Showing posts with label elvis collector. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elvis collector. Show all posts

Monday, November 19, 2018

Elvis Presley and Billboard chart/album/single/genres

COURTESY of Billboard as of January 8 2015 (and January 8th was the date Elvis was born on in 1935)

                                 Funny clip of Elvis in 1972 backstage with giant scarf


Elvis Presley wasn't just the King of Rock & Roll. He remains Billboard chart royalty. On the anniversary of the Jan. 8, 1935 birthday of the late icon, who passed away on Aug. 16, 1977, here's a look back at five of his most impressive chart records.

- 108 Billboard Hot 100 hits, the most among rock artists in the chart's history. Among all acts, only the Glee cast (207) and Lil Wayne (123) have inked more charted hits. Presley's career, however, predates the Hot 100's 1958 inception; he charted more than 30 song entries on surveys that chronicled popular music beginning in 1956. Notably, Presley's 104th Hot 100 hit, "Way Down," originally peaked at No. 31 the weeks of Aug. 6 and 13, 1977. After dipping to No. 53, following Presley's death, the song roared 35-24-21-18, marking his last top 20 track.

- 80 top 40 Hot 100 hits, the most such showings in the tally's archives. Drake ranks second with 67, followed by Elton John (57). On the first Hot 100, dated Aug. 4, 1958, Presley ranked at No. 4 with "Hard Headed Woman" and at No. 34 with "Don't Ask Me Why," each featuring his longtime gospel backing band, the Jordanaires.

- 129 Billboard 200 charted albums, the highest total in the chart's 58-year history. (Frank Sinatra ranks second with 82 entries.) Ten of those sets reached No. 1, beginning with Elvis Presley, which ruled for 10 weeks in 1956. His most recent reign came courtesy of Elv1s: 30 #1 Hits in 2002 (nearly a half-century after his first No. 1).

- 67 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, the most time spent at the top for a solo act. Garth Brooks follows with 52 frames (or, an entire year) in charge, one week ahead of Michael Jackson (51). Presley's longest reign? The Blue Hawaii soundtrack totaled 20 weeks at No. 1, beginning in December 1961.

- Presley became the first rock artist to make two trips to the Hot 100 summit, as "Stuck on You" began a four-week command April 30, 1960. That song, recorded shortly after Presley's discharge from the Army, followed "A Big Hunk O' Love," which led the Aug. 15, 1959, chart. Presley last perched atop the Hot 100 with "Suspicious Minds" the week of Nov. 1, 1969. (In another sign of how much Presley and Billboard charts have been linked, that date doubles as Billboard's birthday; the magazine first published the week of Nov. 1, 1894 - This date of 1894 has to be an error as Billboard did not become a magazine until 1956).


Sunday, September 24, 2017

Wishing Paul Litcher a HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Written by Mr. Jeff Schrembs. Autoset publish with permissions.



In the Elvis Presley collector world there are those who have been instrumental in providing fans, collectors, etc. with; facts, insights. opinions, content, photographs, videos, audio files etc. that are not only interesting by critical in learning more about the man, onstage and off, being Elvis Presley.

These names include but are not limited to; Alanna Nash, Sandie Kaye Stevens, Sandi Pichon, Russ Howe, Jerry Schilling, Phil Arnold, Larry Geller, Alan Hanson, and Paul Litcher (note: for additional information please visit our site www.ElvisCollector for more great detail, content, etc. along with this page that gives more detail about these individuals
http://www.elviscollector.info/Pages/ElvisLinks.aspx

I first became aware of Paul Litcher in the early 1970's. Remarkably I still have many of the voluminous books similar to encyclopedias about Elvis' records, their estimated value, their rarity, when they were recorded, etc. Reading the first Paul Litcher book, which literally is two inches thick, allowed me to cross reference the items I had. The items I wanted. The items I saved money for. I treasure these books.

On this day, the 24th of September 2017, I want to wish Paul Litcher a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

May God bless you and yours on this special day as well as the other 364 days of the year.

