Reviews (page 8 of 14)
Influential and iconic but in truth fairly middling - only Blue Suede Shoes really stands up. 6/10
Didn't really move me one way or another. Probably difficult to judge through a modern lens
Abopbopaloomop, alopbambom.
6/10 It's Elvis. What's there to say.
Good album. Good groove and mood through out the whole album. Tutti frutti could've been left out from the album in my opinion as it was the worst track by far. Best track was Blue Suede Shoes
Most tolerable Elvis album so far
Muy bueno Elvis, pero no deja de ser un álbum de versiones. Mimimimi
It was an OK listen and I enjoyed the familiar swagger of Blue Suede Shoes. Not too many other songs that appealed much to me. The King, of course, has a wonderfully distinctive voice and style. I can understand what all of the fuss was about at the time but ultimately this album isn’t something I’d care to revisit in its entirety. Maybe a greatest hits album would be a better listen for me nowadays.
Real mixture of a few of his famous songs and ones I’ve never heard before. Although I’ve heard Ray Charles sing I’ve got a woman before, I prefer his version than the one on this album. Wouldn’t listen to the whole album again
Some great classics and some not so great, not so classic songs
I get that it’s important and that it was ground breaking. But 70 years on it’s a bit nothing
ist halt elvis...
I never realised that blue suede shoes was his first big hit. Apart from that, I was quite surprised at how ordinary the rest of the album was considering this was his debut. The one other notable song was blue moon which was a cover anyway. Probably the best song was "I love you because". I was quite disappointed actually. 3 stars
Iconic
A true pop king from a bygone era. Super short, simple, and straightforward songs—you can dance to them fast, you can dance to them slow. A monumental release for its time, now it's only for music archaeologists.
Wow this Elvis guy is cool I sure hope he doesn't make a career out of stealing music from Black artists, fall in love with a 14 year old, lose his fame to a loveable band of British boys, get fat, become a recluse, beg Richard Nixon for a job, and die on the toilet.
Hmmm. Ich verstehe wieso das so unglaublich revolutionär gewesen sein muss und der ganze music elitist Kram. Es hört sich auch sehr gut an, Vorallem wenn man die Zeit bedenkt, und ich würde ein paar Lieder auch hören. (wenn auch eher aus ästhetischen Gründen) Aber ich hab das Gefühl das ist es dann auch gewesen. Ich hab das Gefühl damals hat man gesungen was man singen wollte ohne weitere Gedanken dahinter zu stecken, versteht mich nicht falsch das ist definitiv nichts schlimmes. Aber das einzige was für mich dieses Album besonders macht ist die Ästhetik dahinter. Aber die ist irgendwo auch verdammt cool.
Überraschend kurzweilig und teilweise sehr schöne Lieder. Vor allem bei den Liebesliedern ist seine Stimme sehr angenehm aber auch manche der energetischen Lieder sind ganz lustig. Trotzdem ist es ziemlich repetitiv und viele Lieder haben unsinnige Lyrics. Hatte dennoch mehr spaß mit dem Album als erwartet. Höhepunkt(e): I Love You Because Tiefpunkt(e): Tutti Frutti Rating: 6/10
It's rockabilly. Elvis has a great voice and delivery, but doesn't necessarily improve on the many covers on this album. Sold effort, and it helps that it's less than 30 minutes.
Now, this is an album I should listen to before dying. Never heard Elvis's first. It may be mostly white-washed covers (as things were back then), but you can hear his energy and voice off the bat. All that said, a mid album, 3* Highlights: blue suede shoes, i got a woman
obviously incredibly influential and i do appreciate that but gosh some of the lyrics made for painful listening
It’s Elvis. Not his best album but a solid one.
Honestly shocked I'd not heard an Elvis album before. Pretty solid but not entirely for me.
The raw Elvis before he put the total Elvis together. Really good if not quite the album it was 70 years ago
6.0/10
I love Elvis’ version of Blue Moon. I always have it on my Halloween playlist because I think it sounds spooky. I’m not a huge Elvis fan. I like a few of his songs. This was fine.
Full of singles. Started a revolution in music. Crazy how short songs were.
Famous sound: rock n roll with 12 bar blues base. With ballads too. Not much else to say, obviously important at the time, but dated today. Some tracks more country than 12BB, e.g. Just Because Best track (not already known) - One-Sided Love Affair 3 stars
This album does not hold up well. I don't know exactly what kind of affectation he's putting on his voice (for a good example listen to One-Sided Love Affair), but I did not enjoy it. I know this album was revolutionary at the time, so I'll give it a 3.
Твистим
Obviously an important album and definitely required listening for anyone who cares about the history of popular music. It’s brief, charismatic, and enjoyable enough, but there’s too much distance between then and now for me to truly appreciate it. It’s interesting to hear how different his voice sounds from track to track, even between verses. Sometimes he sounds like The Elvis, other times he sounds reedy and Holly-like. Production and recording style sound different between songs too, which makes me more curious about the making of this thing. Thanks for that. Fantastic album cover, though. Iconic in the strictest definition.
I’m not upset by listening to this but it’s not blowing me away either. Historically important but not massively interesting.
Elvis, although I'm not sure how many were covers of other songs. Still I can see why people had to dance to this
It was fun 17/1/26
This has some good rockabilly, jams, and some classics.
It’s the same song again’
Okay.
3/5 background music: the album it was good tho
Culture Vulturing 101 except, by god, it's a really fun album. Doesn't overstay its welcome and just sails through a bunch of capably performed tunes. Yes, there are better originals out there, and you should seek them out, but this was a pleasant surprise. That's it. That's all I got. 3 HIGHLIGHTS: Elvis, was a hero to most, but he never meant shit to me. - Chuck D
It is pretty good for its time and the mix of country, blues and rock of this album is pretty good so I like this very much. Blue Suede Shoes, Trying to Get to You, I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You), and Blue Moon are the strongest of this album.
Nie mój vibe, może jak byłoby ciepłej i więcej słońca, to kto wie
Saying someone can burn your house and steal your car as long as they don't mess with your shoes is crazy imo
A good collection of different moods. His higher range didn't have as much support as I would have liked, lent itself better to sad songs rather than tender. Can see how it made such an impact when it came out.
non il mio prefe
Well its the classic Elvis ... isn't it?
