Music

Elvis Presley plays in Super Bowl XLV

/ TY

I hope the fine folks enjoying the Super Bowl watch party at Graceland yesterday were able to make this out. While watching the game on FOX-TV, I could faintly hear music they picked up from the stadium loudspeakers near the end of the first half.

That is nothing unusual, except this time it was a familiar voice singing “That’s All Right.” It didn’t last long, but it was awesome to hear Elvis playing in the Super Bowl! It was definitely a remix, probably the one from Viva Elvis: The Album. The Green Bay Packers went on to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers to become champions of the National Football League. Elvis Presley Enterprises’ Super Bowl watch party benefited the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

By Any Other Name

/ TY

A couple of weeks ago, I told you about the forthcoming Follow That Dream Records release White Knight In Vegas. FTD, which is Sony’s collectors label for Elvis fans, announced yesterday that the CD has been retitled to Live In Vegas: August 26, 1969 Dinner Show. Content is the same as previously reported. The February 15 release date is apparently unaffected, though I would not be surprised if there turns out to be a slight delay.

One of the best music blogs around is The Second Disc, which I visit daily. It focuses on catalog releases across a full spectrum of genres. Though I am not likely to create a blog devoted to anyone else, my music tastes go far beyond Elvis, and I always find something of interest there.

The Second Disc also does a good job of covering Elvis’ Sony releases. I was glad to see earlier this week that FTD is now on their radar as well, with a story about the then-titled White Knight In Vegas release.

It’s always good to see Elvis releases covered on sites that are not specifically about him. For other artists, I find out about and purchase many releases I would not otherwise know about due to The Second Disc, and the same may hold true for more casual Elvis listeners who visit that site.

Does every FTD release warrant such exposure? No, but Live In Vegas certainly does, as well as titles in the FTD Classic Album series, which features reissues of original albums with tons of outtakes.

Last month, FTD completed its Classic Album coverage of the November 1957 Jailhouse Rock Extended Play album with the two-disc Jailhouse Rock, Volume 2. Between the two volumes, this means that FTD devoted four CDs to what was originally a five-song EP. Now, that’s what I call a collectors label!

FTD’s next Classic Album entry has not yet been announced, but I’m hoping for coverage of the January 1975 LP album Promised Land (recorded in 1973).

The FTD label began in 1999 and has released nearly 100 titles so far, more albums in eleven years than Elvis released during his entire twenty-three year career. FTD releases are available from ShopElvis.com and other online Elvis retailers. Since they originate in Denmark and then ship to retailers, there is usually a two or three week delay after the “release date” before the CDs arrive for those of us in the United States – though that delay seems to be less lately. FTD releases are usually worth the wait.

Elvis 1967: Indescribably Blue/Fools Fall In Love single

/ TY / 4 Comments

Elvis’ first record release of 1967 was the 45 RPM single “Indescribably Blue” backed with “Fools Fall In Love.” Recorded in Nashville the previous year, the single shipped on January 10. “Indescribably Blue” eventually made it to #33 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (February 25, 1967).

While it may not have been reflected in the chart position, “Indescribably Blue” was one of Elvis’ greatest records – showcasing a more powerful voice, yet harkening back to some of his earliest recordings. Elvis’ friend Lamar Fike, who passed away yesterday, apparently suggested that he record the song, which was written by Darrell Glenn.

The flip side was a cover of “Fools Fall In Love,” a Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller song first recorded by the Drifters in 1957. While Elvis’ version is good and manages to overcome a weak, almost movie-tune-style arrangement, I definitely have to give the Drifters the edge on this one.

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Research Sources

  • Elvis Presley: A Life In Music – The Complete Recording Sessions by Ernst Jorgensen, St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1998.
  • The Elvis Encyclopedia by Adam Victor, Overlook Duckworth, New York, 2008.
  • ELVIS: His Life From A To Z by Fred Worth and Steve Tamerius, Wings Books, New York, 1992.
  • Billboard, Vol. 79, No. 8, Nielsen Business Media, Inc., February 25, 1967.

Throughout 2011, The Mystery Train Elvis Blog is commemorating the 44th anniversary of 1967. Why? Riders of this train love exploring Elvis’ entire career, not just the 1950s. Find out more here.

Coming Soon: White Knight In Vegas (August 26, 1969, DS)

/ TY / 2 Comments

Follow That Dream Records will release in February White Knight In Vegas, a new CD containing Elvis’ August 26, 1969, Dinner Show (“New FTD Releases” — ElvisNews.com). FTD is Sony’s collectors label for Elvis fans.

