Welcome to the "Elvis Information Network", home to the best news, reviews, interviews, Elvis photos & in-depth articles about the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Aaron Presley...
'EPiC' Soundtrack album back at UK Number 1!: Disappointingly 'EPiC: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack's significant worldwide chart run was only for the first couple of weeks.
But nice to see that this week it has returned to Number 1 on the UK 'Soundtrack Albums chart' having spent a couple of weeks at #2.
On other UK Album Charts
- Physical Album Charts
Back up to #30 from last week's #75 having peaked at #5. UK Album Sales Chart
Back up to #30 from last week's #64 having peaked at #5.
But on the Official 'Top 100 Albums' sadly it peaked at #17 with just one week in the chart.
New book(let).. "Portfolio - Commemorating 50 Years Since His Passing (Curated Collection - Rare & Unseen Photographs)": This new 50 page UK release supposedly features full page (210 x 297mm) high quality photographic prints.
On sale on Ebay described as "A highly sought-after piece of Elvis Presley memorabilia, making it a rare find for any collector or fan of the iconic artist. With Elvis being such a legendary figure in the music industry, any item associated with him is sure to hold great value and appeal. This particular memorabilia piece is likely to be unique and special, capturing a piece of music history that would be treasured by any enthusiast."
EIN Note: Some pictures are colourised, some look 'AI' adjusted, some rather bizare - and some actually NOT Elvis!
It looks self-published - Please check before purchase
See some example pages below - definitely NOT Elvis and Priscilla! And why the odd drawing of the three of them? high quality photographic prints??
(News, Source;NP/ElvisInfoNet)
'Loving You' New Memphis Mansion Vinyl: The classic Elvis soundtrack Loving You out now via the Memphis Mansion label.
Originally released in 1957, Loving You captures Elvis at the height of his early fame, blending rock ’n’ roll energy with heartfelt ballads. Featuring timeless tracks such as Mean Woman Blues, Teddy Bear, and Loving You, this album showcases Elvis’ charisma and musical versatility.
Also includes bonus tracks, such as an orchestral version of Loving You and an alternate master of Party. The audio has been carefully remixed and remastered, delivering an enhanced listening experience while preserving the original spirit.
A standout collector’s edition and an essential addition to any Elvis vinyl collection.
'Elvis Week' 2026 schedule: EPE has announced 'Elvis Week' 2026 schedule noting...
...Special guests include Linda Thompson, Jerry Schilling, Kent McCord, Larry Gatlin, Sam Thompson, Charles Stone, Larry Strickland, Andrew Solt, Donna Tutt, Jim Murray and Brenda Nielsen Murray, Linda Stone, Bonnie Morales, Donna Lewis, The Blackwood Brothers Quartet and more.
- For ETA fans, 10 Ultimate winners will take the stage including Dean Z, Cote Deonath, Dwight Icenhower and Emilio Santoro...
- More events and special guests will be announced soon. Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 2 at 1:00 pm CT
The key 'Non Elvis-Impersonator' events include.. - Elvis 1956
Thursday, August 13 7pm Elvis 1956 will celebrate these pivotal moments through live music, Elvis performances on the big screen, and conversations on the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s early days.
Hosted by Andy Childs, the show includes appearances by Jerry Schilling, Billy Blackwood & The Blackwood Brothers Quartet, Angie Marchese.
- The Jungle Room Sessions.
Thursday, August 13 10pm
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Elvis iconic 1976 recording sessions.
Hosted by Tom Brown and featuring performances by Pat Dunn, Terry Mike Jeffrey, and Larry Strickland, with additional performers.. Backed by the Infinit-E Band.
- Inside The Archives
Friday, August 14 10am
Join Angie Marchese of Graceland Archives, along with Linda Thompson, who dated Elvis from 1972-1976, for a special conversation as they explore items from the Graceland Archives connected to Linda’s time with Elvis.
- Inside Elvis' World - the wives perspective
Friday, August 14 2:00 PM
Experience it all from another perspective, join the wives of men who were part of Elvis’ life as they share their memories of Elvis and what it was like to be part of the world that surrounded him. Hosted by Tom Brown, special guests are Donna Tutt, wife of TCB Band drummer Ronnie Tutt; Linda Stone, wife of Charles Stone, who worked for Concerts West; and Bonnie Morales, wife of Elvis’ Imperial Armond Morales.
- Elvis Presley in concert Live..
Friday, August 14 7pm
Relive the excitement of Elvis Presley in concert as the King of Rock 'n' Roll takes the stage once again on the big screen.
Featuring iconic performances from Elvis’ legendary live shows, a live band performs alongside Elvis, bringing the music to life in a powerful concert experience that celebrates the energy, charisma, and unforgettable sound of Elvis Presley live in concert.
- Conversations on Elvis
Saturday, August 15 10am
Hosted by Tom Brown, confirmed guests include:
Adam-12 actor Kent McCord, who played football with Elvis and had appearances in 4 Elvis films
director, writer and filmmaker Andrew Solt, who owns the rights to The Ed Sullivan Show library.
Elvis’ Imperial Jim Murray and Brenda Nielsen Murray, who first met Elvis in the early 1960s, come together on stage, each sharing their own personal stories and favorite memories of Elvis Presley Donna Lewis, who first met Elvis in 1962 and grew up spending time at Graceland and around Elvis’ world
PLUS, more special guests and special announcements yet to come!
- Sunday Morning Gospel Celebration
Sunday, August 16 11am
Featuring Terry Mike Jeffrey, backed by the Infinit-E Band, with additional special guest performers
- An 'EPiC' Closing Party
Sunday, August 16 7pm
A final EPiC-sized celebration at the Graceland Soundstage.
Enjoy a screening of Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert on the Soundstage’s three giant screens while you celebrate, dance, and enjoy this incredible film with fellow Elvis fans.
Plus Special Tour Experiences - Linda Thompson Graceland Q&A experience - Tickets US$1,300 -
Only 10 available. Limited to two per purchaser across all celebrity mansion experience times. - Linda Thompson / Jerry Schilling Graceland Q&A experience Tickets US$1,800 -
Only 10 available. Limited to two per purchaser across all celebrity mansion experience times.
See EPE 'Elvis Week 2026' for the full schedule (News, Source;EPE/ElvisInfoNet)
Friday 27 March 2026
'Elvis News Report April 2026': Elvis super-fan Emiel Maier presents all the recent news including...... ‘EPiC’ The box office figures, ‘EPiC’ soundtrack finds its way in the charts, ‘EPiC’ breaks even!, Elvis in Germany, Book & DVD news and so much more..
Includes a FANTASTIC video of "Elvis" making fun of bad impersonators - Brilliant stuff!
'EPiC' Success Continues!: The US domestic data is now in for the fifth weekend internationally. There are some IMAX re-screenings and the film is still in local cinemas, the results are still going ok.
US Domestic Box Office - $13,317,700 International Box Office-'Box Office mojo' is still using the identical figure as 2 weeks ago ($9,892,000) which is obviously incorrect. The UK gross is now around $1m higher and after Australia's 6th week we are up another $300,000.
EIN calculates the International gross as around $11,200,000 Worldwide Box Office - $24,517,700
This is very impressive for a retrospective music documentary.
Now earning double 2016's 'The Beatles: Eight Days a Week—The Touring Years' gross and yet to go to streaming
As EPiC 'Music Consultant' Ernst Jorgensen noted in our interview, "most people will not go and see the film in the cinema, so the real effect will be after it’s been streaming for a year. Then I hope it will be massive."
In the UK on its fourth weekend of national release 'EPiC' has dropped to #8 grossing movie - but still taking in $250,000
#8 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert' total UK gross $4,460,652 - now on 433 screens
(News, Source;PB/EIN)
Wednesday 25 March 2026
70 Years ago - Col Parker Takes Control: It was on March 26 1956 that everything changed. It was the day that Tom Parker's official deal to be Elvis' new "Sole and exclusive Advisor, Personal Representative, and Manager in any and all fields of public and private entertainment" was formally ratified.
Bob Neal's (Elvis' previous manager) contract ran in early March and from now on Col Parker was in control...
Bob Neal told author Jerry Hopkins "I suppose, really, in many ways, I felt that I should try to continue in the picture, but at the same time with the things that I had going in Memphis, with my radio show and the promotions, and we owned a record shop ... had a big family, kids in school and so forth ... I decided to more or less let things go."
The day before, March 25, Elvis flew out to Hollywood after this final appearance on CBS 'Stage Show'. Before his scheduled April 3rd Milton Berle Show Elvis had a screen test with producer Hal Wallis.
Elvis was tested for a part in 'The Rainmaker' but of more interest was his "musical trail" when Elvis mimed to his recording of 'Blue Suede Shoes.' As featured in 'EPiC Elvis Presley In Concert'.
According to screenwriter Allan Weiss (Blue Hawaii, Girls! Girls! Girls!, Roustabout) who was present, the test was to see if "Elvis' indefinable energy" and star-power on TV would translate to movies.
From this week 70 years ago everything would change
Allan Weiss would later explain.. “We instantly knew that we were in the presence of a phenomenon, the lectricity bounced off the walls of the sound stage. One felt it as an awesome thing, like an earthquake in progress, only without the implicit threat. Watching this insecure country boy, who apologised when he asked for a rehearsal - as though he had some something wrong - turn into absolute dynamite when he stepped into the bright lights and started lip-syncing the words of his familiar hit. He believed in it and he made you believe it - no matter how sophisticated your musical tastes were. The transformation was incredible.” (News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
Trump visits Graceland: As reported in the media, nothing much is happening worldwide and so President Trump took a surprise tour of Graceland on Monday while in Memphis.
Trump has played Elvis' music at his campaign rallies across the country for years and often compared himself to Presley.
Graceland was temporarily closed for Trump to take a brief private tour, including examining an Army helmet Presley scrawled his “EP” initials in after reporting for basic training in 1958.
He also scoped out a bread warmer in the kitchen and traipsed through the den known as “the Jungle Room” because of its green shag carpet, Polynesian-style furniture and indoor rock waterfall.
Trump also marvelled at Presley’s gold-plated Social Security card, suggesting that the style of card might be something authorities might want to bring back.
Later, peering at Presley’s gold phone, the president offered, “I would like to hear some of those conversations.”
"We love Elvis" Trump noted as he entered the Graceland mansion.
Trump is only the second sitting president to visit the Elvis' home. Then President George W. Bush visited Graceland in 2006 with then-Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, a big Elvis fan.
Trump lamented having never met the superstar. “Who else would be more famous than Elvis?”
Trump repeated his admiration for the King of Rock and Roll and his music, saying he was a "big fan" -- lamenting the fact that he never met him.
"I knew Frank Sinatra. I knew most of them. Unfortunately, I never met Elvis, and that would be one I would have liked a lot. But I do like his music. I will say. Tthank you for inviting me, I appreciate it. - I don't get tired of his music. I hear a lot".
The president said his favorite Elvis song is 'Hurt'. (News, Source; Various)
'EPiC Elvis Presley In Concert' April 6 rumour: EIN has seen the rumour going around that 'EPiC Elvis Presley In Concert' streaming release date is April 6.
Apple and Amazon Prime have been suggested. We however can see no official confirmation of this rumour.
Amazon notes "Release date coming soon" The DVD, Blu-Ray & 4KUltra HD has been noted as 17 June, 2026.
It is odd that the streaming date would be two months before this.
EIN is awaiting confirmation (News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
Monday 23 March 2026
‘Heading Down To Sunset Boulevard’ CD Review:Released by RCA / SONY on their “Sunset Boulevard” set but in poor quality and at the wrong speed, the Reel-Trax label corrected this with a neat 2-CD set released late last year. - Now also released on vinyl.
.. Elvis' August 16, 1974 RCA studio rehearsal, presented here has been carefully and newly mixed. Using the latest state-of-the-art studio technology, we have worked to create a much more balanced recording that does justice to both the musicianship and Elvis’ performance. Each song has been carefully mixed for the best presentation.
The rehearsal has also been speed-corrected, as earlier releases ran far too slow.
Being a double-CD we have also added performance highlights from Elvis' “Summer Festival” 1974 engagement.
'Elvis Week 2026': Graceland have posted 'Elvis Week 2026' runs from August 8–16, 2026, celebrating the life and legacy of Elvis Presley with a massive gathering of fans.
The new Elvis Week 2026 logo is also displayed
The week-long event features concerts, special guest appearances, the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest, and the annual Candlelight Vigil on August 15.
Events also mentioned are "Elvis Presley in Concert" (EPiC): A special 2026 concert experience,
featuring Elvis on screen with live vocals, backed by a live band, including original band members. Jillian Cardarelli (US Country music star) hosting.. 'A Night in Elvis' Hollywood' (Aug13) /
'Inspired by Elvis' (Aug 16)
ETAs Taylor Rodriguez and Dwight Icenhower 'The ETA Ultimate Return' (Aug 8) /
'Ultimate Gospel Celebration' (Aug 10) /
'Ultimates After Dark' (Aug 10) 'Elvis: The Other Side of the Tracks' (Aug 11)
More information coming soon - see Graceland Elvis Week 2026 (News, Source;Graceland/EIN)
‘Heading Down To Sunset Boulevard’ Import Vinyl: As noted above, this month the Reel Trax label have released a Limited Edition Vinyl version on Classic Black or Transparent Clear Vinyl
It comes housed in a deluxe full-color gatefold sleeve, featuring rare photos from the 1974 sessions and extensive liner notes.
This version captures the timeless beauty of traditional vinyl, making it an absolute must-have for collectors
The double-vinyl features the complete 1974 Rehearsal - no live Las Vegas bonus songs
'Ready for his close-up' EPiC Elvis: UK music journalist Richard Williams has posted a neat review of 'EPiC' which includes... .. Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 biopic 'ELVIS', was something I felt I could do without. What turned up during the research process, however, was something else: a cache of film shot in Las Vegas and elsewhere soon after Presley’s comeback in 1969. Hitherto unseen, it consisted of unedited footage devoted not just to recording his performances but to rehearsal and backstage scenes. Here was Luhrmann’s goldmine, and he spent a couple of years turning it into EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, a 97-minute documentary.
There are things about the film that I’m not so fond of, such as the flash-cut montages that race through various aspects of Elvis’s life... It’s a way of bringing younger audiences up to speed, I suppose, and the 60-images-in-60-seconds approach probably seems perfectly normal to them. I found it a bit trashy — but of course there was something a bit trashy about Elvis, as there is about Luhrmann’s work. Neither of them, one imagines, would be averse to a ride in a gold Cadillac.