Mama i just want to wiggle
While I wouldn't put this on to listen to on my own, I enjoy this enough but I really appreciate it for what it was in music history
Oh the time of 2 minute songs. Mehlvis. Heard before? Some Owned: Yes: 41/165 (24%) Will I get? No
no sabia q hoy era su cumple AJJAJ no me gusta nada elvis, esto parece encontra de mi voluntad la vdd no se q tanto opine pq en general no me gusta nada este genero ok? ok entiendo por completo pq a la gente le gustaba tanto elvis no dejo de ver a jacob elordi como elvis muejejeje q fea la font de la portada en resumen no me gusta elvis uwu no lo termine de escuchar
Can honestly see why Elvis was the original Eminem
Ik heb nooit met aandacht geluisterd naar Elvis, maar ik realiseer me opeens dat hij helemaal niet zo'n goede zanger is. Ergens legt dit wel de ziel van commerciële muziek vast, namelijk het verwateren van interessantere versies van hetzelfde genre. Ray Charles' versie van I Got A Woman is zo veel beter! Wil je nou naar de origins van rock-n-roll luisteren, luister dan naar Little Richard, Big Mama Thornton, Chuck Berry, Lavern Baker, Sister Rosetta Tharpe etc!!!! Het feit dat hij enkel witte muzikanten gebruikt, terwijl het genre zo beïnvloed is door zwarte muziek. Ik ben geen essentialist en denk dat etniciteit niet bepaalt hoe goed je bepaalde muziek speelt/bepaalt of je recht heb om bepaalde muziek te spelen (muziek is altijd uitwisseling geweest), maar let's be real, geschiedenis is hier van belang. Het is natuurlijk uiterst goed gespeeld, maar als je naar sommige originele versies luistert, mis je een groove en een soul. De vrijheid die in de originele versies zit, klinkt begrensd bij Elvis, misschien komt het ook omdat hij niet een geweldige zanger is. Er is geen waardering voor de geschiedenis van het genre en dat is zo jammer. Qua productie vond ik het interessant dat er niks over Elvis Presley staat in m'n boek over popmuziek productie, terwijl Big Mama Thornton en Les Paul er ook in staat. Niks interessants over de productie te zeggen, behalve dat het wel typisch 50s is. Excuses voor mijn rant. Het is een iconisch album en het is ook echt goed, maar het is toch ook minder interessant dan albums van andere grootheden.
Heel moeilijk te reviewen. "Blue Suede Shoes" is een klassieker, en "Tutti Frutti" natuurlijk ook. Ik zou het album niet uitzetten, maar ook niet zo snel aan. Het klinkt gewoon heel verouderd.
iconische albumhoes !! het is wat eentonig, maar goed ze hadden de rock'n'roll ook pas net uitgevonden. elvis toen 'ie nog de pelvis werd genoemd, wat een tijd. blue suede shoes swingt heerlijk; i got a woman heeft een heerlijk rockabilly gitaartje; okay ik ben inmiddels bij i love you because en de eentonigheid wordt een probleem. misschien is dit leuker als je een tienermeisje bent in suburbia in '56. ja de rest van het album was meer van hetzelfde. zo ging dat. doe mij dan toch maar london falling van the clash
Smooth clear vocals Im counting on you - great vocals Love Blue Moon
Favourite Song: Blue Suede Shoes I can see why it was a hit at the time, some of the songs weren't particularly to my taste (a little too much swooning), but others (Blue Suede Shoes, Tutti Frutti) were a fun listen.
My mom loves Elvis. I even met up with her in Memphis to go to Graceland together. I recognize his influence in rock and roll and music in general, and I really like a lot of his later work, but this particular album doesn’t sustain a must-hear status to me.
Obviously iconic. Feels a bit like reviewing architecture and someone asks you to look at Stonehenge though. The opener is a classic but I’ve never really liked it that much. Some surprisingly great tracks on here that I’d never listened to before. A strong 3, there are other Elvis albums I’d much rather listen to though. Highlights: I’m Counting On You, I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’)
idgaf about this
Very simplistic but I do understand why it’s on here. I don’t think I would listen to this album again as a great example of Elvis’ work but I get how significant it is. Oh and Blue Moon is a travesty!
The album wasn’t as smooth as I wanted it to be. Apart from that the slow songs were cool, the more lively were okay
Stolen from black people as always. Bill Campbell as well as thelma cooper
Same as my previous comments for the other Elvis album. It's enjoyable enough.
Nada especial, solo por que es Elvis Presley. Quizas necesito contexto cultural para saber el hype, pero didnt he steal music from black people? No me informaré pq no me importa! Favorita: Blue Suede Shoes (3/5)
It's funny how even the greatest artists of all time have loads of filler in their albums. Some good tracks and some meh.
It’s fine, I guess. Didn’t know this was the reference for The Clash’s London Calling album cover. Probably not gonna listen to it again though. Stand-outs: - Trying to Get to You - Blue Moon - Take 9/M
This definitely deserves to be on this list, compared to the other Elvis picks. I still don't love it, as this is not my favourite rock n roll thing, but I liked listening to it. I appreciate it for what it is and the influence it had on music in general.
3 out of 5. Basic but I get why it's here.
Un clásico , pero definitivamente mucha canciones suenas iguales.
At least I have the self-awareness to know that I would have gone crazy for this if I was a white girl in the 1950s (instead of a white girl in the 2020s)
easy listen. fun lyrics . really fed into the fantasies of the girls back in the day. i get it
The hits are pretty good, the rest is kind of repetitive. Great musicians, though.
Its 50's Elvis, I can’t really say anything else. Sometimes a bit slow, sometimes upbeat, in general it’s a decent listen.
The album which is more notable for the cover than the contents. Cover versions of blue suede shoes and ive got a woman are excellent though. Elvis never veers far from very good and this is where this album sits
It's short and sweet. I think that the track placement is weak in that a high-tempo track is then followed by a low-tempo track, and then back to high tempo again. Favourite Track(s): Blue Suede Shoes, I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You), Just Because Least Favourite Track(s): I Love You Because
It's fine. It's Elvis, singing a bunch of black artist's tunes and introducing a generation of ignoramus people to a genre of "jungle music." Culturally significant, musically decent.
It’s Elvis
Quite good. Some of the music from this era is very dated now, and that is true of some of the songs on this album, but his infectious energy and the samples and covers of later artists display what a pioneer he was.
