Elvis Presley - Elv1s 30 #1 Hits
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Free Music Notes for Elv1s 30 #1 Hits
Free Music Review: The King Rules! --- 100th Review
Hit: 5 Stars
Welcome my people to my official 100th review on Amazon (although a few were lost in cyberspace along the way). 2 years later and I'm still at it. This Seer must be insane. But, it is funny how it all started. The medium who I channel through knew nothing about reviews but went to the library computer and learned there. His idea was to do reviews but make them unlike anything on here. Unfortunately, he was in control of alot of the earlier reviews under my name. Embarassing I tell you- embarassing. Eventually, that energy of a thought (me!) came into the picture and then I assumed full control. It was then when the reviews got more spice. Also, at that point, various ambassadors and heads of state from foreign countries wrote me and wanted me to accept various honors and gifts. Never one to turn down true fawning - I accepted it all. The rest- as they say-is history. But have no fear, my ego remains down to earth as usual (!) and I remain a staunch defender of the common man (you).
But let's get to Elvis, shall we, before they knock down the door and take poor Metamorpho away.
I suppose that, in a way, it is unfair how some things pertaining to Elvis have become part of the popular culture. Do we really need another impersonator? Or another movie just for the sake of making money? I can forgive Elvis for all the excesses in his life. Besides, fame made him a puppet - and it's all a shame.
Regardless- this collection is very formidable and essential for a number of reasons. One thing is that through the music (especially the early tunes) you can hear the pure sexuality and vocal allure that made him the King. The inflection, the rawness,the snarled lip all suggest an animalistic erotic fantasy. I have to say that Elvis was the master of growling and tenderness, knowing exactly how to sing lyrics distinctly and where to place the vocal emphasis. You don't learn these things. You are born with the gift- as Elvis was.
Most of this c.d. contains known hits by Elvis ("Heartbreak Hotel","Hound Dog","Stuck On You") etc. etc. I especially like the early hits- you know the ones- the unrefined ones that alerted you to the power of this amazing artist. However- I am not dismissing his later hits (i.e; "Good Luck Charm","In the Ghetto", "Suspicious Minds") for they, in their own right, extend the belief that there was a part of Elvis (his music) that was always in his heart. I suppose that the production of music became more sophisticated in his lifetime so it's only natural to find it in evidence here. However people - those early songs were the real deal.
Is this the most comprehensive collection of Elvis? No. Inevidently, there are some tunes I think are better than ones they included here. (Where is "Little Sister" Elvis? Where is she? Did you break her heart?). And, by the by, that is one killer song he did. But, all in all, this is a pretty decent compilation for the most part- or whatever music could be included on one c.d. Let's be honest - Elvis' archives are so vast I'd have to build a new room in my castle just to contain them. But I suppose it's fair to rate this for what it does include than what it doesn't include. In that- it is stellar and home to many, many, many classics from this man. I choose to remember him as a young man with mega-talent that wasn't allowed to swivel his hips on Ed Sullivan rather than the later Vegas Elvis who was given in to excess and on the down swing of his career. The vision of that early guy is the real treasure-and worth remembering through time. Elvis still remains the King- in this or any other era. Get this. A great and essential addition to your classic rock collection. Tell them Metamorpho sent ya. ;)
In closing, I want to thank Amazon in helping me achieve this milestone. It is through their generosity that Metamorpho is allowed to exist and write reviews in his odd and sometimes twisted way (but always informative Amazon!). Ideas, thoughts, creativity are things to be shared with others. Given the ability to do this with freedom is a gift. I have met alot of interesting and unique people who, in their own way, add a spark of life to me as I hope I do to them. O.K. O.K. I better get off this podium because they are starting to throw stuff! Happy 100 people!
Thank-you, thank-you very much--(with snarled lip) your, Metamorpho
Free Music Review: Beautifully selected & remastered: A MUST OWN!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the ultimate CD valentine to -- and CD primer on -- Elvis Presley. Masterfully produced and beautifully remastered, it's a MUST for Elvis fans, anyone who wants to hear a "hunk 'o burning" Elvis at his best (and occasionally NOT-so-best), and for those discovering Elvis after being turned on by the JKL A Little Less Conversation remix. I recently bought this CD and listened to it repeatedly while on a 1000 mile drive. The biggest compliment I can give it is: each time I've wanted to listen to it AGAIN.. and each time I discovered something different (from a song or a version of a song I had not heard) or heard a song differently (the remastering is topnotch).The catchy advertising campaign slogan (which is on the CD cover) says "Before Anyone Did Anything, Elvis Did Everything" -- and this CD shows you precisely why.
