In January – February 1969, after 13 years of recording studio albums and movie soundtracks in Nashville and Hollywood, the time was right for Elvis Presley (1935-1977) to set foot once again in a Memphis studio. Those sessions at Chip Moman’s American Studios yielded a year-long string of ‘comeback’ hit singles: “In the Ghetto,” “Suspicious Minds,” “Don’t Cry Daddy” and “Kentucky Rain.”

FROM ELVIS IN MEMPHIS: LEGACY EDITION collects that entire American Studios output, and then some.

The specially-designed 40th anniversary double-CD package will be available at all physical and digital retail outlets starting July 28, 2009 through RCA/Legacy, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

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The extensive 2,400-word liner notes essay for FROM ELVIS IN MEMPHIS: LEGACY EDITION was written by the homegrown Memphis team of Robert Gordon (whose books include It Came From Memphis and The Elvis Treasures, and whose documentary films include Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story and Shakespeare Was A Big George Jones Fan: Cowboy Jack Clement’s Home Movies) and his wife Tara McAdams, author of The Elvis Handbook among other works.

Individually, disc one of FROM ELVIS IN MEMPHIS: LEGACY EDITION includes the 12 songs of 1969’s original From Elvis In Memphis LP. Among these are “In the Ghetto” (written by Mac Davis, the song that jump-started his career the next year as a Columbia Records artist), and powerful covers of Gamble & Huff’s “Only The Strong Survive” (via Jerry Butler), Johnny Tillotson’s “It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin’,” Hank Snow’s “I’m Movin’ On” (famously covered by the Rolling Stones back in ’65), John Hartford’s “Gentle On My Mind,” and Burt Bacharach’s “Any Day Now” (via Chuck Jackson).

The 12 songs are augmented by four bonus tracks, songs that showed up on various LPs over the next couple of years “Who Am I?”, “If I’m A Fool (For Loving You),” and covers of Bobby Darin’s “I’ll Be There” and the Beatles’ “Hey Jude.”

Disc two of FROM ELVIS IN MEMPHIS: LEGACY EDITION includes the 10 songs that comprised LP two of the double-LP From Memphis To Vegas – From Vegas To Memphis (more on this album below). Among these are Percy Mayfield’s “Stranger In My Own Home Town,” Neil Diamond’s “And The Grass Won’t Pay No Mind” (ironically, it was Neil Diamond who yielded his studio time at American to accommodate Elvis), Bobby Russell’s “Do You Know Who I Am?,” Ned Miller’s “From A Jack To A King,” and Mort Shuman’s “You’ll Think Of Me.”

These 10 songs are augmented by another 10 bonus tracks, grouped as The Original Mono Single Masters. Four are (mono) reprises of songs that appeared on the aforementioned LPs: “In The Ghetto,” “Any Day Now,” “The Fair’s Moving On,” and “You’ll Think Of Me.” The other six were all originally non-LP single sides at the time of their first release: “Suspicious Minds” (the Grammy Hall Of Fame and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, written by Mark James); “Don’t Cry Daddy” (Mac Davis) b/w “Rubberneckin’”; Eddie Rabbitt’s “Kentucky Rain” b/w Shirl Milete’s “My Little Friend”; and finally, guitarist Johnny Christopher’s “Mama Liked The Roses.”

Elvis Presley’s multi-faceted performing career underwent a heroic rebirth in 1968 and 1969, ignited by three factors: his NBC-TV “comeback” special of December 1968 (taped in June, his first live show before an audience in over seven years); his landmark sessions at Chip Moman’s American Studios in January-February 1969 (Elvis’ first official recording in his hometown of Memphis since leaving Sun Records in November 1955); and his triumphant return to Las Vegas (the International Hotel) in August 1969, which led to his return to touring for the rest of his life.

The back-story originates with the NBC-TV broadcast of “The ’68 Comeback Special.” A colossal success by every standard, the tv special (and those indelible black leather images) invigorated Elvis and everyone around him, including the two most formidable figures in his career at the time, Colonel Tom Parker (his manager) and Felton Jarvis of RCA Records (his A&R man and staff producer).

