'Rock Around The Bloch'

The story of the USS Arizona & Pearl Harbor is indeed a tragic one. Over a thousand lives were lost that tragic day, including the complete USS Arizona U.S Navy Band. It's a poignant story full of tragic facts and figures. Elvis played a charity concert in 1961 in aid of the fallen heroes who lost their lives that fateful day.

Elvis raised $50,000 for USS ARIZONA.

Firstly the new FTD book/cd combo, 'ROCK AROUND THE BLOCH' is simply gorgeous. If you are any kind of fan get it! I've revisited the book for the past two weeks continuously.

The previous MRS book 'Such A Night in Pearl Harbor' about the same concert (see EIN review here) contained many of the same photos, but here they are presented in the best possible light. Besides the FTD book has many unreleased B&W images sourced from Colonel Parker's very own archive.

Past the informative introduction -- there's text about Elvis meeting the actor James Stewart on the flight to Hawaii; the curiosity of Huckleberry Hound's arrival the previous year, gathering even more fever pitch hysteria than the Hawaiian crowd for Elvis; and Elvis completely drowned in lei (photos).

There's Stacks of info and historical documents. It really looked like everyone had a ball looking at the wealth of great photos: especially Elvis on stage in his gold lame suit. Elvis sat on the edge of the stage (apparently he did a 20ft knee slide during 'Hound Dog'! ) these photos from the actual performance tell the story with visual panache.

Elvis looks magnificent in his gold suit and backed by a stellar band; to witness the show must have been something extraordinarily special!

The Preface admission that the newly features photos were found in Colonel Parker's personal archive is a very interesting one, resulting in enough material for the said book project; check stunning dbl page photo of Elvis & Colonel Parker (127) More B&W photo highlights; (120, 134, 158, 176, 200 -- in addition to the wealth of gold lame suit photos from the concert). Furthermore, I wonder with fascination what other treasures lurk in the Colonel's Aladdin's Cave? This is a book to revisit time after time with oodles of fascinating info and fan stories. The book is written and researched so well by David English & Pal Grunland, and it's a fascinating trawl through moments in world history. The shocking horror of WWII, and the resulting charity concert...

Of special interest is the stellar backing band -- what an amazing concert it must have been to attend at the BLOCH ARENA - and listening to it, it's clear the crowd were eating out of his hand. The audio sound fluctuates here and there due to on-stage mic problems, but I don't think it could sound any better due to the original element limitations. The sound is natural and clear for the most part except for the occasional drop-out and mic problems - but what we have is one of the best concerts Elvis performed without doubt, and with a set-list to die for!

There's touches of feedback here and there resulting in an ambient 'live' feel, and obviously the screaming girls too...Just listen to the fantastic guitar intro to ('Now And Then) There's A Fool Such As I' and its hot solo mid song. The bluesy licks on a stunning Love Me --and a hint of honking sax giving a taste of the sublime honky-tonk on offer... More: the hot Hank Garland solo on I Need Your Love Tonight - further realisation and confirmation of just how good those guys were... The gargantuan sax featured blues, Reconsider Baby and a seductive, triumphant One Night which has to be one of the best versions of the song - Elvis and band perform it at the original pacing compared to later versions and his phrasing is perfect, listen@ 1.18, 1.50, 2.02.

Furthermore, there's a gospel number and the knee slide closer Hound Dog to finish. Boots Randolph, Hank Garland, Floyd Cramer, DJ Fontana and Scotty Moore et al make up one hell of a rock & roll band! Sadly Floyd Cramer is too low in the mix to hear.

( Note: check Roy Orbison's THE MONUMENT SINGLES A-B Sides for more listening pleasure and their sublime session credentials.)

The press conference is a captivating listen and besides the interview is a fantastic addition.

Note: the newly remastered FTD version of the BLOCH ARENA concert reveals more and is an enhanced listening experience compared to alternative versions.



Overall Verdict: All thing considered ROCK AROUND THE BLOCH is 100% quality and comes highly recommended. And credit goes to all involved in the book project.

Review by DAVID TINSON (also posted on the FECC forum for discussion)
-Copyright EIN April 2015
EIN Website content © Copyright the Elvis Information Network.

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BUY this new FTD book.. For the UK or Australia EIN recommends Elvis The Man and His Music. 'Rock Around The Bloch' deluxe FTD book (being sold by some dealers for a ridiculous $180 & postage) - Buy from ElvisTMHM (including Worldwide postage) for US $110 >> Click HERE. (cheaper for within Europe)

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'Rock Around The Bloch' FTD Book Out Now: Fifty four years ago yesterday, Elvis Presley helped raised money and directed much-needed attention to the stalled efforts to build the USS Arizona Memorial. The FTD Book/CD combo celebration of this fabulous show 'Rock Around The Bloch' by David English and Pal Granlund which features first-hand accounts from people who were there, newspaper articles from the time, numerous photographs and much more - is Out Now. On March 25, 1961, the 26-year-old Presley took the stage to an arena packed with 4,000 frenzied, screaming fans who paid anywhere from $3 to $100 a ticket. Presley performed 15 songs that night, including "Heartbreak Hotel," "All Shook Up," "I Got A Woman," "I Need Your Love Tonight," "Don’t Be Cruel," "Are You Lonesome Tonight," and "Swing Down Sweet Chariot." He ended the show with a rousing performance of "Hound Dog, which included a slide across the stage on his knees. The concert raised about $54,000, and public and private donations poured in following the show, which received heavy publicity across the country.