Track Listing
01 Blue Suede Shoes*
02 I Got A Woman*
03 All Shook Up*
04 Love Me Tender*
05 Jailhouse Rock/Don’t Be Cruel*
06 Heartbreak Hotel*
07 Hound Dog*
08 Memories*
09 My Babe (previously released: Elvis Aron Presley)
10 Mystery Train/Tiger Man*
11 Monologue*
12 Baby, What You Want Me To Do*
13 Runaway*
14 Inherit The Wind (Collectors Gold)
15 Yesterday/Hey Jude*
16 Introductions*
17 In The Ghetto*
18 Suspicious Minds (Elvis In Person)
19 Can’t Help Falling In Love (Elvis In Person)

* = previously unreleased

Since five full shows from this same engagement have been officially before, some sad and disappointed fans in various places are already whining things like, “If you’ve heard one of these shows, you’ve heard ’em all” and indicating that White Knight is hardly an essential release.

Nonsense.

White Knight will actually mark the first full release of a show that contributed songs to the original Elvis In Person (From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis) live compilation album. Plus, the songs “My Babe” and “Inherit The Wind” have never been featured on any full show release before.

The 1969 Vegas season represents Elvis at the top of his game. Whether first, sixth, or fifty-seventh, every 1969 (and 1970, for that matter) show is essential upon release from the vaults. How many of them do I want? All of them. (And I’m not a “buy every concert no matter what” collector, either. These shows are special.)

Also coming in February is a vinyl version of the recent How Great Thou Art classic albums release.

FTD releases are available from ShopElvis.com and other online Elvis retailers.

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Additional Sources

For The Heart: An Elvis New Year Workout Playlist

/ TY / 6 Comments

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope that 2011 is full of health and prosperity for all of you.

This is the time of year when many of us set resolutions to do (or not do) various things. I often resolve to write my first novel. Hasn’t happened yet, but one of these years, I’m gonna get that one done! Maybe this will be the one. A popular resolution for many people is to become more physically fit. To that end, frequent commenter Ray Faithfull recently requested an Elvis playlist for working out.

Ray’s suggestion solved my dilemma of what to post here for New Year’s Day. This playlist is designed to start slow, get really revved up, and then taper off to nothing. Though you should feel like a king at the beginning, you may very well need somebody to lean on by the end of this high octane set.

Exercise, Elvis Style

Exercise, Elvis Style

For The Heart: An Elvis Workout (AKA Elvis Shakes His Excess Off)

  • King Of The Whole Wide World [C’mon Everybody]
  • Any Day Now (Alternate) [Memphis Sessions]
  • For The Heart [From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee]
  • A Little Less Conversation (Remix) [Elvis vs. JXL]
  • Polk Salad Annie (Live) [Close Up]
  • My Baby Left Me [For LP Fans Only]
  • His Latest Flame [Elvis’ Golden Records, Volume 3]
  • Jailhouse Rock [Elvis’ Golden Records]
  • Mystery Train/Tiger Man (Live) [Collectors Gold]
  • Power Of My Love [From Elvis In Memphis]
  • My Babe (Live) [From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis]
  • Hey Little Girl [Harum Scarum]
  • A Big Hunk O’ Love [50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong: Elvis’ Gold Records Volume 2]
  • Big Boss Man [Clambake]
  • Blue Suede Shoes (Remix) [Viva Elvis: The Album]
  • Heartbreak Hotel/Hound Dog/All Shook Up (Live) [ELVIS-TV Special]
  • Got A Lot O’ Livin’ To Do [Loving You]
  • Little Sister [Elvis’ Golden Records, Volume 3]
  • Good Rockin’ Tonight [A Date With Elvis]
  • Johnny B. Goode (Live) [From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis]
  • Rubberneckin’ [Almost In Love]
  • Bossa Nova Baby [Fun In Acapulco]
  • Hard Headed Woman [King Creole]
  • The Fool [Elvis Country]
  • Suspicious Minds (Live) [All Shook Up]
  • Follow That Dream (Alternate) [Today, Tomorrow & Forever]
  • Funny How Time Slips Away (Rehearsal) [Elvis On Tour: The Rehearsals]
  • I Need Somebody To Lean On [I Got Lucky]

I tried something new and published this playlist on iTunes as For The Heart: An Elvis Workout. If you have iTunes, you should be able to see it there by following the link (I am not sure if this will work for those outside of the US). Not all of the same versions were available, so I had to do a few substitutions.

