Our weekend in Memphis

Well Vince and I had a good time in Memphis even if it was way too short of a trip. We left at about 1:30 in the morning Friday and arrived in Memphis at about 9:00. We went straight to Graceland after getting a quick bite to eat. It was just opening up for tours and we just walked around and checked out all the shops. We spent the afternoon going to some stores in Horn Lake. We finally got to check in at the Heartbreak Hotel about 3:30 so we could get a little rest before the meet and greet with Darlene Tompkins and the screening of Blue Hawaii. Darlene spoke some before the movie came on about the movie and Elvis. The movie started and Darlene kind of mixed with the crowd and spoke some about things throughout the movie. Unfortunately I missed a good portion of the movie because I was out in the hall on the phone tending to some things going on back home. After the movie we got some food and headed back to the room. We turned on the 24 hour Elvis channel the hotel had and watched Girl Happy as we went to sleep. We both could barley function by that time!
Saturday we got up pretty early and headed over to Graceland for our VIP tour. Going up to the mansion was as great as it always is. This was my thirteenth time and it was as moving as the first time I ever went in. As soon as I step into that house I just get the best feeling. You feel so welcomed and know Elvis would be glad you were there. I can't really come close to describing it. The reason for this big weekend trip was to see the new exhibits. The special VIP only Graceland exhibit was very cool. A lot of the same stuff as usual was in the room but a lot of stuff had been added as well. Old documents, receipts, letters, and such telling the history of the home. I was very fascinated by this. The thing that intrigued me the most was some of the receipts from when Elvis redecorated Graceland after he has purchased it. It kind of gives you insight of how the house looked and the feel it might have had. I was trying to imagine that anyway. You could really tell he was going all out and was for sure making good on his promise to give his mother the nicest home in town. The automobile museum also had two new additions to it. They added another Rolls Royce Elvis owned as well as a 6-door Mercedes Benz limousine featured in the movie Elvis on Tour. I has seen the limo last EW at the expo, but I had never seen the Rolls. That was a pretty sharp car. Another new thing added was the exhibit Elvis Lives: The King and Pop Culture. It was loaded with books, collectibles, cd's, movies, and more that has to do with Elvis over the years. The last exhibit was called Elvis In Hollywood. This was my favorite part of the tour because I am such a big fan of his movies. It showcases all 33 movies and documentaries Elvis made. Some cool stuff from Jailhouse Rock, Clambake, Viva Las Vegas, and Blue Hawaii I never have seen are on display. I was very excited over getting to see that stuff. After spending way too much money on cd's we finally started to make our way home late Saturday.
Overall it was a great trip. I am glad we decided to go. It was very tiring(I am still dead tired!) and I was a little preoccupied by some other stuff but I don't regret going. I really can't wait to go back in August. I picked up some new FTD's while out in Memphis. No way I was going to be in those shops and not buy a few. Nevada Lights,On Tour,Blue Hawaii,Kid Galahad, Elvis Today,Raised On Rock, and Wild In The Country was added to the collection. I have really enjoyed what I have got to hear from them. I will be doing some reviews on here for sure.
That puts my cd collection up to 157. I am really getting it built up now!

BACK FROM MEMPHIS

Vince and I made it back from Memphis late last night. I am totally worn out but it was a lot of fun. I will be back at some point to post but I am tired and have to deal with some family stuff. I will get rested up and come back later.

Where have the FTD's gone?

I am going to have to rant a little on here for a moment. I have been wanting to order some cd's from the FTD label for a few weeks now. Though two of the cd's I want to get, Wild In The Country and Kid Galahad are not available. I got to thinking and I can't remember them being available for some time now. I have not heard anything about these being discontinued but I do not know what the cause could be. It is pissing me off a little because I really want both of these releases. Hopefully they have them in stock soon because I am itching to buy several new Elvis cd's.