Do I wanna be a contrarian or is that not that good? I get this is from the 50's and really kick started rock'n'roll, but it's not nearly as good as I would have expected. Would give probably 3.5, but rounding for disappointment.
One of his earlier works, you can tell he’s raw and not as polished. Still good though.
Crazy debut album. Why does it sound like each song was recorded in a different studio with various audio quality. I’ve only heard one of these songs before but they do teeter from slower loveish song to faster loveish song. 6/10
Deux artistes problématiques en deux jours, mais quelle joie ! Bon, en l’occurrence, c’est un album important dans l’évolution du rock, donc c’est pas étonnant de le retrouver là. C’est un album bien sympathique, plutôt simple, mais varié. Pas l’album que je préfère de cette époque, mais c’est compréhensible qu’il soit considéré comme important.
Early Elvis was a lot of rockabilly, kicking off with the Carl Perkins hit Blue Suede Shoes. There's definitely some blues in there, some early 50s crooning, and I was surprised to hear Tutti Frutti, performed much more famously by Little Richard.
Easy listen, Elvis has a great voice.
Bra sjunget, bra producerat för sin tid, men det känns liksom som att det är covers av svarta människor så att en vit publik ska gilla det. Några bra låtar, men t.ex Tutti Frutti har inte alls samma energi som originalet
Unmistakable Elvis on opener which is quite an opener for 1956. But I’m Counting On You sounded like just another 50’s crooner. Enjoyed I got a Woman and the piano and slightly strange vocals (borderline Vic Reeves club singer) on One Sided Love Affair. Could do without I Love You Because and I’ll Never Let You Go. Like the country track Just Because. Tutti Frutti doesn’t compare to the superior Little Richard version. Even though the tracks are short I was a bit Elvised out before the end. Though Money Honey probably second best track. Would probably be a 4 if this was 1956. It’s not though. 3. Most of my heroes don’t appear on no stamps.
Reminds me of Top Secret.
Never got into Elvis in any way, shape, form, era.Listening to this, I just don't think it going to happen although I do quite like some rockabilly stuff.
Obviously a landmarks release, consistent but too many covers (understandable for the era). A high 3 borderline 4 - might get occasional play at Café Kelvinos
I enjoyed this, but it wasn't amazing. Considering that it is his debut, the sound that is already coming through is great. That said, it was a very short album and while there are a few really good songs on here, there are a few not so great ones too. Pretty average to me.
bedankt voor de liefdesbetuiging Elvis
Yeah the highs were high but the lows were low...Elvis at his best and worst in one record
A snapshot in time of the man who would be King. Alongside the bona fide, toe-tapping, heart-skipping, hip-swinging classics are mediocre smoochy ballads for the house-wives and a swathe of covers originally by black folks, reminding us of the dubious white-washing at the roots of Rock n Roll. Yes, he was the King: an incredible undeniable talent - but a product of his time, with some horrible views, owing a huge debt to the black artists who came before him, and really should be better represented on this book. Props to his astonishing backing band too. The most annoying thing (and reason for the lower-than-I-would-have-wanted-for-Elvis-who-I-genuinely-love rating) is the tracklisting- alternating between fast and slow numbers in a way that doesn't hit right these days. But I guess albums were done differently back then and mayve everyone needed a slow number to calm down huh?
Lots good. But also defo struck by how much better the original versions of Tutti Fruti and I Got a Woman are, my goodness. He is the king tho and I love him nonetheless.
this was a good album but very repetitive, just sounded like one long song
I can't separate the album from the cultural significance... I've heard all the songs my entire life, inescapable.
Good, but not amazing. I see why he was popular, but it really doesn't hold up today.
Good solid rock and roll
Wasn't bad, wasn't great, but it sure was a long half hour
Starts strong and has high and lows. He sounds great. They are all romance related songs, but that makes sense for the heartthrob he was. You can hear the upbeat blues jazzy ness that becomes rock.
Solid album
He may have popularized rock but it feels so dated
great fun, rock n roll guessing theres plenty better but still good stuff
i don’t get why people were obsessed over this
Blue suede shoes is obviously a classic but a lot of the other songs don’t yet have his distinct vocal performance
I know this is a ground breaking album, and if I was a teenager in 1955 I might have loved it, but it sounds rather dated today. A solid three for historical significance...
A solid debut album with a surprising amount of variety by the immortal pioneer of rock and roll.
It's Elvis but I never got that
k...
Not new to me but classic all the same
Long live the King!
rockabilly songs go insanely hard but then there's the other ones - just made me listen to London Calling after
I liked the other one better, still good.
Was half asleep and only saw the colors/style of the title on the album cover and got super excited. Cosmo and Wanda, you ain't slick.
It was all right. I listened to it a couple of days ago and I already forgot most of it. The vocals kind of wore on me after a while. Probably closer to 2.5 but I'll round up. I do remember liking the last track.
It's an Elvis record, the first one. What to expect? Exactly what I got. It's amazing to think that was revolutionary and, to a certain extent, "heavy, devil music". A nice glimpse into what the Elvis-mania was, and I think I get it. That being said, in modern times, you listen to it for the novelty, not for being music thet you "have" to listen to. Does this make sense? I guess you need to really be into Elvis' to give it more than 3 stars, imo.
прикольно было ознакомиться, но в целом ничего особенно интересного. норм
Absolute classic and has some bangers. Defined the American Rock genre for years to come and still remains relevant in 2025. 7/10 He only got better after this album.
Ballads on these were pretty great and I imagine back in the 50s this went extremely hard. However, everything that followed this in rock was a lot cooler imo
Not really my thing but enjoyable. Interesting to hear him sing not in the stereotypical Elvis "uh huh huh" voice.
First time listening to some of these tracks, but most were very familiar. Good album and clearly revolutionary, but had more covers than I thought it would, which doesn't really help beat the allegations of Elvis stealing most of his musical aesthetic from less successful black artists.
Another 50s album I enjoyed more than I thought I would. I’ve never been a fan of Elvis. I’ve been turned off by his voice whenever I’ve heard his songs. The main context I have on Elvis is his influence on rock music and that he is often accused of gaining fame by taking songs from black artists. It’s not something I’ve researched on my own. Regardless of the context, I enjoyed listening to this album. I still don’t love his voice and there were moments it made me cringe, but tolerable overall. There’s other artists from the era who did it much better, and who I would prefer listening to. Still, there’s no denying the influence Elvis and this album had on modern music. My impression is that he wasn’t an innovator, but he played a big role in bringing the rock ‘n’ roll to a wider audience. Does it say more about him or about white America in the 1950s that they needed a white artist to make rock music palatable?
