Elvis four-CD collection to be released in December

More than six decades have elapsed since the post-war stirrings that oozed from the primordial swamp of American southern hillbilly boogie, country and western, race music, and rhythm and blues – a gumbo stew that grabbed musicians and singers by the scruff of the neck, and led them kicking and screaming through the birth of rock and roll. There are Great Man Theories and Big Bang Theories that perennially try to pinpoint the fountainhead from which it all sprang loose. Yet it always come back to Memphis, and always come back to one man: The King Of Rock And Roll.
Elvis Aron Presley, born January 8, 1935, died August 16, 1977, age 42. In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Elvis’ birth – to be celebrated on January 8, 2010 – comes the first four-CD deluxe box set collection ever to provide the definitive overview of his entire recording career. ELVIS 75: GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT, produced by long-time Elvis chronicler and biographer Ernst Mikael Jørgensen, will be available at all physical and digital retail outlets starting December 8, 2009, through RCA/Legacy, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

ELVIS 75: GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT presents 100 songs, a broad collection of hit singles, deep album tracks, live performances, and rarities. The tracks appear in strict chrono­logical order of recording dates over the course of Disc 1 (1953-1957), Disc 2 (1958-1962), Disc 3 (1963-1969), and Disc 4 (1970-1977). They range from the first demo acetate that Elvis made at the Memphis Recording Service of Sun Records as a gift for his mother in 1953 (“My Happiness”), to a sampling of Sun Records sides produced by Sam Phillips in 1954-55 (“That’s All Right,” “Blue Moon Of Kentucky,” “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” and more), through 21 and a half years of RCA tracks, from 1956 to 1977.

[The 100th track on the box set is the JXL Radio Remix Edit created in 2002, for “A Little Less Conversation,” originally a 1968 single (written by Billy Strange and Mac Davis). The remix was done by Dutch musician-producer Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL (JXL, the XL stands for Xpanding Limits). It was commissioned for Nike’s World Cup ad campaign, and was commercially released in Europe as “Elvis vs. JXL.” It went on to hit #1 in the UK, Australia, and more than 20 countries worldwide. In the U.S., the CD single rose to #1 on the new Hot 100 Singles Sales chart. It later became the opening theme for tv’s Las Vegas series, starring James Caan on NBC.]

On January 5, 2010, RCA/Legacy will release a 26-track single CD titled ELVIS 75, featuring selections from the box set. As the year continues, RCA/Legacy will unveil a full slate of Elvis Presley catalog title reissues and compilations. (In July 2009, RCA/Legacy released a special expanded 40th anniversary Legacy Edition of 1969’s From Elvis In Memphis, his legendary sessions at Chip Moman’s American Studios that yielded the comeback hit singles “In the Ghetto,” “Suspicious Minds,” “Don’t Cry Daddy” and “Kentucky Rain.”)

Adding to the historical impact of ELVIS 75: GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT is the 80-page full-color booklet included in the box set. In addition to rare photography and memorabilia, the booklet will include a 7,000-word biographical essay written by Billy Altman, an award-winning music critic, journalist, historian, and educator, whose work has appeared in such publications as The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Esquire, and People magazines. The Grammy®-nominated writer is the recipient of the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award for music journalism.

The release of ELVIS 75: GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT coincides with a 4-day celebration of his 75th birthday, January 7-10th, centered at the Graceland estate, outside of Memphis. In addition to the annual birthday proclamation ceremony on the front lawn of Graceland, events will include parties, dances, and panel discussions. For further information, please go to http://www.elvis.com.

From the moment in early 1956 when Elvis’ first string of hits on RCA Victor proclaimed his arrival on the old ‘Top 100’ – “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Hound Dog,” “Don't Be Cruel,” “Love Me Tender” – there were 17 chart titles in 1956 alone – his hammerlock on rock and roll was unquestioned, his influence on the destiny of all popular music about to be engraved in stone. Even after the Beatles’ conquest started in 1964, and the revolution of Bob Dylan in 1965, Elvis continued his reign on the charts, slotting nearly four dozen songs on the Hot 100 from 1964 to 1969.

The phenomenal chart statistics accumulated by Elvis come alive on this box set. As compiled by Joel Whitburn, Elvis is the top-ranked Hot 100 male artist (by far!) of the 1950s and ’60s – and the only act (male, female, or group) ever to be top-ranked #1 for two separate decades. Elvis holds unassailable records for the Most Chart Hits (151), Most Top 40 Hits (104), Most RIAA Platinum Hits (28), Most RIAA Gold Hits (24), and Most Weeks Charted (1,598).

