Reviews (page 5 of 13)
It's Elvis! Probably my first actual full album, but excellent. Amazing instrumentation and incredible versatility of Elvis's singing. Lyrics are obviously bland and of the time, but very impressed!
Not a huge Elvis listener but I do like this album I especially like Trying to Get You which has some really intricate guitar work and I Got a Woman is great too.
Not the biggest Elvis fan by any stretch but this one is actually pretty fun.
Cool!
Delightful. Calling something “world changing” usually seems like an exaggeration, but it seems appropriate for this album. Hail to the king/thief.
This is the Elvis I like, more than the melodramatic Elvis (though there’s nothing wrong with that Elvis.) I love the reverb, the smoking guitar solos, but of course some of the lyrics are a little retrograde. Overall a solid album.
This displays how fantastic of a performer Elvis was. There’s some great songs and some not great songs, but, man, it’s fun to imagine that guy singing all sorts of different types of music. Can you imagine him fronting, like, Aerosmith?
This album will inevitably lead to the Elvis debate about authenticity and privilege. Yes, he got credit for music already being performed by marginalized peoples. But that was going to happen. Someone had to be the acceptable (for a racist time) bridge to popular culture. And if that's the historical hand being dealt, I'd rather it be Elvis who had some connection and admiration for the source material than someone like Pat Boone. This record still has some soul for '54 and it sure opened the flood gates.
The fact this is all after his Sun Records stuff (“Mystery Train”, “That’s All Right”) means I have a bit more digging to do in the early Elvis catalogue before I get the complete picture. Despite the raucous album cover, a lot is subdued crooning, but I don’t mind it. The simple, echoey production is timeless in a way Elvis is Back! wasn’t for me HL: “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Blue Moon”, “I’m Counting On You”, “I Love You Because” June 8, 2024
"Well it's a one for the money..." this record sets out it's stall in the first few seconds, which must have hit like an earthquake in 1956. For a 68 year old record, this is remarkably fresh, and listenable, probably because it changed musical culture forever and popularised what is now the basis for popular music. If you strip away all the culturally iconic elements and the tragic story of Elvis' life, you're still left with an outstanding voice singing some all time classics of the American songbook. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Blue Suede Shoes Date listened: 07/06/24
Road to the Kingdom.
When the king is rocking it rocks, but the crooners can be real snoozers.
Excellent
Four, as it was the first time I was given this.
Nothing wrong with Elvis Presley being Elvis Presley. He hardly wrote any songs himself, stole his image and style from black artists. Then again: nothing wrong with this rock 'n roll album.
nice enough, a few classics, good listen
excellent album from the King !!
the king!
Great album, especially inventive and modern considering it a 50s album.
Great!
i was just grooving
Classic and very influential, despite its own obvious derivativeness. (is that a word?)
Elvis is good, but not the kind of thing I'd listen to over and over again
pretty listenable
ya, it sure is elvis
Elvis is a bit of a mostly positive mixed bag for me. This album is classic and still sounds great today, and his vocals and musicianship in the backing band totally still hold up. He gets a lot of flack for not writing most of his music, which I think is unfair given the trends of the times, where most crooners and singers worked with songwriters or a standard songbook. However, his sound and style are very much built on the backs of uncredited black musicians, and his white washing of the blues genre for the white audience is undeniable, and unfortunately tainted his legacy. Still, I think his actual music does hold up , as problematic as its origins might be. I’d say I like Elvis, but I prefer the black musicians that he emulated.
It’s up there as one of the best
Classic. It surprisingly doesn't sound extremely dated.
4.1
Más lento de lo esperado. Un 4.
Amazed that this is the first time I’ve listened to this full album. That’s all.
Juvenile. Lovely. Fun!
Man, I was close to giving this a 5. In the end I couldn't tell if it was Elvis or the glass of wine I was having. But just excellent music.
Also reminds me of my grandma
4.5/5. King shit, influential, genre defining.
One thing about Elvis is he can sing! Classic American music.
Hail to The King...of cultural appropriation. But seriously, there's a reason this guy became a legend. It's good!
Classic - early songs stood the test of time
A great of bum with a lot of the classic Presley songs like Blue Suede Shoes and Tutti Frutti.
Great to hear why everybody loved Elvis so much
Good stuff!
groundbreaking, I knew several of the songs. Hard to diminish the impact on music.
I’m all shook up
Blue suede shoes!!! What a tune. I was excited for this album as I know it’s the big one for Elvis. It didn’t disappoint. So many great songs and such a fun and easy listen. What a great voice. I had no idea that I got a woman was sung by Elvis. Favourite song: I got a woman and Money honey. Least favourite: Trying to get to you. Album artwork: Brilliant.
“…he’s white?”
Mítico.
Great album
Hard to imagine how much impact this album had. Not the greatest listening experience by today’s standard, but enjoyable nevertheless. Blue moon is definitely my favourite from this album.
I forgot how pure his voice sounded right from the start. I realize there is a remix on this album but that’s OK because it was a great song. What a debut. The first million-selling album of the rock and rock genre. You can hear the rockabilly and touches of how he will sing gospel as well.
I like Elvis, but I wasn’t captivated by this one as much as I was some of his other albums. That being said, it’s still quite good, and I enjoyed most of the songs.
My grandma would go wild with this, if she wasn't in a communistic country
Amazing that these songs still sound good
The Goat
It’s 50’s Elvis, fam. Classic. Sure the guy lifted all his best moves and sounds from Black artists but we all knew that. Fun album, lots of fun tunes. Just remember the guy married a child and died on the crapper.
Oh yeah, I knew quite a lot of the songs from this album. I am very happy with this suggestion. Even pretending like I am not biased, I enjoyed the album. HOWEVER, there are better Elvis albums, which is why this is not a 5-star rating.
Certified classic, I mean, this is peak rock n roll. SO MANY of these songs are classic bangers. In my mind, Elvis is as timeless and iconic as Ray Charles, Johnny Cash or Stevie Wonder. Very peak music from the fat, jelly donut eating wonder. (We should watch that Elvis movie and watch Walk the Line with Joaquin Phoenix)
None of the songs really stood out but I was jamming. Especially tutti frutti
Quite liked this overall, it's upbeat and saccharine but not without depth, in addition to the energy that enabled Elvis to get so famous. Favorite track: "Blue Suede Shoes."
