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- Artist:
Elvis Presley - Rating:
- Release Date: June 23, 1992
- Total Time: 41:22
- Type: Compilation (best of), Box set
- Genre: Rock
Review
Prior to the 1992 release of the five-disc box set The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters, RCA's approach to reissuingThe first disc is largely devoted to the released Sun singles, both the As and Bs, and this remains the rawest, liveliest, nerviest music Presley ever cut, retaining its power over the years; decades later, it still sounds alive and unpredictable -- it still is possible to hear rock & roll being created in its very grooves and it's just as thrilling to hear the kinetic energy of this lean combo create an entirely new music; anybody who doubts Elvis as an innovator need only hear this to be proven wrong. Toward the end of the first disc, Elvis leaves Sun for RCA, and the production is a little cleaner and the material a little more streamlined, but that's just a relative judgment. This is still the birth of rock & roll, and when "I Got a Woman" and "Heartbreak Hotel" inaugurate the RCA years, that wild energy is still palpable, even now. As this set illustrates, partially through its sheer scope, that energy could be dissipated by an inclination to move toward the pop mainstream, which could result in beautiful, heartbreaking ballads, but also the safe pop crooning that debilitated his career in the '60s. Fortunately, at no time in the '50s did he sink into the murk that enveloped him for a period in the '60s. He may have recorded forgettable ballads and trifle (including, ironically, one of his few compositions, the corny "We're Gonna Move"), sometimes succumbing to either his trite side or the demands of the marketplace, but the remarkable thing about this box is how consistently compelling, even thrilling, this music is. The overly familiar hits, and they're all here, are given new life in this context, which has the feeling of history unraveling in front of your ears. That's what makes this box set transcendent -- the music and annotation alone would make it necessary for libraries, but this is better because it is thoroughly listenable, while presenting history in a compelling narrative context. Yes, some of these tunes sound like light pop tied to their time, but they make for very few cuts on this 140-track box. Most of this is dynamic, thrilling music that presents Elvis at his very best. Historically, this is surely essential, but what makes the box so great is that it's so entertaining, providing ample proof that Elvis' music is indeed every bit as influential and timeless as the history books state. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Tracks
CD 1
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| My Happiness [#] | (2:32) | ||
| That's All Right (Lyrics) | Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, Jimmy Rogers | (1:56) | |
| I Love You Because (Lyrics) | Leon Payne | (2:44) | |
| Harbor Lights (Lyrics) | Jimmy Kennedy, |
(2:36) | |
| Blue Moon of Kentucky | Bill Monroe | (2:03) | |
| Blue Moon (Lyrics) | Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart | (2:41) | |
| Tomorrow Night | Hank Thompson, Sam Coslow, |
(3:00) | |
| I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') | Jimmy Wakely | (2:25) | |
| I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine (Lyrics) | Mack David | (2:29) | |
| Just Because (Lyrics) | (2:34) | ||
| Good Rockin' Tonight | Roy Brown | (2:13) | |
| Milk Cow Blues | Kokomo Arnold | (2:39) | |
| You're a Heartbreaker | (2:12) | ||
| Baby Let's Play House | Arthur Neal Gunter | (2:16) | |
| I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone | Stan Kesler, William Taylor, Bill Taylor | (2:37) | |
| Mystery Train (Lyrics) | Junior Parker, Sam Phillips | (2:26) | |
| I Forgot to Remember to Forget | Charlie Feathers, Stan Kesler | (2:29) | |
| Trying to Get to You | Shelby Singleton, Charlie McCoy, |