Jeff Schrembs
www.ElvisCollector.info
www.ElvisCollectorWorldwide.freeforums.org
Elvis Collector Worldwide Fan Club

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Incredible sources for all things Elvis (Presley)



In these (approximately) six decades I've come across the entire spectrum of people, documents, photographs, videos, audio files, records, films, tv appearances, personal life, friends of, family of, etc. pertaining to Elvis Presley onstage and off.

I have had the honor of knowing so many people who were close to Elvis throughout his life. I found out early on that each of these individuals held honorable qualities and thus earned Elvis' love and friendship.

There are so many falsehoods, half-truths, erroneous statements, etc. about Elvis and unless you are able to truly source (i.e. to be able to go to the firsthand individuals who were there - who witnessed - who documented - who remembered) and/or seek out quality individuals/websites/blogs/authors/etc. that you can easily be overwhelmed with manushya.

Here are some of the individuals, websites, etc. that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND and that is saying a lot for when it comes to Elvis, and his unique life story, I put a premium on facts and context all the while embracing Elvis' faults along with every other aspect of his personality, life, accomplishments, etc.

From our affiliated Elvis Presley website, www.ElvisCollector.info, we are pleased to share with you the following (please click on this link and it will open up in a new window for your convenience)

http://www.elviscollector.info/Pages/ElvisLinks.aspx

Thank you for visiting and please share this blog, along with www.ElvisCollector.info and our 100% free fan forum of www.ElvisCollectorWorldwide.freeforums.org (we invite you to join and to let other know), via social media.

Take care. 

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Incredible Elvis Presley related photo montage video



Thank you for visiting our blog and please let others know about this site, and the others listed below. via social media.

We are first and foremost Elvis Presley fans and that includes putting Elvis' life, onstage and off, into context. 

We do not shy away from Elvis' flaws, and/or shortcomings, as we all have as humans. Nor do we shortchange Elvis' successes and three decades of excellence. 

While we strive to put forward rare, unique, and cool content we also encourage Elvis Presely fans worldwide to seek out - purchase - add to their collection - read - support - etc. the works of those who knew Elvis the best throughout his life and exceptional authors such as Alanna Nash. These individuals include, but are not limited to, the following; Marty Lacker, Sandi Pichon, Red West, Sonny West, Billy Smith, Sandie Kaye Stevens, Jerry Schilling, and Joe Esposito.

Furthermore there are several individuals who have given of their time, money, efforts, insights, opinions, etc. about Elvis' life that we highly recommend and respect. They are including but not limited to; Russ Howe, Paul Litcher, Phil Arnold, Steve Binder, June Janico, Kathy Westmoreland, Anita Wood, and many others that we have listed on our site www.ElvisCollector.info.



Elvis Presley related photo montage courtesy of the private Elvis Presley collection of Mr. Jeff Schrembs.
Mr. Schrembs is the primary contributor of the award winning Elvis Presley webiste www.ElvisCollector.info.
Mr. Schrembs is also affiliated with www.ElvisCollectorWorldwide.freeforums.orgthe 100% free Elvis Presley fan forum.
Mr. Schrembs has been collecting anything/everything of quality about Elvis Presley for six decades.
Mr. Jeff Schrembs is a worldwide reknowned Elvis Presley historian, collector, expert and author.
Mr. Jeff Schrembs has painstakingly undertaken efforts to preserve rare, personal, professional, candid, onstage, historical, etc. photographs of Elvis Presley as well as significate documents - audio files - video files - autographs - signatures - notes - etc.

Jeff Schrembs - 2016 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Friday, March 18, 2016

Elvis Presley and the women he dated



Alanna Nash, the esteemed author who has written several exceptional books about Elvis' life onstage and off, wrote "Baby, Let's Play House Elvis Presley and the women who loved him.

The story, facts, insights, firsthand accounts, etc. that are contained in the book Alanna Nash wrote should be the "go to book" concerning Elvis and the women he dated.

A summary, and availability, of this book is found in the Amazon link http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Lets-Play-House-Presley/dp/0061699853 http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Lets-Play-House-Presley/dp/0061699853

Many of the women who Elvis dated have written their own books, stories, etc. and/or provided their personal stories to authors such as Alanna Nash. They include but are not limited to Dixie Locke, June Juanico, Barbara Hearn, Anita Wood, Margit Buergin, Elisabeth Stefaniak, and Joan Blackman, Also Elvis dated, and by all accounts loved, Ann Margret, and Linda Thompson.

