I am in shambles

No blog tonight. I am highly irritated because the Gators lost tonight. My life comes to a stop and I have to mourn a minimum of one day when Florida loses. Hopefully tomorrow I am over it and can come back strong with some Elvis stuff. I am off to try to calm myself by watching Blue Hawaii.

Do You Smell What The Rock Is Cooking?

I recently watched a movie called "The Gameplan" starring "The Rock" as a star football player who has recently found out he's a father. This movie has so many Elvis references in it. The Rock's character is such an Elvis fan he has lots of gold records from Sun Studios displayed throughout his his home along with pictures and movie posters. To top things off, he has a replica Gibson guitar that he uses to sing a horrible rendition of "Are You Lonesome" and the "Burning Love" jumpsuit dislpayed in his daughters room. If you pay attention closely even his doorbell is "Love Me Tender". It's not a terrible movie, I actually recommend Elvis fans to check it out. I think it's pretty enjoyable.

BURBANK 68

Today I got my new CD Burbank 68. It is a FTD of course, that's about all I buy anymore. It was the first release they had back in 1999. I did not really want this CD a lot, but thought I might need to get it now. It is pretty old and thought I might miss out since they don't always produce these long. I was wrong, I definitely needed this. I thought most of the material would be stuff I had but that is not the case at all. Nine of the songs are from recording of Elvis in his dressing room singing and playing with Scotty,DJ, and Charlie. Most of the recordings I have never heard. The twelve songs are takes from one of the stand up shows that was not included in the Memories two disc set. It also contains some dialogue throughout the disc that is entertaining. I am totally blown away with this CD. I am so glad I got it. The 68 special is alright in its original form. It really is not that great when you know of all the great stuff they left out. You can't appreciate how great the whole deal was until you see all the footage and hear all the music and the process of making the show. I feel now I have all the pieces to the puzzle. Back in the late 90's I bought CD of the original album that came out at the time of the show. Man, that CD is really bad when you hear the stuff they have put together since then. Memories the two disc set, Tiger Man, Let Your Self Go, and Burbank 68 really paint the whole picture. The Let Your Self Go and Burbank Cd's are FTD's and are as usual top of the line releases. The sound and production is out of this world. I honestly think of all the stuff I have that has to do with the 68 special, this new CD is my favorite though. You even get to hear Elvis jam to Blue Moon Of Kentucky which was pretty neat because I had not heard that before. That with the version of Love Me and One Night are my favorite tracks off the disc. The two instrumentals to start the CD off, Danny Boy and Baby What You Want Me To Do are fantastic as well.

I am up to 124 Cd's now! I already have the FTD in mind I am going to order this month. These things are high as all get out at thirty dollars. Tax and shipping puts them around thirty seven. My point is, they are worth it. I hope they keep putting these things out. For the serious Elvis music collector they are the real deal. I just wish it had not took me so long to catch on to them and would have just spent the money on them. I have missed out on a few that I wont ever be able to get. You get a lot more out of these then the same old re released stuff you can buy at the stores.

158 days to go

The countdown continues for Elvis Week 08. Plans are almost set. Tickets go on sale of the Elvis Insiders in two weeks so I will know for sure what I am doing then. Plans my change a little from now but I doubt it. Here is a list of things going on for Vince and I so far.

• Post up to watch PGA Championship(new EW tradition)
• VIP Graceland tour
• 2 nights of music and movies at Graceland
• 2 days of the Elvis Insiders Conference
• Elvis Expo
• Club Elvis(dance party)
• meet and greet
• Elvis style tour of Memphis
• Sun
• Tupelo-birthplace,fair grounds, Tupelo Heardware,ect.
• Candlelight Vigil
• Tent activities

IMAGE OF THE WEEK

Elvis at sixteen. Pretty cool picture because you don't see a lot of pictures of Elvis from this time. Elvis was probably the most photographed person to ever walk the earth. I have a lot of favorite pictures of him, but the early ones have always been my favorite.

Edwards Top 5

My top songs for the week go something like this.