This perfect Elvis-To-Go-in-a-single-CD for Elvis fans is also going to turn on a LOT of young people, even though not all tracks are stellar. Number One chart hits are not always artistic gems. But many here ARE. Why is this the CD that Elvis fans must own, new Elvis fans must get, and anyone interested in the ups and downs of show biz creativity should study? Here are a few reasons:
--MUSICAL DIVERSITY: From real rock (the early Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock and wonderful late-Elvis Burning Love), to ballads (Love Me Tender, Are You Lonesome Tonight), to warmed over Italian ballads (One Night With You), to a "live" Vegas show stopper (The Wonder of You), to absolutely explosive early rock (A Big Hunk `O Love) and more -- it's all here...on ONE CD.
--YOU CAN TRACK ELVIS' CAREER AND CREATIVITY: Through these songs,young musicians, Elvis fans and show biz history buffs can experience the creative ups and downs in Elvis' career. Cuts from the 50s are generally pioneering and sincere; by the 60s, during his movie-career period, some key hits were bland (a few almost embarrassing). But by the late 60s, in his comeback period, he was back doing what he wanted to do -- and at the end of his career his voice was in full bloom. You can see here how Elvis adjusted his music to each era (thus validating the recent remastering of A Little Less Conversation with modern back up, since Elvis would have used the most contemporary sounds). Despite his now cliched late-career weight gain, countless mall
shows, and alleged burn-out, Elvis' talent never left him, right up until the end.
--IT HAS SOME OF HIS BIGGEST HITS: This alone makes this CD a MUST own.
--YOU'LL DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW EACH TIME: Even though I am an Elvis fan I had not listened to A Big Hunk `O Love in many years. To me, this explosive (the vocal, drum, guitars and piano) and creative song was worth the price of the CD. It's also fascinating to listen to hear Elvis' early natural vocal technique evolve as the years rolled on and he worked to expand -- and display -- his technique and range. You can actually hear his voice change, as he matures.
--SUPERB REMASTERING: Due to 2002 state-of-the-art-remastering, Elvis has never sounded so crisp on early songs or even on later songs such as his last real rocking hit Burning Love. Elvis fans who own other CDs WILL notice a BIG difference.
--EXCEPTIONAL LINER NOTES: Liner notes explain when each song was recorded, a bit of history, even Elvis' mood. Highly revealing info enhances your listening pleasure since each song has a history and a significance. Liner notes here read like a well-written and exhaustively-researched magazine article.
--THE CD'S LAST FOUR SONGS: When you listen to the Vegas-style The Wonder of You (1970), the rocking Burning Love (1972), Way Down (1977, on the charts when he died), and the JKL A Little Less Conversation remix (a 1969 song recently revamped)you can't help but be blown away by the enormous talent, artistry and creativity. He may not have had teen idol-status at the end, but his talent had not diminished one iota....and the JKL remix shows that Elvis can be musically relevant -- and awe -- new generations.
Overall, Presley's estate, RCA, the skillful engineers, and the CD liner writers did the King proud.
