Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite made a new kind of broadcast history as the first full-length concert by any musician to be beamed around the world over communications satellites. The shows were recorded live on January 12 and 14, 1973 at the Honolulu International Center Arena (capacity approximately 6000) and beamed into an estimated billion-plus television sets around the world.
Initially, Elvis’ January 14th concert was telecast live via satellite to viewers in Asia and Oceania and presented with a delay in January in Europe. NBC decided to air their ninety-minute version of Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite (featuring bonus performances recorded for the stateside broadcast) on April 4, 1973. Aloha from Hawaii became NBC’s highest-rated program of the year.
Feeling the heat from the Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite global telecast, RCA Records fast-tracked a companion double album soundtrack into production with first pressings hitting US stores on February 4, 1973. The album was Elvis’ first #1 in years, peaking at #1 on the Billboard pop and country charts, becoming the fastest-selling chart-topping album of Elvis’ career.
The 50th anniversary edition of Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite presents, for the first time in one authorized package, the entirety of the original January 14, 1973 performance, the previous night’s dress rehearsal with a live audience (recorded in case of technical mishaps during the satellite transmission), several bonus tracks inserted into the US broadcast of the event and a Blu-ray transfer of the concert film. Unique after-show recordings and rehearsals include “Blue Hawaii,” “Hawaiian Wedding Song,” “No More,” and “Early Morning Rain.”
Archival producer Ernst Mikael Jørgensen and Memphis-based recording engineer Matt Ross-Spang have fully remixed the album from the original 16-track live recordings—first captured on tape by esteemed mobile engineer Wally Heider and newly digitized for this release with audiophile 24-bit, 192 KHz transfers–to bring fans a fresh listen.
The deluxe set includes a 28-page booklet featuring in-depth liner notes penned by lifelong Elvis fan/respected music critic Randy Lewis, rare photos and memorabilia from the event, and the first-ever visual release of Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite on Blu-ray.
Elvis Live 1972 compiles the best of the live tracks from the new 6CD + Blu-ray box set Elvis On Tour. Recorded at four Elvis tour dates throughout April 1972, most of these tracks are previously unreleased, and appear here on vinyl for the first time.
LP 1 Tracks 1-7 were recorded live on April 9, 1972 at Hampton Roads Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia, and contain all previously unreleased material.
LP 1 Tracks 8-16 were recorded live on April 10, 1972 at Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia, and contain all previously unreleased material.
LP 2 Tracks 1-8 were recorded live on April 14, 1972 at Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina, and contain all previously unreleased material.
LP 2 Tracks 9-11 were recorded live on April 18, 1972 at Convention Center Arena, San Antonio, Texas.
LP 2 Tracks 12-14 were recorded live on April 9, 1972 – Hampton Roads Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia, and contain all previously unreleased material.
This deluxe release follows the success of both the ELVIS film and its soundtrack, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Soundtrack chart and reached #26 on the Billboard 200 chart. It includes several unreleased performances of classic Elvis hits performed by Austin Butler such as “Blue Suede Shoes” as well as updated versions/remixes of singles from Elliott Wheeler and Daisy O’Dell. The soundtrack features Elvis’ extraordinary body of work spanning the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, while also celebrating his diverse musical influences and enduring impact on popular artists today.
Elvis On Tour celebrates the 50th anniversary of Elvis’ monumental 1972 concert trek. The 6 CD + 1 Blu-ray box set is comprised of audio from four of the shows and two rehearsals that were part of Elvis’ 1972 North American tour. Originally recorded for the Elvis On Tour concert film that was released later that year, the set features a total of 145 tracks, including 91 tracks that have been previously unreleased, as well as the award-winning concert film on Blu-ray.
The box set is produced by Ernst Mikael Jørgensen and mixed by GRAMMY Award®-winning Memphis-based producer Matt Ross-Spang. The original recordings were made by Felton Jarvis and Al Pachucki.
Disc 1 was recorded live on April 9, 1972, at Hampton Roads Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia, and contains all previously unreleased material.
Disc 2 was recorded live on April 10, 1972, at Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia, and contains all previously unreleased material.
Disc 3 was recorded live on April 14, 1972, at Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina, and contains all previously unreleased material.