1.Good Luck Charm(61)
2.Blue Hawaii(61)
3. Cross My Heart and Hope To Die(64)
4.Moonlight Swim(61)
5.My Baby Left Me(56)

Elvis and the Man Of Steel

Im a huge Smallville fan and as I was watching a few episodes I noticed that there was a couple of Elvis songs in the series. I thought there were more but I was wrong but you can find the following songs on Smallville:

Season 2- A Little Less Conversation, Episode - "Heat"

Season 3- (It's not a song by Elvis but it's about him) Walking In Memphis, Episode - "Perry"

Season 4- It's Now Or Never, Episode - "Unsafe"

I swear I heard Burning Love on an episode and i'm gonna keep researching it. Anyways this was a pointless blog pretty much but im a huge Superman and Elvis fan, I thought it was cool they were together in a couple episodes.

The Everett Top 5

This is been the hardest weekly Top 5 Ive done yet but here it is:

1. Such a Night
2. G.I. Blues
3. Gotta Know
4. Mess of Blues
5. All Shook Up

Sad news out of Memphis

Todd Morgan who has been the face of EPE for many years was found dead in his apartment. Todd has been with the company since Graceland opened in 82. He started out as a tour guide. Word is he has just got a promotion where he would report directly to Gary Hovey but remain in Memphis. He was going out with friends last night to celebrate but never showed. It is assumed that he died in his sleep. The cause of death has not been announced. Todd was a great guy and did a lot for the company. He was a true fan favorite and will be dearly missed by all.

Look whats new on exbit on Graceland

I just got in and decided to check out the the Elvis Insiders forum before I went to bed. A lady was talking about going to Graceland and seeing the new exhibits. She has a picture of the leather bombers jackets Elvis(Mike Edwards) wore in It Happened At The Worlds Fair. I am having a fit. I have been wanting to see this forever. I knew that had it in archives but had just about gave up on it. I have been to Graceland now elven times and had never seen it. It is on display now and I hope it is still there in August. This is the best news I have heard in a long time. I have had seeing this jacket as one of my top goals for a long time. I am truly having a fit over this. If I see this jacket during EW it will be the highlight for sure. If I could have anything from the Graceland archives this might just be it.

Blue running true

Blue Hawaii has been playing on my TV for the last twelve hours straight. Since I have got up this movie has played three times and has just started over. I think I will watch it one more time. Blue is going strong. Great movie, can't get enough of it.

Lets go on a moonlight swim

This morning I have woke up watching one of the best movies ever Blue Hawaii. One reason this movie is so great is the soundtrack. I am going to talk a little bit about it today.I think this soundtrack is the best of all that Elvis did. It is my personal favorite barely edging out IT. The title song Blue Hawaii is a terrific song and one of my favorite movie songs ever. It is so soothing and Elvis does a great job on this. I think this is one reason I like to go to sleep to this movie. The song relaxes me and puts me at ease. Almost Always True is a fun song that fits in the movie well. Aloha Oe is a Hawaiian song that Elvis does a pretty good job with. Can't Help Falling In Love is a classic and is one of the songs people think about when they think of Elvis. I think this song is the best one on the soundtrack. Elvis would end up singing this song to his fans to close shows in his live acts later on in his career. Rock-A-Hula Baby might not be the best song on the track, but might just be the most fun. The scene in the movie where he sings it is one of the coolest parts of the movie. Moonlight Swim is my personal favorite from the movie. I don't know why but I have always thought this song was top notch. I think like all the songs in this movie it just fits with the flow of the movie and actually makes me the movie better. Slicin' Sand is a a fun song to jar around to and Elvis has a fit during the scene in the movie.Hawaiian Wedding Song I have always thought was pretty good. Other songs from the soundtrack Ku-U-I-Po,Ito Eats,Hawaiian Sunset,Beach Boys Blues,and Island Of Love. They are all pretty good songs for the most part. Steppin Out Of Line is also on the CD. The version of the soundtrack shown above also has some bonus alternate takes on it that are really good. It includes the movie version of Can't Help Falling In Love. As I said before this is my favorite soundtrack and in my opinion his best. Elvis's vocally was at his best around this time and really shined. Also unlike many of his later movies where most of the songs did not make sense in context with the movie, this does not suffer from that. I think the music actually lifts the movie and make it better. in closing all I can say is that Blue Hawaii(movie or soundtrack) is the freakin truth.