Greased, Gyrating and Pan-Fried! (Elv1s: 30 #1 Hits - Elvis Presley)

Member Name: Adammico

Product:	Elv1s: 30 #1 Hits - Elvis Presley
Date:	12/08/03 (247 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: see review

Disadvantages: see review

Brief Background

In 1956, RCA released Elvis' 1st major label release. Until this review, Elvis Presley has not been reviewed on this site. Although this record was not the 1st rock record, it is definitely on the high-water level in terms of importance and relevancy to modern popular music.

Instructions On Review Preparation

1. Grease your hair (male and/or female).
2. Grill a banana and peanut butter sandwich.
3. Stretch your hips (or gyrate at your own risk).

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Track Listing

1. Heartbreak Hotel - (bonus track)
2. I Was The One - (bonus track)
3. Blue Suede Shoes
4. I'm Counting On You
5. I Got A Woman
6. One-Sided Love Affair
7. I Love You Because
8. Just Because
9. Tutti Frutti
10. Trying To Get To You
11. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You)
12. I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin')
13. Blue Moon
14. Money Honey
15. Shake, Rattle And Roll - (bonus track)
16. My Baby Left Me - (bonus track)
17. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy - (bonus track)
18. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You - (bonus track)

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Elvis Presley Detailed

1. Heartbreak Hotel 2:09 (track duration)

9.5/10 Stoopin' Elvii

Heartbreak Hotel has been bled to death, but keeps coming back. I have read that the Beatles, Yesterday was certified as the most played pop song, but in my life and on oldies radio, dancing stuffed animals, movies and jukeboxes alike, this single has been abused for over 45 years. Its redeeming quality is that it is very simplistic yet so drawing. "Heartbreak Hotel"(as this is listed chronologically), was his 1st #1 single(#2 in the UK). Since it's release in January of 1956, it has been covered by numerous recordings of this song from everyone between Lawrence W

elk to Lynyrd Skynyrd (that should have been a duet).

(Composers: Tommy Durden/Mae Axton)

2. I Was the One (2:35)

10/10 Seizing Elvii

Imagine yourself going to a 1950's-style diner. In that diner, there is a juke box. You know, the kind that is placed in your booth and has little more than a handful of options. 2/3 of the tracks included may be mid to fast tempo, but a few are slow songs to be used only during special moments. I Was the One should be set aside for those distinctive occasions.

This sultry ballad has the extraordinary ability to seize and firmly clench. Elvis was in exceptional voice, for he flowed seamlessly between bass and tenor.

(Claude Demetruis, Bill Peppers, Hal Blair and Aaron Schoeder)

3. Blue Suede Shoes (2:00)

8/10 Shoe-Protectin' Elvii

"Well it's one for the money, two for the show
Three to get ready now go cat go.
But don't you, step on my blue suede shoes.
You Can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes

You can knock me down, step on my face
Slander my name all over the place.
Do anything that you wanna do
But uh uh honey lay off of my shoes.
You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes..."

*wink*

You may have heard of this standard. Obviously, the tempo picks up here in this graphic and comical number.

Are you still singing the lyrics to yourself?

Carl Perkins originally made a hit with this creation, but Elvis' version has become the definitive recording. However, this Blue Suede Shoes' rendering never charted (Source: U.S. Top 40 Singles Chart at http://www.presley.de/elvis/chart/single.htm) .

4. I'm Counting on You (2:25)

7/10 Cultivatin' Elvii

In waivering tenor (on balance), Elvis provided a heartfelt, but imperfect
track. It resembles his Sun Records ballads, exc
ept t
hat it featured a higher vocal capability and cultured delivery dynamics.

(Don Robertson)

5. I Got a Woman (2:25)

9/10 Callin' Elvii

In this sequence, the Ray Charles-penned track really hits its stride. This early Johnny Cash-like arrangement befitted this performance. The slowed-down hip-swiveling gyrations were perfected with the final line:
"...I gotta a woman...way oh-o-over town....that's good to me-e-e....yea-aye-aye-yeah.

Prior to final line, the words are old-fashioned and sexist, but kind-hearted in an ignorant fashion. Basically, "I Got A Woman" could be defined as a very old school booty call.

6. One-Sided Love Affair (2:11)

10/10 Demandin' Elvii

So far, this track is the 1st relative unknown on this list. It is my favorite upbeat song on the CD. Consider it a delicious mix of Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis' most manic and intoxicating verse work.

"One-Sided Love Affair" is best characterized as a sing-songy/rockabilly yelp. Listen and enjoy!

(Bill Campbell)

7. I Love You Because (2:44)

3/10 Relaying Elvii

On balance, this works as a flatter version "I'm Counting on You". Although the whistling introduction is interesting, but the actual song is tiresome. It's length is only 2:44, but feels a couple minutes longer. Somewhat fortunately, I Love You Because is broken up with a spoken word bridge, but Elvis' spoken word sections always seem to make me feel a little uneasy due to its inherent queerness.

(Leon Payne)

8. Just Because (2:34)

9.5/10 Angry Elvii

Yes! The Elvii are angry. Actually, Elvis is trying to put a woman in his place with mean-spirited jabs. She dumped him and he is spiteful. Of course, Just Because hops and was amusingly placed following a flowery love song. This jarring creates an even greater sense
of bite.


