17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Combo of Kingly songs, August 6, 2000
This review is from: Elvis Presley - Greatest Jukebox Hits (Audio CD)
The quality of these tracks are brilliant and the whole rock and roll edge is ever present. Elvis's hottest hits are electric here and just as powerful and exciting as they were when they were made. All kinds of music really shine on the King of Rocks compact hits set. This album is a must for King fans of all ages in order to sample some of the most important music in history.
The set's first half is full of classic rock pieces like "All Shook Up", "Jailhouse Rock" (very well known chorus) and the crooning rock of "Don't Be Cruel". Elvis's voice, not to mention song writing talents (like "All Shook Up" and "Heartbreak Hotel) shine on these well known standards. There is a superb simplicity that is so great about the compositions. They all basically are about lust and breaking out, but few acts would dare go in that area and not be banded from radio. I think it is Elvis' vibrant personality that made those songs such winners. He really sold them and his type of music like no other. Hear the end of these golden oldies are some great cuts that rarely see the light of day (will, that rarely see an Elvis hits sets anyway). "Viva Las Vegas" is super catchy guitar and even more interesting lyrics. The same can be said for "Devil In Disguise". "Suspicious Minds" is a very intelligent soft rock tune with incredible soul driven background. The do wopish "Return To Sender" is fun. A personal fave of mine is "Burning Love" which is one of his last big hits. It combines both the sensitivity of those early rock tunes and a new cool groove. "Way Down" is gospel enthralled real treat. The influence of some real hard core soul music can found in the chorus when it really mellows toward the end.
The set is still not his best Best Of. It really hard to find on one single disc, but I think maybe the "Top Ten Hits" Double album does it better. You know that someone really messed up when they glossed over one of his all time biggest in "Love Me Tender" not to mention the excellent number 1 hit "In The Ghetto". I think for a an excellent combo of great hits, this is the way to go. You'll deeply enjoy this album and all of its unique yet very often heard tracks.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Rocking Tonight!, July 25, 2002
This review is from: Elvis Presley - Greatest Jukebox Hits (Audio CD)
Good Rocking Tonight!
Reviewer: Barron Laycock (Labradorman) from Temple, NH USA
This collection of Elvis songs is perfect for someone who is interested in having the best of his single releases. For those of us who grew up hearing these songs being played as the background to the movie of our everyday lives, each brings back some dusty memories; hitching a ride in a friends reworked '51 Ford and hearing "Jailhouse Rock" for the first time, or driving to Pennsylvania for my older sister's wedding and listening to "Don't be Cruel " as we hurtled down the highway. Yet much of this music came relatively later in his career, which is to say after he returned from the Army after a two year absence doing his patriotic duty.
So we have quite a mixture of different kinds of Elvis music, for what came after he returned was far less edgy and different than it had been before. Now he seemed to stick much more closely to a formulaic kind of song, much more main stream in songs like "Stuck On You, "Good Luck Charm", and "Return To Sender". Which isn't to say they were not good or that we didn't like them. But a lot of what he recorded in the 1963-67 timeframe was a lot like what everyone else was doing, or had been doing, in pop music.
Yet there are some innovative and impressive songs here, such as "It's Now Or Never", which was almost operatic in its delivery. This was a side of Elvis we had never recognized in any of his previous work, and he showed exactly how good a voice he had to work with. So we have quite a range here, from the early work like "Good Rocking Tonight", "Baby, Let's Play House", "All Shook Up", and "Heartbreak Hotel", as well as some softer and more mainstream work like "She's Not You", "Devil In Disguise', and "Suspicious Minds". Anyone giving a good listen to the range on this CD can see just what kind of musical legs this guy had. Enjoy!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great CD, January 20, 2002
This review is from: Elvis Presley - Greatest Jukebox Hits (Audio CD)
This is a really good CD. There are all the hits like "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Hound Dog" but then there are also not that commonly known songs such as "good rockin tonight" and "I got Stung" So if you like Elvis then you will love this CD!!!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No