It was fine, all sounds the same but pretty inoffensive
Genre: Rock & Roll …It’s Elvis! Not much more to say than that. You can definitely hear why so many people, musical most inclined or otherwise, were enamored with him. The guy radiates cool, even on the dreariest of late 50s rock arrangements, and he certainly was quite the icon. Album is alright, though. 3/5
Some classics but I’m not a fan of the quavering voice
Unique voice for the time, the hits are hits and the rest is interesting exploration
the king
A swift, strong album from the old school days. This has some solid songs and is breezy fun. Top tracks: "Blue Suede Shoes," "I Got a Woman," "Blue Moon"
What a fun album. A true 50s rock and roll ass album. There's a reason he's the King. I've never really given the full catalog a listen because the music is so ubiquitous and in any movie about the era, but that's because it's classic shit! 4! But it gets a 3 because racism!
--Blue Suede Shoes...a classic --I'm Counting on You...Elvis is known for his baritone, but it's interesting hearing him tickle his upper register here --I Got a Woman...whitewashed as hell --One-Sided Love Affair...like the piano and walking bass line --I Love You Because...pleasant but nothing special --Just Because...is this skiffle? --Tutti Frutti...you ain't Little Richard, bro --Trying to Get to You...meh --I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry...this kicks --I'll Never Let You Go...run, Priscilla! --Blue Moon...nice and easy --Money Honey...it's fine
Great album. Defined and influenced music for generations. Not really my style or what I want to listen to.
Yehhhh, glad to get this. Think it might be the earliest album on the list and never actually listened to a full Elvis album start to finish… It felt a bit empty and lacking in many ways. Got the groove and rhythm but just felt pretty flat, lacking any body, and not sure that’s just production capability of the time? 12 tacks and 28 minutes is quite something too! Maybe I’m missing some context here. Was expecting a lot more and just feels meh. And ZERO of these songs written by Elvis!
A classic Ruck&Role album, also a great voice Fav song - Blue Suede Shoes 3/5
“Those blacks do make some good music… let’s steal it”. The guy does have a very captivating voice though, gotta give him that
I enjoyed the music more than the Elvis. I can see why he's considered white-washed black music.
So I like Elvis's music. There is something infectious in it that is really catchy but I had only listened to the hits. This album hits in some ways (Blue Suede Shoes) but there were a number of tracks that just didn't resonate with me. It was interesting how inoffensive the music was on a deeper listen.
Listened October 2020. I'm just not a big fan of rockabilly Elvis. I get it, I see why he's the most famous person ever, I see why he completely changed the face of music, but for me, he doesn't become the genuine sensation into the comeback special. I also don't think Elvis on record is the best way to fully appreciate the King - it's live all the way.
I enjoyed some of the singles and would listen to them again no problem but didn’t gel enough with the rest of the songs to really want to come back and listen to the full album. Plus the mix on some of the songs were a bit off. Blue Suede Shoes sounds like he’s singing inches away from the mic while the rest of the band is playing in the other room.
I found myself tapping my toes to some of these. I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to this album but I wouldn't mind if it were on in the background and I can understand how it captured the imaginations of white teenagers in the '50s. I have to say, though, Tutti Frutti was a really inferior cover.
It's not bad, there are just better versions of all of these songs.
A couple of tracks off this album are truly iconic and unforgettable, but there's also a lot of annoying Elvis stuff that sounds very outdated (not in a good, nostalgic way either). I guess it does have a place on this list due to him being such an icon, but overall, it's not an album I'd ever want to revisit. 3 stars
Great elvis
Cool ig. Changed music a lot for sure
12 songs, 28 minutes. Too much coveted music.
it's elvis presley
Voljela sam ga dosta kad sam bila mlađa, ali u jednom trenutku nisam mogla prestati ignorirati njegovu pedofiliju više. Still, obilježio je povijest glazbe i logično je da će biti ja listi. Gledajući samo glazbu, bilo bi 3/5, 5/10
I know its from the 50s but this does sound half-finished. Still got a couple heaters on there
Enjoyable but not revisitable for me
Doesn’t this album just make you want to rip your panties off and throw them at the stereo? Well, no, me neither. It’s odd to think that Elvis, and his thrusting gyrating “dance” got so many people all is a tizz. But Elvis was instrumental in breaking the musical mode and bringing rock and roll to the masses. Helping to give the band hole music industry a jumpstart into a more modern age. This, his debut album at 21, is packed full of hits - the whole album was released as singles in the US - and spent 10 weeks at #1 in the US. It’s a pleasant listen and doesn’t make me want to dive for the off switch (or fling undergarments) towards the stereo. Not someone I’d listen to a lot, but wouldn’t switch radio stations if he came on.
When you already recognise pretty much every song before putting the album on there's already a baseline of this being notable. Some really good stuff on here even if a bit dated.
It's interesting listening to Elvis songs that aren't the standard songs you usually hear. Seems like this first album is slightly less refined (in a good way) than the 4.8 million albums that followed. I dunno, but this alright. It's fun.
Great debut. And definitely some new favourites
Fun album of mostly covers/standards. I've never been a big Elvis fan, but I liked these
A good blues album that turned into rockabilly. Elvis’ vocal tone is super weird on lots of these covered (read as stolen) songs. Nice to hear some simplicity in the phrasing and styles before he gets high on his own supply. As a person, Elvis sucks. But I try to review the album not the artist.
It's Elvis with his classic songs. Not as much rock as I'd come to expect, but you can't deny the album.
The singles were great! But the rest of the album was a bit uninspiring.
Elvis… it’s impossible to separate this album from its context. For a 1956 production, it’s a real gem, and you can easily imagine how some of those iconic tracks must have made an impact, maybe even shocked people, at the time. One of the few moves that truly influenced music history. Beyond that, it’s nice and legendary, but it’s not something I’d listen to every day.
Fun for stolen music, no surprises here. Just the king doing his thing.
More Elvis. Yippee!!