More seriously, the film is stuffed with passages that succeed in telling us more about Elvis than we already knew. Where Luhrman’s approach works, against all odds, is in eliding several performances of a single song, from rehearsal to Vegas showroom, creating a single unit of music containing several perspectives. Sounds a bit meretricious? Works beautifully on songs like “Burnin’ Love”, Tony Joe White’s “Polk Salad Annie” and the majestic “How Great Thou Art”.
But to see him working with his rhythm section and singers is to understand how much he loved music. You can’t sing Joe South’s “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” the way he does without real commitment to the material.
Or the quite fantastic medley of “Little Sister” and “Get Back”. You hate medleys? Try this one, which brings the best out of the guitarist James Burton and the drummer Ronnie Tutt — making me all the more angry that the closing credits don’t list any of the members of the rhythm section or the backing singers, all of whom are clearly having a ball working with the King. I’d heard that medley before, but to see it performed, with such skill and enthusiasm, is something special.
A couple of moments caught me cold. One is when the director isolates Elvis murmuring “All my trials… soon be over,” from the traditional song Mickey Newbury incorporated into his “American Trilogy”. Another is a snatch of Presley singing as if to himself: “I feel my light come shining / From the west down to the east / Any day now, any day now, I shall be released.” He repeats it, and then, as an aside, says the name “Dylan”. It makes you wish he’d recorded it properly, and then it makes you think about all the great songs he should have recorded, in the best possible circumstances. Instead, as he admits in contemporaneous interview footage, he wasted the ’60s making terrible Hollywood movies at the insistence of his manager, Colonel Parker, who lurks around the fringes of this documentary in a way that tells you very clearly what Luhrmann thinks of him. Elvis also expresses regret and puzzlement at not having appeared in places like Europe and Japan — anywhere outside the USA, in fact — and we know who was to blame for that.
One or two other things: the shots of the various audiences are fascinating, particularly one wide-angle view from the back of the stage at the Las Vegas International showroom. And there’s a glimpse of Elvis in a car with the Memphis Mafia, giving you a hint of their special kind of camaraderie.
Elvis is in good shape. He’s lithe and agile. In good spirits, too: always ready for a goofy laugh, or to change a lyric during rehearsals to include something mildly filthy.
Such a documentary is the director’s construct, telling the story he wants you to know. But I really did come out of it feeling warmer about Elvis the human being, and even more regretful about the opportunities he missed.
Go here to thebluemoment.com for full review (News, Source;BlueMoment/ElvisInfoNet)
For ALL the 'EPiC' Elvis Presley In Concert' news and reviews see EIN's unique'EPiC' spotlight
UPDATED - 'EPiC' - Elvis Presley in Concert' EIN Review: Baz Luhrmann's 'EPiC' - Elvis Presley in Concert' opens in cinemas worldwide today Feb 27, 2026. It has already received rave reviews in the general media and now EIN has a deeper look.
Director Baz Luhrmann explained.."'EPiC' is not specifically a documentary, nor a concert film: Elvis takes the audience through the journey of his life, weaving never-before-seen footage with iconic performances that have never been presented in this way, from the 1970 Vegas show, on tour in 1972 and even precious moments of the 1957 “gold jacket” performance in Hawaii.
Most importantly, Elvis will sing and tell you about his life in first person, through both classic and contemporary musical prisms.”
Directed by Baz Luhrmann and edited by Jonathan Redmond, the documentary is 96 minutes of stunning insight into Elvis the artist, caring friend and creative genius from small-town Mississippi.
Watching 'EPiC' on big screen is one of those deeply satisfying tactile experiences that can truly only be felt in your body. A great meal. A satisfying run. Swimming in warm ocean. Crisp mountain air. Playing with your puppy. Having a good buzz...
'EPiC' DVD / Bluray / 4KUltra June 17 release?: Good news that 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert' will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray & 4KUltra HD. EzyDvd now note the release date as 17 June, 2026.
Amazon has no release date as yet.
Various on-line shops are promoting their release.
Disappointingly the duration is 96 minutes, the length of the cinema version EIN thanks Michael Mann for the word up (News, Source;MM/ElvisInfoNet)
Wednesday 18 March 2026
'EPiC' Success Continues!: The US domestic data is now in for the forth weekend internationally.
This week there were even IMAX re-screenings and the film is still in most local cinemas. And the results are still going fine.
US Domestic Box Office - $12,550,000
International Box Office -not yet updated for this week Worldwide Box Office - $23+mill
This is very impressive for a retrospective music documentary.
Comparing'EPiC' with 2016's 'The Beatles: Eight Days a Week—The Touring Years'.
It too had a famous director Ron Howard, a budget of $5 mill and eventually grossed $12.3 million worldwide.
It also had a similar marketing "push" - although no one does Marketing & Publicity quite like Baz Luhrmann!
And on week #4 - 'EPiC ELVIS' looks like doubling 'The Beatles' documentary gross in cinemas alone!
In the UK on its second weekend of national release 'EPiC' has dropped to #6 grossing movie but still taking in over $1.5million
1 Hoppers - gross $10,300,000
6 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert' gross $3,856,270 - 580 screens
(News, Source;PB/EIN)
'The Freedom of My Chains: The Recordings of Elvis Presley 1968 - 1977' New Book: Alan Tranter's final volume looking at Elvis' musical legacy was published yesterday.
The description notes... .. Between 1968 and 1977, Elvis Presley recorded some of the most urgent, defiant, tender and puzzling performances of his career. This was the era of reinvention and resistance, of artistic rebirth and gradual retreat. From the raw electricity of the television “comeback” to the orchestral sweep of the concert years, from the creative blaze of Memphis to the twilight recordings in the Jungle Room, the story is neither simple triumph nor easy decline. The Freedom of My Chains examines every master recording from these final nine years with clarity and candour. Each session is placed in context, each song weighed on its own merits, each triumph celebrated and each misstep considered without sentimentality. Producers, songwriters, studios and circumstances all play their part in a narrative that is as much about control and compromise as it is about voice.
This is not a book about myth. It is about work. About choices. About a man still capable of greatness, sometimes soaring, sometimes faltering, always compelling.
For anyone who wants to listen more closely, and hear the story in the grooves...
- softcover or Kindle - 277 pages
Alan Tranter's previous books on Elvis are... - Shake, Rattle and Blue Moon: The Formative Recordings of Elvis Presley 1953-1960 (see EIN Review here) - Riding A Rainbow: The Recordings of Elvis Presley 1960 - 1968 (Book News, Source;NP/ElvisInfoNet)
'The Final Show In Lake Tahoe May 9th 1976' Import CD / Vinyl; New from ReelTrax label, just in time for the 50th anniversary of Elvis Presley's very last Lake Tahoe concert - Mother's Day 1976 an audience recording on black vinyl and 3-color transparent vinyl!
Also available as a deluxe 3-panel, 2-CD set! The publicity includes... .. The Final Show In Lake Tahoe is a beautiful deluxe 3-LP set (!) with printed inner sleeves, containing intensive liner notes and featuring a newly remastered audience recording of the concert from May 9, 1976 at the Sahara Tahoe Hotel in Lake Tahoe.
In 2008 'Rainbow Records' released a 2-CD set in 2008 containing the complete concert in improved quality.
One thing is clear: this concert is a must-see for every fan. Elvis was obviously in a very relaxed mood and didn't care that the hotel management was still desperately trying to force him to play shorter shows. In fact, Elvis gave the crowd more than they probably expected and was on stage for the longest time he had ever performed (an impressive two-hour set), singing, laughing, and talking as if he were chatting with friends in the living room of Graceland.
The recording has now been carefully processed using the latest technology a newly remastered version in the best possible quality, revealing details that have never been heard before!
A few words about the contents: Of course, you'll find the tracklist at the end of this announcement, but we'd like to highlight some real gems of this set. A rare and unrehearsed version of "Return To Sender" deserves mention, as does another rarity: "Young And Beautiful." "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," dedicated to Linda Thompson and sung with passion, is also included. Elvis tells a very funny story about the "boat scene" in the film "Blue Hawaii" and even sings a few lines of his "Sun" classic "Blue Moon of Kentucky."
Overall, there is a lot to discover when listening to Elvis's not only longest, but also very unusual concert! EIN Note: The previous 'Rainbow Records' was an OK quality audience recording, hopefully it will be improved for 2026 Check audio samples before purchasing
See 'Elvis All The CD News 2026' for full tracklist & images (News, Source;ReelTrax/EIN)
Monday 16 March 2026
Interview with Gravel Road Music: The Gravel Road Music label has been operating for 20 years releasing plenty of very collectable releases such as 'You Know It Don't Have To Be Strictly Country', 'The Return Of A Prodigy', 'Plugged In & Geared Up', 'Good To Be Back' and last year the deluxe box-set 'Elvis: August 1969 By Invitation Only'
With another special GRM vinyl release 'Elvis In Concert' coming out this month we wanted to know more including...
- Why the vinyl 'Elvis In Concert' release has been so delayed
- Why is GRM's version different from the original release
- What is special about this collector's package
- Why not wait until the 50th anniversary of this concert
- Is the Elvis bootleg world dead
- Future GRM releases
Coming soon to EIN / ElvisDayByDay a chance to win a copy of this new GRM vinyl set...
Kurt Russell Talk Elvis: On a recent Seth Meyers show Kurt Russell talked about his time with Elvis.
His first movie role was famously kicking Elvis in the shins in 'It Happened At The World's Fair' and later on he would play the role of Elvis in the 1979 John Carpenter biopic.
In this delightful interview Russell also explains how cool Elvis was in regard to Russell's father Bing Russell who played 'Deputy Clem Foster' on the TV Western series Bonanza. (News, Source;EIN) Our thanks to Geoffrey McDonnell
'Elvis: The Man & His Music' #151: EIN's favourite Elvis music magazine 'Elvis: The Man & His Music' March 2026 issue is out now.
Articles include..
- Back Home In Memphis – The 1960 Graceland Press Conference
- Red For Danger
- ‘The Making Of G.I. Blues’ – box-set review
- Short Shrift For The Long Legged Girl?
- Twenty-One No.1 Hits That Never Were
- Just For Fun
- Your Letters
- CD & Book Reviews
Great News as 'EPiC' gets Worldwide IMAX encores: Baz Luhrmann's 'EPiC' - Elvis Presley in Concert' has been so successful and particularly with its IMAX showings that cinemas worldwide are booking in EPiC for an IMAX encore
The publicity notes... ..Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis hasn't left the IMAX— yet.
Whether you're on a repeat viewing or seeing it for the first time, this is one EPIC you don't want to miss.
Tickets-on-sale dates & showtime availability varies by country.
Consult your local IMAX theatre for the most up-to-date information. Note that you do need to check with your local IMAX cinema (News, Source;Gansky/EIN)
- EIN thanks Joan Gansky
'ELVIS; Live At Boston Garden ‘71' MRS Camden release: From the budget 'MRS Camden' label a new release for May 2026.
The publicity notes...
.. A compelling performance from Elvis’ early 1970’s touring period, recorded in Boston on 10th November 1971. The show captures the energy and intensity of his non Las Vegas appearances, reaffirming his return to peak form.
Includes 8-page photo gallery.
The original MRS full-price 2022 release 'Elvis: Like Black Tornado - Live At Boston Garden 1971' on vinyl and deluxe CD is now hard to find, so this budget Camden version should satisfy a lot of Elvis fans.
Seeing 'EPiC' proved that angels do exist for Nick Cave: Elvis fan and million-selling muso Nick Cave (Australian frontman of 'Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds') has discovered that angels do exist when he saw the new Baz Luhrmann film 'EPiC'.
This week Cave posted on his wonderful 'The Red Hand Files' forum..
.. "I thought about a lyric I once wrote, I don’t believe in the existence of angels, and had been wondering if a good question might be, “Do angels actually exist, and if so, has anyone ever seen one?”
And then, on this seemingly unremarkable Tuesday evening in March, something happened.
I stepped into the London IMAX cinema in Waterloo and received an answer to this question.
And the answer was yes, angels do exist, in all their joy and fury.
So, right now, my crucial question to you all is, “Have you seen EPiC, Baz Luhrmann’s new film of Elvis Presley in concert?”
My best advice to you and everyone else. Just go, truly, just go and see it. - - Love, Nick
(News, Source;Red Hand Files/EIN) - - - - - EIN thanks Scott Jenkins for the word-up
'Elvis In Concert -Tempe Fever' New Import CD: From the 'Knock Out' label Elvis' March 23, 1977, concert at Arizona State University in Tampa, Arizona. (EIN Note it is TEMPE, not Tampa!) The publicity notes...
.. It's the first stop on his new 1977 tour, which concludes April 3.
Just before stepping off stage, Elvis whispered to his cousin, "You didn't think I could do it, did you?!"
Tempe Fever warms the heart with a previously unreleased live concert on CD, recorded on March 23, 1977. This AUDIENCE recording has recently been remastered for its premiere release.
This is Elvis Presley in his final year on stage, focused and ready to deliver one of his finest performances to date. The electricity is undeniable. The emotion is profound. From a deeply personal version of "My Way" to "Fever" the tenderness of “And I Love You So” and its climax with a truly magnificent rendition of “How Great Thou Art.” EIN Note: Previously out as a CDR 'Tour Opening Tempe' the audience recording is over-powered with the sound of screaming fans near the mic.-
Check audio before purchase. (terrible 'AI' cover photo too!)
See 'Elvis All The CD News 2026' for full details (News, Source;KO/EIN)
'Elvis Riverfront' New Import CD: The Knock Out label has released 'Elvis: Riverfront' featuring Elvis June 25, 1977, penultimate concert at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio.. The publicity notes...
... To accompany our release of "A Grande Finale In Indianapolis," we're returning to the summer of 1977 with a powerful piece. an AUDIENCE RECORDING "Riverfront" focuses on Elvis' penultimate concert, recorded at the Riverfront Coliseum on June 25, 1977.
Remastered, the show sounds better than ever, warm and alive, thanks to the energy of the crowd.
Elvis was clearly enjoying the moment that night, and despite visiting the dentist before the concert, he gave his fans a spectacular performance.
Housed in a digipack filled with concert photos, "Riverfront" is a largely previously unreleased document of Elvis Presley's final days on stage. EIN Note: Previously out as 'Since Cincinatti' it is an average quality audience recording -
Check audio before purchase.
See 'Elvis All The CD News 2026' for full details (News, Source;KO/EIN)
'Elvis: Splice It Up' New Import CD: Yet another from the Knock Out label. The publicity notes...
... "Splice It Up" is a resounding journey behind the scenes of the recording studio, filled with alternate takes with a new sound that allows you to feel the magic of the process.