Sorry I have not been around in a few weeks. The holidays were very busy for me and I have been slammed at work. We have been pretty much running the store with just two of us(compared to four under normal conditions) and I have not had time for much else. A lot of work and sleep is been about all I have had time. What little time I have had on the internet I have been tied up in fallowing Florida 2009 recruiting class. I am going to get back to posting here every few days very soon hopefully.

Off to Atlanta

Vince and I are heading down to Atlanta for the weekend to see the SEC Championship. Vince is a big Bama fan and I live for Florida Gator Football. So it will be an interesting trip but a lot of fun, for one of us at least. If my man Percy shown above can somehow play I will feel a lot better and everything should be ok. See you next week.

I have not got a chance to be on here due to some very long work days. I am working on landing some new business that could be really big and it was a lot to get done by yesterday. I should be back on here in the next few days. Vince and I are heading to Gainesville to see the Gators play. I have been really into That's The Way It Is disc 2. Here is a video of on of my favorite songs from the DVD.

I finally got Elvis Radio!

I have been wanting Elvis Radio forever! XM radio finally has it available and I am happy. I just like the thought I can always turn to one station and I am guaranteed to like what is on. Even though I could pull my CD case out and listen to any song they play pretty much. The really cool thing is getting to listen to GK and some of the people he has on his show. It is very interesting to hear people who knew and worked with Elvis speak.

I am up early this morning watch Paris When It Sizzles. Man I love Audrey Hepburn. Anyway I'm going into work, then leaving out for Nashville at noon. The Gators roll into town to take on Vanderbilt. I'm super excited because Florida can wrap up the SEC East tonight. Anyway I will be back tomorrow night sometime if I don't freeze to death. I will check in then. I plan on listening to a lot of Elvis on the way over. So expect a review from on of my latest FTD's.

Dont give a damn..

I'm not feeling that great and I am highly agitated at the moment. I am about to go watch Jailhouse Rock though. Vince was one of the coolest characters Elvis played in his movie career. A true bad ass, did not give a damn, and cared only about himself. This short clip is one of my favorites from this great movie.

BLUE MOON

I have been gone for a time now. This last weekend my life revolved around football and so far this week I have had a hard time at work and have pretty much crashed when I got home. I have a lot to write about though because I have been going over and over a live concert during the days that I was to review. I also got the DVD of the Vegas special that aired on ABC and I'm going to watch it and review it as well. One of the guys on that DVD is Chris Isaak who is a huge Elvis fan. He is one of the few people I have heard sing one of Elvis' songs and I actually like it. I am a fan of Chris' own stuff as well. This video here I found is of him performing at an Elvis tribute a long time ago singing Blue Moon. Blue Moon has always been one of my favorite songs from the Sun era and Chris does it well. Watch and enjoy! I will be back with more tomorrow hopefully.

When My Blue Moon Turns Gold Agian

I have not been on here at all this week. I am still highly agitated over last weekends disaster in The Swamp and I have been working like crazy. In the next few days I hope to post a lot on here and hopefully Florida wins this weekend and I get out of my funk. Enjoy this video below of this clip from the last Sullivan appearance. I have been listening to this song a lot the last few days.

Make these idiots go away......

A week or so after some lady came put saying she was Elvis' half sister, and Vernon was her dad, this nut Tim comes back around. I remember this guy and his nonsense from a few years ago. By now you would think these people would realize this crap does not work. Check out his blog, he has one,http://www.iselvismydad.blogspot.com/. He looks more like the lovechild of Ricky and Dee Stanly than one of Elvis' kids!

DOLL OF THE WEEK

Ginger Alden is my doll of the week. She was Elvis' last serious girlfriend. I have mixed feelings for her. Something I have read made me feel a little sorry for her, but same things I have seen has made me mad. Her family sure was crazy as hell and she probably was too. For now that's all I will say. She was very beautiful though.

No more blogs for a few days. I am heading back to Florida to go see my boys play in the swamp. This is my second trip down, and third Florida game in five weeks. This is going to be a lot of fun. See you next week.

30 CD Collection on the way.

This was took from elvisnews.com. Elvis Unlimited is the source of the info.


