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Elvis Is Back! Box Set

About Elvis Is Back!

Elvis Is Back is all about Elvis' return to the music scene in 1960. This year was a bittersweet one for Elvis. He was being discharged from the Army. Music had changed in two years and he was a little insecure about his music career. Yet he enters the sessions with such ambition and determination. He delivers a new mature diverse voice. 'It's Now Or Never' and 'Surrender' are truly challenging for Elvis. He proofs himself to be a truly talented singer and not just a flash in the pan. These recording sessions will forever stand out in Elvis' history.
It's almost as if Elvis hit the ground running upon his return. The Colonel had been busy preparing for Elvis' return for a very long time. Not only were the recording sessions lined up, an appearance on the ABC televised Frank Sinatra Special and the filming for 'G.I. Blues' were immediately following.
His appearance on the Sinatra Special is warmly received by the public. Elvis innocently steals the show from Sinatra. Yet the repertoire between the two performers is very apparent. 'G.I. Blues' is a very successful film for Elvis although Elvis hates being in uniform again.
During this year, Elvis is also experiencing many changes in his personal life. Elvis has met Priscilla while in Germany. But he returns to his long time girlfriend Anita Wood. They continue their relationship where it left off before Elvis left for Germany. Vernon marries Dee, which is hard on Elvis because of the loss of his mother. Elvis also brings many of his friends from Germany home and the Memphis Mafia is formed.
But still the most important thing during the year 1960 is the amazing recording sessions. We have two incredible albums from this year, Elvis Is Back and His Hand In Mine. Elvis truly proves his ability as a performer. He conquers every challenge he is faced with and proves Elvis is back!
Elvis Is Back includes many never before seen pictures from this period. There is even some very interesting ones from the filming of 'G.I. Blues'. Those were not used in the Inside G.I. Blues book.'
This box set comes complete with book, 45, DVD, numbered certificate, postcards and will be signed by the author.

Buy the Elvis Is Back box set exclusively from Backinmemphis.com and get the new Elvis Is Back Legacy Edition CD release from Sony/BMG FREE! This is a limited offer so act fast!

Tracklisting:

CD One - Selections:
1. Make Me Know It
2. Fever
3. The Girl Of My Best Friend
4. I Will Be Home Again
5. Dirty, Dirty Feeling (Hot 100 #70, 1965)
6. Thrill Of Your Love
7. Soldier Boy
8. Such A Night (Hot 100 #16, 1964)
9. It Feels So Right (Hot 100 #55, 1965)
10. Girl Next Door Went A'Walking
11. Like A Baby
12. Reconsider Baby (Tracks 1-12 from Elvis Is Back, RCA Victor 2231, released April 8, 1960)
THE HIT SINGLES:
13. Stuck On You (Hot 100 #1, 1960)
14. Fame And Fortune (Hot 100 #17, 1960)
15. It's Now Or Never (Hot 100 #1, 1960)
16. A Mess Of Blues (Hot 100 #32, 1960)
17. Are You Lonesome Tonight? (Hot 100 #1, 1960)
18. I Gotta Know (Hot 100 #20, 1960)
19. Surrender (Hot 100 #1, 1961)
CD Two - Selections:
1. There's Always Me (Hot 100 #56, 1967)
2. Give Me The Right
3. It's A Sin
4. Sentimental Me
5. Starting Today
6. Gently
7. I'm Comin' Home
8. In Your Arms
9. Put The Blame On Me (Hot 100 #70, 1965)
10. Judy
11. I Want You With Me
12. I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell (Tracks 1-12 from Something For Everybody, RCA Victor 2370, released June 1961)
THE HIT SINGLES:
13. I Feel So Bad (Hot 100 #5, 1961)
14. (Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame (Hot 100 #4, 1961)
15. Little Sister (Hot 100 #5, 1961)
16. Good Luck Charm (Hot 100 #1, 1962)
17. Anything That's Part Of You (Hot 100 #31, 1962)

About Elvis Is Back - Legacy Release:

Two words exploded worldwide on December 19, 1957 - "Elvis Drafted!" - but three words resounded across the universe even more explosively on March 3, 1960: "Elvis Is Back!"
The album that Elvis Presley began recording in Nashville on March 20th, and finished in the legendary overnight session of April 3-4th, is widely regarded as possibly the best album he ever made.
A half-century later, Elvis Is Back is now coupled with 1961's Something For Everybody, an album he recorded back in Nashville one year later.
Along with one dozen hit single sides recorded (also in Nashville) and charted over roughly the same period of time, the deluxe ELVIS IS BACK: LEGACY EDITION available now!
Elvis Is Back: Legacy Edition follows the template of the recent RCA/Legacy releases, From Elvis In Memphis: Legacy Edition and On Stage: Legacy Edition. With each title, the definitive version of one of Elvis' most essential albums has been expanded to include another historically significant album from the same time period, along with the hit singles associated with both albums.
Adding wit and nuance to Elvis Is Back: Legacy Edition is a liner notes essay by New York-based journalist Stuart Colman, former member of '60s UK pop group the Flying Machine ("Smile A Little Smile For Me"), and former BBC radio host, recording studio owner, and Nashville-based record producer.
Stuart Colman, a liner notes writer specializing in early roots-rock, R&B and rockabilly, sets the stage for that landmark evening in Nashville, two months after Elvis' 25th birthday.
"Right up until the point where cars were being parked and instruments unpacked," Colman writes, "the assembled musicians were under the impression they'd been booked to record with Jim Reeves. This was a half-hearted attempt to thwart the fans gathered outside who knew full well who was coming in."
Joining Elvis for his sessions at RCA's Studio B in Nashville were his long-time guitarist Scotty Moore, drummer D.J. Fontana, Floyd Cramer on piano, guitarist Hank Garland (also on bass), bassist Bob Moore, and drummer Buddy Harman, plus the Jordanaires on harmony vocals. Among the six masters they cut that night were Elvis' first post-Army #1 million-selling single "Stuck On You," and three tracks that would be chosen for the new album. They reconvened two Sunday nights later on April 3rd (adding saxophonist Boots Randolph to the lineup) and finished an astounding 12 tracks.
The unprecedented results included Elvis' next two #1 million-selling singles, "It's Now Or Never" and "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" plus the nine tunes needed to complete the LP.
Elvis Is Back was rush-released days later on April 8th. Any concerns about Elvis' ability in the studio after more than two years away were set aside forever.
"Elvis Is Back was a triumph on every level," wrote Jørgensen in his essential research guide, Elvis Presley: A Life In Music (St. Martin's Press, 1998). "Elvis had never been heard like this before, except perhaps by himself in his own head. There was new depth to his voice; his interpretations were increasingly sophisticated; the group was probably the best studio band in the business; the song selection was imaginative and varied, the technical quality excellent. Most surprisingly of all, the new album pointed in no one musical direction… It was as if Elvis had invented his own brand of music, broken down the barriers of genre and prejudice to express everything he heard in all the kinds of music he loved."
After spending the rest of 1960 in Hollywood filming and recording the soundtracks for G.I. Blues, Flaming Star, and Wild In the Country, Elvis returned to Studio B on Sunday night, March 12, 1961. With the exception of "I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell" (imported from the Wild In the Country tapes), the other 11 tracks on Something For Everybody were all finished on that equally legendary overnight session. Among them were Elvis' takes on "I Feel So Bad" (from Chuck Willis) and "I'm Comin' Home" (from Charlie Rich).
Elvis' next batch of hit singles were recorded at Studio B in June (("Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame" b/w "Little Sister," both sides penned by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman); and October ("Good Luck Charm" b/w "Anything That's Part Of You").
"Something For Everybody and its accompanying singles hit the market at a time when Elvis Presley was right at the top of his game," Colman concludes. "The man could do no wrong in the eyes of the public and he was rightly thought of across the globe as the arbiter of popular music. He was most definitely the right man for the job."




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Priscilla Presley Has Bieber Fever!

Nancy O'Dell sat down with Priscilla Presley (former wife of the King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley)
and Priscilla singles out teen sensation Justin Bieber as one of today's young talented musicians.
When asked whether there could ever be another musical giant like Elvis, Priscilla says, " It's unlikely because the business has changed so much.You know, today is such a different time. It's just a different time. Justin Bieber is actually doing great at a very young age, that's another phenomena."

