Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley

When RCA Records purchased Elvis Presley's contract and a back catalog that numbered only five singles and a handful of outtakes from Sun Records owner Sam Phillips for $35,000, few involved could have dreamed that the modest deal would change American music forever. This 1956 collection was Presley's first proper album (and arguably rock's first great LP), a release that both broke him to a national audience and became an enduring piece of pop-cultural iconography. Anchored by take-no-prisoners covers of fellow Sun rockabilly pioneer Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes," Ray Charles's "I Got a Woman," and Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti," it's an album where Presley forcefully hammers nascent rock 'n' roll into his own sultry image. But, as the bonus track of the breakout single "Heartbreak Hotel" and performances of Sun's "Blue Moon," the country ballad "I'm Counting on You," and "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" ably attest, the 21-year-old Elvis possessed a mature, remarkable vocal range far beyond the hip-swiveling, sexually-charged hillbilly cat that was too often his caricature. A classic rock album a decade before there was such a thing--and one of Presley's most consistent and rewarding releases. --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

 elvis
For an old Elvis fan, this CD is great! It has all of Elvis' orginal recordings, exactly as they sounded in the fifties, when they were first recorded. What a great deal for the price! Thanks, Amazon ! March 15, 2008

 GOD SAVE THE KING!!!
This was the first effor of someone who demostrated to be one of the best voices the world have ever heard; Elvis was the most carismatic artist and singer in history and this cd is an invaluable jewel to everyone who loves the original and classic Rock'n'Roll music; incredible pieces like BLUE SUEDE SHOES, TUTTY FRUTTY and MONEY HONEY; number one songs like HEARTBREAK HOTEL, I WANT YOU I NEED YOU I LOVE YOU and brilliant ballads like BLUE MOON and I'M COUNTING ON YOU; with this disc Elvis was catapulted to the great years of RCA and his unforgettable fame!! February 21, 2008

 Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley *****


This is Elvis' ground breaking first studio album which was originaly relreased way back in 1956 and remarcably still sounds fantastic. When this was first released it sold 300,000 copies in it's first year alone. Now that may not seem like much but back then that was like going triple platinum, so it was quit the feet. It helped establish Elvis as the new rock 'n roll star and ultamitly the 'King.'

Full of rolicking rock-a-billy songs such as the gosphel Ray Charles inspired cover 'I Got A Woman' and the demanding 'Money Honey.' But it also has tender love ballads which Presley was known for like 'I'm Counting On You' and the chilling 'Blue Moon.' But whats most amazing about the album is it's opener 'Blue Suede Shoes,' a Eddie Cochren cover which in my opinion Elvis did far better then the original. Another stand out is the danceable plea of 'One-Sided Love Affair.'

Most reissues of the album come complete with six more bonus tracks including the hit single 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You' and the Elvis classic, which many concider to be his all time best 'Heartbreak Hotel.' But aside from those is the highly contraversial and personal favorite 'Shake, Rattle And Roll.' As if the album wasn't a five star already they managed to make it even better by including these bonus tracks making it a six star album.

This reissue of Elvis Presley, one of the corner stones in rock history sounds absolutley fantastic today as it must have sounded revolutionary back in 1956. This is a true must own.
February 18, 2008

 A Gem for Elvis Fans
This album was on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of 500 Greatest Music Albums of all time. So I bought it to see what the fuss was all about! It is definitely worth getting to hear the young Elvis starting out on his career. The songs have been remastered making this CD brilliant value for money. November 25, 2007

 A classic document of rock 'n' roll's formative years
It may not be the first great rock `n' roll album ever released, but Elvis Presley's debut is a musical sonic boom, a breathless call to arms that still resonates to this very day. There's a reason why they call this guy The King, you know, and that reason is evident on every single song here. For starters, the guy does a heroic demolition job on Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes," tearing through the song with finesse and abandon, radiating effortless cool as he makes the song entirely his own. It's a rockabilly tour-de-force that'll be making `em dance well into the 22nd century. Same goes for the absolutely wicked romp through "I Got A Woman," and the jubilant "Just Because." "Trying To Get To You" and "Money Honey" show Elvis flexing his country muscles with twangy finesse, and "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You)" is pure hiccupping handclapping rockabilly goodness. A rendition of "Tutti Frutti," while not nearly as uproarious as Little Richard's classic recording, is still plenty of fun. It also features one of rock `n' roll's first truly smokin' guitar solos. Meanwhile "One Sided Love Affair" swings with admirable abandon. There are also plenty of fine ballads on board: "Blue Moon" is quintessentially soulful teenaged weep, while "I Love You Because" and "I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin')" give Elvis plenty of room to show off his almost prodigious vocal talents. "I'm Counting On You" sways gently and beautifully, with its rolling guitars and smoldering vocals. Classic. So, one of the great early rock `n' roll albums, then. Take it home today. November 14, 2007

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