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Best Of The British 1959-1960

July 29, 2015 | Book

FTD announced the third part of the Trilogy Best Of The British, this time handling 1959-1960. Here is the press-release:
 

ELVIS MAGNETISED AND MESMERISED. HIS MUSIC MOVED AND INSPIRED A GENERATION!

This is Elvis and in the concluding volume of the trilogy Elvis: The Best of British, this time the focus is on the RCA recordings of 1959-1960 and, consistent with the previous volumes, contains over 500 pages. Discover exactly how Elvis, on his triumphant return from army service, reinvented his career at the top of the entertainment world when RCA declared ‘Elvis is Back!’ before the movie G.I. Blues changed his life forever.  His story is graphically told through the music with over FIFTY iconic songs, originally released on the British RCA label, having been extensively researched.Over 1100 rare or previously unpublished photographs, charts and unique memorabilia, create a visually enhanced record of a superstar with unsurpassed acclaim. Read about the management strategy to keep Elvis’ name in the public eye whilst he was away, which not only succeeded in retaining his image of more than just a singer, but as the pulse at the heart of a generation. With its wealth of invaluable information, this book includes: 

Every known photograph and press cutting of Elvis in Scotland, his only time on British soil! 

Photographs from the pivotal meeting with Hal Wallis in a German restaurant where Elvis’ future movie career was mapped out!

The New York Elvis songwriter who was thrown into the East River by mobsters and the British composer who appeared on a £10 bank note!

This book includes a 30 track CD featuring many performances officially released for the first time. Hear Elvis personally introduce his British chart toppers during this two year period along with other classic tracks, rare movie versions and audio movie promotions. Add to that, exciting songwriter demos as Elvis first heard them and you will own a unique CD to treasure.

Elvis: The Best Of British, The RCA Years 1959 - 1960 charts the fascinating facts about Private Presley’s RCA UK releases during these two years and Colonel Parker’s plan to engineer Elvis’ move away from rock ‘n’ roll to attract a new generation of fans whilst still retaining his crown as ‘The King’.

Elvis: The Best Of British, 1956 - 1960 From a boy to a legend!

Elvis: The Best Of British, The RCA Years 1959 – 1960

INTRODUCED BY ELVIS

UK CHART TOPPING SINGLES 

1. I Got Stung – 2:39  
2. One Night – 2:51 
3. (Now And Then There’s) A Fool Such As I – 3:00 
4. I Need Your Love Tonight – 2:17 
5. It’s Now Or Never (O Sole Mio) – 3:34  
6. Are You Lonesome Tonight? * – 3:14 

MORE OF ELVIs’ INTRODUCTIONS 

7. My Wish Came True – 2:53 
8. A Big Hunk O’ Love – 2:27 
9. It Feels So Right – 2:43 
10. Soldier Boy – 3:49 
11. I Will Be Home Again – 3:13 
12. Like a Baby – 3:24 
13. Such A Night – 3:20 
14. Fame And Fortune – 3:06 
15. Doin’ The Best I Can – 3:42

Magical movie memories 

16. G.I. BLUES – (Short) Movie Trailer – 0:27 
17. Pocketful Of Rainbows (Duet with ‘Juliet Prowse’) – 2:42 
18. What’s She Really Like (Shower song) – 0:20 
19. Tonight’s All Right For Love (German single version) – 2:13 
20. G.I. Blues – UK Radio Advert No 1 – 0:18 
21. Frankfort Special (Train version) – 2:29 
22. G.I. Blues – UK Radio Advert No 2 – 0:19 
23. Wooden Heart (Puppet show version) – 2:08 
24. G.I. Blues – UK Radio Advert No 3 – 0:17 
25. Shoppin’ Around (Live nightclub version) – 1:50 
26. G.I. Blues – UK Radio Advert No 4 – 0:29 
27. Big Boots – (Slow 2nd Version - Take 6) – 1:11 
28. G.I. Blues – (Long) Movie Trailer – 2:43

Songwriter Demo Recordings 

29. Pocketful Of Rainbows – Vocal: Jimmy Breedlove ** – 2:06 
30. I Gotta Know – Vocal: Paul Evans *** – 2:14

Total Running Time: 67:42 minutes

Mastered by Jan Eliasson

(Note: Composer credits for the song titles are listed within the book) 

