My Happiness [#] - Elvis Presley, Bergantine, Borney
That's All Right - Elvis Presley, Crudup, Arthur "Big
I Love You Because - Elvis Presley, Payne, Leon
Harbor Lights - Elvis Presley, Kennedy, Gordon
Blue Moon of Kentucky - Elvis Presley, Monroe, Bill [1]
Blue Moon - Elvis Presley, Hart, Lorenz
Tomorrow Night - Elvis Presley, Coslow, Sam
I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') - Elvis Presley, Wakely, Jimmy
I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine - Elvis Presley, David, Mack
Just Because - Elvis Presley, Brown, Alex [1]
Good Rockin' Tonight - Elvis Presley, Brown, Roy [1]
Milk Cow Blues - Elvis Presley, Arnold, Kokomo
You're a Heartbreaker - Elvis Presley, Sallee, Jack
Baby Let's Play House - Elvis Presley, Gunter, Arthur
I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone - Elvis Presley, Kesler, Stan
Mystery Train - Elvis Presley, Parker, Junior [1]
I Forgot to Remember to Forget - Elvis Presley, Feathers, Charlie
Trying to Get to You - Elvis Presley, McCoy, Charlie [Har
When It Rains, It Really Pours - Elvis Presley, Emerson, Bill
I Got a Woman - Elvis Presley, Charles, Ray [1]
Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley, Axton, Mae Boren
Money Honey - Elvis Presley, Stone, Jesse
I'm Counting on You - Elvis Presley, Robertson, Don [1]
I Was the One - Elvis Presley, Blair, Hal
Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis Presley, Perkins, Carl [Rock
My Baby Left Me - Elvis Presley, Crudup, Arthur "Big
One-Sided Love Affair - Elvis Presley, Campbell, Bill [1]
So Glad You're Mine - Elvis Presley, Crudup, Arthur "Big
I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) - Elvis Presley, Biggs, Howard
Tutti Frutti - Elvis Presley, LaBostrie, Dorothy
Track Listings (29) - Disc #2
Lawdy Miss Clawdy - Elvis Presley, Price, Lloyd
Shake, Rattle & Roll - Elvis Presley, Calhoun, Charles E.
I Want You, I Need You, I Love You - Elvis Presley, Kosloff, Lou
Hound Dog - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley, Blackwell, Otis
Any Way You Want Me (That's How I Will Be) - Elvis Presley, Owens, Cliff
We're Gonna Move - Elvis Presley, Matson, Vera
Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley, Matson, Vera
Poor Boy - Elvis Presley, Matson, Vera
Let Me - Elvis Presley, Matson, Vera
Playing for Keeps - Elvis Presley, Kesler, Stan
Love Me - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
Paralyzed - Elvis Presley, Blackwell, Otis
How Do You Think I Feel - Elvis Presley, Pierce, Webb
How's the World Treating You - Elvis Presley, Atkins, Chet
When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again - Elvis Presley, Sullivan, Gene
Long Tall Sally - Elvis Presley, Blackwell, Robert
Old Shep - Elvis Presley, Arthur, Willis
Too Much - Elvis Presley, Rosenberg, Lee
Anyplace Is Paradise - Elvis Presley, Thomas, Joe
Ready Teddy - Elvis Presley, Blackwell, Bumps
First in Line - Elvis Presley, Schroeder, Aaron [1
Rip It Up - Elvis Presley, Blackwell, Robert "
I Believe - Elvis Presley, Champlin, Bill
Tell Me Why - Elvis Presley, Turner, Titus
Got a Lot O' Livin' to Do! - Elvis Presley, Schroeder, Aaron [1
All Shook Up - Elvis Presley, Blackwell, Otis
Mean Woman Blues - Elvis Presley, Demetrius, Claude
Peace in the Valley - Elvis Presley, Dorsey, Thomas A.
Track Listings (31) - Disc #3
That's When Your Heartaches Begin - Elvis Presley, Brown, George
Take My Hand, Precious Lord - Elvis Presley, Dorsey, Thomas A.
