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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Ring Of Fire |
| 2. Trying To Get To You |
| 3. I Forgot To Remember To Forget |
| 4. Great Balls Of Fire |
| 5. Can'T Help Falling In Love |
| 6. Dixie Fried |
| 7. How'S The World Treating You |
| 8. It'S Now Or Never |
| 9. Miss Pearl |
| 10. Live It Up |
| 11. I Walk The Line |
| 12. So Long I'M Gone |
| 13. She'S Not You |
| 14. My Happiness |
| 15. My Baby Left Me |
| 16. Oh, Pretty Woman |
| 17. Doin' The Best I Can |
| 18. Your True Love |
| 19. Crazy Arms |
Product Description
Review
Always an unabashedly retro performer in thrall to rock's formative epoch, it was probably only a matter of time before Chris Isaak recorded an album of covers at the legendary Sun studios in Memphis. But just because a concept is a no-brainer, doesn't mean it should actually be carried out, as this rather pointless collection confirms.
Mostly recorded in the late-50s by that veritable Mount Rushmore of rockers – Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and Carl Perkins – the originals chosen by Isaak are such hallowed texts that they really need to be shaken up and distorted by anyone attempting to put their own stamp on them. But by kneeling oh-so reverently at the sainted crucible of rock'n'roll, the bequiffed crooner and his band have indulged in little more than an extended karaoke session, which was probably a lot of fun to record, but which really doesn't need to exist in any meaningful sense.
Quite frankly, who needs this album? Isaak is in strong voice as usual – and what has he always been if not a blatant combination of young Elvis in balladeer mode and Roy Orbison's creamy falsetto? – and his band imbue the material with a pleasant-enough country-pop bounce. But they stick so closely to the original arrangements you quickly begin to wonder why they bothered at all.
Their politely rocking version of Great Balls of Fire, for instance, may well be the kind of thing they knock out for laughs as a concert encore, but why record it for posterity? No one in a million years will ever yearn to listen to it over Jerry Lee's immortal original or his unhinged version from the Live at the Star Club album. It just all feels so unnecessary. Unless, that is, Beyond the Sun is actually some form of contractual obligation, which would certainly make sense, although certainly not from a creative point of view.
Only a fool would expect far-out eclecticism from this genially atavistic musician, of course, but you might've expected Isaak to ignite more fire behind the music that inspired him. Instead, he's delivered a sincerely meant yet curiously staid and pedestrian tribute.
--Paul Whitelaw
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
CD Description
Chris Isaak pulls together a fantastic collection of covers of his favourite hits from the world-famous Sun Studios in Memphis, musical home to legends like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Just had to comment on this album. Most of it's cover versions granted, but what a fantastic job Chris does to them!!!. He has a great voice.!!! And to all the critics, (including the BBC ones) remember that PRESLEY, ORBISON etc did "covers" and they too did great versions. I rest my case!!!
61 of 63 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Some albums are so obvious it's a wonder they didn't exist before, and so it is with Chris Isaak's Beyond the Sun, a double-disc salute to the classic rock & roll label Sun Records.
Ever since his first album, Isaak has exhibited an enormous debt to the titans who recorded at Sun, particularly Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley, whose work is showcased heavily here.
Isaak doesn't stick strictly to songs released on Sun -- he covers "Can't Help Falling in Love", which Presley did not release during his time on Sun -- but he doesn't stick to the obvious, either, finding excellent songs from the likes of Warren Smith.
Still, Elvis rules the roost, not only in terms of songs covered, but in approach. Isaak croons like the King, smoothing out the rough edges of Carl Perkins' "Dixie Fried" and Jerry Lee's "Great Balls of Fire", smoothing them out enough to push them to a smoky, late-night torch song.
"Beyond the Sun" plays it cool and plays it authentic -- these aren't reinterpretations, but sincere homages -- and if this doesn't have much grit, it has plenty of style and heart. S. T. Erlewine
Ever since his first album, Isaak has exhibited an enormous debt to the titans who recorded at Sun, particularly Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley, whose work is showcased heavily here.
Isaak doesn't stick strictly to songs released on Sun -- he covers "Can't Help Falling in Love", which Presley did not release during his time on Sun -- but he doesn't stick to the obvious, either, finding excellent songs from the likes of Warren Smith.
Still, Elvis rules the roost, not only in terms of songs covered, but in approach. Isaak croons like the King, smoothing out the rough edges of Carl Perkins' "Dixie Fried" and Jerry Lee's "Great Balls of Fire", smoothing them out enough to push them to a smoky, late-night torch song.
"Beyond the Sun" plays it cool and plays it authentic -- these aren't reinterpretations, but sincere homages -- and if this doesn't have much grit, it has plenty of style and heart. S. T. Erlewine
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I am a little disappointed regarding the sound quality, or is it just my copy of this recording. This I don't know, but my record player stops playing this record at certain sequences and if I play it in my car, I can clearly hear some sequences where the sound quality is bad. Other than this...the record is superb and I'm most delighted regarding the selection of melodies, musicians and layout of the record cover.
Yours truly
Ole H. Bakkehaug
Yours truly
Ole H. Bakkehaug
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Chris Isaak
At my age I can remember most of these songs anyway. But Chris gives them a more upbeat sound, Rockabilly at it's very best. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Keith Meadows
Boyond the sun by Chris Isaak
Great Album.
Very upbeat.
Rockabilly at its best.
Covers of Elvis, Roy Orbinson etc.
Worth every penny, listen to it all the time.
Very upbeat.
Rockabilly at its best.
Covers of Elvis, Roy Orbinson etc.
Worth every penny, listen to it all the time.
Published 24 days ago by Colin Harvey
Chris Isaak, Beyond the Sun
Excellent CD, great collection of covers all tastefully treated and authentic to the originals. Well packaged with good background info included.
Published 28 days ago by Lord Lucan
music
Seen him on a sat or sunday cooky program, he was entertaining,lokked him up on i tunes liked the look of album got it and love it.
Published 28 days ago by pen name
Best covers of the greats ever!!!
I bought this CD with a little trepidation, as I tended to agree with the BBC review - why buy this when you could listen to the originals. I am so glad I decided to have it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by sixtieswarbler
Beyond The Sun
I had never heard of this artist until I saw him on a television programme. Love all the songs they certainly bring back some memories.
Published 1 month ago by Pat2909
Elvis tribute
What an excellent album - apart from Elvis tribute Johnny Cash came a close second. Well done Chris I had never heard of you until I saw you on Saturday Kitchen
Published 1 month ago by Sue
WOW
Only listened to the first 10 songs but initial thoughts WOW! Vibrant versions of some much loved classic songs. Sounds like a young Elvis to me!
Published 1 month ago by Huggy
CHRIS ISAAK -- BEYOND THE SUN
A BRILLIANT ALBUM OF COVERS TAKEN FROM THE SUN RECORDS ERA IN MEMPHIS -- GOING TO SEE HIM LIVE IN BRISTOL IN OCTOBER. A 'MUST'.
Published 1 month ago by STEVIE
Great .... (from time to time)
Just exactly what you'd be expecting, and really good too, but a whole album of it gets to be just a wee bit much, if you're not exactly addicted to this kind of music. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Poadster
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