Golden Boy: 146 Elvis Original [Box set]

The negatives may even be positives with this collection. Firstly this review is not about the music, the songs themselves. You do not need me to convince you if they are good. Anyone who knows this is Elvis will already make their own judgment. For the record the 50's was Presley's greatest era in my opinion. So the songs are some of the best that rock and roll has to offer. Non stop classics, period, no need to think about that. The decision to buy this collection boils down to will you like the mixes of this set. Quite frankly even if the quality was terrible, which it is not, for the price it's phenomenal. What you get is the original mixes. They are for the most part very clear but certainly not up to today's remastering jobs. The sound feels dated and most are the album cuts as opposed to the single cuts. Some people are so used to the single cuts they might be disappointed. Personally again for the price I'm very happy hearing the original mixes. Would I prefer the new $500 remastering job by the Franklin mint,,, yes but it doesn't matter in the least. You will be honored with that nostalgic sound that transports you back to an era almost 60 years ago. I love it. If anyone doesn't like this collection then they just don't like 50's Elvis or vintage rock and roll. As another legend would say, Don't think Twice it's alright !! It is worth probably at least 5 times the price. Just get it !

In my opinion this is the best period of recordings of any artist, rivalled only by Chuck Berry 1955 to 1960 (although CB's output was quite a bit less in number). I believe the tracks on this CD set are those released, rather than recorded, between 1954 and 1960. For example "Ain't That Loving You Baby" and "Crying In The Chapel" are not included because although recorded in 1958 and 1960 respectively, neither was released until the mid sixties. This could also account for the tracks probably being in release date order not recording date order, which means some of the Sun recordings come later on the CDs than the first HMV recordings. Having said that, this CD set is excellent value for money and I highly recommend it to all Elvis fans wishing to upgrade their vynil records, also any recent Elvis converts.
As the full track list does not appear on Amazon, here it is below (apart from CD 10, which is only Tribute Songs by other singers).

CD1 1 That's all right
CD1 2 Blue moon of Kentucky
CD1 3 Good rockin' tonight
CD1 4 I don't care if the sun don't shine
CD1 5 Milkcow blue boogie
CD1 6 You're a heartbreaker
CD1 7 I'm left, you're right, she's gone
CD1 8 Baby let's play house
CD1 9 I forgot to remember to forget
CD1 10 Mystery train
CD1 11 Heartbreak Hotel
CD1 12 I was the one
CD1 13 Blue suede shoes
CD1 14 I'm counting on you
CD1 15 I got a woman
CD1 16 One sided love Affair
CD2 1 I love you because
CD2 2 Just because
CD2 3 Tutti Frutti
CD2 4 Trying to get to you
CD2 5 I'm gonna sit right down and cry
CD2 6 I'll never let you go
CD2 7 Blue moon
CD2 8 Money honey
CD2 9 I want you, I need you, I love you
CD2 10 My baby left me
CD2 11 Don't be cruel
CD2 12 Hound dog
CD2 13 Shake, rattle and roll
CD2 14 Lawdy Miss Clawdy
CD2 15 Love me tender
CD2 16 Anyway you want me
CD3 1 Rip it up
CD3 2 Love me
CD3 3 When my blue moon turns to gold again
CD3 4 Long tall Sally
CD3 5 First in line
CD3 6 Paralyzed
CD3 7 So glad you're mine
CD3 8 Old shep
CD3 9 Ready Teddy
CD3 10 Anyplace is paradise
CD3 11 How's the world treating you
CD3 12 How do you think I feel
CD3 13 Let me
CD3 14 Poor boy
CD3 15 We're gonna move
CD3 16 Too much
CD4 1 Playing for keeps
CD4 2 All shook up
CD4 3 That's when your heartaches begin
CD4 4 (There'll be) Peace in the valley (for me)
CD4 5 It is no secret
CD4 6 I Believe
CD4 7 Take my hand precious lord
CD4 8 I need you so
CD4 9 Have I told you lately that I love you
CD4 10 Blueberry hill
CD4 11 Is it so strange
CD4 12 Mean woman blues
CD4 13 (Let me be your) Teddy Bear
CD4 14 Loving you
CD4 15 Got a lot o' livin' to do
CD4 16 Lonesome cowboy
CD5 1 Hot dog
CD5 2 Party
CD5 3 True love
CD5 4 Don't leave me now
CD5 5 Jailhouse rock
CD5 6 Treat me nice
CD5 7 Young and beautiful
CD5 8 I want to be free
CD5 9 (You're so square) Baby I don't care
CD5 10 Santa Claus is back in town
CD5 11 White Christmas
CD5 12 Here comes Santa Claus
CD5 13 I'll be home for Christmas
CD5 14 Blue Christmas
CD5 15 Santa bring my baby back
CD5 16 Oh little town of Bethlehem
CD6 1 Silent night
CD6 2 Don't
CD6 3 I beg of you
CD6 4 Wear my ring around your neck
CD6 5 Doncha' think it's time
CD6 6 Hard headed woman
CD6 7 Don't ask me why
CD6 8 King Creole
CD6 9 As long as I have you
CD6 10 Trouble
CD6 11 Dixieland rock
CD6 12 Lover doll
CD6 13 Young dreams
CD6 14 Crawfish
CD6 15 Steadfast, loyal and true
CD6 16 New Orleans
CD7 1 One night
CD7 2 I got stung
CD7 3 (Now and then there's) A fool such as I
CD7 4 I need your love tonight
CD7 5 A big hunk o' love
CD7 6 My wish came true
CD7 7 Stuck on you
CD7 8 Fame and fortune
CD7 9 Make me know it
CD7 10 Fever
CD7 11 The girl of my best friend
CD7 12 I will be home again
CD7 13 Dirty dirty feeling
CD7 14 Thrill of your love
CD7 15 Soldier boy
CD7 16 Such a night
CD8 1 It feels so right
CD8 2 The girl next door went a-walking
CD8 3 Like a baby
CD8 4 Reconsider baby
CD8 5 It's now or never
CD8 6 A mess of blues
CD8 7 Tonight is so right for love
CD8 8 What's she really like
CD8 9 Frankfort Special
CD8 10 Wooden heart
CD8 11 G. I. blues
CD8 12 Pocketful of rainbows
CD8 13 Shoppin' around
CD8 14 Big boots
CD8 15 Didja' ever
CD8 16 Doin' the best I can
CD9 1 Are you lonesome tonight
CD9 2 I gotta know
CD9 3 His hand in mine
CD9 4 I'm gonna walk dem golden stairs
CD9 5 In my father's house
CD9 6 Milky white way
CD9 7 Known only to him
CD9 8 I believe in the man in the sky
CD9 9 Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
CD9 10 He knows just what I need
CD9 11 Swing down sweet chariot
CD9 12 Mansion over the hilltop
CD9 13 If we never meet again
CD9 14 Working on the building
CD9 15 Don't leave me now
CD9 16 Doncha' think it's time u. a.
CD9 17 Tonight's all right for love
CD9 18 Blue suede shoes (1960)

A very good price for a great piece of pop history. Early Elvis is the best Elvis!
The last disc is very interesting comprising of tribute tracks of the period.