Ernst Jorgensen is working on a 30 CD Box Set that will contain all official masters as released during Elvis' life time with another 3 or 4 hours of the most interesting alternate takes, demos, live recordings, home recordings. The set will be USA made and a limited edition to less than 10,000 units.
Ernst Jorgensen : This is a one shot deal. It's coming, it's here, it's gone as Colonel Parker would say. It will be 30 CDs in a very prestigious packaging with a fantastic book with it. USA made limited edition less than 10,000. It's killed me for 15 months now. The work load has been absurd but I could not deny it. I could not deny being a part of that. To me, it is the most astonishing wonderful idea. Here's a whole definition at this time is that it is all official masters as released during Elvis' life time with another 3 or 4 hours (and we have to define that) of the most interesting alternate takes, demos, live recordings, home recordings. There will not be 1 unreleased element on that box because that would be brutally unfair and only encourage bootlegging. You have to want to own that thing. We're not taking you as hostages. But at the same time, it is also a total restoration of every Elvis master with new digital technology.

This for sure will cause a lot of talking amongst Elvis fans. The complaint you always hear is that too much time is spent on shoving the same Elvis material down our throat. Not enough time on the work that's still out there we do not have our hands on or the stuff that needs some updating. This set seems like a good idea to me. Do I really need to get this? Answer is no. I have pretty much stopped getting the general releases of Elvis material since I already have most of it ten times over and I concentrate on the FTD's. Though I will probably will get this if it is within reason because it just sounds like it would be neat to have and I am sure it will sound great. Though I still need to get to buying some FTD's at a fast pace. I was way behind in collecting these great treasures. I need to catch up! I just have to hold myself back and only buy a few times a year because when I do buy them I seem to spend about $150 at a time!

Fun In Acapulco

I have always been a big fan of Elvis' movie Fun In Acapulco. It is not one of his better films as far as script or his performance, but it for some reason has always been at the top of my favorites list. This is the first movie and soundtrack of the early 60's I would just consider alright. Though some of the music in my opinion is very fun and enjoyable even if someone that had as much talent as Elvis should have not been singing it. One of my favorite songs from the movie is I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here. Below is a alternate take. It defiantly is a little different then the one released as anyone who has heard this song as much as I have can tell. I still like the original release a little better. Though this version is pretty cool as well. Watch this cool video and listen to this song as you see some cool pictures from the movie as well.

Too little time

Sorry I have not been around this week. It has been crazy at work to say the least. I have been working some long days. I am hoping to catch back up this weekend.

A look back at Elvis Week 08

I have had to neglect the blog for the most part this week. I have been having to work twelve hour day and then come home and rest. I am going to catch back up hopefully this weekend. Anyway to the week I spent in Memphis. Elvis Week was a blast as usual. The attendance was the smallest It has been in the eight years I have been going. I know it was coming off a anniversary year, which means usually the fallowing year less people show up. Other factors I know caused this but it was still a bit shocking. Although It was still a lot of fun. Music and Movies and Club Elvis at the first of the week was awesome. It was as good as last year. The only thing missing for me was The Dempsey's. I really like them and would not have minded them playing again this year. The Insiders Conference turned out to be pretty awesome as well, even though the first day was pretty slow. I think this is when I really started realizing how much of a difference this year was. The seating was not even half full for either day. The vigil was great and it is the reason we come. The rain did not bother me at all, although I was glad it pretty much stopped when the evening hit. Vince and I had a fun time before we left seeing Memphis and some sites we had not seen before that held meaning to Elvis fans. I bought lots of cool stuff as usual. Overall I got to say I had a blast and I can't wait to go back. I guess I just felt a let down after last year. When I look back on my past Elvis Weeks I point to 08 and 03 as weeks that did not have the same energy and feel. It has to be because those years came off the 25th and 30th anniversary. Those weeks I do not think will ever be topped. For me those were far and away the best weeks I have spent in Memphis. Last year was the best times I have ever had, so no matter what happened this past week it was not going to be the same.

