Elvis Presley (CD reissue)

Elvis Presley

RCA, 2005

http://www.elvis.com

REVIEW BY: David Bowling

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 10/12/2008

Many people believe that the rock ‘n’ roll era began May 5, 1956 when the album, Elvis Presley, reached number one on the National charts for the first of ten weeks. It was a far different sound than the other best-selling albums of the day, which included Belafonte by Harry Belafonte, The Man With The Golden Arm soundtrack, and Frank Sinatra’s Songs For Swingin’ Lovers.

Realistically, Elvis did not invent rock ‘n’ roll. Bill Haley recorded “Rock Around The Clock” as the B-side of a single in 1954. Haley came out of the country swing side of music and added a sax and guitar to that sound. In 1955, “Rock Around The Clock” was added to the opening credits of the movie Blackboard Jungle. The record quickly became the most popular single in the country, staying at number one for eight weeks. Chuck Berry was also in the studio adding his unique guitar sound to his rhythm and blues roots. Elvis’ musical legacy can be traced to the rockabilly side of country music. Elvis, however, had something that no other artist of the time had, and that was a charisma that gave him mass commercial appeal and quickly made him a lasting cultural icon. my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

Elvis Presley was a popular Southern country artist when his contract was bought by the RCA label for the then-unheard of sum of $35,000. Elvis quickly went into the studio to record in early 1956. The results were several single releases and his first long-playing album. Seven songs from these sessions and five unreleased tracks from his Sun label days were combined to create Elvis Presley. Interestingly, his number one single at the time, “Heartbreak Hotel,” was left off the album because RCA did not want the LP to interfere with its sales.

Elvis Presley is essential to rock ‘n’ roll history and, in a wider context, to the understanding of the youth culture of the late 1950’s. In many ways, Elvis went far beyond just being a popular artist. He was worshipped by millions of teenagers; very few artists ever attain that status. Only Frank Sinatra in the 1940’s and The Beatles in the 1960’s would equal Elvis in popularity.

Elvis’ first album reached into many types of music for its songs but all were interpreted and transferred to a rock setting. My favorites are the R&B hits “I Got A Woman” and “Money Honey,” which are removed from their roots and become all out rockers. “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Tutti Frutti” were hits of the day and Elvis mainly copies what was popular. I tend to prefer the Little Richard version, but feel sorry for Carl Perkins as Elvis gives a classic performance of his biggest hit. “I Love You Because” and “Just Because” find Elvis secure in a country setting. “One Sided Love Affair” was written for this album and eventually, all his 1950’s records would feature many newly created songs.

I usually just review the original vinyl release of an older album, but in this case I am going to recommend the CD reissue. While it will take you away from the intent and impact of the original album, included are six additions that are classic Elvis. The single releases “Heartbreak Hotel” and “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” only add to the quality of the listening experience. Also added are “I Was The One,” “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” “Shake, Rattle And Roll,” and “My Baby Left Me,” which take Elvis back to his raw rockabilly roots.

Elvis Presley’s music has been released in many forms over the years and has been re-packaged in a hundred or so different ways, but if you really want to understand him and his musical legacy, this is the place to start.

Rating: A

User Rating: Not Yet Rated


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© 2008 David Bowling and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of RCA, and is used for informational purposes only.