That's sad news indeed:( But how great that you met him.

'Elvis At Stax: 40th Anniversary' Legacy Final Details:

 

Celebrating the 40th Anniv of Elvis' STAX studios sessions SONY is releasing a 3 CD 'Elvis At Stax: 40th Anniversary' complete set plus a "Elvis At Stax: 40th Anniv: Best Of" 1CD version. They are both out on Aug 6, 2013. Final Details released today by SONY.

... The last major studio sessions in the career of Elvis Presley have finally been gathered together for the first time in one comprehensive package as 'ELVIS AT STAX: DELUXE EDITION' bristles with energy and dynamism. The deluxe 3-CD box set, a 40th anniversary chronicle of a dozen nights that Presley spent at Stax Recording Studios in his hometown of Memphis in July and Dec 1973, will be released worldwide August 6.

Released simultaneously will be a single CD of highlights from the box set simply titled ELVIS AT STAX, and a 180-gram, double-vinyl LP.

The official website notes 'ELVIS AT STAX' bristles with energy and dynamism. The proof is in the six consecutive singles that the Stax sessions produced, all of which skirted the Top 40 from 1973 to 1975. In effect, they rivaled some of the hottest streaks that Presley had charted a decade earlier. The Stax singles still resonate today:

•"Raised On Rock" b/w "For Ol’ Time Sake" (Hot 100 #41, country #42);

•"I’ve Got A Thing About You Baby" b/w "Take Good Care Of Her" (Hot 100 #39, country #4);

•"Promised Land" b/w "It’s Midnight" (Hot 100 #14, country #9);

•"If You Talk In Your Sleep" b/w "Help Me" (Hot 100 #17, country #6);

•"My Boy" b/w "Thinking About You" (Hot 100 #20, country #14);

•"Mr. Songman" (B-side of "T-R-O-U-B-L-E," Hot 100 #35, country #11).

(EIN note - How odd that Elvis "skirting the Top 40" is a sign of dynamism! Surely RCA would have hoped that Elvis would get into the Top Ten after the success of 'Aloha'?)

Ernst Jørgensen has long been concerned with doing justice to the Stax sessions, which were never acknowledged by the artist's record label RCA as a unified whole. Instead, as with most of Presley's studio work in his second decade as a recording artist, the tracks were scattered onto LPs and intermingled with material recorded in Nashville and Hollywood. The bulk of the Stax cuts showed up on Raised On Rock/For Ol’ Times Sake (1973), Good Times (1974), and Promised Land (1975). For ELVIS AT STAX, many of the outtakes originated on the reissues of those three albums on the FTD label. ELVIS AT STAX was produced by Jørgensen, Semon, and Rob Santos of Legacy A&R.

Taking up the cause for ELVIS AT STAX is another scholar and aficionado of the artist, award-winning resident Memphis journalist Robert Gordon, who has written an in-depth, day-by-day liner notes essay for the box set.

 

(EIN Note - It will be fascinating to see whether Robert Gordon includes the mainly despondent stories from Elvis' acquaintances at the STAX sessions.)

 

Elvis spent 12 days at Stax in 1973 (July 21-25 and December 10-16), and the rollercoaster ride of those sessions is meticulously detailed in Gordon’s liner notes. ELVIS AT STAX neatly compartmentalizes the results:

•Disc 1: The R&B and Country Sessions – The Outtakes: 17 tracks

•Disc 2: Part 1 – The Pop Sessions – The Outtakes: 10 tracks

•Disc 2: Part 2 – The July 1973 Masters: four single sides and six album tracks, and

•Disc 3: The December 1973 Masters: seven single sides and 11 album tracks.

 

CD1 - The R&B and Country Sessions

1. I Got A Feelin' In My Body - take 1

2. Find Out What's Happening - tks 8/7

3. Promised Land - take 4 (I)

4. For Ol' Times Sake - take 4

5. I've Got A Thing About You, Babe - take 14

6. It's Midnight - take 7

7. If You Talk In Your Sleep - take 5

8. Loving Arms - take 2

9. You Asked Me To - take 3A

10. Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues - take 8

11. Talk About The Good Times - take 3

12. There's A Honky Tonk Angel - tk 1

13. She Wears My Ring - take 8

14. Three Corn Patches - take 14

15. I Got A Feelin' In My Body - take 4

16. If You Don't Come Back - take 3

17. Promised Land - take 5

 

