IMAGE OF THE WEEK

This picture was taken sometime shortly after Elvis reached Germany.

Vince's Top 5

1. Suspicious Minds- TTWII
2. Rubberneckin'
3. Mary In The Morning
4. You Don't Have To Say You Love me
5. Patch It Up

Mike's weekly top 5

The fallowing are my top Elvis songs of the week.

1.Love Me(56)
2.I Don't Care Of The Sun Don't Shine(54)
3.Blue Moon(54)
4. Good Luck Charm(61)
5.Girls! Girls! Girls! (62)

Elvis at 21 NEW YORK TO MEMPHIS

Elvis at 21 is a book containing a collection of photographs by photographer Alfred Wertheimer. His subject was a twenty one year old Elvis Presley. This in my opinion is the best and most important photos of Elvis that was ever took. When Elvis was signed by RCA, they asked Wertheimer to photograph the rising star. He would start photographing Elvis in January of 56 and continue through July of that same year. He would later photograph Elvis in 58, but these picture are priceless. When he started in January with Elvis, he found a young singer that was on the rise but still not known all over. When he would get done in July Elvis owned the music world and was one of the most talked about people on the planet. These pictures take through Elivis' life pretty much in those months. He got him on stage,back stage, around town, and even at home. It shows you every side of Elvis. Wertheimer captured Elvis like no one else ever could. You see Elvis with his guard down and just by looking at this series of photos you get to know the twenty one year old kid who would go on to become the biggest and most successful entertainer ever. Every Elvis fan should own this book, it is worth every penny. These classic pictures of Elvis truly tell a story and you feel like you are kinda of going along the ride with Elvis. This is Elvis Presley, before he was the Hollywood star, or a 70's stage act. He seems so innocent, but at the same time so dangerous. He honestly defined the word cool. Just some of the highlights from this book are pictures from the Stage Show performances, Steve Allen, Russwood Park, and the best ones are of the Presley's at home. If you do not have this, go to shopelvis.com and buy it! I promise you will not be disappointed.

The importance of Television on Elvis' Career/Stage Show

1956, the year of Elvis Presley. This was the year he took it to a whole new level and blew up. One thing that made Elvis was TV. He was able to reach the whole country through this new technology that people were discovering. Parker was a very smart man, and used TV perfectly. I am going to discuss the different shows Elvis appeared on. Tonight I am going to start out talking about the Stage Show appearances. The Dorsey brothers hosted a variety show that came on CBS in the evening and was produced by Jackie Gleason. In late 1955 Elvis was signed to appear on the show four times. Later it would be extended to six appearances after a strong reaction to Elvis' performance. Elvis would appear on the show for the first time the last week for January.
Below is a clip from the first appearance on television by Elvis.




I love this performance of this song, and Elvis is just full of raw energy. Elvis would also appear on the show three times in February and twice more in March. Elvis gained some attention due to these performances, but nothing compared to what he would garner later on down the road. Elvis would sing Heartbreak Hotel for the first time on TV during the third appearance. The Stage Show did alright in the ratings, but was still getting beat pretty good by the Perry Como show. Elvis was still not all that well known outside the southeast. Elvis would move on next to the Milton Berle show. By the time he was done there, he would have the whole country turned upside down. I will talk in length about that in the future. Below is a clip from the fourth appearance Elvis made on stage show. It is one of my all time favorite Elvis songs. In closing I would say I would really like it if these complete performance from the shows would be released at some point. Clips from different songs scatted out among some collections on VHS or DVD but not all six in complete form. I wish they would do something for the Stage Show performances much like the did for the Sullivan shows.

Vince's Random Song Of The Week

Paul Oakenfield mix of RUBBERNECKIN'

The Gospel Side Of Elvis

I recently purchased "He Touched Me The Gospel Side Of Elvis" and I must say I was very impressed with it. I'm not a avid church goer or a bible thumper but this documentary showed you how truly Elvis was staying with his roots warming up with gospel songs. Everyone knows that after Elvis' mother died he was never the same. Gospel was his way to remember his mother and relax. The interviews on the movie talked about how Elvis would sing after a concert and go all the way up to the next morning. This DVD goes into detail how Elvis met JD Sumner and how he was influenced by black gospel groups One particular story I thought was cool is that when Elvis was supposed to record the Jailhouse Rock soundtrack, the executives were getting mad that he was warming up with gospel songs and just kept singing them, wasting heir time and money. Finally the execs told the Jordaniares I believe not to go to the piano to sing gospel with Elvis because he wouldn't quit. Elvis got wind of what was said and he was mad and took them back to his penthouse and sang gospel all night and coming back the next morning to record the soundtrack. The interviews in this documentary are really good and it's awesome to hear how they brag how Elvis was so big hearted. Its a definite must see.

