It was 34 years ago that we lost Elvis Presley — and to honor his life GOLDMINE has teamed up with Universal Music to give away Elvis: The Great Performances DVD SET, A DVD SET WHICH ADDS NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN INTERVIEWS WITH ELVIS’ FRIENDS TO A CLASSIC COLLECTION OF THE KING’S BEST FILM AND TV Footage (to purchase now, click here)

The ultimate DVD collection celebrating the life of Elvis Presley returns to the marketplace, after several years, boasting over 2 hours of remastered video, new packaging and never-before-seen interviews with legendary artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins along with others who were close to the beloved and undisputed King of Rock ‘n Roll. The two-disc Elvis: The Great Performances (Hip-O/SOFA Entertainment), released August 2, 2011, brings together classic performances spanning more than 20 years, from his first televised appearance that shocked a nation to a concert a few weeks before his death on August 16, 1977. Footage mined from TV shows and specials, films and home movies, capture Elvis’ mesmerizing stage presence and irresistible charisma as well as provide a revealing look into his private life and the realities of his unprecedented fame.

Of particular interest to Elvis fans are the previously un-released bonus interviews, conducted by producer-director Andrew Solt in the early and mid-‘90s. Included are rock icons Lewis and Perkins, Sun Records head Sam Phillips, drummer D.J. Fontana, guitarist Scotty Moore, Jordanaires member and backing singer Gordon Stoker, and television host Milton Berle, on whose show Elvis appeared twice in 1956. The bonus material adds more than 30 minutes to the original two-hour production. Also, Jerry Schilling, long-time childhood friend of Elvis, was instrumental in producing and overseeing the set.

With Elvis: The Great Performances, fans can not only experience the excitement surrounding Elvis but also understand his influence on music and popular culture, a legacy that is greater than ever today.

Tracklisting:
Volume 1 – Center Stage
Money Honey (Dorsey Bros. TV Show)
That’s All Right (Mama)(Studio Recording)
Hound Dog (Milton Berle TV Show)
I Want You, I Need You, I Love You (Steve Allen TV Show)
Blue Suede Shoes (Studio Recording over Screen Test)
Love Me Tender (Love Me Tender Movie)
Heartbreak Hotel (Milton Berle TV Show)
Ready Teddy (Ed Sullivan TV Show)
Teddy Bear (Loving You Movie)
King Creole (King Creole Movie)
Jailhouse Rock (Jailhouse Rock Movie)
Guitar Man (Elvis – Comeback Special)
Suspicious Minds (Elvis – That’s The Way It Is)
Unchained Melody (Elvis In Concert)
All Shook Up (Elvis – Comeback Special)
Bonus Material:
Working With Elvis – D.J. Fontana, Scotty Moore, Gordon Stoker, Milton Berle

Volume 2 – The Man And The Music
American Trilogy (Aloha From Hawaii)
My Happiness (Studio Recording)
Shake, Rattle, And Roll/Flip, Flop And Fly (Dorsey Bros. TV Show)
Blue Suede Shoes (Milton Berle TV Show)
Don’t Be Cruel (Ed Sullivan TV Show)
Got A Lot O’ Livin To Do (Loving You Movie)
Trouble (King Creole Movie)
Mean Woman Blues (Loving You Movie)
Treat Me Nice (Jailhouse Rock Movie)
G.I. Blues (G.I. Blues Movie)
Fame And Fortune (Welcome Home, Elvis)
Return To Sender (Girls, Girls, Girls Movie)
Memories (Studio Recording over Home Movies)
You Gave Me A Mountain (Aloha From Hawaii)
Always On My Mind (Elvis On Tour Movie)
If I Can Dream (Elvis – Comeback Special)
Bonus Material:
Memories Of Elvis – Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Sam Phillips

TO ENTER:
Step 1. Head to Goldmine’s Facebook page (GoldmineMag) and “like” us … OR go to Twitter and “follow” us (@Goldmine_mag). (If you already do either or both of these, skip directly to Step 2!)

