Brian Quinn

For me it's nothing to do with which version I prefer but do I like the new album. The answer is yes and it is something new to listen to. I much prefer listening to the new remixes than 15 takes of 'Padre' on a FTD album. Brian

Apparently the Japanese edition of the 'Viva Elvis' album contains 14 tracks including a "Love Me Tender' duet featuring Hikawa Kiyoshi and the JXL Remix of 'A Little Less Conversation'. Brian

Well, the first week sales of 'Viva Elvis' The Album are in for the U.S.A. and they are much worse than expected. It sold 12,622 copies entering the Billboard Chart at No.48. I find this result extremely disappointing. There must be a genuine reason why this release has not done as well as expected and I do not accept that some Elvis fans do not like it as the main reason. I suspect people did not know of it's release and that SONY have failed Elvis with marketing the album. Even the 2008 'Christmas Duets' fared better. Extremely frustrating when one looks at the forthcoming Michael Jackson Album due out on 14th December which has already got an advance in the U.S.A. alone of 800,000. Brian :(

The 'Viva Elvis' album sold 14,088 copies in the UK last week. Strictly Come Dancing Saturday, 20th November 18:30 on BBC One (UK) Synopsis: Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly present a special Vegas spectacular in Blackpool, with the eight remaining celebrities going all-out to illuminate the dancefloor. The couples will be putting in towering performances, hoping to gain high judges' scores and viewer votes. Voting lines open at the end of the show, and another celebrity will leave before the weekend is over. It is believed that a troup from 'Viva Elvis' will appear on this show and perform 'Blue Suede Shoes' (remix) from the new album. Should help increase sales of the album in the UK. Brian :D

'Viva Elvis' - The Album enters the UK Charts at No.19. The highest entry so far announced for any country is Holland where it debuted at 13. Brian

'Bossa Nova Baby' is getting some excellent comments on the various Elvis Message Boards and the following is another video made for Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUeaVMwyR4U Brian

Other albums, apart from Susan Boyle and Taylor Swift, heading for a high arrival on next week's Billboard 200 include Reba McEntire's "All the Women I Am," Bon Jovi's "Greatest Hits," the "Now 36" compilation, Cee Lo Green's "The Lady Killer," Elvis Presley's "Viva Elvis," Alter Bridge's "AB III" and Kid Cudi's "Man on the Moon 2: the Legend of Mr. Rager." Further, A 'Best Buy' store worker in Las Vegas reports that it "Sold Out" of copies of 'Viva Elvis -The Album' in just 48 hours. Plus he reports that 'Best Buy' Radio, the in-store promotional show that is on all day, plays 'Suspicious Minds 2010' every hour or so. Way to go Vegas!!! Brian

Please go to the following URL: http://www.vegasdeluxe.com/blogs/luxe-life...ie-erich-van-t/ Brian :D

Please go to the following URL: Brian :dance:

No improvement today on yesterday's chart position with 7,000 sales as of now. There will be a major push on next week's 'Strictly Come Dancing' when a dance team from the 'Viva Elvis' Show will perform 'Blue Suede Shoes'. One can only hope this will give the album some exposure and increase sales/chart position. As regards the TV Campaign, the album has been getting exposure in areas considered demographically favourable to Elvis. Some £80,000 has already been spent on the album in these areas alone. To cover the whole of the UK would have cost £180,000 and the current level of sales cannot justify this. We must always remember that SONY is a company and therefore has to make a profit. Regarding record sales in general the UK album sales are down 7% year on year and unless an act is the 'current thing' e.g. 'X' Factor Winners, Take That, Susan Boyle et al it is always going to be difficult for established artists like Elvis to do as well as in the past with no new product. It is a challenge for Sony to know where they can go from here and it may be that we are not far from no Elvis records being released at all within the next couple of years. One must remember that the major part of the fan base is ageing rapidly and dying off which must contribute to a drop in sales. Sony also state that they cannot see a 'Viva Elvis' (Part 2) being released as has been rumoured. Sorry to be so negative with this post but I believe in telling it like it is. I only wish I could be reporting a No.1 album with over 100,000 sales!! I know it is no comfort, but if you think the 'Viva Elvis' album has done badly just look at Tom Jones latest 'Greatest Hits' released on the same day. It is not even in the Top 40 at present. A major disappointment for him. Brian

Please go to the following URL: http://www.elvis.com/news/detail.aspx?id=5021 I wonder if SONY will use this to promote the album in the UK and elsewhere? Brian