Disc 4 was recorded live on April 18, 1972, at Convention Center Arena, San Antonio, Texas, and includes previously released material (from 2003’s Elvis: Close-Up box set), remixed for this release.
Disc 5 features the tour rehearsals, recorded live at RCA Recording Studios in Hollywood, California, on March 30 and 31, 1972. The disc is comprised primarily of previously unreleased tracks in addition to performances previously available on the official Elvis Presley collector’s releases Elvis On Tour – The Rehearsals (Follow That Dream CD 2004) and 6363 Sunset Boulevard (Follow That Dream CD 2001) as well as The Great Performances (RCA 1990).
Disc 6 completes Elvis’ rehearsals with his band at RCA Recordings Studios with performances recorded March 31, 1972. The disc includes previously unreleased takes on Kris Kristofferson’s “For The Good Times” as well as performances previously available only on 6363 Sunset Boulevard, Elvis On Tour – The Rehearsals and Amazing Grace (RCA 2CD 1994).
ELVIS (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) accompanies the release of Baz Luhrmann’s film ELVIS, starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks. The film is an epic, big-screen spectacle that explores the life and music of Elvis Presley (Butler) through the prism of his complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Hanks). The soundtrack features Elvis’ extraordinary body of work spanning the 1950s, 60s and 70s, while also celebrating his diverse musical influences and enduring impact on popular artists today.
Elvis: Back In Nashville is the definitive presentation of Elvis Presley’s May-June 1971 Nashville studio sessions, showcasing Elvis and his core band as they sounded during the actual sessions without orchestral overdubs and vocal accompaniment. These revelatory sessions chronicle the last time Elvis would record in Nashville.
With Elvis’ upcoming concert activities increasing, future studio time would be limited and so the goal of these sessions was to generate perhaps a year’s worth of new songs. RCA and the Colonel let Elvis know they’d like a new Christmas album, a gospel album, a pop album, and “several new singles for summer and fall releases” and so, Elvis’ music coordinator/producer Felton Jarvis booked a whole week of all-night sessions starting March 15, 1971 and brought on the same band he’d used the year before. Overdubs removed, what’s revealed on Elvis: Back In Nashville is some of the most compelling singing of Presley’s career.
Some of Elvis’ 1971 Nashville studio recordings appeared, with subsequent orchestral and vocal overdubs, on the seasonal collection Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas (1971), the GRAMMY-winning gospel album He Touched Me (1972), Elvis Now (1972) and 1973’s Elvis.
Elvis: Back In Nashville is available as a 4CD/digital collection featuring 82 pristine original recordings. Graceland is offering an exclusive 2LP 12″ color vinyl collectors pressing. A 2LP 12″ vinyl version of the album is also available.
Recorded at RCA Recording Studios (Studio B), Nashville
Original engineer: Al Pachucki
Original A&R: Felton Jarvis
Compilation produced by Ernst Mikael Jørgensen
A&R: John Jackson & Rob Santos
Mixed by Matt Ross-Spang at Sam Phillips Recording, Memphis, TN
Mastered by Vic Anesini at Battery Studios, New York, NY
Take 10: Previously Unreleased
All chart information derived from Billboard magazine’s charts.
All release information refers to the original release of these recordings in their original form
From Elvis In Nashville is a 4CD/digital collection presenting the long-awaited definitive chronicle of Elvis Presley’s mythic 1970 marathon sessions with the “Nashville Cats” including two bonus discs of rare and/or unreleased outtakes from the 1970 sessions (also available digitally). A highlights package will be available in a 2LP 12″ vinyl pressing. Recorded live in RCA’s Studio B in Nashville over the course of an epic five day/night run in June 1970 (with an additional session on September 22), Elvis’ performances from those sessions formed the core of three of his most successful studio album releases from the 1970s: Elvis: That’s the Way It Is, Elvis Country (I’m 10,000 Years Old) and Love Letters from Elvis.
Now, for the first time, the master recordings from the 1970 Studio B sessions may be enjoyed together as a single official Elvis album. On From Elvis In Nashville, Presley’s studio tracks from the 1970 marathon sessions are presented in pristine audio, newly mixed by acclaimed engineer Matt Ross-Spring (John Prine, Jason Isbell) without the added overdubs or orchestration appearing on earlier releases.
