Monday, March 22, 2010

THE KING IN THE FATHERLAND, and VIVA LAS VEGAS!


Yassar, yassar, 10-hut, Sir E!




Can anyone over 50 believe that Elvis would have been 75 this year?
Yeah, I can, cuz soon I'll be closing in on a social security benefit..
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Anyways, I became a rock music fan with the Beatles, but prior to the British
Invasion of 1964, my folks used to take me to Elvis movies, because by then, the Fabs and the Rolling Stones had made EP just about parent-kosher, no longer the sexual-scorching pelvis twister, but rather a mainstream movie star and pop ditty crooner.
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Hell, The King even went in the US Army without being drafted!
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How much "safer" could one be?
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And speaking of EAP in the service, here we have a new release from the Presley specialty label, Memphis Recording Service, entitled Off Duty with Elvis Presley.
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But to advise up front, this is really not Elvis for everyone.
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Only 4 of the CD's 35 tracks were recorded in studio, with all others strictly "private
home recordings" that sound it.
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Historically, the home recordings have value, culled from sessions in Germany and Texas. circa 1959 and 1958.
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But the BIG bonus with Off Duty is the absolutely FABULOUS 94 page booklet that
contains an incredible amount of colour and and B&w shot of Elvis
whilst he was in Germany, in the US Army, and in Nashville, when
he returned home, and back into music and movies.
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This package is a little pricey ($40) for what is really a glorified mini-book along with a 60 minute CD, but for devoted fans, Off Duty will most likely be another must-have.
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However, if you would like to get more bang for your music buck,
you must check out the newest, greatest Presley Sony/Legacy
reissue.
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Elvis on Stage, paired with In Person, two original live LPs released in 1970, have been given the deluxe remastering treatment, along with 10 heretofore unreleased bonus tracks from
the historic Presley stand at The International in Las Vegas, circa 1969 and 1970.
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Even though Elvis was just 7 years from his untimely death, he was in most excellent form, here, and those who actually got to see the shows in person were lucky, indeed.
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This new CD package is proof of the above.
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For much, MUCH more on The King in Vegas:

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