It Is No Secret (What God Can Do) - Elvis Presley, Hamblen, Stuart
Blueberry Hill - Elvis Presley, Lewis, Al [1]
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You - Elvis Presley, Wiseman, Mac
Is It So Strange - Elvis Presley, Young, Faron
Party - Elvis Presley, Robinson, Jessie Ma
Lonesome Cowboy - Elvis Presley, Bennett, Roy
Hot Dog - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
One Night of Sin - Elvis Presley, Bartholomew, Dave
(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear - Elvis Presley, Lowe, Bernie
Don't Leave Me Now - Elvis Presley, Schroeder, Aaron [1
I Beg of You - Elvis Presley, McCoy, Rose Marie
One Night - Elvis Presley, Bartholomew, Dave
True Love - Elvis Presley, Porter, Cole
I Need You So - Elvis Presley, Hunter, Ivory Joe
Loving You - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
When It Rains, It Really Pours - Elvis Presley, Emerson, Bill
Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
Young and Beautiful - Elvis Presley, Schroeder, Aaron [1
I Want to Be Free - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
Don't Leave Me Now - Elvis Presley, Schroeder, Aaron [1
Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley, Hayes, Bill [Compos
White Christmas - Elvis Presley, Berlin, Irving
Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) - Elvis Presley, Autry, Gene
Silent Night - Elvis Presley, Gruber, Franz
O Little Town of Bethlehem - Elvis Presley, Brooks, Phillip [1]
Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me) - Elvis Presley, Demetrius, Claude
Santa Claus Is Back in Town - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
I'll Be Home for Christmas - Elvis Presley, Gannon, Kim
Track Listings (24) - Disc #4
Treat Me Nice - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
My Wish Came True - Elvis Presley, Hunter, Ivory Joe
Don't - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
Danny - Elvis Presley, Weisman, Benjamin
Hard Headed Woman - Elvis Presley, Demetrius, Claude
Trouble - Elvis Presley, Buckingham, Lindsey
New Orleans - Elvis Presley, Bennett, Roy
Crawfish - Elvis Presley, Weisman, Benjamin
Dixieland Rock - Elvis Presley, Frank, Rachel
Lover Doll - Elvis Presley, Silver, Abner
Don't Ask Me Why - Elvis Presley, Weisman, Benjamin
As Long as I Have You - Elvis Presley, Weisman, Benjamin
King Creole - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
Young Dreams - Elvis Presley, Kalmanoff, Martin
Steadfast, Loyal and True - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
Doncha' Think It's Time - Elvis Presley, Dixon, Luther
Your Cheatin' Heart - Elvis Presley, Williams, Hank [1]
Wear My Ring Around Your Neck - Elvis Presley, Carroll, Bert
I Need Your Love Tonight - Elvis Presley, Reichner, Bix
A Big Hunk O' Love - Elvis Presley, Schroeder, Aaron [1
Ain't That Loving You Baby - Elvis Presley, Hunter, Ivory Joe
(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I - Elvis Presley, Snow, Hank
I Got Stung - Elvis Presley, Hill, David [3]
Interview With Elvis [#] - Elvis Presley,
Track Listings (26) - Disc #5
That's When Your Heartaches Begin [#] - Elvis Presley, Brown, George
Fool, Fool, Fool [#][Demo Version] - Elvis Presley, Nugetre, Ahmet
Tweedle Dee [Live][#] - Elvis Presley, Scott, Winfield
Maybellene [Live][#] - Elvis Presley, Berry, Chuck
Shake, Rattle & Roll [#] - Elvis Presley, Calhoun, Charles E.
Blue Moon of Kentucky [Alternate Take] - Elvis Presley, Monroe, Bill [1]
Blue Moon [Alternate Take][#] - Elvis Presley, Hart, Lorenz
I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone [Alternate Take][#] - Elvis Presley, Kesler, Stan
Reconsider Baby [#] - Elvis Presley, Fulson, Lowell
Lawdy Miss Clawdy [Alternate Take][#] - Elvis Presley, Price, Lloyd
Shake, Rattle & Roll [#] - Elvis Presley, Calhoun, Charles E.
