The Pelvis. (Elv1s: 30 #1 Hits - Elvis Presley)

Member Name: paulhanton

Product:	Elv1s: 30 #1 Hits - Elvis Presley
Date:	14/09/09 (120 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some classic tracks.

Disadvantages: Some film fillers.

Elv1s 30 # 1 Hits

This album of 31 (strangely) songs was released in 2002 and can now be bought on iTunes for £5.99.

Now as some of you know, my musical tastes are varied to say the least and I cannot not review something by Elvis for two reasons; firstly he had a profound impact on me as a boy (6-11), I loved his songs, I loved a lot of his films and I thought he was ultra cool, especially in the '68 comeback tour. Secondly, it is not an understatement to say that his white boy sings black songs early years influenced so many of not only our past and current musicians, but whole genres of music.

So, his number ones...not necessarily his best songs, but his most popular certainly.

Before you stop reading further and dismiss this out of hand...how many other artistes can you name that can release an album of 30 number ones? Prolific and sucessful, that alone makes this album worthy of a listen.

Clearly I am not going to review every track....I think Plipplop would explode, however there are a few tracks that are worthy of mention, not only for their greatness, but, unfortunately in some cases, for their mediocrity.

It is worthwhile noting for anyone buying this album, and it is a good intro to Elvis, that there are more iconic and better tracks out there that did not, due to purchases, make this album....'If I can Dream' was a brilliantly outspoken piece of music in the Vietnam and civil rights years, 'Guitar Man' a great fast blues track that sits well with his smouldering song 'Trouble'....'An American Trilogy' is a classic, if underrated song and many of his gospel offerings just illustrate his roots and cultural background...however, it is this offering that I am reviewing.

The opener 'Heartbreak Hotel' is synonomous with his early sound, laconic, almost acoustic, sexy, down n dirty rock n roll, brilliant, who doesn't know it...and who doesn't curl their lip when singing it?

'Hound Dog' is full of Delta Blues licks and full of energy and was, for its time, quite a raunchy song...then we get a few mediocre numbers that are hardly worthy of mention till we get to 'Jailhouse Rock'...the singing of which has probably become the granddaddy of music video's, though of course it was not marketed as such at the time, but was a scene from his early film career. Full of energy, great infectious beat, fab.

'One Night' is a fabulous, growly, sexy song that always seems to be fresh and earnest, no matter how many times it is listened to and should, in my opinion be put next to 'It's Now or Never', a cheesy song with a touch of Latino to it.

The next track worthy of mention is 'In the Ghetto'; quite a moving song that, like 'If I can Dream' is one of Elvis's rare forays into social commentary and it works well, I loved this as a kid, and still do, the lyrics are powerful, the message unmistakeable.

'The Wonder of You' could not be cheesier and I love it for that and that alone. 'Suspicious Minds' is a great song but can never be just listened to, the live version where he sings with the drummer challenging him musically is iconic, no album version can ever best that.

Songs like 'Stuck on You' and 'Surrender' are plain awful and churned out for movies, horrid.


~~~So, Finally~~~

This is one of those 'guilty pleasure' albums/CD's that often comes out when friends are over and we have had a drink or three...it really is worth a buy, six quid for 31 songs, can't go wrong.

Three stars for some of the great tracks included, if it did not have the naff number ones, it would of rated higher, if it included some of his gospel songs, bingo!

PS: I have cheated and cut n pasted the track listing, I couldn't write them all out, lol.


~~Track listing~~

1. "Heartbreak Hotel"
2. "Don't Be Cruel"
3. "Hound Dog"
4. "Love Me Tender"
5. "Too Much"
6. "All Shook Up"
7. "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear"
8. "Jailhouse Rock"
9. "Don't"
10. "Hard Headed Woman"
11. "One Night"
12. "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I"
13. "A Big Hunk o' Love"
14. "Stuck on You"
15. "It's Now or Never"
16. "Are You Lonesome Tonight?"
17. "Wooden Heart"
18. "Surrender"
19. "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame"
20. "Can't Help Falling in Love"
21. "Good Luck Charm"
22. "She's Not You"
23. "Return to Sender"
24. "(You're The) Devil in Disguise"
25. "Crying in the Chapel"
26. "In the Ghetto"
27. "Suspicious Minds"
28. "The Wonder of You"
29. "Burning Love"
30. "Way Down"
31. "A Little Less Conversation (JXL Radio Edit Remix)"

Summary: Elvis, 30 number 1's.