Elvis Presley

Some pretty average Elvis. But I’ve got to say, it put me in a great mood. 7.5/10 Top 3: 1. Blue Suede Shoes 2. Tutti Frutti 3. I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’)

Definitely dated but also definitely still good. Low 3.

Elvis was such a blatant thief. Most of these songs are cheap imitations of better songs. Enjoyed it okay.

It’s an important album, but I know understand every claim of appropriation

Historically interesting but rather a hodgepodge as an album.

Elvis is nostalgia for me; having been something my parents introduced me to. Despite this, and my love for this era of rock n roll, he is NOT my favorite. His debut LP showcases his voice quite well, and the cover image alone probably helped draw countless young people to this new form of music, whose roots were firmly in the taboo. And that's about where it ends. Elvis only plays guitar on a couple of tracks here, and piano on only one. Not a single song is written by him. This is the beginning of a 70+ year long music industry practice of taking a pretty face, and selling pop records with it. The music here is well played (great session players on here) but it lacks the raw power, energy, and innovation of artists like Chuck Berry or Little Richard. It's a fun listen and a historic artifact, but it's hard for me to not contextualize it as the colonization of rock n roll

- A more "old-fashioned" album, in the sense that the tracks are all fine but not connected together outside of the fact that Elvis is performing them. - The real bangers are all the ones you know, "Blue Suede Shoes," "Tutti Frutti," and "Blue Moon." None of the rest are disappointing, but they are just not particularly memorable.

Fun but I didn't love it. Any time I recognized a song, I liked the other artist's version more and I wished I was listening to that instead. I like Elvis's goofiness and energy, and Scotty Moore's guitar especially. I enjoyed having it on, but probably won't be going back any time soon. A+ for album cover. 6/10

Eh, IDK

I didn't like it as much as I thought I would like it. It had a few super famous songs on it, but the other ones didn't do a ton for me. All around I still enjoyed it and wouldn't complain if someone else put it on. My favorite songs were 'One-Sided Love Affair', 'Tutti Frutti' and 'Blue Suede Shoes'. 6/10

I had no idea London Calling modeled the album cover off of this. It's almost a bit of a boring album nowadays but for the time it was setting trends and needs to be looked at through that lens. Elvis himself almost seems to play a smaller part on this album vs his later works. Not surprising but interesting to hear where he was at from the start.

Pretty good album art. He has an interesting voice and makes interesting vocal choices to catch your attention. Great pop song track lengths. Tryn' to Get to You is a new stand out for me. At the end of the day this is not a great album, it's a collection of songs and it made an impact. 3.5 rounded down.

Solid album. Some songs had more of a country feel than I was expecting. More like a 3.9 but not a 4

It’s okay but nothing that gets me excited.

I surprisingly didn’t mind this album

Since Elvis is so ridiculously well known, it almost felt comedic to listen to this and try to separate it from his legacy. Not that you have to do that in order to fully appreciate the work but still. It's funny. But separate from that - as a dancer, I felt immediately that a good chunk of his music is so intimately tied with dance and the dance culture of the 50's. There were times that I couldn't help but tap my foot or shimmy a little. In the same vein with how people make fun of country music's lyricism for being "truck, beer, dirt road, hard work"-core, I could see the influences of what was popular topic-wise in the 50s as the majority of the album's tracklist were either these sweet, nearly hawaiian style love songs or sock-hop, spin your lover girl in a circle kinds of jams. Long story short, I enjoyed it at a base level solely for its historical value and danceability lol

Blue suede shoes!

Not my kind of music. The two well known songs are okay for me but the rest ist too slowly.

I mean, I would also get catty if my ex-husband was serenading his wife on stage at the PTO fundraiser (and sang better than my current one). Uh oh!

B- Blue Suede Shoes 3 I'm Counting On You 3 I Got A Woman 3 One-Sided Love Affair 3 I Love You Because 3 Just Because 3 Tutti Frutti 3 Tryin' To Get To You 3 I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You) 3 I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') 3 Blue Moon 3 Money Honey 3 Elvis doesn't go lower than 3.

I know, I know, it's Elvis. But for a guy who only sings other peoples' songs, he doesn't perform them any better than other artists. Blue Suede Shoes is really the only worthwhile track here.

Pretty ok album. I suspect you had to be there when this came out to really appreciate it. Now that you've heard Presley dozen of times the initial shock reaction is not very strong. Regardless, 'Blue Suede Shoes' stands out as the best song, but otherwise it was pretty bland.

Dal Libro della Genesi: "in principio Elvis creò il r'n'r..."

It was alright, just not my taste truthfully.

I mean it's Elvis, I like his voice and "Blue Suede Shoes" is a great song but honestly other than that I feel like his songwriting was pretty mid. The album seriously slowed down after the first couple tracks and his guitar playing was also not great. Maybe that had something to do with the recording equipment that was available at the time, but I didn't think his guitar skills were very good. Overall just kinda meh.

never listened to an Elvis album before. enjoyed the variety of musical styles-pretty wide range. liked his original tracks more than his covers.

This record was likely massive for popular music in the 1950s, but it hasn't aged well due to some controversy. It does feel like Elvis was stealing what black artists had already done. There are some discussions of whether Elvis was recording these songs in order to bring attention to black artists at the time, but I'm not sure there's much evidence of that. All the being said, Elvis's voice alone is iconic. Few things scratch a nostalgic itch like hearing "Blue Suede Shoes".

Classic album, not a personal fave

Elvis had a very iconic timbre of voice, but he just wasn't as fun as Little Richard

Als Cornelis Willem Heuckeroth een album vol covers op de mat legt wordt 'ie verguisd. Wanneer Elvis het deed, gecombineerd met een flinke bak culturele toeëigening, was het blijkbaar legendarisch. Dat is toch lastig te verkroppen, in ieder geval voor Gordon. Ik ben niet helemaal kapot van dat hele nogal dik er bovenop gelegde Tennessee stijltje. Ik vind het sowieso flink gedateerd klinken, wat ook niet gek is natuurlijk. Lastig. Ik vind dit best aardig maar ik kan geen enkele situatie bedenken waarin ik dit ooit zelf zou opzetten. Tenzij het me geld, bier of seks zou opleveren, zo simpel zijn we dan ook wel weer.