(2:32) | |
| When It Rains, It Really Pours | Bill Emerson, |
(2:03) | |
| I Got a Woman | Ray Charles, |
(2:25) | |
| Heartbreak Hotel (Lyrics) | (2:09) | ||
| Money Honey | Jesse Stone | (2:36) | |
| I'm Counting on You (Lyrics) | Don Robertson | (2:25) | |
| I Was the One (Lyrics) | (2:34) | ||
| Blue Suede Shoes (Lyrics) | Carl Perkins | (2:00) | |
| My Baby Left Me (Lyrics) | (2:12) | ||
| One-Sided Love Affair (Lyrics) | (2:11) | ||
| So Glad You're Mine | Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup | (2:22) | |
| I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) | Howard Biggs, Joe Thomas, Joe Thomas | (2:02) | |
| Tutti Frutti (Lyrics) | Little Richard, Dorothy LaBostrie, Joe Lubin | (1:59) |
CD 2
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Lawdy Miss Clawdy | Lloyd Price | (2:09) | |
| Shake, Rattle & Roll | (2:29) | ||
| I Want You, I Need You, I Love You | (2:40) | ||
| Hound Dog (Lyrics) | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (2:16) | |
| Don't Be Cruel | (2:02) | ||
| Any Way You Want Me (That's How I Will Be) | Aaron Schroeder, |
(2:15) | |
| We're Gonna Move | (2:31) | ||
| Love Me Tender | (2:42) | ||
| Poor Boy | (2:14) | ||
| Let Me | (2:10) | ||
| Playing for Keeps | Stan Kesler | (2:51) | |
| Love Me (Lyrics) | (2:44) | ||
| Paralyzed | Ted Nugent, |
(2:25) | |
| How Do You Think I Feel (Lyrics) | Webb Pierce, |
(2:11) | |
| How's the World Treating You (Lyrics) | Chet Atkins, Boudleaux Bryant, |
(2:25) | |
| When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again (Lyrics) | (2:22) | ||
| Long Tall Sally (Lyrics) | Little Richard, Robert "Bumps" Blackwell, Enotris Johnson | (1:52) | |
| Old Shep (Lyrics) | Red Foley, |
(4:11) | |
| Too Much | (2:32) | ||
| Anyplace Is Paradise | Joe Thomas, Joe "Cornbread" Thomas | (2:26) | |
| Ready Teddy | Bumps Blackwell, John Marascalco, |
(1:57) | |
| First in Line | Aaron Schroeder, Ben Weisman | (3:23) | |
| Rip It Up (Lyrics) | Robert "Bumps" Blackwell, John Marascalco, |
(1:54) | |
| I Believe (Lyrics) | Bill Champlin, Ervin Drake, |
(2:05) | |
| Tell Me Why | Titus Turner | (2:07) | |
| Got a Lot O' Livin' to Do! | Aaron Schroeder, Ben Weisman | (2:32) | |
| All Shook Up | (1:58) | ||
| Mean Woman Blues | (2:17) | ||
| Peace in the Valley (Lyrics) | Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey | (3:20) |
CD 3
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| That's When Your Heartaches Begin (Lyrics) | (3:22) | ||
| Take My Hand, Precious Lord (Lyrics) | Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey | (3:18) | |
| It Is No Secret (What God Can Do) | Stuart Hamblen | (3:55) | |
| Blueberry Hill (Lyrics) | (2:40) | ||
| Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (Lyrics) | Mac Wiseman, |
(2:33) | |
| Is It So Strange | Faron Young | (2:29) | |
| Party | (1:27) | ||
| Lonesome Cowboy | (3:02) | ||
| Hot Dog (Lyrics) | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (1:13) | |
| One Night of Sin (Lyrics) | Dave Bartholomew, |
(2:36) | |
| (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear | (1:47) | ||
| Don't Leave Me Now (Lyrics) | Aaron Schroeder, Ben Weisman | (1:59) | |
| I Beg of You | (1:52) | ||
| One Night (Lyrics) | Dave Bartholomew, Mike Reid, |
(2:31) | |
| True Love (Lyrics) | Cole Porter | (2:06) | |
| I Need You So (Lyrics) | Ivory Joe Hunter | (2:38) | |
| Loving You (Lyrics) | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (2:13) | |
| When It Rains, It Really Pours | Bill Emerson, |
(1:49) | |
| Jailhouse Rock (Lyrics) | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (2:28) | |
| Young and Beautiful | Aaron Schroeder, |
(2:03) | |
| I Want to Be Free (Lyrics) | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (2:13) | |
| (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (1:52) | |
| Don't Leave Me Now (Lyrics) | Aaron Schroeder, Ben Weisman | (2:06) | |
| Blue Christmas (Lyrics) | (2:08) | ||