CD 2 - The Pop Sessions / July 1973 Masters

1. Mr. Songman - take 2

2. Your Love's Been A Long time Coming tk4

3. Spanish Eyes - take 2

4. Take Good Care Of Her - takes 1,2,3

5. It's Diff'rent Now (unfinished recording)

6. Thinking About You - take 4

7. My Boy - take 1

8. Girl Of Mine - take 9

9. Love Song Of The Year - take 1

10. If That Isn't Love - take 1

11. Raised On Rock

12. For Ol' Time Sake

13. I've Got A Thing About You Baby

14. Take Good Care Of Her

15. If You Don't Come Back

16. Three Corn Patches

17. Girl Of Mine

18. Just A Little Bit

19. Find Out What's Happening

20. Sweet Angeline

 

CD 3 - The December 1973 Masters

1. Promised Land

2. It's Midnight

3. If You Talk In Your Sleep

4. Help Me

5. My Boy

6. Thinking About You

7. Mr. Songman

8. I Got A Feelin' In My Body

9. Loving Arms

10. Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues

11. You Asked Me To

12. There's A Honky Tonk Angel (Who Will Take Me Back In)

13. Talk About The Good Times

14. She Wears My Ring

15. Your Love's Been A Long Time Coming

16. Love Song Of The Year

17. Spanish Eyes

18. If That Isn't Love

 

(News, Source;Amazon/ElvisInfoNet)

'Elvis At Stax: 40th Anniversary' Legacy Final Details:

 

Celebrating the 40th Anniv of Elvis' STAX studios sessions SONY is releasing a 3 CD 'Elvis At Stax: 40th Anniversary' complete set plus a "Elvis At Stax: 40th Anniv: Best Of" 1CD version. They are both out on Aug 6, 2013. Final Details released today by SONY.

... The last major studio sessions in the career of Elvis Presley have finally been gathered together for the first time in one comprehensive package as 'ELVIS AT STAX: DELUXE EDITION' bristles with energy and dynamism. The deluxe 3-CD box set, a 40th anniversary chronicle of a dozen nights that Presley spent at Stax Recording Studios in his hometown of Memphis in July and Dec 1973, will be released worldwide August 6.

Released simultaneously will be a single CD of highlights from the box set simply titled ELVIS AT STAX, and a 180-gram, double-vinyl LP.

The official website notes 'ELVIS AT STAX' bristles with energy and dynamism. The proof is in the six consecutive singles that the Stax sessions produced, all of which skirted the Top 40 from 1973 to 1975. In effect, they rivaled some of the hottest streaks that Presley had charted a decade earlier. The Stax singles still resonate today:

•"Raised On Rock" b/w "For Ol’ Time Sake" (Hot 100 #41, country #42);

•"I’ve Got A Thing About You Baby" b/w "Take Good Care Of Her" (Hot 100 #39, country #4);

•"Promised Land" b/w "It’s Midnight" (Hot 100 #14, country #9);

•"If You Talk In Your Sleep" b/w "Help Me" (Hot 100 #17, country #6);

•"My Boy" b/w "Thinking About You" (Hot 100 #20, country #14);

•"Mr. Songman" (B-side of "T-R-O-U-B-L-E," Hot 100 #35, country #11).

(EIN note - How odd that Elvis "skirting the Top 40" is a sign of dynamism! Surely RCA would have hoped that Elvis would get into the Top Ten after the success of 'Aloha'?)

Ernst Jørgensen has long been concerned with doing justice to the Stax sessions, which were never acknowledged by the artist's record label RCA as a unified whole. Instead, as with most of Presley's studio work in his second decade as a recording artist, the tracks were scattered onto LPs and intermingled with material recorded in Nashville and Hollywood. The bulk of the Stax cuts showed up on Raised On Rock/For Ol’ Times Sake (1973), Good Times (1974), and Promised Land (1975). For ELVIS AT STAX, many of the outtakes originated on the reissues of those three albums on the FTD label. ELVIS AT STAX was produced by Jørgensen, Semon, and Rob Santos of Legacy A&R.

Taking up the cause for ELVIS AT STAX is another scholar and aficionado of the artist, award-winning resident Memphis journalist Robert Gordon, who has written an in-depth, day-by-day liner notes essay for the box set.

 

(EIN Note - It will be fascinating to see whether Robert Gordon includes the mainly despondent stories from Elvis' acquaintances at the STAX sessions.)

 

Elvis spent 12 days at Stax in 1973 (July 21-25 and December 10-16), and the rollercoaster ride of those sessions is meticulously detailed in Gordon’s liner notes. ELVIS AT STAX neatly compartmentalizes the results:

•Disc 1: The R&B and Country Sessions – The Outtakes: 17 tracks

•Disc 2: Part 1 – The Pop Sessions – The Outtakes: 10 tracks

•Disc 2: Part 2 – The July 1973 Masters: four single sides and six album tracks, and

•Disc 3: The December 1973 Masters: seven single sides and 11 album tracks.

 

CD1 - The R&B and Country Sessions

1. I Got A Feelin' In My Body - take 1

2. Find Out What's Happening - tks 8/7

3. Promised Land - take 4 (I)

4. For Ol' Times Sake - take 4

5. I've Got A Thing About You, Babe - take 14

6. It's Midnight - take 7

7. If You Talk In Your Sleep - take 5

8. Loving Arms - take 2

9. You Asked Me To - take 3A

10. Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues - take 8

11. Talk About The Good Times - take 3

12. There's A Honky Tonk Angel - tk 1

13. She Wears My Ring - take 8

14. Three Corn Patches - take 14

15. I Got A Feelin' In My Body - take 4

16. If You Don't Come Back - take 3

17. Promised Land - take 5

 

CD 2 - The Pop Sessions / July 1973 Masters

1. Mr. Songman - take 2

2. Your Love's Been A Long time Coming tk4

3. Spanish Eyes - take 2

4. Take Good Care Of Her - takes 1,2,3

5. It's Diff'rent Now (unfinished recording)

6. Thinking About You - take 4

7. My Boy - take 1

8. Girl Of Mine - take 9

9. Love Song Of The Year - take 1

10. If That Isn't Love - take 1

11. Raised On Rock

12. For Ol' Time Sake

13. I've Got A Thing About You Baby

14. Take Good Care Of Her

15. If You Don't Come Back

16. Three Corn Patches

17. Girl Of Mine

18. Just A Little Bit

19. Find Out What's Happening

20. Sweet Angeline

 

CD 3 - The December 1973 Masters

1. Promised Land

2. It's Midnight

3. If You Talk In Your Sleep

4. Help Me

5. My Boy

6. Thinking About You

7. Mr. Songman

8. I Got A Feelin' In My Body

9. Loving Arms

10. Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues

11. You Asked Me To

12. There's A Honky Tonk Angel (Who Will Take Me Back In)

13. Talk About The Good Times

14. She Wears My Ring

15. Your Love's Been A Long Time Coming

16. Love Song Of The Year

17. Spanish Eyes

18. If That Isn't Love

 

(News, Source;Amazon/ElvisInfoNet)

 

Following on from this B-)

 

Stax Story - Why Elvis ended up recording at Stax: Marty Lacker gives us the low-down on why Elvis ended up at the STAX studios.

 

... The reason I chose Stax Studios when Elvis asked me to get him a studio to record was because it was secure with a fence and gate guards. Elvis didn't care what studio it was as long as it wasn't American Studios that Parker and Felton poisoned his mind against. When he asked me to get it for him he added that the session didn't mean anything to him and that the only reason he was doing it was because Parker and RCA were nagging him to record.

The songs that Parker and Freddy Bienstock sent him to record were the usual horrible songs they had a piece of the publishing on. I brought him "Raised On Rock" which in my opinion he would have had a hit on if it had been cut at American with Chips Moman and his rhythm section, also "Lovin' Arms" that I think he did a good job on which was published by David Briggs and Norbert Putnam and "We Had It All" which would have been perfect for him but after rehearsing it about 20 times he told me he loved the song but he couldn't do it because he didn't want people to think he was singing it about him and Priscilla. Which to me was ridiculous. My discovery, Rita Coolidge, went on to cut it and she had a big hit with it.

As for the rumors of Elvis trying out some other Chuck Berry songs apart from "Promised Land", yes Elvis had sometimes sung Chuck Berry songs in Graceland - but for whatever reason decided not to record any more of them at this session. Elvis also used to sing Aretha's "Chain Of Fools" a lot.

While Elvis was in the studio working on the songs I was in the office we were using for Elvis to rest in between songs and Bienstock, in front of Tom Diskin and Vernon Presley tried to intimate that I was making money off of Elvis and that wouldn't Elvis be interested in knowing that. I looked him in the eye and said, "You should go in there (the studio), and tell Elvis that but let me save you the trouble, he already knows because I don't do anything like that without telling him."

"All I try to do Freddy is bring Elvis good songs,maybe you should try to do it sometime and your accusation towards me is like the pot calling the kettle black!" He then shut up. I'm sure though that either he or Diskin later told Parker about it, I think that plus me getting Elvis to record at American, was the reason Parker tried to keep future sessions secret from me so I wouldn't bring him songs they didn't have the publishing on. They didn't care how that effected Elvis both career wise and mentally.

- Marty Lacker

 

(News, Source;MartyLacker/ElvisInfoNet)

New FTD Releases for June:

 

EPE have announced full details of the up-coming June FTD releases.

 

- "Elvis Presley - Sold Out!" (2-CD)

 

Prepared and researched for FTD by Robert Frieser / Hans Slebos ('Forty Eight Hours To Memphis' and '3000 South Paradise Road'), featuring the March and June concerts of 1974 from Tulsa, AZ and Cleveland,OH, this release will be presented in 7" format accompanied by 16-page 4-colour booklet and extensive liner notes.

March 1 1974 was the Opening Show of the tour and is as hell of a show! (Thanks CiscoKing)

Disc 1, March 1, 1974, Tulsa Oklahoma

Disc 2, June 21, 1974, Cleveland. Ohio & Bonus track June 17, 1974, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

DISC 1- Also Sprach Zarathustra, See See Rider, I Got A Woman/Amen, Love Me, Trying To Get To You, Sweet Caroline, Love Me Tender, Johnny B. Goode, Hound Dog, Fever, Polk Salad Annie, Why Me Lord?, Suspicious Minds, Introductions by Elvis, I Can't Stop Loving You, Help Me, American Trilogy, Let Me Be There, Funny How Time Slips Away, Can't Help Falling In Love, Closing Vamp, Announcements.

http://www.elvisinfonet.com/EIN_ELVIS_FTD_...eases_2013.html

 

- "Hot August Night" (1-CD)

 

Includes the complete live recording from the midnight show on August 25, 1969. This will be presented in 7" format with a 12-page 4-color booklet.

Tracklist: Blue Suede Shoes, I Got A Woman, All Shook Up, Monologue, Love Me Tender, Jailhouse Rock/Don’t Be Cruel, Heartbreak Hotel, Hound Dog, I Can’t Stop Loving You, My Babe, Mystery Train/ Tiger Man, Life Story Monologue 8:39, Baby What Do You Want Me to Do, Runaway, Are You Lonesome Tonight, Words, Yesterday/Hey Jude, Elvis introductions, Tom Jones etc, In the Ghetto, Suspicious Minds, What’d I Say, Can’t Help Falling in Love

http://www.elvisinfonet.com/EIN_ELVIS_FTD_...eases_2013.html

 

 

- "Elvis Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis" (2-LP Vinyl Limited Edition)

 

FTD's next vinyl release features, for the first time on this format, the complete concert recorded on March 20, 1974, in Memphis, Tennessee. This will be issued on 180gram vinyl and is currently available on CD at ShopElvis.com.

- "Best of British - The HMV Years" (Book)

 

Due to popular demand, FTD is pleased to announce a limited reprint of 'The Best of British - The HMV Years'.

http://www.elvisinfonet.com/EIN_ELVIS_FTD_...eases_2013.html

 

(News, Source;EPE/Various/ElvisInfoNet)

Elvis extended his record for the most entries on the Billboard 200's 57-year history, as "Uncovered" debuts at No. 192 on the Top 200 Album Chart for w/e 8th June, 2013 selling some 2,338 units.Total sales to date: 86,428 ubits.The set is his 128th charted album. With the debut, he widens his lead over runner-up Frank Sinatra (82). It also enters the Current Album Chart at 151 and the Rock Album Chart at at 49.The budget-priced "Uncovered" was released in May, 2012 but finally charts following continued promotion at retail with a 87% increase in sales this week.

 

The following albums appeared on the Catalog Album Charts:

 

'The Very Best Of Love' rises from 126 to 120 selling some 1,591 units. Total sales to date: 361,809 units.

 

'An Afternoon In The Garden' drops from 110 to 140 selling some 1,474 units. Total sales to date: 555,450 units.

 

'Heart And Soul' drops from 115 to 158 selling some 1,378 units. Total sales to date: 647,208 units.

 

Brian

 

 

Cheers for the update Brian B-)

Mick Jagger To Produce Elvis biopic?:

 

According to insider reports, Mick Jagger is in talks to produce an upcoming Elvis Presley biopic. His production company Jagged Films is set to be teaming up with Fox for the biopic, which has been in development for a very long time.

Elvis Presley is one of the most famous figures of our time, so of course there’s been numerous attempts at making a successful biopic about him. While there have been several films featuring Elvis and even some that have made an attempt at capturing parts of his life, there has yet to be a definitive biopic on him that is considered must-see entertainment. Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie agrees, as she explained last year, “There’s not been anything done properly with him yet, you know, that has satisfied me in terms of capturing everything. It will happen, though.”

Although the project is said to be in very early stages, this might be the first Elvis biopic that earns the stamp of approval from his family, considering that Jagger is involved.

It’s always hard to make a biopic based on such an influential figure, especially when the rights to their life still remain in various people’s hands, including their family’s. There’s also been a lot of competition within Hollywood itself to get this film made, and Jagger’s involvement might seal the deal for Fox.

"The Last Train to Memphis" has supposedly been in development for a long time at Fox [ten years, to be exact], and it’s said to be based on a biography of the same title that was written in 1995.

There has been industry chatter about a potential Presley biopic over the past few years, with the Hollywood Reporter calling it a race between hopefuls in November 2011. Everyone from “Idol” creator Simon Fuller to billionaire Steve Bing are said to have tried to push the project forward, but numerous roadblocks involving the narrative and intellectual property have stood in the way.

Apparently it may take someone with Mick Jagger's rock-and-roll cache to make it happen.

“He was a unique artist – an original in an area of imitators," Jagger reportedly said of Elvis.

 

(News, Source;SanjaM/ElvisInfoNet)

Thanks for posting Carole. 😀

'Elvis… Through His Daughter’s Eyes' New Video Tour:

 

After two years the acclaimed VIP exhibit at Graceland, "Elvis… Through His Daughter’s Eyes" recently ended its run to make way for an all new VIP exhibit coming later this month. The exhibit looks at Lisa Marie's experience of growing up with a famous father and features items assembled by Lisa Marie and the Graceland Archives team. Home movies, toys and rarely-seen family mementos are among the many items that were on display.

The new VIP exhibit - "60 Years of Elvis" – will open in this space on February 24, 2014. In this new exhibit, guests will explore the birth of rock ‘n’ roll music in July of 1954, with the recording of "That’s All Right" at Sun Studio.

Click on the link for a 20 minute video tour of the now-closed Exhibit with Graceland's Director of Archives Angie Marchese and Sirius XM Elvis Radio's DJ Argo.

 

http://new.livestream.com/accounts/5071764/events/2751988

 

(News, Source;EPE/ElvisInfoNet)

Elvis' Hillcrest Home Sold Again:

 

Peter Morton, Hard Rock Cafe founder, has on-sold Elvis' LA mansion making a neat $4.7Million profit in under 18 months.

Just over a year after he bought Elvis Presley's old Beverly Hills mansion for $9.8 million, Hard Rock Cafe founder Peter Morton has flipped the property for a tidy property, according to real estate blogger The Real Estalker.

The home reportedly sold off-the-market to a corporate entity for $14.5 million. Morton was rumored to be tearing down the historic home, but it seems that luckily those plans never panned out.

The home, which has four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and spans 5,367 square feet, sold to Morton in December 2012 for significantly less than the initial $13million asking price.

 

(News, Source;LAEstate/ElvisInfoNet)

Prince William and Prince Harry at Graceland :cheer:

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-26...-Graceland.html

Dewey Phillips' Studio at SUN:

Sun Records has just finished reconstructing this replica of Dewey Phillips' studio at WHBQ Radio as an addition to their daily Memphis music tour. This was Dewey's "personal" studio where he hosted his nightly "Red, Hot & Blue" radio show from 9 till Midnight. In 1954 the show claimed over 65% of the radio audience in that time slot. The tiles on the wall, the turntables, the audio board and microphone are from the original WHBQ studio on the mezzanine floor of the Chisca Hotel in downtown Memphis. It was in this studio that Sun Records founder Sam Phillips walked in one evening in July, 1954 and handed Dewey an acetate pressing of Elvis Presley's "That's Alright" to introduce on the air. And that was the beginning of PRESLEYMANIA.

