“…and hold your loved ones tight.”
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
“Give thanks for all you’ve been blessed with…”
“…and hold your loved ones tight.”
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Archives
A collection of my Elvis and Elvis-adjacent writings outside The Mystery Train.
Get well wishes to rhythm guitarist John Wilkinson [Update: Wilkinson home]
ElvisMatters reports that John Wilkinson, who played rhythm guitar from 1969 to 1977 for Elvis, is back in the hospital. Best wishes to John for a speedy recovery and a return home in time for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Read the full article on ElvisMatters: John Wilkinson back in hospital.
[November 28, 2010, UPDATE – Wilkinson is back home:
(A)fter a check-up and some pain relief medications, his doctors told him he was as healthy as could be ‘given the wear and tear and the mileage’. John is enjoying the company of his wife Terry and his two doggies – and like he told us on the phone: ‘a day without Elvis music is a day wasted.’ Even today, 33 years on, John listens to his idol/boss/friend every single day: ‘I loved him then, and I love him now. Some things will never change.'”
(Source: www.elvismatters.com)]
Sony taking pre-orders for second run of The Complete Elvis Presley Masters
The first run limited edition of The Complete Elvis Presley Masters sold out before its release earlier this month. For those who missed out, Sony is now taking pre-orders for a second run – which will be identical to the first, except it will not be numbered. The set will ship in January 2011. See the official Complete Elvis Presley Masters site for more details.
Introducing a new page: Elvis Presley Master Recordings
I’ve added a new reference page to The Mystery Train Elvis Blog, Elvis Presley Master Recordings. Inspired by the two recent complete Elvis masters releases, it lists and explains what I consider the 710 Elvis master recordings released during his lifetime.
View The Mystery Train Elvis Blog’s Elvis Presley Master Recordings page. You can also access it using the tab at the top of the page.
Stop Where You Are
The Elvis Information Network today posted a spotlight on Elvis statues and memorials across the globe. I loved seeing the different interpretations and tributes.
My favorite, by far, is the statue currently on display at the Tennessee Welcome Center on Interstate 40 (labeled as “Mud Island, Memphis, Tennessee” on the EIN page; you can also see some detailed close-up shots of it near the top of their page).
This bronze statue by sculptor Eric Parks actually stood on Beale Street from 1980 to 1994. Though it was only ten years old by the time I saw it in 1990, it had already significantly deteriorated due to weather erosion and fan graffiti.
In 1994, the statue was removed for restoration. It was replaced by the rather bland but weather-resistant Elvis statue that still resides on Beale Street today (labeled as “The iconic Elvis statue on Beale Street, Memphis Tennessee” on the EIN page).
The original Parks statue, refurbished to its former glory, made its return in 1997, this time inside the visitor center – safe from weather and overzealous fans.
I hope to return to Memphis within the next few years, and the former “Elvis On Beale” statue at the Tennessee Welcome Center is definitely on my list of must-sees.
Be sure to check out EIN’s Elvis Statues & Memorials page.
Update on Sweet Inspiration Myrna Smith
Elvis Unlimited yesterday posted an update on Myrna Smith, who provided backing vocals for Elvis from 1969 to 1977 as a member of the Sweet Inspirations. “Myrna continues to be very weak, her health is not good, & she sleeps most of the time. She is still getting dialysis three times a week,” reports the site.
For more information, read the full update on Myrna at Elvis Unlimited.
I’ve been listening to Myrna for as long as I’ve been listening to Elvis – basically my whole life. I wish her well.
Some thoughts on “It’s Still Here” and Elvis In Nashville
Thomas over at the Elvis Today blog has written a great review of the latest FTD classic album release, 1973’s Elvis (Fool). “Of the three ‘Elvis at the piano’ songs, my favorite has always been ‘It’s Still Here,'” he says.
“It’s Still Here” is definitely my favorite as well, by a long shot over “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen” and “I Will Be True.” I first heard “It’s Still Here” on a 1988 compilation album called Elvis In Nashville. I remember listening to that record over and over, and particularly loving that song because it featured Elvis on piano. It’s one of those sad “Always On My Mind” style songs that I gravitate towards, anyway. Wonderful performance.
I just pulled out Elvis In Nashville from my record collection and decided to give it a spin. I haven’t played it in years. Wow, what a track listing! While it may just have been a compilation of previously released songs, it was my first exposure to many of them.
Side A
I Got A Woman
A Big Hunk O’ Love
Working On The Building
Judy
Anything That’s Part Of You
Night Rider
Where No One Stands Alone
Side B
Just Call Me Lonesome
Guitar Man
Little Cabin Home On The Hill
It’s Your Baby, You Rock It
Early Mornin’ Rain
It’s Still Here
I, John
This album made for a fascinating listening experience, showing how Elvis music from various time periods really blended much better together than some people would have you believe.
I also remember that “Night Rider” always skipped at a certain point of the song, even the first time I played the record. It wasn’t until I obtained ELVIS: From Nashville To Memphis-The Essential 60s Masters I several years later on CD that I was finally able to hear the song without the skip. As much as I love my old records, I can still pull out From Nashville To Memphis on CD and the sound quality is as perfect as the day I bought it. I do miss the pops and crackles of the record sound sometimes, though. Elvis In Nashville has a lot of that. I must’ve really played the heck out of this one back then.
Anyway, be sure to check out Thomas’ review of Elvis (Fool), which also features “It’s Still Here,” over on Elvis Today.
The Mystery Train 