DOLL OF THE WEEK

Chris Noel is the doll of the week. She had a very small part in the movie Girl Happy. She played in several movies in the 60's and appeared in a few television shows. She is probably best known for her role in Vietnam. She went over to entertain the troops and was very active with trying to help with anything she could. She was a DJ over there and had a program called A Date With Chris. She continues to work with veterans to this day.

Got a pocketful of rainbows

Tonight I am going to talk about one of my favorite movie soundtracks, G.I. Blues. When Elvis returned home he had to cut some records and start back making movies. Elvis would record this record in the spring of 60 in Hollywood. Elvis sounded great anyone that knows me knows I think Elvis was at his very best vocally in the early 60's. This album showcases Elvis almost perfectly. This was one of Elvis's biggest hit records but lets talk about the music first before we talk about what all the album did.I have the above CF which was a special collectors edition with alternate takes from this great album. The first song on the disc is Tonight Is So Right For Love. I think this song is pretty good and Elvis does a pretty good job. What's She Really Like is one of my favorite songs on the album. Beautiful song and Elvis delivers on it. Frankfort Special is a song that has grown on me over time and I must has grown in to one of my favorites as well. It is a fast pace song and Elvis seems to have a lot of fun with it. The song mixes in well with all the slower numbers that shows off Elvis as the true singer. Frankfort Special is a rocking number Elvis can just let go on. Wooden Heart is the one song that I probably don't go crazy over. Though I do not think it is as bad as some people I have heard criticize it. Interestingly enough Wooden Heart was a number one song in a lot of countries but was never released as a singer in the US until the mid sixty's.G.I Blues, this is just a classic movie song, not much needs to be said about it in my opinion. Pocketful Of Rainbows, my absolute favorite song of the movie. I think Elvis sound superb on it and masters the presentation. This song would be very ordinary and bland with most artist, but Elvis gives it a certain something and makes it sound so cool. Elvis could hear how a song should sound perfectly in his head and that one big reason he was as good as he was. Shoppin Around is another good song, that is a faster tempo song that again gives you another number to move around to, impossible song for me not to sing along to. Big Boots is probably my least favorite song on the album . I just can't get into it. Though I never skip it when I play the CD. Didja' Ever is the closing number and kind of has the same tone as G.I. Blues and is just as a good of a song. Blue Suede Shoes is a classic throwback to the days of the rock n roller days of Elvis and fits in nice in the movie. Doin' The Best I Can is a close number two for my favorite song on this soundtrack. I think it might just be the best all around song on the whole CD. Eight alternate takes appear on the collectors CD and they are all a great insight into the making of this special album. This CD is really solid. It is not only of his best soundtracks, but one of he best all around albums period. G.I. Blues the album made some history for Elvis. It would be a number one album for five weeks and would stay on the Billboard chart for 111 weeks. It would stay on the charts longer then any other Elvis album. Billboard ranks GI Blues on of the top number one albums of the 60's and in the top one hundred hottest albums ever. The album would go double platinum. I know this was a special edition back in the late nineties as well as a copy of Blue Hawaii, but I wish FTD would do a release on these two albums. If the have anymore material It would be worth putting out. The early sixties was something great musically for Elvis and some of his most successful work post Germany. Lets give these soundtracks of the early sixties there proper due. Please click on the video below and listen to my favorite song from the movie. Enjoy!

Poll Results

This past week Vince had a poll question up on the site. It was asking what was your favorite Elvis documentary. That's The Way It Is, Elvis On Tour, or This Is Elvis. TTWII took elven votes, while the other two took three votes each.

My vote went to TTWII, but that's probably just because I have seen it more recently. This was a hard question for me. Elvis On Tour might be my favorite, really I don't think I can pick a favorite.

How Great Thou Art

Ive worked 24 hours out of the past 2 days, im tired so I wont be blogging very much tonight. Im gonna leave you all with my favorite Elvis gospel song "How Great Thou Art" ‘Til we meet you again, may God bless you. Adios

Elvis rockin in 72

I don't really have the time to blog tonight with all my favorite athletes or sports teams on. I have to get back to watching the Gators but I will be back with a review of one of my favorite soundtracks tomorrow. Since I don't have anything useful to talk about, please enjoy the video of Elvis in 1972 below. Man just about anything from Elvis in 72 is gold. What a year, on of my favorites.