Tuesday, November 26, 2013

November 26 - Closing Strong with Graceland Upgrade?

To be released soon December on the VV label will be their fourth release entitled "Closing Strong!" featuring both the complete live soundboard recording from February 23th 1970 Las Vegas Closing show and the complete live audience recording from Houston on March 01, 1970 Afternoon Show. 

From the press-release:
After the success of the first three releases We decided: first to improve the product and second, keeping the same formula to give you more.…..
The producers are aware of the fact that the closing night show, as one of the best Elvis Presley concerts ever, has been previously released in different imports. But Here we give you the chance to listen to the show in its entirety for the first time in a double high valued collector vinyl set. The second show, the Houston incredible March 1st afternoon show, presents Elvis at the pick of his possibility, although not new to CD collectors, will not have been heard in this quality before. This release is taken directly from a first generation tape and has been professionally remastered to a high standard producing an excellent audio quality, The sound quality is far superior to the previous released audience recordings. Ask your local dealer for samples! . Elvis at Houston is pure dynamite , delivering a great performance that compares with the Closing night in terms of quality, giving to this release the status of “unique”. 
Note: the March 01, 1970 AS was released (by the King Crown Records label ”Elvis at the Dome“ CD, 2001) from an inferior audience recorded source. This CD has nothing to do with VV’s tape version.

’Closing strong” is the perfect companion to the previous “Better than Ever”. The Vegas second season allows Elvis, after paying his debt to the golden past in the ’69 season, to demonstrate his true abilities. We see the best of Elvis in songs that will become the fulcrum of the Elvis show until 1972 Here you can hear the complete opening night. Houston three days later only from the end of the Vegas season, for Elvis the very first opportunity to face a real audience from his comeback to live scenes. The result six supernatural shows with record attendance set in the Saturday evening show…. the rest his history, Here you can hear the complete March 01 afternoon show. Elvis performed accompanied from the band only a solid and rough show singing the best of the previous Las Vegas Season, in spite the short show ( about 44 minutes) and the bad acoustic with this show as Houston Chronicle review suggest “Elvis brings down the house at the dome” can be reasonably to be included in one of best shows ever!!!

The double LP set, 200 Gr. vinyl, 33 rpm picture disc never sounded better!!!! is a limited edition hand numbered release of 500 copies. It comes with an three fold 300 gram high quality glossy sleeve both sides printed, giving an unique view. The sleeve will be accompanied Newspapers clips and with many photographs of the Elvis different suits wore in February. Both the vinyl disc will be for the first time of the label, an incredible two picture disc, a real collector;s gem!!!!!!.

The CD with the Houston show, will be accompanied with a plain sleeve. We hope you can enjoy this Fourth product in the way to give life to more of his kind in next future. 

LP February 23, 1970 Closing Night 
Live soundboard recording 
RUNNING TIME 56,00 MIN 
Side A*
01.Opening Vamp 02.All Shook Up 03.I Got A Woman 04.Long Tall Sally 05.Elvis Talks 06.Don’t Cry Daddy 07.Elvis Talks 08.Hound Dog 09.Love Me Tender

Side B* 
10.Kentucky Rain 11.Let It Be Me 12.I Can’t Stop Loving You 13.C.C. Rider 14.Sweet Caroline

Side C* 
15.Polk Salad Annie 16.Introductions 17.Bluberry Hill/Lawdy Miss Clawdy 18.Heartbreak Hotel

Side D* 
19.One Night 20.It’s Now Or Never 21.Suspicious Minds 22.Elvis Talks 23.Can’t Help Falling Love
*Tracks previously released soundboard recording

CD Houston March 01th , 1970 afternoon show complete show

Live Audience recording

Running time 44 min. 01.Opening Vamp 02.All Shook Up 03.I Got a Woman 04.Blue Suede Shoes 05.Don’t Cry Daddy 06.Heartbreak Hotel 07.Hound Dog 08.Love Me Tender 09.Kentucky Rain 10.Release Me 11.Walk A Mile In My Shoes/In The Ghetto 12.I Can’t Stop Loving You 13.Polk Salad Annie 14.Introductions 15.Suspicious Minds 16.Can’t Help Falling In Love 17.Closing Vamp 18. Love Me Tender Theme



An executive with the company that purchased Elvis Presley's intellectual property says it is discussing ways to expand the late rock and roll icon's brand and upgrades to the Graceland tourist attraction.

Nick Woodhouse, president and chief marketing officer of Authentic Brands Group, says that the company's status as a marketer of icons like Marilyn Monroe positions it to expand the Elvis brand's worldwide presence.

Presley was "one of the most recognized and revolutionary people of all time, whether it's in society or in pop culture," Woodhouse said during an interview, adding that the company can make the Elvis brand "come to life a little bit more than it has been in the past."

Authentic Brands said last week it had bought Presley's licensing and merchandising rights from CORE Media Group. The purchase price was not disclosed. As part of the deal, Joel Weinshanker, founder of the National Entertainment Collectibles Association, acquired the operating rights to Graceland.

Authentic Brands now controls Elvis Presley Enterprises, which manages the use of Presley's name, image and likeness on music, photos, movies, television appearances and performance specials. The licensing and merchandising business revolving around Presley's life and career has generated about $30 million annually in past years.

Fans' hunger for more of the King has been fed in recent years by releases of music compilations such as the "Elvis at Stax" CD box set and re-release of the 1972 "Elvis on Tour" documentary in theaters and on DVD, and by some new exhibits at Graceland. Woodhouse envisions moving the brand into other realms beyond music, including the luxury items market.

As an example, Woodhouse cites the appearance of Presley's likeness on Dolce & Gabbana T-shirts. Regular T-shirts and tank tops with Presley on them are currently being offered for more than $100 on eBay, and similar T-shirts emblazoned with images of Monroe and James Dean are selling for more than $300 on Dolce & Gabbana's website.

Authentic Brands' higher-end brands include Judith Leiber handbags, Bobby Jones golf clothing and equipment and men's clothier Hickey Freeman.


Graceland Upgrade

Woodhouse believes there is also room for brand growth among younger fans who, unlike their parents and grandparents, did not see Presley in his prime or were born after he died. Presley died in Memphis on Aug. 16, 1977, at age 42.

Woodhouse notes that more than 9.5 million people like Presley's Facebook page.

"The Facebook sweet spot is probably not what people would assume is the original Elvis fan," Woodhouse said. "Clearly, he resonates on social media and he resonates on other more modern platforms as well."

Authentic Brands and Weinshanker, along with input from Presley's former wife, Priscilla Presley, and their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, also are discussing ways to upgrade Graceland, the tourist attraction focused around Presley's longtime Memphis home, Woodhouse said.

Graceland attracts more than 500,000 visitors each year, offering tours of the home and Presley-related exhibits across the street. Elvis Presley Enterprises officials previously had said that long-discussed plans to improve and modernize the attraction had been put on hold due to the economic downturn and a possible sale.

Woodhouse did not discuss details of the upgrades, but says the new operators are considering some "great ideas."

"Suffice it to say, it is as we all know, one of America's most visited spots and we would like it to be visited more," he said.

(Source: ABC News)