Several members of Elvis’ entourage had long-standing connections with producer and songwriter Chips Moman. As busy as Memphis and the surrounding area’s studios were – Stax Records, Willie Mitchell’s Hi Records, and in Alabama, Rick Hall’s FAME Studios and the new Muscle Shoals Sound – it was Chips’ American Studios on Thomas Street that had all but eclipsed the competition, a steady rise in business that began in 1965. Like those other studios, American had its core rhythm section of world-class players: guitarist Reggie Young, bassists Tommy Cogbill and Mike Leech, Bobby Emmons on organ, Bobby Wood on piano, drummer Gene Chrisman, plus the Memphis Horns led by Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love, and a dazzling array of background vocalists. Holding it together was Chips Moman, a songwriter (“Dark End Of the Street,” Aretha Franklin’s “Do Right Woman Do Right Man”) and experienced producer since his earliest days at Stax Records.

According to Peter Guralnick, American reportedly charted 120 hits between November 1967 and January 1971, landing 28 records on the Billboard charts in one memorable week. There were early national hits with local acts Sam the Sham (“Wooly Bully”), Sandy Posey (“Born a Woman”), the Box Tops (“The Letter”), Merrilee Rush (“Angel Of the Morning”), the Gentrys (“Keep On Dancin’”), and many others. Atlantic Records became a major client, as producer Jerry Wexler steered Aretha Franklin (“Think”), Wilson Pickett (“I’m a Midnight Mover”), Dusty Springfield (Dusty In Memphis), Cissy Houston and the Sweet Inspirations (“Sweet Inspiration”), Herbie Mann (Memphis Underground), and many other label acts to Chips’ American Studios.

A lifelong Memphis resident (since age 13) whose story – and the story of the birth of rock and roll itself – is inextricably linked for all time, Elvis Presley arrived at American Studios at the perfect moment: January 13, 1969. It was just six weeks after the NBC-TV broadcast of December 3rd, and a month after the release of the TV Special soundtrack LP, a platinum seller whose climactic closing number, “If I Can Dream,” was turning into Elvis’ first hit single since 1966.

With the exception of the impromptu “Million Dollar Quartet” session of December 1956 at Sun Studios with Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash (officially unreleased until 1990), it was the first time Elvis was recording in his hometown in over 13 years. The first results of the American Studio sessions came quickly; “In the Ghetto” was issued as a non-LP single in May 1969, and was welcomed as a platinum-selling hit.

In June 1969, From Elvis In Memphis presented 12 of the 32 master recordings that Elvis completed at American Studios, climaxing with “In the Ghetto.” The album became his first gold-selling studio (non-movie soundtrack) LP since 1961. In August, “Suspicious Minds” (b/w “You’ll Think Of Me”) was released as a new non-LP single. “Suspicious Minds” not only hit the million-selling mark, but became Elvis first #1 hit since 1962 (“Good Luck Charm”) and the last #1 of his career.

Also in August, buoyed by his comeback chain of events, Elvis kicked off a four-week run at the brand new International Hotel in Las Vegas, following Barbra Streisand’s run in the 2,000-seat showroom. Live recording over the course of six nights was produced by Felton Jarvis, and five months later in November, the double-LP From Memphis To Vegas – From Vegas To Memphis was released.

The first LP gathered 13 songs recorded live at the hotel; the second LP brought out another 10 of the American Studio tracks. The concurrent November single release, however, was not drawn from the album tracks. Instead, it came from the American sessions, as “Don’t Cry Daddy” chalked up another million-selling Top 10 hit. Two months later in January 1970, “Kentucky Rain” extended the string, a Top 20 gold-selling hit.

A couple of as-yet unreleased American tracks – Bobby Darin’s “I’ll Be There,” “If I’m A Fool (For Loving You)” – surfaced on Let’s Be Friends, a Camden budget LP released April 1970. In November, RCA spun off the studio half of the double-album as a single LP, Back In Memphis. In March 1971, another as-yet unreleased American track – “Who Am I” – surfaced on Elvis’ Christmas Album, also a Camden budget LP. And in February 1972, one more as-yet unreleased American track – the Beatles’ “Hey Jude” – popped up in the middle of Elvis Now. It was the last time that the non-LP American sides were heard from until the 1993 box set, From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential 60’s Masters.

