THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE:

with ELVIS PRESLEY! The King died 33 years ago Monday, but remains a global pop phenomenon, so it's worth a recap of highlights from his legendary career.  For the 30th anniversary, Canada's Star-Phoenix, discussing ten important parts of Elvis history worth reliving, noted: "His was a sequined coat of many colours: '50s Greaser Elvis. Military Elvis. Hollywood Elvis. Aloha from Hawaii Elvis. Vegas Elvis. And, ultimately, Dead Fat Elvis."  The BBC had friend and aide Sonny West recall life with The King. 

ACTION NEWS 5 still has its local coverage from Aug. 16-17, 1977, on the Tube, where you can also see funeral footage from the BBC Archive.  Here's read the obit that ran the next day in the Washington Post. Elvis Presley News recaps the international headlines from the event and links to the eulogy at his funeral. On a happier note, check out what is likely the first footage taken of Elvis, with backstage shots of Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Buddy Holly in 1955; shades of Walk The Line!  You can also see him play "I Got A Woman" live o­n his first TV appearance in 1956. I also include his performance of "Hound Dog" o­n The Milton Berle Show six months later, not o­nly because it's historic, but also because Paul Miller and I often reached for it when we would stumble into our KUSR shift at the last minute -- Uncle Miltie vamps for awhile, which gave us time to pull records for the show.  He was also iconic in "Jailhouse Rock" that year.  Elvis sang a mashup of "Love Me Tender" and "Witchcraft" with Frank Sinatra when he got back from the Army.  All of his movies -- such as "Viva Las Vegas" --made money, but his musical career stalled in the 1960s until he electrified and charmed the public with his televised '68 Comeback Special, which you can see on the Tube.  1970 finds him singing "In The Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds" in the jumpsuit, though pre-bloated.  I'm going to throw in "Little Sister" just 'cause I like it.  Sadly, in a few short years, bloated jumpuit Elvis would be delivering a wacked-out take on "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" -- though to be fair, this audio-only version from 1969 is even more demented and he knows it.  I would rather remember Jumpsuit Elvis for the signature horns that open "See See Rider."  a tribute to his enduring legacy as the fact that he could hit the charts decades after his death with a remix of "A Little Less Conversation," a video subtly recalling "Jailhouse Rock," and Paul Oakenfold's remix of "Rubberneckin'". The King may be gone, but the brand lives on, making millions and recruiting new fans under the watchful eyes of Elvis Presley Enterprises and CKX, Inc.

GREETINGS FROM GRACELAND:  It must be said, however, that Elvis Presley Enterprises did not have a good handle on the King's affairs in the years immediately following his death.  Chicago radio personalities Steve Dahl and Garry Meier won a local emmy for their 1981 comedic look at what was then a very seedy exploitation of Elvis in Memphis. (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7.)

MYNABIRDS stopped by Oregon Public broadcasting for a chat and mini-set in audio and video.

RETRIBUTION GOSPEL CHOIR played the World Cafe Live.

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT stopped by The Current for a chat and mini-set.

SALLY SELTMANN stopped by World Cafe for a mini-set and the story of co-writing Feist's "1234."

ODDEST MUSICAL PAIRINGS: All Songs Considered presents its finalists.

WOODSTOCK:  On Aug. 15-17, 1969, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in a lovely natural amphitheater in Bethel (not Woodstock), NY for "three days of peace and music," including sets from Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Who, Santana, Joe Cocker, Jefferson Airplane, Arlo Guthrie, Canned Heat, Jimi Hendrix, and the proverbial many more.  CNN remembered last year's big anniversary, as did The New York Times with multimedia.

THE HOLD STEADY: Craig Finn talks to Seattle Weekly about Catholicism, barfing, and a broken Kindle.

STARS: Amy Milan talks to Prefix about the joys of performing, the band's "sweetie pie" fans, and the growth opportunities stemming from a political debate with F***ed Up's Damian Abraham.

BASIA BULAT talks to the Edmonton Journal about her surprising next project. (Thx, Chromewaves.)

THE 100 BEST SUMMER SONGS, according to celebrities (loosely defined).

CUTOUT BIN: From the Clash to Peter Frampton, from Devo to Gladys Knight & the Pips, from Deep Purple to the Del Fuegos, plus Echo & the Bunnymen, the Kinks, the Ides of March, Fine Young Cannibals and more -- this Friday's fortuitous finds are streaming from the Pate page at the ol' HM.

NOW SHOWING: This weekend's wide releases include: The Expendables, which is currently scoring 45 percent on the ol' Tomatometer; Eat Pray Love, which is scoring 41 percent; and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, scoring 76 percent.

SCOTT PILGRIM Versus The Unfortunate Tendency To Review The Audience.

KELSEY GRAMMER's new galpal is an English air hostess, and reportedly carrying his child, accoring to the ever-reliable Daily Mail.

LAURENCE FISHBURNE's daughter allegedly beat the hell out of her boyfriend's ex and is being prosecuted for assault with a deadly weapon.

GEORGE MICHAEL was charged on Thursday with possessing cannabis and driving under the influence of drink or drugs following a car crash early last month, London police said. Shocka!

JAMES FRANCO gets another glowing profile, this time from Esquire.

TV'S TOP EARNERS, according to TV Guide.

IRAN and Turkey are providing weapons to Hezbollah. Opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi said UN sanctions have strengthened Iran's government.

AFGHANISTAN: As Nato forces concentrate in the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, the BBC gets exclusive access to the security offensive there and speaks independently to people in the city.  Human rights groups ask WikiLeaks to censor secret files on the Afghanistan war to protect civilians who've worked alongside the US and other foreign forces from reprisals.

IRAQ's top army officer has criticized as premature the planned US troop withdrawal by the end of next year.

SURFER takes video of Great White Sharks circling him.

ALBINO PYTHON ON COCAINE confronts police.

A VAST FLOTILLA OF TINY JELLYFISH have stung hundreds of people on Spanish beaches this week - a swimmer's nightmare that biologists say will become increasingly common due to climate change and overfishing. Plus, video.