* This single was recorded in 1960 and made No 1 in January 1961 
** Courtesy of Ben Weisman 
*** Courtesy of Paul Evans

Source:The OEPFC of Great Britain

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Buy at OEPFC
bennie wrote on July 29, 2015
Can't wait for this one. both earlier releases are top noche releases. a definitieve must.especially if you like the 50thies
VivaLasDavies wrote on July 29, 2015
I find it odd that "Stuck On You", his first post army single is nowhere to be found here - chart topping single or not. However AYLT, from 1961 IS included. This makes no sense.
TheMemphisFan wrote on July 29, 2015
Now this sounds very interesting - "Hear Elvis personally introduce his British chart toppers during this two-year period along with other classic tracks"
I am Buffalo-Horn! wrote on July 30, 2015
Seems to have the demo of "I Gotta Know" but not the superb Elvis version! Why?
TheMemphisFan wrote on July 31, 2015
Maybe "I Gotta Know" isn't included possibly because it wasn't a UK chart topper, nor did they have an Elvis introduction for it. Just my guess. -- CD 'Mastered by Jan Eliasson' -- ?... Has he (or she) mastered any other Elvis recordings in the past?
I am Buffalo-Horn! wrote on July 31, 2015
I live in England, and as far as I remember "RU Lonesome Tonight/I Gotta Know" was a double sided number one here (Like "One Night/I Got Stung" & "A Fool Such As I/I Need Your Love Tonight") It'll be good to hear Paul Evans' version (7 Little Girls Sitting In The Back Seat & Hushabye Little Guitar" are fun songs) but as his version has been included it seems daft not to also include the Elvis version!
EJF wrote on July 31, 2015
TheMemphisFan: Jan Eliasson was in charge of mastering on "Memories - The '68 Comeback Special," back in 1998, "Sold Out," "Destination USA," "The Return To Vegas," and "Elvis In Florida."
TheMemphisFan wrote on July 31, 2015
Thank you, EJF. I thought the 'Eliasson' name looked familiar, but I wasn't sure.
TheMemphisFan wrote on August 01, 2015
Too bad they didn't take the liberty on this project to finally correct the misspelling of "Frankfort Special" to what it should have been since 1960 . . . "Frankfurt Special".
Gorse wrote on August 02, 2015
Hello I am Buffalo-Horn! -I have never seen I Gotta Know as part of a double sided hit in the main UK music charts but in those days I think there was NME, Melody Maker, Disc and Record Mirror so perhaps one of them had it as a hit. I think Disc for example had Party as a Number 1 and Girl of My Best Friend was both a double sided number 2 in one chart with Mess of Blues,and NME had it as number 6 in its own right.
Gorse wrote on August 02, 2015
Just checked up on the net and found an article that amends my information. Melody Maker had Party as a number 1 for 2 weeks in November 1957 (not Disc) and Mess of Blues/'Girl of My Best Friend as a double sided number 1 in 1960. Interestingly the article shows Stuck On You/Fame and Fortune as a double sided number 1 which I find hard to believe.
TheMemphisFan wrote on August 03, 2015
Regardless of the misspelling of Frankfort Special, this book and cd appears to be a real winner!
japio wrote on August 04, 2015
a winner? If you'll look on the movies songs. Ripped from a dvd? And what about the German single version. On a UK based release? .
TheMemphisFan wrote on August 04, 2015
Yes... a winner. Like it or not, it was a Germany-based location for the movie that included a few German flavored tunes. The CD features Elvis introducing 15 songs (with 6 of them being U.K. chart toppers). And the book features over 1,100 rare or previously unpublished photographs, charts and unique memorabilia.
japio wrote on August 04, 2015
it was a Germany-based location for the movie that included a few German flavored tunes. True. But i tought it was single's ( or hits) released in the UK. A german only extended ( pliced) version on a project about his hits in the UK? Strange.
TheMemphisFan wrote on August 05, 2015
I'm looking at it in a different light, japio. If the German single version of "Tonight’s All Right For Love" is slightly different to what was released in the U.K. or U.S., then surely that will only enhance the collectability of the set. The project is mainly about the book anyway, with the CD as a bonus... a very nice bonus (in my opinion).