You can listen to "His Latest Flame" through a series of arrangements before finding its rhythm and the provocative, playful spark of the newly edited versions of "The Bullfighter Is a Lady" and "Thinking About You."
Some of these alternate takes might even surprise you, and that's precisely the goal: to offer a fresh and fun twist on classic studio moments.
From the excitement of "Ain't That Lovin' You Baby" to the closing of the final sessions with a special version of "Way Down."
Includes tracks such as 'A Cane And A High Starched Collar', 'The Bullfighter Was A Lady (Spliced Funny Version)', and 'Thinking About You (Take 4 & Rehearsal Splice - Funny Version)'
See 'Elvis All The CD News 2026' for full details (News, Source;KO/EIN)
Tuesday 10 March 2026
'EPiC' Success Continues!: The data is now in for the third weekend internationally.
IMAX presentations are dropping off but the film is now in most local cinemas. And the results are still very good.
US Domestic Box Office - $10,966,000
International Box Office $9,892,000 Worldwide Box Office - $20,858,000
This is very impressive for a retrospective music documentary.
Comparing'EPiC' with 2016's 'The Beatles: Eight Days a Week—The Touring Years'.
It too had a famous director Ron Howard, a budget of $5 mill and eventually grossed $12.3 million worldwide.
It also had a similar marketing "push" - although no one does Marketing & Publicity quite like Baz Luhrmann!
And on week #3 - 'EPiC ELVIS' is now way ahead of 'The Beatles' - nice!
In the UK on its first weekend of national release 'EPiC' is ranked as the #2 grossing movie behind 'Wuthering Heights'
1 "Wuthering Heights" weekly gross $3,018,947 on 757 screens
2 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert' $2,532,418 - 637 screens
3 GOAT $1,218,210 on 651 screens (News, Source;PB/EIN)
'EPiC' Roger Ebert rates 3.5 out of 4 stars: From the well-respected Roger Ebert.com movie website
reviewer Sheila O'Malley rates 'EPiC' very highly indeed.
Her review includes ...
...Baz Luhrmann, the current Poet Laureate of Elvis, wants to not only bridge the gap between the image and the man, but to celebrate the image and the man in as unadulterated a way as possible. Luhrmann wants to remove the separation between Elvis and us, to “bring him back,” not just for Elvis’ pre-existing fanbase but also so younger generations can discover him. Luhrmann accomplished this in his 2022 biopic starring Austin Butler; with “EPiC” an extended concert film, his mission is even more explicit.
Despite the libraries of chatter devoted to Elvis, his talent often goes unmentioned.
For years, there have been rumors about lost and /or unused footage from “Elvis: That’s the Way It Is.” When the extended soundtrack album was re-released in 2000 there were audio recordings of songs done in rehearsals and there were recordings of live numbers not included in the film, like the mashup of “Little Sister” and “Get Back,” as well as a moment in rehearsal when Elvis and the Sweet Inspirations launch into an exuberant “Oh Happy Day.” What if there was video to go along with this audio?
Luhrmann went on a fishing expedition to the Warner Bros. underground vaults in Kansas. Digging through the archives, they discovered boxes and boxes of negatives of never-before-seen material. If you know the original film, you’ll immediately clock the things you’ve never seen before.
Seeing Elvis and the women sing “Oh Happy Day” actually brought me to tears; they were all completely lost in it.
The shows themselves are spectacles, and yet it’s not spectacle as we think of it now, with fireworks and choreography.
The stage is crowded with musicians and backup singers. Elvis is, of course, the focus, but he’s not doing too much. He goofs off. He cracks jokes. But when he digs deep, as he does with “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” for example, you realize “Oh. That’s why he’s Elvis.” He stands there in his jumpsuit, drenched in sweat, sideburns bristling. Elvis is the spectacle.
Luhrmann took some heat for “going soft” on Elvis in the 2022 biopic, and there will be those who will want more “interrogation” of the subject here. It’s worth remembering that from the moment Elvis arrived on the national scene in 1954, he wasn’t “discussed,” he was litigated.
The immediate response to him was the opposite of “going soft.” He was blamed for everything. Reporters forced him to justify himself. People called for his arrest and banishment. There are decades of litigation out there if you want to find it. 'EPiC' is a concert film, designed to entertain, first and foremost, but to remind people why Elvis was … Elvis.
For Elvis, the image and the man became one onstage. It would leave him depleted and wrecked.
For him, there was no other way to do it. “EPiC” is so vivid it makes Elvis seem not like an entertainer from the past, but a figure who lives in the perpetual Right Now.
See full review here (News, Source;RogerEbert.com/EIN)
'EPiC' A Purely Heroic Presentation: The UK music magazine Uncut reviewed 'EPiC' rating it ★★★★ out of 5 stars
The review included... "Unseen footage from live films, sonically and visually reimagined"
Luhrmann’s 'EPiC' continues where 'ELVIS' biopic left off, using 59 hours of unseen footage, radically reimagined audio to produce an IMAX-ready, contemporary Elvis show.
Elvis’s life and music is meanwhile explained in his own words, drawn from press conferences and onstage chat.
Billed as ‘Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC’, and as Elvis’s ’50s flit by in five minutes, with his infamously jiggling hips sped up and slowed, the director’s own jittery tics seem to overwhelm his subject.
Still, precious glimpses of pre-Army Elvis’s snake-hipped looseness and grease-stiff quiff convey his outrageous arrival.
“What about the rumour that you shot your mother?” an interviewer asks. “I don’t feel like I’ve done anything wrong,” young Elvis smoulders.
This is followed by a bravura, Pop Art mash-up of 20 Elvis movies which is worth the price of admission on its own.
Blazing Technicolor, interchangeable Elvises spiral around an acid trip reimagining of the forgotten 1968 track “Edge Of Reality” as he talks to a dog, in a cheeky psychedelic version of his blandest decade.
Luhrmann’s hyperactivity pauses with Elvis behind the curtain at the Las Vegas International Hotel. In the dark backstage, he glides forward, his quiff preceding him like a ship’s prow. There is light, screams and the concert begins. “I just do whatever I feel on stage,” he says, and whether singing with a fan-tossed black bra on his head or lying on the floor with legs casually crossed (“I’ll get up in a minute. Just hang loose…”), he operates by his own improvised rules.
Key songs are presented as smoothed composites, resulting in an especially filthy “Polk Salad Annie” (“I wanna eat your fanny,” the supposedly wholesome singer mutters), and you can feel the stage’s red heat as outtake footage gets us close to the star.
Scorsese helped edit Elvis On Tour and it shows. EPiC’s closing section drawn from its footage of the singer’s 1972 journey into America is thrilling.
Now dressed as a bat-caped superhero, he confronts vast arenas of fans and moves between phalanxes of motorcycle cops. “ELVIS OUR KING” a placard says, and he looks energised among his people.
The grubbier reality is excised.
This is a purely heroic presentation of Elvis, sonically and visually blown up to monumental size, commensurate with the performer Luhrmann looks at with love.
Go here for full review.. (News, Source;Uncut/EIN)
Saturday 7 March 2026
20 'EPiC' Questions with Ernst Jorgensen:At all the Australian premieres Baz Luhrmann noted that 'EPiC' - Elvis Presley in Concert' would never have been made without the work of his Editor Jonathon Redmond and "Elvis expert" Ernst Jorgensen.
EIN is certain that 'EPiC' - Elvis Presley in Concert' will be the documentary that future generations will watch to discover more about this mythical figure from the 1950s that changed the course of pop culture.
Ernst Jorgensen is credited as 'Music Consultant' for the new Baz Luhrmann film and EIN was certain that he must have been involved
throughout the whole process since he was also credited in Luhrmann's
ELVIS biopic. Ernst Jorgensen kindly agreed to answer a few questions for us.
Elvis New Top 10 Billboard Album: Forbes reports how the 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert' soundtrack debuts on Billboard's Soundtracks chart and also in Top Album Sales and Top Country Albums rankings EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is a mix between a documentary and a concert film, and fans of the superstar have turned it into a box office win.
A short time after the film hit theaters, an accompanying soundtrack has reached a number of Billboard charts in America, becoming a fast bestseller. EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert debuts inside Billboard Top 10
on Soundtrack Album charts at #6.
Note that the biopic soundtrack 'ELVIS' as well as 'Elvis by the Presleys' both previously topped the chart.
For some odd reason it is still not in the Top 200 albums chart
However EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is also Top Album Sales #13 (new entry) Top Country Albums#43 (new entry)
On the Top Country Albums'Elv1s: 30 #1' is still at #39. (News, Source:Forbes/EIN)
'Easy Come, Easy Go' Blu-ray CoverArt: The Australian ViaVision company which last year brought you 'Paradise, Hawaiian Style' Blu-ray is releasing another high-quality Blu-ray product 'Easy Come, Easy Go' on April 15 2026!- A worldwide first on Blu-ray!
They note.. Elvis Presley stars in this 60s musical comedy, coming to Blu-ray for the first time worldwide!
... Lieutenant Ted Jackson, a Navy frogman, is about to end his tour of duty. But on his last dive, he discovers a sunken ship. Once he finds out there are silver coins hidden in the wreck, he sees a fortune in his future. Now he and his old boss find themselves diving headfirst into the treasure-hunting business.
EIN Note: The soundtrack was released on a 7" EP. It sold less than 30,000 copies, making it the worst-selling record that Elvis ever released for RCA Victor.
Release Date 15-Apr-26
Runtime 95 minutes Pre-Order here for only AUD$29.95 (US$21)
(News, Source;ViaVision)
'Charlotte Coliseum 1977' Dodgy Import Vinyl: From the "PD" Homespun label a vinyl release of Charlotte Coliseum Feb 21, 1977. The publicity notes include...
... Take a trip back in time and witness a poignant moment in music history with this extraordinary live recording from Elvis Presley's final tour (EIN, It wasn't!). Captured at the Charlotte Coliseum on February 21st, 1977, this performance stands as a vivacious testament to the enduring magnetism, emotion, and unmistakable voice of the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Now available on vinyl, a chance to experience Elvis in one of the most compelling and human performances of his later years.
This release has been remastered from the original WBXT-FM radio broadcast, preserving the warmth and immediacy of the live sound while enhancing clarity and depth.
Pressed on vinyl in strictly limited quantities - Out 10 April 2026 EIN NOTE: The cover is identical to the dodgy 'Elvis Presley Greatest Hits Live - Broadcast Collection' we recently reviewed.
The Charlotte 1977 tracks on that collection had a muffled sound
Of course this concert was never broadcast on WBXT-FM.
Elvis never performed 'Polk Salad Annie' or 'Where No One Stands Alone' in Charlotte despite them being on this release!
Apart from that, there is nothing dodgy about this release!
See 'Elvis All The CD News 2026' for full dodgy details (News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
Wednesday 4 March 2026
'EPiC' - Elvis Presley in Concert' - Review by Paul Belard:'EPiC' - Elvis Presley in Concert' opened last week in cinemas worldwide. It has already received rave reviews in the general media and now profilic author Paul Belard provides his take.
Luhrmann has noted.." In EPiC' Elvis takes the audience through the journey of his life, weaving never-before-seen footage with iconic performances that have never been presented in this way, from the 1970 Vegas show, on tour in 1972 and even precious moments of the 1957 “gold jacket” performance in Hawaii....”
Belard notes that, "This movie was a vindication for me. A unique film in
gorgeous colors, scenes that brought chills along the spine, songs
that made you want to tap your feet, some that made you hold back
tears, seeing this man that brought us so much in regal splendor...
‘EPiC’ expands to UK saturation: In the UK Universal has successfully expanded 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert' from 53 UK and Ireland IMAX venues last week to 637 cinemas nationwide.
The UK weekend box office was £1.14m, and adding in the week-long IMAX preview brings the total to £1.9m (US$2.5mill), taking third place at the UK and Ireland box office.
The London 'BFI IMAX' remains the top-performing site.
Check 'Universal UK' for cinemas & tickets
or check with your local cinema, it's playing in nearly every city
New UK openings include QUAD Derby, Olympic Studios Barnes, Cinema In The Arches Battersea, The Parade Marlborough, Curzon Cinema Clevedon, Zeffirellis Ambleside, Ilkley Cinema and Wetherby Cinema.
The UK Times review gave 'EPiC'five stars "The King Rises Again -
Luhrmann’s Elvis tribute is a five-star delight — and better than his biopic
Drawn from 69 boxes of forgotten footage discovered in a Kansas salt mine, this is a thrilling tribute to The King, even if you’re no fan of his music"
(Source:BFI/EIN) EIN thanks Ed Gibbs for the word-up
Tuesday 3 March 2026
'EPiC' Brilliant Cinema Success!: The data is now in for the second weekend internationally.
While IMAX presentations are dropping off, the film is now in most local cinemas.
And the results are excellent.
US Domestic Box Office - $7,825,920
International Box Office $6,758,000 Worldwide Box Office - $14,583,920
This is very impressive for a retrospective music documentary.
Comparing'EPiC' with 2016's 'The Beatles: Eight Days a Week—The Touring Years'.
It too had a famous director Ron Howard, a budget of $5 mill and eventually grossed $12.3 million worldwide.
It also had a similar marketing "push" - although no one does Marketing & Publicity quite like Baz Luhrmann!
And on week #2 - 'EPiC ELVIS' has overtaken 'The Beatles' - nice!
In Australia 'EPiC' is the 4th highest grossing film last week, generating nearly $2mill of that International Box-Office..
1 Scream 7 - $2,503,400
2 “Wuthering Heights” - $11,108,750
3 Crime 101 - $3,228,100
4 EPiC Elvis Presley in Concert - $1,874,550 (News, Source;Numbers/PB/EIN)
EPiC: 'Always On My Mind' Clip: Another promo trailer showing how well Baz Luhrmann and his team can upgrade old Super 8 film footage.
In the movie the song 'Always On My Mind' is interestingly dedicated more to Lisa Marie than Priscilla.
(News, Source/EIN)
Sunday 1 March 2026
'EPiC' Soundtrack in Worldwide Charts: The 'EPiC: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack' has only been out a week but already it is doing extremely well in the charts.
The highest charting Elvis release in years. Let's hope it continues to climb in its second week.
On the UK Album Charts
UK Top 100 Albums - straight in at #17
UK Soundtrack Albums Chart - #1
UK Physical Albums Chart - #5
UK Album Downloads Chart - #5
In Australia 'EPiC' debuts at #26 on Top 50 ARIA Albums Chart
Amazon Australia - #3 on 'Best Sellers in Music'
Scottish Album Chart - #5 German Top Albums Chart debut at #49
Amazon USA 'Best Sellers' EPiC is #3
No sign of it yet on the Billboard charts -
Also on Amazon UK Best Seller CDs - #2 -
and Top Soundtracks & Musicals - at #1
EIN rates the 'EPiC: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack' as a superb collection that you will keep on playing GET A COPY NOW!