Step 2. Comment on this page, and tell us why — gold stars for doing it in 140 characters or less — you want to win this particular Elvis item. Then sit back and wait to win!

PUBLICATIONS/GOLDMINE MAGAZINE
GOLDMINE ELVIS GIVEAWAY SWEEPSTAKES
OFFICIAL RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
OFFERED ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (“U.S.”), AGED 18 YEARS OR OLDER.
ELIGIBILITY: Open to legal U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older. Employees, officers and directors of F+W Publications, Inc. (“Sponsor”), its subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies (collectively, “Sponsor and its agents”) and immediate family members (spouses and siblings, children and parents and their spouses, regardless of where they live) or members of the same households (whether related or not) of such individuals are not eligible. Void where prohibited.

PRIZE/ODDS OF WINNING: Before Aug 31, 2011, representatives of the Sponsor will conduct a random drawing from among all eligible entries received to award five (5) each of the Grand Package Prize: Elvis: The Great Performances DVD Set . Valued at approx. $50.00 (ARP) each. Odds of winning will be determined by the number of eligible entries received. No prize transfer or cash redemption permitted. No prize substitution, in whole or in part, except by Sponsor due to prize unavailability, safety or security considerations, or any other reason as solely determined by Sponsor in which case a prize of comparable or greater value will be awarded. Winner will be notified by phone, email, postal mail or express mail at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Return of a prize notification or other documentation as undeliverable will result in disqualification and an alternate winner will be selected. Winner may be required to complete an affidavit of eligibility, a liability release and (where legal) a publicity release, which must be returned within the time period specified in the notification letter or an alternate winner may be selected.

GENERAL: Taxes on prize and all expenses related to acceptance and use of prize and not specified are the sole responsibility of winner. Winners of prizes valued at $600 or more will be issued an IRS 1099 Form for the value of the prize. By participating, entrants agree [a] to these rules and decisions of Sponsor and judges, which shall be final in all respects relating to this Sweepstakes; and [b] to release, discharge and hold harmless Sponsor and its agents from any and all injuries, liability, losses and damages of any kind resulting from their participating in the Sweepstakes or their acceptance, use or misuse of a prize including, without limitation, personal injury, death and property damage; and if a winner, [c] to permit Sponsor to use his or her name, photograph, likeness, statements, biographical information, voice, voice likeness and city and state address for advertising, publicity and promotional purposes in all media, including but not limited to on air and online, in perpetuity, without compensation (unless prohibited by law) and agree to execute specific consent to such use upon request. Sponsor and its agents are not responsible for and shall not be liable for: [a] electronic, hardware or software program, network, Internet, computer or other technical malfunctions, failures, or difficulties of any kind, including without limitation, server malfunction or by any human error which may occur in the collection, processing and transmission of data; [b] lost, late, misdirected, illegible or incomplete entries or postage-due mail; [c] any type of graphical or other error in the advertising or printing of the Sweepstakes or in the administration of the Sweepstakes; or [d] any condition that may cause the administration, security or proper play of the Sweepstakes to be disrupted or corrupted; and in such event Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel or suspend the Sweepstakes or any portion thereof and to award the prize(s) via a random drawing from among all eligible entries legitimately received prior to cancellation. Entry information becomes property of Sponsor.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE PROMOTION MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. Internet entry must be made by the entrant only at the authorized Web site address. Entries may not be made by any other individual or any entity, and/or originate at any other Internet Web site or e-mail address, including but not limited to commercial sweepstakes subscription notification and/or entering service sites. Any winner who enters by any of the methods described above will be disqualified and an alternate winner selected. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting an online entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the person in whose name the e-mail account is registered at the time of entry. Potential winner may be required to provide evidence that winner is the authorized account holder of the e-mail address associated with the winning entry. Use of any device to automate entry is prohibited. Judge’s decisions are final and binding.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION/CHOICE OF LAW: Except where prohibited, by participating each entrant agrees that all issues and questions concerning these official rules shall be governed by Ohio law without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law of any jurisdiction. Entrant agrees that any action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to this Sweepstakes shall be filed only in the state or federal courts located in Hamilton County in the state of Ohio, United States, and entrant hereby consents and submits to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purposes of litigating any such action. Except where prohibited, by participating in this Sweepstakes, entrant agrees that: [a] any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; and [b] any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with participating in this Sweepstakes but in no event attorneys’ fees; and [c] under no circumstances will any entrant be permitted to obtain awards for and hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased.
USE OF ENTRANT INFORMATION: As permitted by law and in accordance with Sponsor’s Privacy Policy, each entrant agrees that the Sponsor may share his/her entry information (including name, address, email address, etc.) with Sponsor’s promotional partners and other parties and grant Sponsor, its promotional partners and other third parties with whom Sponsor chooses to share your information, permission to contact you about upcoming promotions, special offers or for other reasons via electronic and ordinary mail. If you would prefer not to hear from us or prefer us not to share information about you, please opt out in accordance with our on-line privacy policy, available for viewing at http://www.fwmedia.com/privacy.
WINNER LIST: To receive a winner list, mail a self-addressed, stamped envelope to be received by August 31, 2011 to: Goldmine Giveaway Sweepstakes, 700 E. State St. Iola, WI 54990-0001
SPONSOR: F+W Publications, Inc., 4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45326

