early August 2008
- Elvis Presley demoted as Mariah Carey slides up
(ibnlive.com / Reuters, August 8 2008)
Poor Elvis. Random sightings of the King of Rock 'n' Roll have tapered off in recent years. Worse yet, now he has mysteriously disappeared from the upper echelons of a new list that ranks the artists with the most No. 1 hits on the U.S. pop singles chart.
Until April, Elvis Presley and Mariah Carey tied at No. 2 on Billboard's list of the top acts of the rock era with 17 No. 1 tunes each, behind the Beatles with 20. But then Carey took sole possession of the silver medal when her single "Touch My Body" hit the top spot.
That should still make Presley No. 3, but not according to Billboard which has demoted him to No. 14 with seven No. 1 hits, a ranking he now shares with Phil Collins.
The music publication, which has a news distribution arrangement with Reuters, is rolling out a series of charts to mark the 50th anniversary of its Hot 100 singles chart. The problem for Presley fans is that 10 of his chart-toppers predated the August 4, 1958, birth of the Hot 100.
From November 12, 1955, it was known as the Top 100, the first all-encompassing chart determined by radio play, retail sales and juke box usage. In those 141 weeks before Billboard debuted the Hot 100 name to differentiate it from copycats, Presley ruled the chart for 57 weeks, according to Billboard. He never regained his commercial or creative momentum after he was inducted into the U.S. Army in March, 1958, according to some fans.
Billboard's director of charts, Geoff Mayfield, defended the chart as still relevant despite the fact it ignores the heyday of the first real rock 'n' roll star. "We are not pretending that the observation of the chart's 50th anniversary is anything more than a look at those 50 specific years," he wrote in an email. "We take great care to couch comparisons of younger artists' Hot 100 feats to those of Elvis, by informing readers that his chart feats predated the Hot 100's launch."
Upcoming specialty Billboard rankings will include the biggest one-hit wonders ever and the No. 1 songs of every year since 1958. The series culminates on September 10 with what it bills as the first ranking of the Hot 100 songs of all time. Just don't expect to see "Heartbreak Hotel" or "Hound Dog" on the list.
- Elvis's jumpsuit sale leaves memorabilia market all shook up
(Canberra Times / AP, August 9 2008, p 19)
Elvis Presley's favourite performance costume, the peacock jumpsuit, sold for $US300,000 ($A329,996) yesterday, making it the most expensive piece of Elvis memorabilia sold at auction.
The online sale was by auctioneer Gotta Have It! The pre-sale sale estimate was $US275,000 to $US325,000.
The white outfit with a plunging V-neck and high collar features a blue-and=gold peacock design hand-embroidered on the front and back and along the pants legs. It is cinched at the waist by a wide belt decorated in gold medallions in a design resembling the eye of a peacock feather.
The auctioneer would describe the seller only as "a big Elvis collector" and declined to identify the buyer.
Elvis paid $A11,000 to have the outfit made by Los Angeles designer Bill Belew, who created all of The King's stage wardrobe between 1968 and 1977. It capture the rock 'n' roll legend's fascintation with peacocks as a good luck symbol.
- Presley Costume Sold
Compiled by JULIE BOSMAN
(New York Times, August 8 2008)
Elvis Presley's most treasured performance costume, a peacock jumpsuit, was sold to an unidentified bidder on gottahaveit.com for $300,000, The Associated Press reported. The white costume is decorated with an embroidered blue-and-gold peacock emblazoned on the back, with blue peacock feathers trailing down both flared pants legs. The highest price previously paid for an Elvis costume was $105,250 for a jeweled cape.
- ELVIS PRESLEY - ELVIS SUIT SALE IS A RECORD
(contactmusic.com, August 8 2008)
A peacock jumpsuit used on stage by ELVIS PRESLEY has sold for $300,000 (GBP150,000) - the highest price ever paid for a piece of The King's memorabilia. The white costume embroidered with blue and gold, donned by Presley for the cover of his album Promised Land, was auctioned off in New York on Thursday (07Aug08). It became the most expensive piece of Elvis memorabilia sold at auction, beating the previous highest amount for one of the rock icon's cars.
