Elvis compilation recommendations

[Big Al]

My dad got a car with a CD player in it, so now he can't listen to all the tapes he has. I'm trying to help him out by making CDs of his old albums (or albums that I've upgraded to CD), but I have absolutely no Elvis in my collection.

Now, my dad loves Elvis, but really only the period from 1955-60. I realize Elvis' discography is a nightmare, so I was hoping some of y'all might know of a good Elvis comp that's readily available that covers that period.

Thanks!

[AllenLowe]

I would stick to the Sun stuff, which is quite amazing - there's a few good compilations; of course they only go from something like 1954-56, but they're worth it -

[Chuck Nessa]

I have this puppy

Some good deals for this on Amazon right now.

[JSngry]

Who plays guitar on "Little Sister"? Scotty Moore? James Burton? Somebody else?

That sound is a few years ahead of its time, I think. Maybe it was post-production?

[Sundog]

Who plays guitar on "Little Sister"? Scotty Moore? James Burton? Somebody else?

That sound is a few years ahead of its time, I think. Maybe it was post-production?

I think it was Hank Garland.

[JSngry]

Really!

[Quincy]

The '50s box that Chuck mentions will take care of you nicely & then some. It's worth it for the first 1/2 of the last disc of rarities alone. Unfortunately it's no longer on yourmusic, but the Amazon prices are far less than what I paid for mine years ago.

Barring that you could go for either Elvis '56 or instead pick up his 1st 2 albums (Elvis Presley & Elvis.) I'll leave it to you to figure out the 1 or 3 song difference. Throw in Elvis At Sun Record Company and Loving You and you've got most of the meat from the beginning. After that you'll probably have to have some overlap with a compilation or 2 to get the last few scraps. All of these single discs can be had yourmusic.com.

The big '50s box includes the Christmas Album as well if that is an additional draw, though that can also be gotten separately at yourmusic too.

Or....Elvis Golden Records and 50,000,000 Million Fans plus the Elvis At Sun Record Co. will probably do it as well. I guess it comes down to whether your dad is a singles guy or has some love for some of the album tracks.

Yes, there are a lot of choices in Elvisland.

Edited May 6, 2006 by Quincy

[medjuck]

I agree with all of the above and would add "The Memphis Album" for the best of his later work. There was a compilation cd of blues numbers called "Reconsider Baby" that actually credits the original recordings being covered. There's a great 6 minute long version of Charles Brown's "Merry Christmas Baby" and a take of "One Night" with the original lyrics. I'm not sure it's still available but it's worth looking for.

[Big Al]

That Elvis '56 looks like the one to get. Dad's pretty much a singles guy, and one disc oughta do the trick for him. Thanks again, guys!

[kinuta]

If I had to pick just two it would be the Sun Sessions and 50,000,000 Fans Can't Be Wrong. Every single cut on the latter is amazing imo.

I'd also get your dad a compilation of his Xmas songs.

Edited May 6, 2006 by kinuta

[Alexander]

I have the following:

All three are great sets. Really, all the Elvis you'll ever need (although I am thinking about getting the gospel box)...

[BruceH]

I agree with all of the above and would add "The Memphis Album" for the best of his later work. There was a compilation cd of blues numbers called "Reconsider Baby" that actually credits the original recordings being covered. There's a great 6 minute long version of Charles Brown's "Merry Christmas Baby" and a take of "One Night" with the original lyrics. I'm not sure it's still available but it's worth looking for.

Got to strongly second the "Reconsider Baby" recommendation. It's such a thoughtfully put together comp. that it plays like a very good "theme" album (the theme in this case, of course, being bluesy Elvis)---that was on heavy rotation on my stereo for a long time. I was already a big fan of the Sun stuff, but this LP upped my respect for Elvis a couple of notches.

About the same time, a compilation came out of Elvis's immediate post-army work. It has "Little Sister," "Marie's the Name," and "Whole Wide World" among other gems. The thing peters out on side two, but it's still worth having. "Reconsider Baby" is more consistant though.

[skeith]

Sure it has some shlock on it, but that "Elvis 30 #1 Hits" that came out a couple of years ago, has the best sound for those recordings - it is night and day.

Obviously the Sun sessions are great material

[HolyStitt]

I have the following:

All three are great sets. Really, all the Elvis you'll ever need (although I am thinking about getting the gospel box)...

What about the 2 CD 60's Soundtrack set?

[AllenLowe]

the live Hayride recordings are quite amazing if you can find them with decent remastering - as a matter of fact they may be in that '50s box -

[HolyStitt]

I lean toward this 2 CD set:

Elvis Presley The Top Ten Hits

It was my first Elvis set.

It is a nice set because the first CD has the 1950's material and the second disc has all the Top Ten post 50's material, with one of my favorite E songs: Bossa Nova Baby!

[HolyStitt]

the live Hayride recordings are quite amazing if you can find them with decent remastering - as a matter of fact they may be in that '50s box -

They are not on the box. RCA has kept away from remastering the Hayride music, I would assume because they have enough of their own material to make money off of already. Recently, Tomato did a nice job reissuing the material.

One of my favorite obscure Elvis CDs is this one:

Elvis Presely The Jungle Room Sessions

One of the last "studio" sessions Elvis ever recorded. Has a fly on the wall sound to it, with great spoken parts with E talking about shooting the dog and the telephone.

[Alexander]

I have the following:

All three are great sets. Really, all the Elvis you'll ever need (although I am thinking about getting the gospel box)...

What about the 2 CD 60's Soundtrack set?

Used to own it. Got rid of it because there was a little too much chaff compared to the amount of wheat, if you take my meaning. I might pick it up again someday. I do miss having "Viva Las Vegas," "Roustabout," "GI Blues," "Return to Sender," and "A Little Less Conversation."

[brownie]

I have nil on Elvis Presley!

Nothing personal. Just not really interested

[birdanddizzy]

I have nil on Elvis Presley!

Nothing personal. Just not really interested

Same for me : the french disillusion ?

[AllenLowe]

well, I guess for the French, he's no Jerry Lewis - though Elvis and Jerry DID make similar quality movies -

: )

[brownie]

Well, we do take Jerry Lewis seriously!

And seriously, wish Elvis Presley had taken part in at least one film that was worthy of Lewis' 'The Nutty Professor'!

I can listen to Presley records and enjoy some of them. I never saw any films with him that was worthy of much attention even when he was directed by someone like Don Diegel ('Flaming Star').

[AllenLowe]

I'd recommend Wild in the Country and King Creole - I also like Jailhouse Rock and GI Blues - and how could I not like a movie (Jailhouse Rock) in which they mention Lennie Tristano (really, they do) -

Edited May 8, 2006 by AllenLowe

[paul secor]

Who plays guitar on "Little Sister"? Scotty Moore? James Burton? Somebody else?

That sound is a few years ahead of its time, I think. Maybe it was post-production?

I think it was Hank Garland.

Correct. In the liner notes to Elvis - 24 Karat Hits! on DCC, Bill Porter, who engineered a fair number of Elvis' RCA sessions, says that "Hank Garland, an incredibly diverse and talented musician, was the lead guitar player on this song ("Little Sister") using his new Fender Jazzmaster."

[HolyStitt]

Used to own it. Got rid of it because there was a little too much chaff compared to the amount of wheat, if you take my meaning. I might pick it up again someday. I do miss having "Viva Las Vegas," "Roustabout," "GI Blues," "Return to Sender," and "A Little Less Conversation."

I know, some of itis a bit cheesy, but no Elvis fan can be without Clam Bake!