'EPiC Elvis Presley in Concert' UK BluRay: Amazon UK are now offering 'EPiC Elvis Presley in Concert' for preorders...
Blu-ray £15, DVD £10 Ultra4K £25 "Elvis sings and tells his story like never before in a new cinematic experience from visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann."
No Release Date
Disappointing news is that the '1-disc set' is listed with a duration of 90 minutes.
Which is a little odd as the cinema version is 96 minutes
Here's hoping for an extended version release.
(News, Source;AmazonUK/EIN)
More News from earlier last week ...
For all 'EPiC Elvis Presley In Concert' News, Reviews and stunning images see EIN's 'EPiC' Spotlight
'EPiC' - Elvis Presley in Concert' EIN Review: Baz Luhrmann's 'EPiC' - Elvis Presley in Concert' opens in cinemas worldwide this weekend. It has already received rave reviews in the general media and now EIN has a deeper look.
Director Baz Luhrmann explained.."'EPiC' is not specifically a documentary, nor a concert film: Elvis takes the audience through the journey of his life, weaving never-before-seen footage with iconic performances that have never been presented in this way, from the 1970 Vegas show, on tour in 1972 and even precious moments of the 1957 “gold jacket” performance in Hawaii.
Most importantly, Elvis will sing and tell you about his life in first person, through both classic and contemporary musical prisms.”
Directed by Baz Luhrmann and edited by Jonathan Redmond, the documentary is 96 minutes of stunning insight into Elvis the artist, caring friend and creative genius from small-town Mississippi.
Watching 'EPiC' on big screen is one of those deeply satisfying tactile experiences that can truly only be felt in your body. A great meal. A satisfying run. Swimming in warm ocean. Crisp mountain air. Playing with your puppy. Having a good buzz...
Neil Sedaka has died: The pop-legend singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka died Friday at age 86.
A key member of New York's Brill Building songwriting factory, Sedaka teamed with lyricist Howard Greenfield (post the Elvis Rock'n'Roll era and pre-Beatles) to compose happy teenage material including 'Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen', 'Breaking Up Is Hard to Do' and 'Oh! Carol.'
Sedaka composed 100's of songs, many hits for other artists including 'Stupid Cupid' for Connie Francis
He later re-emerged as a chart-success in the 70's including his 'Laughter in the Rain' and with The Captain & Tennille’s cover of 'Love Will Keep Us Together' a US chart-topper in 1975.
His family posted, “Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka. A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions..."
Born in Brooklyn the Juilliard-trained pianist began performing as a teen and was still playing dozens of concerts a year well into his 80s. Elvis covered Sedaka's 'Solitaire' during his Jungle-Room sessions in 1976, the lyrics "there was a man, a lonely man" capturing Elvis’ state of mind at the time. It was released on 'From Elvis Presley Boulevard' -
Before the recording starts Elvis even jokes, "I’ll show you Neil Sedaka!".... (News, Source;Various/ElvisInfoNet)
Baz Luhrmann will make you Fall In Love with Elvis Presley: A delightful review from NPR. .. by Tim Greiving it includes... I've never cared a lick about Elvis Presley, who would have turned 91 in January, had he not died in 1977 at the age of 42. Never had an inkling to listen to his music, never seen any of his films, never been interested in researching his life or work. For this millennial, Presley was a fossilized, mummified relic from prehistory — like a woolly mammoth stuck in the La Brea Tar Pits — and I was mostly indifferent about seeing 1970s concert footage when I sat down for an early IMAX screening of EPiC.
By the end of its rollicking, exhilarating 90 minutes, I turned to my wife and said, "I think I'm in love with Elvis Presley."
Luhrmann choose to leave in many shots with camera operators seen running around with their 16mm cameras because we live in an era where we're used to seeing cameras everywhere and Luhrmann felt none of the original directors' concern about breaking the illusion. Those extreme close-ups allow us to see even the pores on Presley's skin, now projected onto a screen the size of two buildings. The sweat that comes out of those pores is practically a character in the film. Luhrmann marvels at how much Presley gave in every single rehearsal and every single concert performance. Luhrmann notes, "Elvis must have superhuman strength. He becomes the music. He doesn't mark stuff. He just becomes the music, and then no one knows what he's going to do. The band do not know what he's going to do, so they have to keep their eyes on him all the time. They don't know how many rounds he's going to do in 'Suspicious Minds.' You know, he conducts them with his entire being — and that's what makes him unique."
The revivified concerts in 'EPiC' are a potent argument that Elvis wasn't just a superior live performer to the Beatles, but possibly the greatest live performer of all time. His sensual, magmatic charisma on stage, the way he conducts the large band and choir, the control he has over that godlike gospel voice, and the sorcerer's power he has to hold an entire audience in the palm of his hands (and often to kiss many of its women on the lips) all come across with stunning, electrifying urgency.
While researching for ELVIS he came to appreciate how insecure Presley was as a kid, growing up as the only white boy in a poor Black neighborhood, and seeing his father thrown into jail for passing a bad check. "Inside, he felt very less-than," says Luhrmann, "but he grows up into a physical Greek god. I mean, we've forgotten how beautiful he was. You see it in the movie; he is a beautiful looking human being. And then he moves. And he doesn't learn dance steps — he just manifests that movement. And then he's got the voice of Orpheus, and he can take a song like 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'and make it into a gospel power ballad.
So he's like a spiritual being. And I think he's imposing. So the goofiness, the humor is about disarming people, making them get past the image — like he says — and see the man. That's my own theory."
Luhrmann conceived EPiC as "an imagined concert," liberally building sequences from various nights, sometimes inserting rehearsal takes into a stage performance (ecstatically so in the song "Polk Salad Annie"), and adding new musical layers to some of the songs. Working with his music producer, Jamieson Shaw, he backed the King's vocals on "Oh Happy Day" with a new recording of a Black gospel choir in Nashville. "So that's an imaginative leap," says Luhrmann. "It's kind of a dreamscape."
On some tracks, like "Burning Love," new string arrangements give the live performances extra verve and cinematic depth. Luhrmann and his music team also radically remixed multiple Elvis songs into a new number, "A Change of Reality" which has the King repeatedly asking "Do you miss me?" over a buzzing bass line and a syncopated beat. - I didn't miss Elvis before I saw 'EPiC' — but after seeing the film twice now, I truly do.
Go to NPR for full review (News, Source;NPR/EIN)
Baz Luhrmann Elvis stage musical in the works: This story about Baz Luhrmann's Elvis stage musical has been doing the rounds as a new surprise last week.
On UK radio this week Luhrmann explained, "[An Elvis stage musical] it's being worked on. It's happening, yeah. I don’t know if I was supposed to announce it, but, hey, I just did."
Luhrmann is not directing the Theatre project "handing it on to other creators", the same as 'Strictly Ballroom' and 'Moulin Rouge!' which were both adapted into musicals for theater.
However this news is not a surprise since back in April 2023 EIN reported... "The AussieTheatre.com has announced that Baz Luhrmann, best known for directing visually stunning and flamboyant films such as ELVIS, Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet, and The Great Gatsby has mentioned work on an Elvis stage musical.
Luhrmann spoke about the musical on the 2023 Oscars red carpet, comparing it to Moulin Rouge! and confirming that he would produce but not direct it."
- Check out EIN's Spotlight on Baz Luhrmann's ELVIS' movie (News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
'1970 Las Vegas After-Party Suit': Graceland has released a new episode of Elvis: Up Close spotlighting the 1970 Las Vegas After-Party Suit, worn by Elvis on August 10, 1970, at his after-show celebration at the International Hotel. The sleek black two-piece, made by IC Costume Co., is crafted from faux black leather PVC knit cotton, giving it a high-gloss finish under the lights.
The jacket features a sharp collar and echoes the iconic '68 black leather suit.
The after-party was filmed by MGM for TWII, capturing candid moments of Elvis with friends including Sammy Davis Jr. and Cary Grant.
Footage from this party is featured in 'EPiC' the suit is now displayed at Graceland for the first time. (News, Source;EPE)
'Lattice Criss-Cross Suit': Graceland has released a new episode of Elvis: Up Close, spotlighting the Lattice Criss-Cross Suit, worn by Elvis on April 5, 1972, during rehearsals in Buffalo, New York, ahead of his spring tour at the Memorial Auditorium.
The powder-blue two-piece, made by IC Costume Co., was captured on film during rehearsals for Elvis On Tour, giving fans a rare glimpse of Elvis preparing for the stage.
Footage from this era is featured in EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert.
The suit is also featured in the new Graceland 'EPiC' exhibit. (News, Source;EPE)
EIN Exclusives and News highlights from earlier in February ...
'EPiC' - Elvis Presley in Concert' EIN Review: Baz Luhrmann's 'EPiC' - Elvis Presley in Concert' opens in cinemas worldwide today Feb 27, 2026. It has already received rave reviews in the general media and now EIN has a deeper look.
Director Baz Luhrmann explained.."'EPiC' is not specifically a documentary, nor a concert film: Elvis takes the audience through the journey of his life, weaving never-before-seen footage with iconic performances that have never been presented in this way, from the 1970 Vegas show, on tour in 1972 and even precious moments of the 1957 “gold jacket” performance in Hawaii.
Most importantly, Elvis will sing and tell you about his life in first person, through both classic and contemporary musical prisms.”
Directed by Baz Luhrmann and edited by Jonathan Redmond, the documentary is 96 minutes of stunning insight into Elvis the artist, caring friend and creative genius from small-town Mississippi.
Watching 'EPiC' on big screen is one of those deeply satisfying tactile experiences that can truly only be felt in your body. A great meal. A satisfying run. Swimming in warm ocean. Crisp mountain air. Playing with your puppy. Having a good buzz...
'Elvis News Report March 2026': Elvis super-fan Emiel Maier presents all the recent news including...... Celebrity studded ‘EPiC’ premiere in London, Baz Luhrmann accidentally reveals a new Elvis project!, The story behind the recording of Elvis’s final concert, New FTD releases, Details of the announced releases of the with liquid-filled vinyl LPs - and so much more..
Baz Luhrmann on 'EPiC': Another Baz Luhrmann interview, this time for 'IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit' where he talks more about technical side.
The article includes...
.. When Baz Luhrmann was directing his 2022 film “ELVIS” he heard about some mythical missing reels from the 1970 documentary “Elvis: That’s the Way It Is.” Luhrmann was intrigued, mainly because he thought he could use the footage in his film and thus avoid building a huge set and employing hundreds of extras. When he sent an associate into the Kansas City salt mine where MGM keeps its negatives, he discovered that there was something even more valuable hidden in the studio’s collection.
The result of that journey is “EPiC: Elvis Presley Live in Concert,” a gloriously exuberant celebration of The King that’s unlike any concert film or music documentary ever made. It’s an impressionistic and immersive portrait of Elvis at a peak moment in his artistry, when he was performing up to three shows a night in Las Vegas and interpreting everything from his own classics to Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” and The Beatles’ “Get Back.”
First, however, Luhrmann had to find the missing sound for all the material in MGM’s archives. Because “Elvis” was a success, Luhrmann was able to hire a researcher who he said was really more of a full-time detective to track down the audio, which often involved shady exchanges in parking lots with people selling a few minutes of sound at a time on the black market. In some cases Luhrmann had to convince collectors who didn’t want to part with their material that his intentions were pure, meeting with them multiple times until they trusted him with crucial footage.
Once Luhrmann had all of the material, he took it to (Beatles Get Back) Peter Jackson’s Park Road so they could restore the footage to its original glory. Luhrmann was intent on presenting Elvis and his music as they were, so the idea was to preserve the footage without altering it. “There’s not a frame of AI in this film. There’s not a visual effect. What Peter and his team do is take the negative and take the abrasions out of it and reproduce it at its highest quality. Then we take it back for color grading, which is a very sensitive art. It’s just spending hours and hours, which I did with our colorist.”
The rigorous work pays off in “EPiC,” which looks and sounds like it was shot yesterday. “The pictorial resolution is achieved through painstaking love. Peter and his team have this love and there’s no one like them on the planet. Think of what they did with that first World War picture [‘They Shall Not Grow Old’]. Think of what they did with The Beatles.”
The restoration work and the enveloping sound design by Wayne Pashley make “EPiC” an extraordinarily visceral experience that not only brings the viewer inside Presley’s perspective but gives a sense of what it would have been like to attend one of his concerts.
“We wanted to make it as much as possible like you’re actually at
a concert with Elvis,” Luhrmann said, which is why he encourages audiences to see it on the biggest screen available — preferably IMAX.
Although the movie is a typically maximalist Baz Luhrmann spectacle, its production was much smaller than he’s used to, and that made it particularly pleasurable. “I’m not saying I don’t enjoy [making other films], but everything is usually fraught with labor and complexity and is a mountain climb. Here we were a tiny little team and EPiC was probably the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever made.”
Go here to Indiewire for full article (News, Source;IW/EIN)
New Cover Artwork for Upcoming "Elvis Dressed to Rock": Karan Feder's 256-page hardcover about Elvis fashion is due for publication on August 4.
The book description: "For the first time, take an in-depth look at the fashion pieces that defined the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s style and career, with more than 150 pieces from the archives at Graceland including early suits, jumpsuits, capes, belts, jewelry, original designer sketches, and more. "In the history of Rock ‘n Roll, no performer ever defined a style like Elvis. From his rockabilly suits of the 1950s to the jeweled jumpsuits of the 1970s, the King’s on-stage fashion became as iconic as his music.
From the now-iconic gold lamé suit in the 1950s and the leather suit from the 1968 Comeback Special to the last jumpsuit Elvis wore onstage in Indianapolis, this comprehensive book contains more than 150 pieces of stagewear spanning Elvis’s entire career.
Stunning jumpsuits, beautifully detailed capes, numerous belts, two-piece suits, studded boots, jewelry, and even chokers that were created for Elvis but never worn on stage are all featured in beautiful new photography created especially for this book. Also included are suits that until now have never been seen as their complete sets, including three Cisco Kid two-piece outfits worn in Las Vegas in 1971, and two of Elvis’s Dude Suits, worn in Las Vegas in 1972.