- ELVIS PRESLEY - PRESLEY SET FOR CHART RETURN WITH CHRISTMAS COUNTRY DUETS
(contactmusic.com, August 5 2008)
ELVIS PRESLEY is set for a return to the charts, thanks to a series of festive duets with country music's biggest divas. Technological wizards are teaming The King with the likes of Carrie Underwood, Sara Evans, LeAnn Rimes, Wynonna Judd and Gretchen Wilson to record seasonal hits for a Christmas album. Evans will sing Silent Night with Elvis; Judd will join him for Santa Claus is Back in Town; and Underwood will duet on I'll Be Home for Christmas. The songs will all be recorded at Nashville, Tennessee's RCA Studio B, where Presley taped his original 1971 Christmas album.
The legend's widow [ie, ex-wife - ed] Priscilla Presley says, "We are so pleased that these accomplished artists are collaborating with Elvis in this unique way to make exciting new versions of his Christmas songs. "I am sure Elvis would be proud to have worked with them."
- Elvis Presley Invades MySpace
(gactv.com, dated July 30 2008, found August 5 2008)
Elvis Presley died more than 30 years ago, so he never heard of the Internet, never got spammed and certainly never visited MySpace.
Nonetheless, Elvis fans have a 21st-century opportunity to use MySpace as a launching pad to sing at Elvis' former home, Graceland Mansion. According to the Associated Press, fans from the U.S. and Canada can visit MySpace's karaoke site at http://ksolo.myspace.com/ and perform an Elvis classic for consideration in the contest. From the recordings that are entered prior to Aug. 4 and then streamed at least 100 times, judges will select the best performance, giving the winner a chance to sing on the lawn at Graceland Mansion on Aug. 12 as Memphis begins its annual Elvis celebration week.
Of Elvis' catalog, only three songs are available for the karaoke contest: "Hound Dog," "Suspicious Minds" and "If I Can Dream." The latter song is particularly timely. It was originally recorded for the Country Music Hall of Fame's career-changing NBC special from 1968. The 40th anniversary of that landmark program is being observed with the release of the four-disc set Elvis: The Complete '68 Comeback Special, including 20 tracks that have never previously been issued. The project reaches stores on Tuesday.
- Whatever happened to Priscilla Presley's son?
(Detroit Free Press, August 4 2008)
QUESTION: I have been wondering about this for so many years. Elvis Presley and his beautiful wife, Priscilla, got a divorce -- in the early '70s, I think. After the divorce, Priscilla became involved with her karate instructor. Later, she gave birth to a baby boy. I wonder whatever happened to that little boy. I have not heard or read anything about him.
ANSWER: Elvis and Priscilla separated in 1972 and divorced in 1973. She was involved with karate instructor Mike Stone, but her son, Navarone Garibaldi, is with Marco Garibaldi, a writer-director who had a two-decade relationship with Priscilla. (They split in 2006.) Navarone is now 21. I couldn't find out much about him, suggesting he does not seek the spotlight. But he does appear in public with his mother on occasion, and reportedly was on hand for each of her "Dancing With the Stars" performances. You can see a picture of him with her at "Dancing" on her Web site, www.priscillapresley.com.
- Sony BMG Music Entertainment Announces the Release of 'Elvis Presley Christmas Duets' CD Available October 14, 2008
Source: Sony BMG
(Yahoo! Finance / PRNewswire, August 4 2008)
First Elvis Presley Duets Album In History
On October 14, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, in partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., will release the "Elvis Presley Christmas Duets" CD, which is the first Elvis Presley duet recordings album and the first Christmas compilation of its kind ever produced. This release marks yet another milestone in Elvis Presley's legacy, 31 years after his death. The CD will feature many of today's biggest country artists, including Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Gretchen Wilson, Sarah Evans and LeAnn Rimes singing classic Elvis holiday songs with Elvis Presley. ...
- Elvis Presley haunts Cybill Shepherd
By Music-News.com
(undercover.com.au, August 3 2008)
Cybill Shepherd says she is being haunted by ex-love Elvis Presley.
The actress wishes she had done more to help the late music legend as his life descended into binge eating and depression before his untimely death at the age of 42. She said: 'I don't feel him in a way that I feel I have to call ghostbusters, but I've been haunted by Elvis in the sense that when I knew him, he was very sweet but also seriously into drugs.'