Elvis Presley scored a major conquest with the music he recorded at American Studios that winter of 1969, a triumphant return to his hitmaking ways in the company of another Mid-South visionary, Chips Moman. “But fires must be fed, or else they go out,” Gordon and McAdams warn. Still, “After revisiting the spirit of home, Elvis had a victory he could reflect upon, a confirmation that he was capable of more, a know­ledge of the fire burning inside us all that we call hope.”

FROM ELVIS IN MEMPHIS: LEGACY EDITION by ELVIS PRESLEY (RCA/Legacy 88697 51497-2) CD One – Selections: 1. Wearin’ That Loved On Look • 2. Only The Strong Survive • 3. I’ll Hold You In My Heart (Till I Can Hold You In My Arms) • 4. Long Black Limousine • 5. It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin’ • 6. I’m Movin’ On • 7. Power Of My Love • 8. Gentle On My Mind • 9. After Loving You • 10. True Love Travels On A Gravel Road • 11. Any Day Now • 12. In The Ghetto • Bonus tracks: 13. I’ll Be There • 14. Hey Jude • 15. If I’m A Fool (For Loving You) • 16. Who Am I?

Notes:

Tracks 1-12 from From Elvis In Memphis, originally issued June 1969, as RCA 4155.

Tracks 13 & 15 from Let’s Be Friends, originally issued April 1970, as Camden 2408.

Track 14 from Elvis Now, originally issued February 1972, as RCA 4671.

Track 16 from You’ll Never Walk Alone, originally issued March 1971, as Camden 2472.

CD Two – Selections: 1. Inherit The Wind • 2. This Is The Story • 3. Stranger In My Own Home Town • 4. A Little Bit Of Green • 5. And The Grass Won’t Pay No Mind • 6. Do You Know Who I Am? • 7. >From A Jack To A King • 8. The Fair’s Moving On • 9. You’ll Think Of Me • 10. Without Love (There Is Nothing) • Bonus tracks – The Original Mono Single Masters: 11. In The Ghetto • 12. Any Day Now • 13. The Fair’s Moving On • 14. Suspicious Minds • 15. You’ll Think Of Me • 16. Don’t Cry Daddy • 17. Rubberneckin’ • 18. Kentucky Rain • 19. My Little Friend • 20. Mama Liked The Roses.

Notes:

Tracks 1-10 from LP Two of the double-LP From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis, originally issued November 1969, as RCA 6020; tracks 1-10 re-released November 1970 as single LP Back In Memphis, RCA 4429.

“The implicit challenge was accepted, and all sank in for hard work, real work.. The biggest hits of Elvis’ latter career came from these sessions: ‘Suspicious Minds,’ ‘In The Ghetto,’ ‘Don’t Cry Daddy,’ and ‘Kentucky Rain’… He went from selling a couple hundred thousand singles to having several hits that sold more than a million… Once again Elvis arose and again, Elvis triumphed.” – from the liner notes by Robert Gordon and Tara McAdams

Legacy Recordings
Elvis Official Sony Website

RCA has released the Elvis Christmas Duets album, the first ever album of Elvis Presley duets, and the his first Christmas compilation too!

Elvis Presley Christmas Duets on amazon.com

Christmas Duets: Limited Edition Digi Pack on amazon.co.uk

To produce this collection of 11 new recordings, RCA have revisited the original studio masters to painstakingly separate Elvis’ vocals from the instrumentation, allowing contemporary artists to duet with Elvis on these legendary recordings. The results are truly amazing and create a whole new Christmas album for a whole new generation to enjoy.

This release marks yet another milestone in Elvis Presley’s legacy, 31 years after his death, and the limited deluxe edition CD, beautifully presented in a die-cut soft pack is the perfect gift for all Elvis fans.

To give Elvis Christmas Duets a continuity of sound and quality, RCA has secured the vocal talents of the some of the best known and biggest selling contemporary Nashville stars.

From Martina McBride who’s duet of Blue Christmas is incredible through to LeAnne Rimes, Carrie Underwood and Olivia Newton John… this is truly the most impressive collection of female contemporary country artists you’ll find on one album. Not only that but they’re dueting with the King Of Rock ‘n’ Roll Elvis Presley!

“We are so pleased that these accomplished artists are collaborating with Elvis in this unique way to make exciting new versions of his Christmas songs. I am sure Elvis would be proud to have worked with them,” says Priscilla Presley.