This is more of a cultural artifact than a good piece of art. The studio band sounds like it didn't even think about getting out of second gear. Elvis doesn't have that good of a voice. I understand the cultural significance, but I would not willingly listen to this. I do appreciate the 12-song, 28 minute runtime.
Elvis is a man of many voices!
Two Elvis Presley albums in a row. In my current state, that is 1 in 618.582. I think I should buy a lottery ticket. This album is very similar to 'Elvis is Back' (it should be the other way around, but I've heard that one first). It is basically a compilation of standard rockabilly songs. The difference with this one is that some of the songs have more energy, such as the intro track; but also has a bit worse singing from Elvis. Neverthless I think this is slightly better.
no es algo que me pondria a escuchar pero es un clasico. las canciones son lindas divertidas y da placer al oido. todavia no entiendo muy bien los generos musicales xq cuando pienso en rock n roll no pienso en esto.
OK, monotone
Elvis was super important. Nearly every major artist for the next 10-15 years benefitted somehow from Elvis's success, starting with this album. All that being said. This record is super inconsistent. The best tracks are the rock and roll numbers, where Elvis gives passable versions of some contemporary R&B songs. They're fun. Sprinkled throughout are some slower C&W ballads which do nothing much more than demonstrate how close country was to rock back at the beginning. Bouncing back and forth between the two, I can't help but want the rock to stick around a bit longer. The truly weird stand out here is "Blue Moon" which I've heard about over the years as one of the worst Elvis tracks - I kind of enjoy it? It's creepy and unexpected. It's vitally important to listen to this record to understand the development of Western pop music, but on it's own merits it's just kind of fine. The other issue is that contextually speaking, "Heartbreak Hotel" was SUPER influential, and doesn't appear here. THREE STARS
Elvis is so cool, I wish I was partially named after him. (3.5)
This was a fun listen. I liked the one mic live immediacy of the whole thing. However, this was waaay too politely played. I mean, I get it that they didn't want the housewives to get scared or overly excited, but still. This can't even hold a candle to a Chuck Berry or a Little Richard. White people, eh? We ruin everything.
i'm admittedly not the biggest Elvis fan, but i'll say that all of my favorites come from this album. I think on this record you get a really clear picture of his blues/gospel influences before they become dolled up in performance and provocation, and tracks like "Blue Suede Shoes" do a great job of paying homage to theoretical influences instead of simply regurgitating old ideas, which I feel happen in Elvis's later work. as a fan of his slower stuff, I would always listen to tracks like "I Love You Because", "I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin')", and of course, "Blue Moon". Getting this album was kind of fun because I don't know when I would have ever chosen to revisit Elvis, but it's a nice reminder of why he's so beloved and where he started (especially compared to where he'd end up, which I don't love as much as other Elvis fans).
It's hard to listen to this without thinking about what it started. In that sense it gets a classic/10. I probably wouldn't throw it in the rotation, but I can't disregard the impact Elvis had and here's where he started. As with many of these "oldies doing their early albums" there are plenty of solid covers of other classics. Tutti Frutti is always fun and I Got A Woman is great.
Lots of good songs, but it’s always strange to me how many tracks in this era are basically just covers of someone else’s.
Never been much of an Elvis guy beyond “Mystery Train” and a couple other classics. Although it’s cool to see where so many people draw influence from (I definitely heard a little bit of Tyler Childers in “I’d rather listen to Chuck Berry.
I’ve never intentionally listened to Elvis, and I was surprised how much I liked this. Big fan of the rockabilly guitars with their pristine spring reverb and staccato notes. Liked the back half of the album more, a bit more rockin’
Meh
Blue Tune more like.
He was obviously impactful, is still relevant today, and I’m glad that I finally sat down and listened to this record in its entirety for the sake of art history appreciation, but I just don’t find Elvis interesting… like at all.
What you expect from Elvis
A nice voice but not beating the hack allegations, it’s hard to listen back to this with rose tinted glasses (2.5/5)
Where do I start? Elvis is arguably the best American performer ever. This is the birth of Rock N Roll but it was a couple of decades before I was born. My first reaction is to dismiss this out of hand. This musics sounds primitive but I feel like I need to listen to this album like it was new. I know that adults were horrified but the kids went apeshit over this. It sounds dated and tame today but this must have been as impactful as Nirvana. I like the cultural impact of Elvis but his music doesn’t do much for me. I would argue that he’s the sexiest man who ever lived though.
Elvis did what a lot of great artists do; take things that already exist and condense them down to something with mass appeal. Rock n' Roll and pop in it's purest form. There is some hits, some misses (Tutti Frutti is awful) but each Track is short and sweet, the band is tight and the recording is clear and captures the energy of the time. As a collection of work it's nothing unique but what it represents from that time and place is. Love him or hate him, Elvis' cultural impact can not be denied both positive and negative.
I like Elvis but he almost sounds like a parody of himself on this album and some of the originals are better than his covers! All in all a decent first effort.
Great songs but most of them covers and not all from black people as we would assume with the 50s racism situation that branched into music too. So Blue Suede Shoes we all remember from Elvis is actually a Carl Perkins song.Fair delivery though,Elvis gave it more energy and the vocals are very close to the original (with a touch of reverb), Counting on you is a slow lullaby with some pam pam pam pam choir in the background,quite good actually, I got a woman is also a cover from the superb Ray Charles and frankly i prefer the original,the line ''she gives me money when i'm in need''is just unbeatable ,2:55 minutes and leaves you hanging from Ray's lips throughout the whole song, too much reverb in Elvis's voice on this one, One sided love Affair though an original,Elvis rambling delivery and heavy accent really ruins it, I love you because was originally a country song by Leon Payne with a string band,what a surprise..BUT in this case Elvis wins, Just Because was a bit boring to me, Tutti Frutti it's a sin even touching this.Little Richard was even playing backwards in the piano while singing,no comparison, Trying to get to you was originally writen by Rose Marie McCoy and Charles Singleton.So yes,you guessed it again it's a cover but this one i really enjoyed it as the original was a stripped guitar/vocal song, I'm gonna sit right down and cry(over you) was a Roy Hamilton original(even covered from the Beatles) but Elvis gave it justice by covering it as a more speed-up energetic number,very clever choice cause this fits like a glove into his voice, I'll never let you go( Little Darlin') is a cover again from Jimmy Wakely and His Rough Riders in which Elvis reminds me of the Beatles,very humble here and dreamy,nice version, Blue Moon(Take 9/m) is also a cover(boy i.m struggling for some original recordings here) from the Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's original(even covered from Sinatra)with a history behind it as the dreamy melody of the song was first conceived for a movie in 1933 and to be sung by Gene Harlow but never was recorded,the same in 1934 for another movie with different lyrics and performer but again didn't happened until it was featured in a movie(I think Manhattan Melodrama) again around that time with different lyrics and a title:''Bad in every Man'',but a gangster shoot outside it's opening forced the creators to re-write it again but this time as a more romantic commercial song ending up with the dreamy ''Blue Moon we all know firstly performed by Ted Fiorito. I think Elvis really nailed it with respect,with an almost whispery,soft,humble and tender delivery and picky almost muted guitar,fantastic, Money Honey was first recorded and released by Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters(oh i have a thing for the Drifters,so good)but i really enjoyed it by Elvis(maybe it was the careful use of reverb on this one). So,after all this analysis i'll give it a 3/5 cause it's Elvis after all but his debut album is mostly a cover album.