There are varying accounts pertaining to Elvis' relationship with Ginger Alden but the facts are; they dated, she lived with Elvis at Graceland, Elvis interacted with her and her family members, Ginger went "on the road" with Elvis for his live concert appearances, Ginger went with Elvis on his last vacation, and that Ginger Alden accompanied Elvis, and participated in, the signing/execution of his last will. Priscilla, who Elvis married, of course dated Elvis.

I would be remiss if I didn't include the relationships Elvis had with Sandie Kaye Stevens (who first met Elvis at the age of 13 and is a great asset to the "Elvis Presley community worldwide" as well as a wonderful human being), Patti Perry (who was thought of as part of Elvis' Memphis Mafia) , and Kathy Westmoreland (who has an incredible voice along and toured with Elvis for years).

Each of these women were beautiful. They were witty. They had feelings. They were with Elvis during exciting times in his life as well as the "downs" in his life. They warranted Elvis' affections. They each have a story that is uniquely their own.

I encourage Elvis Presley fans worldwide to seek out these women, pertaining to their lives with Elvis and otherwise, and support their personal and professional endeavors. They were firsthand witnesses to history...literally. To buy, and read, books concerning these women one gains insights into the "person" named Elvis Presley that can't be duplicated.

Take care and may God bless you.


Jeff Schrembs
www.ElvisCollector.info
www.ElvisCollectorWorldwide.freeforums.org





Saturday, February 20, 2016

Elvis Presley cool and rare photographs February 2016 edition











Thank you for visiting our blog and please tell others on social media about us including www.ElvisCollector.info and www.ElvisCollectorWorldwide.freeforums.org.

Take care and may God bless you.

Jeff Schrembs

Saturday, January 9, 2016

Elvis Aron Presley was "lighting in a bottle" by Jeff Schrembs

Like many of the “baby boomers”, talk about an oxymoron because I feel anything other than babyish man age is a …., Elvis Presley made new records – toured throughout the United States – had movies that first ran in theatres and then on TV (yes we had THREE total TV stations growing up and everyone of them cut off at 11pm – those were the days) – and his music played on radio stations.
Inasmuch as I have a great knowledge, and affinity, for Elvis Presley the person (disclaimer – as much as you can learn from studying something for 6 decades with an emphasis on first had sources) Elvis was “lightning in a bottle” onstage.
Man he didn’t sound like nobody. He didn’t move like anybody. He didn’t walk like anybody. He didn’t look like anybody. He didn’t sing like anybody. He wasn’t raised like anybody. He was Elvis and he was wholly unique.
Throughout Elvis’ school years he went to dances/proms but never danced. He told his dates “I don’t like to dance and/or I can’t dance”. Since he was Elvis, even then,  I think he could have said anything and the dance/prom would have been thrilling/enjoyable for his dates. And yet onstage he moved with passion. With rhythm With grace, With melody. He moved and his voice sounded as good if not better live than his recordings. Another rare charistic.
This day is Elvis’ 81st birthday. My prayers go out to Lisa Marie, Graceland, Marty Lacker, Billy Smith, Red West, Sonny West, Sandie Kaye Stevens, Sandi Pichon, Joe Esposito, Jerry Schilling, and all of his loved ones and relatives for they shared their lives with Elvis as well as hopes and dreams. They, as did their families, rode the waves of Elvis’ greatest successes – his setbacks – his mood swings – his fears, etc. There is a true sacrifice, on many levels that last a lifetime, even when it comes to Elvis Presley.
My prayers go out to the loved ones, friends of, relatives of, those who knew Elvis and have (sadly) passed away. Out of respect we have honored them by name on our site http://www.ElvisCollector.info but their contribution to Elvis’ life, and that of his fans, is as alive today as it was when Elvis breathed upon this earth.
If you want to know about Elvis you can watch many of his candid interviews, concerts, TV appearances, etc. One of my favorites is Elvis That’s The Way It Is followed by Elvis’ 1968 Singer TV Special entitled “Elvis”.
If you want to learn about the complicated and multi talented man I highly recommend seeking out, and supporting, these people: Marty Lacker, Billy Smith, Red West, Sonny West, Sandi Pichon, Sandie Kaye Stevens, Joe Esposito, Jerry Schilling, and the author of several exemplary books about Elvis by Alanna Nash. There are also some great Elvis Presley websites, many are listed on our site http://www.ElvisCollector.info under the “links” page, and include Phil Arnold at http://www.Elvisblog.net and Russ Howe who knew Elvis personally and has been apart of many successful endeavors about Elvis.
As I end this post I am thankful to everyone who takes the time to visit this blog and our affiliated sites as well as our Officially recognized by Graceland Elvis Presley Fan Club of Elvis Collector Worldwide Fan Club.
As much as I know about Elvis it is nothing compared to the multi-talented and diametrical strong presence named Elvis Presley onstage and off. But I have enjoyed his music since I was a child and I share my insights herein.

