Elvis Presley
Elvis by the Presleys
(RCA/BMG)
First Appeared in The Music Box, June 2005, Volume 12, #6
Written by John Metzger
As a compilation of Elvis Presley’s work, Elvis by the Presleys is a
bit of an oddity. Then again, coming in the wake of Elvis: 30 #1 Hits and
2nd to None, which collectively delivered 60 of his best-known
and biggest-selling songs, it would have to be an unusual outing; otherwise it
would become incredibly redundant. Meant to capture the wide-ranging essence of
Presley’s illustrious career as well as provide the soundtrack to a documentary
about his life with Priscilla and Lisa Marie, Elvis by the Presleys
places so many constraints upon itself that overwhelming success is
unquestionably out of reach. Sure, it features an array of indispensable nuggets
— I Want You, I Need You, I Love You, Heartbreak Hotel, Suspicious Minds, and the overwrought, but irresistible In the Ghetto,
for example — along with other oft-overlooked gems, such as his energetic cover
of Ray Charles’ I Got a Woman and his early Sun single Trying to Get
to You. Nevertheless, it also includes quite a few odd selections like the
schmaltzy Hawaiian Wedding Song and the misguided covers of Bridge
over Troubled Water, You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling, and Always
on My Mind. Most perplexing, however, is the insertion of a remix of A
Little Less Conversation by Dutch artist JXL, which appears at the expense
of adding another classic tune. Perhaps, in an effort to make amends for its
deficiencies, Elvis by the Presleys also includes an 8-track bonus disc
that contains previously unreleased versions of Jailhouse Rock, Baby
What You Want Me to Do, and I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry. None of the
extras are revelatory, but they do add a level of intimacy that is missing from
the bulk of the set. 
Elvis by the Presleys is available from
Barnes & Noble. To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2005 The Music Box