The Best of the ’68 Comeback Special comprises the Elvis recordings and performances that inspired NBC’s “Elvis All-Star Tribute” and showcases a new version of the legendary closing number, “If I Can Dream,” as heard in the new special — featuring Elvis’ original vocals alongside new performances by Carrie Underwood, Shawn Mendes, Post Malone, Darius Rucker and Blake Shelton. The album features 15 remastered Elvis performances from the “stand-up” and “sit-down” shows filmed for the ’68 broadcast, plus three original studio recordings to represent songs that appear in the new special.
Elvis Presley – ’68 Comeback Special (50th Anniversary Edition) is the definitive chronicle of one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll performances ever televised: Elvis Presley at the peak of his powers. For the first time ever, all previously-released audio and newly-restored video from the taping of the special is available in one package – including unused performances and studio outtakes that spotlight the real Elvis. The package contains an entire disc showcasing the legendary sessions for the special recorded with Elvis and the Wrecking Crew.
This 5CD, 2 Blu-ray disc deluxe package also includes an 80-page book featuring rare photographs and ephemera and a new oral history on the special, crafted from interviews conducted for Thom Zimny’s 2018 documentary, Elvis Presley: The Searcher. The newly-restored Blu-ray video was also overseen by Zimny.
The musical companion to the two-part documentary directed by Emmy® and Grammy® award winner Thom Zimny, Elvis Presley: The Searcher (The Original Soundtrack) [Deluxe] includes essential Elvis Presley hits, powerful performances, and rare alternative versions of songs at the musical core of the groundbreaking three-hour two-part film which focuses on the development of Elvis’ spellbinding artistry, from his early blues and country roots and influences through his seismic contributions to popular culture to his 1976 recording sessions at the Jungle Room in Graceland. The two-part documentary film, which will premiere in the United States on HBO on April 14, 2018, uses rare footage lensed throughout Elvis’ life and career as a means of exploring Elvis’ singular musical vision in all its complexity.
The musical companion to the two-part documentary directed by Emmy® and Grammy® award winner Thom Zimny, Elvis Presley: The Searcher (The Original Soundtrack) includes the 18 essential Elvis Presley hits, powerful performances, and rare alternative versions of songs at the musical core of the groundbreaking three-hour two-part film which focuses on the development of Elvis’ spellbinding artistry, from his early blues and country roots and influences through his seismic contributions to popular culture to his 1976 recording sessions at the Jungle Room in Graceland. The two-part documentary film, which will premiere in the United States on HBO on April 14, 2018, uses rare footage lensed throughout Elvis’ life and career as a means of exploring Elvis’ singular musical vision in all its complexity.
Christmas with Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra brings together Elvis Presley’s best-loved yuletide performances from Elvis’ Christmas Album (1957) and Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas (1971) re-imagined with sublime and exquisite new arrangements performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Produced by Nick Patrick and Don Reedman and recorded at Abbey Road Studio 2, Christmas with Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra follows in the phenomenal worldwide success of 2015’s If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (which has sold more than 1.5 million copies) and last year’s The Wonder Of You: Elvis Presley with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (which sold more than 800,000 copies worldwide).
Christmas with Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra brings together Elvis Presley’s best-loved yuletide performances from Elvis’ Christmas Album (1957) and Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas (1971) re-imagined with sublime and exquisite new arrangements performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Produced by Nick Patrick and Don Reedman and recorded at Abbey Road Studio 2, Christmas with Elvis and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra follows in the phenomenal worldwide success of 2015’s If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (which has sold more than 1.5 million copies) and last year’s The Wonder Of You: Elvis Presley with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (which sold more than 800,000 copies worldwide).
The Deluxe Edition of the album contains four bonus tracks (new symphonic versions of material from Elvis’ Peace In The Valley EP).
Available as a 3CD deluxe box set and a digital collection, A Boy From Tupelo – The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings is the most comprehensive collection of early Elvis recordings ever assembled, with many tracks becoming available for the first time as part of this package and one performance–a newly discovered recording of “I Forgot To Remember To Forget” (from the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, Louisiana, October 29, 1955)–being officially released for the first time ever.