Jeff Schrembs
www.ElvisCollector.info
www.ElvisCollectorWorldwide.freeforums.org

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Interesting photos relating to Elvis Presley - August 16, 2015 Edition

Elvis with Colonel Parker circa 1967

Contract between Elvis and Colonel Parker

Elvis with his father Vernon circa 1960

Elvis beloved mother Gladys Presley circa 1956

Elvis in 1956 at his yard in, and home at, Graceland.

Elvis with his friend Alan Fortas who worked for Elvis from 1956 until 1968.


Enjoy.

www.ElvisCollector.info
www.ElvisCollectorWorldwide.freeforums.org
 

Friday, March 7, 2014

Monday, December 30, 2013

Very interesting facts about Elvis Aron Presley






 

 

 

  • In 1946 Elvis received a birthday present, from his parents, being his first guitar.

  • Financial problems forced the Presleys to leave Tupelo for Memphis in November 1948. Elvis and his parents lived in public housing or low-rent homes in the poor neighborhoods of north Memphis.


  • In the summer of 1953, the first "unofficial" Elvis recording was made when Elvis stopped by the Memphis Recording Service, home of Sun Records, run by Sam Phillips. While Phillips was out, his assistant Marion Keisker helped Elvis make a demo acetate of "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin."

  • On July 5-6, 1954, Elvis' first commercial recording session took place with Sam Phillips at Sun Records. Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup's "That's All Right," backed with "Blue Moon of Kentucky," became the first of five singles Elvis released on the Sun label.

  • The first known appearance of Elvis' shaking legs took place during his first major professional performance at the Overton Park Shell in Memphis on July 30, 1954.

  • On October 2, 1954, Elvis made his first and only appearance on the "Grand Ole Opry." An unimpressed audience prompted "Opry" officials to suggest that Elvis go back to driving a truck.

  • On October 16, 1954, Elvis appeared on the Louisiana Hayride, a live Saturday night country music radio show in Shreveport, Louisiana. During his association with Hayride, Elvis met "Colonel" Tom Parker (on January 15, 1955), a promoter and manager of country star Hank Snow.

  • March 26, 1955: Elvis' first television appearance on "Louisiana Hayride"

  • The first riot following an Elvis concert occurred on May 13, 1955 in Jacksonville, FL, after Elvis finished a show by saying, "Girls, I'll see you backstage."

  • In November 1955, Sam Phillips -- working through Colonel Parker -- sold Elvis' Sun contract to RCA for an unprecedented $35,000.

  • Two days after Elvis' 21st birthday in January 1956, he had his first recording session for RCA Records in Nashville. "Heartbreak Hotel" was the first single released on January 27. It became the first Elvis single to sell over one million copies, earning Elvis his very first gold record award.

  • Elvis Presley, Elvis' first RCA album released on March 23, 1956, was the first pop album to reach over $1 million in sales, earning Elvis his first gold album award.

  • Elvis made his first appearance in Las Vegas on April 23, 1956, but played to an older crowd that was not his core fan base at the time. He thus received only average acceptance, which is ironic given the success he experienced in Las Vegas during his later years.

