The KIng!

This is a nice collection of Elvis' Sun records. Recorded mostly as trio (Scotty Moore-guitar and Bill Black-drums). Very fine rockabilly (Baby Let's Play House, That's All Right, Good Rockin' Tonight, Blue Moon Of Kentucky, Blue Moon,...) that inspired so many performers. This 2 CD set contains alternate takes too. Very good!

Truly remarkable

I don't care if you love Elvis, you hate Elvis, youi dig rock, you loathe rock, you are 8 or you are 80, this music will go right to your heart. You are hearing a truly original artist create an art form on the spot with irresistable caring and appeal. There's little here that has much do with the Elvis RCA fashioned the minute they got his contract; he isn't sinigng "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" here. What is here is pure, undiluted genius--a mixture of blues, soul, pop, country, folk and a lot else, all distilled into the most tender, gutsy, fascinating, honest music imaginable. And Elvis' taste in material is just fascinating--he has taken music from all sorts of sources here, nothing predictable, nothing linear, and fashioned it, bent it, molded it and delivered it with genius. And there is one noteworthy moment which has largely gone unnoticed. When he sings "I'll Never Stand In Your Way" he is all but imitating the original performer, Joni James, in the most affecting and complimentary way imaginable. He could even do THAT magnifiicently.

value depends on your purpose

If you have all of Elvis and you're studying the history of his work starting at an early age, then this CD will be important. But if you just want to listen to some of

the best of Elvis, I only found one outstanding cut to recommend,

Mystery Train. The scratches, noise and repeated takes

on many songs limits the usefulness of this recorded history for most people.