Elvis Presley (Legacy Edition) [Original recording remastered]

Even the most ardent of Presley fans will look at this 'Legacy Edition' of his explosive debut album - and yawn - even grumble a little. RCA is milking it again. They'd be right of course. But I'm reviewing "Elvis Presley (Legacy Edition)" because there are far too many plus-points in its favour to have it ignored (especially the superlative new remastered sound). But let's get to the details first...

UK released Monday 26 September 2011 - RCA/Legacy 8869796183 2 contains 2 whole albums and the A&B-sides of 6 x 7" singles. Its 36 MONO tracks break down as follows:

Disc 1 (40:21 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut US LP "Elvis Presley" - released 23 March 1956 on RCA Victor LPM-1254 [Mono Only]
Tracks 13 and 14 are "Heartbreak Hotel" and "I Was The One" - the A&B-sides of RCA Victor 47-6420 released 27 January 1956
Track 15 is "My Baby Left Me" - the B-side of "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" (Track 13 on Disc 2) on RCA Victor 47-6540 released 4 May 1956
Tracks 16 and 17 are "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy" and "Shake, Rattle And Roll" - the A&B-sides of RCA Victor 47-6642 released 31 August 1956

Disc 2 (41:54 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 12 are his 2nd US album "Elvis" - released 19 October 1956 on RCA Victor LPM-1382 [Mono Only]
Track 13 is "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" - the A-side of RCA Victor 47-6540 released 4 May 1956 [the B-side is Track 15 on Disc 1]
Tracks 15 and 14 are "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog" - the A&B-sides of RCA Victor 47-6604 released 13 July 1956
[Note: "Hound Dog" was the B-side in the USA, but the tracks were reversed in the UK on HMV POP 249 with "Hound Dog" as the A]
Tracks 19 and 16 are "Love Me Tender" and "Any Way You Want Me (That's How It Will Be)" - the A&B-sides of RCA Victor 47-6643 released 28 September 1956
Tracks 17 and 18 are "Too Much" and "Playing For Keeps" - the A&B-sides of RCA Victor 47-6800 released 4 January 1957

Fast approaching a distance of nearly 60 years - it's difficult for us in 2011 to even imagine the musical and cultural Atomic Bomb that was Elvis Presley in 1956. Beginning with an opening salvo of "Heartbreak Hotel" on the 27th of January (which quite probably changed the fabric of the known universe), RCA then bombarded the American continent with releases - 12 x 2-track 7" singles, 10 x 4-track EPs and 2 x 12-track albums. They even took the then unprecedented step of releasing all 12 of the "Elvis Presley" album tracks on 6 singles on the same day - 31 August (RCA Victor 6636 to 6641) with "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy" being number 7 - also put out on the 31st of August. Had Elvis Aaron Presley flatulated profusely into a Soda bottle in 1956 - RCA would probably have tried to chart it.

But the really big news today is a new VIC ANESINI remaster - and the sound is just BEAUTIFUL. Anesini is not new to Elvis reissues - he handled the 2CD 'Legacy Editions' of "Elvis Is Back" and "From Elvis In Memphis" as well as the 4CD set "The Complete '68 Comeback Special" - with unanimous praise heaped on all three. These stark MONO tracks needed the deftest of engineering touches and he's delivered. Tracks like "Trying To Get To You" and "Blue Moon" still retain hiss - but it hasn't been compressed to buggery for effect - Anesini has allowed the eeriness of them to breath. Others however are just amazing - Scotty Moore's lovely guitar playing on the Don Robertson cover "I'm Counting On You" is clear as a bell - as is Elvis' heavily echoed vocals. The cover of the Ray Charles Atlantic Records hit "I Got A Woman" has DJ Fontana's slapping drums just whacking out of your speakers like they're going to invade your living room.

