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Elvis Is Back

Elvis Presley

1960

Elvis Is Back
Album Summary

Elvis Is Back! is the fourth studio album by American rock and roll singer Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor on April 8, 1960. It was Presley's first album issued in stereophonic sound. Recorded over two sessions in March and April, the album marked Presley's return to recording after his discharge from the U.S. Army. It was Presley's first album of new material since Elvis' Christmas Album was issued in 1957. In 1957, as Presley's fame was soaring, he received a draft notice from the Memphis Draft Board, but was given a deferment so he could finish his latest film production, King Creole. During Presley's two-year military service in Germany, RCA Victor and Paramount Pictures progressively released material he had completed prior to enlistment. During his last months in the Army, Presley experimented with new sounds and worked on further improving his performance. He also prepared material for his first session in Nashville, which was scheduled to take place upon his return. Presley returned to the United States on March 2, 1960. The singer reunited with his original band the Blue Moon Boys, excepting bassist Bill Black. The first session was held on March 20–21 and the second session was held on April 3–4, completing the album. Elvis Is Back! topped the UK Albums Chart and reached number two in Billboard's Top LP's. Initially, the release received mixed reviews, but over subsequent years its critical reception became progressively more positive. Elvis is Back! was certified Gold on July 15, 1999, by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.23

Votes

6995
Genres
Rock
Rock And Roll

Reviews

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Tue Nov 16 2021
2

He sure is, and--guess what--he's still not an album artist.

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Thu Jul 22 2021
4

So many babies were conceived to this record… This album showcases the quality and range of Elvis’ voice compared with earlier ballads and later Vegas mumbling, often straying into blues and jazz. The session musicians dazzle and are a real highlight. And whilst there are no knock-it-out-of-the-park famous hits (and a completely unnecessary near identical vocal interpretation of Peggy Lee’s version of Fever), there is lots to enjoy here.

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Sun Aug 07 2022
3

SHACK got a phone call from his son's school today... "Hello, is that Mr. SHACK?" "Yes, how can I help you? This is indeed the mythical SHACK." "Hi, this is little SHACK Midget's music teacher calling." "Oh, hi." "Yeah, hi. I just wanted to let you know it looks like you have a little Elvis Presley on your hands!" "Really? Wow! That’s..." "Yeah, we just found him dead on the toilet."

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Wed Mar 31 2021
4

Although they have common recording origins, two of the three singles, "It's Now or Never" and "Are You Lonesome Tonight," were very quirky by the standards of Elvis songs at the time -- the former inspired by Elvis's admiration for Tony Martin's 1949 hit "There's No Tomorrow," while the latter was recorded at the request of Col. Parker as a favor to his wife. They add to the diversity of sounds on this record, which shows a mature Elvis Presley. "Dirty, Dirty Feeling" and "It Feels So Right" showed he could still rock out and challenge authority and propriety, while "Reconsider Baby" and "Like a Baby" offer some of his best blues performances; but "The Thrill of Your Love" (a very gospel-tinged number), "Soldier Boy," "Girl of My Best Friend," and "Girl Next Door Went a' Walking," also displayed the rich, deep vocalizing that would challenge critics' expectations of Elvis Presley playing rhythm guitar throughout. He also comes off better than on any of his other albums since arriving at RCA, as a musician as much as a "star" (he'd always had a lot more to say about running his sessions than the critics who loathed his RCA years indicated).

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Sun Aug 07 2022
2

All very lovely and that, but I don't think I'd lose my mind and faint at his gigs. It didn't make any sparks fly out of my willy.