RCA have also created a stunning video for lead album track “Blue Christmas” featuring Martina McBride. The country superstar was just shy of two when Elvis Presley filmed his 1968 “Comeback” TV special. This year, she steps back in time forty years to join the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll on stage.

Video producer George Flanigen comments, “There’s a spot between (guitarist) Scotty Moore and Elvis that’s open, like somebody should have been sitting there,” says Flanigen. “We’re like, ‘We could probably figure a way to put her with Elvis.’ We scoured the footage and picked shots of Elvis throughout the whole special to be able to put them together. There are shots where he and Martina share the frame, where he looks over at her, where she looks back at him and sings and smiles.”

McBride filmed her parts in front of a green screen. “It took four weeks” to piece together, Flanigen says.

Watch Elvis Presley & Martina McBride – “Blue Christmas” video:

In order to create these classic ‘duets’ Sony BMG used the most advanced and sophisticated audio technology available. For songs that were recorded on one track, mono, musical beds were created to perfectly match the instrumentation and arrangements contained on the originals. In the case of songs that have been recorded in multi-track where Elvis’ vocal is isolated on a single track, the vocal was simply dropped for a given verse or chorus, making room for the duet artist.

To be as faithful as possible to the original recordings, the fabled RCA Studio B in Nashville – the same studio that Elvis recorded the 1971 original Christmas session in, was used.

Elvis Presley Christmas Duets Track list:

Blue Christmas with Martina McBride
I’ll Be Home For Christmas with Carrie Underwood
Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) with LeAnn Rimes
Santa Claus Is Back In Town with Wynonna Judd
Silent Night with Sara Evans
White Christmas with Amy Grant
Merry Christmas Baby with Gretchen Wilson
O Little Town Of Bethlehem with Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town
Silver Bells with Anne Murray
O Come All Ye Faithful with Olivia Newton-John

Bonus Tracks:

The First Noel (2008) Elvis Presley
If I Get Home On Christmas Day (2008) Elvis Presley
Winter Wonderland (2008) Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley Official Website

Billy Fury was truly the British Rock ‘n’ Roll star. He had 24 hits in the 1960s and spent 332 weeks on the charts – a feat equalled only by The Beatles. Billy Fury’s musical biography is now available documented on this fabulous soundtrack of hits spanning his Decca career.

His Wondrous Story highlights the early days of British rock and roll and Fury’s dominance of the British pop scene. ‘Billy Fury: His Wonderous Story – The Complete Collection’ is set for UK release through Universal Music 28th January, 2008.

Includes fantastic hits such as “Jealousy”, “Halfway To Paradise” and “Last Night Was Made For Love”.

Billy Fury became an overnight music sensation in the late 1950s when his moody brand of rock and roll earned him the nickname of Britain’s Elvis Presley. Fury’s stage performances and sexual charisma left his female fans screaming for more, cementing his place as Britain’s number 1 teen idol.

Throughout his very successful career he released a stream of hits including “Maybe Tomorrow”, “Wondrous Place”, “A Thousand Stars” and “In Thoughts of You”.

‘Billy Fury: His Wonderous Story – The Complete Collection‘ track listing:

1. Jealousy
2. Halfway To Paradise
3. Like I’ve Never Been Gone
4. When Will You Say I Love You
5. Last Night Was Made For Love
6. I’d Never Find Another You
7. In Summer
8. Once Upon A Dream
9. Colette
10. In Thoughts Of You
11. It’s Only Make Believe
12. Do Really Love Me Too
13. A Thousand Stars
14. I Will
15. I’m Lost Without You
16. Maybe Tomorrow
17. Because Of Love
18. Somebody Else’s Girl
19. That’s Love
20. Wondrous Place
21. Run To My Loving Arms
22. Give Me Your Word
23. Margo
24. Letter Full Of Tears
25. I’ll Never Quite Get Over You
26. Don’t Worry
27. Love Or Money
28. Devil Or Angel
29. Forget Him

Billy Fury: His Wondrous Story – The Complete Collection on amazon.co.uk

Universal Music TV Official Website

Billy Fury Website

Watch Elvis Presley – “In The Ghetto” video:

Elvis Presley – Wikipedia

Elvis Presley Official Website

Elvis Presley In The Ghetto YouTube video link