I Want You, I Need You, I Love You [#] - Elvis Presley, Kosloff, Lou
Heartbreak Hotel [Live][#] - Elvis Presley, Axton, Mae Boren
Long Tall Sally [Live][#] - Elvis Presley, Blackwell, Robert
Blue Suede Shoes [Live][#] - Elvis Presley, Perkins, Carl [Rock
Money Honey [Live][#] - Elvis Presley, Stone, Jesse
We're Gonna Move [#] - Elvis Presley, Matson, Vera
Old Shep [Alternate Take][#] - Elvis Presley, Arthur, Willis
I Beg of You - Elvis Presley, McCoy, Rose Marie
Loving You [Slow Version][#] - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
Loving You [Uptempo Version][Alternate Take][#] - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
Young and Beautiful [Alternate Take][#] - Elvis Presley, Schroeder, Aaron [1
I Want to Be Free [Alternate Take][#] - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
King Creole [Alternate Take][#] - Elvis Presley, Leiber, Jerry
As Long as I Have You [Alternate Take][#] - Elvis Presley, Weisman, Benjamin
Ain't That Loving You Baby [outtake][Alternate Take][Version] - Elvis Presley, Hunter, Ivory Joe
This five-disc set was the first release in BMG's effort to present Elvis's recorded legacy in a manner befitting the most important musical artist of his time. The strategy was simple--showcase, in chronological order, re... more »mastered versions of the King's 1950s output, from his sessions with Sam Phillips at Sun Studios (where they arguably invented the very notion of rock & roll) through his 1958 Army induction. Not everything Elvis recorded in the '50s was great (just as not everything he recorded in Hollywood was rotten), but there are dozens of tracks here that, quite simply, can make a bad day seem all that much better. Which surely still makes him the king of something. Suffice it to say this is one box set that lives up to its title. --Bill Holdship« less
This five-disc set was the first release in BMG's effort to present Elvis's recorded legacy in a manner befitting the most important musical artist of his time. The strategy was simple--showcase, in chronological order, remastered versions of the King's 1950s output, from his sessions with Sam Phillips at Sun Studios (where they arguably invented the very notion of rock & roll) through his 1958 Army induction. Not everything Elvis recorded in the '50s was great (just as not everything he recorded in Hollywood was rotten), but there are dozens of tracks here that, quite simply, can make a bad day seem all that much better. Which surely still makes him the king of something. Suffice it to say this is one box set that lives up to its title. --Bill Holdship
Jon Holland | Monticello, Georgia USA | 12/16/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The definitive collection of Elvis' 1950's output. What makes it great is that you get all of the Sun material plus the Christmas music,misc. live and alternate takes and an obscure audio interview. If you are a true Elvis fan then you wont find buying this set. Its worth every penny."
Tthe King of Rock & Roll: The complete 50's Masters
Ronald J. Muller | Australia | 03/03/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Elvis Encyclopedia
For all Elvis fans a must to have simply amazing
I don't think much more words could describe the King, you got to own it, and then relish it."
When The King Was King
Alfred Johnson | boston, ma | 04/18/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have been doing a series of commentaries elsewhere on another site on my coming of political age in the early 1960s, but now when I am writing about musical influences I am just speaking of my coming of age, period, which was not necessarily the same thing. No question those of us who came of age biologically in the1950s are truly children of rock and roll. We were there, whether we appreciated it or not at the time, when the first, sputtering, moves away from ballady show tunes, rhymey Tin Pan Alley tunes and, most importantly, any and all music that your parents might have approved of, even liked, or at least left you alone to play in peace up in your room hit post World War II America like, well, like an atomic bomb.
Well, as most of us know anyway the subject of this review, Elvis, is gone now. But it is hard to go back to the roots of rock and roll without paying much lip service to his musical influence, his showmanship, his energy when performance time came and he was in the mood to kick up some dust, and his sneerily-etched good looks. I will tell you that Jerry Lee Lewis was most of an influence on my early music tastes than Elvis. I also believe pound for pound that Jerry Lee had more energy on any given day than Elvis could release in his early career. But on the proverbial any given day, and this day and this massive CD compilation serve as one of them, the king was the King.
Later Elvis, the Elvis of Las Vegas, except for severe aficionados, was almost entirely forgettable but in the early to mid-1950s, and maybe a little later, when he was still hungry and still wanted to fight to be king of rock he more than held his own. That is the time of this compilation and the Elvis time any serious rock aficionado, or historically-inclined rock fan wants to look at. This five CD set provides all the ammunition you will ever need for the why behind why he drove the girls wild in the 1950s, and the rest of us, just ordinary teen guys, crazy trying how to figure out to break his spell. It's wasn't pretty because no way we could win.
But enough of that. Elvis sneers, swivel hips and those long side-burns aside what in this compilation goes down in rock history. Please note that some of these songs that are outstanding example of his early work are done in several versions here, some very well done others less so. "That's Where The Heartbreak Begins" has a nice talking part. "Heartbreak Hotel", of course, although the lyrics are hardly the stuff of teen romance. The Carl Perkins rockabilly classic, "Blue Suede Shoes", which Elvis made his own. Other rockabilly classics like "That `s All Right" and "Good Rockin' Tonight". Some covers like Roy Oberson's "I Got A Woman". "Big Mama" Thornton's "Hound Dog". Ballads like "Love Me Tender" and "True Love". And so on. If you want Elvis, good bad, or indifferent this is a primer, no, a graduate course in Elvisology.
Note: I have not mentioned "One Night" above because I want to pay special to that song. On every variation in this set he smokes it. This song, more so that "Jailhouse Rock', "Heartbreak Hotel" or "Don't Be Cruel" gets my nod as the epitome of Elvis rock, sneer, and swivel. This is one time that he is not mailing it in. Now I know, finally, why those young girls of my generation were swooning, getting all sweaty and more over the mere mention of Elvis' name. On this one Jerry Lee takes a back seat, way back. Wow!