JUMPSUIT #1 ⚡️ Black Herringbone

It was used for the Season 1 of the Las Vegas residency, which means 57 shows, from July 31 to August 28, 1969. It’s a two-piece suit of the same color, inspired by karate outfits, so Elvis could easily do his moves on stage. The name ‘herringbone’ comes from the pattern that is sewn around the chest opening and the small collar, it ends at the end of the chest opening. Both pants and top are made of a silky fabric. It’s also known as the ‘Black Cossack’ or ‘Black Karate Style’ suit.

DIARY ENTRY #1 📖

Dear diary. It’s January 4, 1957. My single ‘Too Much’ / ‘Playing for Keeps’ has just been published. Ain’t that great? I love the fact that these songs are the opposite: one is danceable and has rhythm, and the other is a very sad ballad. Anyway. I just arrived at the Kennedy Veterans Hospital in Memphis with my Cadillac Eldorado, since Colonel Parker told me that I’m gonna be drafted into the US Army. Cliff Gleaves and Dottie Harmony came with me - she’s a real cutie.

WEEKLY LISA #1 💫

Elvis: one man, a thousand voices. 🎙

Have you ever paid attention to how much Elvis’ voice changes over the years? 🤓

“Elvis’s voice changed almost on a yearly basis, and I’m not sure anyone has ever come up with the real reason why this was. If we listen to Sinatra, we can say, ‘that’s the 50s,’ or ‘that’s the 70s.’ With Elvis, we can say, ‘that’s 1961’ or ‘that’s 1976’.

Elvis’s voice of 1953 doesn’t sound much like the voice of 1956 (compare the ballad singing, for example). 1960 doesn’t sound much like 1956. And those sweet vocals of the early 1960s really take hold in late 1960s (“His Hand in Mine”, “Wild in the Country” sessions). Those sweet vocals start to disappear in 1963.

By 1965, we have a weird thick, almost unhealthy sounding vocal. That’s gone by 1966, where we get a fuller, darker, deeper sound. The TV show from 1968 through the live recordings of 1960 bring us the edgier, raw sound. That starts to disappear as early as February 1970, and the ‘70s’ voice starts to appear as the year carries on.

1971 brings a weaker sound with more vibrato, but that’s gone by the November 1971 tour. 1972 has Elvis in fuller voice, with powerful vocals - much better than the year before. ‘Aloha’ returns us to the weaker voice heard in 1972, but by the end of 1973 he’s in better voice again - but still not sounding the same as 1972.

1974 sees him with more power again, as does most of 1975. 1976 is so full of ups and downs that you can almost pinpoint the tour, let alone the year. October 1976 finds him in much better voice than February or June, for example. […]

His voice matures and changes when in the army, and again between 1965 and 1966 - both times when we know he was making much music at home and recording himself on his own equipment there. He was trying out new material, new styles, and even trying to expand his range.” (Steve Hoffman)

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Remembering actress Barbara Werle who passed away on this day in 2013. 🕊

ELVIS’ GUITARS #1 🎸 Kay

This was Elvis’ first guitar, purchased at Tupelo Hardware Co. for $7.75 (nowadays it would be $116) on his 11th birthday, January 8, 1946. He used it throughout his high school years and on his first recording sessions at the Memphis Recording Service.

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WEEKLY LISA #2 💫

On February 10, 1968, Lisa Marie is being held by Priscilla. Ten days after her birth, Elvis looks at her adoringly. The picture was taken at their Hillcrest Home in Beverly Hills, California. The second picture could be from the same day or around the same time.

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ELVIS CARS #1 🚗 1942 Lincoln Zephyr V12 Club Coupe