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Fri Jan 13 2023
5

This is Elvis Presley's fourth studio album, and his first album made after his deployment with the army. Elvis was influential in creating the rock and roll movement that exploded in the late 50's - early 60's. You can definately hear influence from blues and country throughout this album. My knee-jerk reaction this morning after seeing this album pop up was "Oh no, not an Elvis album". I understand how important he was to music, but have never been particularly fond of his music, however, after listening to this album, I was pleasantly surprised! This being an early album, and also happening right after his tour in the military, he did a bit more exploration of his sound on this record. The albums that follow this one (after he begins his time in Vegas) steadily go downhill and he becomes more of a circus act than a singer (with the hip gyrating and weird outfit). This is what I think of when I think of Elvis, and I hate that era of his music, so I am very glad this wasn't that. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this album today! Not a bad song on the record, even though I only recognized one of them (Fever, because of the movie Hangover, even though the song in the movie is a remake of this one). Favourite songs: "Dirty, Dirty Feeling", Such a Night, Make Me Know It, Reconsider Baby, Like a Baby, The Girl of My Best Friend, Fever, I Will Be Home Again, Fever Least favourite songs: It Feels So Right, Soldier Boy 5/5

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Sat Mar 13 2021
3

“Elvis Is Back” by Elvis Presley (1960) I’m very familiar with Elvis Presley through radio airplay, TV, movies, and hits when I was growing up in the 1960s, but I’ve never listened to a whole album of his music. And I don’t suppose anyone should be content to die before listening to an Elvis album, so I’m grateful for the experience. But it’s not his best stuff. This album is a product. And as a product, it is clearly well produced. Strong presence of backing vocals and top notch studio musicians. The songwriting is good, basically a collection of current songs by professional writers. So Elvis’ artistic work here is mostly that of a front man for a collaborative project. However, the art of Elvis Presley is not so much what he emitted, but rather what he evoked. He tapped into something in his audience that was latent and repressed—something that emerged as chaotic and histrionic mania. He put the boom in Boomers. He did for music what Van Gogh did for painting. Elvis’ voice at this stage of his life is better than it was in the middle 1950s, but still marked by an annoyingly rapid high-throat vibrato which one suspects he depends on to maintain pitch on sustained notes. Nice sonorous tone in the lower end of his range, but rather whiny on the highs. This is a good album. But it does not demonstrate what made Elvis a cultural icon. It lacks the energy and seductiveness of his earlier live and television performances. And it lacks the showmanship of his later Vegas years. If this album were the only Elvis Presley music to which you were ever exposed, you’d likely think, “Meh.” And that would be a shame. 3/5

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Wed Sep 01 2021
3

Lot’s to enjoy here from the King. Doesn’t have the out and out raw energy, swagger, and urgency of his best 50s stuff, but there’s still heaps of style. His voice is as good as ever, and the session musicians and production are on point and top notch with the latter part of the record being surprisingly loose and sleazy. Good stuff overall.

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Thu Jul 14 2022
1

Elvis is obviously more of a phenomenon than he is a recording artist. Genuinely didn’t truly enjoy a single track. Elvis said of himself: “I don’t know anything about music. In my line you don’t have to.” I’m a firm believer that this would have been more enjoyable had he just known a tiny bit.

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Tue Mar 09 2021
5

No hay skips para mí en este álbum. Incluso con su ocasional baladita, todo se oye bien y la voz de Presley se amolda bien según el tono de la canción. No sé si para entonces es muy temprano llamarlo así, pero suena a rock pop o pop rock. También suena a toda una época. Y ahí mi coraje con un país tan podrido como USA, pero que tiene de repente maravillas como Elvis Presley (sin que él en su totalidad deba ser maravilloso). 10/10

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Tue Mar 09 2021
5

Pues muy bien, qué más queda decir? Canciones que más me gustaron: It feels so right, tiene una ondita seductora y Make me know it, clásico y característico sonido del rock & roll. Mood: peli gringa ambientada en los 50-60s en una zona rural, lol.

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Tue Jan 26 2021
5

Disco de corta duración (31 min). De todas, solo me gusto 1.

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Thu Jun 10 2021
5

Prachtig album, bijna alles van Elvis is goed!

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Mon Apr 05 2021
5

Love this albums, shows Elvis’s range

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Fri May 07 2021
5

It’s a fun listen and the cover of Fever is great.

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Tue Jun 01 2021
5

Nice. Early-ish Elvis. Reminded me to go back to him a bit.