GOLDMINE has teamed up with Universal Music to give away “Ed Sullivan Presents: Rock ‘N Roll Revolution: The British Invade America, America Fights Back” DVD Collection.

In the ’60s, a new sound of rock ‘n roll came across the Atlantic from England.  The “British Invasion” was a musical movement unlike anything America had ever experienced.  It sparked a massive cultural change in rock n’ roll and ignited a friendly and creative musical rivalry between British and American rock bands. At the heart of this revolution was The Ed Sullivan Show, chronicling this movement from the beginning by giving these new groups a national platform and broadcasting them into millions of living rooms across America.

On August 2, 2011, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) and SOFA Entertainment presented the DVD collection Ed Sullivan Presents: Rock ‘N Roll Revolution: The British Invade America, America Fights Back.  Hosted by Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas and Graham Nash of The Hollies, this DVD is packed with cutting-edge performances and insightful interviews from the musicians themselves.

When The Beatles landed on Ed Sullivan’s stage in February 1964, our world changed forever. The so-called “British Invasion” took America by storm and bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Hollies, Herman’s Hermits and The Animals were all over the record charts. Their beat – a reinvigorated brand of rock ’n roll was taking America by storm and kids couldn’t get enough of it.  How did America respond? We met the British head on with groundbreaking artists of our own such as The Beach Boys, The Mamas and The Papas, The Byrds, Bob Dylan and James Brown.

Included on Rock ‘N Roll Revolution is The Beatles historic first American television appearance with “I Want To Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You,” The Rolling Stones performing their hits “Time Is On My Side” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” Herman’s Hermits doing “Dandy” and The Animals with “Bring It On Home To Me.” The American acts showcase their own brand of rock ‘n roll including The Beach Boys singing “Good Vibrations,” The Byrds performing their Bob Dylan penned hit “Mr. Tambourine Man,” The Godfather of Soul James Brown doing “Please, Please, Please,” the one and only Bob Dylan with “I Don’t Believe You” and The Mamas and The Papas with “Monday, Monday.”

Rock ‘N Roll Revolution also includes additional bonus material that features two previously unreleased and quite revealing interviews with rock legends David Crosby of The Byrds and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas.

The Ed Sullivan Show changed the landscape of American television and music and was an undisputed institution in American pop culture.  Here is the track list of iconic performances by the groundbreaking artists that appear on Rock ‘N Roll Revolution:

1.  I Want To Hold Your Hand               THE BEATLES
2.  Ferry Cross The Mersey        GERRY AND THE PACEMAKERS
3.  Time Is On My Side                              THE ROLLING STONES
4.  Bring It On Home To Me                   THE ANIMALS
5.  Mr. Tambourine Man                         THE BYRDS
6.  I Don’t Believe You                          BOB DYLAN
7.  Carrie Anne                                         THE HOLLIES
8.  Dandy                                                 HERMAN’S HERMITS
9.  Please, Please, Please                    JAMES BROWN
10. Come See About Me                         THE SUPREMES
11. Turn On Your Love Light              THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS
12. Do You Believe In Magic?               THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL
13. Monday, Monday                               THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS
14. Good Vibrations                               THE BEACH BOYS
15. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction        THE ROLLING STONES
16. She Loves You                                  THE BEATLES