The 'Viva Elvis' album is No.13 on the UK Midweek Album Charts (1st Day Report) selling some 4,500 copies. Sony state they will get a better idea tomorrow if it is likely to go higher. Brian

There will be an Elvis Night on the Biography Channel (156) commencing at 8 p.m. on Sunday, 21st November. Brian

'VIVA ELVIS' - THE ALBUM - REVIEW by Brian Quinn I have just listened to 'Viva Elvis' - The Album which was very kindly sent to my by SONY(UK) and I am not afraid to say I am in tears. It is PHENOMENAL and the sound AMAZING. Truly a listening and emotional experience and genuinely revolutionary in concept which should give it an excellent chance for a Grammy Award next year. This is truly Elvis for the 21st Century. The whole album is built around a biographical theme with comments from Elvis, Ed Sullivan, Bill Black, Milton Berle etc. and snippets of other Elvis songs apart from those listed on the album cover. This is one album that I will be playing a lot and not just once or twice. Yes, we would have liked more tracks but the ones on the album are longer than usual apart from 'Memories' and 'You'll Never Walk Alone' which are linking themes as shown below. I would also have liked to have had the names of the individual female singers featured on the duets. The album cover is very colorful, contemporary, and features a booklet containing many scenes from the 'Viva Elvis' show with details of the cast etc. Now on to my review: 1. Opening The album opens with the strains of what is commonly known by Elvis fans as 'The 2001 Theme' together with females screaming and chanting "We Want Elvis". Great drums featured in the background. Elvis himself comments 'If You're Looking For Trouble'. There are also historical comments from Ed Sullivan and track 1 commences a countdown into track 2. A fitting start to the album. 2. Blue Suede Shoes Heavy version with drums and harmonica up front. Has a distinct Bo Diddley feel to it and again comments from Ed Sullivan and Milton Berle. Lots of sound wizardry here. 3. That's All Right Has a great feel to it and commences with a similar opening to 'I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine' with comments by Horace Logan and Bill Black. Screaming girls add to the atmosphere. Also snatches of 'When It Rains It Really Pours'. 4. Heartbreak Hotel This track has a great powerful Blues feel to it and starts out with Elvis doing his famous 'Well, Well Well' routine. A really heavy version follows which quite literally bounces along with great Harmonica/Sax/Brass/Drums and Piano. Snippets of 'Stranger In My Own Home Town' (informal rehearsal) as featured on 'The Essential 70's Masters Box Set. 'Polk Salad Annie' even gets a mention. 5. Love Me Tender A beautiful duet with a really great female singer and a very contemporary arrangement with acoustic guitar adds up to a real winner. Elvis closes the duet by singing a snippet of 'In My Way' from the movie 'Wild In The Country'. In my opinion this would make a great single release. 6. King Creole This track commences in a similar fashion to the opening of the film of the same name with strains of 'Crawfish'/'Gumbo'. Slower than the original version with the cast singing along. Elvis also sings a snippet of 'Hard Headed Woman'. The track ends in the same fashion as the beginning with 'Gumbo'. 'Elvis also sings a snippet of 'New Orleans'. 7. Bossa Nova Baby Commences with Elvis making comments in the recording studio to Hal Wallace. We are then treated to an excellent version of this well known track featuring drums/sax/piano/bass and organ. During the song a part of the arrangement is reminiscent of 'Barbara Ann' by The Beach Boys. Elvis comments "It's Hot In Here". Ends with a great Boots Randolph style sax. A contemporary version without losing the original feel. This would be a great track for the programme 'Dancing With The Stars'. 8. Burning Love Commences with the famous comment made by Elvis (on the 'Elvis sails' EP) to the Press Corps on joining the U.S. Army. On being asked "What's your idea of the ideal girl?" Elvis answers with much laughing '"Female Sir". A heavy version follows with guitar/drums and guitar to the fore. There is also a piece of dialogue included from the movie 'Jailhouse Rock' where Elvis has just kissed Judy Tyler (Peggy Van Alden) and she turns to him in disgust and states "How dare you think that such cheap tactics would work with me?" and Elvis replies "That ain't tactics honey, its just the beast in me". 9. Memories A short orchestral piece of 'Memories' which is really a means of segueing into 10. Can't Help Falling In Love This is a really fine contemporary version of this classic track and sung as a duet with a great female singer similar in style to Mariah Carey. Elvis opens the track accompanied by acoustic guitar. Very melodious. Interestingly the track fades out with Elvis repeating part of the song 'Love Me'. 11. You'll Never Walk Alone (Piano Interlude) A beautiful short piano solo played as if it were Elvis himself and segues into the final track. 12. Suspicious Minds Great up tempo closer for the album which is heavy on drums/piano/bass and guitar. Similar type female backing group as the Sweet Inspirations. A very melodious version with Elvis urging everyone on near the end shouting "C'mon, C'mon, C'mon". Finally, I would like to make this important point. To fully appreciate this album one needs to treat it as a whole and not just a conglomeration of unrelated tracks. As stated earlier it is truly a unique 'listening experience' and and one that is linked biographically to cover all Elvis eras from 'That's All Right' to 'Suspicious Minds' taking in the 50's, the Movies, the Army, the 68 TV Special and Vegas. Special thanks go out to Erich van Tourneau and his team for this innovative concept in recorded music and to EPE and Sony Music Entertainment for their support for the project. This album will whet the appetite of fans worldwide to go and see the show 'Viva Elvis' when it eventually goes on tour and bring back fond memories for those who have already seen it. I personally cannot wait. Brian

