ELVIS MONTH 2010: Super 8 Theater Presents ELVIS Live In Chicago

ELVIS MONTH 2010: The King Opts For Moore

1969 saw Elvis' 31st and final acting role as Dr. John Carpenter in "Change of Habit"(his remaining two film appearances were concert documentaries). It was also Mary Tyler Moore's final film until Ordinary People in 1980.When Presley entered Decca Universal Studio on March 5, 1969, for two days to record his final dramatic motion picture soundtrack, what would come to be known as the comeback television special had already been broadcast, its attendant album had been his first top ten LP in four years, and he had just finished the sessions at American Sound Studio yielding From Elvis in Memphis and the top ten singles "In the Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds" that would cement his resurgence as force in American popular music. He had a month-long engagement at the International Hotel in Las Vegas lined up in August, his first live performances in eight years, and clearly now had turned his career around. A song recorded at American, "Rubberneckin'," would be used in the film and subsequently issued as the b-side "Don't Cry Daddy" in conjunction with the movie premiere. Four songs would be recorded at the soundtrack sessions, of which "Let's Be Friends" would not be used in the film. These four songs were never officially released as a soundtrack album but were instead, released one year later on the compilation album, "Let's Be Friends". It would take another year for the song, "Let Us Pray", also from the film, to be released. It was on the gospel album, You'll Never Walk Alone". Here are those sessions that yielded those classic songs. Truth be told, the songs are really the only good thing about the film and I have a feeling that a soundtrack album might not have been a good choice anyway. As Elvis' career was flying high, any reference to the film would have detracted from sales of the music. But that's my humble opinion. Here is "The Change of Habit Sessions". Enjoy!

Elvis Presley-The Change of Habit Sessions

ELVIS MONTH 2010: The King Has Complete Fun On Stage

I am sure you are all familiar with the 1974 album, "Having Fun with Elvis on Stage". It is considered a "live album" but it consists entirely of Elvis talking between numbers with no actual music being heard. Much of the album consists of Elvis making jokes, but the material is spliced in a manner that lacks continuity and is nearly devoid of comprehensibility, let alone humor. The album was concocted by Colonel Tom Parker so that he could release and album that RCA Records would own no rights on. Parker initially released the album on his own label, Box Car Records, and it was sold only at concerts. RCA would eventually get their just due by packaging their own version of the album which they sold as a legitimate concert album. Most consumers were duped into buying this without seeing the tiny "A Talking Album Only" in the upper right hand corner of the album cover. The album managed to make it up to #130 on the Billboard album charts and even as high as #9 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Elvis was infuriated when RCA put this album into the general marketplace, considering it a tremendous embarrassment. As a result, the album was quietly taken off the market sometime in 1975 but reissued for a few years following his death. Since the late 1990s, fans have put together several pirate "sequel" discs. The four follow up volumes are actually far superior to the original "legal" release. As fans of the various bootlegs out there know, Elvis said some funny stuff on stage. Most of it unsuitable for a "legitimate" release. But that hasn't stopped the bootleggers from including that material on their versions. Here for you now are all known volumes of "Having Fun With Elvis On Stage". I was originally going to post them one at a time but due to the fact that between time constraints and internet trouble I haven't been posting daily, I give them to you in one lump sum. Here is "The Complete Having Fun With Elvis On Stage". Enjoy!

The Complete Having Fun With Elvis On Stage

ELVIS MONTH 2010: Viva Elvis Presley (extended)

In light of the past few days without posting for various reasons, I thought I would make a mega post to spotlight one of my favorite Elvis films, "Viva Las Vegas". Back in 1964 when the film was originally released, the only soundtrack released was a 4 song EP. The complete soundtrack was never officially released until the wave of "Double Feature" albums that EPE put out in the 90s. However, in the interim, a record company named Lucky Records put out a soundtrack album featuring all of the songs in the film. Since the company was obviously an independent bootleg company, the songs were all recorded directly from the film. The result is a soundtrack album that features alternate versions from the official release and they also threw in some radio spots and a few out-takes as well. This was a staple of Elvis listening in my house for years and the cover art alone is worth the price of admission (it makes the official release look lame!!!!).I originally posted this album about three years ago and then re-posted it for the last Elvis Month two years ago. Once I again I bring it to you for your enjoyment.

Viva Las Vegas OST (boot)

If that's not enough, here is another bootleg release from the film entitled, "Viva Las Vegas: Outtakes and More". This album features some of the same stuff as the bootleg soundtrack but this time there are alternate versions and takes that were not featured in the original film. Most of these would make an official appearance on the FTD release but not all of them. Here is that release.

Viva Las Vegas Outtakes & More

And finally, we have both volumes of the Master and Session version of the soundtrack. This features the recording sessions of the soundtrack and shows the building of the tunes including a few tracks that were cut from the film. Enjoy!

Viva Las Vegas Master and Session Volume 1
Viva Las Vegas Master and Session Volume 2

ELVIS MONTH 2010: Elvis Keeps On Dancin'

Another one of my all time favorite Elvis songs, Bossa Nova Baby. Enjoy!

ELVIS MONTH 2010: The King Finds His Alternate Roots

After the massive success of Aloha From Hawaii, the Elvis bandwagon was once again rolling full tilt. Eager to make sure that the King stayed in the public eye, RCA released "Raised On Rock/For Ol' Times Sake". It was comprised of songs recorded at the Stax Studios in Memphis in July of 1973. Though the album boasted an intense picture of Elvis rocking out in concert, the album failed to live up to it's misleading name. It was a different album than what people had anticipated. There are a few rockers in the mix but most of them end up being a kind of funk/soul/easy listening mash up. It still managed to sell over a million copies worldwide. Over the years, many people have thought what it would have been like if the album had a little bit more of an edge. As more and more session tapes emerged from various sources, that wonder has turned into "alternate versions" of what that album could have been. Today I present one of those alternate versions for you. Here is "Raised On Rock: The Alternate Album". Enjoy!

Elvis Presley- Raised On Rock: The Alternate Album

ELVIS MONTH 2010: The King Searched 'Til The Early Dawn

Here's one of my all time favorite Elvis songs from the film, "Double Trouble". Here's "Long Legged Girl With The Short Dress On". Enjoy!



Sorry about the weirdness surrounding my posts and when they are showing up. Last week, Blogger was having issues with posting things a day late and this week I was without internet for a day and a half.

ELVIS MONTH 2010: The King Comes Home

Today marks the 33rd anniversary of Elvis' untimely death. Some say his death was his final homecoming. Others prefer to remember July 5, 1976 as his final homecoming. That was the date of the last concert Elvis would give in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. Twenty-two years earlier, Elvis had recorded "That's All Right" in that same city on the same date at the legendary Sun Studio. His performance that night was a highlight of the King's final years. Not only sticking to the usual set that he would almost strictly adhere to every night, but that night Elvis pulled out all of the stops and put on an extended show featuring songs that were normally missing from the set. All in all, it was quite the concert. Here is that amazing concert. Here is "The Final Homecoming". Enjoy!

Elvis Presley-The Final Homecoming
Elvis Presley-The Final Homecoming Part 2