Free Music Review: Pay NO Attention to the 1, 2 or 3 star "reviews"
Hit: 5 Stars
The people attacking Elvis Presley should understand what this forum is designed to do . . . that is to critique the CD - the MUSIC. If you do not like Elvis Presley - more power to you, but don't make stupid remarks about the man. Again, this forum is about the MUSIC. This is a 5 star CD in ALL categories. The sound, the content and the impact these songs had on, not only American music, but music all over the world. "Heartbreak Hotel" is so crisp and the vocals are so "up front" that you would swear Elvis was singing to you in your own living room. "Don't be cruel" is a classic in any decade. "Hound dog" is FINALLY on CD transferred at the correct speed (faster than any other "greatest hits" package that BMG put out previously). The sound on this song alone is worth the price of the CD. Some fans are not happy with the choice of songs, but the title is 30 # 1 hits. I like the song "That's someone you'll never forget", but it is not included. Why? It didn't get to the # 1 spot. Others are disappointed by BMG's use of 2 "alternate" takes and the exclusion of "I want you, I need you, I love you" (a song that DID make it to # 1 in the USA). The reason given for using the alternate takes is because the master tapes were (in contrast to the other masters) in such disrepair that the alt. takes were used for a better sound. Justified? I'm not sure. "The wonder of you" on this CD is NOT a better version on this disc as the one that has been released on several other Presley CD's - "A fool such as I" sounds great - but it lacks the excitement that the released version captured. However, it is a small sacrifice for the magnificence of the other tracks. All of Elvis # 1's could not be included on a single CD. He had many other chart toppers in countries outside the USA and England. The powers that be at BMG decided to use the charts in the US and England only . . . many others are missing beside "I want you, I need you, I love you". I have an extensive collection of Elvis Presley CD's from almost every country in the world. The criticism of BMG for putting out an endless stream of mediocre Presley product IS justified. Since the advent of the CD - BMG had treated the Presley catalog as irrelevant, simply a "money maker". When you can release a CD with 9 songs clocking in at a total of 23 minutes and still sell a few hundred thousand copies, with no promotion - why go through the expense of extensive liner notes and the re-mastering of the tapes? Only since the later part of the 90's has BMG taken a serious look at the impact their previous marketing plan had on Elvis' image (not to mention their own dwindling pocketbooks!) The people in charge of the Presley catalog now, are not only business men and women, but they are fans intent in "fixing" the wrongs done in the previous decade. If this release is an indication of the care and promotion they will give Elvis' CD's in the future, I'm sure everyone will be happy and get the songs they want sooner or later.
Like Elvis or not - his impact on music is undeniable. This is a 5 star CD - no doubt about it. If you are a new fan - your next step into the world of Elvis is "The Complete Sun Sessions". If you are an "old" fan like me . . . let's press BMG to re-master EVERY Elvis release from now on. See what a few commercials and a bit of promotion will do for you BMG?? "Elv1s # 1's" has now sold close to 8 million units all over the world and has gone to # 1 in 28 countries (or territories). Not bad for a country boy that never wrote his own songs or music and couldn't play an instrument and went to Vegas to "sell out". Perhaps with more releases like this one, people will finally understand that the previous statements are not true and Elvis Presley is THE most important musical influence of the 20th century.
Free Music Review: The king of rock 'n' roll never sounded better on disc
Hit: 5 Stars
The inlay card of this CD states "Before anyone did anything, Elvis did everything." As true as that may be in many cases, the idea to compile number one hits from both sides of the Atlantic is one clearly borrowed from the Beatles' hugely successful "1" album two years before. However, very few artists can boast the ability to produce a suitably sized compilation album based entirely on number one singles achieved in both the U.K. and the U.S. In fact, perhaps only Mariah Carey, Madonna, Michael Jackson, The Beatles and Elvis Presley are capable of such a feat. Countless compilations of Elvis Presley's music have been released in almost three decades since his death, and for Elvis to be brought to the attention of a 21st Century audience, this compilation needed to present something new and different to attract the interest of not only a modern generation but loyal fans alike. And what could have been better than the inclusion of what could almost be said to be a "brand new" Elvis song - the single "A Little Less Conversation" which stormed to the top of the UK charts in the summer of 2002 and stayed there for 4 consecutive weeks, breaking all kinds of UK chart records in the process. The song was written for inclusion in the Elvis movie, "Live A Little, Love A Little" and originally recorded for an unshot segment of the 1968 NBC television "Comeback" special. 34 years later, a Dutch DJ named JXL remixed this infectious song and it's appearance in a Nike TV advertising commercial during the Soccer World Cup Tournament only helped seal the song as an instant hit. It's as if the modern era of music has come full-circle with this song - music certainly wouldn't be quite the same today had it not started from the path Elvis created, and now here's Elvis "mingled" for lack of a better word with the sound of today's music.