Hauskaa, menevää, tanssittavaa 50-luvun musaa, myös hitaita balladeja. Kokonaisuus jää vähän laimeaksi.
Obviously we know the celebrity that is Elvis, but want to give some flowers to the musicians behind Mr. Presley. They sure did produce some fun ditties.
The biggest takeaway for me was the influence in other songs
The first rock and roll album- brought the genre to the mainstream and is the predecessor to 99% of popular western music to follow. That said, he blatantly ripped off the black artists that came before him who did all of these songs better. Just listen to ray Charles’s “I got a woman” vs this half assed cover
Not super sure what to do with Elvis. On one hand he was my grandma's favorite. And since she's passed on its brings back some memories. But he also didnt write a damn thing and his versions are generally worse than the originals. Tutti frutti sounded so strange to me. The little Richard one is way better. But I also dont know all the originals either. Blue suade shoes sounds good to me but its not his. But he sure does have an iconic voice. And the Elvis mania is historic. Its tentatively a good record. If I just move on gor a second its pretty good. Not everything works for me but generally its good. Some of the slower songs aren't for me. But some real hits exist here too. Im torn for sure. I should really find all the originals and compare but thats not what this should be. Its good and its worth a listen even just for historic purposes. Though ill never loose sight of the fact that he was a performer and not a musician or writer
Enjoyable
Some good songs but it really is just a compilation of singles
Is it possible that Elvis is underrated? I grew up in a household raised on The Beatles, Bee-Gees and Broadway showtimes. My mother calibrated her moral compass on the sixties counterculture, so Elvis’ venal anti-hippie conservative persona made him unwelcome in my home. Then he became parody. But now decades later, a gilded Vegas-loving kung fu rock star with a catalog of hits and prone to batshit antics? Sign me up.
Never loved Elvis.
A few classic songs
Well, it’s certainly Elvis! Excellent fun! I can only imagine the pearl clutching that went on when this smooth, silky, sexy mother fucker rocked into the scene!
Toe-tapping. Tutti Frutti is the toe-tappingest and an easy fav. Listening to history was an interesting experience but the music itself was pretty bland compared to other rock and blues from the time.
ok
Listened to this while playing Leviathan Wilds. I played against Sage, and won! Who hasn't heard most of these songs? I'm not the biggest Elvis fan for various reasons...but this wasn't bad.
i only knew the song "blue suede shoes" from the ace attorney games. anyway, it's servicable, but dated, and imitated/referenced/served as inspiration countless times by now.
Highlight Song/s: Blue Suede Shoes and Trying to Get to You Almost done with the rock and roll albums. Was hoping Little Richard was the next one I would get, but no I got the king instead... I'm really going to build up hype for the Little Richard album aren't I? Anyways back to the main topic. This album wasn't a real rocker compared to some of other ones I've listened to; such as Live At The Star Club by Jerry Lee Lewis. The ballads just don't do it for me on this one. It is a bit funny how bloody bleak some of the songs are, I never would've expected those sort of songs from Elvis.
Sue my hlistaði ekki
Yessir this is so great. Never listened to an Elvis album start to finish. He is such a good singer. Obv understand the problem tho lol
Fun stuff! I remembered enjoying this less the first time around, as I made it here on my first try with 1001, when I did it chronologically (crazy try). One sided love affair is awesome
It's what I expect from Elvis. I don't know if I truly 'like' it, but there is a comfort in its familiarity.
For a debut - it's a good start but he's not the King yet!
Never been much of a Elvis fan, but have to admit that the youthful energy of Elvis himself and swinging rockabilly background groove by Scotty Moore, Bill Black and DJ Fontana really make my trouser sleeves flap. This is also such hugely important stuff in the rock'n'roll history, and it's not even possible to imagine what rock music would be without this stuff
Shout out to my Gram… I know she probably loved this album. Favorite: Blue moon
Can see why some of these songs, particularly Blue Moon would have gotten you laid. Iconic.
Iconic stuff. Super ahead of its time when it's great, and kinda sappy when it's not. Overall a pretty good listen though.
Some greats on here. I'm surprised he did Tutti Frutti so fast, it felt a little overdone.
Actually not terrible. First time I’ve listened to a full elvis album and surprisingly it is not that bad
Elvis' first album did not include his most popular songs of the time such as Heartbreak Hotel, Love Me Tender, Don't Be Cruel and Hound Dog because they had already been released as singles. As a general rule, an album has been an afterthought in the music business. It was Sgt. Pepper's that made the album viable as artistic expression and a commercial product.
I'm not an Elvis fan, so I fully expected to hate this. However, it actually turned out to be a decent, fairly enjoyable listen.
Elvis' first album I think. Interesting he hasn't locked into that signature Elvis sound on a few lines. Cool to hear, though not my top favorite Elvis album
Surprising variety on this album. Interesting to hear the so-young Elvis. I liked it, all told.
It passes the threshold test of not being boring. I think it was the first time I really realized that Elvis was a rip off. He took somebody else’s sound and mainstreamed it.