I'd admit that musically the second LP "Elvis" with the truly turgid "Old Shep" tests my patience, but again its opener (a cover of the fabulous Little Richard rocker "Rip It Up") has gorgeous cymbal clarity - then piano - and so on. The jaunty "When My Blue Turns To Gold Again" sounds incredible - so good it could almost be Stereo. The singles too are an embarrassment of riches - Lloyd Price's "Lawdy, Miss Clawdy" (lyrics above) and the Big Joe Turner/Bill Haley classic "Shake, Rattle And Roll" are both pristine. But my heart lies with "Love Me" - his best ever ballad and a vocal joy on the "Elvis" album. It's as sweet as a nut. Fans will lose it for this.

The packaging is good too. A 3-way card digipak features the debut album cover on the front (with a pink sticker full of details) with the "Elvis" full-colour sleeve on the inside flap. Classy Black and White photos of Elvis in his prime are featured beneath the see-through CD trays - while the 24-page booklet is crammed full of spot-on discography stuff by lifetime fan and keeper of the flame - ERNST MIKAEL JORGENSEN - a name Presley fans will be comfortable with. There are also nicely placed colour shots of those lovely US EPs in the text, trade adverts, in-studio snaps of Elvis at work etc. It's very nicely done...

Content - a look at the total playing time of each disc and RCA is not exactly pushing the digital boat out here. And when you reference the incredible 71 tracks of the 2005 "Follow That Dream" 2CD reissue of "Elvis Presley" - some may feel it would have been better to do 2 separate Legacy issues - one for "Elvis Presley" and another for "Elvis" - both featuring copious amounts of 'outtakes'. How cool would it have been to hear previously unreleased versions of "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Love Me Tender"? But - you could also argue that what you've actually got here is less fussy and more defined. It's a matter of personal opinion I suppose.

To sum up - "Elvis Presley (Legacy Edition)" is a timely reminder of his genius and the sheer global impact of that mercurial year - 1956. It boasts a fabulous new remaster, affectionate presentation by a man who cares and isn't going to break your bank balance. I'd say snap it up and proceed with haste to the 2CD Legacy Edition of 1960's "Elvis Is Back" - another gem - only this time in STEREO.

I'd better go now because I can feel a lip curl coming on and a need to corrupt the youth of America with my hip gyrations.

The King - remember him this way...

PS: the USA site of Amazon seems to be suggesting that "Blue Moon" is missing from Disc 1 - it isn't. And for other Vic Anesini Remasters - see my reviews for "Be What You Want..." the 4CD Box Set by HALL & OATES, the Legacy Edition of "Couldn't Stand The Weather" by STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN and the Legacy Edition of "Tomorrow The Green Grass" by THE JAYHAWKS

PPS: for fans who wish to sequence all the 45's and EP's surrounding these 2 albums, I've typed up a detailed discography referencing this 2CD release in the `comment' section attached to this review.

I had to get the RCA/SONY legacy edition of this classic Elvis album from 1956 een tho i owned it already and have the previous FTD 2 cd deluxe edition:this album went straight to NO.1 in 1956 and it was ground breaking to say the least(and the album cover was copied by the the cure.)My only 'gripe' upon recieving this new 2 cd legacy edition was that it arrived with no shrink wrap!!-it wasnt SEALED.(a mistake by RCA/SONY n doubt),.i have neer received an Elvis album that wasnt shrink-wrapped or sealed up till now!!-Apart from this minor gripe it is an essentila album as its an historic album and good for the new Elvis fan of old alike!!-the sound on each CD is perfect and they have done a very good job in remastering tracks from 1956..all-in-all,a must have classic elvis album.

If you're into Elvis then you'll have these tracks loads of times already, especially the début album ones. What we have here is 36 tracks - pretty much all Elvis recorded in 1956 - from his first two albums. The sound quality is excellent - pristine in fact - and its a joy to hear the second album so clear after so many years of inferior Stereo Enhanced Mono editions. The booklet is a good job too, although it ought to have come with a free magnifying glass! Outstanding music, quality and value.