TO ENTER:
Step 1. Head to Goldmine’s Facebook page (GoldmineMag) and “like” us … OR go to Twitter and “follow” us (@Goldmine_mag). (If you already do either or both of these, skip directly to Step 2!)

Step 2. Comment on this page, and tell us why — gold stars for doing it in 140 characters or less — you want to win this particular item. Then sit back and wait to win!

PUBLICATIONS/GOLDMINE MAGAZINE
GOLDMINE Ed Sullivan GIVEAWAY SWEEPSTAKES
OFFICIAL RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
OFFERED ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (“U.S.”), AGED 18 YEARS OR OLDER.
ELIGIBILITY: Open to legal U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older. Employees, officers and directors of F+W Publications, Inc. (“Sponsor”), its subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies (collectively, “Sponsor and its agents”) and immediate family members (spouses and siblings, children and parents and their spouses, regardless of where they live) or members of the same households (whether related or not) of such individuals are not eligible. Void where prohibited.

PRIZE/ODDS OF WINNING: Before Aug 31, 2011, representatives of the Sponsor will conduct a random drawing from among all eligible entries received to award five (5) each of the Grand Package Prize: Ed Sullivan Presents Rock ‘N Roll Revolution’ DVD Collection. Valued at approx. $50.00 (ARP) each. Odds of winning will be determined by the number of eligible entries received. No prize transfer or cash redemption permitted. No prize substitution, in whole or in part, except by Sponsor due to prize unavailability, safety or security considerations, or any other reason as solely determined by Sponsor in which case a prize of comparable or greater value will be awarded. Winner will be notified by phone, email, postal mail or express mail at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Return of a prize notification or other documentation as undeliverable will result in disqualification and an alternate winner will be selected. Winner may be required to complete an affidavit of eligibility, a liability release and (where legal) a publicity release, which must be returned within the time period specified in the notification letter or an alternate winner may be selected.