 

(News, Source;MikeFreeman/Elvis Matters/ElvisInfoNet)

 

 

This rather disturbing 'Associated Press' report really makes us concerned about the direction EPE is taking Elvis' legacy and particularly the 'Graceland' name of late : For 30 years, tourists from around the world have paid money to get a look at two airplanes once owned by Elvis Presley at Graceland in Memphis. Fans enjoy touring the planes for their direct connection to Elvis Presley and his jet-setting lifestyle, a sort of touchstone to the life of the King of Rock and Roll and his family.

However, by April of next year, the planes named 'Lisa Marie' and 'Hound Dog II' could be gone.

 

Elvis Presley Enterprises, which operates the Graceland tourist attraction, has written to the planes' owners saying they should prepare to remove the jets from Graceland by next spring.

 

The planes have been a tourist attraction since the mid-1980s. They had been sold after Presley's death, and were eventually purchased by OKC Partnership in Memphis.

 

OKC Partnership and Graceland agreed to bring the two jets to Graceland. The agreement called for OKC Partnership to receive a cut of ticket sales in return for keeping the planes there.

 

 

- See more at: http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/graceland-...h.3xPmXOdF.dpuf

Thank you Autochanger for sharing this news! Here is an update.

 

Future of Elvis’ Airplanes at Graceland in doubt?:

 

It has been a bad week for EPE! After strong fan backlash over plans to change the name of its “Elvis Insiders” club (see report 1 July), it is again under fire, this time with apparent plans to end its agreement with the owner of Elvis’ two airplanes for their continued exhibition at Graceland.

 

From an AP report: For 30 years, tourists from around the world have paid money to get a look at two airplanes once owned by Elvis Presley at Graceland in Memphis. Fans enjoy touring the planes for their direct connection to Presley and his jet-setting lifestyle, a sort of touchstone to the life of the King of Rock and Roll and his family.

By April of next year, the planes named Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II could be gone. Elvis Presley Enterprises, which operates the Graceland tourist attraction, has written to the planes' owners saying they should prepare to remove the jets from Graceland by next spring. The planes have been a tourist attraction since the mid-1980s. They had been sold after Presley's death, and were eventually purchased by OKC Partnership in Memphis.

OKC Partnership and Graceland agreed to bring the two jets to Graceland. The agreement called for OKC Partnership to receive a cut of ticket sales in return for keeping the planes there. In an April 7 letter to OKC Partnership's K.G. Coker, Elvis Presley Enterprises CEO Jack Soden says the company is exercising its option to end the agreement and asks Coker "to make arrangements for the removal of the airplanes and the restoration of the site on or shortly after April 26, 2015." Their removal could cause an uproar among fans, especially those who visit Graceland every year as part of an annual pilgrimage to events such as Elvis Week and the candlelight vigil commemorating Presley's death.

 

Dedicated Elvis fan Paul Fivelson of Algonquin, Illinois, says he expects many fans will be upset to hear the planes may be leaving: "The people who come to Memphis for Elvis Week like seeing those planes there because it's just part of the whole aura of what Elvis was about," Fivelson said Tuesday. "It would be kind of blasphemous to take them away, and I think there are probably a lot of fans who will feel the same way."

 

The disclosure also raises questions about the future use of the site where the airplanes now sit, across the street from Presley's longtime home. Elvis Presley Enterprises declined immediate comment.

 

In November, New York-based Authentic Brands Group bought Elvis Presley Enterprises and the licensing and merchandising rights for Presley's music and image from CORE Media Group. As part of the deal, Joel Weinshanker, founder of the National Entertainment Collectibles Association, acquired the operating rights to Graceland, which attracts about 500,000 visitors each year. After the sale, Authentic Brands said upgrades to the tourist attraction were planned. Earlier this year, Elvis Presley Enterprises announced plans to build a 450-room hotel, theater and restaurant, with a projected opening date of August 2015. Their plan was approved Tuesday by the Memphis City Council.