I will say getting to go to the expo and meeting Chris Noel was one of the coolest things ever! She was freaking awesome. Also the Graceland VIP tour was really cool. I only do it every now and then but thought it was worth the money. I actaully saw more around back of the house this time. The last time I did the VIP tour they rushed me around and I hardly could see a thing.

Also a quick rundown of the things I got while in Memphis.

A few Elvis t shirts, Elvis and Priscilla Barbie set, Lansky shirt, The Complete 68 Comeback Special CD set, new Graceland DVD, Elvis Number 1 performances vol 2 DVD, picture of Elvis from It Happened, 56 Gibson instrument form the old Collectors Club collection, How Great Thou Art CD, and many other small things. I was really happy with what I got.

Also I got the fallowing FTD's....

Frankie and Johnny soundtrack,Elvis Sings Memphis, Tennessee, Out In Hollywood, The Impossible Dream,Elvis New Years Eve,and The Way It Was.

With these addition's my CD collection is now up to 144. My FTD collection 36 which is a total 44 counting the ones that are 2 disc. I am focusing on buying only FTD's now unless something is released mainstream that I really feel I need for the collection or if it is an old release I think is cool for some reason.

I am really digging into the Frankie and Johnny soundtrack at the moment and will do a review in the next few days.

Back Home

Just got back from Memphis a few minutes ago. Sorry no updates yesterday. Vince and I stayed pretty busy trying to soak up the last full day In Memphis. I will be back tomorrow to give a rundown of what we got into Saturday and today. I will give my overall thoughts on the week and share a few of my pictures sometime this week when I can get time. I am already counting the days to go back to Memphis. I am pretty sure I am going to go back In January for Elvis' birthday.

Fallow up to my last post...

I was on the EI forums and saw someone posted some information on the duet album and it has a partial track list.

Partial track listing (not in sequence): "I'll Be Home For Christmas" with Carrie Underwood "Blue Christmas" with Martina McBride "Here Comes Santa Claus" with LeAnn Rimes "Silent Night"with Sara Evans "Merry Christmas Baby" with Gretchen Wilson "Silver Bells" with Anne Murray "White Christmas" with Amy Grant "O Little Town" with Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” with Wynonna Judd.

Maybe the songs with Carrie, Martina, Amy, and Wynonna turn out alright. I actually like Wynonna. Not only is she cool and a big Elvis lover, she is pretty good. I have the Judd's Greatest Hits! Some of these people are pretty good. I just do not think I can ever listen to a song with someone singing with Elvis, it is a let down. I am rambling on about this. I have to let it go. I need not to get off on Gretchen Wilson next!

Elvis duet album for Christmas

As you might know an album is coming out with songs sung by both Elvis and guest artist. It is coming out later this year. When I first heard about it I was kinda going back and forth on it. I would rather just listen to the originals by Elvis as they are pretty damn good and I do not like this sort of thing. Simply because I do not really like any artist out today. According to For CD Collectors Only site an ad for this release has some details on who is on the album. The ad mentions Olivia Newton John, Cliff Richard, Adam Harvey, Guy Sebastian, Shanon Noil, Jessica Simpson, Leann Rimes and Carrie Underwood as persons who recorded a duet for the album. When I first heard this one name that popped in my mind was Carrie Underwood, I am not that big of a fan, but she is alright. I like Leann Rimes alright as well. It will not be completely awful. The rest I could do without. I will not rush to get this. More than likely as some point though it will end up in my collection. What really kills me is Jessica Simpson. Alright, shes famous for being pretty, to some people anyway. She can't sing though! I would not listen to her with Elvis for nothing. That's what makes me not want to hear this. Elvis was wonderfully gifted as a vocalist, highly underrated in my opinion. To see him paired with some people who are not even close to being in his league is awful. I am not downing the album though like some other people have seen make comments on other sites. To some degree it is good, but really, Jessica Simpson?

Terrible stuff! I mean, not the sound of cat's being killed bad, but on the same track as this man?