Detailed information from the archives about the suits, including the definitive list of names for the jumpsuits, and fascinating historical context and insights about the detailing and construction of the pieces from noted costume historian Karan Feder, accompany stunning detail photography of each piece. Lavishly illustrated with new photography of each piece in the archive, images of Elvis on stage in the pieces and album covers on which they appear, rare sketches from costume designer Bill Belew, and more, this beautiful book is a look at the King’s style like never before." Preorder >> Amazon US <- - -> Amazon UK- - - - - - EIN associate links (News, Source: Amazon)
'EPiC- An emotional experience of striking immediacy': The Australian Film journal, FilmInk.com.au, has rated Baz Luhrmann's 'EPiC' a stunning 19 out of 20!
Their review includes..
.. In his towering, kaleidoscopic 2022 biopic ELVIS, Australian master director and famed cinematic showman Baz Luhrmann displayed an affinity for and creative connection to his subject rarely seen in biographical cinema.
There was no mockery in ELVIS, no smugly superior cultural critique, and no winking at the audience, which is a considerable feat considering the complexity surrounding the expansive mythology of Elvis Presley.
A very happy by-product of Baz Luhrmann’s huge production of the biopic ELVIS is the surprise new documentary concert feature EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert, which functions as the perfect companion piece.
Luhrmann painstakingly remastered the best of the hours of lost material into the dynamic new cinematic experience that is the magisterial EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert.
Working in tandem with editor Jonathan Redmond (Elvis, The Great Gatsby), Luhrmann ingeniously creates full song performances from various outtake sources from his found material, resulting in stunning work-ups of classics like “Polk Salad Annie”, “Burning Love”, “Little Sister” and many more.
Cannily thread through these heady musical set-pieces are various on-film interviews from multiple sources (often press conferences); grainy, home-movie style footage; and copious rehearsal footage of Elvis and his huge backing band getting it together in the studio.
This rehearsal footage is where EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert really sings. It’s revealing, engaging and incredibly entertaining. It’s also where Luhrmann’s striking affinity for The King once again comes into play.
It’s in this material that we see a happy, vital Elvis, deeply in tune with his treasured backing musicians (all players of extraordinary prowess) and singers (each and every one profoundly gifted in their own right), locking in the pocket, laughing and goofing off, and falling joyously into the music.
This is always where Elvis looked happiest, and Luhrmann really gives this material room to breathe, an opportunity a less focused and not as keenly in-tune filmmaker may have missed.
There’s plenty of kitschy, nostalgic 1970s joy to be found in EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert (Cary Grant, Sammy Davis Jr. and George Hamilton are all glimpsed backstage and in the Las Vegas casino audiences), along with moments of great humour (the livid, near-hysterical female response to Elvis – and his on-stage response to the attention – never ceases to amaze), but this is first and foremost an emotional experience of striking immediacy. Baz Luhrmann’s spiritual connection to Elvis Presley is truly powerful, and as in the mighty Elvis, you feel it in every near-evangelical moment of the masterful EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert. It’s a music movie of the very first order… all hail The King. - 19/20 (News, Source;FilmInk/EIN) - see full review here
'EPiC' Soundtrack released: The 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert' Soundtrack CD was released yesterday and not only is it a fabulous compilation but Baz, of course, has some fun with the cover art.
It's 75 minutes of "NEW" Elvis truly very, very, very enjoyable.
It is basically the movie soundtrack (with full length songs where cut down).
The "mash-ups" are great fun and the original Elvis versions have been remastered to glorious effect, new bass lines and redubbed backing-vocals where needed.
Elvis' vocal is super-clear and has an amazing presence.
It's hard to believe this material was recorded over 50 years ago.
Some fans didn't like the re-worked 'In The Ghetto' studio version in the movie but the full-length mix is very clever, capturing the power of Elvis' vocal to an eerie empty landscape.
The soundscape is glorious - as it should be.
The Hampton Roads live material sound massive.
The last 20 minutes of the movie is basically all here and an impressive listen. "Men with broken hearts" is mixed into the end of 'In the Ghetto', then 'Walk a Mile' straight to 'Suspicious Minds', "bring the curtain down" and 'C.H.F.I.L'.
It's bloody marvellous. -
BUY A COPY TODAY! - Check out the "Listening Party" below (News, Source;EIN)
Wednesday 18 February 2026 - 'EPiC' opens in all Australian cinemas & IMAX tomorrow
'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert': Fabulous second Official Trailer
in Theaters Worldwide Feb 27
In Australian Theatres & IMAX - February 19
(News, Source/Neon/EIN)
'Elvis Milton Berle Show June 4 &5, 1956' New book: Prolific author Paul Belard has just published his newest book about Elvis' sensational performance on the Milton Berle TV show.
... Elvis’ legendary rendition of “Hound Dog” delighted the fans. It still does. However, it enraged the critics. One described his exhibition as “tinged with the kind of animalism that should be confined to dives and bordellos.” Another explained with a suggestion of racism that Elvis “makes up for vocal shortcomings with the weirdest and plainly suggestive animation short of an aborigine’s mating dance.”
The reaction of the Catholic Church was predictable. In an article titled “Beware of Elvis Presley”, it wrote “If the agencies - TV and others - would stop handling such nauseating stuff, all the Presleys of our land would soon be swallowed up in the oblivion they deserve.”
Well, guess who had the last laugh!
Belard notes, while written about by others, in keeping with the tradition of this series of books which provides an almost 'day by day' look at Elvis' career this pivotal event could not be overlooked. A few colorized pictures brighten the story and several new photos and newspaper articles are included here.
Out Feb 15, 2026 - 210 pages
Go here to Amazon to check it out (News, Source;ElvisDayByDay/Amazon)
Hardcover edition 'Elvis Day By Day 2025': The exclusive Hardcover edition of the 2025 'Elvis Day By Day - The year In Review' has been released!
For the first time available as a double volume edition, this 558 page set contains are all the worldwide chart listings and circa 10 bonus interviews and reviews that didn't fit into the paperback edition as that reached it max. with 480 pages. Elvis' legacy in 2025 was "Too Big" for just one hard-back book.
The two hardback 2025 volumes are divided into two six month publications... ... Born in a shotgun shack in East Tupelo, Mississippi, in 1935, Elvis Presley achieved legendary status. He transformed the industry with his unique sound and style, leaving a legacy that still resonates on his 90th birthday year.
A remarkable aspect of Elvis is that his posthumous legacy, like his life, continues to produce news, day by day. His legacy is still debated and celebrated every day by millions of fans around the world.
So here, in recognition of 90 years of Elvis, is a day by day yearbook featuring all the significant releases and events from the continuing saga of the King of Rock and Roll. No other artist could justify such a retrospective each year, but Elvis does!
If you thought you'd seen it all, just browse through these 558 full-color pages! The King Still Lives Today, this book proves it!
The foreword was kindly written by Roy Turner, Executive Director of the Elvis Presley Birthplace, where Elvis' legacy began on January 8th 1935, 90 years ago from 2025.
Go here to 'Elvis Day By Day' for all the details (News, Source;EDBD)
'Elvis: The Last Concert' FTD Set: FTD is pleased to announce the historical release of 'Elvis: The Last Concert'.
Released as a 3-CD 5” digipak, this set features the first official release of his final live performance at the Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, June 26,1977.
With priority given to historical content, this amateur recording has been digitally enhanced by Tony Stuchbury (of Mono>Stereo fame) to improve its many sonic deficiencies. It is in Mono.
Two additional concerts augment this 3-CD set; October 18, 1976 Arena Sioux Falls and December 30, 1976 Omni Coliseum, Atlanta.
These were previously released with the 'On The Road With Elvis' Bruce Jackson book. EIN Note: Good news that Elvis' last concert is finally getting an official release. The timing is good since modern technology can remove annoying audio faults heard on previous bootlegs.
The pairing of the concert with the other previously released performances seems a little odd.
Go here to FTD / SONY CD News for tracklists
'Clambake' VINYL Special Edition: A limited edition based on the original UK release and features the Red Dot RCA Victor label.
The double album includes original soundtrack masters, studio outtakes and bonus tracks.
Includes four versions of Clambake ! but also outtakes of Guitar Man and Big Boss Man.
A 'Clambake' FTD vinyl album has not been previously released.
- - - - -Click for high-res full image
Both products due for April 2026 release See FTD / SONY CD News for tracklists
(News, Source;FTD/EIN)
V V - - Other EIN ELVIS treats continue below - - V V
'Oh Happy Day' (EPiC Version) New promo: A new taster from the 'EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert' soundtrack.
RCA Legacy say "Make today a happy one with the release of "Oh Happy Day (EPiC Version)" from the upcoming film, Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert!"
Follow this link and pre-order the album via your preferred digital provider. EIN Note:'Oh Happy Day' from Elvis' August 7 1970 showroom rehearsal has been previously released but only the shorter 1.55 mins version.
Running 3.11 and with overdubbed instruments, this is a much more satisfying version. It also demonstrates the real shame that Elvis never decided to record the song. (News, Source;Legacy/EIN)
On 'Baz Luhrmann Official' Baz explained about this new upgraded version, "When we have a sequence in the film where Elvis is speaking about his musical heart, it’s born from Gospel and from country. When recovering the sound, we were able to have some wonderful sequences with the incredible Sweet Inspirations.
In the short sequence for 'Oh Happy Day' the archival recording quality wasn’t strong enough. So we were lucky to have Shannon Sanders and his incredible group of singers down in Nashville, who sang in the film 'ELVIS', create a somewhat musical memory flashback of Elvis in his early days sneaking in and watching the Gospel Choir at East Trigg Baptist Church. A heartfelt shout-out for all of the wonderful creative support to Shannon and the choir for this reimagined version of 'Oh Happy Day'.- BL
Baz Luhrmann on 'EPiC': Australian director Baz Luhrmann yesterday talked to the Sydney Morning Herald about his new Elvis film.
The article included... ... 'EPiC' is a dazzling whirlwind of a film that uses rediscovered footage from the King of Rock’n’Roll’s Las Vegas performances, it shows how charismatic he was on stage in his mid-30s.
You'll understand why Elvis sold more than a million tickets performing in Vegas over seven years, as well as more than 500 million records around the world.
There are two elements of the new film that flesh out Luhrmann’s earlier portrait.
Behind the scenes in Vegas, Elvis is loose and likeable as he banters with his band and back-up singers away from the frenzied adulation of fans in the outside world. And while everyone knows the hits, it is a revelation how well he covers, with his rich, deep, soulful voice, the likes of Bridge Over Troubled Water, You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me and Yesterday.
Luhrmann explains, “Elvis takes the Simon and Garfunkel song and he turns it into a kind of power ballad, a spiritual. I call him Orphean. Orpheus, the mythical character, was such a great singer that the very rocks and stones would get up and follow him. Elvis could take a song and personalise it in such a way.
People don’t understand the level of musicianship that he naturally had. He just looks at musicians and he’s conducting with his body and his soul.”
The 96-minute film was warmly received at the Toronto Film Festival last September, Variety called it "extraordinary". “It’s having an effect even on people who don’t have much of a relationship with or even care about Elvis.
He is someone who’s had many documentaries made about him – and some of them are very good – but they’re generally other people telling you about Elvis. Not actually him telling you in his own voice and in his own words.”
It took more than two years for all this archive footage to be restored by Peter Jackson’s Park Road Post Production and enhanced to cinema quality. “It’s called EPiC because Elvis, as a performer, was epic. It had to be a big-screen experience. It had to be a theatrical experience. It had to be as if you were there.
.. I never realised how funny he was. And you get so clearly that he is so, so, so comfortable on stage but so uncomfortable off stage.
One really well-known person, who I won’t mention, but she’s a legend, said to me, ‘No human is built to be that famous’. There’s a level of fame that humanity has trouble dealing with and there’s only a handful of people who have ever been as famous as Elvis.
Elvis came up with the idea of turning karate into dance. At the time … hip hop was also turning martial arts into dance but Elvis created a movement style.
He also created a visual style with his clothing: the 'Elvis look'. He didn’t have a stylist.
.. There are very few historical figures where you can say a name anywhere in the world and people have some notion of that person.
Elvis is one of them."
- Go here for full SMH article. - See EIN Spotlight 'EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert' for more images (News, Source;SMH/EIN)
'Wearin’ That Night Life Look' Video: A YouTube treat by Akshat Luthra.
A very cool video looking at the new 'Jamieson Shaw Remix' mashup of Elvis' 'Wearin' That Loved On Look / Night Life' which also features samples of 'I, John' and 'Let Yourself Go'.
EIN NOTE: This is purely a teaser and not representative of the Baz Luhrmann movie
(News, Source;ALuthra/EIN)
Jan 27 - 'Heartbreak Hotel '- Released 70 years ago today: Hearing Elvis' new song on the radio in Liverpool in 1956, The Beatles' John Lennon knew that Elvis' new 45rpm would change everything...
Lennon explained..“When I first heard ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ I could hardly make out what was being said. It was just the experience of hearing it and having my hair stand on end. We’d never heard American voices sing like that, they'd always sang like Sinatra or enunciated very well.
Suddenly there’s this sort of hillbilly hiccup on tape echo and all this bluesy background stuff going on. And we didn’t know what Elvis was singing about ….. to us it just sounded as a noise that was great.”
"Nothing really affected me until I heard Elvis. If there hadn't been an Elvis, there wouldn't have been the Beatles."
'Elvis Presley FTD World 1999-2025' Book Review: The new 2-volume book, 152 pages each, from David Ward & Atsushi Nakamura covering all the 282 FTD releases until now was published last month. Vol 1: FTD Studio Outtakes - FTD Live, Rehearsals, and Private Recordings - FTD Classic Albums Vol 2: FTD Soundtracks, FTD Books, FTD Sessions, and FTD Records
This is a super-impressive publication containing far more than fans might
imagine and the authors' knowledge is remarkable.
FTD aficionados will be fascinated by all the little details as well as the noted corrections where needed, while general collectors will no doubt enjoy discovering what is special about other FTD publications that they might have missed. Discover why this is such an interesting book as EIN's Piers Beagley checks out all the details (Book Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
“Stump” Monroe, Elvis drummer, has died: It is with profound sadness that the family of Jerome “Stump” Monroe announce his passing.
He passed peacefully at home after a brief illness.
Elvis super-fan Warren Schubert posted this lovely tribute..
... "Today, a friend passed. This man wasn't just any friend, he is Jerome Stump Monroe, drummer, jokester, ladies man and as nice a person as you could ever be lucky enough to meet.
I only knew him for a short time, but I loved him like an uncle, you know the one you cant wait to see again?!?!
Being able to watch him as he brought smiles to others with his kind words and quick wit is something i will always treasure.
Sitting with him at 35,000 feet and both of us listening to Elvis’s first album and having him drumming along on his leg, saying to me “That's my boy!” Is a memory that only comes but once in a lifetime.
