This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
“The King is gone but he’s not forgotten,” Neil Young wrote back in 1979. It’s still just as true today.
On Aug. 16, 1977, Elvis Presley left the building for good — or so they would have us believe. Either way, his legend still looms large. Maybe not as large as the man himself got to be toward the end there, but large enough to keep his memory alive. Of course, the people who recall Elvis most with the most love would have be those at his longtime record label RCA. Which is likely why, over the past several months, they’ve been quietly putting classic Elvis titles back into circulation. If you’re thinking about spending some quality time with The King, pick up one of these at your nearest CD store. And if the guy who sells it to you has mutton-chop sideburns and smells of peanut butter and bananas, wish him a happy anniversary from us, would ya?
Blue Hawaii
First Released: 1961.
The Lowdown: The beginning of the end. Apparently surrendering any artistic ambitions once and for all, Elvis dons the lei and swim trunks and belts out dreck like Ku-U-I-Po and Slicin’ Sand for your parents.
Essential Hits: Can’t Help Falling in Love is the big kahuna here, but the title cut and even Rock-A-Hula Baby are listenable.
Buried Treasures: Seven alternate takes and movie versions of songs, should your life not be complete without that unreleased version of the execrable Beach Boy Blues (“I’m a kissing cousin to a ripe pineapple / I’m in the can.”
The Last Word: Hoo poi!
