Elvis: 30 #1 Hits [Bonus Tracks] [Limited] (CD - 2002)

Album Description

• Personnel includes: Elvis Presley (vocals); Gordon Stoker, Ben Speer, Brock Speer, Rad Robinson, Jon Dodson, Charles Prescott, Millie Kirham, Sherrill Nelson, Kathy Westmoreland, Myrna Smith; The Jordanaires; The Surfers; The Sweet Inspirations; The Imperials; J.D. Sumner & The Stamps.

  Producers include: Steve Sholes, Chet Atkins, Chips Moman, Felton Jarvis, Elvis Presley.

  Compilation producer: David Bendeth.

  Includes liner notes Peter Guralnick and Ernst Mikael Jorgensen.

  All tracks have been digitally remastered.

  Elvis Presley's 30 #1 HITS brings together all of the king's supreme chart-toppers including "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel," "Jailhouse House," "Surrender," and many more.

  This Hong Kong import features a bonus CD of 15 exclusive tracks such as rare alternate takes of "Heartbreak Hotel," "In The Ghetto," "Way Down," and "A Little Less Conversation."

  Personnel: J.D. Sumner (vocals, bass voice); Myrna Smith, Charles Prescott, J.D. Sumner & the Stamps, Rad Robinson, Jon Dodson, Kathy Westmoreland, The Imperials, The Sweet Inspirations, Ben Speer, Gordon Stoker, Millie Kirkham, Brock Speer (vocals); Hank Garland, Scotty Moore (guitar); Bill Black (electric bass); D.J. Fontana (drums).

  Audio Mixers: David Bendeth; Ray Bardani.

  Audio Remasterers: George Marino; Ted Jensen.

  Liner Note Authors: Ernst Mikael Jorgensen; Peter Guralnick.

  Recording information: Graceland (01/10/1956-10/29/1976); Nashville, TN (01/10/1956-10/29/1976).

  Introduction by: Peter Guralnick.

  Photographers: Alfred Wertheimer; Albert Watson.

  Commemorating the 25th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, 30 #1 HITS presents a career-spanning serving of the King's chart-toppers.

  Dating back to "Heartbreak Hotel" (which was inspired by a suicide note printed in the Miami Herald), most of these cuts have become indelibly etched into the fabric of pop culture and each has a unique story behind it. "Love Me Tender" has its origins in the Civil War ballad "Aura Lee," "It's Now Or Never" found Elvis Americanizing the Neapolitan ballad "O Sole Mio," and "Wooden Heart" likewise was converted from a German children's song.

  This Memphis native's choice of artists to cover was equally intriguing and includes Hollywood legend Al Jolson ("Are You Lonesome Tonight?"), New Orleans soul shouter Smiley Lewis ("One Night"), blues great Big Mama Thornton ("Hound Dog"), and country titan Hank Snow ("[Now And Then There's] A Fool Such As I"). Further testimony of Presley's long-lasting appeal is the inclusion of the JXL Radio Edit Remix of "A Little Less Conversation," a UK #1 that not only enabled Elvis to have more chart-toppers than The Beatles, but also became a hit in a number of other countries including the United States.

  RCA and the Elvis estate made no bones about their intention on replicating the blockbuster success of the Beatles' The Beatles 1 with their own single-disc collection of number one hits -- hence, the 2002 release of Elvis: 30 #1 Hits. The idea of collecting all the number one hits is simple enough, but there are problems inherent with the concept, not the least of which is that RCA did this once before. Unlike the Beatles, who went through numerous changes in just seven years of recording, Elvis had nearly three times as many years' worth of material and hits to choose from. Also, he hit on a number of different charts -- not just pop, but also R&B, country, and adult contemporary. Furthermore, where almost all of the Beatles' number one hits sampled at least part of their music, there are significant chunks of Elvis' best material -- including the visionary sides for Sun -- that didn't hit the top of the charts. All of this makes assembling a similar comprehensive sampler of Elvis' biggest hits much more difficult, and it doesn't help that RCA has decided not to have a rigid aesthetic and sample from different charts all over the world, resulting in a collection that feels more of a patchwork than it should, even if the bulk of the material is from the early '60s; at least five songs feel like they should have been replaced with better, and better-known, sides. And, even if much of this material is exceedingly familiar, it also feels like there is a lot missing because, frankly, there is. No Sun singles and very little from his classic 1968 comeback or early-'70s hits like "Moody Blue," not to mention sides that would showcase Elvis "the rocker" better than what's here, which plays closer to Elvis the '60s pop crooner than anything else. And, let's face it, no matter what the packaging is, Elvis: 30 #1 Hits can't feel that new because of the veritable flood of Elvis collections RCA has issued since the King started having hits. This is a very good compilation, covering many of the basics, but it's hardly close to the only Elvis disc you'll ever need, and it's not even that great of a starting place, since it lacks so much of his best material. (Also, even though this is one of the most carefully considered compilations of Elvis hits, it can't help but feel a little shoddy since there are actually 31 number one hits here, with the addition of the JXL remix of "A Little Less Conversation" tacked onto the end, no matter how good the single is.) [This version of the album includes bonus material.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Track Listing

Album Information

• UPC:
  00828765640121
• Release Date:
  Nov 10, 2003
• Type:
  Performer
• Genre:
  Oldies - Rock 'N' Roll
• Label:
  RCA Records (USA)
• Distrbutor:
  MSI Music Di
• Engineer:
  Ray Bardani
• Country of Origin:
  USA
• Original Release Year:
  2002
• # of Discs:
  2
• Studio / Live:
  Studio
• Mono / Stereo:
  Stereo