  • After appearing on The Milton Berle Show in June and causing a national furor with his controversial and sensuous performance of "Hound Dog," Elvis appeared on The Steve Allen Show on July 1, 1956. He performed a more modest version of "Hound Dog," singing to a live Basset hound while dressed in a black tux with tails.

  • In August 1956, Elvis began shooting his first movie, Love Me Tender, on loan-out from Paramount to 20th Century Fox.

  • On September 9, 1956, Elvis made his first of three appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show, the top television program of the era, and attracted the highest ratings ever for any television variety show. During his famous third appearance on January 6, 1957, Elvis was shown from the waist up only.

  • "Elvis Presley Day" was proclaimed in Tupelo, Mississippi on September 26, 1956. Elvis returned home to perform two shows at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show, the same fair at which he had performed at age 10. Nearly 22,000 fans attended Elvis' evening performance, more than the entire population of Tupelo.

  • When Elvis received his draft notice from the U.S. Army in December 1957, Paramount requested a two-month deferment so he could complete filming of his next movie, King Creole.

  • Gladys Presley died in Memphis on August 14, 1958 and was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery.

  • In September 1959, while stationed in Freidberg, Germany, Elvis met fourteen-and-a-half-year-old Priscilla Ann Beaulieu whose father was in the U.S. Air Force. They married on May 1, 1967. On February 1, 1968, Lisa Marie was born.

  • Elvis' last live performance until 1968 took place on March 25, 1961 at Bloch Arena in Pearl Harbor; the concert raised $62,000 for the USS Arizona Memorial Fund.

  • Between 1956-1972, Elvis made 33 movies, including two documentaries. He focused intently on his film career from 1961-67 when he made 18 movies during a hiatus from live performances.

  • Elvis' first Grammy Award is for the 1967 Gospel release, "How Great Thou Art."

  • On December 3, 1968, Elvis staged one of the most remarkable revivals in music history with the airing of his comeback special, "Elvis," on NBC-TV.

  • On July 31, 1969, Elvis returned to live performing with his concert engagement at The International Hotel in Las Vegas. His four-week stay broke all attendance records.

  • In July and August 1970, the first documentary about Elvis was filmed. That's The Way It Is was filmed during one of Elvis' Las Vegas concert engagements and features exclusive behind-the-scenes footage.

  • On January 16, 1971, Elvis was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation for 1970 by the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce (The Jaycees). This national honor recognizes young men who have made great achievements in their field of endeavor.

  • In June 1971, a long stretch of Highway 51 South, part of which runs in front of Graceland, was officially renamed Elvis Presley Boulevard.

  • On August 28, 1971, Elvis received the Bing Crosby Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. The award, named for its first recipient, is a special recognition from NARAS. It was later re-named the Lifetime Achievement Award.

  • In March and April 1972, Elvis was filmed during a nationwide tour. The footage was later used to make Elvis on Tour, which won the Golden Globe for Best Documentary.

  • June 9-11, 1972, Elvis performed four sold-out concerts at Madison Square Garden, setting a record for the first performer to sell out four consecutive shows at the Garden.

  • In January 1973, Elvis made television and entertainment history with the "Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii" special broadcast to more than one billion viewers in 40 countries.

  • On October 9, 1973, Elvis and Priscilla were officially divorced.

  • In February 1976, Elvis held a week of recording sessions in the den of Graceland, with RCA bringing in mobile recording equipment. The sessions produced the album "From Elvis Presley Boulevard."

  • Elvis performed his last concert on June 26, 1977 at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.

  • Elvis died of heart failure on the morning of August 16, 1977. He had been scheduled to fly to Portland, Maine for a show on August 17.

  • Elvis is also 69 gold, 43 platinum, 13 double platinum, 9 triple platinum, 1 quadruple platinum, 1 quintuple platinum and 1 sixfold platinum
  • 556,000 - Visitors to Graceland in 2006, a slight drop from the two previous years. It's still the second most popular private home for tourists, after the White House.

  • $25 - Price of basic adult admission to Graceland.

  • $68 - Price for the VIP tour, which includes Presley's two custom airplanes and his automobile museum.

