So what to write about in my first column? What else, or who else, but my favourite - Elvis.

Recently, I managed to pick up four CDs that are almost a year old, and generally quite hard to come by. Put out by Elvis' Danish fan club, they were officially released on the Follow That Dream record label.

Each of the CDs has a different theme. Elvis in A Private Moment comprises recordings made at his homes in Germany and Palm Springs. Burbank 68 is a collection of previously unreleased rehearsals and backstage tapings. Jungle Room Sessions contains the last official studio recordings Elvis made for RCA when they set up recording facilities in the Jungle Room of his house. The fourth CD, Out in Hollywood, comprises session out takes from soundtrack recordings of his movies.

I purchased my CDs separately from various outlets. But if I had my time again, I would go direct to the Elvis Graceland catalog. Although Follow That Dream is a division of BMG, I doubt you will find these in their record inventory.

So how do I rate them?

On the minus side, the sound quality is not good and they have paper covers with no liner notes. Had I not read Ernst Jorgensen's book - A Life in Music - I'd be completely lost trying to figure out what was taped at what time, since there were two sit-down shows, as well as the studio segments, plus recorded stuff from the dressing room. I guess I've gotten spoiled with all the liner notes RCA puts out with their regurgitations.

What's more, each CD is the equivalent length of those that would normally sell for $17.98 - except that these are nearly double the price.

But they also have lots of bonuses. For example, I found an instant favorite on the Elvis In A Private Moment disc in the song Fools Rush In. I believe Ernst Jorgensen said he thought Elvis was singing this to a recorded music track. Here, Elvis used his voice as an instrument to make up for something he must have thought lacking in the music bed - almost as one would do if they were humming without instrumental accompaniment. I could play this song over and over. In fact, I'm looking to get another version of it - the one Elvis laid down with James Burton, who reproduced the guitar licks he did for Rick Nelson. Rick did a great job on the song, but when it comes to voice quality, there's no topping Elvis.

So what else is on the horizon for Elvis collectors? Next year will see a new release of Elvis - That's The Way It Is, with lots of extra footage but minus the documentary asides. TCM plans to show it on the King's birthday. There will also be a VHS release with even more footage, plus a DVD with - you guessed it - more, more, more footage. The claim is that it will have an altogether new look and feel. I guess I'll be buying my first DVD before I even have a DVD player!

Also in the pipeline is a new set of bubble gum cards - millennium cards, I think. Can't wait to see how much a full set of those will run to.

Right now, the Graceland catalog has a sale on some very attractive signature hats for $3.98, as well as about 20 or so other items with a saving of half or more. Gotta go and put in another order. SOMEBODY STOP ME! (Not really. Nobody gets between me and my food, or me and Elvis.)

See you on the flip side!