Elvis, was just one artist he played behind, toss in James Brown, Wilson
Picket, The Sweet Inspirations, and that one time with Little Richard. There were so many other acts famous and almost famous that he kept time for, always finding the perfect pocket to hold that groove in.
Even knowing this day was coming hasn’t made it any easier to handle.
I will miss you Stump, as you said to me many times, “You’re good people and I love you, man!” You’ll never be forgotten because your huge heart touched so many others."
Jerome 'Stump' Monroe was a charming, down-to-earth, self-effacing man who was an absolute delight to chat to when EIN called for an interview back in 2011 - and despite playing over 1,000 concerts with The Elvis Presley Show he still considered himself as no one special!
- - - Please check out our 2011 interview below
Jerome "Stump" Monroe EIN Interview:Jerome "Stump" Monroe was the drummer for The Sweet Inspirations, and toured with Elvis from the first 1969 Las Vegas concerts through to the very end in 1977.
When regular drummer Ronnie Tutt was ill or absent, 'Stump' stood in as the replacement with the TCB Band three times over those years. 'Stump' Monroe played with Elvis in Philadelphia in 1971, Las Vegas December 1975 and finally in Madison on June 24th 1977. The Madison concert would be Elvis' third last performance, the soundboard of which has just been discovered and released on the box-set The Final Curtain.
This means that Stump has finally got to hear the Madison 1977 concert that he played on for the first time in 33 years!
Jerome 'Stump' Monroe is a charming, down-to-earth man who despite having played over 1,000 concerts with The Elvis Presley Show considers himself as no one special!
EPE / Weinshanker Update: As part of Elvis' Birthday Celebrations EPE managing partner Joel Weinshanker provided an update on future plans.
He noted that developing what would become “EPiC” has been a priority since he took over EPE in 2014. “I've been trying to convince Warner Brothers to go into the salt mines and pull out all of this footage, I had a real understanding, that there would be a tremendous amount of material there.” EIN Note: Any real Elvis fan would have known the same due to all the bootlegged unreleased MGM material we have seen over the years!
Ultimately, it was the success of Luhrmann’s biopic 'ELVIS' and the director’s relationship with Warner that helped make the project possible.
Weinshanker added, “What I've always said is that the best person who should speak about Elvis is Elvis. When you see this film, that’s really what Baz did. Elvis is the storyteller, you hear about his life in his voice. This movie is just an amazing opportunity for someone to get Elvis' story from Elvis.” Elvis Hologram concert is still being worked on. “Every time there's a new technology, they ask first about using Elvis with that new technology. Often, we say no but the technology has finally gotten to the place where it can be an amazing experience. We feel it’s going to be great for our brand, and great for Elvis.” Elvis 50th anniversary in 2027. "The commemoration of his passing will take on many forms including a historic slate of programming and events at Graceland . We’re 12 months out from what will be a year-long focus.
That’s really going to be about us creating incredible storytelling and having as much of that storytelling coming from Elvis as possible. And it is a phenomenal story — it's the story of America, it’s the story of our pop culture.” More expansion of the Graceland complex.
2027 will also mark a decade since the $130 million expansion of Graceland in 2017. "There are plans for further development of the Elvis Presley’s Memphis complex and we're eyeing 2030 as a time where we would have something really rolling out that would be finished and be the next iteration. Our ability to constantly update and change is going to define the future for us. We’re lucky in that we have an incredible collection of artifacts and we’ve barely scratched the surface in terms of that material.
So we’re looking forward to showing people things they’ve never seen before.” (News, Source;CommAppeal/EIN)
'1956, Elvis Presley’s Pivotal Year':In 2011 TIME magazine featured this article by SONY/FTD's music producer and consultant Roger Semon. The article helped explain what the 2011 deluxe box-set 'Young Man With The Big Beat' was all about.
... "In the mid-1950s, the post-war Eisenhower era of social conformity in America was at its peak, and musically, the most threatening image appeared to be Bill Haley’s kiss-curl as he sang “Rock Around The Clock.” That all changed on Jan. 28, 1956, when a raw and electric Elvis Presley made his breakthrough on the CBS program Stage Show. Presley’s good looks, sensuous moves and mesmerizing voice made him a sensation overnight. But it wasn’t until a third appearance on the show that Presley truly challenged the status quo. On Feb. 11, the singer performed “Heartbreak Hotel” and by April, the single would be #1 on the Billboard chart. At last, teenagers had music of their own to swoon over while their parents continued listening to Frank Sinatra and Mario Lanza....
'Orgies and Orgasms: Presley in the Press 1956'- an in-depth Spotlight: By the beginning of 1956, everything was in place for Elvis Presley to burst onto the national and international music scene. Within weeks of his signing to major label RCA he would record Heartbreak Hotel, his first single for RCA and his first to reach number 1 in the U.S. charts, and then, at the end of January 1956, he would appear on national television for the first time.
Despite all of the success that 1956 would bring Elvis, with three singles and two albums reaching the top spot in the U.S. charts, the year would also prove to be a difficult one when it came to his treatment in the national and international press.
Mainstream media published reviews such as... "Every girl watching him sees herself as Elvis’ partner in his fantastic writhing orgy"
and "Presley is suggesting he is about to have a self-induced orgasm!"
So, let’s go back in time and examine how a single television performance in June 1956 resulted in a change of attitudes towards Elvis within the media from little more than curiosity about the new phenomenon to downright hostility and revulsion. Back in 2018 EIN contributor Shane Brown investigated the phenomenon of Elvis in 1956 - and what the media made of this new, and middle-America shocking, entertainer. - It's essential reading (Spotlight, Source;ShaneBrown/ElvisInformationNetwork)
Including information on how the tour “downunder” was arranged, the author offers a “day-by-day” account of each town or city the Cadillac was on display around Australia. Promotion for the tour included significant media publicity and competitions in many areas to select “Elvis Presley’s Golden Girls”! It was a fascinating era for "Elvis" tours!
EIN’s Nigel Patterson has taken a ride in the golden chariot’s 3rd edition and was more than impressed with its performance improvements.
'ELVIS: The Raging Tiger Closing Night 1974’ MRS CD Review: From the MRS label ‘Las Vegas ‘The Raging Tiger’ Closing Night 1974’ is a 2CD Deluxe-Set and 2LP Gatefold Vinyl release. The set features one
of Elvis’ most controversial performances recorded during his closing
night at the Las Vegas Hilton, on the Sept 2nd 1974. This important performance has never been officially released but it is now remastered and mixed into STEREO.
This was an incredibly emotional show for Elvis at the end of one of his
most impressive Las Vegas seasons with his emotions poured into songs
such as It's Midnight, You Gave Me A Mountain and If You Talk In
Your Sleep while at the same time showing his real anger at the recent
negative press that he had been receiving.
There was also unique versions of Bringing It Back and Aubrey where Elvis joined in on VOICE's performance
There is so much to absorb in this emotional roller-coaster ride of a performance, and some of it is indeed very confronting. However it is a truly passion filled show and
Elvis’ emotional soul was open and he wanted to share it with his loving audience.... EIN's Piers Beagley delves deep into this dramatic concert with a 4000 word review of this extraordinary MRS release (CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
'Elvis Presley FTD World' David Ward Interview: Being published this month is the new 2-volume book from David Ward & Atsushi Nakamura covering all the FTD releases until now. Vol 1: FTD Studio Outtakes - FTD Live, Rehearsals, and Private Recordings - FTD Classic Albums Vol 2: FTD Soundtracks, FTD Books, FTD Sessions, and FTD Records
All 281 FTD titles are in these two books, from Burbank 68, released in 1999, to the most recent, Good Times – The Outtakes Ocean Blue Limited Edition in 2025.
Both books contain many beautiful photographs related to their respective titles. We believe that these books will please all Elvis fans...
Co-author David Ward kindly agreed to answer some more questions for FTD fans - as well as including some new sample pages. EIN's Piers Beagley asked the questions... (Interviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
On December 3, 1968 NBC TV broadcast "Singer Presents Elvis". It was a great moment in music, in television, and a moment of change when Elvis rediscovered what he had lost. He regained his voice -- and in so doing became at once who he was and who he'll become.
His singing still had the lilt of youth but with a mature edge and real power. Elvis was still only 33 years old but he was lean and chiseled and -- what he had not seemed in years -- a little dangerous.
The broadcast would not only change Elvis, but also change the future of Rock'n'Roll.
The '68 Special - the Anniversary Celebration: How lucky in life would you be to get to the original recording of Elvis' 68 TV Special and also make it to the recent 40th Anniversary screening in L.A? EIN's correspondent Joan Gansky is one of those few very fortunate fans. Joan Gansky not only met Elvis multiple times - but being at the original NBC recording of the 68 Special truly changed her life! Here are her unique recollections of attending the 40th Anniversary celebration - as well as her thoughts on being there back in June 1968.
This EIN exclusive features comments by Steve Binder, Priscilla, Bones Howe as well as great close-up photos by Paul Gansky.
‘Elvis South Bend Indiana - On Tour 1974’ New MRS: UK Label ‘Memphis Recording Service’ (MRS) will release a CD Deluxe and
2LP Gatefold titled ‘On Tour 1974 - South Bend Indiana’ in January 2026.
Near the start of his final tour of 1974, Elvis performed in South Bend Indiana for two nights starting on 30 September. Elvis was in better health and humour for the second concert, presented here, even throwing in a spontaneous performance of ‘Steamroller Blues’ as a crowd request.
Revealing the true atmosphere of this October 1st show MRS have remastered and mixed this concert into STEREO for the first time ever. Click for high-res pic.
The accompanying booklet features rare photographs and memorabilia from the event and also includes liner notes that set the scene.
The 2LP set and will be available in both Black and Clear vinyl.
Please note, the clear vinyl is ONLY available from exclusive Elvis dealers and fan clubs and NOT thru mainstream public stores.
Click for high-res pic - the vinyl LP cover is again a stunner!
EIN Notes: There is no doubt that Elvis' fourth tour of 1974 was one of the low
points of his career. His opening show in College Park (Sept 27) is
often noted as being one of Elvis' worst concerts of all time!
However by the fifth concert of the tour Elvis was in a very different state of mind from the previous shows.
Elvis is actually in an unusual mischievous mood, laughing and teasing the crowd. He doesn't ramble on as he did in the previous Las Vegas season and is having some fun. He even jokes about the previous night's review. The edited concert was previously released by FTD on 'Dragonheart' back in 2003.
'Elvis Last Tours Vol.3' In-depth FTD Review: FTD's 3-CD 5”digipak 'Elvis: The Last Tours Volume 3' features recordings from six Elvis performances in April 1977, Toledo April 23, Ann Arbor April 24,
Kalamazoo April 26, Milwaukee April 27, Duluth April 29 and St. Paul April 30.
By 1977 Elvis was running on low, his set-list had become stagnant and fans were lucky to hear Elvis perform any rare song in his predictable set-list.
However this late April tour found Elvis in much better form than his previous
one, possibly because girlfriend Ginger Alden accompanied him - and it
is notable that songs such as Polk Salad were being performed again. ‘Ann Arbor’ was one of Elvis’ best performances of 1977. It was the only time Elvis sang ‘Unchained Melody’ on this tour and it would be the last time he ever sang ‘Little Darlin’ - with both tracks featuring on Elvis’ ‘Moody Blue’ album. Elvis soundboard super-collector Geoffrey McDonnell along with EIN's Piers Beagley explore this new six concert pack in-depth to see what fans might discover.. (FTD Reviews; Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
'Doc Pomus Talks Elvis Presley' EIN Spotlight: If Elvis found the creative connection he needed in the 1950s with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, then upon his return from the army he found a similar connection with the composers Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman.
Jerome Felder, better known as ‘Doc Pomus’ was born in Brooklyn on June 25 1925- so this year he would have turned 100.
Elvis’ post-army creative comeback would not have had anywhere the impact without these great Doc Pomus contributions that came out as major 45rpm hits, ‘A Mess Of Blues’, ‘Surrender’, ‘His Latest Flame’, ‘Little Sister’, ‘She's Not You’, ‘Long Lonely Highway’ and ‘Viva Las Vegas’.
In 1986 EIN fan club member Mark Bingham met the great Doc Pomus at the Lone Star in Manhattan.. .
... I walked up to him and said ‘I’m told you’re Doc Pomus’.
He says ‘what about it?’
I said, I’m a huge fan of your work'.
Doc doesn’t even look up but says ‘you don’t jackshit about my work’.... Go here for this great spotlight which reminds us all of the fabulous personality that epitomised Doc Pomus - one of the greatest composers of all time... (Spotlight, Source; Mark Bingham/ElvisInformationNetwork)
'The Sun Singles of Elvis': In-depth Book Review: Elvis specialist Warren Schubert has published his new book via Memphis Mansion - 'The Sun Singles of Elvis – An Illustrated Guide'.
... The publicity noted
This book reveals all the secrets behind Elvis’ most iconic records: the legendary five Sun singles!
How many variations of Elvis’ legendary Sun 209 actually exist?
It includes hundreds of high-resolution photographs showing all known variations and expert analysis that separates myth from fact.
If Elvis hadn't walked into the Memphis Recording Service in mid-1953
our world might be very different today. It was his crucial SUN singles that would not only be the bedrock of his stunning legacy but the music
on those fragile pieces of shellac would also go on to change the
history of rock'n'roll and popular culture.
Paul Dowling ‘Worldwide Elvis RCA Vinyl Discography' Book: Today Paul Dowling celebrates 51 Years in the Elvis business!
The publication of his massive 'Worldwide Elvis RCA Vinyl Discography' was announced around 5 years ago, even though Dowling notes he has been working on it for decades.
Back in 2016 Dowling told EIN, "It was 1992 when Bernadette Moore (in charge of the BMG Archives, New York) invited me to come up there and do research for my huge Worldwide Discography book which is now around 4000 pages but of course it still hasn't come out as I have found tons and tons of new information and continue to do so daily.
Bernadette gave me total access to any and all files they had on Elvis' vinyl and I found many that even people up there never knew they still had. I came home with over 3000 photocopies of listing notices, production cards, pre production cards, inner office cards, and more.."
Good news as today Dowling posted.. COMING EARLY 2026! A five volume (or more!) series of WORLDWIDE ELVIS RCA vinyl discography books which will include information, including photos, of all label and covers of every 78, single, EP, LP, and promos that were ever issued on RCA in 63 countries!
Note: The book cover shown is not the final version. (News, Source;WWE/EIN)
Paul Dowling is without doubt one of the major names in the Elvis World. He started collecting and selling Elvis vinyl over 50 years ago and probably has the world's largest Elvis Presley record collection.