Not too much to say. The album is a positive, fun experience. Elvis has an iconic voice which makes the songs feel special. I’m Counting on You was my favorite. Very tender delivery. Standouts: Blue Suede Shoes, I’m Counting on You, I Love You Because, I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darling), and Blue Moon - Take 9/M.
4 for innovation - though yung boi mostly just sung ray charles and lil richard worse, with affectations he probably borrowed somewhere else. Still blueprint for rock and roll can be found here and scotty moore and chet atkins (! news to me!) laid down some hot fucking guitar. Cool cover too.
Pretty good stuff for the mid-50s. No wonder he got so famous, the bar was just to do something even mildly different from everybody else.
Legendary album, definitely deserves its place on this list.
Definitely starts strong with Blue Suede Shoes. Great to hear the sound of the room and that super thick slap back reverb.
Das erste Elvis-Album. Wow!
I’m counting on you, I got a woman, I love you because, trying to get to you, I’ll never let you go
Actually just kinda banger
Some very classic Elvis songs on this album. Really enjoyed the Ray Charles cover.
I did not fully know what to expect because he’s Elvis. His album was good he was to the point in his songs and wasn’t dragging it out for like 10 minutes for no reason whatsoever.
I’ve never listened to an Elvis album before now-only heard singles! It’s good, though his work on the covers sounds less enthusiastic than on songs that are more his.
Never listened to a full Elvis album. I can understand his popularity a lot better. Dude had chops.
Better album than those of late - understand from the time why Elvis became legendary! Easy happy music, would listen again
Spanning multiple genres, Elvis delivers an electrifying vocal accompanied by razor sharp instrumentals. Every performance is passionately delivered. Had he trimmed the filler tunes (Tutti Frutti?!?!) and included Heartbreak Hotel, this would arguably be the most import rock album of all time that wasn’t made by four guys from Liverpool.
I love the way he experiments with his voice. Back in the day I probably would have worn this record out.
I forgot how much I enjoy Elvis's early stuff. Blue Suede Shoes is such a great opener, and would have been thrilling to hear back in 1956. At various times during this album I felt like he and I were riding across the prairie, or sitting around a campfire with some buddies, or hanging out in a jam shed with other musicians pulling out some cracking blues progressions. There's a little bit of filler, but Elvis has such energy and sincerity that he kinda gets away with it. Very fun, I'll revisit this a bit more.
Thanks. Listened to this before. I might have even owned it as a Cassette. Appreciated the history that this young man had before him was visible in this fun, tight, snappy piece of music. Is it an album to respect, yes. Is it an album to listen to again? It's context is important. A bit of research helped appreciate what a magnificent effort that first album of young, yet to be discovered Elvis was. I didn't appreciate how he moved through styles and genres, how it was the first real Rock and Roll album and how it was a young man with a guitar just giving it his all. Just for the love of music. No other real reason. Not money. Some fame. Just music. 4 stars. But, being honest, I'm not likely to listen to it again all that much.
Elvis is fun
Despite the relatively poor quality sound, the recording leaves you in doubt as to the charisma and impact of Elvis. Album opener Blue Suede Shoes would remain his calling card- thumping, energetic bluesy rock sung by a man in a hurry. His versions of old classics, delivered in an almost offhand manner with curled lip just adds to the cool appeal - no wonder the old crooners were terrified. Popular music would never be the same again.
Some good rockers on this monumental record.
This album is not a masterpiece, but damn it must have kicked some ass in 1956!
Solid debut album. Some tunes show their age but great energy overall.
The beginning of the King. One can imagine listening to this album in 1956 and having one’s 1950’s mind blown. I know my Mother did…lots of memories for me of her fandom for the King. So I became a fan too.
Ik kan dit niet niet leuk vinden.
Jaa mooi dit
He’s the king for a reason. It’s a very solid album, albeit short. I do like hearing more of Presley’s rocky songs versus some of the ballad sounding songs later in his career, although I do like both.
Lowkey hype. Reminds me of fallout and I was not expecting it to be that good.
Elvis is a classic. Gets annoying quick tho.
wub wub wub
Lead singer is talented, entertaining, and fun. Genre influences, jazz, country, rock, gospel, etc. are apparent, as well as the far reaching influence of this album.
Definitely a reason Elvis is famous. He knows how to make an album
A thoroughly enjoyable album, definitely a classic.
Though I generally prefer the 1950s Rockabilly Sun sides for the sheer ramalama, this Colonel approved polish job does have "Blue Moon". "Blue Suede Shoes" is killer. "Tutti Fruitti" just feels jizz-less.
This is the most Elvis I've ever listened to. Really fun album, love the reverb soaked guitar and quirky little lead lines. Elvis drips with style and swagger on this album and this album doesn't drag at all.
Very fun. I love the way he uses his voice. Its rock n' roll, but its also crooning like Bing Crosby. The country and rock-a-billy flows are fun. I like how the guitar leads are solid tones without any bends, it meshes nicely with the boogie keys. I can only imagine what people in the 50s thought about his weird vocal inflections, especially in songs like "Just Because." It's pretty weird, but also kind of wild.
What an explosive entry into the world of music. Blue Suede Shoes gives listeners everything they need to know about Elvis Presley at this time: dynamic, youthful, and maybe a little bit dangerous. Of course, people thought of him as a threat to American culture. 1956 was a landmark year for Presley not just because of this debut album, but because of his cultural impact as shown by reactions from fans and critics alike. He was unavoidable. He was America. Of course, he's at his best when he's upbeat. Presley knows how to drive a song and make it work. Rock & roll broke through to the mainstream thanks to Presley and it's no wonder why when you listen. While some of his covers don't quite eclipse the originals, it could be argued that a few of the songs on this album are the definitive versions. Presley is rightfully praised for the quality of his performances on his debut. Well done.
Nice dancing around the house music
Elvis, before getting chewed up by the mainstream American entertainment industry, had an astonishing sound. The Sun Records rockabilly cuts are historic for a reason and there are some fine examples here. Scotty Moore, Bill Black, and DJ Fontana are present on most of the songs. After this Elvis got manufactured by Colonel Tom Parker and apparently sold his soul, but at least some of the early stuff like this is here to remind us all what a big deal this dude was at the time. What a voice. Okay song selection, but I think Tutti Frutti was swing and a miss, while Blue Suede Shoes is inevitably the more well known version but lacks Carl Perkins' edge. Absolutely an album you should here before you die. Really enjoyable for me as a big rockabilly fan.