The USS Arizona Memorial was dedicated the following year on Memorial Day – May 30, 1962. The gleaming, white, open-air structure straddles the Arizona’s sunken hull, where 1,177 lives were lost. In all, some 2,400 sailors, Marines and soldiers were killed in the attack on Dec. 7, 1941. Go to the 'Rock Around The Bloch' facebook page for more pics and info (News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)

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More FTD reviews by David Tinson...

'SOLD OUT' FTD CD Review: This FTD release features two previously unknown reel-to-reel recordings of Elvis on tour in 1974. March 1974 was Elvis' ninth tour of the USA and was his first tour since July 1973. Freed from the constraints of the Las Vegas Hilton casino crowd, Elvis was in fine form and putting on great shows getting fabulous on-stage feedback from his enthusiastic audiences from the Southern states. Every concert sold out in a few hours and extra concerts had to be added to meet the demand. Elvis would play 154 concerts in 1974 and Tulsa March 1st would be his first outside the Las Vegas casino crowd, Cleveland June 21st would also be a great performance to an enthusiastic crowd. Go here as EIN's Piers Beagley along with David Tinson provide an in-depth review of this fabulous new FTD release.... (FTD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)

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'Hot August Night' FTD CD Review: After the success of the iconic '68 Comeback Special - Elvis signed on the dotted line for a pretty penny - a cool million to perform a two week engagement in Las Vegas at the newly built International Hotel. Mixing contemporary songs and his classic rock 'n' roll hits Elvis and his dynamite TCB Band kicked some serious Ass in Sin City. Elvis' stunning August 25 1969 Midnight Show formed the core section of Elvis' famous "In Person" RCA album with seven performances being selected from this fabulous night. For the first time ever, at last FTD have released Elvis' complete performance - but do these songs stand out when listened to as part of this familiar 1969 Las Vegas season? Go HERE as EIN contributor David Tinson checks out this new FTD release. (FTD Reviews, Source;ElvisInfoNet)

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'A Boy From Tupelo' special In-depth Review: For more than a decade Ernst Jorgensen has been working on his deluxe book/CD package to present the definitive look at Elvis during his sensational and creative Sun Records period. Over eight years later after first being discussed with fans it is finally released as a massive 530 pages, around 1,000 photos and weighing nearly 5 kilograms, this is the biggest project of its kind. It also features all of Elvis’ Sun recordings on 3 CDs - including a CD of Elvis LIVE, on the radio, and in concert. Go here as EIN's Piers Beagley checks out this fabulous production while David Tinson checks out Elvis' sensational early LIVE recordings. The review features plenty of book extracts and rare photos. (Book/FTD/CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)

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'G.I.Blues Vol.1' FTD Soundtrack - CD review: The long-awaited first volume of G.I. BLUES material in the FTD expanded soundtrack series. G.I. Blues was Elvis' fifth film and his first after returning from the US Army. Elvis was discharged from active duty in early March 1960 and began work on 'G.I. Blues' soon after on April 21st. Now 52 years later, FTD release 'G.I Blues Volume 1' and with its new sparkling audio it is a veritable smorgasbord of delights. Whether it's Elvis’ swaggering Dean Martin impression on ‘What’s She Really Like’, numerous infectious takes of ‘Shoppin Around’, the thrill-a-minute frenetic train-ride of ‘Frankfort Special’ or the overall Bavarian flavour, this release marches to an altogether different beat. Go here as David Tinson and EIN's Piers Beagley provide an in-depth combined review as to why this classic soundtrack might be worth buying one more time. (FTD REviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)

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'From Hawaii to Las Vegas' CD Review: 'From Hawaii To Las Vegas’ is from a previously unreleased cassette recording of Elvis’ January 25 1973 dress rehearsal for his January/February Las Vegas Hilton season. The rough audio quality is more than compensated for by the fascinating insight into how Elvis worked in order to create his shows. With little talk, and a lot of music, we are invited to a first row presentation of what Elvis had in mind, and yet he decided to change the repertoire the next day. Among the many songs is "Separate Ways" a song that Elvis chose to never perform in public - as well as a stunning "Steamroller Blues" and the fabulously rare 'I’m Leavin’ It All Up To You' Go here as EIN contributor David Tinson checks out this new FTD and discovers if it is a good as hoped for. (FTD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)

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