventures not succeeding and
capital
debt to be met, Lisa Presley and the EPE board may have internally
forecast
diminishing returns rather than increased profits if EPE continued to
operate solely under their control and direction. At the same time
Lisa
Presley retains a 15% interest in future profits. And if Robert
Sillerman is
successful in taking the Elvis brand to the next business level, the
profits
generated could be significantly greater than what has been achieved
by EPE
until now.
We also need to remember that Lisa Presley retains ownership of
Graceland
and all of Elvis' personal belongings, a not insignificant value.
The sale price would have been carefully considered by both parties
and Lisa
Presley's acceptance of the Sillerman offer would not have been made
in
isolation from high level financial advice.
Considering all of the above factors it appears the sale price is a
reasonable one.
2004/12/22 (Comment/Analysis, http://www.elvisinfonet.com
/ Ep.Gold.Com,.
The Elvis International Shop" Netherlands Open At Christmas Holidays.
Open Monday ( December 20th )
till Thirsday December 23rd ) this week 1800
PM - 2100 PM
The Elvis International Shop Netherlands.
Sionstraat 12
1947 J.T. Beverwijk
The Netherlands.
For more Information you are able to call :
TUESDAY TILL SUNDAY 1300. PM - 1800 PM.
06 47 87 25 78
Other Countrys Dial : 00 - 31 - 6 47 87 25 78.
FTD CD Elvis On Tour - The
Rehearsal Out Now.
Ernst confirmed me that the new FTD Cd
" Elvis On Tour The Rehearsal"
is sent out yesterday to all the wholesalers worldwide.
And as we mentioned a couple of weeks ago on Ep.Gold.Com the new FTD
Book
& 2 Soundboard Cd's "Rockin' Across Texas"
is planned to release on
February 14th, 2005.
The FTD Sun Book with 3 or 4 Cd's ( again remastered by my dear friend
Kevan
Budd ) will be postponed for a few months because of the new
release FTD
Book & 2 Soundboard Cd's "Rockin' Across Texas"
.
The CD "Love, Elvis" with an unreleased version of
"Help Me Make It Through
The Night" is now planned to release on January 22nd.
2004/12/21 Andylon Lensen / FTD - Ernst Jorgensen
/ Kevan Budd / Ep.Gold.Com.
Shaun (Sherrill) Nielsen
Auto - Biography Book & New Gospel Cd.
http://www.shaunandelvis.com/presentation.htm
I had the pleasure of having a private
meeting with Shaun Nielsen and his
wife Brenda and interviewed Shaun for more than 40 minutes.
What I was able to let the ElvisFans know, that Shaun (Sherrill)
Nielsen
is working on a auto - biography book about his career and Elvis,
planning
to release late next year.
And next to his planned auto-biogapgy book, Shaun is writing new
material
for a new Gospel -album
More information later..
2004/12/21 Andylon Lensen / Shaun Nielsen /
Ep.Gold.Com
El Goes El Paso.
The Audionics label which released
" You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin '' CD
some three years ago is back. Their new release scheduled in early
January
and titled " El Goes El Paso " will feature previously
unreleased soundboard
recording of Elvis concert in El Paso, Texas, June 02, 1976 8:30 P.M.
This
show will be completely new to collectors as it is not available on
audience
recorded tapes too. This release is taken directly from original
soundboard
tape so the sound quality will be excellent. The concert is 62 minutes
long,
complete and for the year 1976 it's a very good performance with Elvis
in
good mood and strong voice. CD contains de-luxe 12-page full color
booklet
with many rare photos taken during May/June 1976 tour.
Tracks:
Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001 Theme) / C. C. Rider / I Got A
Woman / Amen (medley) / Love Me / If You Love Me (Let Me Know)
You Gave Me A Mountain / All Shook Up / (Let Me Be Your) Teddy
Bear/Don't Be Cruel (medley) / Help Me / Fever / Jailhouse Rock
And I Love You So / Polk Salad Annie / Band Introductions
Early Mornin' Rain / What'd I Say / Drums Solo (Ronnie Tutt)
Bass Solo (Blues - Jerry Scheff) / Piano Solo (Tony Brown)
Electric Piano Solo (David Briggs) / Love Letters / School Day (Hail
Hail Rock'n'Roll) / Hurt #1 / Hurt #2 / Hound Dog / Funny