 

 

Today, Graceland visitors can buy a ticket that includes a tour of Presley's home-turned-museum and the two airplanes. Fans climb into the airplanes for an up-close look at their interiors. The larger plane, a Convair 880 named after Presley's daughter Lisa Marie, is like a customized flying limousine, complete with a large bed, a stereo system, conference room and gold-plated bathroom fixtures.

 

It was renovated after Presley bought it from Delta Air Lines. Presley took his first flight on it in November 1975. When Presley died on Aug. 16, 1977, Presley's pilot flew the Lisa Marie to California to pick up Presley's ex-wife, Priscilla Presley, to bring her back to Memphis. The smaller jet, a JetStar named the Hound Dog II, was also used by Presley.

 

At one point, after the planes were sold following the singer's death, the Lisa Marie was owned by Raymond Zimmerman, owner of the Service Merchandise chain, according to Coker. The Hound Dog II was in the hands of Hustler head Larry Flynt for a time, Coker said. OKC Partnership eventually bought the planes and the Lisa Marie was installed at Graceland in 1984. The Hound Dog II came later. Coker, 76, says OKC may sell the planes if they're removed from Graceland, but he still hopes to negotiate a deal that would keep the planes there. Coker acknowledges that he and his partners would lose money from ticket sales if the planes were removed.

"I would love to see the airplanes stay where they are forever," Coker said. "Millions of fans have toured those airplanes and there's a real connection between fans and those airplanes. Those airplanes are part of the Elvis experience."

 

EIN has received a number of messages on the issue: This one epitomizes fan feelings:

 

 

Brave decision given the recent backlash to changing Elvis Insiders name (which they quickly backtracked on but of course that was much easier to do than the planes decision). Wonder if it is really because of the redevelopment plan or if EPE manoeuvring for a much better deal on the planes. Certainly would free up a lot of space and for new tourists to G/L they won’t realise what they’re missing. Of course older fans will be incensed. Progress does that to us!

 

In response to negative backlash, Priscilla Presley apparently posted on her Facebook page:

 

 

I see your posts about the planes. Please calm down, we're in the midst of negotiations. It's as simple as that. Thank you.

 

EIN Comment: As the AP report gives NO indication the issue was actually being negotiated it was quite reasonable that fans thought the issue was NOT “....as simple as that”.

 

The bottom line is EPE can do what they want (regardless of what fans think), however greater transparency and a more effective pr strategy would benefit them greatly with fans! It is surprising (downright worrying) EPE has not realised this over the years. After more than three decades the EPE organisation continues to not understand and therefore underestimate how fans think and feel!

 

The reality is the owner of the planes, OKC Partnership, stands to lose a lot if the planes are no longer on display at Graceland. By themselves they would not be a huge tourist attraction except maybe as part of an airplane museum.

 

The planes represent an important part of the Elvis story and as such it is reasonable to view the current situation as a strategic ploy on the part of EPE to obtain a significantly improved financial deal on their continued presence at Graceland.

 

(News/Comment, Source: AP/Facebook/EIN)

 

Will be watching this story to see what actually happens. It would be such a shame of the planes were removed as an exhibit. They are very important to the Elvis story and I would like to see an agreement reached where they can remain at Graceland so visitors in the future can still 'board' Elvis' plane.

 

 

Sweet Inspirations Inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame: :cheer:

 

Last week at the special Rhythm, and Blues Music Hall of Fame, Ohio ceremony, The Sweet Inspirations as well as many other including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Marvin Gaye and The Funk Brothers were all inducted.

As reported by Elvis Presley Fans of Nashville, the award was accepted posthumously by the families of Myrna Smith and Sylvia Shemwell.

Martin Smith, son of the late Myrna Smith, noted, "We did not only accept in honour of the late Myrna Smith and the late Sylvia Shemwell, but gave well deserved credit to Estelle Brown and also to Portia Griffin."

The Sweet Inspirations founder Emily "Cissy" Houston, was unable to attend the induction ceremony. Cissy did however compose a beautiful letter that was read out loud at the ceremony.

Very sadly two of the group have passed away. Myrna Smith joined The Sweet Inspirations in 1965 and sadly passed away Dec 24th, 2010 while Sylvia Shemwell who joined in 1968 died in February 2010.

Estelle Brown is the only original Sweet Inspirations member still performing live today

Myrna Smith was very close to Elvis and initially dated Elvis' close friend Jerry Schilling before they married.