Graceland Redevelopment Haulted!

The owner of Elvis Presley Enterprises said Wednesday it is scaling back plans to redevelop the Graceland attraction due to a difficult economic climate.
CKx Inc. said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that expanding the visitors center and adding new attractions, shops, and a new hotel adjacent to Elvis' former home would take several years and substantial financial investment.
The filing also said expenses for operating the Memphis tourist attraction rose last year due to higher professional and legal fees that were primarily related to a 2010 master plan that has been postponed.
The company is exploring opportunities to build a new Heartbreak Hotel with a business partner, CKx CEO Michael G. Ferrel told The Associated Press.
But the other previously studied parts of the redevelopment would happen only in "incremental steps," depending on the economy, he said.
"We ran straight into a headwind for what this project was supposed to be," Ferrel said. "It's going to be done on a different timetable than we first anticipated for reasons beyond our control."
CKx has been studying ways to redevelop Graceland and the surrounding area for years, with the possibility of breaking ground in 2011 or 2012. Ferrel told AP in August that tough economic conditions over the past two years, including a dearth of financing for construction and a drop in consumer spending, had delayed the study looking at improvements.
Elvis lived at Graceland for 20 years before he died in August 1977. The home has been open for public tours since 1982.

Jack Soden, president CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises, said the visitors complex development is on a slower track, but the company is still committed to investing in the long-term growth of Graceland.
"It's designing and developing with a sharper pencil, and that's the new economy," Soden said.
Last year, 518,940 people visited Graceland, a 4.4 percent drop from 542,728 in 2009.

Ferrel said CKx owns about 100 acres of land near Graceland, including a 17-acre parcel that would be ideal for a 150-room to 175-room hotel. Ferrel called a new hotel the "most immediate need."
CKx owns 85 percent of Elvis Presley Enterprises, which owns the rights to the name, image and likeness of the late singer.

CKx, which also owns the "American Idol" TV show, said in October that it was no longer discussing a potential sale of the company. CKx had received interest but did not get any acquisition proposals that it felt were in the best interests of shareholders.

This news comes as no surprise to many Elvis fans. These are tough times we are living in and even the King of Rock & Roll is facing the crunch.

Prostitutes found murdered in South Memphis cemetery just off EP Blvd

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - The bodies of two women were dumped like trash last month within days of each other at Mt. Carmel Cemetery off Elvis Presley Boulevard.

"It's sad," said Robert Brown.

Brown knew 44-year-old Rhonda Wells, a known prostitute. She lived with her grandmother in a now boarded-up house on Gaither Street. Brown said a lot of people dropped by the day after Wells' body was discovered.

"I told my grandson to go over there and see what happened and he came back and said Rhonda got shot in the head," recalled Brown.

He said he was unaware of Wells' criminal history for working the streets.

"I just saw her in and out, in and out," said Brown. "I did not know."

Jessica Lewis, 28, was a known prostitute as well and was the first to be found dead in the cemetery. She also died from a gunshot wound.

While police refused to confirm any connection, they do not appear to be ruling out the possibility of a single killer.

A flyer posted at a nearby business states police are looking for a man in his early 20's. The flyer features photos of both women and includes a note about the suspect possibly driving a Pontiac.

The stretch of Elvis Presley Boulevard near the cemetery is lined with low rate motels and is known for prostitution. It may be an increasingly risky profession.

There was a third woman shot and killed on a street not far from the cemetery just weeks before the bodies were found. That murder also remains under investigation.

Anyone with information should call Crime-Stoppers at 901-528-CASH.

BIM NOTE: Tourists need to be aware that Memphis is a big city with lots of crime. And even when it's Elvis Week, you need to be aware of your surroundings. Walking from hotels on Brooks to Graceland, or walking from your hotels on EP Blvd to shopping areas like the Whitehaven Shopping Center is a very bad idea no matter what time it is. Tourists stick out like sore thumbs. Chip in with a few friends for a car rental or share a cab fare. You are worth every penny, just ask your family and friends!

Elvis On Tour In Louisville On March 14th!

The name Elvis conjures up visions of hip shaking, gold records, and screaming women—the likes of which are rarely seen to the scale that the young man from Mississippi was able to create. And, it’s just those visions that the Elvis Presley Graceland Museum is trying to cultivate with its recent media blitz.