The 2012 book 'Bootleg Elvis' helped explain how a group of super-keen Elvis fans from around the world, including Paul Dowling, created the fascinating world of Elvis vinyl bootlegs to satisfy demands of Elvis collectors who were being ignored by RCA at the time.
In the book Dowling is credited as "revolutionizing the Elvis bootleg scene" due to his desire to create high-quality product that would be even better than the official RCA output.
To discover more and read fascinating insider stories see EIN's exclusive 3-part interview with Paul Dowling
Remixed and sequenced by producer Anthony Stuchbury, it includes movie versions of five songs which haven’t officially been available elsewhere.
It was produced in collaboration with David Parker and RDM-Edition. "The fans asked for this, and we listened. Now you know what ‘we’ do for an encore."
'From ELVIS Recorded Live In Memphis 1974' MRS CD Review: From the MRS label 'From Elvis In Memphis – Recorded Live 1974' is out as
a double-CD Deluxe set and also as a 2LP Gatefold sleeve.
The 2CD set includes two performances from his hometown of Memphis. The first concert is from March 16 1974 (Afternoon Show), marking his return after 13 years, followed by a second concert on March 17 1974 (Evening Show).
At his Memphis 'Opening Night' Elvis put on one of the tightest and most impressive concerts for the whole of 1974. And in newly remastered 'MRS STEREO' this is a real delight.
This Sunday night March 17 concert neatly captures a different mood with Elvis up for some fun and so it compares rather nicely to the total professionalism of Elvis’ stunning opening performance.
Both shows remastered in 2025 by MRS to "true Stereo" sound as if they could be RCA Multi-tracks – you will never play any previous versions again if you get to hear these. Essential for your collection. EIN's Piers Beagley provides an in-depth review of this recent MRS release (CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
'The Colonel and the King' In-Depth Book Review: Published early this month Peter Guralnick's new biography ''The Colonel and the King: Tom Parker, Elvis Presley, and the Partnership that Rocked the World' has stimulated new debate.
The publicity promised.. "a groundbreaking dual portrait of the relationship between the iconic artist and his legendary manager — drawing on a wealth of the Colonel's never-before-seen correspondence to reveal that this oft-reviled figure was in fact a confidant, friend, and architect of his client’s success.
It was a relationship founded on mutual admiration and support. From the outset, the Colonel defended Elvis fiercely and indefatigably against RCA executives, Elvis’ own booking agents, and movie moguls. But in their final years together, the story grew darker, as the Colonel found himself unable to protect Elvis from himself or control growing problems of his own."
Unfortunately it appears that in trying to "debunk the myths" and create an alternate viewpoint of Col Parker, Guralnick has ignored a large amount of known history and obfuscates the facts.
Several of Parker's major exploitations of Elvis are deliberately left out!
Why exactly would a respected writer like Guralnick do this?
'Talking Elvis': EIN's spotlight 'Talking Elvis' is updated today with new reminiscences from James Burton, Petula Clark ‘Elvis angled for a threesome, he was raring to go!, Anita Wood's Elvis phone-call plus UK journalist Derek Johnson meets Elvis in Germany.
Meeting ELVIS made an impression on everyone from the poorest fan to the world’s biggest superstars. Even the briefest meeting or chance encounter with Elvis created some lovely memories as well as some fascinating stories.
These smaller encounters often get lost or forgotten and sadly there are fewer and fewer people still alive who had personal encounters with our hero. So EIN has gathered together multiple stories to help us understand and know more. 'Talking Elvis' features reminiscences from people including Pat Boone, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, Paul Simon, Cliff Richard, Cher, Linda Thompson, Suzi Quatro, Riley Keough, Ernst Jorgensen, Dolly Parton, Ann-Margret, Barbara Stanwyck, Leo Sayer, Tommy Steele, Priscilla and many more... Go here to EIN's 'Taking ELVIS' (Interviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
'ELVIS: 'Down In The Alley' Opening Night 1974' MRS CD Review: The new MRS single-CD deluxe-set features Elvis’
opening night show at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel on 19 August 1974 at
the start of his eleventh season, during which he performed an almost
completely revamped set-list.
At no 1970 concert did Elvis perform so many unique songs, ‘Down In The Alley’, ‘Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues’ and debuts of ‘Promised Land’, ‘It’s Midnight’ plus ‘If You Talk In Your Sleep’ and ‘If You Love Me (Let Me Know)’. ‘Softly As I Leave You’, ‘My Baby Left Me’ and ‘I'm Leavin'’ - It was an astounding Opening Night.
For the first time ever, the original recording has been newly remastered and mixed into STEREO. The original cassette always sounded rather dull and muffled whereas live concerts are a visceral, exciting experience. They are spatial and energising which is not recreated via mono recordings, they need to be STEREO and dynamic. These MRS concert releases help drag the dullness into the light. EIN's Piers Beagley provides an in-depth review of this recent MRS release (CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
Paul Bélard - An impressive publishing record: With around 40 Elvis books already published, prolific author-researcher, Paul Bélard, has established a cult following with his mix of "day-by-day" photo-books and subject specific releases focusing on controversial and important parts of the Elvis story.
The books are chock full of contextual narrative and hundreds of photos and rare archival material.
Over the first half of 2025, Paul has already published seven titles!
Bélard explains, "It's a thrill every time I discover an Elvis picture that I had never seen before, even if the quality isn't perfect. Through my books I want fans to be able to follow Elvis day-by-day, sometimes hour-by-hour. These books are historical documents, a scholarly study of Elvis’ career." In Nigel Patterson's feature article, EIN provides details on the latest Paul Bélard releases, a full list of his Elvis books (including links to titles reviewed by EIN), background information about Paul – plus links to two interviews we have conducted with him. (Spotlight, Source:ElvisInformationNetwork)
(Book Review) 'Elvis: April - May 1958': The new Elvis "day-by-day" photo-journal release from Paul Belard, "Elvis April-May 1958 " is out now.
Over 208 pages, and with more than 200 photos, the book looks at Elvis' first two months in the army
These two months would have been the most traumatising for Elvis. None of us can imagine his real feelings as Elvis went from being the world’s biggest entertainer to becoming a regular soldier doing group exercises, sit-ups, marching, shoe cleaning, ‘K.P’ and all the time not knowing what the next two years would bring.
While Elvis would spend these months doing basic training, it would be his interactions with his army mates and the general public that help enrich our knowledge of the kind of person Elvis really was.
With plenty of books presenting the wild-side of Elvis the superstar-performer in 1957, in 'April - May 1958' it's revealing to see more of the "real Elvis."
.. "Why do the girls go for Elvis? I'm no judge of that, of course! But I'd guess it's because he has very sensuous eyes and lips.
Elvis doesn't care what people think. And he's not bashful. He'll walk up and talk to anybody. Elvis is completely unorthodox, and unpredictable. As he puts it, "If you wanta’ get ahead, you gotta be different!" And he means it.
With other performers, you can predict pretty well what the act is going to be when they step on a stage. Not with Elvis."
'The Harum Scarum Sessions' Box-Set FTD In-Depth Review: 'The Harum Scarum Sessions' is the 14th FTD “complete sessions” release and is noted as the 60th anniversary edition!
The Deluxe 3CD set includes a 24-page booklet featuring a look at the movie, Sessions Data, foreign film posters, worldwide premieres plus chart listings and 45 and 33rpm sleeve covers.
All the masters and session outtakes are newly mixed and mastered by Sebastian Jeansson and Vic Anesini for superior audio.
Includes over 60 previously unreleased outtakes including 30 of 'Shake That Tambourine' (lucky us!), plus new outtakes of 'My Desert Serenade', 'Wisdom Of The Ages', 'Kismet', 'Hey Little Girl', 'Golden Coins', 'Animal Instinct' - plus new backing tracks. The Beatles sang 'Norwegian Wood' - Elvis 'Wisdom Of The Ages'!
While Harum Scarum could be the real point that Col Parker started letting Elvis down - for fans that enjoy that crazy middle-eastern vibeHarum Scarum should be great fun. EIN's Piers Beagley checks out this new set to investigate whether collectors need quite so much Harum-Exoticness...
(FTD Review, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
Elvis June 26, 1977; the Final Curtain: On this very day June 26 in 1977 Elvis played his very last concert at Market Square Arena Indianapolis.
It was his longest and his very best performances of 1977.
..Elvis stepped on stage with energy that was a relief to anyone and the audience burst into an instantaneous, collective roar that was explosive and deafening. Anyone who questions Elvis' power over his audience needs only to listen to the opening of this concert to see the proof of his command.
Compared to the truly weak performance that CBS TV had filmed only one week previously, this was a healthier, happy and focused Elvis who was determined to put on a great and memorable 'Closing Night' concert.
June 26 is an important day to reminisce and also consider just how much happiness Elvis Presley brought to us all as a performer. EIN's Piers Beagley checks out this historic performance (Spotlight, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
The publicity notes... Elvis died on August 16th, 1977, at the age of just 42, in his Graceland mansion. His death marked something significant in the collective mind, like the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, or Martin Luther King.
Conspiracy theories took off about the circumstances surrounding his death: Was Elvis murdered by the mob? Was his death faked? Did Elvis commit suicide? Is he still alive? This book sheds new light on many of these questions, while also celebrating his music and legacy.
'Elvis: June 75' In-depth FTD Review: A new 4CD digi-set 'Elvis June 1975' featuring soundboards of four shows
from Mobile A/S June 2, Houston E/S June 5, Shreveport A/S June 7 and
Jackson A/S June 8 1975.
Disappointingly for collectors all the performances on this new FTD set have been out on bootleg before. However, with the barrel almost bare, there has to be plenty to enjoy in these mid-75 performances.
After all, After all, "This mid-1975 period was a positive return for Elvis. Elvis' good mood throughout is truly infectious and along with his well-sung and committed performances they all go to making these concerts worth listening to."
At the Houston Evening Show Elvis was buzzing with energy, while at the Jackson Afternoon Show the flies were buzzing Elvis! There is plenty of fun to hear and it was always a very fine set-list. Elvis soundboard super-collector Geoffrey McDonnell along with EIN's Piers Beagley explore this new set.... (FTD Reviews; Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
The book description explains...
.. This biography delves into the remarkable life of Elvis, exploring his family background, music career, films, and enduring legacy. Includes QR-Codes for an immersive reading experience.
The author has transformed this biography into an interactive experience like never before. By integrating QR codes throughout the book, readers can instantly access videos and other multimedia content on their mobile devices. This innovative approach makes the biography not just informative but also engaging, immersive, and dynamic, bringing Elvis's story to life in a whole new way.
EIN’s Nigel Patterson spent a leisurely Sunday immersing himself in Lee Jackson’s account of the Elvis Presley story. .. Read Nigel’s review...
'The Girl Happy Sessions' Box-Set FTD In-Depth Review:'The Girl Happy Sessions' is the 13th FTD “complete sessions” release.
This 3-CD set contains all the masters and available session outtakes. Highlights include unedited full-length masters and also the rare vocal re-record of 'I Feel That I’ve Known You Forever' especially made for the motion picture 'Tickle Me'.
This set includes previously unreleased takes of 'Puppet On A String', 'The Meanest Girl In Town', 'Girl Happy' (multiple long 'False starts'), 'Cross My Heart And Hope to Die' (multiple long 'False starts'), 16 new outtakes of 'Spring Fever' - and all 36 takes of 'Do Not Disturb' (only 6 outtakes have been released so far!).
So there is a lot of previously unreleased studio session eavesdropping in this release, in fact over 80 new outtakes.
The package also includes a comprehensive 24 page booklet.
The Lisa Marie – The King’s Flying Graceland (Carlos Varrenti): The latest book from aviation expert and longtime Elvis fan, Carlos Varrenti, is now available from Amazon stores.
The author commented on his new book: “In the world of music, few names resonate as profoundly as Elvis Presley's. While "The King of Rock 'n' Roll" is celebrated for his legendary music and iconic performances, there exists another dimension to his life that has long captivated me: his enduring romance with the skies.
“In my previous editions of "The Airplanes & The King," I embarked on a journey to explore Elvis's remarkable aviation adventures. I delved into the aircraft he chartered, purchased, and occasionally flew, providing a glimpse into his fearless exploration of the world of flight. Yet, with each passing edition, I couldn't help but feel that there was a significant piece of the puzzle left unexamined as deserved—the centerpiece of Elvis's aeronautical legacy: The Lisa Marie.”
The 550-page hardback is filled with fascinating information, photos, flight plans, Lisa Marie plane technical details, Lisa Marie airplane memorabilia, and stories by those who flew the plane ("Anyone for a sandwich?") and those who flew on it with Elvis.
The author, whose university degree is in Aeronautical Engineering, previously released the acclaimed book, 'Elvis Presley The Airplanes & The King'. -- Read EIN’s recent interview with Carlos Varrenti (News, Source: Carlos Varrenti; EIN)
'Elvis Book News' New EIN feature: Elvis Presley's influence and legacy has touched every kind of publication and media platform since he became the world's most successful entertainer of all-time back in the 1950s.
This year would have been Elvis' 90th birthday and thanks to RCA / SONY / FTD / MRS, along with the bootleg labels, nearly every minute of music that Elvis ever recorded has now been released. In this century Elvis Presley has now become even more of a pivotal role as part of our socio-cultural fabric... his impact / influence is greater than just his music.
Nowadays fans find more literature about Elvis and his legacy being published than 'new' music.
EIN's “Elvis Book News” will focus on book reviews, news and also the eclectic nature of Elvis' influence across all forms of literature.
Check out our new “Elvis Book News”- more updates coming soon. (Elvis Book News, Source:ElvisInformationNetwork)
Book Review - 'Marion Keisker: The Woman Who First Recorded Elvis Presley':Paul Belard's latest book is a detailed account of Marion Keisker's life and her key role in the Elvis story. "That woman was the one who had faith she was the one that pushed me... Marion did it for me" - Elvis Presley 1971 .. Marion was Sam Phillips' assistant when he established the Memphis Recording Service, and later Sun Records.
She is best remembered as the first person to record Elvis in July 1953, then encouraging Sam Phillips (numerous times) to record him "commercially", therefore playing a pivotal role in Elvis' ascent towards the pinnacle of his career.
Throughout interviews given, Marion discloses the workings of Sun Records, the sessions, Elvis' moods during those first days of his career. There is a trove of little known or unknown anecdotes many fans will delight in.
This book is a fitting and well-deserved tribute to Marion Keisker.'
'Elvis UK3' is an outstanding reference e-book, there is however a keen section of Elvis collectors who prefer to own physical books as opposed to digital versions.
