The Mystery Train 1.0

A selection of my writings from the original run of The Mystery Train, published online between 2010 and 2014, preserved as part of the site’s early history.

Elvis arrives in Richmond, Virginia

/ TY
Elvis Inside Taxi (Detail)

Inside Taxi (Detail): In the back of a local cab, Elvis is about to leave for the Jefferson Hotel. He has two performances at the Mosque Theater that afternoon and evening. Richmond, Virginia, June 30, 1956 © Alfred Wertheimer. All rights reserved.

Elvis is back in Richmond, Virginia. This time, he’s not staying at the Jefferson Hotel or the John Marshall Hotel. Instead, he’s checked in at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

The Elvis At 21 exhibition, featuring 56 legendary photographs of Elvis by Alfred Wertheimer opened today at the VMFA in a special sneak preview for members-only. The exhibition opens tomorrow to the general public and remains at the museum through March 18, 2012.

While museum admission is always free, tickets for the exhibition are $8 for adults and $6 for seniors, students, and youths. There is no charge for museum members.

On Christmas Day only, entry to the Elvis At 21 exhibition will be free to everyone, states Alex Nyerges, museum director, in the latest issue of My VMFA magazine. “(This) is our gift to those who come here on Christmas,” he says.

Check out Elvis.com’s “Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to Host Elvis at 21 Exhibit” article for more information.

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Original image courtesy of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Used with permission.

Good music on my radio

/ TY / 1 Comment

Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas album coverHowdy folks, I hope the holiday season is treating you well. I’ve been listening to the new FTD version of Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas for the last couple of days. The 2-CD set arrived here Wednesday night, just in time for Christmas. Promised Land also arrived, but I’m saving that one until after Christmas. Something to cure those post-Christmas blues.

Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas is proving to be one of my all-time favorite FTD releases. For one thing, I love “I’ll Be Home On Christmas Day,” written by Michael Jarrett – who also wrote “I’m Leavin’.” In fact, you could almost subtitle this release “The Making Of ‘I’ll Be Home On Christmas Day'” because it contains a plethora of takes of both versions of the song. I prefer the blusey “remake” version that unfortunately was not issued until after Elvis’ death. It should have been a single back then.

This album gives that real “behind-the-scenes with Elvis in the studio” feel that I enjoy. Alternate takes of “Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees” are also highlights.

The previously unreleased take 2 of “O Come All Ye Faithful” is incredible, nice to hear without all of the overdubs. The ending of that take was spliced with the master take 1 for 1982’s Memories Of Christmas. Unfortunately, that spliced version is not included here, though there is plenty of space for it. It would have been nice to have that in upgraded sound.

The original album master tracks sound pristine. It is great to finally upgrade from the circa-1994 versions I have been playing all these years. Though recorded 40 years ago, close your eyes and it is not too hard to imagine Elvis is in the room with you, the sound of his vocals is so clear.

Alas, what’s Christmas without a couple of disappointments? The unedited version of “Merry Christmas Baby” fades between the undubbed and dubbed versions of the song, making for a very poor listening experience on the track I was expecting to be the highlight of this release. Elvis talking and rehearsing just before the jam begins almost makes up for it, though.

Also notably absent is the single version of “Merry Christmas Baby.” Why not include it when there is space available?

Finally, was it really necessary to close out the Christmas album with a track where Elvis drops an F-bomb? I’m not suggesting FTD should have edited the outtake of “Winter Wonderland” or even left it off. To use it as the last track of the album, though? Really?

Despite a couple of disappointments, the expanded Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas is a fabulous re-release of what is probably my favorite Christmas album. It will make Christmas 2011 one to remember!

“BAM!” Wellsy unscrambles the Christmas spirit in Elvis Trivialities

/ TY / 1 Comment

Elvis' Christmas AlbumFirst-time winner Wellsy has proven victorious in the Christmas edition of Elvis Trivialities.

Wellsy receives a stocking full of bragging rights, just in time for Christmas.

Plus, he becomes a member of The Mystery Train’s Night Riders.

And the answer is…

1.) “Santa Bring My Baby Back”
2.) “Peace In The Valley”
3.) “White Christmas”
4.) “Take My Hand, Precious Lord”
5.) “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”
6.) “It Is No Secret”
7.) “Here Comes Santa Claus”
8.) “I Believe”
9.) “O Little Town Of Bethlehem”
10.) “Silent Night”
11.) “Santa Claus Is Back In Town”
12.) “Blue Christmas”

are the Elvis songs represented by the following scrambled letters:

1.) YAANIAGBBABYKBCRTNSM
2.) TYEEEENLAVAIHCLP
3.) TREHSWHMCIITAS
4.) OETLRDODINMEAURPKSHCAY
5.) ISIORMRLAHEFOMSHCTLEB
6.) SEIONCITTRES
7.) EOAAMCTCASNLSEUHRSE
8.) BVLIEIEE
9.) OOMENLLBTHEETFTOIWTLEH
10.) IGTSHLNIENT
11.) USSCAWNNLISATAONTCAKBI
12.) LASRUCSETBMIH

* * *

The next question could come at any time. Be ready to jump on it by subscribing to The Mystery Train using the feature below this post. That way, you’ll be emailed whenever a new post appears.

