Disc Two (1956-1957)

In 1992, RCA released a 5 CD box set of Elvis Presley's 1950s recordings. This included all his masters, plus a CDs worth of live recordings, demos, acetates and alternative takes.

Each CD has over an hour's worth of music. There's just too much material here for one review for the entire box. So, I am writing a separate review for each CD.

The second CD has many important recordings. His first movie soundtrack, his first gospel session, and his biggest hit single, Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel.

'Lawdy Miss Clawdy' is an uptempo R&B cover, with a piano intro. Elvis is in great voice, and Scotty Moore has a jangling guitar fill.

'Shake, Rattle, and Roll' is another rocker, covering the early Bill Haley & the Comets hit. Elvis is very loose and natural.

'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You' was intended as a hit follow-up to 'Heartbreak Hotel'. It reached #3 on the pop charts. This was his first song with several of the gospel quartet Jordanaires, although they aren't credited. His vocals are very melodramatic and hiccupy.

'Hound Dog' is probably Elvis' most famous song. It's also his loudest. The drumming sounds like a tommy gun. This was his first song written by Leiber and Stoller, although they had intended the song to be recorded by a woman (a hound dog being a male insult).

'Don't Be Cruel' was the A-side, 'Hound Dog' the B-side, of Elvis' biggest selling single. Both sides topped the pop charts, and scored high on the country and r&b charts as well (try doing that today).

'Any Way You Want Me' is another of Elvis' greatest songs. His singing is just magnificent here, soaring and stretching melodramatically, but without any affectation.

The next four songs are from the 'Love Me Tender' soundtrack. Elvis' television appearances had been drawn spectacular ratings, and studio executives were quick to take note. When Elvis arrived on the set, he was surprised to learn that four songs had been added to what had been a purely dramatic film.

'We're Gonna Move' is a surprisingly great if silly folk song. If the backing sounds a little dead, it was because it was dubbed later on top of Elvis' vocal. Hollywood potentates refused to let Elvis' band play, and instead used located competent but stale sessionmen.

'Love Me Tender' was Elvis' first straight ballad since his earliest Sun sessions. His earnest, clear voice was well suited for the melody, which dated to the Civil War. It became a #1 single, and one of his most famous songs.

'Poor Boy' and 'Let Me' have great Elvis vocals, but the song selection are the first hints of what eventually would nearly destroy his career. The instrumental backing is appropriate, but distant and wooden.

RCA predictably wanted a new Elvis album for 1956 Christmas season sales. There wasn't much time for song selection, or for Elvis to have many takes per song. Many titles had to be recorded. The result of all this was a decline in quality.

'Love Me' was the hit from the 'Elvis' album, highlighted by a performance on the Ed Sullivan show. It's a ballad, with melodramatic vocal swoops. It's the best track on the album.

Another standout from that album was 'When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again'. One of Elvis' favorite country standards, he sounds relaxed and confident.

The rest of the album is a little disappointing. They're great songs by anyone's standards, except Elvis'. 'Paralyzed', 'Playing For Keeps', 'How Do You Think I Feel', 'How's the World Treating You', 'First in Line', 'Anyplace is Paradise' all sound rushed and lack some of the inspiration of earlier sessions. Sometimes Elvis' voice sounds whiny, sometimes the composition is corny.

'Reddy Teddy' and 'Rip It Up' are Little Richard covers. They rock, but don't have the energy or inspiration approaching the original versions. Or even 'Tutti Frutti', Elvis' cover from earlier in the year.

'Old Shep' is a tearjerker so melodramatic that the lyrics are unintentionally humorous. Allegedly, Elvis had performed this song as a child at the Tupelo County Fair.

'Too Much' is easily the greatest song from the September 1956 sessions. A sloppy but inspired rocker, it has Scotty Moore's most convoluted guitar solo. It became a top ten hit.

'I Believe' is Elvis' first gospel recording. The lyrics are a bit maudlin, and Elvis sounds affected. But it's still great somehow.

'Tell Me Why' is a ballad, and a great vocal showcase for Elvis.

'Got a Lot O'Livin' To Do' is fully of sloppy energy for Elvis. Not the best song selection, but he makes the most of it.

'All Shook Up' was a monster #1 hit in 1957. It remains one of his most famous songs. His vocal is perfect. The weird percussion sound is Elvis slapping his guitar.

'Mean Woman Blues' was a rocker, later conscripted for use in his second movie, 'Loving You'. Elvis sounds relaxed, although the backing vocals are distracting. Moore has another jangly guitar fill.

'Peace in the Vally' was Elvis' greatest gospel recording of the 1950s. A ballad, Elvis' vocal is again perfect. The Jordanaires back him up admirably.

The breakdown by song:

94 Lawdy Miss Clawdy
95 Shake, Rattle, and Roll
99 I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
100 Hound Dog
100 Don't Be Cruel
100 Any Way You Want Me
99 We're Gonna Move
100 Love Me Tender
94 Poor Boy
94 Let Me
88 Playing For Keeps
95 Love Me
88 Paralyzed
86 How Do You Think I Feel
94 When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
84 Long Tall Sally
89 Old Shep
97 Too Much
88 Anyplace is Paradise
85 Ready Teddy
84 First in Line
86 Rip It Up
94 I Believe
97 Tell Me Why
94 Got A Lot O'Livin' To Do
99 All Shook Up
94 Mean Woman Blues
98 Peace in the Valley

Overall: 92/100, or A