newsletters

Lisa Marie marries Michael Jackson [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 19 when I wrote this article back in 1994 for The Elvis Beat #9, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

The media had been speculating about it for weeks, and on August 1, it was confirmed to the world. Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ only child, married pop superstar Michael Jackson on May 26.

Lisa, 26, made the following written statement concerning her marriage to Jackson, 35:

My marriage to Michael Jackson took place in a private ceremony outside the United States weeks ago. It was not formally announced until now for several reasons, foremost being that we are both very private people living in the glare of the public media. We both wanted a private ceremony without the distraction of a media circus. I am very much in love with Michael; I dedicate my life to being his wife. I understand and support him; we both look forward to raising a family and living a happy, healthy life together. We hope friends and fans will understand and respect our privacy.

This is the second marriage for Lisa Marie. She has two children from her marriage to musician Danny Keough, Danielle, who is now five, and Benjamin, who will be two in October. Her marriage to Keough ended several months ago in divorce. This is Jackson’s first marriage. [. . . .]

Lisa Marie’s mother, Priscilla Presley, who was married to Elvis from 1967 until their divorce in 1973, stated the following through a spokesman: “Please assure everyone I’m very supportive of Lisa Marie and everything she does.”

Lisa Marie and her new husband will perform a duet of an Elvis song together at the Elvis Tribute concert in October. The TV special will also feature Billy Joel, Elton John, and others.

Review: ELVIS RECORDED LIVE ON STAGE IN MEMPHIS CD [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 19 when I wrote this review back in 1994 for The Elvis Beat #8, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Elvis Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis (RCA), recorded by Elvis Presley, produced by Felton Jarvis. Recorded March 20, 1974, Mid-South Coliseum (Memphis). Released: July 1974. Re-released: 1994 (CD).

With the release of Elvis Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis, all of Elvis’ original live albums are finally available on compact disc. The album sounds great and the electricity of the audience as well as Elvis can truly be felt.

The great love between the performer and his audience can be heard just before the closing song when Elvis says, “It’s always been said that a person cannot return to their home town, but you have disproven that theory completely. You’ve really made it worthwhile.” The audience begins to chant, “We love you” as the band breaks into “Can’t Help Falling In Love.”

In addition to some of the mainstays of his concert repertoire, Elvis Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis also features some new songs, such as “Why Me Lord,” which is excellent, and “Let Me Be There.” Live versions of two 1950s songs, “Blueberry Hill” and “My Baby Left Me,” have never been released on any other album.

Elvis also introduces a song that he had recently recorded, “Help Me,” which would later be released on the Promised Land album.

Songs:

  1. See See Rider
  2. I Got A Woman/Amen
  3. Love Me
  4. Trying To Get To You
  5. Long Tall Sally/Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On/Mama Don’t Dance/Flip, Flop & Fly/Jailhouse Rock/Hound Dog
  6. Why Me Lord
  7. How Great Thou Art
  8. Blueberry Hill/I Can’t Stop Loving You
  9. Help Me
  10. An American Trilogy
  11. Let Me Be There
  12. My Baby Left Me
  13. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy
  14. Can’t Help Falling In Love
  15. Closing Vamp

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Review: GOOD TIMES CD [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 19 when I wrote this review back in 1994 for The Elvis Beat #8, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Good Times (RCA), recorded by Elvis Presley, produced by Felton Jarvis. Recorded July 21-22 and December 10-16, 1973, Stax Studios (Memphis). Released: March 1974. Re-released: 1994 (CD).

Good Times contains some of the greatest songs of all of the new CDs reviewed in this issue: “Lovin’ Arms,” “I’ve Got A Thing About You, Baby,” “My Boy,” “Spanish Eyes,” and “Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues.”

“Take Good Care Of Her” and “Talk About The Good Times” are average songs, which Good Times also contains three weak songs: “I Got A Feelin’ In My Body,” “If That Isn’t Love,” and “She Wears My Ring.”

Once again, unless you are waiting for The 70s Masters boxed set, this one is definitely a must.

Songs:

  1. Take Good Care Of Her
  2. Lovin’ Arms
  3. I Got A Feelin’ In My Body
  4. If That Isn’t Love
  5. She Wears My Ring
  6. I’ve Got A Thing About You, Baby
  7. My Boy
  8. Spanish Eyes
  9. Talk About The Good Times
  10. Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review: RAISED ON ROCK CD [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 19 when I wrote this review back in 1994 for The Elvis Beat #8, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Raised On Rock (RCA), recorded by Elvis Presley, produced by Felton Jarvis and Elvis Presley. Recorded July 21-23, 1973, Stax Studios (Memphis) and September 22-24, 1973, Elvis’ home (Palm Springs). Released: November 1973. Re-released: 1994 (CD).

