'If I Can Dream' major Sony Music release with 'collaborations from many artists'

Sony Music has a major new CD release to be titled, 'If I Can Dream', due out in September. As we understand it the CD will NOT be a 'duets' album, (that has been known to be in consideration at Sony for some years), instead it will focus on ELVIS PRESLEY as the 'headline' artist while 'featuring, many artists including Michael Buble', and remixed with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Priscilla Presley has spoken of the release with; 'Elvis' voice now sounds unleashed while attacking 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' with the orchestra fuming. He probably would have loved this album, because it stands where it always wanted to be: the best entertainer on the planet'.

We have been told this is NOT a 'duets' album.

The word we see here is 'featuring', and a look at the definition of a 'duet, 'A duet is a musical composition for two performers in which the performers have equal importance to the piece'.

So, the vocal collaborations are not 50/50, they will be focused on ELVIS PRESLEY along with new Orchestration from the Royal Philharmonic, and 'featuring' other artists, not sufficiently enough to make the songs 'duets'.

We see this a good thing and we think you will agree. After all it is ELVIS we want to hear - and ELVIS that Sony should be promoting. All in all this sounds like an exciting release.

We will tell you more as it can be revealed to us.

Following is how the news first came to light;

The producer

Robin Smith, a UK based composer, arranger and conductor stated on his website, 'I have arranged an Elvis Presley album with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to be released later this year and featuring many artists including Michael Buble'. The production has been carried out by Don Reed in the UK.

Priscilla Presley

Priscilla Presley : 'Elvis' voice now sounds unleashed while attacking 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' with the orchestra fuming. He probably would have loved this album, because it stands where it always wanted to be: the best entertainer on the planet'.

NEW YORK — Just shortly after what would have been Elvis Presley's 80th birthday, a new album will arrive presenting the King of Rock and Roll in a different context.

If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, due Oct. 30, pairs vocals Presley recorded between 1956 and 1973 with new orchestral accompaniment.

Michael Buble performs a virtual duet of the standard Fever, and Duane Eddy lends guitar to Bridge Over Troubled Water and An American Trilogy. The popera trio Il Volo contributes vocals to It's Now or Never.

"It gives me chills," Priscilla Presley said, discussing the album at a private listening session in June, where Bridge and Fever were among the tracks played. "I know he's smiling and going, 'Wow.'"

Stylish as ever in a form-fitting royal blue dress with sheer black sleeves, the King's former wife joined album producers Don Reedman and Nick Patrick on a panel led by veteran journalist and author Anthony DeCurtis.

Prsicilla recalled Reedman approaching her about the project in London, noting, "It made perfect sense." Elvis had always had diverse taste in music, she noted; the Hollywood tenor Mario Lanza was a favorite, and his album collection also included recordings by opera star Enrico Caruso as well as B.B. King, Roy Hamilton, Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick and Mahalia Jackson.

"He loved the power of the operatic voice," Priscilla said. "He loved drama. He loved bigness." She reminded attendees of the impact "the Penetcostal Church and gospel singing" had on her late ex-husband's work.

"He needs to be known for more than just rock & roll," she said.

When the title track of Dream was played, she noted that the song, which quotes Martin Luther King, Jr., was written "around the time we lost JFK," and that she considered it a reflection of Elvis's "hope for peace."

Elvis's Fever first arrived in 1960; while recording it the year before, Priscilla recalled, Elvis was concerned about staying relevant with "all these new singers coming in" at the time. He had loved Peggy Lee's beloved version of the tune, she added.

In updating the classic, she and Reedman had wanted a singer who would "not compete" with Presley's vocal. Buble, no stranger to Fever, was also a perfect choice because of his affinity for playful banter. Elvis "had such a great sense of humor," Priscilla pointed out. "He would make fun of himself and laugh at himself."

Elvis could also be earnestly critical of his ability. "He didn't like his voice" at times, she said, and would try to learn from not only singers but the movie stars he loved, mimicking Humphrey Bogart and others.

"As he matured, his song choices got deeper," Priscilla pointed out. He began to feel that his famous and controversial manager, Colonel Tom Parker, was too "controlling," and was generally "not happy with the material that was given to him."

In introducing a newly fleshed out And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind, Priscilla noted that it was written by a then up-and-coming songwriter named Neil Diamond. Elvis was intent on championing fresh talent, she said. "He was on a mission."

Other songs on If I Can Dream include Burning Love, Love Me Tender, You've Lost that Loving Feeling, There's Always Me, Can't Help Falling In Love, In the Ghetto, How Great Thou Art and Steamroller Blues.

Priscilla noted that part of the intent of the new album was to showcase material that had been "lost," or was less massively popular.

"Hopefully, we'll do more," she said.

Ugh! That cover art for the Super Deluxe Edition looks like a cheap, budget label release. It's awful.

Elvis Presley tops UK album chart again, 40 years on

Nearly 40 years after his death, Elvis Presley is back at the top of the British album charts with his 12th UK Number 1 - "If I Can Dream," a collection of Elvis classics featuring orchestral reworkings by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

This means Elvis now has more Number 1 albums in the UK than any other male solo artist, and puts him level with Madonna in second place for the most chart-topping LPs, behind the Beatles, who have 15, the Official Charts Company said on Friday.

Elvis claimed top spot with 79,000 chart sales, it added, giving him the second-fastest selling album of the year behind Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds' "Chasing Yesterday."

Rod Stewart landed his 34th Top 10 album with "Another Country," new at Number 2, while Elbow frontman Guy Garvey was third with his first solo release "Courting The Squall."

In the singles charts, Adele was top for a second week with "Hello," Britain's fastest-selling record of 2015, keeping Justin Bieber's "Sorry" down in second spot.

Sam Smith's James Bond theme "Writing's On The Wall" climbed back up one place to Number 3.