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Sun Aug 29 2021
5

One of my favorites! Elvis will always be a 5 star vote

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Sun Oct 24 2021
5

I love The King and this one is a cracker!

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Thu Oct 28 2021
5

It’s my first Elvis album and I liked to. Especial the change to the last songs, Side B ? that had more of a rock feel.

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Fri Nov 12 2021
5

Great album of songs I hadn't heard before

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Thu Jan 13 2022
5

Listened before? N Peak Elvis! This is my second Elvis album and it’s amazing beginning to end!

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Sat Jan 29 2022
5

Elvis is our eternal sweetheart.

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Sun Feb 20 2022
5

Rating: 9/10 Beat songs: Fever, The girl of my best friend, Dirty feeling, Such a night, It feels so right, The girl next door, Like a baby

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Mon Mar 28 2022
5

I always liked Elvis more than the Beatles as a kid because it felt like the edgier thing to say. I now know that I was a fool. But Elvis still fucks. I mean, literally. Your grandma lost her virginity to this album. I'm sorry to say that and for making you think about it. But it's true.

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Mon Mar 28 2022
5

I don't know, looks and sounds like the same Elvis to me... (OOPS! I'm sorry. I thought this album was called "Elvis is BLACK!") Three songs recorded during this session went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. None are included on the album, which is insane. The King's voice actually improved after he got out of the army, and yet he followed up this gem by seemingly appearing in as many forgettable movies as time would allow. As always, blame the colonel. But this is the King, who belongs on this list in a big way.

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Fri Feb 04 2022
5

I fuckin love Elvis.. He's the fuckin King.

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Fri Apr 01 2022
5

ko i inače uz Elvisove pisme, poseban feel-good ugođaj!!

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Mon Apr 25 2022
5

Elvis' fourth album overall and his first in two years after his army discharge. The only other Elvis album I have listened and can compare to is one of his Christmas albums that my parents had. But, I don't really remember much of that. That will change in the future with this exercise. One of the critical praises of this album is the musical variety which I wholly agree with. This variety includes ballads, doo-woop (for lack of a better term), rock and blues. Needless to say, he nails all of them. My two favorite songs are the two blues-based songs "Like A Baby" and "Reconsider Baby" which end the album. Another highlight is his cover of Peggy Lee's "Fever". I can't say that I didn't expect to like and enjoy this album. I did. It's Elvis baby.

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Mon Apr 25 2022
5

This is some great classic Jordinaires-backed Elvis! His voice sounds really great, the recording sounds really great (in Stereo!), and he recorded this after coming back from a stint in the army (not something I have seen big rock and roll stars do in my lifetime). This didn’t have any of the monster hits I knew of from Elvis, but I enjoyed it a lot. And found a lot of songs I could bop along with. I was leaning towards a 4-star rating, but my mother would be disappointed, and he does do a mean cover of Fever. So five stars it is!

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Mon Apr 25 2022
5

Other than Fever, I didn't recognize a single song on this album. Really enjoyed getting to listen to a bunch of brand-new-to-me Elvis songs.

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Mon Apr 25 2022
5

I dig Elvis, and I dug this album. Nothing that I was familiar with, but a quality album both in sound and entertainment value.

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Fri May 27 2022
5

I'm not a huge Elvis fan, but I really enjoyed this album.

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Mon Jun 27 2022
5

This is a really good early rock & roll record. Definitely feel the blues influence. Great use of horns and good examples of piano as the main rock instrument in several songs. I don't know if this has been remastered, but it sounds great; super-clean with great stereo separation.

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Wed Aug 03 2022
5

The only jam that I was already familiar with was Elvis’ version of Fever. Dirty, Dirty Feeling fucking slaps. The album sounds exactly how I thought it would sound, but with a bunch of songs that I didn’t already know. No big surprises today, but that’s ok.

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Fri Sep 09 2022
5

His voice is so soothing to me on any non-hyped up songs. A lot of this album is like that.