Elvis, Elvis Presley ★︎★︎★︎/ ︎★︎★︎★︎★︎★︎ Dammit, there's not a single song by The Clash on this whole-ass record. I've been had. Right, I get it. Father of your rock'n'roll. Maybe the first rock star, right? Kinda a non-dangerous rockabilly. My review: It's fine. Elvis, whether or not he's your hero, never meant much to me. So, like John Wayne, I just let his enjoyers do their thing. Is he all that much more than a sexy Pat Boone, when we ask ourselves seriously? Like a girlfriend said when I pulled the other Elvis's records off her shelf, "Elvis Costello, I sure thought he was important [in the 70s/80s]... Was he though?" And that's where I file Presley. We sure a lot of us thought he was important.
It was all right
Tænkte meget på den scene i ELVIS hvor der zoomes ind på Tom hanks h or han siger “he’s… white???” Anyway der er nogle fede nok numre på, næsten alle lavet bedre af andre. Rip Elvis men Ray Charles’ I Got A Woman >>>>>>>
Surely an important album.
So this was mixed. First song up, 2nd too low on energy for me. The third was good, but probably made John Lee Hooker cry (Howlin' Wolf?). Next song was painful, then a rockabilly up song. I understand this was influential, and do not argue with its inclusion. I'm just not a huge fan of Elvis for more than a song or two, and some of it is gratingly unpleasant.
The fast songs are fun enough, the ballads are a bit dull. But at the end of the day, this is just a bunch of covers of songs that were done better by the original artists. Tutti Frutti, in particular, pales into comparison with the original.
Old Elvis is pretty nostalgic. Nice listen. His voice is always very solid, no gems though, not a massive fan but can appreciate it.
Deserves a lot of credit for brining rock and roll to the masses, but at the end of the day it is a album of covers. Ignoring the racial undertones, most of the versions are not as good as the originals, with the exception of "Blue-Sued Shoes."
3.5 stars.
I already knew that the cover of The Clash's London Calling was based on the cover of this Elvis album, but I didn't find that out for years. Decades, even, and the first thing I think of when I see this is how I missed the reference for so long. Rock's cultural relevance has steeply declined in the 21st century, so I can't truthfully say that this inaugurated the *current* cultural era, but the first half of my life was spent in the long wake of this initial boom. That said, I was expecting this to bang a little harder. I kinda hate his vocal phrasing sometimes.
Rock and Roll wouldn't be what it is today without its first superstar
Entraînant, dansant. Mais un peu répétitif. Puis bon coucher avec des mineurs... nope !
joah klassisch elvis
Etwas altbacken, trotzdem ein entspannter Vibe, der mal ganz cool ist
It was alright, for a cover album. The black guys did it better though
It lacks any of the personality you might find in the songs that are covered here.
Même si c'est un incontournable, ce n'est pas l'album que je vais écouter tous les quatre matins. Mais il fait le job et il a un petit goût de nostalgie. On peut pas mettre de virgule donc je mets 3 étoiles mais je lui rajoute quand même son 1/2 point.
Good but ultimately nothing to write home about.
This is okay, but sounds and feels really dated in 2025.
klassisk! Ikke min stil men klart en klassiker! 3
Not the genre i usually listen to, but it was quite vibey and relaxing
what can i say... its elvis :) positively surprised by the 'i love you because' duet, bit corny but hey let me have it 'just because' is also very fun. not the biggest fan of the style but probably iconic and important for pop music history idk
I thought this album would be repetitive with similar sounding songs such as the Beatles earlier work, but it's actually quite varied and each song is short enough not to get tiring
Elvis the Pelvis covers Kanye West.
there are a few songs that are definitely bangers on this album. I’m not the biggest Elvis fan, so I am not going to leave it great scores. But if you like Elvis, this is a hard hitting album.
An incredibly EASY listen that never graduates beyond that. Melodic and fun for sure, but does almost go in one ear and out the other.
Blue suede shoes is the only real standout Baseline for 50s “rock” I’m a pretty huge Elvis guy but this doesn’t do it for me…
***A good album
Este álbum está en la lista por el significado histórico que tiene. Eso es indudable. Ahora bien, eso no quita que haya discos de esta época mucho mejores que este. Por ejemplo, algunos álbumes de Chuck Berry o Little Richard. Sólido. 3'5/5
Blue Suede Shoes is great. Guitar on it is special. Rest of album is generic.
Feels like a bunch of Elvis b-sides. I didn't hate any of the songs, they just seemed unpolished and off-the-cuff
3.5, capaz un poco mas por lo que generó, pero tiene mejores
This album has some great songs on it, as well as a good deal of filler and sappy ballads. The rockers are great though.
Realized how vanilla bubble gum Elvis was (at least early on) with his souless covers of Ray Charles’ “I Got a Woman” and Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti” on this album. Would prefer to give this a 2.5 but will settle for a 3.
It's a fun album that really captures that 50's vibes. Obviously influential. Fav track: "Blue Suede Shoes" 2.5/5
Decent
Average
Wait so I got a woman is a cover of the song that Kanye samples for gold digger
like everything else by elvis, this is fine... blue moon is lovely
Pretty good, not my favorite music but the og rock and roll
De primeras no me ha pillado en el mood, creo que en otro momento habria sido mas disfruton porque tiene pontecial, suena muy divertido. Luego cuando se ha relajado ha entrado mejor, pero con varias canciones seguidas empieza a sonar demasiado repetitivo para escuchar de forma activa y se hacce bueno para tener de fondo bajito, para el fornite buen acompañante. Destacable para un mood de bajon "I love you Because" Se que no esta mal pero hoy no es el dia
It's elvis singing other people's songs
Pretty rock and roll
Inoffensive but pleasant. Favorite track: Tutti Frutti
Opening with Blue Suede Shoes was very powerful, and must have knocked people’s socks off back in 1956. It’s a good thing Elvis was hot, because he does some weird ass stuff with his voice they wouldn’t fly if he was an uglier dude. Hard to be objective about the debut album of one of the biggest artists of all time, especially as the album format wasn’t really the thing back then. This was fine, heard them all before, some ballads some fancier numbers. Alright!
I don't really like Elvis, but I will admit this album is not bad. It isn’t great either, though. It is average. This would have been a bigger deal if I had been alive when it came out.
I really like some of Elvis' songs but this album, not really. Some songs are good (albeit quite basic R&R) but none are written by Elvis so he does not get any marks for song-writing. He is "just" a singer, but with a real signature sound so that's good. Of course, Elvis was very influential so I assume this album belongs on the list. A generous 3 on this one.
hips don’t lie
The poster boy for whitewashing rhythm & blues. Big Mama Thornton and Sister Rosetta Tharpe did it better, louder and first.
