Customer Reviews

Elvis 75-Good Rockin' Tonight

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Elvis was not only the king of Rock `n' Roll (Little Richard's claim on the crown notwithstanding), but in his afterlife he has also become the undisputed king of reissues and anthologies. RCA's four-CD set, spanning from his earliest self-funded acetates through late home recordings and live sides, his last major studio works and a post-mortem remix, offers no new tracks for Presley's legions of collectors, but provides a superb introduction and deep overview for anyone who's heard about, rather than heard, the King. Those who know a few hits or have sat through an Elvis movie or two will find the greatness of his musical catalog measures up to the hype and explains the dedication of his most ardent fans.

Collected here are one hundred tracks, beginning with Presley's very first recording, "My Happiness," waxed on his own dime as a gift for his mother. His earliest commercial sides show how he forged hillbilly, blues and country roots into his personal strand of rock `n' roll, first for Sun with Scotty Moore and Bill Black, and then, with the addition of D.J. Fontana on drums and A-list guests like Floyd Cramer and Chet Atkins, for RCA. These early works aren't so much primitive as they are elemental - the lack of production pomp or circumstance presents Elvis as an unadorned and raw rock `n' roll spirit. The addition of a backing vocal trio, as can first be heard on 1956's "I Was the One," showed a crooning side of Elvis that would continue to reappear even as he continued to explore rockabilly and blues.

From the 50s through the 70s Elvis moved through a variety of producer's hands and a number of different studios, and got something different from each. His studio recordings took him from Memphis to Nashville, north to New York, west to Hollywood, back to Nashville where he worked in RCA's legendary Studio B and back to Memphis for his legendary late-60s sessions at Chip Moman's American Studios. By the early `70s, on the heels of his televised comeback special, Elvis once again became a live draw, and selected sides find him in Las Vegas, Honolulu and on the road in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Elvis waxed his share of clunkers, but with each new direction and in each new setting he seemed to record something worthwhile, and producer Ernst Mikael Jorgensen has done a masterful job of picking highlights.

More importantly, Jorgensen has intermixed iconic hits with lesser known singles and album tracks, showing the depth of Elvis' artistry and the catalog he created. Elvis often overwhelmed the charts with hit singles, leaving terrific performances such as the energized "One-Sided Love Affair," a bluesy cover of Lloyd Price's "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" and the gospel "Thrill of Your Love" to languish as album tracks. Even more surprising is a 1962 version of "Suspicion" that pre-dates Terry Stafford's hit by two years. Elvis' soundtracks included their share of dregs, particularly as the `60s wore on, but they also included hits and great album tracks like a scorching version of "Trouble" from King Creole and bluesy covers of Dylan's "Tomorrow is a Long Time" from Spinout and Jimmy Reed's "Big Boss Man" from Clambake.

While other artists reinvented themselves to fit the times, Elvis bent the times around himself (excepting "Yoga is as Yoga Does," thankfully not included here), staying true to his voice as everything around him changed. His producers, songwriters, and musicians kept turning over, but in the center of it all Elvis sang a surprisingly straight line from '53 to `77. Even as his voice matured and the productions were influenced by his Vegas stage show, the fire in his delivery remained. Whether singing rock, blues, country, soul, pop or gospel, his performances found a true line stretched from the Sun sessions through RCA studios in Nashville, New York and Hollywood, a stint in the army, a catalog of often mediocre films, his 1968 resurrection, a triumphant return to Memphis, and country sessions that brought him back to his roots.

For many listeners, disc four will be the least familiar. Covering 1970 through 1977, these selections find Elvis' singles charting lower, but still delivering the goods. Only "Burning Love" made the top-5, and his other top-10 from that stretch, "The Wonder of You," is not included. "An American Trilogy," is at once bombastic and utterly show-stopping, his version of "Always on My Mind" made the country charts but should have found cross-over success before Willie Nelson ten years later, and his last single, "Way Down," though given to `70s production sounds, finds his gospel fervor undimmed. The beat heavy remix of "A Little Less Conversation" that closes the set shows just how easily Elvis' voice could slide into new contexts (the original film performance from Live a Little, Love a Little is worth searching out on DVD, by the way). These hundred tracks aren't a complete run through every Elvis highlight, but they tell the entire arc of his musical career in a compelling and thorough way.

The box includes an 80-page booklet that features a biographical essay by Billy Altman, numerous photos, reproductions of original record labels, covers and picture sleeves, movie posters, master tape boxes, and detailed recording, chart and personnel data. RCA/Legacy is releasing a companion 26-track single disc that cherry-picks this box, and though it may prove useful as a guide to further Elvis purchases, it doesn't provide the compelling, detailed portrait of this four-disc set. With more Elvis 75th-birthday anniversary reissues on the way (and a terrific 2-CD version of From Elvis in Memphis already out) you may be tempted to put together your own collection, but you'd have a hard time assembling a more compelling introduction than this box. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]

As far as I can tell, "Good Rockin' Tonight" may be the most complete Elvis collection yet, beginning with "That's all Right Mama" 1n 1954 and ending with with his 2002 hit which was a remix of a song called "A Little Less Conversation". Included are most of his greatest songs along with some that are not as well known but valid anyway. Unfortunately, two of his greatest tracks, "Trying To Get To You" from 1956 and "The Wonder of You" from 1969 are not on this collection which forced me to buy the MP3 versions, burn them onto CDRs, and put them in the box with the other four CDs. If you can handle picking your favorite Elvis tracks that are not on this collection (and there will be some-let's face it!) and burning them onto CDRs to complete YOUR collection, then "Good Rockin' Tonight-Elvis 75" is well worth the price.

This awesome and well done compilation is one of the best Elvis box sets out there bar none! Elvis could have belted out the phone book and I'd have been there, standing and applauding all the way through! You'll find so many different styles of music that Elvis loved to perform here: rockabilly, rhythm and blues, bluegrass, rock `n' roll and even more! I like that this four CD box set has that very early recording of "My Happiness" which Elvis had to pay to record for his mother before he became well known; then we get both very big Elvis hits as well as a number of his lesser known gems. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is very nicely done. Inside the box there is an eighty page booklet; there's an essay by Billy Altman along with photos, reproductions of artwork and much, much more.

There's something for every Elvis fan here. Like music from his movies? No problem; there's a lot of that here. Whether it be his music from the movies he starred in "Jailhouse Rock" with Elvis really rocking to that a great beat and a musical interlude that couldn't be better; "King Creole" from the movie of the same name with that male backup that works perfectly as well as "Trouble" and "Head Headed Woman" which come from "King Creole;" and "Viva Las Vegas" from the movie of the same name, Elvis never skips a beat! He never lets go of a single superfluous note and his excellent diction combined with his sophisticated phrasing makes these songs and all the others brilliant. Elvis invariably sings with great passion and you can tell he's singing from the heart with just one listen!

Of course, with four CDs packed to the brim as they are here, there's so much more here by Elvis than just some songs from his movies. I scarcely know how to begin to tell you about all the great hits and lesser known exquisite ballads that make this such a worthwhile addition to your Elvis collection. I really like "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such As I;" Elvis never sounded better--and how's about those drums? The music fits in perfectly with Elvis' singing but wisely the music never drowns out Elvis; you can easily hear what he's singing and I love it. In addition, "It's Now or Never" stuns me with its natural charm; the poignant "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" showcases Elvis yet again; "(Marie's the Name of) His Latest Flame" has a fine beat that makes this memorable; "Return to Sender" (one of my very favorite all time Elvis tunes); "(You're the) Devil in Disguise;" "In the Ghetto" with Elvis singing faultlessly; "Suspicious Minds" with that incredible arrangement; the awesome "Polk Salad Annie;" the very moving and beautiful "Funny How Time Slips Away;" Elvis' gorgeous rendition of "Always on My Mind" and "Unchained Melody" are just a very few of the magnificent songs on these four CDs. "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" and "Hound Dog" are equally well done hits from Elvis.

Lesser known but stunning numbers include "I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water;" "I Just Can't Help Believin';" "Steamroller Blues" and "Promised Land." Indeed, much of the fourth CD offers us lesser known tunes that were very well done and it's a shame they didn't chart as well as other Elvis songs did. An excellent example of Elvis' gospel style is found in "Way Down."

