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?
Something for Everybody
First Released: 1961.
The Lowdown: Style is already starting to outweight substance here as music begins to take a backseat to Elvis’s movie career. But you can’t complain about his voice, which has become a powerful instrument he wields with nuance and emotion.
Essential Hits: Only Little Sister and Good Luck Charm will ring bells with the casual fan.
Buried Treasures: Not a whole lot — most of this expanded 18-song set is fairly low-key and bluesy. Still, rockabilly gems like I’m Coming Home, I Want You With Me, I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell and I Feel So Bad pick up the pace a tad.
The Last Word: Something for everybody who’s ever had their heart broken.