I liked two songs from this (I'll Never Let You Go and Blue Moon) but not really my kind of thing

The last ten years or so have not been kind to Elvis’ legacy. He’s been widely considered by younger audiences as a “racist”, “thief”, etc. and while I strongly disagree with most of these harsh criticisms, there is some truth in that the man did not write his own songs. And whether it was his intent or not to take credit for them is irrelevant. And I would label any one of the artists he covers on this album as the Real Kings of Rock n Roll. But I’m not gonna sit here and deny that the man was a once in a lifetime vocal talent and showman, the likes of which we’ll never see again. He single-handedly shifted pop culture. And his death was a tragedy that summed up a life of struggle and addiction due to the massive fame that came with his talent. But how’s this record? It’s…good. Elvis sings the hell out of every track, even if they don’t necessarily hold a candle to the original artists who sang them. You can hear him playing around with different styles and finding what would be his distinct sound in his later career. It’s fascinating, if kind of plain.

Whether you consider Elvis the “King” of Rock and Roll or of Musical Appropriation, there’s really no denying his singular ability to meld influences into a style and presence all his own.

solid record. Elvis did his thing from the beginning. even tho his career is based off uncredited black music he was still a good artist i guess. Elvis Tutti frutti through me off for a bit... i mean if you hear little richards version than you see tha elvis version is the crying baby against little richards hydrogen bomb

Yeah that's Elvis after all.

Besides the album opener "blue suede shoes" i wasnt familiar with any of these songs. The band is super tight and the production is sparse, which is cool in that old school rockabilly way. Elvis does some funny stuff with his voice on "one sided love affair" and "just because". Not sure if its meant to be comical but i laughed. In fact, much of this album came off as a little silly. I can appreciate the importance of this album and it's impact on popular music but the songs sound a little unserious and superficial. It doesnt have the emotional depth of later Elvis which I much prefer. That being said, i still liked it, but in a more acedemic, historical artifact kind of way, rather than a visceral and emotional kind of way.

What came first, the Clash or Elvis. Some iconic songs on this one, including some covers he made his own. It's not something I would typically go out of my way to listen to, but I enjoyed the carefree feel of the era.

Classic Elvis. Never loved him but appreciate the musicianship

Elvis is alright

this album feels more like crooner Elvis than rock Elvis, great voice as always but so much of it blends together. While listening to this album I missed more than one track change due to similarities. Its alright, the best had yet to come.

- Stone cold classic - Not his best though

Elvis is a bit dated and kitschy in 2024, but nonetheless still obviously important to the history of rock and roll. I can appreciate Elvis for what it is - a ground breaking album for its time.

Never a big Elvis fan. I do like a few songs and do think he has a good voice.

Undoubtedly Elvis was a notable natural singer, and his impact on the music scene, through this first album, started a revolution in the music sound of the 50s and on. That said, although there are a few versions of tracks on this album that became his trademark sound... the album is still mostly Country tracks which were given the Rockabilly twist. But it was of an era. I do get why Elvis influenced the music world, and growing up in the 80s I heard him played a lot by my aunt and uncle, but he's still not my thing.

It was Ok

Average collection of songs overall. A couple of great tracks but not enough to push it past 3 stars.

I understand this was a hugely important album in modern music and had vast cultural significance, so I'm not going to be too harsh. Overall, there's a few catchy songs and a bunch of forgettable tracks. The biggest reason I can't score this higher is that Elvis didn't write a single song on this album. To me, Elvis is more of a performer, not an artist.

I really enjoy rock and roll and I appreciate the impact this record had on rock and roll but it is hard to fully appreciate it when it's almost fully covers of black artists. I know there is debate on Elvis and how much of a culture vulture he was but B.B. King claims that he was alright. The songs are great and Elvis does a great job covering them but it's just too bad the black artists that wrote the songs didn't get as much credit as they deserved.

Complicated rating, because he basically whitewashed Black music. Also, Elvis cannot sing in a higher register. But it’s still a very nostalgic album for me.

Elvis, dat is (voordat het kitsch werd) stevige rock uit het oertijdperk, maar ook een berg slijmerige ballads. Het zal destijds wel extra fans opgeleverd hebben (vrouwelijke fans?) maar zo'n draak als 'I love you because' is niet aan te horen. En dan breekt hij ineens weer los in A-wam-bam-baluba en andere rocksongs, maar dit zijn dan weer allemaal covers. Eerlijk gezegd vond ik de slijmloze uitbarstingen van Little Richard leuker.

Bij een ander album schreef ik al mijn bewondering als de allereerste klanken van jouw allereerste album bijna 70 jaar later de wereld over blijven gaan. Dat geldt natuurlijk ook voor dit album. Ik zou dit dan ook heel hoog willen geven. Maar als ik heel eerlijk ben kan ik slechts wat meedeinen met de grootste hits en vind ik veel ander werk op dit album erg gemaakt. Vooral bij de rustige nummers past dat niet. Dan heb ik het liefst een nummer als Money Honey. Niet uniek wellicht, wel swingend en weinig overdreven.

Not bad, but Elvis is extremely overrated. Originals are better than his covers.

Classic

I don’t feel like many people would want to listen to this just because, but the influence is important. Elvis is a good singer, but I can’t like his music as much, since it doesn’t feel as genuine. Tutti Frutti is cool, but Little Richard does it better.

not my vibe

It’s good and it’s interesting and for white people (and the music industry) it sure was different and ground breaking. Knowing the history behind it sure adds to the mystique of Elvis and his rise to fame. That being said, I always thought Elvis’ best creative years are his later ones.

A young unspoiled Elvis. Surely a revolution at that time, but now easy listening.

Love me some Elvis, and the album cover is great, but let's face it, not every one of these songs is amazing. Blue Suede Shoes is. Tutti Frutti is, but not as good as Little Richard's version. Still, pretty good.

Apparently I only knew Elvis’ voice via his older & also more deep voice things. It sounded different to me on a lot of these tracks which was fascinating.

I think I was an Elvis movie fan, not a music fan...

3 de 5

I can see why boomers went crazy over this, if this was sent back in time we’d have a “giving a baja blast to peasants” scenario. Bringing it forward in time it just sounds like quaint, I guess?

It’s Elvis. And it’s ok.

Elvis fans shall not be disappointed

Definitely get the vibes of - I can see this going IN live. Elvis has always been interesting to me in a cultural standpoint as well. I could write a whole ethnomusicological essay on Elvis and the history of rock, but I'll spare everyone. :) I'm sure my mom is making her morning coffee right now sensing a happiness and not knowing that it's because her daughter is listening to Elvis (she's an Elvis FANATIC). Which then makes me wanna tell this only slightly related story: My mom is number 8 of 11 children, and grew up dirt poor. She shared an attic with all her 6 sisters (the boys all shared another room), everything was communal, she didn't have anything to herself, etc. Anyway, on her 16th birthday, she came down the stairs KNOWING she was hot stuff and no one was gonna take that away from her. Well, she came down the stairs and heard on the radio that Elvis had died. Her favorite. On her 16th birthday. She laughs telling the story to this day, saying she really couldn't have ANYTHING.

Gefällt mir.

6.5/10

Meh

Elvis Presley

I'm counting on you Money Honey

this was pleasant and a fine listen. i was most excited to see the cover that London Calling was inspired by, as there's not a lot else to be inspired by here. a now-infamous white guy doing covers of black musicians' songs? how droll. favorites: the ones i knew already: blue suede shoes, tutti frutti, blue moon

Cool psychedelic album with amazing guitar work and strong messages.

This album is the love child of country western and delta blues and rightfully shows off Elvis's range for both.

Demasiado escuchado ya

It's okay. Not my favorite.

It was ok, not really my thing

Not bad but these are songs that are so prevalent in pop culture that I have heard them a lot of times just in day to day life. It's good but not something I would ever put on to listen to.

I know I have the benefit of hindsight here, but it's wild to me that this album is the one that ushered in rock and roll across the American mainstream. Well, we all know why that's the case, but it's really crazy to listen to this with the context of knowing that so many artists did this style of music so much better and more interesting than what's put out here. Still, the importance of this album to my favorite music to listen to cannot be discounted or disrespected. Favorite track: I Got a Woman

I didn't really care for this too much. I don't think it's bad. Just not for me.

Not bad at all! Really didn’t expect to enjoy, because I’ve never been an Elvis fan. But it was more versatile than I assumed, and the quality is pretty good for being nearly 70 years old.

I never want to hear tutti frutti again in my life.

Blue Suede Shoes is good, but the rest of the album dragged, which is impressive for a 28 minute album

Slightly anemic when compared to the original (black) artists. He’s obviously talented, but effortlessly so.

This record must have been quite something when it was new. It's not as samey as most of his contemporaries. Not all the songs are the same tempo, more dynamic singing. But music has evolved a lot since then, almost beyond recognition. This record is not relevant for anything that is fresh and new today. Favorite song: Money Honey

groovy, too lovey dovey

Elvis is hot and I don't care who knows it!!

He's the king, baby. Enjoyable, not unpleasant. White people's versions of Little Richard songs always seem so goofy and soulless, lol.

3.5 blue suede shoes is banger

interesting album, but not completely my jam and at times it felt repetitive, but that might just be me. It's on the edge of 4 stars though

He’s obviously iconic, but not he’s my cup of tea. A few bangers

The album starts off with an absolute banger. The middle is adequate, but nothing too exciting. I know elvis has better songs in the catalog, so was a little disappointed

I obviously didn't hate it! I just don't really love Elvis... I'd be interested to hear his contemporaries - I know he was basically the vehicle through which white people accepted Rock and Roll so I'd like to hear what his black contemporaries were doing that was less watered down I imagine.

Kann man anhören

Damit fing es an.

Not my music style unfortunately

When Blue Suede Shoes came on I got excited, just to be quickly disappointed by the rest of the album. Blue Moon was another song I didn't mind but overall it all just fell flat to me. That being said when you keep in mind how damn young Elvis was when he recorded this and how polished he sounds you can't hate the album. Plus, we all start somewhere. You can see why he became so popular with that unique voice of his.

I like Elvis. The album is good. I don’t like the ballads as much.

Da e jo legendarisk

Better than I expected

hes kind of an L. blue suede shoes- its fine. serviceable. 4 or 5 out of 10 ig i just dont care that much ✌️. ive not heard the original but im willing to bet its better 🤷. im counting on you- this is kinda nice. i give this a seven its kinda cute this is a song id sing while im stumbling home drunk. i got a woman- eh. 4. boring one sided love affair- i forgot music was playing. 3 or 4 cause i got bored. i love you because- i like the song i just kinda hate his voice. 5 just because- my mom thinks im hot?? guys i think i just dont like elvis. 3 or 4 tutti frutti- you wish bitch. its an ok version but like cmon now. 4 or 5. trying to get to you- L. 3. sorry for being a hater im just bored. im gonna sit right down and cry over you- 5. i like the jive ig and that you can kinda bob your head to it ill never let you go little darling- 3. snork mimimimimi. blue moon- i like the what is that bongos in the background? idk but theyre nice. 4 cause its boring otherwise money honey- forgot music was playing. 4 i got bored ummmmmm the album as a whole was a 3 i fink. i just dont like elvis.

I get why it's on the list, but it's just not special in 2023

Sure, it was a fun listen, but I’m not sure why an album of covers is on this list. Energy was great, but the lyrics seemed formulaic and surface level.

3/5

Early proto rock and roll is a wild thing. This record is cool as artifact but I'm not sure it's worth much more than that. I just watched the Little Richard: I Am Everything documentary, so hearing Tutti Frutti here resonated with me a bit more than it usually would.

not an impressive debut, also im not too fond of elvis' music in general idk why but yeah his debut album wasn't much

Some good classic stuff on here.

Some classic rock n roll.

Having this album right after London Calling is funny because the album art from it is inspired by this one. I didn't realize Blue Suede Shoes was literally the first song on his first album. Also didn't realize he did Tutti Frutti.

This was kinda fun. I know that he was really just repackaging music black people had been making already, but I can still see the appeal.

Damn, this white boy got a little too much swag. This album is accessible, but not doing anything special outside of that. I’d take Buddy Holly’s or Little Richard’s debut over this any day of the week

Elvis is just getting into his persona with this album. Of course there’s the songs everyone knows like blue suede shoes but I find his slower r n b tinged cuts are were he truly stands out. I may pick this up to have in the back pocket though

I’d forgotten how much of this album was slightly boring, very sentimental Country. The Rock n Roll tracks are alright, but not a patch on the originals. The best song is the version of Blue Moon, which is such a song, I’m convinced that nobody could do a bad version. But Elvis’ version is particularly good. I don’t mind this. It’s just, having listened to the originals that Elvis is gentrifying, it’s hard to get excited for the mid white copies

Didn't get a chance to listen. Haven't listen to much like this before.

So short, first 50s era album in the list.

This guy would rather get his face stepped on than his shoes fucked with. I don't agree!

Rock and roll classic, but many of the songs aren’t that great

The king. Decent album, hated blue moon.

So many classics!

Never really sat down and listen to Elvis but I enjoyed most of this album. Nice vibes. Some tunes are a bit too ballad for me. Blue suede shoes added to favs Interesting version of blue moon

Can’t see the hips shakin, but at least you can hear the voice breakin. Too bad it’s about 15 songs about loving women enough to not let them escape, but the good news is that the guy is a talented singing and would go on to have a very eventful career. This is just ok, but nice to have as a background music.

7/10

A short, succinct rocker which underlies so much more to come. While I’m a little torn on how I feel about Presley taking more than a few Motown staples and using them to rocket to fame, there’s no denying he performs them with the perfect amount of swagger to draw you in. Good to revisit some classics here and tap my toe a bit.

Good album! Especially for his first. Some songs are forgettable. 3.5/5

Lots of catchy stuff on here! Unfortunately, this is such a foundational sound that it feels a bit overdone/obvious now.

Blue Suede Shoes fait un excellent titre d'ouverture, Tutti Frutti est très sympa, le reste tout se ressemble un peu. Ok y'a une valeur historique mais ça n'a pas aussi bien vieilli que d'autres albums de la liste.

Ég hef aldrei hlustað á Elvis Presley plötu. Bara einstaka lag. Hann er alveg fínn þessi náungi. Ég er samt með smá leið á honum af því að hann er svo ofspilaður þannig að mér fannst eiginlega skemmtilegra að heyra "Spotify radio" út frá honum þegar platan hafði runnið sitt skeið.

11/10/23. Never been huge on Elvis since he’s a thief, but he pays his tributes accordingly to the originals! Lot’s of fun, blues driven tracks.

Interesting hearing the start of the Elvis revolution. Elvis's debut album is mix of slow intimate songs sprinkled with high energy hip shaking songs. Not a cohesive album, but a good listen.

Fun 50s music. Not super interesting to listen to in a big chunk...

Enjoyed it. To my ear, it reminds me of Christmas since a lot of radio Christmas songs are of a similar era, and of Hawaii. It's also cool to hear rock and roll that's still so closely related to blues and jazz.

Good album. Many well known songs and some good covers.

Not his best, not his worst

Definitely prefer Elvis’ earlier stuff.

Elvis! Haven't heard a lot of Elvis before. Was pretty good. Not something I'd always listen to.

A decent album. Elvis is good, and there's a couple good songs in here, but not quite peak Elvis yet.

So so, the classic stand out, obviously. But the rest is meh

This is the 3rd or 4th time listening to this album. It's a fine album to listen to. Elvis has so much charisma that it doesn't matter if the songs are a bit weak or if the songs don't suit his style. The album cover is so iconic! It's an unfortunate side effect of having heard a lot of the original covers (Tutti Frutti, I Got a Woman, Blue Moon) that makes Elvis' versions sound weak in comparison, but it would've been great back in the 50s for him to highlight these other artists' works. I don't get the impression that he's stealing from other artists; I think it's very evident in his singing that he's celebrating their work. I give this a 6/10. It's an album I don't mind listening to, but it's not anything super amazing. I'd much rather listen to Elvis' most iconic hits than dive into his album discography. Still, this is a very important album in music history, so it's definitely worth a listen.

🕺🪩

Blue Suede Shoes I Love You Because Blue Moon Money Money

Jeg hørte det meste imens jeg var på arbejde, så det var ikke den bedste lydoplevelse. Men det er jo Elvis, så jeg ved at det kan noget og fortjener at bliver lytter ordentligt igennem.

This one is not easy for me to rate. I'm not much of an Elvis fan, but I appreciate that he and other 50s rockers paved the way for my interesting music in the 60s. I like his rock songs more than the ballads I think. I guess I'm more of a "greatest hits" kind of Elvis listener.

not bad

Some good rockabilly tunes, but I think for me, the context is more valuable than the album. It's good, but not transformational to me. \"Just Because\" is a banger, though.

It's hard separate the artist from the character, a man who still has people professionally impersonating him. You could see his country, R&B, and rock influences all coming together, but I preferred I Got a Woman and Tutti Frutti when left to Ray and Richard. Didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.

3.2 While iconic and full of great songs it's just kinda mid. Fave songs: I got a woman, blue suede shoes

Not my kind of music but good

Enjoyable, especially for it's age. Not one I would go back to again though. 3/5.

About what I expected. I look forward to hearing these songs in every movie set in the 50s for all time, forever.

Inte min grej. Helt okej men kanske inte en skiva man slänger på i vardagen. 2,5 av 5.

I grew up with a father who loved Elvis. I haven't listened to it in years now, and I have to say this was a welcome flashback. A few great short songs, much filler, and his voice was dynamic but far from as good as people said.

Still a young boy looool

Good album, classic songs, iconic album cover, but a somehow uneven quality. I'd rather recommend The Sun Sessions, the original Elvis recording that changed history.

i always thought I hated Elvis but it turns out that I don’t hate Elvis

I've never much listened to Elvis. There's no denying that the recording quality of this album is not great. It's kind of hilarious how bad it is, but then again, the album is almost 70 years old!! The real driving force of this album is Elvis' lyrics and singing, and he nails it, that's for sure. It's not particularly my cup of tea, but the influence is palpable. His unique singing cues can be heard immediately after with The Beatles, and far into the future with modern Arctic Monkeys. And this is his first album. I don't love it, but I can definitely appreciate the influence and the quality. And I get why so many women swooned (and still swoon) over the guy.

Not my favorite

I like that it inspired the cover for London Calling! It's not bad at all. Not my thing but it's enjoyable.

Total classic but I couldn't stop thinking of how much of this was stolen. 3 stars for the backstory

I mean it's hard to dislike Elvis. I definitely prefer the originals for most of the songs but he's so iconic it's hard to not dance. If I was in the suburbs in the 50s and I hadn't heard blues music ever this would blow my fuckin mind. I would like I Got a Woman a lot more if it didn't have the last verse lol.

While I have definitely heard some of these songs individually, I have never sat down and listened to the full album they originated on. It gave me a bit more of an appreciation for what Elvis was able to do, and how he brought appreciation for a developing genre of music to the average American. Highlights: Blue Suede Shoes - Everyone has heard this one before, and for good reason. It's a fun jam about pretty much nothing at all. One-Sided Love Affair - I had never heard this one before, but it's one of the best examples I've found of the sound and style of early Elvis Presley. Just Because - The lyrics and vocals are light, but the guitar work is ahead of its time and a good sample of what would be to come in rock and roll. Blue Moon - Probably the best song on the album overall with a haunting melody that shows off Elvis's pipes really well. Lowlights: I'm Counting On You - The song itself is fine, but something about the mix is really weird. Sounds like it's being sung in the shower.

Fine I guess. Like it’s not very interesting though I’ll say the instrumentals are really good at times but anyway it’s not very interesting but I understand the function of Elvis now having listened to this album.

Never cared for him - just one of those singers whose voice bothers me.

Really started it all this one. The voice is obviously legendary and some of the singles are timeless. That said, the production is just a bit too simple to get this into the upper star echelons. Rightly on the list nonetheless.

My favorite song from this album is “I’m Counting on You”. I like the lyrics and tune of the song. The most iconic song is “Blue Suede Shoes” because I knew this song before I listened to the album. The album is a feel good/romantic album and the songs have sweet lyrics.

Liked it more than I thought I would. But not all songs are killer

I found it interesting to see the mix of both the country style and the rock and roll mix in one album. I was struck at how short the songs were compared to current music or even music 20 years later. The lyrics were eye opening in the fact of what was socially acceptable during the 1950s.

Anfang skeptisch, aber paar Nice banger sind schon dabei, nur mit den Balladen kann ich manchmal nichts anfangen

Anyone ever feel like Elvis was just trolling the whole world? “It doesn’t matter how much I sing like an asshole, ya’ll are going to buy this shit anyway”. Blue Suede Shoes is undeniable, however.

Surprisingly raw, lo-fi, and maybe even a little bit punk rock.

Song by song it is great, but that is what it is. A collection of songs, rather than an album with a certain direction or back bone. So, probably not a popular opinion, but for that reason I somehow find it overrated and average

3.25/5 some fun songs and I like the rockabilly vibe. Not his best album

I feel bad rating this so low, but I was disappointed. Elvis changed a lot but even compared to the contemporaries he was ripping off, it just doesn't sound exciting.

first listen some classics here

It was good, nothing something I'll listen to again

Not my style

I'm pretty sure this is one of the oldest albums on the list, always good to hear some good old rock n roll. Did enjoy this, maybe partly just for the historical factor of it being the first Elvis album, but the songs are quick and punchy. I like how he lets his vocals fly around a little, worth a re-listen in the future.

It's a pleasant listen, nothing really grabbed me but certainly wouldn't mind it being on in the background. Never sat down and listened to Elvis before so I'm glad this site has led me to it, even if it doesn't seem all that special. Fav Track: Trying to get to you 2.5/5

Ihmm da snowmannn... yeeasss... leetle eeelviss... I mayke da snoww... Fave track: Blue Suede Shoes

Yeah look was never going to be knocked down by this. I get why this is on the list way more than a lot of other albums we’ve had recently, but also at the end of the day I don’t think it’s all that amazing. There’s that voice and attitude, but ultimately these tracks were probably done better by the black artists who wrote them. Not sure if people think this is genuinely a great album, or just recognise its legacy as a piece of culture. Happy to leave it as that, I guess. Fave track: Blue Moon

It’s Elvis

I have never listened to an album from The King. What better place to start than his debut. Classic album cover. Album opens with mega-hit Blue Suede Shoes. Good ol' Blues infused Rock n' Roll. Man had a hell of a voice and the guitar rips towards the back half with a very serviceable solo. Feels like something The Dead would interleave into their sets. I'm Counting on You sounds like the vocals were recorded in a small bathroom with Elvis singing directly into a fogged-up mirror. Stripped down pop song that seems like something I should listen to at a drive up diner. I Got A Woman goes back into the blues-laced RnR with a driving drum and accompanying piano. One-Sided Love Affair has a live recording feel to it. It bops back and forth and is a fine song; my issue with this style of music is the lack of distinguishing factors. Most songs can be lumped into effectively three categories with slightly different lyrics. I Love You Because is one of the better songs on here. Sparse, folksy guitar supporting Elvis' croon. I sympathize with all of the grandmas out there; my panties dropped while listening. I actually really dig the vibe of Blue Moon - Take 9/M. Super chilled out with echoing vocals overlaid. I feel like this could easily be a Mac DeMarco song. Money Honey feels familiar and is a fine enough way to close the album. I'm stricken by the lack of cohesive feel to this album. Sure its all Elvis and stylistically similar, but song to song there is no consistency in the recording style. Maybe that is something of the tech and state of the art of the era, but its kind of jarring to the modern listener. Sounds more like a compilation than a singularly produced whole. That said, I enjoyed this album fine, but would likely not go back for repeated listens unless I specifically wanted to feel nostalgic. I respect The King, but there wasn't much here getting me too excited. I'd say 3 / 5 because anything lower feels wrong and anything higher would falsely suggest I cared for this.

Some classics on here. Overall a good album. It's cool to listen to the earliest of rock and roll. Blue Suede Shoes and Tutti Fruitti (Little Richard version is better) were good ones off the album. Feels like a 3.5 because it is Elvis and is the foundation for rock and roll, but I'll give it a 3 after I take that bias away.

Not sure if I've actually listened to an entire Elvis album but here we are thanks 1001albumsgenerator.com Blue Suede Shoes is a fun little diddy. I Got a Woman is super familiar. Of course the Beatles covered it. But most familiar from Gold Digger. Tutti Frutti is a classic. I'll show you a Blue Moon alright. I liked those songs but the rest don't really do it for me. I know it's probably epic for the time it came out though. 2.5 but I'll give it a 3 for that.

Nice, some tracks are enjoyable but I was not mind blown

3.5/5 I quite enjoyed this album. I wasn't expecting it because the idea of liking Elvis kinda grosses me out. It was very fun to listen to and I can understand why people went crazy for it. I also don't think we've had an actual proper blues album, and it scratched that itch, but then again I have lost track.

When it comes to Elvis I heavily prefer the energetic, rockabilly work over his crooner tunes. His debut has a bit of all his styles, peppering in some doo-wop, R&B and a pinch of Country as well. Pretty funny the Clash were able to basically copy the cover art style and everything was cool. Decent quick hitter here. 3 stars

Da e jo legendarisk

It was Elvis, what can I say? It was good but not great. I did not think there was any depth really, it was very light and very old fashioned. I did think it was fun to listen to but it's not something I would seek out except for a themed event or something.

Solid, revolutionary probably His voice had a lot of range here

Elvis Presley's self-titled debut album is a seminal release that introduced the world to his groundbreaking rock and roll sound. Released in 1956, it features iconic tracks like "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Hound Dog," showcasing his charismatic vocals and energetic performances. The album's production captures the raw energy of Presley's early recordings. While it marked the beginning of his legendary career, some of the tracks may feel somewhat dated to modern listeners. Additionally, the album's style and content may not resonate as strongly with those not already fans of the rock and roll era. Nonetheless, Elvis Presley remains a historically significant album that laid the foundation for his enduring legacy in the music industry.

Don't know how I feel about this one. I've not listened to the album before, never been the biggest Elvis fan. I know how iconic this album is, the question is did I enjoy it? It was OK, good in places.

Can’t say I’m a fan of Elvis but i also can’t deny that he’s got some talent

it's Elvis

It was a really fun album

This is just background music to me but I don't hate it. My friend says that if you play Elvis near boomers it causes them to factory reset.

No strong feelings about this one

50’s rock. highly influential but dated. probably mind blowing at the time. it’s pretty good, but ya. solid 3 stars.

I much prefer the more somber sounding Presley songs, because his voice benefits a lot more from those than him trying to do a bad impression of black artists from the era. Luckily, there are a few of said somber songs on this album, and it makes it so those songs are really quite enjoyable, even if they still aren't his own works, then again is anything by him really? You can also hear some Lennon-like vocals in I'll Never Let You Go, but I have no clue if John Lennon actually took any inspiration from Presley at all. Overall, some good, and some pretty whatever for a decent album all together.

Toimiihan tää näin sopivana annoksena.

Räng-däng-däng ja tutti frutti vaan. merkityksellinen levy mut en ihan kauheen usein jaksais ehkä kuunnella, joten 3/5

An ok album with a few great sounding tracks, varied with some ballads too, Didn't know that many baring the covers which is weird coming from a juggernaut like Elvis buy I guess it is his first album.

Before recorded music had all the tricks a lad with a beautiful voice rolled into a studio and sang like an angel. Such a stunning voice we are so used to it we forget how lucky we were to ever hear it.

La fusión del más clásico rock and roll, el blues más rockabilly y el country en una voz tan carismática como la de Elvis, no deja de ser fresca décadas después. Todo un parteaguas para la música realmente popular.

Another album before albums I think. Good tracks, but a muted, filtered capturing of this performer

Can’t go wrong with some Elvis, opens with one of Elvis’ best songs, only problem was how short this album was

ok

Não é muito meu estilo. Mas duas músicas do album até que chamaram a atenção.

One sided love affair

It's not really great but still a classic. I think Elvis was more of a singles artist than an album artist (but that was the norm at that time)

Good album

“Elvis Presley” is the self-titled debut of the so-called king of rock and roll. Its inclusion as the second-earliest album on the whole list of 1001 perpetuates a narrative that Elvis single-handedly invented the genre, giving birth to popular music as we know it. Instead, of course, Elvis didn’t write any of these songs himself: he combined them with his winning charisma, showmanship, and white privilege to galvanise the whole of the Western world. The most rocking tracks are the best. “I Got a Woman”, “Tutti Frutti”, and of course the “kick-the-door-down-on-popular-music” opener “Blue Suede Shoes” still boast an irrepressible energy. Even if they may not match the originals by the likes of Ray Charles or Little Richard, it’s fun hearing them back-to-back in Elvis’s iconic drawling, yelping twang. Not all of it is a thrill, though. In its infancy, rock and roll was pulling on threads from a number of different genres, but some of these threads are decidedly less rewarding than others. Among all the rollicking blues and swing numbers, there are moments where the energy grinds to a halt. “I’m Counting on You”… “I Love You Just Because”… really? These are cloying, snoozy country ballads, which suffer from a lack of dynamic orchestration, interesting arrangements, or showstopping vocals. Big missteps. All that said, “Elvis Presley” remains mostly a bright, snappy and assured debut. And for an indication of its cultural impact on up and coming musicians, look no further than “Trying to Get to You”. It’s almost identical in chord progression, structure and feel to “In Spite of all the Danger”, the first ever song written and recorded by a teenage John Lennon and Paul McCartney a couple of years later. Seems a reasonable measure of a legacy.

Not a bad album. Made in the area where albums were just made to sell singles. Mostly covers but very good ones

Whatever else you think about the rest of this, what a way to open your first album! After the high note, well, it all varies a bit. The sequencing feels odd almost 70 years later - why go straight to the ballad? - and some of this seems tame. But I guess it was revolutionary in its day. Overall, some nice tracks, but I doubt I'd want to listen to the whole album again.

Elvis is Elvis. This isn't his best album though.

If it wasn't for Scotty Moore's guitar solos & "London Calling" I'd have given it a 2.

It wasn't until this album cropped up that I realized the cover of the Clash's "London Calling" was an homage to this album cover, so that was a fun discovery. As for the music itself, it's a solid mid-'50s rock album. Didn't knock my socks off, but it certainly didn't step on my blue suede shoes. Gonna call this a 3.5.

It’s good, and obviously important. But TO ME, there’s nothing that sets it apart. Songs not original, and while they’re fun to listen to, none of them really showcase the unique magic of Elvis.

Good album with a few great songs

Alto clásico : 3,5

Seminal. Nothing wrong with not being as "good" as its thousands of grandchildren.

Altough many of the songs on this album are covers, Elvis does a good job making them his own.

- Wild how far rock has come - Surprising vocal range, variety of vocal styles - Can’t help but tap your foot

Classic sound, with a good mix of swooning love songs and catchy up-tempo songs. Instrumentation is light and mostly focused on guitar, but the characteristic vocals paired with the celebrity of the artist make this album as influential as it is.

As influential as Elvis was, I can’t help but think of the rockers from the same time period who were doing it better.

Quite the debut album. 3 solid stars.

Favorites: -Blue Suede Shoes -One-sided love affair -Tutti frutti -I'm gonna sit down and cry (over you)

i suppose if i had put any thought into it, i would have realized that elvis presley's debut album would absolutely be included in this list. if there's one album that single-handedly changed the trajectory of american music as we know it, well--here you go! the biggest takeaway was how often artists covered other songs in the fifties. this is something i knew before, of course. and that's just how the industry was then. i can't single elvis out, either. i can enjoy different versions of songs, but sometimes i desire a little something more than just another cover. regardless, elvis' debut album is enjoyable. it's a quick listen that's entertaining without a ton of focus required. he had his legendary voice here. sure, this album is entirely based in rock 'n' roll, but luckily there's enough to distinguish the songs. the little bit of rockabilly keeps things interesting!

I really don't like most of Elvis' music. His voice grates on me, even in its early days. But I understand his impact, both from a genre perspective and a vocal perspective, and especially the impact of his debut album. So we're going to meet halfway here with a flat 3 and call it good.

Hard to get too excited about this. None of it is particularly interesting. At least there’s some variety. Scrapes by with a 3.

Fine

Interesting. Floating around 3.5 In a vacuum it was a good foot tapping album.

It's light and fun, but a bit too sickly for my taste. Where it all began, so hugely important album.

One of the greatest collections of appropriated songs that inspired the classic "London Calling" album cover by The Clash.

Dude was a creep but “Blue Suede Shoes” is a bop. No denying that he’s inferior to the African-American artists he built his career off of. Best songs: Blue Suede Shoes, I’m Counting On You, Trying To Get To You, Blue Moon Worst songs: I Got A Woman (“She knows a woman’s place” is a no-go lyric), One-Sided Love Affair (he sang this one the way I imagine a cartoon bear would in a Disney movie).

Good set of classic Elvis tunes.

a couple complete bangers but just as many, if not more, tough listens

Not really about the albums was he, but of the early ones this is probably the best.

A decently enjoyable album. Elvis has a genuinely great discography, if I’m being honest. This is far from his best, but it’s pretty solid.

Spotify says Blue Suede Shoes has 102 milltion plays. This album was good fun to listen to but no real standout for me except for the better known songs.

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yeah it’s just a timeless classic, gonna take a few more projects of his to listen to before I know just how good this is Favourite song: Track 1 - Blue Suede Shoes

A hard one to rate. I bet it sounded incredible at the time to most of the world who'd never heard this before, but obviously doesn't have the same effect now. Still a great voice

Högt och lågt. Blue Suede Shoes och Tutti Frutti är bra, men andra låtar blir lite för sega och smöriga för min smak. Kul att se att det var härifrån The Clash fick idén till omslaget för London Calling.

London Calling better. 5/10

nice sunday afternoon vibes

I'll put it frank.. this sucked. The covers felt very uninspired and it shocks me that people were like Elvis at this point. Seriously, he covered a bunch of rock and roll songs from black artists who had way better versions from the same time. Disappointing. 2.5/5

Elvis är ju Elvis. Men det kommer bli mycket bättre så småningom.

nenhuma musica é ruim aqui, mas nenhuma te pega. pra época é bom pra caralho

I mean I guess it was better than I expected?

A lot of very well know Elvis numbers on this one.

Really nice sounding record considering the technology. I finished thinking I missed the edge and scream of little Richard etc, like it was a bit safe.

I wanted to like this more than I did

Alright. Everyone already knows Elvis, so it's impossible to write a first impression review. I grew up listening to the oldies station at home, so by age 13 I already hated him purely from overexposure. I get Elvis. I get that he brought a new and exciting genre to the white folks. I probably would have been just as nuts for him as most teens in the 50s. But I'm a 40 something in the 20s now, and it's a no from me. I just don't like his voice. I hate the typical Elvis uh-huh thing, and I hate when he's not doing it too. It's seriously lackluster and sometimes just whiney. So thanks for all you did, Elvis, but we've got it from here.

Interesting hearing the start of the Elvis revolution. Elvis's debut album is mix of slow intimate songs sprinkled with high energy hip shaking songs. Not a cohesive album, but a good listen.

Elvis Presley off Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley

I think if this album had come up earlier in my 1001 journey I would have rated it higher. As it stands this is my 685th album, and it kind of sticks out like a sore thumb against other Rock albums of its era. I literally had Little Richard doing Tutti Frutti earlier this week. This pales (word use intended) in comparison. A lot more plain. A lot more boring. A lot more white.

Some fun stuff but the original versions of these songs are mostly way better. Breaking ground doesn't always age well.

Although of course outdated and primitive compared to some modern music, this album is still worth listening to if not only for its creative contributions to both music and performance in general.

A-bop-bop-a-loom-op a-lop-bop-boom. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be (though the slow songs are a bit of a slog). Pretty fun to think about this being on the radio back in the day.

It's Elvis

Some of the rockier ones were okay. Really not a fan of the ballads, and I thought his version of Blue Moon was really not very good. As the Beatles had covered a number of these tunes and done them much better, I was left with the creeping feeling that Elvis is really overrated.

I've never heard this album before. I'm not a fan of Elvis, but I am familiar with his standards and acknowledge that he's a phenomenal performer. I'm a little surprised this is included as a "must listen" album. There must be a better example of Elvis magic. This isn't it for me. There are some impressive performances IMO, but it feels like a first album. Nothing in particular shines above what I know Elvis becomes. If the point of "must listen" is hinged upon the influence this album had in 1956, I can't relate. I wasn't there and I can't imagine. I can only judge this album by my personal feeling when I listen to it as a whole and how that relates to everything in my music knowledge. This album is not cohesive, it seems like an odd collection of song. I feel that I have been moved by Elvis before, and I do like some of the songs here, but none of the songs on this album spark much for me. My highlights: Trying To Get To You, Blue Moon, I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry

Despite my Elvis phase as a kid, this wasn’t my favorite album. I’d be happy if it was playing in the background because it was good, but it isn’t something I’m going to listen to on repeat

What a voice! I knew I would like this album. So easy to listen to. But, as it was common in pop music back when, most of these songs are covers. And some of the originals are WAY better. That being said Elvis is pretty great.

I really like Elvis. And to start an album with Blue Suede Shoes seems like this would be stronger than it actually is. The cover of Tutti Frutti is just over-indulgent. I'm sure this had an effect on some people, just not me.

Clearly it is iconic and legendary in the what it meant to the changing landscape of music and the beginning of Elvis' career. I'll give it credit for it's role, but overall, not of fan of pretty simple-sounding rockabilly/blues. Fine, but it isn't something i would listen to today.

I like Elvis' Sun Sessions material, some of which is used here. It has a raw vitality and moodiness to it that he never quite captured again as he became a more polished pop act. This album was an absolute phenomenon, which, as we move further away from its release, becomes harder to understand the true depth of its significance. I know that culturally this should be a 5 for its impact. It's one of the keystones of rock and roll, upon which everything else is built, and sort of tipping point for the genre, but the thing that really gets to me is when he covers things like "I Gotta Woman" or "Tutti Frutti," and they just pale in comparison to the originals. Drags the whole thing down. Also, mixing the Sun and RCA material gives it a weird, unbalanced feel. I will give him one thing though; he is a hell of an emotive singer. As a purely subjective listening experience this is a 3 for me (though the Sun material is more of a 4-5).

1956, mad. maybe it's been remastered every coulpe of decades but the quality of this is high well higher than i'd expect for nigh on 70 years ago. don't enjoy the ballads, but the rock and roll stuff is good fun.

