a blog about elvis presley's music, movies, and more
THE MOST ICONIC IMAGE in rock & roll history was taken at the dawn of the genre’s rise to popularity. It is of a young Elvis Presley before most of the world had even heard his name, let alone his music. He is on stage, legs spread, his body pulled back from his new Martin D-28 guitar. Eyes tightly closed as he sings—he looks transformed like the music has taken him away. READ MORE
AUGUST 16, 1977, was the day the Earth stood still: Elvis died. Very few fans were aware of his deteriorating health and we were unprepared for our own response to his death. Fans were aware of Elvis in general: his latest album, MOODY BLUE, had been released four weeks earlier and was selling better than usual. READ MORE
AS A SYMBOL OF POTENCY, by 1968 Elvis Presley was perceived by many as being, um, flaccid. His records had lost any semblance of allegiance to—or even recognition of—the passion and fervor of its country and blues roots. The soundtrack music he had been recording for the requisite three movies per year owed more to “How Much Is That Doggie In The Window” than to Big Boy Crudup or Hank Williams. READ MORE
IN 1976, the Gold Standard Series was revamped for the fourth and final time with a new ‘retro’ look. Along with the rest of the RCA catalog, the modern look and layout of the previous orange and red labels was jettisoned and the company opted for a retro look: black was back and so was Nipper! But the effect was cheesy: the paper used for the labels seemed of a lesser quality—a dull black rather than the high gloss stock of the past. READ MORE
IN 1969, the Gold Standard Series was changed for the third time: the visually lifeless orange label was replaced by a more attractive bright red label. (The orange label remain as the primary label for RCA’s standard catalog singles and albums.) Otherwise, the layout and the typeface remained the same from the previous to the newest.
In 1968, RCA had switched from its classic black label to a more ‘modern’ orange label for all its records. READ MORE
IN 1969, the Gold Standard Series label was dramatically modified, along with the rest of the RCA Victor catalog (45s, EPs, LPs, and reel-to-reel tapes). Gone was the familiar glossy black background with “RCA Victor” in traditional serif type with the big “V” across the top. Gone, too, was the dog, beloved Nipper, cocking his head to his master’s voice emanating from the horn of an antique phonograph. READ MORE
IN 1965, the Gold Standard Series label was changed for the first time. The labels remained an attractive glossy black, but “RCA Victor” was moved to the right side of the spindle hole while Nipper was placed on the left side. Again, there was no mention of “Gold Standard” anywhere on the label; only the 447 prefix identified these records as reissues. READ MORE
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, the powers-that-be at RCA Victor decided that the recordings that Elvis Presley labored over in the studio were not up to snuff. You know, the ones that sold a bajillion copies and almost single-handedly justified the invention of the 45 rpm single as a medium. Apparently, some of those recordings simply were not good enough technically to preserve on a 33⅓ rpm LP album. READ MORE
THE GOLD STANDARD SERIES of reissues of Elvis Presley’s 45 pm singles ran for more than forty years. During this time, ninety-five records were released, including thirteen unique picture sleeves! Some of these records went through five label changes, meaning each has five major variations of interest to must-have-it-all Elvis collectors, of which there are more than a few. READ MORE