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Mon Nov 07 2022
5

So freaking good. I could listen to his voice forever

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Mon Nov 07 2022
5

The king! This record sounds so good, it was recorded in RCA studio B in nashville, everything that comes out of that room sounds amazing. I love the reverb on the vocals and the minimalist arrangement on fever. 4.9 because I like the earlier Elvis best

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Mon Nov 07 2022
5

Solid album. Elvis really was a great singer. “It Feels So Right” is probably my favorite. Fever is so cool with just the bass and minimal drums. 4.5

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Sat Nov 12 2022
5

The best Elvis album I've heard so far, and that's without any songs or singles I knew beforehand going in. What a comeback for the King!

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Sat Nov 12 2022
5

I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for Elvis. On family holidays as a kid, my dad used to always sing Suspicious Minds on the karaoke (he probably still does, to be fair). Hence, Elvis’ voice causes a Pavlovian feeling of being young again. Songs I already knew: Fever Favourites: The Girl Of My Best Friend, Such A Night I enjoyed this album a lot. I love the era of rock and roll where there was plenty of “du wa ooo” backing vocals - Buddy Holly was one of my favourite singers when I was around 10 years old (I was a strange child). Elvis’ voice is so iconic and can’t really be replicated. There are many good Elvis impersonators out there, but none seem to have gone on to be genuinely successful authentic singers outside of simple replication. I really enjoyed the walking bass guitar, and the fairly simple but very effective guitars. No doubt though, the vocals are where the talent really shines here. An easy recommend to… well pretty much anybody.

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Tue Nov 15 2022
5

Easy five stars for the King of Rock and Roll. Late 50s/early 60s rock and roll is one of my favourite genres so this album was a delight for me. "Make Me Know It" was love at first listen for me.

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Tue Dec 20 2022
5

Super good album. Shame about the "stealing it all from black ppl", but whatevs, I guess.

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Sun Dec 25 2022
5

This could be his best ever album

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Tue Feb 21 2023
5

I can't believe I just 5 stared him. I guess I've been missing Graceland and Memphis lately

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Tue Feb 21 2023
5

Elvis is always gonna be the king

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Wed Feb 22 2023
5

This was my first time listening to an Elvis Priestley album. I had heard best of and compilation. It was great, I felt I got it for the first time. I think it will go in the home roster.

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Fri Apr 21 2023
5

Used to be an Elvis girlie at age 6-10 (pre-emo Elvis phase) and this was lovely to revisit

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Thu Jun 01 2023
5

Loved it. Elvis can truly do no wrong.

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Wed May 12 2021
4

4.5/5. Solid stuff here. I have not listened to a lot of Elvis, but I am a fan of this. If I saw this at a record store, I would pick it up.

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Wed Apr 28 2021
4

Nothing to write home about, but nothing to whine about necessarily. I don't think this is his greatest work. However, I still found it enjoyable. 3.5 but I'll give it a 4.

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Thu Nov 26 2020
4

I haven't ever listened to Elvis outside of like, what you hear on the radio or in movies, so this was an entirely new experience to me. I can see why people were head over heels for him. What a voice, on top of these melodies, super nice. Do-whoppy, songs about love and longing, just overall a great album.

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Mon Feb 15 2021
4

Klassiker. Hat Spaß gemacht :)

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Mon Jan 18 2021
4

A collection of short and sweet songs that will definitely have me coming back for seconds, except for fever(I didn't love that song).

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Thu Jul 22 2021
4

Was expecting 45 minutes of jail house rock but was pleasantly to surprised to listen to a wonderfully varied mix of tunes that showcases the man's range perfectly

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Wed Feb 17 2021
4

My Elvis knowledge is very dim. I found the pretty wide range of styles interesting.

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Sun Feb 28 2021
4

Great not what I would have expected from the king

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Wed Jan 20 2021
4

Its Elvis, nothing to complain about.

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Fri Feb 05 2021
4

A nuanced and versatile voice in a way you wouldn't realize if you'd only heard "Hound Dog" or whatever.

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Thu Feb 04 2021
4

Fever is definitely a weird version... so sparse. But given all the other Elvis songs i hadn't heard before, this is a fun, solid list of tracks. Worth a listen.