GENERAL: Taxes on prize and all expenses related to acceptance and use of prize and not specified are the sole responsibility of winner. Winners of prizes valued at $600 or more will be issued an IRS 1099 Form for the value of the prize. By participating, entrants agree [a] to these rules and decisions of Sponsor and judges, which shall be final in all respects relating to this Sweepstakes; and [b] to release, discharge and hold harmless Sponsor and its agents from any and all injuries, liability, losses and damages of any kind resulting from their participating in the Sweepstakes or their acceptance, use or misuse of a prize including, without limitation, personal injury, death and property damage; and if a winner, [c] to permit Sponsor to use his or her name, photograph, likeness, statements, biographical information, voice, voice likeness and city and state address for advertising, publicity and promotional purposes in all media, including but not limited to on air and online, in perpetuity, without compensation (unless prohibited by law) and agree to execute specific consent to such use upon request. Sponsor and its agents are not responsible for and shall not be liable for: [a] electronic, hardware or software program, network, Internet, computer or other technical malfunctions, failures, or difficulties of any kind, including without limitation, server malfunction or by any human error which may occur in the collection, processing and transmission of data; [b] lost, late, misdirected, illegible or incomplete entries or postage-due mail; [c] any type of graphical or other error in the advertising or printing of the Sweepstakes or in the administration of the Sweepstakes; or [d] any condition that may cause the administration, security or proper play of the Sweepstakes to be disrupted or corrupted; and in such event Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel or suspend the Sweepstakes or any portion thereof and to award the prize(s) via a random drawing from among all eligible entries legitimately received prior to cancellation. Entry information becomes property of Sponsor.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE PROMOTION MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. Internet entry must be made by the entrant only at the authorized Web site address. Entries may not be made by any other individual or any entity, and/or originate at any other Internet Web site or e-mail address, including but not limited to commercial sweepstakes subscription notification and/or entering service sites. Any winner who enters by any of the methods described above will be disqualified and an alternate winner selected. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting an online entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the person in whose name the e-mail account is registered at the time of entry. Potential winner may be required to provide evidence that winner is the authorized account holder of the e-mail address associated with the winning entry. Use of any device to automate entry is prohibited. Judge’s decisions are final and binding.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION/CHOICE OF LAW: Except where prohibited, by participating each entrant agrees that all issues and questions concerning these official rules shall be governed by Ohio law without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law of any jurisdiction. Entrant agrees that any action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to this Sweepstakes shall be filed only in the state or federal courts located in Hamilton County in the state of Ohio, United States, and entrant hereby consents and submits to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purposes of litigating any such action. Except where prohibited, by participating in this Sweepstakes, entrant agrees that: [a] any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; and [b] any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with participating in this Sweepstakes but in no event attorneys’ fees; and [c] under no circumstances will any entrant be permitted to obtain awards for and hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased.
USE OF ENTRANT INFORMATION: As permitted by law and in accordance with Sponsor’s Privacy Policy, each entrant agrees that the Sponsor may share his/her entry information (including name, address, email address, etc.) with Sponsor’s promotional partners and other parties and grant Sponsor, its promotional partners and other third parties with whom Sponsor chooses to share your information, permission to contact you about upcoming promotions, special offers or for other reasons via electronic and ordinary mail. If you would prefer not to hear from us or prefer us not to share information about you, please opt out in accordance with our on-line privacy policy, available for viewing at http://www.fwmedia.com/privacy.
WINNER LIST: To receive a winner list, mail a self-addressed, stamped envelope to be received by Sept 1, 2011 to: Goldmine Giveaway Sweepstakes, 700 E. State St. Iola, WI 54990-0001
SPONSOR: F+W Publications, Inc., 4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45326

In Britain, it started with Cliff Richard & the Shadows

(No. 31 in a continuing series on artists who should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but are not)

By Phill Marder

John Lennon once said, “Before Elvis, there was nothing.”

He also said, “before Cliff & the Shadows, there had been nothing worth listening to in British music.”

Which brings us to this week’s subject…Cliff Richard & the Shadows.

If the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame truly was representative of Rock & Roll worldwide, Cliff Richard would have been inducted 20 years ago. And the Shadows probably should have gone in with him. For while Richard hasn’t had tremendous impact in the United States, what he has accomplished in Great Britain is truly mind-boggling.

Born Harry Webb, he changed his name to pure Rock & Roll, Cliff standing for Rock and Richard for his idol, the Little one. He soon became known as “the British Elvis” and the Shadows, as great as they were/are led by guitar hero Hank Marvin, had to cope with comparisons to the incomparable U.S. Ventures. But, while most artists would have been crushed by hype of that magnitude, Richard and the Shadows not only survived it, they lived up to it.

Richard’s debut single “Move It,” often referred to as Britain’s first great rock & roll recording, reached No. 2 on the U.K. charts in 1958, kept from the top spot by “Stupid Cupid” by Connie Francis. From that to his album “Bold As Brass,” which climbed to No. 4 on the Brit charts last year, Richard has dominated the British music scene for 53 years, establishing standards that probably never will be equaled.

Since we already had the real Elvis, Richard’s billing probably hurt him in the States. But his talent got him through the bombast, and he did notch a fair amount of hits in the colonies. Five albums charted between 1965 and 1981 and 19 singles scored, beginning with 1959’s “Living Doll,” which climbed to No. 30. Success in the States was sporadic, however. In 1976, he appeared poised for a breakthrough when “Devil Woman” reached No. 6. But follow-ups didn’t fare as well.

In 1979, his album “Rock ‘n’ Roll Juvenile” started his most successful run in the U.S., yielding the No. 7 single “We Don’t Talk Anymore,” and the No. 34 “Carrie,” with the follow-up LP “I’m No Hero” giving us the No. 10 single “Dreaming” and the No. 17 “A Little In Love.” In the midst of that success, he teamed with Olivia Newton-John on the No. 20 “Suddenly” from the film “Xanadu.”