I spoke with a Marketing Director from SONY(UK) this morning and put the following questions to him: Q. Why was 'Suspicious Minds' (new version) not released in the UK? A. Basically due to a lack of airplay and no support from the radio stations. Radio 1 and 2 would not play it and other radio stations also. This would appear to be down to the managers of these programmes being over 40 and steeped in the tradition of one should not mess with the original releases. In the circumstances we decided to pull it and save the embarrassment of having the single appear at around No.50. Q. Why is 'Suspicious Minds' appearing on the 'Now That's What I Call Music' No.36? A. It is only on the U.S.A. version of this album and the idea is for Elvis' music to gain exposure to a younger demographic. Q. As Elvis and Susan Boyle are both SONY artists why have the release dates of both their latest albums been scheduled for the same date - 8th November? A. People do not realise how difficult it is to schedule a record for release. There was no conspiracy as to both their albums being released on the same date and in fact it may actually benefit Elvis and Boyle in that they appeal to roughly the same demographic. Many people only go out to buy a record once or twice a year and in this instance Boyle fans will see the 'Viva Elvis' album in the stores alongside and may be tempted to buy it also. Of course this similarly works to Boyle's credit. Q. Why are there only 12 tracks on the 'Viva Elvis' album? A. Because the producer of the album felt that they were the best of the bunch basically and was not prepared to put his name to any of the others. Q. When will the TV Campaign begin for the 'Viva Elvis' album in the UK? A. On Sunday 7th November. Q. Is the proposed 'Duets' album still scheduled for a 2011 release and will it be limited to only SONY artists? A. Yes, it is still scheduled for a 2011 release and no it is not limited to SONY artists. The other issue I forgot to mention was that of 'downloads'. Sony state that due to the demographic of those who download singles it was highly unlikely that Elvis would have achieved a high chart placing. The record world is a different place to when we all had to go out and buy hard copies. If they were still the norm then 'Suspicious Minds', with a modicum of airplay, would have had a great chance of a Top 3 single, in the UK at least. However, Sony did apologise for not letting fans know in advance that the single was not going to be on sale on the scheduled day of release. Well there you have it from the horses mouth. Brian

How's this for a review of the 'Viva Elvis' album: http://www.rockstarweekly.com/cd-review-el...-the-album.html Brian

I have forwared the following letter of complaint to Ged Doherty the Chairman/CEO of Sony Music (UK/Ireland) (e-mail: ged.doherty@sonymusic.com). My letter is as follows: Dear Sir, It gives me no pleasure to complain about the way the Elvis Presley single 'Suspicious Minds' has been handled by Sony Music (UK). Elvis Presley fans were informed by Sony that the single, taken from the forthcoming 'Viva Elvis' album, was to be released in the UK and Ireland on 25th October, 2010. It was also played at the Elvis Presley Tribute Concert in Hyde Park recently. It received its UK radio outing on Smooth Radio some three weeks ago and all fans were ready to buy it and hopefully get it a high chart placing. I personally organised a UK Radio request campaign for the single asking UK fans to e-mail their favourite DJ's to request a playing. This was published in the 'Essential Elvis' Magazine which has a circulation of some 1500-2000. This effort has now been wasted. However, many fans like myself, and I am 66 years of age, ventured out on the 25th in the anticipation of purchasing the said single only to be informed by the record store (HMV) that they had no record of such a release. I was astounded to say the least. Whoever was project manager for this release should be held accountable to his/her line manager and asked to make a public apology to the UK Elvis fans and indeed the public in general. No notification was given by Sony(UK) that the record would not be on sale or why. I and many others wasted time and money travelling to purchase this record. To say I am disappointed at Sony(UK) is an understatement and feel that Elvis Presley, the biggest money spinner for the label over the years, is being treated in such a fashion. To add insult to injury I now find that the single will now be issued on the album 'Now That's What I Call Music, Volume 36' This is outrageous and a blatant use of Elvis' name to further the careers of new Sony artists. I had ordered some 50 copies of the 'Viva Elvis' album )(genuinely) from Amazon and HMV and was going to give them as Christmas presents to relatives and friends and the remainder given to local libraries and hospices. I now find that Sony has changed the release date of the latest Susan Boyle album 'The Gift' to the same date as the 'Viva Elvis' album (8th November) which now ensures that 'Viva Elvis' has no chance of a No.1 chart entry. The irony of this is that, as you will be well aware, Boyle is also a Sony artist. Again a bad project management decision. In the circumstances I have cancelled my orders for the 'Viva Elvis' album, apart from a copy for myself. I sincerely hope that you will address these issues and make a statement. Many Thanks. Yours faithfully, Brian Quinn