I heard a girl did step on his blue suede shoes and Elvis lost his mind and beat her to death. The guilt caught up with him, he ate himself to death and died on the toilet having a wank into a massive sandwich.

I don't really know how to rate this album. On the other hand, apart from Blue Suede Shoes, I found most of it boring and unrelatable. I can't decide whether I love or loathe Blue Moon, the guy sounds like he's singing from the bottom of a well. On the other hand, it's the debut of ELVIS and was undeniably influential.

Most of the songs are pretty fun and entertaining. Some did not age well, with some sexist lyrics though. Majority are mildly good, with classics sprinkled in as well. 6/10

6/10. Yeah, if I lived in the 50's and had never heard of Rock 'n Roll, this would rock my world.

Actually just kinda boring. 6/10

Very typical 50's rock. Not an ounce of fat on this album, I like it.

Elvis is The King of course, but I don’t find this impressive more than that it’s fun to listen to. His ballads are still his best.

A quick 29-min, 12 song album. Mostly really good songs that are a great snapshot of early Elvis but I'll probably always find myself listening to greatest hits rather than coming back to this record as a whole. I can definitely see how this was important but there are just lots of covers and filler that's common for a first record that make it less essential for me personally. Blue Suede Shoes - a classic, still great. Best song on the album. I'm Counting on You - croony, paint by numbers country song. I Got a Woman - not as good as the original but fun cover. One-Sided Love Affair - fun, upbeat 1-4-5 song with interesting vocal affectations. I Love You Because - nice, slow, down tempo love song. Just Because - country skiffle song, pretty good but not a big standout. Tutti Frutti - not as good as the original but decent cover. Trying to Get to You - great vocal performance and cool lead guitar. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) - good, simple 2 minute song that just sounds very standard early Elvis. I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') - very down tempo love song. Not a standout. Picks up unexpectedly in the last 30 seconds. Blue Moon (Take 9/M) - best cover on the album. Really nice vocal performance. Longest track on the album at 2 min 44 sec. Money Honey - another great vocal performance. I really like the piano. Guitar is a bit surfy.

Still not a huge Elvis fan, but I appreciated how fast this moves.

So much fun! I had never heard many of these, which made it feel surprisingly fresh. Just judging this as an album of music, it's beside the point whether these records are as good as the sources. The blend of musical traditions gave them a special flavor that's worth experiencing. It all feels very human, and even the flaws made me smile.

Es un álbum con un sonido pionero que resalta el talento de voz y guitarra de Elvis, sin embargo, a momentos se siente como una grabación seca y faltan algunos complementos, de resto es un buen álbum.

Almost where it all started.

You can definitely hear the seeds of a dozen other albums in this one.

Good when it's good but so much average in here and kinda prosaic musically, although that might've been revolutionary at the time.

A little underwhelmed by this - Here's Little Richard came out a year after this and feels so much fresher and full of energy. There's tastes of it here - Blue Suede Shoes and Tutti Frutti have that oomph - but it's a bit too croonery for my liking. Doesn't feel like a revolution. 3/5, closer to a 2 than a 4 though.

Another one I liked more than I expected to. I don't know if I'd listen to this on the regular, but it's quite catchy. 3.25/5

Enjoy the guitar playing and vocal delivery. Probably wouldn't return to it, but enjoyable.

Prefs: Blue Suede Shoes, I Got a Woman, One Sided Love Affair, Just Because, Tutti Frutti, Tryin' To Get To You, I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You), Blue Moon, Money Honey Moins pref: I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin')

Undoubtably a important album. Find it hard to appreciate how unique this must have sounded upon release.

This was a fun little blast of a listen. Rock n Roll but without the horns I usually associate with the genre. I'm not really a fan of Presley but he was undeniably electric here. The super short 2 min tracks of the time feel quite odd these days.

Clearly seminal stuff, but also it's Elvis, so it's a bit of cultural appropriation and never going to be as good as the Beatles

faz bater o pe, algumas musicas/solos de guitarra nao deixam concentrar. musicas short

Early Elvis i guess... hard to imagine the impact it made tho

I know around half the songs. More guitars than later crooning material, but I don’t like the change in register of Ellis’ voice in a few of these. Not as iconic as I was expecting. 1968-1973 might be a better period, so a low three.

De wat snellere tracks zijn leuk, de slomere doen me niks

Elvis!

Seguro que es un clásico de la época y mucho de lo que se escucha en este disco vendría a influenciar casi todo lo que vendría después en la música popular. No es un disco que escucharía constantemente, eso sí.

Average.

The elvis movie came out recently and learning more about elvis and how much of a creep he was makes it hard to separate the art from the artist. now that the narrative of elvis and his actions/life are more prevalent in pop culture, i am just jaded in regards to him and his music and don't necessarily like him. that being said, I'll try to be as objective as I can in listening. lol I guess this is his first album so it holds an important place in music history. setting the blueprint for the music to come. one sided love affair is low key annoying, the way he's singing. hearing him sing higher is weird. blue moon is the song from this. overall good album, easy to listen to mostly

I like the rockabilly twang and his delivery on songs like Blue Suede Shoes, I Gotta Woman and One-sided Love Affair. It's easy to se how he would have turned a lot of heads in the mid-fifties. His voice seems off-pitch and wavering on the ballads, which aren't my cup of tea. Great album cover.

The influence of Presley on Rock & Roll is undeniable. But I also see that these are all covers and he didn't write any original material so that must be factored in. I'm not sure if he credited and/or paid royalties to the Black musicians that originally wrote most of these songs either (see Led Zeppelin), but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. For me, the only stand-out song on this album is Blue Suede Shoes and the other songs are pretty meh, but I'm sure lots of girls swooned and fainted when he performed them live back in the day.

For possibly being the album that helped launch or break through rock and roll, there's a lot of slow and sappy country and western on "Elvis Presley." If only it all could have been as exciting as "Blue Suede Shoes." But instead, "I'm Counting on You" and "I Love You Because" are boring, "One-Sided Love Affair" and "Just Because" are a bit annoying, and Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" is much better. Elvis is electric and dynamic and charismatic, but it's a bit unfortunate that it took this white pretty-boy to popularize a sound that was largely being created by black artists like Little Richard and others. That said, while this album does have an indelible place in rock and roll history, it has some tracks that really pull down the vibe and the score.

Wikipedia tells me this is "the first rock and roll album ever to make it to the top of the [Billboard] chart." Even though I will never actively chose to listen to Elvis, I can't give this anything less than 3 stars for the cultural significance and for bringing rock and roll into the mainstream.

This more like the hip shaking Elvis I’ve been wanting to hear.