 

Go HERE to EIN's exclusive interview with Myrna Smith http://www.elvisinfonet.com/myrna.html

 

Go here to the Rhythm, and Blues Music Hall of Fame website. http://www.rbhalloffame.com/

 

(News, Source;ElvisPresleyFansofNashville/ElvisInfoNet)

Nashville RCA Studio A Saved

 

Just in time, a Nashville-area businessman has agreed to purchase and preserve the historic recording studio in the heart of the city’s Music Row neighbourhood that had been planned for demolition, a potential outcome that had sparked a broader movement to protect other musical landmarks in a place that proudly bills itself as “Music City.” The $5.6 million sale agreement was announced Friday by Bravo Development, which owns the building that houses RCA Studio A, a 49-year-old recording room that has hosted artists including Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and B. B. King.

While Elvis recorded all his classics in RCA Studio B, he did however play a charade on Priscilla arranging for her to observe a pretend Elvis session in Studio A!

Bassist Norbert Putnam writes about it in his forthcoming book....

" On the first night Felton met David Briggs and me in the corridor outside RCA's Studio A. We stood, just outside the control room door, listening in disbelief as Felton explained that "Priscilla's been buggin' him to come see a session, so Elvis decided he'd stage one." Even though the last album was already pressed and about to be shipped, we would pretend to do a few final touch-ups. Elvis would have a few ideas about the bass parts, even though he never had before. And yes, David would be changing a few piano parts. More than anything else, Elvis had a bunch of new stories he couldn't wait to share with us.

When we entered the control room right on time at six o'clock, there sat the King, the man who in the past had never arrived before eight. He jumped to his feet and pulled his beautiful Queen across the room to meet us. We were introduced as "Putt and David, the greatest bass player, the greatest piano player in the world!" He went on to say, "Putt was the one who played that great bass part on 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me,' and you remember the great piano intro on 'Love Letters'?"

... In the next minute or two, Pachucki led Priscilla out of the control room and into the large cavernous studio, explaining how he would arrange the room for this important Presley overdub session. With Priscilla gone, Elvis seized the opportunity to apologize for the charade, but begged us to please play along. "You know I love this woman dearly, but I wouldn't ever want her to witness all the silly shenanigans that occur on a real live session," he said. We smiled and nodded our heads in quiet understanding.

EIN thanks Greg Cain for the story.

 

(News, Source;GregCain/ElvisInfoNet)

Ronnie Tutt Inducted into The Classic Drummer Hall of Fame:

 

Great News that Ronnie Tutt has been inducted into the 'Classic Drummer Hall of Fame'.

The magazine notes... Whenever you see film of The King slaying an audience in one of his trademark jumpsuits, the man driving the groove and punching Elvis' every move is none other than the great Ron Tutt. Whether in the studio or on the stage, Presley trusted Ron to support the emotion of the moment and the feel of the music.

Of course when an artist spends a decade working with an icon, his other work can often be overshadowed. However, after Elvis' death, Tutt was invited to join Neil Diamond as his permanent touring and studio drummer. In addition, he's either performed with or recorded with such greats as Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers, Los Lobos, Elvis Costello and Jerry Garcia. He's even worked with pop stars Billy Joel, the Carpenters, Stevie Nicks and Michael McDonald, and his work on Roy Orbison's In Black and White Live is time capsule worthy.

In addition to other projects, today Ron Tutt still plays with the King as part of the "virtual Elvis" tour along with his former band mates and an audio-visual representations of ELVIS.

 

Congratulations Ron.

 

(News, Source;RTFB/ElvisInfoNet)

News on Elvis planes

 

MEMPHIS, Tennessee — Two airplanes once owned by Elvis Presley, the Lisa Marie and the Hound Dog II, could be moved from Graceland to a location down the street under a plan approved by a county board.

 

The Shelby County Land Use Control Board approved the plan Thursday from the planes' current owners, OKC Partnership.

 

The planes have been situated at Graceland since the mid-1980s. Elvis Presley Enterprises, which operates Graceland, has asked OKC Partnership to arrange for the planes' removal from Graceland on or shortly after April 26.

 

The Memphis City Council must approve the plan. If they are moved to the new location, the planes would be part of an outdoor display and museum for tourists to visit.

 

Source http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/n...moved/25527655/