Thanks to Ray for the idea. Good luck with your fitness goals, buddy. I’ll be right in there fighting, too.

Keep those suggestions coming, everyone. Have a fantastic 2011!

“Elvis Song Of The Year” for 2010

/ TY / 6 Comments

According to iTunes, out of 1,439 Elvis tracks, the one I played most often this year was: “Any Day Now” on 1969’s From Elvis In Memphis.

I listened to 6,749 Elvis songs using iTunes or my iPod in 2010 (including duplicates). That’s an average of 18 Elvis songs a day. Elvis is by no means the only artist I listen to, though.

Out of 2,694 non-Elvis tracks, my most played song this year was: “Halo” by Beyoncé on 2008’s I Am… Sasha Fierce.

Overall, I listened to 15,964 songs using iTunes or my iPod this year. That’s 44 songs a day. My daily average last year was 43, so at least I am consistent.

No matter how you cut the numbers, that’s a lot of music. The scary part is, that doesn’t even include my CD spins – which would probably add another 15 songs a day.

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Thank you to all of those who read or supported The Mystery Train Elvis Blog in 2010. I hope to see you next year!

Elvis is not just for Christmas anymore

/ TY

I wrote this guest post in 2010 for Elvis Today.

Outside of Oldies stations and incidental music, I never hear Elvis on the radio here in the United States anymore – except at Christmas time. This phenomenon is not unique to Elvis, though. The same applies to Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, and many other legends who seemingly turn up in the collective consciousness only during this season. There is something universal about Christmas music that spans across generations and genres.
Non-fans in the general public often seem to enjoy Christmas music by Elvis, even if they listen to little else by him the rest of the year. As an Elvis fan, it’s actually hard for me to relate to that point of view. It seems to me, if they enjoy his Christmas music, they could just as easily enjoy his other music all year long, just like we do.
The next time one of your friends asks you to recommend some Elvis Christmas music, consider giving her or him both some Christmas and year-round music selections. They might be surprised to learn that Elvis is not just for Christmas anymore.
With that in mind, I started thinking of non-seasonal songs with similar vibes as his Christmas music.
  • Trade “Blue Christmas” (1957) for “One Night” (1957)
  • Trade “White Christmas” (1957) for “Such A Night” (1960)
  • Trade “Here Comes Santa Claus” (1957) for “Treat Me Nice” (1957)
  • Trade “Silent Night” (1957) for “Love Me” (1956)
  • Trade “O Little Town of Bethlehem” (1957) for “Young And Beautiful” (1957)
  • Trade “Santa Bring My Baby Back” (1957) for “Got A Lot O’ Livin’ To Do” (1957)
  • Trade “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” (1957) for “Reconsider Baby” (1960)
  • Trade “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” (1957) for “Don’t” (1957)
  • Trade “Santa Lucia” (1963) for “It’s Now Or Never” (1960)
  • Trade “If Every Day Was Like Christmas” (1966) for “I’ll Remember You” (1966)
  • Trade “Blue Christmas” (Live-1968) for “One Night” (Live-1968)
  • Trade “It Won’t Seem Like Christmas” (1971) for “Where Did They Go, Lord” (1970)
  • Trade “If I Get Home On Christmas Day” (1971) for “It’s A Matter Of Time” (1972)
  • Trade “Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees” (1971) for “Separate Ways” (1972)
  • Trade “Merry Christmas Baby” (1971) for “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” (1971)
  • Trade “Silver Bells” (1971) for “Stranger In The Crowd” (1970)
  • Trade “I’ll Be Home On Christmas Day” (1971) for “I’m Leavin”” (1971)
  • Trade “On A Snowy Christmas Night” (1971) for “How The Web Was Woven” (1970)
  • Trade “Winter Wonderland” (1971) for “Jailhouse Rock” (Live-1968)
  • Trade “O Come All Ye Faithful” (1971) for “Always On My Mind” (1972)
  • Trade “The First Noel” (1971) for “We Can Make The Morning” (1971)
  • Trade “The Wonderful World Of Christmas” (1971) for “Help Me Make It Through The Night” (1971)
So, there you have it, a non-seasonal playlist designed to feel like Elvis’ Christmas music. Maybe next year, Sony can release a double CD Christmas gift set with this kind of theme. It would give them a chance to put a slightly different twist on their annual Elvis Christmas music re-release.

My thanks to Thomas for letting me ramble on here on Elvis Today. Have a wonderful Christmas and a merry New Year, everyone!

/TY, The Mystery Train