When “We Don’t Talk Anymore” clicked, Richard became the first artist to reach the U.S. Hot 100’s Top 40 in each of Rock’s first four decades. Richard is the only singer to have scored a number one single in the U.K. in five consecutive decades: the 1950s through to the 1990s. If “The Millennium Prayer,” a charity single his own label refused to release, had just held off a couple months, Richard would have made it six consecutive decades. It reached No. 1 in November 1999 in spite of little radio support.

Now let’s look at just some of his other U.K. achievements (most statistics compliments of the outstanding everyhit.com website):

- He ranks third in No. 1 singles with 14 behind Elvis (21) and The Beatles (17).

- The longest span of No. 1 singles (47½ years) also goes to Elvis, with Richard second with 40 1/3 years.

- Only eight acts have sold more than 10 million singles in the UK. Richard tops the list, beating Elvis, The Beatles, The Stones, Michael Jackson etc.

- Richard has, by far, the most Top 40 hits in the UK with a staggering 124. And that doesn’t even include re-entries. The Shadows, with and without Richard, top the group list with 56.

- Elvis leads the British list with 76 Top 10 hits, Richard is second with 67, but Richard leads all male vocalist with the most consecutive Top 10 British hits – 23.

- “Gee Whiz It’s You” by Cliff & the Shadows reached No. 4 on the British charts in 1961 as an import only. It was released as a single outside the UK.

- The group with the most top 10 albums is The Shadows with 28, 17 featuring Richard.

- The biggest jump to No. 1 by an album on the British charts was made by The Shadows “20 Golden Greats,” which vaulted from No. 48.

- The Shadows also hold the biggest climb inside the top 40, their 1980 release “String Of Hits” going from No. 39 to No. 3 in one jump.

- The Shadows also have the longest span of hit albums for any group, 50 years and five months, trailing Elvis for all artists by just six months.

- In 1989, Richard received the The Brit Awards nod for “Outstanding Contribution,” after being named “Best British Male Solo Artist” in the first two award years, 1977 and 1982. These awards are decided by over 1000 members of the British music industry.

- Richard finished second in the Eurovision Song Contest with “Congratulations” in 1968 and third with 1973’s “Power To All Our Friends,” while the Shadows were runner-up in 1975 with “Let Me Be The One.”

- His worldwide record sales are reported to be over 260 million.

- He had his own TV show, “It’s Cliff Richard,” from 1970 until 1976 and has appeared in over 10 movies.

- In 1995, Richard was knighted, two years before Paul McCartney and also before Elton John, Mick Jagger and Tom Jones.

In 2002, the BBC sponsored a vote for the 100 Greatest Brits of all time. Richard finished 56 on the list, which was topped by Winston Churchill. John Lennon finished eighth and Paul McCartney & George Harrison also made it (once again, the drummer gets no respect). David Bowie, Robbie Williams, Bob Geldof, John Lydon (Johnny Rotten), Bono and Freddie Mercury were additional Rock representatives. The list also cited Henry VIII (the King not the song), Richard Burton (probably for giving Bob Dylan hell), Alexander Graham Bell, King Arthur and, of course, William Shakespeare. And, of course, Boy George!

In 2004, the UK Music Hall of Fame was started, with five artists – Elvis, The Beatles, Madonna, Bob Marley and U2 inducted by committee. A nationwide poll then was conducted to determine five more inductees, one from each decade. Richard was the inductee from the 1950s.

After reuniting with the Shadows for a new release in 2009, Richard celebrated his 70th birthday last October with six concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, which sold out within hours of their announcement. The next two months he performed 18 concerts in Germany to over 300,000 fans. He has a tour scheduled for the Fall featuring the Temptations, the Stylistics, Candi Staton, Percy Sledge, Deniece Williams, Billy Paul, Lamont Dozier, Freda Payne, Brenda Holloway and Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.