Cybill dated Elvis in the early 70s but was unable to cope with his self-destructive tendencies and eventually left him for film director Peter Bogdanovich. She added to TV Guide magazine: 'I've been haunted by wishing he could have lived longer because I'm from Memphis and I've had the fame thing, too. Maybe I could have helped him.' ...
- Guitar Center Reissues Elvis Presley's "Covered" Guitar
By Michael Finger
(Memphis Flyer, August 3 2008)
Most people think of Elvis Presley as more of a singer than a guitarist, but many fans remember his stage appearances with a Martin D-28 acoustic, sporting a distinctive tooled-leather cover with his name inscribed in it. He purchased the guitar in 1955 and used it throughout his career. The original is now on display at Graceland.
But here's your chance to own an exact copy. The folks at Guitar Center have worked with C.F. Martin & Company to produce a limited-edition version of this iconic guitar. According to Guitar Center, "The Martin D-28M Elvis Presley Commemorative Limited Edition features an exact reproduction of the leather cover originally crafted by Charles Underwood, and a TCB lightning bolt inlay on the heel cap."
The guitar features Elvis' signature inlaid into the neck at the 12th fret, and a mother-of-pearl image of the performer set into the headstock. Production will be limited to just 175 guitars, and the price is fit for a King, too: $9,199. For more info, check out the Guitar Center website.
And remember, nothing improves the sound of a guitar more than covering it in leather.
- Robert's Oldies Music Blog - FAQ: The Death of Elvis
By Robert Fontenot
(blogcritics.org, August 1 2008)
For the upcoming 31st anniversary of the King's untimely demise, I take a look at the disturbing last days of Elvis Presley's life. Got a question about the mysteries surrounding his death, his funeral and burial, or the persistent myth that he never passed away at all? This list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the death of Elvis can help.
- Music Review: Elvis Presley - Elvis In Concert
Written by David Bowling
(blogcritics.org, August 1 2008)
Colonel Tom Parker had signed Elvis to star in another television special. Two concerts were filmed in June of 1977 to be used for this program. They showed an out of shape and at times somewhat incoherent Elvis struggling to perform. Elvis died before the special could be aired. Finally in October the special was broadcast and resultant live soundtrack album was released. The special was both terrible and embarrassing and has never been re-issued. Elvis In Concert, however, became a top charting album selling three million copies in the United States.
I remember purchasing Elvis In Concert when it was released. Trying to remember back 30 years I thought that it was an above average album. I also don't think I ever saw the special as I do not have the negative visual images that Elvis presented. Listening to the album today I still find it O.K. which means that near the end of his career Elvis was better heard than seen.
I have mixed feelings about producer Felton Jarvis but feel he did a credible job putting this album together. He overdubbed some of the vocals and filled out the sound. He managed to create a listenable album that was superior to the actual concert. This original two record set contained a lot of material. I don't think Elvis ever gave a bad performance of "How Great Thou Art." Here he strains but ultimately produces a wonderful vocal as he manages to hit all the difficult notes despite his physical condition. "Hurt" likewise is a fine performance. The song, in many ways, chronicles a part of Elvis' life. He not only gives a strong vocal performance but manages to bring both pain and passion to the song. "My Way" comes across fairly well, but given the fact that it was recorded at one of the last concerts of Elvis' life it takes on poignancy. The concert showed Elvis actually having to read the lyrics despite having performed the song for years. "You Gave Me A Mountain" continued Elvis' tradition of always presenting excellent gospel interpretations.
The main negative of the album were the number of shortened, quick presentations of his classic songs. "That's All Right," "Hound Dog," "Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel," "What'd I Say" and others had been performed hundreds of times by Elvis and he is not vested in the performances but rather just wants to satisfy the fans. I also could have lived without the fan comments interspersed between the tracks. They are unnecessary, untrue and hurt the flow of the music.
There were a few other representative performances. "O Sole Mio/It's Now Or Never" is a unique presentation of these two songs that share the same musical structure. "Early Morning Rain" is given an understated vocal by Elvis that fits this folk song just right. "Hawaiian Wedding Song² is resurrected for a nice performance.
Elvis In Concert is by no means a great album but is certainly representative of Elvis near the end of his life.
|