Covering towns around Memphis, including Presley’s triumphant return to Louisville, the Graceland media team is taking “Elvis on Tour.” Graceland’s Director of Communications, Kevin Kern will be in Louisville on March 14 and is bringing Elvis artifacts with him. Previous stops have included Chicago, St. Louis and New Orleans.

The Graceland Museum—in honor of the 55th anniversary of Presley’s first hit song, first film, and several of his first television appearances—has added three new exhibits to the King’s Graceland mansion.

Included is Presley’s first Grammy from 1967, a belt he wore while now famously meeting with President Richard Nixon, and Elvis’ first gold record for Heartbreak Hotel.

For those of you that need to brush up on your rock history, that famed meeting with the president happened after Presley sent a letter to Richard Nixon personally, explaining that he would be a good advocate to kids to stay off drugs. Nixon, who was struggling with the youth vote jumped at this and the photo of the two men shaking hands represents to many the cultural divide in the country at that time.

Celebrity Photog Dick Zimmerman Talks About MJ & Lisa Marie's Wedding Portrait

Dick Zimmerman became world-renowned for introducing a style of celebrity portrait photography that looked like a painting. (You remember all those TV Guide covers from the '70s and '80s, right?) Over the years, he's shot some of the biggest names in Hollywood, ranging from Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman to John Travolta and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Over a 13-year period, Zimmerman also had three sessions with Michael Jackson, the most famous being in 1982, when Zimmerman shot the cover for the record-breaking 'Thriller' album. Zimmerman, who these days offers oil-painting portraits on commission worldwide, talks about creating that iconic MJ portrait.

Tell us about the day you photographed Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' cover.
DZ: On the day of the shoot, he came alone. No entourage. We had two racks of wardrobe, handpicked by one of the best stylists in LA. Michael didn't really care for anything on it. He said, "I'd like to be wearing something like what you have on." I was wearing my white suit that day. I said, "Well, we're about the same height." So Michael is actually wearing my white suit on the cover.

What happened to the suit?

DZ: I auctioned it off at Sotheby's years ago. I was concerned with the safety of my wife and myself because, at the time, we had a very big house and I went out of town a lot. I didn't know if word would get around that I had the suit, and I didn't want to take a chance. I decided to just get rid of it.

How much did it sell for?
DZ: I believe I got $27,000 for it, and I'm guessing that was 10 years ago. Today, I could probably get a million bucks for it.

Tell us about shooting the exclusive wedding portrait of Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley.

We did the shoot at the Trump Tower in Donald Trump's suite. They actually closed down 5th Avenue in front of the building because they didn't have enough room on the sidewalk for the photographers. The whole street was filled with photographers.

How did you get past the throng of photographers?

They had to sneak me in through the service elevator. After we did it, I was worried about my life. These photographs were worth a lot of money. We closed down a whole photo lab so we could produce the images in secrecy.
After shooting the couple's wedding portraits, you went back up to Trump's suite. What happened then?
Around midnight the maid let me into Michael and Lisa Marie's suite and told me that Michael would be down in a few minutes. Thirty minutes go by and no sign of Michael. I'm walking around the suite -- it was kind of dark in there -- and I see this fellow across the room wearing a mustache and beard. I figured he was a security guard. I walked over to him asked if he had any idea when Michael was going to be here. I looked at him and all of a sudden I realized it was Michael. We both laughed as he pulled off his disguise. He had been waiting there the whole time, just watching me, waiting for me to notice him.

What happened after that?

He opened up a bottle of wine and sat down and looked over the photographs. We talked and talked until about 3 o'clock in the morning. He told me about all his frustrations. He had just done an interview with Diane Sawyer where he took her on a tour of his Neverland Ranch. He said he was as honest with her as anybody could possibly be, and the next day the press jumped on him. He had tears in his eyes. He said, "I don't know what to do anymore."

Do you feel he was misunderstood?
He was very misunderstood. They talk about him being a pedophile. I can tell you that didn't happen. He was very childlike. I thought he was like a gentle butterfly. All he talked about was future generations of children, the environment, air quality. His problem was that he had too many bodyguards around him. Too many people pushing him in all different directions, and with ulterior motives.