Customer Reviews

Elvis By the Presleys (Bonus CD)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a great collection in great sound. It's not the same ol' greatest hits type package with Hound Dog, Don't Be Cruel, Blue Suede Shoes, etc. Those are all great songs but this album expands the horizons for the casual listener and introduces songs such as "I Got a Woman," "It's Over," "You'll be Gone," "My Way," and "I've Got a Feeling in My Body." You even get a 1977 live version of Blue Christmas. In other words - this CD contains the songs that are cherished and loved by the diehard fans such as myself. These are the songs that "hook" you on Elvis. And once you're hooked you can never shake it.

Elvis is the best entertainer in the history of music and it's about time he got the respect is due.

New and casual fans: This 2-CD set might just be the best introdution for those who are interested in something different than a typical "greatest hits" set. While some songs also appear on the superb sets "ELV1S 30 #1 Hits"(E1) and "Elvis: 2nd to None"(E2), well over twenty tracks do not. Repetition is hard to avoid when buying Elvis albums, so it is good to see that even with dulicates, there is plenty of great music for the money.
The two greatest hits sets I mentioned are more consistent and probably contain better material overall, but they lack gems "Elvis by the Presleys" contains such as Vernon Presley's favorite "Trying To Get To You", the fun romp "Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do!", the delicate vocals of "Indescribably Blue", the heartfelt songs "It's Over", "Separate Ways" and "Welcome To My World" and performances that showcase Elvis' rhythm & soul in "Steamroller Blues" and "I Got A Feelin' In My Body".
Buy E1 and E2 for the most recognizable hits, buy "Elvis By The Presleys" if you would like to learn more about Elvis through his music or are interested in exploring a vast and enjoyable catalog of well over 800 studio, soundtrack and live recordings.
For those that already own the songs: Its your call as to whether or not you buy this, but please don't write a negative review simply because you as an individual don't need to buy the album.
Also, keep in mind some retailers offer bonus material that might just make this enjoyable release worth your while...

Although I am not a big fan of repackaged material; all of these cuts can be found on other discs in some shape or form - this is a killer 2 disc set for newbies. It provides a very nice, well-rounded perspective of the King's career.

Everyone concentrates on the 1950's Elvis when in fact some of his best performances were recorded in the 70's. Here you'll find a nice cross-section of material from all three decades of his recording career.

One can't help but wonder what type of music Elvis would be recording today if he was still alive. Music has changed so dramatically since he passed away in 1977 but Elvis had such a great ear for talent, style and sound that I am sure there would have been some exceptional music coming out of Memphis these past 25 or so years. Unfortuantely the operative words here are "would have" or should I say "should have"?

Nonetheless, the price for this set is excellent and if you are looking to be introduced to an area of the King's work that you might not be familiar with or if you just want to round out your collection - this would be a great set to pick-up.

Sure most of these songs have been released on other albums and sure I wish they would include some previously unreleased alternate takes, but this is still a solid CD. They were trying to make this sort of a musical bio, and they did not do a bad job. This CD approximates the ups and downs of his life. I do want to warn potential purchasers that the bonus disk includes some foul language. They include some studio banter before Too Much Monkey Business and Elvis lets a few cuss words out. I wonder if this and the cover of the "Love, Elvis" CD (where he is tonguing a woman) isn't part of an effort to try to make Elvis' image "edgy".

Don't Waste Your Time Just To Get New Liner Notes.

Ever since BMG purchased RCA years ago, the recirculation of Elvis' material has bubbled over. They are not giving us anything new - just the same stuff with different packaging. This way people will feel compelled to have new liner notes and pictures.

Of course, being business-only-minded, they want your money - nothing else. And, unfortunately people are giving it to them.

How many times do I need "Hound Dog" or "Jailhouse Rock"? If you have it once, then you have it - period. I would rather have Elvis singing "Bad Moon Rising" which he did in concert but hasn't been released, yet.

If you want to have Elvis' proper commercial releases then don't buy this drivel. Instead, get the boxed sets:

50's Masters
60's Masters
Command Performances
Amazing Grace
70's Masters

The only excellent releases by BMG (now Sony BMG) are "Tiger Man" and the "1968 Comeback Special." These mentioned cds will give you all that you need.

I do appreciate BMG trying to get younger fans to appreciate Elvis' music but enough is enough. And this is now more than enough.

I'm a huge Elvis fan and sometime in the mid-nineties got really tired of buying the same songs over and over again, as I did not see any point or any additonal restoration in sound quality that made them worth buying.

In retrospect that all changed with 2003's reissue of four BMG compilations which for the first time employed Sony's DSD technology (which was essentially invented for archiving analog tapes).

Add to that Vic Anesini, who really knows what he's doing when it comes to mastering these vintage recordings, and you have another winner. Each track on the disc easily presents an improvement over anything that BMG issued in the early 90's.

Compare gems like "I'll hold you in my heart" to the 60's box set version (just listen to the drums or Elvis' voice) or even the tracks from the Aloha show (who always sounded muffled on the original CD) to name a few.

I really wish BMG would overhaul the complete catalog in DSD technology eventually, as it's just mindboggling how great these songs *can* sound when given the sonic attention they deserve.

Although I am not a big fan of repackaged material; all of these cuts can be found on other discs in some shape or form - this is a killer 2 disc set for newbies. It provides a very nice, well-rounded perspective of the King's career.

Everyone concentrates on the 1950's Elvis when in fact some of his best performances were recorded in the 70's. Here you'll find a nice cross-section of material from all three decades of his recording career.

One can't help but wonder what type of music Elvis would be recording today if he was still alive. Music has changed so dramatically since he passed away in 1977 but Elvis had such a great ear for talent, style and sound that I am sure there would have been some exceptional music coming out of Memphis these past 25 or so years. Unfortuantely the operative words here are "would have" or should I say "should have"?

Nonetheless, the price for this set is excellent and if you are looking to be introduced to an area of the King's work that you might not be familiar with or if you just want to round out your collection - this would be a great set to pick-up.

The best reason to get this release is the improvement in sound. Those of you who really don't care about the quality of sound and complain that this is 'more of the same', then you probably will never have a reason to ever buy an Elvis CD again. But for those of us who delight in new releases that take advantage of new technologies that allow us to hear Elvis' old songs sound better than they ever have, well, we can't get enough.

Disc one is a very good collection. From the fantastic Sun recordings Trying To Get To You through Heartbreak Hotel, Indescribably Blue, Suspicious Minds to A Little Less Conversation everybody can find favourites. I specially happy to have If I Can Dream, I'll Hold You In My Heart, Steamroller Blues and Trouble. They shows Elvis at his best.
Disc two is for the real collector.

I am not a fan of Elvis but do recognize his artistic merit. This set makes a good introduction to novices and provides a few sentimental tracks(disc two)that will please collectors and fans alike. Furthermore the advanced SONY engineering techniques are applied, providing pristine sound like their acclaimed Columbia/Legacy series. Tracks are segemented by developments in Elvis's life, such as his work, meeting Priscilla, genersousity, etc. The 24 titles on disc 1 are varied and are not all hits. I think the songs recorded during the seventies come off best, transferring him from the "king of rock" to a mainstream Sinatraesque Vegas pop singer. Fans will cherish the demo, alternate takes, and private recordings on the bonus disc 2. Nice annotation and family photos round out the package.