This re-issue of Raised On Rock, which interestingly drops the original “For Ol’ Times Sake” subtitle, contains a page of poorly written liner notes, as do the other three albums reviewed in this issue, of which this is the last paragraph:

This album was recorded at a very difficult time during Elvis’ life. It could never be considered a classic. In October, his petition for divorce from Priscilla would be finalized and it must have weighed heavily on his mind. The poignancy of “For Ol’ Time Sake” [sic] puts this into perspective and makes this re-issue still a must for any real Elvis fan.

I had never heard the Raised On Rock album before, and I read the liner notes before playing it. I fully expected to be disappointed by this album since even Elvis’ own record company seems to feel that Raised On Rock was generally a worthless album with only one good song.

After listening to the album, I found that I totally disagreed with the liner notes and, in retrospect, found them insulting both to Elvis and his fans.

Does an album have to hit number one to be a “classic”? What is a classic anyway? Why is it assumed that Elvis’ personal life would have a negative impact on his music? Can’t Elvis’ own record company get the title of his song right? What is a “real Elvis fan,” anyway?

The liner notes suggest that only obsessed fans would even consider buying Raised On Rock, and, even then, they would probably only play it once.

Despite the liner notes, Raised On Rock is an excellent album that contains a wide variety of musical styles. All ten of the songs are strong and prove Elvis’ voice to be in good form. It makes one wonder if the unidentified author of the liner notes even bothered to listen to the album.

Songs:

  1. Raised On Rock
  2. Are You Sincere
  3. Find Out What’s Happening
  4. I Miss You
  5. Girl Of Mine
  6. For Ol’ Times Sake
  7. If You Don’t Come Back
  8. Just A Little Bit
  9. Sweet Angeline
  10. Three Corn Patches

Rating: 9 out of 10

Review: ELVIS (1973) CD [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 19 when I wrote this review back in 1994 for The Elvis Beat #8, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

Elvis (RCA), recorded by Elvis Presley, produced by Felton Jarvis. Recorded 1971 & 1972, Nashville, Las Vegas, and Hollywood. Released: July 1973. Re-released: 1994 (CD).

Elvis is the first of four albums reviewed in this issue that were finally re-released by RCA as CDs after being unavailable for years. Until the “Elvis In The 90s” series, many of Elvis’ 1970s albums had been deleted from RCA’s catalog, depriving younger fans of the opportunity to hear some of his best work.

Elvis contains many excellent songs: “Fool,” “Where Do I Go From Here,” “Love Me, Love The Life I Lead,” “It’s Impossible,” “It’s Still Here,” “For Lovin’ Me,” and “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.”

The album also contains three weaker songs: “Padre,” “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen,” and “I Will Be True.”

Unless you are patient enough to wait around for The 70s Masters boxed set, which I wasn’t, this album is a must for any fan’s collection.

Songs:

  1. Fool
  2. Where Do I Go From Here
  3. Love Me, Love The Life I Lead
  4. It’s Still Here
  5. It’s Impossible
  6. For Lovin’ Me
  7. Padre
  8. I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen
  9. I Will Be True
  10. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right

Rating: 8 out of 10

Is the 70s stamp coming soon? [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 19 when I wrote this article back in 1994 for The Elvis Beat #8, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

The 70s Elvis stamp may be released as soon as 1995 if a growing number of fans have their way with the US Postal Service. In April 1992, the stamp was defeated by a 3-to-1 margin in favor of the 50s Elvis stamp that was released in January 1993. The 70s stamp, also known as “Stamp B,” was painted by artist John Berkey and depicts Elvis as he appeared in 1973’s televised concert Aloha From Hawaii.

The stamp was severely criticized by the news media and others who unfairly called it the “Old, fat Elvis.” Berkey defended his stamp by stating, “I understand what happened, the negative feelings. But I painted the King. That other guy is the prince. The fanatical fans like the 70s one. And as a matter of fact he weighed 160 pounds and he was 38 years old (at the time of Aloha From Hawaii). That’s not fat, and that’s not old.” [. . . .]

A record 500,000 of the 50s Elvis stamps were printed and all were sold out in days, making them the most successful stamps in history. Since most of the stamps will be kept by fans or collectors and will never actually be used in the mail, the Postal Service has made an incredible profit from them.

Additionally, the Postal Service has profited from the marketing of the stamp image, which has appeared everywhere on hundreds of items for sale. Economically, the Postal Service could make millions more if another stamp were released so there probably is a fair chance it will happen as long as fans show support.

Over a quarter of a million people voted in favor of the 70s stamp, which artistically was a better representation of Elvis anyway. [. . . .]

Elvis dolls [The Elvis Beat newsletter]

/ TY

I was 18 when I wrote this piece back in 1994 for The Elvis Beat #7, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

There are six new Elvis dolls available from Hasbro, including “Jailhouse Rock,” “’68 Special,” and “Aloha From Hawaii.” The 12-inch dolls retail for $50 each.