In the past 53 years, Cliff Richard has won almost every possible award connected with British music, many several times over. Considering the contributions the Brits have made to Rock & Roll – The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin etc. etc. – how can the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ignore the man credited with starting it all?

By Susan Sliwicki
This week’s Market Watch is a great example of how many different areas of collecting are vibrant, if you just take the time too look. Punk. Beatles. Blues. Grunge. Elvis. Classical. They’re all here — along with some entries that are more desirable for their covers than their recorded contents.

10. $2,910.49 —  The Fix, “Vengeance” / “In This Town,” 7-inch record.

Kicking off our countdown this week is a familiar face, touted by the seller as “Mandatory American hardcore” — The Fix’s 7-inch release on Touch and Go Rekords. Yeah, you read that right. Rekords.

“Touch and Go Rekords is spelled with a K instead of a C because Dave Stimson ran out of Cs when he was making the sleeve,” the seller wrote.

The Fix have been a fixture on the Market Watch countdown in recent months. A copy of this same record — or is that “rekord” — copies sold for $3,227 and  $4,250 in July 2010 and $3,383 in November 2010. This copy earns a grade of EX for its cover, which has a few small wrinkles, and EX- for the vinyl, for which the A and B labels are flipped, the seller said.

The original pressing was 200 copies, and the seller says 15 of those were warped or destroyed after band members placed records on a heat vent after getting them from the pressing plant. Nineteen bids were exchanged before a winner was declared.

9. $3,262.09 — Elvis Presley, EP set.

Meat Loaf sings that two out of three ain’t bad, and it looks like bidders agreed with his theory on this lot, which only contained two of the three EPs in the set (missing Sides 2 and 5.)

Fifty-four bids were exchanged before a winner was declared for this copy of SPD-23, which earned a grade of VG+ for its triple gatefold cover. A formal grade was not given for the records; the seller said they played through but had background noise present.

RCA produced two different models of Elvis Presley record players in the mid-‘50s. The three-EP set was a bonus for customers who bought the higher-priced Elvis Presley model; a two-EP set (SPD-22) accompanied the lower-priced version.

“Because only a handful of people could afford the high-end Vvictrola, it, in time, made this one of the rarest Elvis records/cover in existence on any label from any country,” the seller wrote.

8. $3,375 — Lightnin’ Hopkins, “Mojo Hand,” LP.

“One of the rarest blues LPs you’ll ever see in unbelievable condition,” the seller promises in his description of this original mono pressing of FLP-104 on the Fire label.

The vinyl was graded at a VG++ due to a light scratch, some scuff marks and some crackling between songs, but it plays like NM, the seller said. The cover earns a VG+ grade, due to some light ringwear and some rippling in the paste-over cover.

7. $3,673 — Maria Madrigal, “Madrigal’s Magic Key To Spanish,” LP.

Since we doubt there’s a sudden fascination with learning Spanish in the Madrigal method of the 1950s, we can only assume that the excitement over this record is due to the cover artwork, which was created by Andy Warhol. While there is not yet a special typestyle to denote sarcasm, please assume that is what we’re employing here, as this record has become a bit of a frequent flyer as of late on the Market Watch countdown.

Although it is free of splits, this copy’s cover bears a slight indentation from the record, has a crease in the upper left edge, a rip on the lower-right side of the cover, as well as some writing and some brown discoloration. The cover is “fine,” and has one slight scratch, according to the seller. Formal grades were not assigned for either the art or the record.

Seven bids were exchanged before a winner was declared.

6. $4,150 — Leonid Kogan, Lalo’s “Symphonie Espagnole” and Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade Melancolique,” LP.

This record is making it’s second appearance in as many Market Watch countdowns. Pressed in the U.K. in 1960 on the Columbia label, this NM/M copy of SAX 2329 features Leonid Kogan on violin and the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Kyril Kondrashin. But that probably isn’t what got bidders so excited about this lot.