In Jørgensen’s book Elvis Presley: A Life In Music (St. Martin’s Press, 1998), his indispensable guide to The Complete Recording Sessions (as the book is subtitled), the author concludes his text by reflecting on the success of RCA’s groundbreaking 1992 box set, The King Of Rock ’N’ Roll: The Complete ’50s Masters:

By that time, in our worldwide culture, the name Elvis Presley had become its own definition, requiring no other point of reference, embodying all the contradictions, all the anomalies, and all the beauty that his music at its best had achieved. “We will never agree on anything as we agreed on Elvis,” declared writer Lester Bangs with the doleful romanticism of a 27-year old when he heard the news of the death. And what we agreed on most was his music.


ELVIS 75: GOOD ROCKIN’ TONIGHT by ELVIS PRESLEY
(RCA/Legacy 88697 60625 2)

Disc 1: 1953 – 1957
Title Chart(s) From album or detail Rec.___
1. My Happiness - The Great Performances 7/53
2. That’s All Right - For LP Fans Only 7/5/54
3. Blue Moon Of Kentucky - A Date With Elvis 7/7/54
4. Good Rockin' Tonight - A Date With Elvis 9/54
5. Baby Let's Play House C#5 A Date With Elvis 2-3/55
6. Mystery Train C#11 For LP Fans Only 7/21/55
7. I Forgot To Remember To Forget C#1 A Date With Elvis 7/21/55
8. I Got A Woman - Elvis Presley 1/10/56
9. Heartbreak Hotel H#1, C#1, R#3 Elvis’ Golden Records 1/10/56
10. I Was The One H#19, C#8 For LP Fans Only 1/11/56
11. Blue Suede Shoes H#20 Elvis Presley 1/30/56
12. My Baby Left Me H#31, C#13 For LP Fans Only 1/30/56
13. One-Sided Love Affair - Elvis Presley 1/30/56
14. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry - Elvis Presley 1/31/56
(Over You)
15. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy - For LP Fans Only 2/3/56
16. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You H#1, C#1, R#3 Elvis’ Golden Records 4/14/56
17. Hound Dog H#1, C#1, R#1 Elvis’ Golden Records 7/2/56
18. Don't Be Cruel H#1, C#1, R#1 Elvis’ Golden Records 7/2/56
19. Love Me Tender H#1, C#3, R#3 Elvis’ Golden Records 8/24/56
20. Love Me H#2, C#10, R#7 Elvis 9/1/56
21. Paralyzed H#59 Elvis 9/2/56
22. Too Much H#1, C#3, R#3 Elvis’ Golden Records 9/2/56
23. All Shook Up H#1, C#8, R#1 Elvis’ Golden Records 1/12/57
24. Mean Woman Blues C#11, R#11 Loving You 1/13/57
25. (There’ll Be) Peace In The Valley H#25 Elvis’ Christmas Album 1/13/57
26. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear H#1, C#1, R#1 Loving You 1/15-18/57
27. One Night H#4, C#24, R#10 Elvis’ Gold Records Vol. 2 2/23/57
28. Jailhouse Rock H#1, C#1, R#1 Elvis’ Gold Records Vol. 2 4/30/57
29. Treat Me Nice H#18, C#11, R#7 Elvis’ Golden Records 9/5/57
30. Blue Christmas - Elvis’ Christmas Album 9/5/57
31. Don't H#1, C#2, R#4 Elvis’ Gold Records Vol. 2 9/5-7/57


Disc 2: 1958 – 1962
Title Chart(s) From album or detail Rec.___
1. Hard Headed Woman H#1, C#2, R#2 King Creole o.s. 1/15/58
2. Trouble - King Creole o.s. 1/15/58
3. King Creole - King Creole o.s. 1/15/58
4. Wear My Ring Around Your Neck H#2, C#3, R#1 Elvis’ Gold Records Vol. 2 2/1/58
5. I Need Your Love Tonight H#4 Elvis’ Gold Records Vol. 2 6/10/58
6. A Big Hunk O’ Love H#1, R#10 Elvis’ Gold Records Vol. 2 6/10/58
7. (Now And Then There’s) A Fool H#2, C#16 Elvis’ Gold Records Vol. 2 6/10/58
Such As I
8. Stuck On You H#1, C#27, R#6 Elvis’ Golden Records Vol. 3 3/20/60
9. A Mess Of Blues H#32 Elvis’ Gold Records Vol. 4 3/20/60
10. It's Now Or Never H#1, R#7 Elvis’ Golden Records Vol. 3 4/3/60
11. Thrill Of Your Love - Elvis Is Back 4/3/60
12. Such A Night H#16 Elvis Is Back 4/3/60
13. Are You Lonesome Tonight? H#1, C#22, R#3 Elvis’ Golden Records Vol. 3 4/3/60
14. Reconsider Baby - Elvis Is Back 4/3/60
15. Doin’ The Best I Can - G.I. Blues 4/27/60
16. Pocketful Of Rainbows - G.I. Blues 5/6/60
17. Surrender H#1 Elvis’ Golden Records Vol. 3 10/30/60
18. Crying In The Chapel H#3, AC#1 How Great Thou Art 10/30/60
19. I Feel So Bad H#5, R#15 Elvis’ Golden Records Vol. 3 3/12/61
20. There's Always Me H#56 Something For Everybody 3/12/61
21. Judy H#78 Something For Everybody 3/12/61
22. Can't Help Falling In Love H#2, AC#1 Blue Hawaii 3/23/61
23. (Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame H#4, AC#2 Elvis’ Golden Records Vol. 3 6/25/61
24. Little Sister H#5 Elvis’ Golden Records Vol. 3 6/25/61
25. Good Luck Charm H#1 Elvis’ Golden Records Vol. 3 10/15/61
26. Suspicion - Pot Luck 3/19/62
27. She's Not You H#5, AC#2, R#13 Elvis’ Golden Records Vol. 3 3/19/62
28. Return To Sender H#2, R#5 Girls! Girls! Girls! 3/27/62