| White Christmas (Lyrics) | Irving Berlin | (2:24) | |
| Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) | Gene Autry, |
(1:55) | |
| Silent Night | Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr | (2:24) | |
| O Little Town of Bethlehem (Lyrics) | (2:36) | ||
| Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me) | Aaron Schroeder, |
(1:53) | |
| Santa Claus Is Back in Town (Lyrics) | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (2:24) | |
| I'll Be Home for Christmas (Lyrics) | Buck Ram, Kim Gannon, Walter Kent | (1:53) |
CD 4
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Treat Me Nice (Lyrics) | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (2:12) | |
| My Wish Came True | Ivory Joe Hunter | (2:35) | |
| Don't (Lyrics) | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (2:49) | |
| Danny (Lyrics) | Ben Weisman, |
(1:52) | |
| Hard Headed Woman | (1:54) | ||
| Trouble (Lyrics) | Lindsey Buckingham, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (2:18) | |
| New Orleans | (2:00) | ||
| Crawfish (Lyrics) | Ben Weisman, |
(1:50) | |
| Dixieland Rock | Aaron Schroeder, |
(1:47) | |
| Lover Doll | (2:10) | ||
| Don't Ask Me Why (Lyrics) | Ben Weisman, |
(2:06) | |
| As Long as I Have You (Lyrics) | Ben Weisman, |
(1:51) | |
| King Creole (Lyrics) | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (2:09) | |
| Young Dreams | Aaron Schroeder, |
(2:24) | |
| Steadfast, Loyal and True (Lyrics) | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (1:16) | |
| Doncha' Think It's Time | Willie Dixon, Clyde Otis, Luther Dixon | (1:57) | |
| Your Cheatin' Heart (Lyrics) | Hank Williams | (2:25) | |
| Wear My Ring Around Your Neck (Lyrics) | (2:15) | ||
| I Need Your Love Tonight | (2:05) | ||
| A Big Hunk O' Love | Aaron Schroeder, |
(2:14) | |
| Ain't That Loving You Baby | Ivory Joe Hunter, Jimmy Reed, Clyde Otis | (2:24) | |
| (Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I | Hank Snow, |
(2:38) | |
| I Got Stung | Aaron Schroeder, |
(1:53) | |
| Interview With Elvis [#] | (13:35) |
CD 5
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| That's When Your Heartaches Begin [#] | (2:48) | ||
| Fool, Fool, Fool [#][Demo Version] | (1:53) | ||
| Tweedle Dee [Live][#] | (2:07) | ||
| Maybellene [Live][#] | Chuck Berry, Alan Freed, |
(1:59) | |
| Shake, Rattle & Roll [#] | (2:18) | ||
| Blue Moon of Kentucky [Alternate Take] | Bill Monroe | (1:04) | |
| Blue Moon [Alternate Take][#] | Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart | (2:56) | |
| I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone [Alternate Take][#] | Stan Kesler, William Taylor, Bill Taylor | (2:41) | |
| Reconsider Baby [#] | Lowell Fulson, Deadric Malone, |
(2:55) | |
| Lawdy Miss Clawdy [Alternate Take][#] | Lloyd Price | (2:09) | |
| Shake, Rattle & Roll [#] | (2:26) | ||
| I Want You, I Need You, I Love You [#] | (2:41) | ||
| Heartbreak Hotel [Live][#] | (2:53) | ||
| Long Tall Sally [Live][#] | Little Richard, Robert "Bumps" Blackwell, Enotris Johnson | (2:15) | |
| Blue Suede Shoes [Live][#] | Carl Perkins | (4:59) | |
| Money Honey [Live][#] | Jesse Stone | (3:17) | |
| We're Gonna Move [#] | (2:32) | ||
| Old Shep [Alternate Take][#] | Red Foley, |
(3:54) | |
| I Beg of You | (1:52) | ||
| Loving You [Slow Version][#] | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (1:50) | |
| Loving You [Uptempo Version][Alternate Take][#] | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (1:26) | |
| Young and Beautiful [Alternate Take][#] | Aaron Schroeder, |
(1:11) | |
| I Want to Be Free [Alternate Take][#] | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (2:07) | |
| King Creole [Alternate Take][#] | Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | (2:05) | |
| As Long as I Have You [Alternate Take][#] | Ben Weisman, |
(1:25) | |
| Ain't That Loving You Baby [outtake][Alternate Take][Version] | Ivory Joe Hunter, Jimmy Reed, Clyde Otis | (1:48) |