To say I am disappointed with SONY(UK) is an understatement. 'Suspicious Minds' was nowhere to be found on its official release day, 25th October. To make matters worse how about this: 'Suspicious Minds 2010' is to be included on the soon to be release hit single compilation 'NOW 36'. As we all know the whole single release has been a total farce and now this latest news makes it even more of a joke. 'Suspicious Minds 2010' is a brand new mix of the classic Elvis recording, however, on this new compilation, the song is listed as a BONUS....FLASHBACK TRACK! Flashback? Who the hell is responsible for the campaign? Do SONY have any clue as to what this new recording is all about? Does a brand new modern mix really qualify as a "Flashback Track"? “Now 36” comes with info on how to enter a contest to win a trip to Vegas to see “Viva Elvis by Cirque du Soleil” at that Aria Hotel. “Now That’s What I Call Music! Vol. 36,” the latest in the never-ending collection of current pop hits, will street on November 9th. And if you think that is bad the latest Susan Boyle Album 'The Gift' has had its release date changed from 15th November to 8th November - the same date as 'Viva Elvis'. Boyle is already No.1 on the Amazon (UK) chart and guess who Boyles' record company is....................................SONY!!. So that means no No.1 for 'Viva Elvis'. Whoever is responsible for these decisions should have their job terminated immediately. Following these releases I suggest all fans write a letter of complaint to the head of Sony(UK) complaining of the way Elvis and his Legacy have been treated. I will post names and adresses later. Brian :(

This has been around on the Web for some time now but I thought I would post it on this Board for those who may not have seen it. I think it is amazing, especially as it is only in its embryo stage, but if perfected then it could form the basis for the next generation of 'Elvis In Concert'. Brian

I have just heard that there will be 2 CD formats of 'Viva Elvis'. These will be as follows: Format 1 - Single CD as already announced and Format 2 (Double CD) - CD1 - Tracks as already announced. CD2 - The original versions of the tracks. I believe the 2 CD version to be about £1.25 more than the single version. Brian

Elvis and Lisa Lois duet on 'Love Me Tender' from the Dutch version of the 'Viva Elvis' album. The song starts at 2:50: http://www.alissia.nl/Lisa%20Lois%20in%20d...et%20Elvis..mp3 Pleasant arrangement. Brian

Please go to the following URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AebDxza7NfM What a proud moment that must have been for Elvis. Brian

I lost my wife (aged 59) in 2007 to this terrible disease. Let's hope they find a cure for cancer in the not too distant future. It certainly devastates a lot of families. Brian

The Marketing Campaign for 'Viva Elvis' - The Album has begun. Please go to the folowing URL: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showb...-new-album.html Brian :D

Regarding the Chilean Mining Disaster. As you will recall, one of the Chilean miners is an Elvis fan and insisted on a photograph of Elvis being sent down to him. He also raised the spirits of the other miners by organising Elvis singalongs. It was anticipated that the miners would not be freed until around Christmas time but rapid progress has been made and it is anticipated that they will be free in around two weeks time. I, and others, thought that it would be a nice gesture if EPE were to arrange a free trip to Graceland for him and perhaps, the other miners, when they were rescued and had time to overcome some of their trauama. An e-mail was sent to EPE. and I am very pleased to print the following reply I have just received from them: "Yes, we are in touch with CNN Chile and have sent a big package of movies and music to him that they are sending down to him for the rest of the time. We are also talking with them about a visit!" Brian