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Tue Apr 27 2021
4

Vive elvis, du bon rock and roll! 4

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Tue May 04 2021
4

Es Elvis. No hay más, ni menos. Pleno, blues, rock&roll.

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Mon May 03 2021
4

I never listened to a complete Elvis album before, so I'm very impressed with this one. A great opportunity to know a little bit of pop/rock history, even recognizing a lot of influences from blues and knowing that Elvis is not a real rock pioneer (maybe in a commercial way, but not artistic), this looks like an important album for me.

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Tue Feb 02 2021
4

Really enjoyed this. Lots of songs here (or versions of) that I hadn't heard. Very nice.

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Thu Jun 10 2021
4

Extra ster is voor "Fever", dit nummer wordt door meerdere mensen heerlijk vertolkt, Elvis is er 1 van.

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Tue Apr 13 2021
4

Very good album, erotic with interesting songs

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Tue Mar 09 2021
4

Muy bonito, a falta de una mejor palabra y sin querer sonar condescendiente. Letras bonis y ritmos (?) distintos (muy grato encontrarme esta versión de “Fever” que no conocía, es la original?). PS: fuertecita “The Girl of My Best Friend” D:

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Tue Jun 29 2021
4

I dig this album. Elvis just carries so much love and pain in each one of his songs. He really makes me feel it.

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Thu May 06 2021
4

I mean, classic right? But also, very uniform sound. Fever was my favorite on that album. I feel like he gets a really different sound out of that song compared to the others. Overall, good.

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Thu Jun 03 2021
4

pleasantly surprised. didn't think i would enjoy listening to Elvis but this record proved me wrong. Loved the track Fever.

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Thu Jun 10 2021
4

Really lovely listen to this album, the ultra familiar tones of Elvis was strangely very comforting. Although I don't think I've heard any of the Elvis originals in the album, it feels like a more mature outing than his earlier songs. The different styles and pace of music take some getting used to, and can see that there might have been mixed reviews when this initially was released. The production on Fever is just gorgeous! Best: Fever; Dirty, Dirty Feeling Worst: I will be home again

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Fri May 21 2021
4

Chill, really nice vocal performance, simple but groovy

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Tue May 18 2021
4

Usually not the biggest fan of Elvis,but i gotta say that i really like this album. Good Blend of slow ballads and upptempo Rock'n'roll.

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Sun Jul 25 2021
4

For me and my appreciation of Elvis its all about the material...are the SONGS to my liking, because the performance and delivery all always spot on. On this album he lets his blues side OUT! Some big blues numbers here that are great performances and the material is pretty good. Fever is another high point one of the best versions of that song I've ever heard. 3.75 stars

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Thu Aug 05 2021
4

Es un álbum complicado para ser el primero de Elvis que nos toca: todavía tiene un montón de la onda de los 50 con mucho doo-wop y ese tipo de sonido, pero ya empieza a tener también la calidad vocal que lo hace ícono y capaz de cantar lo que le pongan enfrente. Es interesante también que Elvis, aunque era absolutamente comercial y manejado como un producto (incluso mientras estuvo en el ejército la disquera tenía un “guardadito” de canciones para no dejar de vender) pero él se trataba a sí mismo como artista, eligiendo sus temas y mejorando su técnica. En este disco se empieza a notar eso.

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Tue Sep 07 2021
4

Love a little Elvis but not his best album so I can’t give it a 5!

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Mon Sep 13 2021
4

It was interesting reading about this album. It was Elvis' first since being discharged from the army. It was also a commercial failure, only selling 300,000 copies. The album fits the "Living Stereo" label, recorded using a Neumann U-47 studio mic. It does sound amazing. Apart from Fever there aren't a lot of hits here but it does have song good solid song-writing from his band and is a great listen. I'm surprised he got away with the lyric: "That's when I'll drag you home with me girl I'm gonna chain you to the wall" Overall a fun rock album I'd put at 3.5 stars and I'll round it up to 4.

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