Another reviewer notes that "Trying to Get to You" and "The Wonder of You" are not here--and they are right. That's my only disappointment. I really like Elvis singing "The Wonder of You," too. The best thing is to download them and burn them to CD-R--that reviewer gave us an excellent suggestion.

Elvis Presley left us all too soon; today would have been his seventy-fifth birthday. Fortunately, however, we have CDs, CD box sets, his movies and concerts on DVD and more to remember him fondly and most appropriately as The King of Rock 'n' Roll. This is an absolute must-have for Elvis fans.

This review is for "Elvis 75-Good Rockin' Tonight" [Box set] - I was always a "casual" fan of Elvis Presley. I've heard most of his big hits all my life. But when TCM premiered the re-edited and remastered version of "Elvis: That's the Way It Is" this year (2010), in celebration of Elvis's 75th birthday, I saw Elvis with different eyes and ears. Priscilla Presley was a guest and was promoting this boxed set too, but I still didn't buy it right away. I did research on Amazon and read many reviews. I played clips of lots of Elvis's songs. Then I made my decision. This boxed set had the best collection of Elvis's music for the money. When I received the boxed set, and played each song, I was blown away. I could not believe what I was hearing. I had no idea Elvis was this good. No wonder he was considered "The King". I listened to songs that I've heard before but not like this. I heard small details that I've never noticed before. The people that put this collection together did a fantastic job. I highly recommend this boxed set to even the most casual Elvis fan, even if you only think you liked "some" of his music. Buy this CD collection without hesitation. A+

For the man who was described as "the cultural phenomenon of the 20th century" by Leonard Bernstein, this compilation of some of the King's best recordings is a fitting tribute. What is amazing about Elvis was that he could sing any type of music; country, rhythm and blues, pop, gospel, rock, and hearing him sing the listener would believe that that field of music was Elvis's forte. There has never been, nor will there ever be one person who changed the world of entertainment like the King. Steve Martin wrote a play some years ago in which he had Picasso meeting Einstein in a cafe in Paris. In the second act, the triumvirate was complete when Elvis makes his appearance to join their ranks. With his 3 octive range, and his incredibly sincere presentation, Elvis kicked the door open for all who followed him, from Buddy Holly to The Beatles, from Springsteen, to Dylan and Paul Simon, Elvis is the standard by which all real artists are judged. This collection virtually rocks out of the CD player as he rips into the songs that became anthems for his generation.

Elvis Presley
"Elvis 75-Good Rockin' Tonight"
(Sony-BMG Legacy, 2009)
----------------------------------------------
This fab 4-CD retrospective covers Presley's entire career, from his legendary first recording (a one-off vanity pressing of "My Happiness" which he paid to record as a gift for his mother) to the post-millennial dance remix of "A Little Less Conversation." In between there are the thunderous early rockabilly hits ("Heartbreak Hotel," "That's All Right," etc.) the goofy movie songs ("Blue Hawaii," "King Creole") a ton of sentimental ballads, a smidge of gospel, some toss-offs, some gems ("His Latest Flame," "Little Sister") and his post-1968 comeback hits such as "Suspicious Minds" and "In The Ghetto," and finally his glitzy years of Las Vegas self-parody and extravagance.

It's a remarkable swath of American music, showing Presley's roots not only in African-American blues and hillbilly twang, but also a deep and abiding love of pure cornball romanticism and Tin Pan Alley pop vocals. Indeed, one of the striking things about Elvis' early years is the high proportion of non-rock material -- after all, the song he recorded for his mom was about as sappy as you could get, and he really, honestly loved that stuff. All of this is what made Presley one of the great American entertainers - he liked all kinds of music, and appealed to all kinds of fans. What we have here is perhaps the best single collection of his work (outside of some monolithic "complete recordings" set) which not only touches all the bases, but also digs deep and adds texture and nuance to the Elvis mythos. Sure, every Elvis fan in the world will lament the omission of a tune or two that they *wish* were here (where's "Clam Bake"??) but what is included is pretty impressive. A perfect gift, either for yourself, or some Elvis fan in your life. (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue Guide To Country Music)

ELVIS PRESLEY IS A TIMESLESS MUSICAL GENIUS.IF ONE EVER DOUBTED HIS MUSICAL GENIUS OR THE IMPACT HE HAS MADE ON MUSIC,ONE ONLY NEEDS TO LISTEN TO THIS COLLECTION.ELVIS PRESLEY COULD DO ANY KIND OF MUSIC HE WANTED AND MAKE IT HIS OWN,HE MADE THE SONGS HIS OWN,NO MATTER WHO HAD WRITTEN OR RECORDED THEM BEFORE.HE WAS THE MASTER.THIS COLLECTION IS EXCELLENT AS IS.

