Set for release on Friday (May 27th) is the new archival four-CD set, Elvis Presley: Las Vegas International Presents Elvis – Now 1971. The collection features six soundboard recordings from “The King’s” early-’71 Vegas run.

According to the press release:

For the first time ever, these soundboard recordings have been remastered, carefully restored and mixed to true stereo using the most sophisticated technologies to achieve the best possible sound.

For the first time ever though, the material from these shows is presented in stereo. The accompanying 40-page booklet which includes rare photographs and memorabilia dating from this and the following summer appearance in August 1971 — also includes liner notes which set the scene.

Original “Memphis Mafia” member Jerry Schilling — who now serves as the president of the Beach Boys‘ Brother Records’ Inc. — proved to be perhaps Elvis’ truest friend, told us that friendship aside — his love of Elvis as a cutting edge rock performer never diminished: “First of all, I thought he was at his greatest in ’56 — and I loved him in ’54. I loved him untamed in the beginning of ’56 on the Dorsey (Brothers) Show because he was such a rebel — and he was like a musical James Dean, if you will. And I was drawn to that. And then, he comes back with the ’68 ‘comeback special’ and Vegas shows, and I realized he still had some of that rawness that he had developed to a much higher degree.”