While the original 1,400 page book was too large to print as a single volume, the author’s idea of splitting it into three volumes is a very clever idea.
Leafing through these 478 printed pages of 'Compact Volume 1' gave us another reason to dig deep into Elvis’ CD legacy and enjoying the fascination of some stunning Elvis releases.
More praise for 'Elvis Hero of the Comic Books':Written by EIN’s Nigel Patterson (with “over and above” help from Elvis Day By Day’s, Kees Mouwen) the first in-depth record of Elvis in comic books, graphic novels and cartoons, was published earlier this year.
Reviews have been glowing since day one, the latest including a four-page text and image overview in It’s Elvis Time magazine (Netherlands) and a detailed review in the cult rock & roll magazine, Ugly Things (based in California).
'From Here to the Great Unknown’ Book Review: After all the publicity and hype Lisa Marie's revealing memoir has recently been published. There is no doubt that being part of a famous family certainly does not guarantee a happy life.
As Keough explains, “The early parts of the book are mostly my mother's voice, in the tapes she speaks at length about her Graceland childhood, the death of her father, the dreadful aftermath, her relationship with her mother, her difficult teen years. She’s frank and funny about my father, Danny Keough. She talks openly about her relationship with Michael Jackson. She’s painfully candid about later drug addiction and the perils of fame…
If you have ever wondered how Lisa Marie coped with life post-Elvis or noticed those old tabloid news reports saying that she had once again “gone off the rails” or spotted the tension between her and Priscilla, the answers and much, much, more are in this stunning memoir...
While Elvis died when Lisa Marie was only 9 years old there is still plenty new to discover from this intriguing book.. EIN's Piers Beagley checks out this powerful memoir, wonders why the Australian book has been edited - and discovers the delights of the Audio-Book..
(Book Reviews: Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
(Spotlight/Opinion, Source: Rock and roll - an introduction)
(Book Review) Elvis, Hero of the Comic Books (Nigel Patterson): Respected Elvis author and reviewer, Gordon Minto, recently put on his reviewer’s cap to take on what he rightly describes as “a strange landscape” of how Elvis is portrayed in comic books (aka sequential art), a subject, which until now, has not been well covered or understood.
The book in question, Elvis, Hero of the Comic Books, was written by EIN’s Nigel Patterson and sublimely designed by Elvis Day By Day’s, Kees Mouwen.
The book includes stunning artwork from a number of releases and an eclectic variety of Elvis related comic book ephemera. Elvis, Hero of the Comic Books features more than 600 images!
Read Gordon’s detailed review to discover why he found the book to be “refreshingly different, extremely eye-catching, well-researched and well-written, while offering a new slant on things”.
(Book Review, Source: Gordon Minto;ElvisInfoNet)
'Elvis in Print: A Comprehensive Annotated and Illustrated Bibliography 1955-2023 Volume 1' UPDATE: This comprehensive new book was due to be published this month but has been delayed due to editing issues and the discovery of more than 70 new titles and/or editions. A revised publication date for the nearly 500-page book will be announced soon. (non-final cover image pictured)
Compiled and written by EIN's Nigel Patterson, the four volumes of Elvis in Print: A Comprehensive Annotated & Illustrated Bibliography 1955-2023 will comprise around 2,000 pages, with listings for more than 4,000 books and around 2,000 images.
Volume 1 is the first of two detailing English language, “non-fiction” releases. It contains close to 500 pages, listings for more than 800+ titles, book covers for more than 500 listings, and interesting Sidebar articles discussing controversial releases and issues in the massive Elvis book catalog.
Sections in Elvis in Print Volume 1 include:
Academic Releases, Biographies, Compendiums: Catalogs, Discographies, Chart Histories, Interviews... Conspiracy Theories, Elvis and the Colonel, Elvis and the Law, Elvis as Art and Elvis as Religion (including Psychic Experiences and Spirituality)...
The 'Listings' include original releases, subsequent re-issues , (including digital editions) and a book synopsis. 'Elvis in Print' will be published in hardcover, softcover, and Kindle formats. It will be available from Amazon stores (the hardcover edition will only be available in those countries where Amazon offers this format).
EIN will publish more information soon. (News, Source;NP/EIN)
CD Review 'The Joan Deary Tapes Vol1' - and has Ernst won the war?’: Two years ago EIN posted an article suggesting that the Elvis bootleg era was over, that FTD and Ernst Jorgensen had truly won the war.
So it was a surprise to many that a new bootleg label ‘Joan Deary Inc’ suddenly popped up two months ago promising a very similar series of releases to the Madison ‘A Legendary Performer’ set.
They promised "Unique content... with never issued before outtakes. Some very different mixes among other glorious sounding tracks. Every track comes in great sound quality and has been remastered for optimal listening pleasure..."
EIN was suspicious from the start - to be honest I saw no need to purchase this CD - but several EIN readers wanted to know more before they put down their hard earned cash. Go here as EIN's Piers Beagley investigates to see if there is life in this new series of Elvis bootleg releases... Please read this before ordering we've done the work so that you don't have to! Now UPDATED with YOUR comments (CD Reviews, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
Don't miss out on one of EIN's most-viewed and controversial interviews of all-time - Mike Stone tells all.
EIN Interview with Mike Stone: Mike Stone has had a long and successful career in athletics, in the entertainment business, as an author, sports instructor, bodyguard and personal fitness trainer.
Mike Stone was also a key figure in the emotional roller-coaster that described Elvis and Priscilla Presley's lives in the seventies. In this exclusive EIN interview Priscilla's ex-partner, karate champion and author talks about his amazing life, including... - Meeting Elvis and Priscilla
- Hawaii, Elvis and Karate
- Being Phil Spector's bodyguard
- Sitting next to John Lennon recording
- Priscilla and karate
- Fans blaming him for Elvis' marriage split-up
- Elvis putting a "Hit" out on him
- Finding peace in the Philippines
- His new autobiography
Don't forget that EIN's Elvis Facebook page regularly features fabulous RARE newly discovered photos of Elvis. This month EIN celebrates our 45,000 members! - including several of Elvis' own friends and colleagues So Elvis fans don't miss out on these rare and exciting photographs.
Now with over thousands of great photos, News and with more added every day – including YouTube footage.
Elvis LIVE Aug 23, 1969 Album Review + Elvis Concert Review 1969: ..."The atmosphere throughout the entire hotel was nail-bitingly electric! It is difficult for me to describe and paint a true portrait of attending in person this unique occasion - Elvis' Return to Splendor LIVE in 1969 - but I'll try my best. I want, and hope, you will understand the excitement of what has to be the pinnacle of Elvis' career to date!" Joan Gansky was lucky because not only was she in the audience for Elvis' TV musical renaissance of the '68 NBC Special but she also saw Elvis at his most dynamic - first at his August 22nd 1969 Midnight Show and then the following night at his August 23rd Dinner Show. Joan Gansky has written this insightful and emotional article for EIN in 2019, fifty years later, looking back at this special event from 1969 as well as providing her review of the new RCA vinyl album of the August 23rd Dinner Show. One of EIN's most important articles we have ever published- Go here for Joan and Paul Gansky's incredible articles and exclusive photos
(Review/Spotlight, Source;ElvisInformationNetwork)
'What was Elvis searching for?' EIN Spotlight: The question is raised – but never answered – in the title of HBO’s recent absorbing, imperfect documentary 'Elvis Presley: The Searcher'.
At the start it seems clear what the teenage Elvis was searching for – an escape from the oblivion of poverty in the American South. Yet his quest was cultural as well as financial.
Later Elvis read obsessively, seeking out such books as The Impersonal Life, Joseph Brenner’s guide to self-discovery and Kahil Gibran’s book of fables, The Prophet. In his copy of Gibran’s tome, Elvis jotted down the line: “A singer can sing his songs but he must have an ear to receive the song”.
So what exactly was Elvis searching for? In this fascinating EIN Spotlight respected author Paul Simpson takes a close look at this all important question which, for some reason, was basically ignored in the recent HBO documentary..
Mindi Miller Interview with EIN: Mindi Miller was a working actress when she met Elvis in early 1975. She was interested in karate (she performed all her own movie stunts), exploring spirituality and the Bible and so they had a lot in common. Mindi Miller and Elvis bonded over their common interests and soon afterwards he asked her to go on tour with him in April 1975.
She stayed friends with Elvis through the years - along with members of the 'Memphis Mafia' - and attended his funeral.
EIN's Sanja Meegin recently caught up with Mindi Miller to talk about her close friendship with Elvis over the years.
In this fascinating interview she discusses. . . - Her first night with Elvis
- How Elvis persuaded her to cancel her overseas movie & modelling plans
- Their mutual interest in Karate
- Graceland and meeting Lisa Marie
- Attending Elvis' funeral . . . and much much more... Go here for EIN's Sanja Meegin and her intimate and detailed discussion with the delightful Mindi Miller - Now with Reader Feedback.
'Marty Lacker: A Life Well-Lived' & Elvis at American Studio's Interview: It was with immense sadness that last month EIN had to report on the death of our great friend - and a true friend to Elvis - Marty Lacker. We will miss him dearly. Marty is well-known as one of the key members of the Memphis Mafia and also co-Best Man at Elvis' wedding. He was known for both his honesty and being forthright with his opinions. He was the only member of the Memphis Mafia who still watched and commented on recent Elvis News. He had no issue with holding people to account (especially ones who would inflate their importance within Elvis' legacy) and would regularly ask EIN to add his comments or to correct any inaccuracy. Elvis fans often ask about Marty Lacker's background, how he came to meet Elvis, as well as his involvement in the music industry outside of working for The King.
As a prelude to Ken Sharp's fascinating interview with Marty Lacker and a discussion about Elvis' famous American Studio' Memphis sessions, EIN presents "Marty Lacker: a life well-lived" in which Marty tells of his life in the music industry, his friendship with Elvis along with his dislike of the over-controlling Col Parker. Go here to learn all you need to know about Marty Lacker as well as Elvis outstanding Memphis American Sound sessions in 1969. (Spotlight; Source,KenSharp/ElvisInformationNetwork)
'The World of FTD' In-Depth Review: The new deluxe book 'The World Of FTD' has been received by some lucky fans and Elvis collector Mike Lodge has provided EIN with a very detailed review - of well over 3 thousand words! The book was authored and designed by Keith Flynn with input from a large number of other Elvis specialists including EIN's Piers Beagley, EM&HM's Trevor Cajiao, Geoffrey McDonnell, Gordon Minto and many others. It is 1,200 pages, hardbound three book set, chronicling every release by FTD.The book also features 100s of high-quality photos from the collection Erik Lorentzen
KJ Consulting are proud to publish this Box Set which weighs 8 kilos.
Paul Dowling EIN Interview Part Three: Paul Dowling is without doubt one of the major names in the Elvis World. He started collecting and selling Elvis vinyl over 40 years ago and has one of the world's largest Elvis Presley record collections. He started his "WorldWide Elvis" shop back in the seventies, way before the internet, where fans could get hold of rare Elvis records and memorabilia.
With such a fascination with Elvis, Dowling not only became a big name in the early years of Elvis bootlegs but later became friends with Ernst Jorgensen and helped RCA with various official releases.
In the final part of our fascinating interview Paul Dowling discusses .... - Dodging the FBI agents that were sent after him
- Unreleased Elvis material that still hasn’t come out
- Why does Ernst Jorgensen doubt this claims
- His BMG project 'For The First Time Ever' - what happened
- The true story of obtaining the Million Dollar Quartet tape
- His thoughts on Paul Lichter, Sean Saver, Sherif Hanna, Rex Martin
- Spending time with Alan Fortas
- Jim Curtin, newly added story
'Ultimate Elvis' New Electronic Edition: Announced by Elvis sessions expert Keith Flynn for publication November 1 is the brand new concept of the 1750 page super-deluxe Elvis sessions book 'Ultimate Elvis' Electronic Edition.
This incredible three volume book will now be available as an e-book on an i-pad or android tablet. - Created in HTML5
Fully updated e-books will open in any web browser on any operating system, so no need for separate downloads for different operating systems. - Life-Like 'Flipping' Pages
Flip through pages as if you are reading an actual book, but also being able to zoom-in to view smaller images and captions.
- View as Double or Single pages
View as double pages on a computer or laptop etc, and single pages when viewing in portrait on an i-pad or Android tablet. - Fully Navigational Table Of Contents
Jump back and forth to the sections of the books you want to read, instead of flipping through numerous pages to find what you want. PRICED AT - all 3 Volumes for £60 = US$93
On sale from November 1st 2015. Try Before You Buy -
Download free zip-file containing 27 pages from Volume 1, before you decide to buy the complete set. -
NOTE - These books are MASSIVE so you will need approximately 1GB of spare disc space for these three volumes, -
Click HERE to Keith Flynn's 'Ultimate Elvis' Electronic Edition to try.
Go HERE to EIN's independent review of 'Ultimate Elvis' (News, Source;ElvisInfoNet)
Did Elvis Record 'Tiger Man' At Sun?: A question that has puzzled Elvis fans through the years is whether he actually recorded the song ‘Tiger Man’ during his years at SUN studios.
The basic question is why did Elvis refer to 'Tiger man' several times in concert as “The second song that I ever recorded, not too many people heard it”?
And if Elvis DID record it, then why hasn’t any reference to it at SUN or proof of its existence been found?
Elvis would first perform ‘Tiger Man’ in concert at his first 1969 Las Vegas International season and would continue playing it through the years – usually in a medley with Mystery Train - until his last performance at Saginaw on May 3 1977. He would sing it over 150 times on stage! The thought that there might be an acetate or undiscovered tape of Elvis at SUN singing ‘Tiger Man’ is a mouth-watering concept - but is it an unlikely fantasy or strong possibility?
Go here to our detailed 'TIGER MAN' spotlight as EIN's Piers Beagley puts in the hard yards to check the facts from the fantasy . (Spotlight; Source;ElvisInfoNetwork)
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Elvis Presley, Elvis and Graceland are trademarks of Elvis Presley Enterprises.
The Elvis Information Network has been running since 1986 and is an EPE officially recognised Elvis fan club.
EIN is a not-for-profit Elvis Fan Club website posting daily news and informative articles for Elvis Presley's legion of fans.
EIN tries to credit all news sources, as well as link to the original articles if excerpts are used.
If you believe we have used copyrighted material please contact us and we will remove it immediately.
EIN also has a local Australian national Elvis Fan Club for paid up members featuring quarterly newsletters along with free EIN members cds plus an annual EIN Elvis Mega Quiz with special prizes.
The printed newsletters have extra content, articles and reviews to this website along with the popular Elvis EIN Mega Quiz.
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