A Boy From Tupelo – The Complete 1953-1955 Recordings includes–for the first time in one collection–every known Elvis Presley Sun Records master and outtake, plus the mythical Memphis Recording Service Acetates–“My Happiness”/”That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” (recorded July 1953) and “I’ll Never Stand in Your Way”/”It Wouldn’t Be the Same (Without You)” (recorded January 4, 1954)–the four songs Elvis paid his own money to record before signing with Sun. The collection also includes every Elvis live performance and radio recording known to exist from the period, and a 120-page book formatted as an illustrated travelogue and datebook chronicling the genesis of Elvis’ early career via facts, anecdotes, memorabilia and many rare photos.
The Wonder Of You: Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is the follow up to the 2015 huge global phenomenon If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which topped charts worldwide and sold over 1.5 million copies.
The Wonder Of You focuses on the iconic artist’s unmistakable voice with lush new orchestral accompaniment. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London with acclaimed producers Don Reedman and Nick Patrick, the album features Elvis’ most dramatic original performances augmented with lush new arrangements by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The album spans a variety of musical styles that Elvis embraced, from rock and gospel to country and ballads, featuring beloved Presley classics along with several surprises. Standout tracks include a sultry new version of the “A Big Hunk O’ Love,” the glorious “Amazing Grace,” the heartfelt emotion on “Kentucky Rain,” a stunning new take on the classic “Always On My Mind,” and the fun, upbeat “I’ve Got A Thing About You Baby.”
The most complete and comprehensive collection of Elvis Presley’s final studio recordings ever assembled in one anthology, Way Down In The Jungle Room brings together, for the first time in one collection, master recordings and rare outtakes laid down during two mythic sessions (February 2-8, 1976 and October 28-30, 1976) in Graceland’s den–known as the “Jungle Room”–which was converted into a professional caliber recording studio for the purpose of capturing these indelible performances. The outtakes have been newly mixed by Grammy Award-winning engineer Matt Ross-Spang at Sam Phillips Recording in Memphis, Tennessee.
For these sessions, Elvis was backed by many members of his longtime touring band including: James Burton (guitar), Ronnie Tutt (drums), David Briggs (keyboards), Glenn D. Hardin (keyboards), Jerry Scheff (bass), Norbert Putnam (bass) and J.D. Sumner & the Stamps (vocals).
If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra features classic Elvis vocal performances with brand-new orchestral accompaniment, along with a duet with Michael Bublé, and appearances by Il Volo and Duane Eddy.
An exciting revisit of Elvis’ work, If I Can Dream focuses on the iconic artist’s unmistakable voice, emphasizing the pure power of The King of Rock and Roll. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London with acclaimed producers Don Reedman and Nick Patrick, the 14-track album features Elvis’ most dramatic original performances augmented with lush new arrangements by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
The 40th Anniversary Today (Legacy Edition), the last studio album to be released during the King’s lifetime, contains the entire original album (first released on May 7, 1975) while premiering 10 un-dubbed mixes from the sessions, providing a new intimate listening experience. Today (Legacy Edition) includes a bonus disc of rare and collectible concert performances recorded live during May and June 1975, the period immediately following the original release of the album.
Elvis Presley’s Today was recorded in RCA’s Studio C in Hollywood in March 10–12, 1975, and, though no one knew it at the time, it would be the last time Elvis would lay down tracks in a major recording studio.
An 8-CD box set including the original album, the six complete concerts recorded, and a disc of rehearsals.
Elvis’ 1973 album ALOHA FROM HAWAII VIA SATELLITE and the rehearsal show recorded at the same location. Also features 5 extra songs recorded for the U.S. version of the show.
A 2-CD set combining Elvis’ 1972 album recorded at Madison Square Garden, with the afternoon show recorded that same date.
A 2-CD set combining a remixed and extended version of Elvis’ complete original performance in Memphis and a test run of the concert two days earlier in Richmond. Five rehearsal performances from 1974 are also included.
A 2-CD set combining the two 1971 albums Elvis Country and Letters From Elvis.
A 2-CD set combining Elvis’ first album, Elvis Presley, with his second album, Elvis, both from 1956. All the hit singles from 1956 are also inluded.
All of Elvis’ 1956 masters plus outtakes, live recordings, and interviews.
On This Day
Friday, Dec. 06
Elvis attends the WDIA Goodwill Review and many photos are taken with him and the many rhythm & blues performers of the event.
