30 NO1's
This album collects together just 31 of his most popular recordings. It covers 1956-1977 - the years in which he was ever-present in the UK and US charts. I've heard these songs nany times before but never in such clarity and power. It's a revelation to me that he had sung these songs so well in the studio (or live- there's a slightly different version of "The Wonder Of You" included). The engineering originally, was allgedly, not the best, according to Elvis. But now, Elvis, his musicians and backing vocalists are revealed, gleaming from beneath the mud of the neglect. The engineers on this project had consulted with some of the original musicians, and even Elvis' ex-wife, and produced a sound that is probably how it really sounded in the studio. Their hard work with the tracks and the the music itself on this CD deserves the accolades. And, as for the singer, well, his sincerity when it comes to interpreting virtually every song - his own or others -rings through like never before in these superb recordings.
Excellent compilation for the king of rock and roll
Elvis Presley has often been referred to as "The King of Rock and Roll," and with good reason. His music is nothing short of excellent, and unlike a number of similar artists from the same era, his music stands the test of time. Recently, this compilation of his thirty tracks that hit number one was released. Read on to see how it measures up.PROS:
-If you're a casual Elvis fan, don't buy a two-disc compilation or box set - just about every track you'll ever need is here. Heartbreak Hotel, Jailhouse Rock, Hound Dog, and all the other big hits are here for your listening pleasure.
-A previously unissued bonus track can be found on this compilation - a radio edit/remix version of A Little Less Conversation.
-This CD has thirty-one tracks total - the most Elvis tracks to ever appear on a single compact disc!
-It's an affordable compilation.
CONS:
-Elvis is a great musical artist, no questions asked. But was there really a need for another compilation of his material? Obviously not. More likely than not this is just a money-making scam by the record company.
-Many of the King's best songs never hit number one, and accordingly can't be found on here. Among these are Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Good Rockin' Tonight.
OVERALL:
Despite my complaints, I can honestly say that this is the best single-disc Elvis compilation out there (it even puts some multi-disc collections to shame!) If you're a casual fan of the King, you've come to the right place.
Elv1s is the king of music!!!
A must have for every Elv1s fans and new Elv1s fans around the world, I guarantee you, you will not get disappointed, 31 #1 Hits singles from US and UK in just 1 CD!!!
The King's Legacy Is Being Compromised Here
First of all, I love Elvis' music and have collected it for years and I have to admit if this is your first Elvis CD you probably will be satisfied. My problem with this CD is that Fool Such As I and The Wonder Of You are not the original hit versions that played on the radio way back when and helped build the King's legend. Fool is an alternate take and Wonder is a different live performance. These takes were never #1 anywhere and when you compare the original hits with these alternates you realise that RCA picked the right masters to originally release. In my opinion this is obscuring the King's legacy and in a way changing history for the new listener and not giving them all the goodness that was Elvis. Why would BMG do this? I suspect it is to coax the serious Elvis collector to buy yet again another rehash of hits that they have already bought many times over, just to get these two "special" tracks, and the novice Elvis collector wouldn't notice the difference. I would much rather have preferred a new two CD set of all the correct recordings remastered with today's technology (like the The Top Ten Hits did in 1988) and then have a seperate collection of nothing but unreleased alternates. However, these alternates always get sprinkled very sparingly in these endless Greatest Hits rehashes. But then again, I'm not a BMG marketing director, just another one of the millions of Elvis fans with money in my pocket.
Perfect 31 #1 Hits!!!
First of all, it's the only CD that contains 31 #1 Hit Singles in the USA and UK (A Little Less Conversation is the last #1 in the UK for 4 weeks in 2002) , there are 5 more Elv1s #1 which are not included in this CD bec. it would not fit in 1 CD, but it's in Elv1s 2nd To None album!
Second, the sound is so crisp and clear, you can really hear the unbelievable great voice of Elv1s!
Third, no wonder Elv1s is the Guiness Book Of World Record holder who has sold more than 1 billion records more than any other artist and www.riaa.com most Gold, Platinum and Multi-Platinum albums and singles in the USA more than any other artist!
What more could you ask for?
In 1987, RCA released a one-disc Elvis compilation called The Number One Hits that featured 18 tracks. So how did the label come up with 12 additional number ones (13 if you count the sensational "A Little Less Conversation" remix that brings the King into the 21st century as a bona fide dance/electronica star)? Well, the '87 compilation featured only Billboard number ones. "In the Ghetto" and "Burning Love" never reached the top there, nor did "Way Down," despite every copy of that 45 selling out on both sides of the Atlantic following Presley's 1977 death. Instead, the new compilers have used the major pop charts in both the U.S. (including Cashbox) and U.K. to determine inclusions. The tracks have all been remixed from original masters, which proves awesome at best (some of the songs have never sounded crisper if, at times, slightly antiseptic) and problematic at worst. Purists will definitely quibble. "A Fool Such As I," for instance, sounds like Elvis rerecorded his vocals. Hank Garland's great guitar solo also sounds different. It might be an alternate take. That's definitely the case with "The Wonder of You." A few lyrics are even different, meaning this isn't the same version as the original 45. Of course, none of that should matter to the youngsters who've been singing along to "Hound Dog" on the Lilo & Stitch soundtrack, or to any other newcomers. Despite the complaints, this is arguably the best single disc Elvis primer to date. Real fans will want to explore much deeper for treasures to be found, but albums like this guarantee that this is one king who will deservedly live very long, if not forever. --Bill Holdship