Once again, congratulations to Wellsy!

The Mystery Train’s Night Riders

  • December 21, 2011: Wellsy (2:37)
  • October 31, 2011: Thomas (Elvis Today) (17:32)
  • October 1, 2011: Anton Jeldres Tiselj (Jimmy Cool) (1:01)
  • September 9, 2011: Steve Brogdon (0:17) <— Record time
  • August 6, 2011: Thomas (Elvis Today) (2:26)
  • July 9, 2011: Thomas (Elvis Today) (5:26)
  • June 23, 2011: Fred Wolfe (0:18)
  • June 22, 2011: Ty stumps the train (no winner)

Elvis Trivialities Is Back In Town

/ TY / 5 Comments

As you finish up last minute preparations for Christmas, take a moment to relax and try your hand at today’s Elvis challenge.

Elvis' Scrambled Christmas Album

Can you be the first to unscramble the Elvis songs?

Name the Elvis songs represented by the following scrambled letters:

1.) YAANIAGBBABYKBCRTNSM
2.) TYEEEENLAVAIHCLP
3.) TREHSWHMCIITAS
4.) OETLRDODINMEAURPKSHCAY
5.) ISIORMRLAHEFOMSHCTLEB
6.) SEIONCITTRES
7.) EOAAMCTCASNLSEUHRSE
8.) BVLIEIEE
9.) OOMENLLBTHEETFTOIWTLEH
10.) IGTSHLNIENT
11.) USSCAWNNLISATAONTCAKBI
12.) LASRUCSETBMIH

The first person to get all twelve right in the comments below receives a stocking full of enough bragging rights to carry her or him well into the new year.

Good luck!

Guest Post: Elvis 1967 – That Wild Presley Beat

/ Guest Conductor / 7 Comments

What if the follow-up to the critically-acclaimed and Grammy-nominated Young Man With The Big Beat box set turned out to be something called That Wild Presley Beat, focusing on 1967? You’ve just crossed over into . . . the edge of reality.

 “THAT WILD PRESLEY BEAT” 5-CD Deluxe Set

1967 saw the beginning of Elvis Presley’s return to the charts with songs that were once again artistically significant. But it didn’t happen overnight. The once “young man with the big beat” from Memphis was still tied to the formula of making movies and recording soundtrack albums. By the end of that fateful year, though, he’d shown the world that he was still a force to be reckoned with.

That Wild Presley Beat

That Wild Presley Beat puts the focus on Elvis during 12 months, from February 1967 to January 1968. The package includes his RCA studio master recordings in Nashville; his soundtrack master recordings in Nashville and Hollywood; alternate masters, outtakes; home recordings, and much more. Taking its name from the poster for his movie Clambake, the super deluxe 5-CD, 12 inch square box set (with an amazing 80-page book with timeline) will be available on April 31.

The five CD’s comprise the following, all material originating from February 1967-January 1968:

CD One, Soundtrack Master Recordings
19 tracks recorded in Nashville and Hollywood, starting with nine songs from Clambake, (February 21-23, 1967) followed by 10 songs from Speedway, including the previously unreleased movie version of “Your Time Hasn’t Come Yet Baby” (June 20-21, 1967).

CD Two, Studio and Soundtrack Master Recordings
17 tracks recorded in Nashville, starting with 10 songs from the “Guitar Man sessions,” including the unedited masters of “Guitar Man” (with a fade-out jam on “What’d I Say”) and “High Heel Sneakers” (September 10-11, 1967), followed by three songs from Stay Away, Joe (October 1, 1967) and four more songs from the combined studio sessions/soundtrack recordings for Stay Away, Joe (January 15-16, 1968).

CD Three, The Outtakes I
Four outtakes from the Clambake soundtrack recordings (“The Girl I Never Loved,” “How Can You Lose What You Never Had,” “You Don’t Know Me,” “A House That Has Everything”), segueing into the complete session of October 1, 1967 (19 takes of “Stay Away, Joe,” three takes of “All I Needed Was The Rain” and five takes of “Dominick”).

CD Four, The Outtakes II
Nine outtakes from the “Guitar Man sessions” plus another 15 outtakes from the combined studio sessions/soundtrack recordings for Stay Away, Joe, including all 12 takes of “Too Much Monkey Business.”

CD Five, Home Recordings and Interview
Eight home recorded tracks done in early 1967, including “Suppose” that Elvis submitted to his producer Felton Jarvis for overdubbing (done on March 20, 1967) by musicians and backup vocalists. The other seven tracks are previously unreleased, among them “It’s Now Or Never” (with Charlie Hodge) and “Elvis Practicing Organ.” The CD ends with a newly discovered interview with Elvis on the set of Stay Away, Joe. The interview was done and taped by reporter Joseph Lewis, doing a story for the Cosmopolitan.

