Artist of the Century [BOX SET] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Elvis Presley

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 13, 1999)
• Original Release Date: July 13, 1999
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Box set, Original recording remastered
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Bmg / Elvis
• ASIN: B00000JILB
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #136,750 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Artist of the 20th century? Quite an assertion, and yet as a pop-culture phenomenon, who else? Among the dozens of quotes included in this career-spanning boxed retrospective is one from rock scribe Greil Marcus: "If any individual of our time can be said to have changed the world, Elvis Presley is the one." Indeed, and these are 75 of his towering recordings, ranging from 1954's "That's All Right" through 1976's "For the Heart." The three discs are packaged in a handsome book that includes the aforementioned tributes from his many disciples (sayeth James Brown: "He taught white America how to get down"), studio credits, and pithy anecdotes. On the downside, the vertical foldout is cumbersome and fragile. The music? Of course it makes the case for the grandiose title claim more than adequately. --Steven Stolder

Product Description

Japanese collection of 'The Artist of the Century's' most memorable recordings with one bonus track, the classic 'Love Me Tender'. Additional tracks include ''Heartbreak Hotel', 'Hound Dog', 'It's Now Or Never', 'In The Ghetto' & 'Suspicious Minds'. 26 tracks in all. 2000 release. Standard jewelcas e. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another great box-set!, November 28, 1999

By	Mark van Hout (The Netherlands) - See all my reviews

It's got to be said: Elvis and box-sets are a golden combination! This box-set is a compilation of all Elvis-hits and other songs chosen by his fans, critics and fellow-musicians around the world. Although all the material has already been released (a few alternate takes would have been nice for the fans), it's absolutely a great buy for all those people eager to get a great compilation of Elvis songs. Because of the special lay-out also Elvis-fans will enjoy this box-set, but probably they will more enjoy the 3 different LP-versions of this box-set (black, blue and red vinyl). An important minus is the fact that BMG didn't include a single song from 1977. They could have included a live-version of "My Way", "Unchained Melody" or "Hurt". Especially because the box celebrates Elvis as beeing the "Artist of the Century" and therefor you can't exclude his last year. Nevertheless a great box!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Artist of the Century? You Betcha!, February 10, 2000

By	Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In the two decades-plus since Elvis' death, the King has been anthologized ad nauseam. Some of these collections have been terrific, either when thoroughly documenting a phase of his career (The King of Rock 'n' Roll 4-CD box) or providing listeners with rare tracks and alternate takes (Platinum: A Life in Music). Artist of the Century attempts to do neither.

Its goal is to provide a general overview of the artist for the casual fan (like me who was two years old when "Heartbreak Hotel" was released in 1956). By the time I was a teenager, the Beatles ruled the pop world and Elvis was seen by me as a relic of the fifties. I have since reassessed my opinion of Elvis and over the years have added several of his classic recordings to my collection: The Complete Sun Sessions, From Elvis in Memphis, The Complete 50s Masters and Top Ten Hits.

When Artist of the Century came out, I already had much of this material, but what it did give me was a general overview of his career. Are there glaring omissions for the serious fan? How coud there not be for a three-CD set that spans 22 years? Even if all you wanted to do was cover all of his hits--he had 107 counting the poshumously released singles--this 75-track collection couldn't fit them all in.

Accept this collection for what it is--an opportunity for the fan who wants SOME Elvis in his collection, but isn't enough of a completist to need ALL of the songs he ever recorded. You get five of his classic Sun recordings, most of his 50s and 60s top ten singles, his final two top ten chart entries of the seventies, and enough of the lesser singles and album tracks to give you a sense of the impact Elvis had on the pop music scene during its infancy. The booklets are informative (lots of album/single covers, track-by-track recording personnel and commentary), but being glued into a trifold box makes them awkward to read. It is not definitive, but it is representative of the career of arguably the greatest performer of the twentieth century. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Reminder of the King' Greatest Moments, July 18, 1999

By	T. C Lane (Marina, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Yes,he really was the Artist of the Century. It's not just his sales figures, but his impact on music and society that make Elvis Presley the icon of the 20th Century. Here are 75 reasons why h was the King of Rock and Roll. At first glance, this CD seems to be aimed at the Elvis neophyte. But a closer look reveals that while most of the hits are here, there's a nice sprinkling of album cuts that will thrill the die-hard fan, as well. Disc 2, which covers the post-Army/pre-68 Comeback is the most surprising of the 3 discs. Disc 3 which covers the 68 comeback/70's is fine, but the 70's cuts are disappointedly selected. While all the big hits are here, I was saddened to see that "Viva Las Vegas", "Kentucky Rain", "Hurt" and "Too Much" are absent. There was room on the package for these tracks, and RCA should've extended this to 80 tracks. Still, this is highly recommended for beginners and Elvis fans alike. Good sound, liner notes and the thrill of remembering the King of Rock and Roll again.