  • $100 million - Price paid by the New York-based entertainment firm CKX to Elvis' daughter Lisa Marie in 2005 for 85% of Elvis Presley Enterprises.

  • 253 - Number of companies that are official Elvis licensees.

  • 118 million - Number of Elvis Presley albums sold, second only to the Beatles.

  • 2 million - Number of copies sold by Presley's best-performing album Blue Hawaii, which was No. 1 on the charts for 20 weeks during the winter of 1961-62.

  • 107 - Number of Elvis Top 40 hit songs, the most of any artist in history.

  • 10 - Number of consecutive Elvis songs that went to No. 1.

  • $4 - Elvis' cost to record his first two songs, "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartache Begins," at Sun Records in Memphis in July 1953.

  • $35,000 - The price Sun Records obtained when it sold Elvis' contract to RCA in 1955, after sales of his first five songs disappointed.

  • 8 - The number of consecutive weeks Presley's first single for RCA, "Heartbreak Hotel," held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts.

  • 3.02 million - Number of Google hits for "Elvis Presley." By way of comparison, Paul McCartney checks in with 2.5 million hits, John Lennon 2.9 million, Chuck Berry 2.5 million, Garth Brooks 1.9 million.

  • 54 million - Number of viewers who watched Presley perform "Love Me Tender" on the Ed Sullivan Show on Sept. 9, 1956. That's nearly one-third of the entire U.S. population at the time.

  • 17 - Number of months Presley served in Germany during his stint in the U.S. Army, from Oct. 1, 1958 to March 1, 1960. He reportedly went on all regular maneuvers and won medals for marksmanship.

  • $125 - Price of a standard room at Graceland's Heartbreak Hotel during summer weekends.

  • $575 - Price of a deluxe suite at Heartbreak Hotel during summer weekends.

  • $595 - Price to rent the facility's Chapel in the Woods for a wedding.

  • 550 million - Number of Elvis commemorative stamps sold in 1993.

  • 124 million - Number of those stamps never used on postage.

  • 2- Number of "all-Elvis" radio stations worldwide.

  • 450-plus - Number of Elvis fan clubs worldwide.

  • 45 - Number of countries with at least one fan club.

  • 0 - Number of times Elvis played outside North America.

  • $130 million - Total gross of Presley's movies in the 1960s.





 



Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Lets start collecting (of quality) items about Elvis Presley



Congratulations on your desire/intent to start, continue, etc. collecting Elvis Presley Memorabilia!

We have been collecting “all things Elvis” since 1970 and have in excess of 100,000 individual Elvis Presley items. However, the “beauty” of collecting Elvis Presley items is that (a) it is never boring (b) new things are always forthcoming (c) there are so many categories – sub categories to choose from and (d) there are many “resources” to turn to for questions/fun/advice/etc.

Whatever your “passion” is, for Elvis, odds are that you can find it on Online sites including http://www.ElvisCollector.info (which we highly recommend and we THANK Online sites including http://www.ElvisCollector.info for being a part of the “Worldwide Elvis Presley Community”) such as books, photos, DVDs, records, cd’s, etc.

We have always taken the position that “quality trumps quantity”. Now, that may sound “hypocritical” coming from a collection in excess of 100,000 but hey…we have been doing this NOT as a “revenue stream”…but from the heart.

Desiring full disclosure “yes” we do offer, through our Online sites including http://www.ElvisCollector.info Store “ElvisCollectorWorldwide” some wonderful items, but they are offered “from one fan to another” and is a very personal endeavor indeed.

Here are some “guidelines” that may save you some time, money, and minimize any (potential) aggravation:

Photos – Do yourself a favor and check out anything/everything (available on Online sites including http://www.ElvisCollector.info thankfully) by Ed Bonja. Also, check out KingCandids. Both of these sources hand personal, first hand, and ongoing relationships with Elvis during his lifetime. Elvis was the most photographed person…ever so there are so many options in this category but (again) when you have the combination of QUALITY, as you do with Ed Bonja and KingCandids, you are “ahead of the game” (so to speak).

