Nov. 4, 2009 (PR Newswire) --
NEW YORK, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Elvis Presley's 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 will be available at all physical and digital retail outlets starting December 8, 2009, through RCA/Legacy, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.
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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.
Both the box set and the single disc will be produced by longtime Presley reissue producer Ernst Jorgensen.
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 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).
ELVIS 75: GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT by ELVIS PRESLEY
(RCA/Legacy 88697 60625 2)
Disc 1: 1953 - 1957
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Title Chart(s) From album or detail Rec.
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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
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