“This is one, of many records, from a sound engineers private archive,” the seller wrote. “He worked for famous record companies from the ’30 s until late ’60 s and was a dedicated music lover. The collection consists of mainly classical and opera recordings, but also of some jazz and pop/rock records. Everything is in Excellent, Near Mint or Mint condition. After buying his records, he taped them onto a Revox reel player and then archived the vinyl. It is like visiting a record shop with new 40- to 60-year-old records!”

Thirty-three bids were exchanged before a winner was declared.

5. $4,527.99 — The Beatles, “Please Please Me,” LP.

You knew it was just a matter of time before the dreaded “holy grail” phrase showed up in a Market Watch entry, and here’s the offender. (Do sellers somehow think bidders do searches by the words “holy grail” instead of  searching for the desired artist or an album name?)

This 1963 U.K. pressing of “Please Please Me” has the correct cover and wrong Dick James credits, according to the seller. Of course, we were a little concerned about the seller’s description when we read the headline, which promised it was a stereo copy (PCS 3042), and then read seller’s detailed description, which said this was a mono copy (PMC 1202). A pair of fuzzy label images —for which the seller apologized and promised the labels look better in person —and an all-caps, hasty correction posted the seller confirmed it was, in fact, a stereo copy. Regardless, the vinyl clocks in at VG+ condition, and the cover earned a grade of VG.

4. $6,000 — Nirvana, “Hormoaning,” LP.

Nirvana has been developing some devoted collectors, and this record is one of the favorites. Released on Geffen (GEF-21711), this Australian import copy features dark red-purple vinyl in M- condition. (The cover earns a grade of NM-)

“Very rare and hard-to-find Nirvana item!” the seller promises.

A clear, marbled red, blue and purple vinyl copy of this record sold for $6,763.03 in December 2010.

3. $6,300 — Maria Madrigal, “Madrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish,” LP.

Taking déjà vu honors in this week’s countdown is another copy of the Madrigal record that features Andy Warhol’s distinctive artwork.

“There are only three or four of these records and covers known to exist, and this is the best example,” the seller wrote. “Here is your chance to won a true Warhol rarity!”

Of course, since this is the fourth copy we’ve seen in our print and online Market Watch countdown in about a month (and the images that were posted with each listing look different enough that we believe they are not repeats), we’re starting to wonder how just how “rare” this rarity really is?

The cover is listed in good condition, with one split at the top right cornor, a hole next to the phonograph illustration and some light discoloring. The record has minor scuffs and scratches and wasn’t assigned a grade.

“But who is really buying this record to learn Spanish?” the seller wrote. “This is all about Warhol!”

2. $8,598 — Collection of 150 classical records.

Apparently, it is more cost effective to buy meat AND records by the pound, if you consider this collection. Estimated to weigh about 34 kilograms (or roughly 75 pounds) for shipping, that puts the cost per pound at a solid $114.69, which is still cheaper than a pound of Kobe steak.

This collection, most of which are stereo issues, features pressings on labels including Columbia, Capitol, Electrola and His Master’s Voice, the seller said. Featured artists included Yehudi Menuhin, David Oistrach, Nathan Milstein, Pierre Fournier and Itzhak Perlman.

Twenty-three bids were exchanged before a winner was declared.

1. $13,601.21 — The Beatles, “Please Please Me,” LP.

Settling into a slot it’s enjoyed many times before is a stereo copy of The Beatles’ “Please Please Me” (PCS 3062) touted to bear the less-common gold and black label that first appeared on the Beatles’ debut album, and to boot, it’s in “vault condition.”

“The impossible-to-find rarity with the gold label 33-1/3rd,” the seller wrote. “Every now and then a record surfaces that has no right to exist. This is one such album … This copy just has to be harder to find than the black and gold label because they only turn up perhaps one copy every year or two, whereas the gold and black label appears far more often.”

While the seller declined to provide a condition for the cover, he determined it was the nicest copy he had ever seen.

“This vinyl is as good now as the day it was pressed and it just has to grade mint!” the seller added.

The seller went on to say that he recorded a copy of the record in full so bidders could hear what they’re buying. Nice idea, but in our book, that means the record’s only Near Mint at best.

Forty two bids were exchanged before a winner was determined.