"Well, well, well,
Just because you think you're so pretty,
And just because your momma thinks you're hot,
Well, just because you think you've got something
That no other girl has got,
You've caused me to spend all my money.
You laughed and called me old Santa Claus.
Well, I'm telling you,
Baby, I'm through with you.
Because, well well, just because.

Well, well, well,
There'll come a time when you'll be lonesome
And there'll come a time when you'll be blue.
Well, there'll come a time when old Santa
He won't pay your bills for you.

You've caused me to lose all my women
And now, now you say we are through.
Well, I'm telling you
Baby, I was through with you
A long long time ago.

Well, just because you think you're so pretty
And just because your mama thinks you're the hottest thing in
town
Well, just because you think you've got something
That nobody else has got,
You've caused me to spend all of my money.
Honey, you laughed and called me your old Santa Claus.
Well, I'm telling you I'm through with you
Because, well well, just because."

(Bob Shelton, Joe Shelton and SidRobin)

9. Tutti Frutti (1:59)

1/10 Frutti-Posin' Elvii

This Little Richard masterwork should not have been picked by Elvis. This version is sloppy and too fast paced. It plays like butchered karaoke filler and that is rather unfortunate with such a historic track.

(Dorothy Labostrie and "Little Richard" Penniman)

10. Trying to Get to You (2:32)

8.5/10 Blues-Apin' Elvii

The bluesy side of Elvis finally made its presence. Although "Trying to Get to You" speaks of desperation, it reeks of cool. Before he became a bloated disfigurement o
f himself, Pres
ley was cool and this recording framed it fittingly.

(Charles Singleton and Rose Marie McCoy)

11. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) (2:03)

6.5/10 Grieve-Preparing Elvii

Similar in dynamic to Trying to Get to You, except that "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You)" replaced blues with rock and roll. Unfortunately, this pleasant album track is ordinary.

(Joe Thomas and Howard Biggs)

12. I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') (2:26)

4/10 Stun-Gunning Elvii

*Yawn* (see I Love You Because)

*Shocked Expression*

At the 1:50 mark, it picked up out of nowhere. It does not become demon speed, but the alteration unsuspectingly popped in. Sadly, this experiment shocked me too much (as I was napping), so the overall score is not bumped greatly.

(Jimmy Wakely)

13. Blue Moon (2:41)

9.5/10 Spookin' Elvii

If being completely spooked out of your skeleton is something that you wish on yourself, this will definitely suit that desire. This early demo combined an echoing 'footstep' track with some bass, falsetto wail (much like Chris Isaak) while broodingly proclaiming the blues. This track does not rock at all and the tempo is sounds like 2 beats/minute (actually, like 60).

Nothing Elvis has recorded since has ever sounded like this.

*Mico looks around and senses the present of a spirit*

(Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers)

14. Money Honey (2:36)

9.5/10 Beggin' Elvii

A bluesy-rock beat, pelts your aural canal as your hear Money Honey shouted. It's loud and features lyrics that relate a story in verse to carry a listener throughout this song. Unfortunately, many of Elvis' tunes did not meet my need for some brain candy. "Money Honey" delivers both.

(Jesse Stone)

15. Shake, Rattle
& Roll 2:30

<b
r>7.5/10 Shakin', Rattlin& Rollin' Elvii

It's great to feel when a performer is having fun. With "Shake, Rattle & Roll", Elvis was clearly enjoying himself. The listener could share his enthusiastic delivery. On the downside, only modest changes in arrangement were made, so it may be difficult to discern between the versions.

(Charles Calhoun)

16. My Baby Left Me (2:12)

10/10 Snarlin' Elvii

The Snarlin' Elvis prototype is showcased again. Each word punches me in the stomach. These blows develop in some sort of masochistic satisfaction because my feet are moving rhythmically. When considering "My Baby Left Me's" machismo oomph, its inclusion fixes any strain cause by the latter part of Elvis Presley's meltdown prior to its remastering and re-issuance.

(Arthur Crudup)

17. Lawdy Miss Clawdy (2:10)

8/10 Toss-Participatin' Elvii

This catchy number has been tossed around so much, it would appear that it's public domain. Some of the list of artists that covered "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" are Little Richard, Fats Domino, Eric Burdon, Paul McCartney and Roy Orbison. However, Lloyd Price (composer and performer) continues to stake his claim.

Elvis' version was ably performed. His support was superb and his conviction was apparent. He is alleged of stealing the blues, but his approach and delivery were sound.

18. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You (2:40)

(9/10 Pleadin' Elvii)

"I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" is a musically toned-down rocker ballad with plenty of character and soreness. If the lyrics don't beg to you, the vocals certainly will. As he wailed, his heart seems to be ripped of the stem. That pulse dominates "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" and has deservedly earned its classic status. It peaked at #3 in U.S.


(George Mysels and Lou
Kosloff)

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Mico's Conclusion

Did you scarf down your sandwich and are your hips returned to their respective joints? Don't worry, the grease can be washed out.

Anyway...

There were an average of 7.75 Elvii/song. The score reflected is rounded up (if you have not figured that out). Out of 18 cuts, only three scored four Elvii or less. Considering all the included familiar tracks, genre blending, great sequence with the use of bonus tracks and a couple of bona fide gems that are otherwise difficult to find, this CD has earned its place at the epicenter of the modern music map.

Relish!

ฉ Mico, 2003

Summary: