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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
King's Regal, Rockin' Crown Jewels On Display, May 30, 2000
This review is from: The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters (Audio CD)
RCA Records spent the first decade after Elvis Presley's death releasing compilations wrongheaded at best (a Canadian tribute, a children's album) criminally negligent at worst (the "Elvis Medley," the re-recording "I Was The One"). BMG's takeover of RCA increased the flow of reissues, but also their quality; Elvis now stood atop the time and style he lived in, rather than had his songs sicced on trends or revivals. "The Legendary 50s Masters" gives Presley the regal treatment given his subjects: Dylan, Clapton, Zeppelin. Its 140 songs across five discs (including rarities and a 1958 press conference), and deluxe booklet (including rare photos and author Peter Guaralnik's essay) preface and tell the first, happiest chapters of one of last century's most compelling stories. Starting before the beginning with Elvis' original demo, "My Happiness," the songs tour his amazing first year at Sun, his RCA signing and the seismic musical and film success that followed. Before influencing the world, Elvis acknowledges his own influences, covering songs by Bing Crosby, Junior Parker, Bill Monroe, Ray Charles, and Clyde McPhatter among others. We also musically meet the supporting cast: Scotty Moore, Bill Black, D.J. Fontana, Sam Phillips, the Leiber/Stoller songwriting team, and others who painstaking created this supposed rock and roll explosion using ageless musical ingridients. This set has so much to recommend and celebrate. Elvis' voice in all guises (growler, crooner, hillbilly) has never sounded clearer in music now nearly a half-century old. The fifth disc is a revelation, containing alternate takes of Presley's hits, a piece of the "Million Dollar Quartet" session, and three songs from his Las Vegas debut (suffice it to say his conquering of the town would come later). Even without these treats, "The Legendary 50s Masters" would, by packaging alone, be the finest posthomous Presley release and, subsequently, one of the finest box sets ever.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Definitive Elvis '50s compilation, February 25, 2007
This review is from: The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters (Audio CD)
THE KING OF ROCK 'N' ROLL: THE COMPLETE 50's MASTERS is a four-CD set, with a bonus disc containing alternate studio takes, and a lot of "live" Elvis recordings-- MGM Grand stuff, mostly. Except for the acetate of "That's When Your Heartaches Begins" and the few alternates, DISC 5 is fluff.
The other four CDs however are a treasure trove of the music that defined "The King." From his one-of-a-kind 1953 recording booth acetate of "My Happiness" to the 1958 fast version of "Ain't That Loving You Baby," this set documents Presley's recording career in chronological order and without gaps.
The 102-page long box-sized book includes sessionography, discography, color photos of all LP, EP and 45 picture sleeves, an excellent bio in easy to read print, and lots of other color and B&W photos. Sound quality is excellent. This one gets five stars for the biggest star of all!
TOTAL RUNNING TIMES --
DISC ONE -- 71:22
DISC TWO -- 70:40
DISC THREE -- 71:49
DISC FOUR -- 62:39
DISC FIVE (Rare And Rockin')-- 61:31
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The King changed popular music forever, April 26, 2004
This review is from: The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters (Audio CD)
Elvis is the singer who made rock'n'roll popular, although even in his early years he did not limit his music to that genre. This compilation containing (supposedly) every song that Elvis recorded during the fifties, plus alternate versions of some of them, shows just how good Elvis was at several different styles. Here you get all his famous rockers including Heartbreak hotel, Don't be cruel, Blue suede shoes, Hound dog, Mystery train, Paralyzed, Party, All shook up, Jailhouse rock, Teddy bear and One night, together with great covers of Tutti fruiti, Shake rattle and roll and other classics. Of course, you also get his recording of That's alright Mama, the song that secured his recording contract. Elvis also recorded a number of country songs, though not as many as he did later in his career. Sometimes (as with Blue moon of Kentucky), he re-interpreted them very differently from the originals, but most of his covers were more faithful, albeit adapted to his own style. I forgot to remember to forget, Old Shep, Have I told you lately that I love you, Your cheating heart and Fool such as I are among the country songs to be found here. Elvis also recorded some brilliant pop ballads in the fifties. Love me tender is the most famous but there are plenty of others. Among the lesser known ones, I particularly like As long as I have you. Gospel music was important to Elvis and here you can find Peace in the valley, Take my hand precious lord, It is no secret and I believe. You also get the eight Christmas songs that Elvis recorded in the fifties including Blue Christmas and Santa bring my baby back. This is the first of three boxed sets covering the music of Elvis. While the boxes for the sixties and seventies (which I reviewed a long time ago) are by no means complete, the music he recorded in the fits easily fits on five CD's. Indeed, there is enough room left for a long interview at the end of CD 4 (which I could have done without) and an entire CD of rarities. This box illustrates just why Elvis was such a powerful influence on popular music in the fifties.
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