That Wild Presley Beat will feature an extraordinary book, where the focal point, spread across its 80 pages, will be a unique, meticulously-researched, day-by-day chronology of Elvis during 1967, including every recording date, film schedule, personal events in his life, and much more. A dazzling photo array of memorabilia will illustrate each day and entry. Movie posters, RCA memoranda, letters from fans, postcards from Elvis to his family, personal photos, magazine covers and articles, trade charts, fan club relics, RCA publicity photos, candid photos, and more will be a feast for the eyes and the imagination as 1967 unfolds.

That Wild Presley Beat will also include five rare 8×10 photographs, three original-size movie poster replicas, and a replica of the “specially autographed” wedding photo originally included as a special bonus inside the Clambake album.

Pre-order customers will also receive an exclusive “Stay Away, Joe” vinyl 7″. Sharing the same striking cover art as the movie poster, the EP features “Stay Away, Joe,” “Goin’ Home,” “All I Needed Was The Rain,” “Stay Away” and “Dominick.”

This imaginary box set is available only in . . . the edge of reality.

/Thomas, Elvis Today

Throughout 2011, The Mystery Train has commemorated the 44th anniversary of 1967. Find out why here. This concludes our coverage.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts decks the halls with Elvis December 24

/ TY / 3 Comments

My VMFA Magazine - Elvis Kneeling At The MosqueAlfred Wertheimer’s Elvis Kneeling At The Mosque, taken in Richmond, Virginia, on June 30, 1956, graces the cover of the latest issue of My VMFA magazine. Distributed to Virginia Museum of Fine Arts members, this issue of the magazine promotes the upcoming Elvis At 21 exhibition.

The exhibition, featuring 56 of Wertheimer’s photos, will appear at the VMFA in Richmond December 24, 2011, through March 18, 2012.

In January, the museum will hold three special Elvis events, including a panel discussion with Wertheimer and local Elvis experts on January 20.

Shoppin’ Around: Elvis Presley 2011 Christmas Gift Guide

/ TY / 9 Comments

For those of you that know and love an Elvis fan, here are some Christmas gift ideas that suit a wide variety of budgets. Price ranges listed are in US dollars, but most of these items are available around the world.

Under $10

The Elvis Today Blog (book): By relating his personal experiences, author Thomas Melin crafts a unique volume that follows the triumphs and trials of being an Elvis fan in the post-1977 era (Read full review). Available from Blurb.

Treat Me Nice (book, Kindle edition): “Treat Me Nice argues that Elvis and the Frankenstein Creature were condemned to self-destruction because they both horrified their creators,” states an intriguing marketing excerpt for this book by Howard Jackson (not yet reviewed). Available from Amazon. Also available in traditional book format.

That’s Alright, Elvis (book, 2011 Kindle edition): Long out-of-print, the autobiography of Scotty Moore is now available on Kindle from Amazon (not yet reviewed).

Under $20

Elvis Is Back! (2-CD set, 2011 Legacy Edition): This release contains 1960’s Elvis Is Back! and 1961’s Elvis For Everyone. Elvis is in top form here, and these recordings have never sounded better. A few bonus tracks are also included on each disc, from the same time period. Recommended for intermediate fans who are just beginning to explore Elvis beyond the typical greatest hits collections. Strong fans will already have this material.

Elvis: The Great Performances (2-DVD set, 2011 reissue): This set covers his life and career. The two volumes (Center Stage and The Man & His Music) are 1990 documentaries that updated 1981’s This Is Elvis. Though much ground is covered, watching the set often feels repetitive. Recommended for casual fans only. A modern documentary of Elvis is sorely needed.

Under $30

Elvis Sings Guitar Man (2011, booklet cover)

Elvis Sings Guitar Man (2-CD set): Strong fans will enjoy this release from the Follow That Dream collectors label. This is a unique album, compiling 1966-1967 masters and alternates to better document an important timeframe in Elvis’ career. A highlight is hearing him in the studio with Jerry Reed (Read full review). Find FTD releases at ShopElvis.com and other online Elvis stores.

Live In Vegas (2011)Live In Vegas: August 26, 1969 Dinner Show (CD): Another FTD release that every strong fan should have, this one showcases Elvis Presley at his best on stage in a sound presentation that is richly mastered and crystal clear.

Forty-Eight Hours To Memphis (2011)Forty-Eight Hours To Memphis: Recorded Live On Stage In Richmond, Virginia – March 18, 1974 (CD): At the Richmond Coliseum, Elvis proves he is still on top in this FTD release. Highlights of this newly discovered professional recording include “Steamroller Blues,” “Polk Salad Annie,” and the “Rock Medley” (Read full review).

Around $100

Young Man With The Big Beat: The Complete 1956 Elvis Presley Masters (5-CD set): For strong fans, the main draw of this beautifully designed, deluxe package from Sony is the first-ever release of Elvis’ final Louisiana Hayride appearance from December 1956. The concert is spectacular. For those fans who do not wish to purchase the entire set for just a few tracks, Sony has also made the tracks available for individual purchase and download. That means you can buy the Hayride show for only $10. No need to go with an unauthorized version on this one. For intermediate fans who do not yet have the other tracks, there is even more to enjoy.

Good luck with your Christmas shopping. Feel free to comment below on any other Elvis goodies you may find along the way.