Elvis Presley 50th Anniversary Sets Planned for Las Vegas Residency, American Sound Sessions

Two new collections will delve into the music Elvis Presley produced in Las Vegas and Memphis in 1969, Live 1969 and American Sound 1969, which will be released August 9th and August 23rd, respectively.

Live 1969 commemorates the 50th anniversary of Elvis’ residency at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, which at the time, marked his first live shows in eight years. The musician performed 57 sold-out shows, during which he was backed by two vocal groups — the Imperials and the Sweet Inspirations — a full orchestra and band later known as the TCB Band.

Live 1969 will collect 11 full sets from Elvis’ run recorded in late August, including four shows that have never been previously released in full (two of those gigs, recorded August 22nd and 25th, have remained almost completely unheard since 1969). The set will be released digitally and as an 11-CD box set, with the latter coming with a 52-page booklet featuring rare photos, memorabilia and an oral history by Ken Sharp comprising historic interviews from Presley, Colonel Tom Parker, Tom Jones, Jerry Schilling, James Burton, Fats Domino and more.

, along with a separate two-LP vinyl set chronicling Elvis’ August 26th, 1969 midnight show, which will also arrive August 9th. A limited-edition version of that record pressed on hot pink and yellow vinyl will be available via the Graceland store.American Sound 1969, meanwhile, will comprise 90 tracks of rare and unreleased material that Elvis recorded during the American Studio sessions that produced his acclaimed record, From Elvis in Memphis. That set is available to pre-order and will only be available digitally. For more information, check out: https://www.elvisthemusic.com/CREDITS: Rolling Stone Magazine – Jason Newman

Blondie’s Debbie Harry to Publish Memoir, ‘Face It’

Debbie Harry will publish her memoir this fall. Face It, from the Blondie front woman and cultural icon, is coming October 1 via Dey Street Books, an imprint of the William Morrow Group at HarperCollins Publishers.

Face It, says the announcement, “is an arresting mix of visceral storytelling and stunning visuals that reflects the complexity of its subject. In her distinctive voice, Debbie Harry recreates the downtown scene of 1970s New York City, where she, with Blondie, played alongside everyone from The Ramones, Television, Talking Heads, Iggy Pop and David Bowie. With all the grit, grime and glory recounted in intimate detail, Face It takes readers from the New York underground to global superstardom and the creation of some of the most beloved pop songs of all-time.Blondie broke through in 1979 with the worldwide #1 smash, “Heart of Glass.” In the ensuing years, they enjoyed three more #1 hits.

“Harry… shares the breadth of her fascinating life and career, with never-before seen personal images, brilliantly curated fan-art, and memories from the highs and lows of her life as a pioneering feminist, and muse to generations of fans and artists.”

It explores her successful acting career – she has starred in over 30 film roles – her weekends with William S. Burroughs and her attempted abduction by serial killer Ted Bundy.

The book is written in collaboration with journalist and author, Sylvie Simmons, based on a series of recent exclusive personal interviews, and also includes original essays by Harry.

“I didn’t want to, but I did,” said Harry. “There are many more stories for me to tell; some funny, some scary, some warm, some chill to the bone and if Face It appeals to people then I will get to telling more of the anecdotal bits of the story of Blondie. This book is biographical and covers a lot of years. I know there will be questions asked because in putting this together, I realized I have led a very full life and couldn’t possibly cover everything in just one volume. I’m prepared for the best and the worst comments, much like when I have released an album or done a big show. I don’t have a thick skin, but I do have a pretty good sense of humor.”

Harry was born July 1, 1945. She just turned 74.

While being acclaimed as one of the most beautiful women in the world, prized by a galaxy of leading photographers and fashion designers, beloved by legions of fans for her relentless, high-octane performances, selling 50 million albums or being painted by Andy Warhol—Harry has infused her Blondie persona with a heady mix of raw sexuality and sophisticated punk cool.

The book includes an introduction by her partner, Chris Stein, rare personal photos, original illustrations, fan artwork installations and more.

Blondie are on a co-headlining tour with Elvis Costello this summer. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and StubHub. CREDITS: Best Classic Bands Staff

Pete Townshend to Publish First Novel

Always looking for a new creative outlet, The Who’s Pete Townshend will now add novelist to his résumé. Titled The Age of Anxiety, the book—Townshend’s first novel—will be published Nov. 5 by Hachette Books in the U.S. and Coronet Books in the U.S.

According to advance word from the publisher, “The Age of Anxiety “explores the anxiety of modern life and madness in a story that stretches across two generations of a London family, their lovers, collaborators, and friends.”

An earlier blurb described it as “a great rock novel, but that is one of the less important things about it. The narrator is a brilliant creation—cultured, witty and unreliable. The novel captures the craziness of the music business and displays Pete Townshend’s sly sense of humor and sharp ear for dialogue.

First conceived as an opera, The Age of Anxiety deals with mythic and operatic themes including a maze, divine madness and long-lost children. Hallucinations and soundscapes haunt this novel, which on one level is an extended meditation on manic genius and the dark art of creativity.

Townshend explains, “Ten years ago I decided to create a magnum opus that would combine opera, art installation and novel. Suddenly here I am with a completed novel ready to publish. I am an avid reader and have really enjoyed writing it. I am also happy to say the majority of the music is composed, ready to be polished up for release and performance. It’s tremendously exciting.”

The 272-page book follows Townshend’s memoir, Who I Am, by seven years. He has also written newspaper and magazine articles, book reviews, essays and scripts. Townshend was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and he has received many awards, including a Grammy in 1994 for The Who’s Tommy and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.

Townshend published a short-story collection, Horse’s Neck, in 1985. A previous attempt at a novel, Ray High and the Glass Household, was abandoned but Townshend used some of the ideas from it in his 1993 solo album Psychoderelict. In 1977, Townshend launched his own Eel Pie publishing imprint and in 1983 he worked as an editor at the Faber and Faber publishing firm.

In addition to the novel, Townshend is currently in the studio working on the Who’s first studio album of new material in 13 years.Credits: Best Classic Bands Staff