Memorabilia – Paul Litcher is a WONDERFUL source at ElvisUnique. Paul is an ELVIS AUTHORITY and has been for many years now. We are eternally thankful to Paul Litcher as we have used his books, starting in the 70′s, as a “bible” for cross referencing/authenticating Elvis Presley Memorabilia.

Autographs – PLEASE ensure that only after you have “crossed all of your T’s and dotted all of your I’s”, concerning Elvis Presley, before you ever start to TRY to collect/invest in this “category”. There are a few, in our opinion, “legit” sources for “authentication” (including but not limited to the aforementioned Paul Litcher) concerning Elvis’ autographs (excluding any photographs that were issued/imprinted with salutations such as “Sincerely, Elvis Presley – which was very common with RCA, Boxcar, Colonel Parker, etc.).

Records – Our priority would be 78′s followed by 33′s LP (stands for Long Play) followed by 33′s followed by 45′s followed by CD’s followed by cassettes followed by 8-tracks. Our “time frame” priorities would be 1954-1959, then 1969, then 1970-1973, then 1967-1968, then 1960-1962, then 1963-1966, then 1977, then 1976, then 1974, then 1975. But, again, you should “follow your heart” OR in this case “ear” for what YOU like.

Books/DVD’s/CD’s – It may not be “cool”, according to some but there is nothing “wrong” – and everything “right” about going against the grain, but your local Library is a GREAT place to start. Several of our Libraries offer, in addition to books of course, the ability to check out (for weeks at a time) DVD’s and CD’s about Elvis Presley. When you find the items that you “can’t live without”, and we CAUTION you here because it may be that everything you hear/read about Elvis you “can’t live without”, then (a) confirm that you have the monetary means – without harming your financial resources – FIRST and FOREMOST and if so then (b) go to Online sites including http://www.ElvisCollector.info – do a product search – and then buy it! If you find an item you really want, but it is just a bit out of your budget, then see IF the Seller allows you to “make an offer”. If so, then make sure that you review the shipping/handling charges, and disclosures, in addition to the price itself.

 When it comes to Elvis Presley books Alanna Nash, and the great books authored by her, is in a class all by herself. These books are a must for Elvis Presley fans worldwide and tells the (true) story of Elvis, onstage and off, and puts things into context. Sensationalism? What aspect of Elvis’ life wasn’t, whole and or in part, sensational?

Misc. – Anything by Marty Lacker is a MUST! Marty was Elvis’ best friend, co-worker, and just a wonderful asset who we are THANKFUL was in Elvis’ life and continues to share his experiences with Elvis fans. Priscilla Presley wrote an honest, heart-felt, and memorable book entitled “Elvis and Me”. June Juanica, who was Elvis love starting in 1955, also is a big THUMBS UP (both the book and the DVD). There are various books, etc. by the (renowned) “Memphis Mafia” but, in our opinion, the “best of the best” are those by Marty Lacker, Billy Smith, Red West and Sonny West followed by Joe Esposito then Jerry Schilling. Jerry was a friend of Elvis’ from Memphis and worked with Elvis for many years. Sonny West also is a great source as well. Lastly, Charlie Hodge (who has passed away sadly) left us with several “insightful” items as well as Lamar Fike (who also sadly has passed away).

The “hard truth” about collecting Elvis Presley items is that very few of us will ever have the “monetary means” to actually OWN things like Elvis jumpsuits, original jewelry, automobiles, personal effects, etc. But collecting Elvis memorabilia (again) should be “from the heart” and if it makes you happy, and it’s legal, then great. There are so many Elvis items available that one could NEVER own everything (contrary to what others have stated) and it would be (virtually) impossible.

Elvis left us (3) three decades of works (i.e. music, movies, etc.) so you have a lot of things to choose from.

Lastly, THANK YOU for being an Elvis Presley Fan. We have found that some of the best, most sincere and caring, people are proud to be Elvis Presley Fans and share our passion, insight, etc. via this blog and through http://www.ElvisCollector.info.

God bless and take care.

Your “friend in Elvis”,
Jeffrey Schrembs   2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ElvisCollectorWorldwide
http://www.ElvisCollector.info
http://www.ElvisCollectorWorldwide.freeforums.org