When I first heard that a new Elvis compilation CD was being released I thought here is another "re-do" of what has already been released before, but after reviewing the songs that were included in this package I was very pleased. I actually bought "Elvis 75-Good Rockin' Tonight" as a birthday present for my wife who is a huge Elvis fan...and she was really surprised. There were two main reasons why I bought this collection..the first; it included the hard-to-find "Such a Night" which is my wife's favorite Elvis song...or I should say "her favorite song of all time"; the second reason was that this package was a great mix of songs that spanned his entire career, and in historical order, from the oldest to the most recent. All in all "Elvis 75-Good Rockin' Tonight" is a great package at a great price. One of the nice unexpected highlights was the "booklet" that was included in this "box set" which contains great pictures and detailed information about each song. Buy this package...you will not be disappointed.

The "Good Rockin' Tonight" collection offers an expansive overview of Elvis Presley as Recording Artist. Though lacking previously unreleased material, the 100 tracks in this box set encompass the singer's remarkable 24-year career. You will find everything from the Memphis and Nashville sessions to Hollywood soundtracks and Vegas showstoppers. Truly stellar performances include "Mystery Train" (1955), "Peace in the Valley" (1957), "Hard Headed Woman" (1958), "Reconsider Baby" (1960), "It Hurts Me" (1964), "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" (1966), "Stranger In My Own Home Town" (1969), "I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water" (1970), "Promised Land" (1973), "Hurt" (1976) and "Unchained Melody" (1977). Along with the essential hits are overlooked movie gems such as "Doin' the Best I Can" (1960), "I Need Somebody to Lean On" (1963) and "This Is My Heaven" (1965) - not to mention the sublime country of "Funny How Time Slips Away" (1970) and "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" (1973). Excellent liner notes and pristine sound quality make this 4-CD package a thoughtful exploration of Presley's finest music.

Considering Elvis 75 in its entirety you are struck at the wide variance in musical genre it contains. 1950s Memphis rockabilly (Good Rockin' Tonight) mixes with glorious New Orleans style rock 'n' roll (King Creole) and the more pop orienated New York style rock `n' roll (A Big Hunk of Love); while Elvis in one moment delivers the pop sensibility of Stuck On You and in the next, hits his straps by wringing out the awful loneliness associated with the most painful of experiences with the anguish ridden bluesy soul of Stranger In My Own Home Town. He keeps us guessing through a mix of pleasant film tunes including the reflective cocktail lounge smoothness of I Need Someone To Lean On and a series of crowd pleasing powerhouse ballads such as the bombastic American Trilogy and the emotionally wringing Hurt.

Given this almost bewildering array of musical styles just who was Elvis the singer?

Listening to 'Elvis 75' it is obvious he was a singer of eclectic tastes and stirring ability; a musical interpreter par excellence. For long time fans it is no surprise as to how easily Elvis could circumnavigate an emotional range most other singers only dream about. As an artist Elvis traverses the searing heights and soulful depths music has to offer. Near the end his voice may have been erratic, but as Unchained Melody shows, he was always capable of producing something special. The passion never left him, it just became harder to extract as his mind and body sadly deteriorated.

In the Booklet, great visuals are complemented by an excellent essay by noted critic, Billy Altman. Altman's essay is insightful, incisive and not without clever narrative:

"While the prospects of a musical career seemed at best remote - the day after graduation, he began working at a machinist shop for the princely sum of thirty-three dollars a week - Elvis kept dreaming."

In around 30 pages of tightly constructed narrative, Altman provides a cogent examination of the Elvis story from its humble beginnings in that shotgun shack in Tupelo to its incredible highs and ultimate fate.

The 2009 audio ReMastering makes every song sound better than ever.
A GREAT compile at a fabulous price.

See a complete 4000 word review at [...] - the world's best independent Elvis site - Cheers, Piers