Disc 3: 1963 – 1969
Title Chart(s) From album or detail Rec.___
1. Bossa Nova Baby H#8, R#20 Fun In Acapulco 1/22/63
2. (You’re The) Devil In Disguise H#3, R#9 Elvis’ Gold Records Vol. 4 5/26/63
3. (It’s A) Long Lonely Highway - Kissin’ Cousins 5/26/63
4. Need Somebody To Lean On - I Got Lucky 7/9/63
5. Viva Las Vegas H#29 50 Worldwide Gold Awards 7/10/63
Hits Vol. 1
6. It Hurts Me H#29 Elvis’ Gold Records Vol. 4 1/12/64
7. This Is My Heaven - Paradise, Hawaiian Style 7/27/65
8. Adam And Evil - Spinout 2/17/66
9. How Great Thou Art - How Great Thou Art 5/25/66
10. Tomorrow Is A Long Time - Spinout 5/25/66
11. Guitar Man H#43 Clambake 9/10/67
12. Big Boss Man H#38 Clambake 9/10/67
13. Too Much Monkey Business - Singer Presents Elvis Singing 1/15/68
Flaming Star And Others
14. U.S. Male H#28, C#55 Almost In Love 1/16/68
15. If I Can Dream H#12 Elvis - TV Special 6/23/68
16. Memories H#35, AC#7, C#56 Elvis - TV Special 6/23/68
17. Don’t Cry Daddy H#6, AC#3, C#13 50 Worldwide Gold Awards 1/15/69
Hits Vol. 1
18. In The Ghetto H#3, C#60 From Elvis In Memphis 1/20/69
19. Suspicious Minds H#1, AC#4 50 Worldwide Gold Awards 1/22/69
Hits Vol. 1
20. Stranger In My Own Home Town - From Memphis To Vegas/ 1/18-22/69
From Vegas To Memphis
21. Kentucky Rain H#16, AC#3, C#31 50 Worldwide Gold Awards 2/19/69
Hits Vol. 1
22. Only The Strong Survive - From Elvis In Memphis 2/19/69


Disc 4: 1970 – 1977
Title Chart(s) From album or detail Rec.___
1. Polk Salad Annie (live) - On Stage 2/18/70
2. The Fool - Elvis Country 6/4/70
3. Funny How Time Slips Away - Elvis Country 6/7/70
4. I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water - Elvis Country 6/7/70
5. I Just Can’t Help Believin’ (live) - That’s The Way It Is 8/11/70
6. I’m Leavin’ H#35, AC#2 Elvis Aron Presley 5/20/71
7. An American Trilogy (live) H#69 Elvis Aron Presley 6/16/72
8. Burning Love H#2 Burning Love And Hits 3/28/72
From His Movies
9. Always On My Mind C#16 Separate Ways 3/29/72
10. Steamroller Blues (live) H#17, C#31 Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite 1/14/73
11. Loving Arms - Good Times 12/13/73
12. Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues - Good Times 12/13/73
13. Promised Land H#14, C#9 Promised Land 12/15/73
14. T-R-O-U-B-L-E H#35, C#11 Today 3/11/75
15. For The Heart H#28, C#45 From Elvis Presley Boulevard 2/5/76
16. Hurt H#28, AC#7, C#6 From Elvis Presley Boulevard 2/5/76
17. Way Down H#18, C#1 Moody Blue 10/29/76
18. Unchained Melody (live) - Moody Blue 4/24/77
19. A Little Less Conversation H#50, S#1 [2002] ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits [2002 remix] 3/7/68
(JXL Radio Remix Edit, 2002)

Notes:
Tracks 2 through 7 originally issued as Sun Records single sides, all other tracks originally issued on RCA.
Bold Title indicates track included on ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits.
Charts:
C indicates Billboard Top Country Songs chart
H indicates Billboard Hot 100 chart
R indicates Billboard Hot R&B chart
S indicates Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales chart

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