We zitten in een periode waarin we vrij veel van de oudste albums uit de lijst voorgeschoteld krijgen. Net als Little Richard is dit weer een half uurtje onvervalste rock n roll en Elvis heeft zelfs Tutti Frutti op dit album gezet. Het is dan ook overduidelijk waar hij zijn inspiratie vandaan heeft gehaald. Vorige maand heb ik de film nog gekeken (met een verschrikkelijke rol van Tom Hanks als Colonel Parker) en daar komt best aardig het verhaal naar voren, hoe hij als jochie naar de zwarte muziek op het arme platteland luisterde en later in Memphis ook altijd de bars met die muziek opzocht, waar hij oa Little Richard tegenkwam. De Las Vegas Elvis is misschien het meest bekend, met zijn showpakken enzo, maar dit is eigenlijk nog de pure Elvis, waar de liefde voor muziek uit spreekt. Ik heb er gelijk maar even de Elvis Comeback Special achter aan geplakt, wat is dat een heerlijk stukje muziek toch. De comeback special geef ik 10 sterren op imdb (want een tv-show, dus kan ik dat daar raten). Dit album haalt dat niveau niet, dus blijf ik steken op een verdienstelijke 4 sterren.
Finalmente ne conosco qualcuna
The roots of rock and roll. Whatever. Elvis sings with emotion that is rare. I love listening.
Gute Melodien und Bassläufe. Eine Stimme für die Ewigkeit.
This was a really interesting listen. It has some of the classic Elvis tracks that are part of the global consciousness, like Blue Suede Shoes and I Got A Woman, but also, because it's so early in his career, there's times when he's being Elvis, rather than ELVIS. The voice is in a higher register and there's more of a vulnerability. It's a shame in a way that that happens on the songs that are the most trad rock 'n' roll numbers, because it lends a bit of charm. Ultimately, you have to mark this highly in the context of the time and the catalyst it provided for all that followed, as well as for the handful of great tunes in among the standards.
Never listened to this before so appreciated the prompt. Amazing considering when it came out. Just Because and Money Honey were stand outs for me.
4.5 out of 5. Great album.
The hits from the king.
I have to take a point off because of the legacy of whitewashing, but I don’t think anybody can deny the impact this album had
Plus d'Elvis s'il vous plait.
I don’t feel like many people would want to listen to this just because, but the influence is important. Four stars, though, because five stars is warranted for someone like Little Richard, someone who absolutely kills the mic. Elvis is a good singer, but I can’t like his music as much, since it doesn’t feel as genuine.
It’s uneven and weird but one of the most important releases ever.
The recording seems a lot looser than some albums from this time, I think that’s why I like it more
Great album- brought back lots of memories
01) Blue Suede Shoes - 9,5 02) I'm Counting on You - 9,0 03) I Got a Woman - 9,0 04) One-sided Love Affair - 9,0 05) I Love You Because - 8,0 06) Just Because - 8,5 07) Tutti Frutti - 8,5 08) Tryin' to Get to You - 8,5 09) I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You) - 8,5 10) I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') - 8,0 11) Blue Moon - 9,5 12) Money Honey - 8,0 TOTAL: 8,67 (87/100) It's Elvis. I'm feeling almost ashamed for giving it only 4 stars but I have a feeling we're gonna hear more from him in the future :-)
This is where I wish we could rank between stars. From a historic perspective its an obvious 5 in terms of what it meant for rock. And of course the music is good. However, it's an album of cover songs, and by modern standards the recording quality just hasn't aged well. Still, it's a classic with some of the most famous version of these songs.
Better than I expected!
It's Elvis. Classic. Prob won't go into the everyday rotation, but it's great to hear.
Some classics on here. Easy listening.
Here’s all you need for a great introduction to the King.
Not a huge Elvis fan, but I liked it anyway.
The album that started it all (for Elvis). Basically a collection of blues rock and roll standards. He has charisma though, can see how he became big. BUT he did steal black music and appropriate it for himself (or his manager did at least). Good record!
I liked
Ganz gut.
Blue suede shoes, a timeless classic. A couple hidden gems as well. Elvis’s first LP so yeah
Much more variation than almost of the 1950s music. Goofy but enjoyable voice. This Elvis guy is gonna be big. Really enjoyed it!
Event tough Rock-'n'-roll is not my thing, Presley is such a craftsman that I find this album very much enjoyable. Favorite songs: - Blue Moon - Tutti Frutti Least favourite songs: - I got a woman - One sided love affair
💖 i got a woman 🗣️ 8️⃣
Although some of my favorite Elvis recordings came later in his career, this is a great listen and a testament to his incredible talent.
Good moody ballads. Really great ballsy rockers. Wondered what they sounded like fresh back in 1956
Elvis' first album. This album tore popular music open wide with its frenetic energy, tempered sexuality, and charismatic figurehead. I love the musicianship on this album from the walking bass, to the acrobatic keyboard, and the slick guitar work. Despite the rock n roll veneer, this album is has some great jazz and R&B passages. Unfortunately, as other reviewers have noted, early rock n roll was sanitized and whitewashed rhythm and blues made primarily by black artists so this album, despite its influence, is missing most of the story.
Brings back memories
classic, old time r&r. Wow his voice was definately different in the early days
Solid album! Grew up on Elvis. Classic!
What a voice Elvis had, suited for all type of songs and on this album he shows all he can do. Listened to this right after being tortured by a Justin Timberlake Album, the sweetness ofTimberlake I found disgusting while the way Elvis sings e.g. I'm Counting On You moves me. 5 stars for the voice, 3 for the songs, that is a mean of 4.
Fun album. Haven't spent much time with Elvis outside of some of the hits. Interesting to see some of the variety within an album. Some of the lyrics/song writing is a bit rough, but the music itself was enjoyable.
fun oldies
it's elvis... doing what elvis does... croonin' and swoonin'.
Elvis at the Beginning! Nice to hear again!
Obviously I’ve heard Elvis but I don’t think I’ve ever really listened to it. Some classics on here that were great. Really liked I Love You Because which I’ve never heard before. A few of the songs I hadn’t heard I really liked to. It’s a really timeless sound I think.
Classic blues
Never thought I’d be Presley pilled.
Classic. 1 star taken away for stealing from black people.
Young Elvis rocks. Long live the 30 minute album
I hope this wasn’t a One-Sided Love Affair. Dusted off my Blue Suede Shoes for the King. Just Because.
It's good but old
We also rated olives
he’s the king for a reason
some good dancing songs, impressive vocal skills, but I probably won’t listen again
Wonderful album, at just under half an hour it’s an easy listen with many memorable moments. I Love You Because & Blue Moon stood out to me more than the rest. The album sometimes felt like it had odd pacing for its length, sometimes slowing down for too long, but the songs themselves are all great.
The king
Good stuff
Elvis Presley. Great.
Excellent, less polished, more raw...wonderful!
This was really good. It probably deserves a 5 for its influence and legacy but I just don't enjoy enough to give it 5. A big ol' 4.
It's Elvis. We all know what this is.
He's white? He's whiiiittteee. Fr tho "Just Because" is a total bop
Kos
Good
Love Elvis.
It was very cool of Elvis Presley to invent music so for that reason alone I have to give this album four stars
Liked it more than I thought I would. there is such a strong blues and jazz influence in his music. eminen was right he really did do black music so selflessly lmao
Overwhelming youth and energy. A debut album like a debut shag, vibrant, eager and over too soon. Track after track are classics but lacks some essential depth and maturity.
Elvis er auðvitað Elvis. Þótt Bítlarnir hafi komið með mjög nýja strauma þá held ég að við værum á allt allt öðrum stað í tónlist í dag ef hann hefði ekki komið á sviðið. Ekki fullkomin plata en eitthvað svo legendary - tregi, stuð og fjör.
Very influential artist of course. Great album, and a fantastic singer of course. Can clearly hear the blues roots, and see where a lot of later music came from.
This album reminds me of those quintessential movie shots of a crowd hearing a sound for the first time and being unable to stay still. First some head bobbing, then a close up of feet tapping to the beat, then some snapping fingers or clapping, and eventually the entire crowd erupts into dance. So good. So cool. So catchy.
The origins of rock n roll are heard throughout this whole album…incredible…the guitar riffs through the opener Blue Suede Shoes are definitely foreshadowing of what was to come…crazy to think it’s basically a record of covers…props to the great musicians who originally wrote these songs… Highlights for me: - Trying to get to you - Blue moon - Money honey - I got a woman - Blue Suede Shoes
So weird to think this was the debut album... Full of classics, some "borrowed", definitely a must-hear.
It's funny to listen to this now and think about how bat-shit crazy people went over (both as fans and as opponents of the "devil's music"). Objectively, these are all solid songs. I feel like they could have gotten him a better lead guitar player, but he was also a new act on a budget. He got better musicians as he got more famous. And, he IS Elvis, after all. His range is impressive, from the falsetto down to the signature "uh huh uh" stuff he does. This is a 3, but I'm giving it a "historical significance" bump.
Loved this era of music and this albums have a few songs that hits a certain vibe making this one worth relistening to on occasion.
I really did like this though it was maybe a bit inconsistent. A fantastic debut and maybe just a bit of an older-style recording than I'm used to. This was our Friday pick and I spent the whole weekend listening to it.
Great record, one that helped to launch rock n roll into the mainstream. Short and to the point, easy listen. Tutti Frutti was the low point but excellent overall. 🌟🌟🌟🌟
While I don’t agree with the view that Elvis invented rock n’ roll, I do agree that he helped to effectively bring it to mainstream audiences On the whole, this album is pretty good, with some of my favourite tracks actually being the slower ballads (especially the one-two-punch of I’ll Never Let You Go and Blue Moon) Favourite tracks: Blue Suede Shoes, I Love You Because, I’ll Never Let You Go, Blue Moon
Bangers, June was into it too
Awesome listen clocking in at around half an hour. Really enjoyed it and can see myself revisiting this album. 4/5
Frábær plata með skemmtilegum einföldum rokklögum. Blue moon í mjög flottri útgáfu.
This album is a foundation of rock and roll.
7/10, had niet de beste elvis nummers, maar zaten wel een paar lekkere tussen. 8/10 eerste elvis album = iconisch, tragere nummers minder
You’re probably better off listening to Elvis’s singles from the era rather than this album, but it’s still pretty good.
Very easy to see the appeal of this music in the 1956 music landscape. Elvis is energetic, charismatic, charming. Definitely what was needed to have black music broadly introduced to the masses. Good stuff. Great band too.
Classic album that hasn't aged too bad. Outside of a few rough lyrics, like a "woman's place is in the home", it Best Songs: Blue Suede Shoes, One-Sided Love Affair, Worst Songs: I'm Counting on You, I'm gonna Sit Right Down and Cry
After watching the Little Richard documentary, I’m a little less inclined to give Elvis the credit he traditionally receives when it comes to the birth of rock and roll. But this album does show that The King was certainly onto something. I think questions of musical appropriation are interesting, and worthy of asking, though I am often less inclined to be upset about them as other people are. I think music and food are both places where cultural crossover is important to pushing boundaries and creating new art. But I’m also pretty sure that what Elvis really represents is the moment that white people allowed themselves to adopt black music.
The hits are good, the others were fine. Tutti fruiti… I remember it being repetitive but oh boy was it grating this time.
Fun
Getting this out of the way- Elvis was a horrible person who made money from "borrowing" from black musicians. That being said, Elvis introduced folks to music they wouldn't have been exposed to otherwise. This is a solid album and the beginning of something huge.
Besser als erwartet. Werde ich ab und zu hören, aber nicht allzu oft.
Great album. Super classic with outdated themes. Very much a snapshot of the times.
Man this opening track probably knocked people out! Good songs. A classic for its time. I’ll go 3.5
A classic
There's not really much to say about Presley, other than he's a white guy making black guy music. Obviously he wasn't the person behind the music, but he was very much the acceptable white face of it. It's great that he managed to make mainstream music that could not have been without him (or someone like him) but it's terrible that that's how it had to have happened.
Accusing Elvis of appropriation is like accusing Rick of permitting gambling in Casablanca. It's why people love him. The foundation of the artistic process is, literally, appropriation. Mozart appropriated Bach's baroque into Italianette style. Brilliant. Duke and Satchmo appropriated the blues scale and western theory to invent an entirely novel harmonic structure. Brilliant. Bluegrass appropriated the African banjo. Blues appropriated the Spanish guitar and then the Hawaiian slide method of playing it. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. But great artists don't just copy; they blend their inspirations and make something brand new; and they do it so masterfully that it seems obvious. That's what Elvis and Sam did, and did brilliantly, during this period. To my ears, the pure R&B covers (I Got a Woman, Tutti Fruity) are flat and, especially when compared with the originals, simply uninteresting. The magic of this period of Elvis' career is in the rock-a-billy/ country western numbers (Blue Suede Shoes, I'm Counting on You, Trying to Get to You, Blue Moon). IMHO the Sun Sessions collection of recordings is finer than this one because it is even more firmly rooted in country western music. Elvis sang these songs styled with R&B and a hint of Ray's electrified gospel and made something that no one had heard and that people all over the world are still listening to and imitating. And Elvis sang it with such confidence that it instantly sounded wholly realized and...obvious. Luminaries as far afield as the Rolling Stones and Waylon Jennings were appropriating this sound at their artistic high point. Zach Bryan is proving there's still ore in the vein left to mine. Country music isn't what it is today without this music. By the time Elvis came back from the Army, either he or his handlers decided pop rock was the way to go. He still dabbled in country western to great results, but it was never the focus of his career. Maybe this drift is the reason he became such a caricature. So I don't cast aspersions for his appropriation. But Q, who is American musical royalty to my mind, has said that Elvis, the man, was a racist. That's a lot harder to forgive. Sinatra, for one, motivated by his love of black music, took career risks to elevate his under-appreciated peers. That Elvis, apparently, was actively hostile to those on whose shoulders he stood is something we should all consider. It's why I can't give him five stars. But, for me, cancelling him and ignoring what he left us is pointless asceticism.
Classique
I love this era of rock n roll, but I prefer Elvis’s live Vegas/King era stuff. But I enjoy listening to how his music changed over his career. For example, I’ve always loved his I Got a Woman, and it’s neat to see how it grew from this version to the bombastic song it became later in his career.
The King! TCB⚡️
8.6 Classic early rock and roll Elvis
4/5 on first listen through. short and sweet at 28 min, but packs a punch. listened 3x.
I've always enjoyed Elvis, but this actually exposed that he's had some pretty terrible songs :(
It's Elvis. Iconic album and cover.
well a well a well a welllll its rick and morty time
I think this was a decent album, I knew some of the songs and they are classics.
Short but good. I recognized a few of these and enjoyed most of the rest. I guess there was a reason Elvis was such a bit back in the day. 4/5
Classic.
First album by Elvis. Excited for this one! 12 tracks, no track over 3 minutes! A lot of these bad boys have been sampled - Tutti Frutti, I Got a Woman Blue Suede Shoes is a banger. Tutti Frutti as well.
Sounded like he was still finding his voice here a bit, but still good
Here's what fascinates me about Elvis's legacy: His "legacy" songs (the most currently played, almost 50 years after his death, on streaming platforms and radio), are all from the latter part of his career. Hits like Suspicious Minds, Burning Love, Can't Help Falling In Love, and Always On My Mind. That doesn't totally do the King justice. It's almost like his 50's hits, which were HUGE back in the day, have become forgotten. And this album, in a way, has become an artifact of its time. That's not to say it doesn't hold up, although the production of the time doesn't do it any favors in terms of sounding dated. There's always been something of a race element to Presley's early work. Some accused him of pillaging from the black community, which isn't fair to Elvis at all. It's not like he was taking credit for songs like Hound Dog. Like Aretha Franklin, Elvis had a way of taking a song and making it his own. Many folks also believed Elvis was black upon hearing a lot of these songs, until they saw the man photographed on the cover of this very album. Maybe this album's ultimately legacy, beyond that iconic album cover borrowed by many future artists, is it serves as proof of Elvis The Trailblazer. Rather than stealing from his influences, he opened doors for them (as good as Elvis the interpreter was, there's no comparison to his take on Tutti Frutti here with the far superior recording by Little Richard). My favorite version of Elvis will forever be the Suspicious Minds/68 Comeback Special Era, which is showcased on another Presley album on this list. But you just can't tell the story of music of the last 100 years without including this album.
Zupełnie nie mój typ muzyki
Funky and light hearted
Hard to imagine what the cultural impact of this must have been. Judging it purely on the musical merits, it's good not great. Extra star for the Las Vegas era jumpsuits though
Like the songs on this one. They’re mostly about love, could be better if there were some slightly more serious ones too Also learned that a self titled album is “eponymous”
Iconic
Very good, classic Elvis sound, but his later work is much better.
Definitely a classic (oldies), but upbeat/heartfelt/innocent/clean. Not like music today where everything is crass. Makes me feel old by saying that lol but it’s true. I wouldn’t have put this album on myself (like most of these albums I’m anticipating) but I get a good feeling in my body and soul as I’m listening to it now.
Still a perfectly good album and sounds good, to boot. It's pretty easy to see why this took off in '56. Presley makes a good vehicle for rockabilly: his phrasing, sense of dynamics and his deep, easy and well-controlled vibrato make him a really great vocalist. I still find most of his ballads boring, but I can see the talent. Still listenable after almost 70 years and it shows its influence with little digging. It's also a pretty quick listen.
A good mix of slower rock songs and faster rockabilly. Jangly guitars abound. Elvis' voice is comforting and subdued in some songs, vivacious and engaging in others. Overall a good album.
Nice early album. Some hits some ballads some rock n roll most famous I think for the fact the clash stole the cover colouring for London's calling
Something that’s just so relaxing and soothing about listening to Elvis, no matter what the song is. Never something I would just choose on my own, but I always enjoy it when it comes on. Listen again: Yes Purchase for my collection: might have it already? Favourite Song:
The 1001 albums book kind of dismisses this album as mostly just being important historically but I’d say it’s pretty great collection of songs! The sparseness of the sound makes for a really peculiar atmosphere, which gives the music an extra layer of interest. A solid start!
Cool skiva... banger efter banger och 1950-tals production låter så sick
Was expecting this to be hard going bit good tunes are still good tunes. Really enjoyed it.
Well, I must admit I did tap my foot to this album a LOT. The songs were brief and so I never got bored and desperate for the music to stop. There's obviously drama about these songs being sung by a white guy cos that's what society was more "comfortable" with back then, but that's as much air time as I'm giving that.
This is my second Elvis album reviewed on this generator. Just like my first review (Elvis is Back!) this one takes place prior to Elvis selling his soul to Las Vegas. Before he became a circus act with all the hair and hip gyrating his music was quite good. He is known as the king of rock 'n' roll for a reason. Going into this listen I only knew a few songs on this album (Blue Suede Shoes and Tutti Frutti), both of which are excellent songs! There were a lot more fantastic songs on this album though. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed today's album. It being Elvis' debut album, there were no simplistic theatrics to his performance. It was just him and his backing band playing good ol rock 'n' roll and blues music. I would definately listen again. The only thing I am not a fan of is his moany slow songs. All of his upbeat stuff though is gold. Favourite songs: Blue Suede Shoes, Money Honey, Tutti Frutti, One-Sided Love Affair, Just Because, I Got A Woman, I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You) Least favourite songs: I Love You Because, Blue Moon - Take 9/M 4/5
Its a cool album. Ofc it has old vibes so i wouldnt listen to this type of music non stop but i love it when im in the mood
Surprisingly very good. Love the ballads on the album. I also like that it does not overstay its welcome. Every song is straight to the point. Fav songs: Blue Suede Shoes, I’m Counting on you, One-Sided Love Affair, Tutti frutti, I’m Gonna Sit Down and Cry, I’ll Never Let You Go, Least fav: Just Because (still great) 4,5/5
I can’t imagine teen listening to this songs back in the 50s and grabbing their guitars to command a musical revolution. A total Classic.
Classic Elvis album
Though many of the songs most associated with the beginning of Elvis’ career aren’t present on his debut, this is nonetheless a fine collection of songs which shows just why this Mississippi boy held the youth of America in thrall. Energetic and playful.
Un classico!
Uno dei primi 33 giri che ho posseduto!
The first album from the King of Rock and Roll. It's mostly covers of other rock and roll or rhythm and blues songs (Blue Suede Shoes, Tutti Frutti); Elvis' greatest singles are not to be found here. It's iconic, it's fun, it's historic. It captures Elvis in his youth. It just doesn't have any of the truly Elvis songs you are probably looking for.
First album of Elvis and a great album! Great introduction to R&R and this iconic artists! Really enjoyed it, great album for a car trip, windows rolled down, and sun shinning bright
Where it all started.
I can see why people went ballistic for this in the 50s, they didn’t even have Carly Rae Jepsen yet so by that metric this is real good shit.
The king! What a champ
First studio album by the King of Rock and Roll. Obviously Elvis is and always will be iconic. Good record but a little disjointed due to it being compiled from a bunch of different recording sessions.
Unoriginal?
I don't know, man. It's Elvis. This is pretty good stuff. I've heard most of it before, but I still fully listened to it.
Hearing the first chords of 'Blue Suede Shoes' crash into existence when this came out must have been terribly exciting. Even now, many decades later, this crackles with energy. Forget what naysayers and revisionists will say, Elvis (especially the young Elvis) was a superb singer. He manages to capture the mood for each occasion here - from the buoyant thrum of 'I Got a Woman' through to my favourite cut, the spooky, smokey version of 'Blue Moon'. Tip top stuff.
Yeah, I was pretty won over by this one as well. A good mix of tunes that kept the energy up, and while I won’t claim that his takes are the definitive versions of songs like “I got a woman” or “tutti frutti,” the performances were still top notch. In short, I’d much rather listen to this again than rewatch Baz Luhrman’s movie. And hey good timing with yesterday’s release of the trailer for Sofia Coppola’s upcoming “Priscilla.” Everything’s coming up Elvis, I guess.
Kuvittelin että tää ei iskisi muhun yhtään, mutta täähän oli todella jees! Kyllä nuori Elvari pistää haisemaan. 4/5
This showcase of Elvis Presley's talent combines the strength of his powers - steered by the right producers and musicians around him. It's a great start to get into Elvis who is more of a single's artist anyway.
It’s the first album proper, and it’s Elvis. You can hear the move away from the beautiful rawness of the Sun Sessions tracks (although some included here) but was still surprised how sparse and stark some of the arrangements are, notably Sit Right Down. It’s interesting to hear how the Sun sound was ‘translated’ to a bigger production. Ultimately a bit of a hotch-potch but some great tunes and performances and as you would expect it is all about that voice.
This was raw as fuck. It must have been a hell of a wake up call back in 1956. The voice is a little higher than I was expecting. But its's the groove that carries it through for me. You always need some roll with your rock. Blue Moon is bloody brilliant
Excellent, but at also a bit boring, as the straightforward rock n roll songs and ballads are so overfamiliar.
Great rock & roll album. Simple but effective.
Even more entertaining than I had expected.
There wasn’t much like him beforehand in popular culture, but it’s obvious how much he leaned on black musicians who came before him. Still, the start to Blue Suede Shoes is iconic, oft-imitated, and lives rent-free in my head.
With the typical southern drawl of Elvis' voice, it's hard to deny his pull over the youth of the 50's and beyond. His debut, whilst being mostly full of covers, is the perfect introduction to the enigma of Elvis. Best: Blue Suede Shoes Worst: I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You)
Not necessarily the birth of rock and roll, but certainly a great look into it's very early formative years
Historical perspective aside, most of this is all over the place. The real star of the album is guitarist Scotty Moore, (along with bassist Bill Black & drummer DJ Fontana). At this time, singles were singles & albums were albums - Songs released as a current single usually wouldn't appear on the current album. Therefore, #1 hits like "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Hound Dog," & "Don't Be Cruel." along with (now considered) hits "That's All Right," "Blue Moon of Kentucky," & "Good Rockin' Tonight" didn't land on albums until Greatest Hits compilations. Other than this compilations, many of the early Elvis albums are kind of weak - Soundtracks serving as promotion for his long string of movie appearances (and vise versa). In a way, he was an early pioneer on music videos, promoting himself via movies.
Huge right out of the gates. Interesting how different his voice sounds on different tracks.
Very enjoyable. Nothing crazy going on here, just classic rock and roll, with some blues.
Wow, I still like this album. I’m surprised it hasn’t dated much at all.
I was expecting this review to have a lot of 'for it's time' justifications but no, most of this album still stands up today. A great mix of peppy jaunts and slow melodies here
Classic Elvis. Very good stuff.
Más lento de lo esperado. Un 4.
Es Elvis...
Good ol’ rock and roll. Great stuff, more enjoyable than expected. I never seek out Elvis and his brand always annoyed me. But hey, the music is actually pretty catchy!
The king for a reason
This was Elvis before he hit his full potential, and what an amazing thing to hear the start of a legend. The songs aren't full-fledged hits yet, you can tell that there's some figuring out going on in terms of what his style and voice will be. It results in insane tracks like Blue Suede Shoes, Blue Moon, One-sided Love Affair, I Love You Because, and Trying to Get You; but it also produces songs like Tutti Fruitti, which is a lackluster version of the Little Richard original. All in all it's a beautiful piece of history, but I'm excited to get to his latter work - Suspicious Minds has to be on one of his featured albums on this list, right?
Bit of a sampler isn't it? First track is the bomb... Housemate used to pump it loud on the roller speakers 3 times a week before going on dates. It's stuck as a good time song ever since. He does a full range of styles like his slow romantic "snowball" or "slow" songs for dancing cheek to cheek .. this was the 50s.... How new and strange this would have sounded in 1956. It's all there... But as always, despite liking Elvis after 5 songs I tire of it. So 4 stars. But it's important...
Stephen Sholes, an unsung hero in the history of rock and roll. Signs the King for $35,000 and cops it between the eyes from his RCA betters for wasting their moment on a fad. The recordings start off so badly that Sholes even rings Sam Phillips, who rightly assured him that no, it's ok you've signed the right guy. The other unsung heroes on this seminal (yes we can use that descriptor here..) are Floyd Cramer and his piano work and DJ providing that crucial back beat. With the mix of Sun stuff and the Nashville tunes it's the making of an "album" when that was still emerging as an idea in this nascent thing called rock and roll, probably Frank and the jazz guys were the only ones properly doing "albums". To paraphrase Jerry Leiber, there is an element of it being too nervous too white, but that of course is coming from a perspective that is shaped by what came afterwards. But if we grab our time travel parachute and land back in late 54/55 this would have sounded unbelievable. I think Scotty once said even his name sounded like it was from outer space, and this would have sounded, especially to white ear, extra-terrestrial. Does it meet the frenzy of the best tracks here meet the first Sun singles, yes they do. Blue Moon is like a template for The Cramps, the Fabs did I'm Going to Sit Right Down in Hamburg (Lennon sang it) no greater compliment and there are some fine,fine rockabilly moments. I'm not sure Tutti Frutti really works, even back then, I mean why would you bother, not even the King can touch Richard. If you've not heard it, you need to have a a good listen to be a true rock and roll nerd.
It’s not The Sun Sessions, although 4 of the 12 tracks here were recorded at Sun Studios before Sam Phillips sold The King’s contract to RCA. And it’s worth it to hear Elvis’s version of Blue Moon - this is the most ethereal version of Rodgers & Hart’s most covered song. Always been a highlight for me. The cover of Carl Perkins Blue Suede Shoes is musically no better than the original, except for Elvis’s superior vocals. However the 3 covers of songs made famous by black artists - Ray Charles’ I Got A Woman, Little Richard’s Tutti Frutti & The Drifters’ Money Honey are all inferior to the originals. The highlight on the album is Trying To Get To You. The band & Elvis really rock on this. Not his greatest record & that’s understandable, because it was thrown together just to get product out. But what a voice.
Elvis' first album, and a mammoth landmark in rock and roll. The first rock and roll album to top the Billboard Pop Charts (where it sat for ten weeks), and the first rock and roll album to sell a million copies. This straddles the Sun sessions (five tracks) and RCA pre-army years (seven tracks), it has Elvis still rockin', before the Colonel and the movie studios and major label really buffed the edges off Elvis with lousy song choices and insipid backing (although some tracks sail close to the wind, like One-Sided Love Affair). The RnB covers (like I Got A Woman and Tutti Frutti) are serviceable, but not as good as the versions by Ray Charles and Little Richard. This shows, already, the types of music that Elvis liked to put out, with a mix of country, RnB, rock and roll, ballads and almost novelty pop songs. We can see how much Elvis likes a ballad, and his vocal styling is powerful and energizing and everything here oozes with confidence and charisma. The band swings (especially on the Sun recordings). I can see why this was massively influential at the time, but I generally prefer Elvis' later imperial phase. Trying To Get To You was a surprise discovery for me, I really dig it. But the towering monuments on this album are Blue Suede Shoes (which eclipses Carl Perkins' original version, through ubiquity if nothing else) and his haunting version of Blue Moon. I love this track, so evocatively used in Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train movie,.
7/10 there’s some good stuff here but I honestly think he’s lucky for getting famous there’s nothing here that really seems iconic to many also these whiteys have barely any rhythm (I’m taking about his whole band)
Favorite Song(s): One-Sided Love Affair, Just Because This album slaps. There's a reason Elvis became famous!
Es Elvis...
A good record but with a lot of cheesy moments. But it has its value and some undeniable classics
King of Rock'n'Roll is here! And even though I'm not too interested in his music or his story, I must admit, he had so much charisma and energy, it's contagious. I didn't like his ballads or slower songs, but when he hit it into the higher gear, it was amazing. Also, it sounds surprisingly fresh, maybe because no one could really replicate this style since then? Whatever it is, Elvis Presley is here to stay.
Trailblazing.. plain and simple.
This album is a much better collection than the last Elvis album we covered. And even wilder, this one's older -- yet sounds so much more vibrant. Recorded at various dates between 1954 and 1956, this is his debut, and he's hot out the gates with "Blue Suede Shoes". I've never heard him singing quite the way he does on "One-Sided Love Affair". He sounds like he's having a blast. Upon hearing this, the studio execs must have creamed just as much as the girls watching him gyrate on stage. And the album art is iconic, thanks to the Clash. Not a perfect album, but a very good one.
because I have little reference for this era of music, and I know how influence this was on rock & roll, hard to give it a low rating, though it's not really my thing, I can picture previous generations being blown away by this.
BL: Elvis is a man who needs no introduction - possibly the most famous man of all time (besides Jesus). He was known to revolutionise the rock game - basically inventing it. While he has come under scrutiny as most of his influence is from black musicians and he was the first to get famous off of it I don’t think that’s reflectant of Elvis trying to speak over black voices (he named Sister Rosetta Tharpe as one of his biggest influences - and I highly recommend you check her out too) there are more damning things he did (namely involving marriage). At the end of the day he’s a man who’s incredibly famous - “suspicious minds” is one of my favourite songs of all time and his ballads are excellent - I’ll see if I enjoy an album of the Jukebox classics. AL: my point made in the before listening still rings true. I like his more laid back love songs then his traditional “rock” songs which were designed to get the 50s chicks crunked. While I can appreciate how crazy “tutti frutti” would’ve been at the time, nowadays it feels rather stale - especially as it holds the same power as that Take That CD your gran used to own and put on in her shitty ‘98 Civic. However songs like “I’m counting on you” and “I love you because” come across as quite heartfelt and genuinely quite beautiful. I suppose it’s ironic because Presley’s love life is where all my disdain for him stems from but he sure know how to express how he felt, I’ll give him that. Favourite Tracks: “I’m counting on you”, “I love you because”, and “blue moon” 4/5
Early Elvis = Decent Elvis
Not his best album, but his debut album is still a significant moment in rock and roll history. Gotta give respect where respect is due.
Imagine hearing this when it was first released, if all you’d heard was crooners and saccharine-sweet pop. It must’ve been incendiary. It’s easy listen to this record almost fifty years later, and question whether it’s all that good, and whether Elvis was all that good. But you’re hearing it through the prism of all the music that’s been recorded in the meantime. Some of this still sounds remarkable to me.
classic
short and sweet!
Putting my head back in 1956 (67 years ago!), I can imagine how cutting-edge this was at the time. It’s still fun, enjoyable music that is pretty timeless. Above average, for sure!
Snappy and catchy. 19-20 year old Elvis just belting out hip jiving good fun. Loses a point for Blue Moon. Fuck Man City
I prefer the slower crooning type songs however the faster paced popular hits also go down well Particular favourites: - Blue Suede Shoes - I'm Counting on You - I Love You Because - Just Because - I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin')
Disappointed in the lack of uh-huh-huhs :(
Never really listed to Elvis but this album was great. I especially liked "I got a women"
I don't think there is much to say about Elvis that hasn't already been said.
He’s the King for a reason.
A, if not THE, pioneering rock and roll record. As Lennon indicated, there would be no Beatles without Elvis Presley. Giving it one additional star due to the influence it had on rock and roll.
A vibrant album.
Two albums in a row from 1956! At least this one doesn't go for 2 hours. Kinda cool to actually see the "ancient" end of this project, really adds perspective that 3000 new wave albums don't. And this is the King, what's not to like? He definitely had a bit of charm to him, even like 70 years later or whatever it is in 2023. I'll reserve judgement for tomorrow, but I'm tempted to give this full marks. Not a dull moment. 4/5 at least.
One of my personal favorite rockabilly albums. This debut just does so much right with the simplest of songs and it’s so good.
My grandma loved Elvis. I have watched Blue Hawaii more than I should ever have had to. This is the start of Elvis. It’s wild how wide his influences are. Maybe not as jaw dropping as Little Richard but sort of awesome to hear now.
Classic debut album, iconic album cover. In contrast with the From Elvis In Memphis album that I had a couple weeks ago, this one is pure, innocent, untainted Elvis. Just raw talent, singing some great country and R&B songs. 4 stars.
Hey I like this one. It's easy to see why a lot of the tracks on here have less cultural staying power than his bigger hits, but it's a formidable debut to say the least. "Money Honey" and his cover of "I Got a Woman" struck me as particularly charismatic.
4.25
Got some classics can tell it’s from his early days of music.
Surprisingly enjoyable. Excellent vocal clarity
Raw talent on display. Some of the songs are very hokey by today's standards but Elvis' voice carries the day.
Well obviously this tore up the world in 1956, so it deserves respect, but in today's terms it doesn't do it for me any more. I was a huge Elvis fan in the 70s, but don't listen to him these days. Perhaps I'm just bored of it - there are certainly no surprises here, it's exactly how you would expect an early Elvis album to sound. Gets 4 stars for it's contemporaneous importance. Much like Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis versions of Little Richard songs should have been left to the man himself - no-one can sing gibberish like the Reverend Richard Penniman.
I know most of the songs on this album, but have never actually listened to it as an album. In fact, I don't know that I've ever listened to any proper album by Elvis. "Blue Suede Shoes" is a dynamite album opener - the count-in and the energy really draw the listener in. It's hard not to boogie to this, even when sitting down. Sequencing is a nice series of peaks and valleys in terms of quiet/loud and fast/slow - at least one side 1. I'm expecting side 2 to be more of the same. I think The Minimalist Jug Band and Petunia have a far deeper Elvis influence in their vocal cadences than I'd ever truly realized before this. I want to dislike Elvis's version of "Tutti Frutti" because it's not Little Richard, but I can't. "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You)" may be my favourite song on this album. I don't know that I've heard it before now. "Blue Moon" is definitely my least favourite song on the album.
You don't have to be an Elvis fanatic to appreciate this groundbreaking album. It has classic 50's uptempo songs and slow ballads. All of them were simple and clean sounding. Even if they were originally recorded by other artists, he made them his own. Scale: 5 - My absolute favorites. 4 - Albums I like. 3 - It was ok to listen to it but wouldn't seek it out. 2 - Didn't like. 1 - Absolute shit.
Enjoyed it.
All the various bullshit about Elvis aside, pretty great record. Not completely solid, but the damn wake of it is huge. Most surprising are Elvis’ rare and rough attempts at falsetto here, which I believe he promptly quit doing afterward.
Its always good to hear Elvis! I love that these songs seem simplistic/formulaic but actually they're genius. They're heartfelt but humourous too. Loved this!
Oh it's fantastic. However, on reading up I found out (which may be common knowledge to most people) that Elvis didn't write any of the songs on this album
Pretty darn iconic, both the music and cover, eh? Fave track - "Blue Suede Shoes" for the rock, "Blue Moon" for the roll. Honorable mention for "Heartbreak Hotel" which was a non-album single, but is a great tune....
4/5