To be honest, I bought this CD on the strength of wanting to own that one Elvis song that I didn't have amongst my collection, but to my surprise I found it was not the only thing new and different about this CD. The songs have been digitally remastered and sound staggeringly clear and fresh, making it even more difficult to believe that some of Elvis's earliest hits are now almost half a century old. There's also a different version of "The Wonder Of You" with arguably a slightly better vocal performance than the original but with a weak applause from the audience at the end that hardly gives credit to the great live performance given here by Elvis and his band. Throughout his entire career, Elvis never failed to give anything but a great performance in the recording studio, giving 110% so effortlessly while creating timeless classics.
Precisionists may question the inclusion (and exclusion) of some of the songs on this CD. Judging by the majority of songs on this CD, the basis for including a song as a "number one" would appear to be on the single reaching number one on the official U.S. Billboard chart and/or the official U.K. record retailer chart. If that is the case, "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" should be here as it was Elvis's second number one on the official U.S. Billboard chart. "Burning Love" made it to number one only on the U.S. Cashbox chart, and "In The Ghetto" reached the top spot on the U.K.'s NME chart only, a chart that ceased to be used as the official chart almost a decade earlier. Then there's the exclusion of all the "flip" sides to some of the songs listed as double-A side singles.
All in all, this CD is worth every penny. The king of rock `n' roll never sounded better on disc and these songs will always be the musical "launchpad" from which other singers, songwriters and musicians followed.
Free Music Review: The Royal Wonder of Elvis
Hit: 5 Stars
"Elvis 30 #1 Hits", for more or less, delivers what it promises. These are all of Elvis's number one songs in the USA and UK. It admits that how what qualifies as a number 1 (not necessarily the Billboard number 1) is not traditional but at least it explains its method unlike other greatest hits CDs. This collection is high class right down to its extensive liner notes to the remastering that doesn't butcher these classics. The album is in chronological order and this doesn't make the early tracks sound dated (like on other sets which do this). These songs are truly so original and fresh (even though they have been played millions times and in every possible place) that being placed in order doesn't make even the earliest tracks sound ancient. It's either the remastering or the sheer fact that these songs are just that remarkably excellent. His earliest massive hit was "Heartbreak Hotel", about a depressed youth mourning the loss of his girl. This is a surprising rock track that still has entertaining sway to it yet is shows the rebellion the kids have, making a rock song about such a depressing subject yet making it a hit. You knew something was in the air. "All Shook Up", "Hound Dog", "Don't Be Cruel" and "Jailhouse Rock" are the most inspired and still well known rock classics that helped change the face of music. These songs are some of the key classics in his arsenal. They all feature a signature sound of rough yet sweet vocals and erratically on point rock instrumentation. It's really hard to describe these songs since they are the primers for rock and roll. The remastering process makes these singles sound as good as ever. Although Elvis is the kind of rock, this collection shows his huge diversity well. "Wooden Heart", which is probably not known to novice US fans like myself, is partly a German children's sing along song. You can hear the Italian ballads that inspired "It's Now Or Never" and "Surrender". More tracks showcasing the different aspects of the kings voice include romantic rock song "One Night With You" and fast paced blues based "Hard Headed Woman". And country dominates tracks like the soft "Are You Lonesome Tonight?". The fast paced pop of "Devil In Disguise" and Motownish "Return To Sender" proved that Elvis could crank out quality hits in the Beatles era that rival their diversity. The songs leading up to and including the seventies are my personal favorites. From the heartfelt epic ballad "In The Ghetto" to the country-fried groove of "Burning Love", Elvis's period when the hits came less fast and furious was full of substantial hits. "Cryin' In the Chapel" is almost sacred. "Suspicious Minds", a dour relationship song about an untrusting man and woman, sounds so poppy that you can hear the influence this song had on modern dance music with its soul singing and melody packed guitar.
Cheers to RCA for releasing a thrilling package of the biggest and brightest hits from the career of the King of Rock. The funny thing is that the ended up waiting so long that Elvis eventually had a another hit song, a remix of "A Little Less Conversation". The great thing about this slightly speed up mix of the short but sweet original is that it being added as an extra track (due to being a number 1 single in the UK) doesn't affect the classics. This might be a very biased review since I'm an Elvis person and not a Beatles person, but this album is truly one of the best ever created. All the tracks blend so well together that you can listen to this massive collection (31 tracks and 80 minutes long) back to front and be entertained the whole time through. This is one album that everyone should have in their collection (and if you get around to it, maybe pick up the "Beatles 1").