As ELVIS collectors will passionately exclaim if given the chance, the King is not dead.  And you don't have to search too hard or too far to be convinced of this via underground releases, much less a borderline legitimate compilation!  As we await some more details to emerge on that new 10CD Soundboard Box Set, here are a few other new and exciting boot releases.  "Elvis - The Sun King" is a brand new DVD arriving soon from the Mammoth Label...the set compiles newly obtained prints from the original 8mm reels of 4 different shows performed in late-May 1977.  Over half the DVD concentrates on the May 27th concert in Binghamton, New York with an additional 4 clips from the previous night at the same venue  as well as a handful of tracks from August, Maine on May 24th and Providence, Rhode Island on May 23rd, 1977...the DVD also includes a bonus 10 minutes from the March 21st, 1976 evening show in Cincinnati.  While most of this footage has seemingly been in circulation via trading circles for some time, those sources have been in fairly rough quality and this should be considered quite the major upgrade to anything previously.  This DVD is being described as "restored and revitalized" and provides collectors with an excellent video document of EL sporting is Mexican "Sundial" jumpsuit.  "Vegas Rhythm" is the name of a brand new CD release from relatively new Gravel Road Music Label and features a nice soundboard from ELVIS' Dinner Show at the Las Vegas Hilton on February 23, 1973...the set is getting raves and being described as "professional", "classy" and of "very high quality".  Also, a 6CD set called "Reclaiming The Crown" has just been released in the last 10 days and brings together ELVIS' American Sound Studio Sessions from January 13th-February 22nd, 1969 and are said to be of very good quality...at time of uploading this column an issuing label could not be confirmed for this set.

LED ZEPPELIN collectors should be pleased to hear that the Genuine Masters Label are back in production and have formally announced two new titles to be shipping around the 9th of February...the first 2 titles for 2007 include:  "Knights Of The Court" 3DVD-R set that is comprised of the full Earl's Court proshot video from May 24, 1975 on 2 discs with LPCM Audio, and a second version on a single disc with Dolby Digital 2-Channel Audio...both versions are said to "feature this historic complete concert in excellent Video and Audio that surpasses all titles currently in existance."  If you are interested in some of the technical aspects of the Genuine Masters production or approach, I would highly recommend learning about the specs via their page at:

http://www.geocities.com/gm_blackdog/KnightsOfTheCourt.html

GM's second offering is the JIMMY PAGE/ROBERT PLANT DVD set, "Devils Or Shepherds", which brings us the Shepherd's Bush concert video from London on March 25, 1998...so we get the DVD of the complete performance, plus a second version of the show via the wonderful DAT audience tape that has been in circulation and has been deemed worthy of being mastered in the patented GM Hybrid DVD-Audio format complete with High Resolution Slideshow.  They both sound like great productions and what's nice is we won't have to wait very long!  Nice to have the label back in the fold.  In other ZEPPELIN boot news...Empress Valley has just issued the 2CD set, "Maple Leaf Gardens" which is a 3 source production that utilizes a new audience source combined with another audie and what is being referenced as a longer version of the "Scorpio soundboard fragment", to provide the most complete version of this September 4th, 1971 performance on commercial boot to date...Tarantura has also come up with a title for that new FIRM Austin 1985 2CD set, it's called "Smugglers" and is available now...For those that may have missed out on the  Cosmic Energy 1969-1980 DVD series, the Japanese Hercules Label has just announced a 4DVD-R compilation called "Film Noir" that feature Volumes 1 (1969-1975) & 2 (1977-1980), plus a bonus disc that is "Interviews & More".  The set doesn't provide anything "new", but in fact, simply re-purposes the live 8mm clips & numerous TV show interviews and promos that have been provided on those Cosmic Energy titles & elsewhere. 

Other new announcements to highlight this week include the new BEATLES "Sessions" 2CD set from Silent Sea...the compilation here begins with a direct copy of the 1984 vinyl "Sessions" bootleg (EMI 064 2402701) and brings together a cross-section of other previously available outtake rarites from the John Barrett tapes to the Fan Club Christmas Greetings.  Sirene has just announced 2 new PINK FLOYD titles for February release..."All Due Respect" is a 3CD release that pairs up two different audience tapes of the June 24th, 1975 performance at Olympic Stadium in Detroit..."Funhouse" 2CD features the superb Pavillon de Paris audience recording from France on February 22, 1977 - you cannot go wrong with this one and it should be a really great title from Sirene.

I want to thank Mr. Sparaco for reminding our membership that there is a replacment disc available from Tambourine Man Records for that defective disc 2 of their BOB DYLAN "New York Modern Times" title, let me reiterate that you should contact your supplier to get yourself set up with that.  That's all for this week...Winter has most of the States in a firm, icy grip so I'm just going to hunker in and blast some tunes until this crap lightens up!  I'll meet you back here next week, until then stay warm!

Svengi, January 29, 2007