Great to hear the first album. Don't really understand the lyrics of most of the songs however I see the influence in music still today. Will probably give it a listen once a year
Énorme classique, j’ai passé un très bon moment Même si certaines musiques sont en dessous et moins mon genre
adouwadouwap
exciting, but his voice feels a bit grating at times
A musician who was extremely impactful during his time, searheading the rock and roll genre as we know it. With the rich history behind his story, I can't help but appreciate his work. However, I am not a huge fan of his sound. I found his voice to be incredibly unique and appreciated how he used it in a non-traditional way. But, some of the songs felt like filler, with only a few sticking with me. It is an okay album.
I felt fine about this. It's weird to hear a lot of songs that I've heard by other artists who did it better. To be honest, I know he contributed to rock, but he's basically a lit review in comparison to original research
time capsule right here. I love the singing, I love the sound of the band. solid musicianship. songs are a bit boring for me tho. neat but I'll never listen to it again.
Short, intense barrage of tracks short and varied tracks. I'm not the biggest Elvis fan, but it's hard not to be somewhat entertained.
Only a couple of his big hits here
Early Elvis
I enjoy a good Elvis record so that was good but not my favorite. I think that I like his older music more.
I do see where the Elvis hype came from! Kinda jammin. At the very least vibin. Nothing that stands out too much still, though.
One of the most deserving albums to be on this list? Oh yeah certainly. Maybe one of the most important musicians of the 20th century, just in terms of influence. But this music is just fine! I don't think I'll ever seek Elvis out intentionally outside of New Vegas.
Solid collection of tunes, but definitely not as incendiary as it would've been in 1956, when Elvis could quirk his hips and every pair of panties the nation over would fly off.
None of these songs were in lilo & stitch 🤔
Elvis doing his thing here. Which is not my thing but I respect the game. He keeps such incredible energy although I will never forgive him for his mangling Tutti Frutti the way he does. Truly a landmark album and probably one of the most historically important on this list.
I liked it. It reminded me of my grandma.
One cannot deny the influence this album had on future generations of artists. It also brought exposure to artists that may not have made the mainstream music of the day, because they would not have received the radio play that this album received. All and all, it is a pretty good album that is fun to spin now and again.
Pretty good. Not my favourite from Elvis or from that period of rock n roll. Good album though some nice songs on there.
I tried this 1001 albums challenge in 2020 but the chronological way. I remember somewhat digging Sinatra's Wee Hours but really loving this record when it came next. I was 13 then and now I'm almost 19. While I acknowledge that Elvis is a legend in his own right, half of these songs are just songs to me. I did enjoy when he went into a more soulful slow approach. But other than that, it's straight 50s rock and roll. It's not bad but it's nothing too mind-blowing unless you were hearing it for the first time when it released. He is the king though (5/10, 3/5 on this scale)
Difficult to rate this objectively. It isn't as good as the best rock and roll records (Little Richard) but it isn't total manufactured slop either. Blue Suede Shoes is obviously great. Elvis was a distinctive singer and a fantastic performer. He genuinely had the rock star je ne sais quoi, so it isn't surprising he became mega famous. He wasn't just an attractive white face being used to market Black music to middle America. But that was an inescapable aspect of his success. He was also yet another person on this list who had questionable relationships with girls who were much too young. On its merits, this stands up relatively well, so I guess it's a 3.
It's surprising that each song is barely over 2 minutes long. The music is slower paced than I expected, and seems so toned down without the background screams of teenaged fans.
Great singing, but song structure sounds dated by this point.
3/5 Elvis has better material but this is was ok. Love that blue moon cover.
One of the early rock n roll classics. But I’m going to be honest, I’m not a huge fan of Elvis, I certainly wouldn’t downplay his significance but as far as early rock acts go I generally prefer Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc. While nothing here is bad, in fact most of it is good, many of these songs I prefer the originals to Elvis’ renditions (the most glaring example is “Tutti Frutti”) but I am a fan of “Blue Swede Shoes” that’s a good one.
It’s good. I like the music from this era, but not my favorite
É difícil, e injusto, avaliar/ julgar os discos de Elvis Presley, depois de se ter ouvido a produção de rock dos anos seguintes (meados dos anos 1960 e tudo que veio a seguir), mas sua importância como desbravador e pedra fundamental de um gênero de musica que viria a ser o mais importante, em termos de consumo, não pode ser desprezada.
Sort of impossible to listen to an album of what were mostly at the time and now are standards and come away truly wowed. As thieves of Black music go, he's no Page & Plant, but I enjoyed it well enough. Great cover tho.
Must have caused a sensation when it was released. Felt like a time capsule.
Thoughts before listening: Elvis is one of those artists where everybody knows him, including all the hit songs, but I for one never actually listen to him. I'm never sitting around thinking "you know what, I'd really like to listen to some Elvis." So in that sense, I'm excited to have to listen to an album. Review: I mean its Elvis. Its going to be enjoyable. This is his debut album so its rockabilly/rock n roll Elvis and not Vegas headliner Elvis which is a good thing. His faster songs are the ones that work best for me with the ballads coming off as too old school sounding or something. In general, while his voice is certainly iconic, it also can grate on me at times, and this is especially true on the slow songs. Favorite songs: "Blue Suede Shoes", "I Got a Woman", "Just Because", and the one exception to my ballad opinion "Blue Moon". I'll give this 3-stars.
Headspace Radio Broadcasting. Thank you for tuning in. Today, the topic for all our show is: Elvis Presley. *radio static, switching to another station* the familiar synth jingle of the Weather Station rang from the radio. "This is London Calling: there's a big storm happening today evening in somewhere. Beware of possible deaths that may occur during childbirth, especially if the child is a firstborn." the station was switched again. eerie music slowly unravelled itself. "Now reporting from Supernatural FM. Today, the debut album of Elvis has left the building... and entered my listening challenge. What do you have to say, Mr. Joe Strummer... oh, there's no answer from the afterlife? im a pretty terrible psychic." Sound and Legacy, everybody's favourite talk show, follows a brief heavy metal riff. "And let us reach the 3rd time where i quote a line from my "The Chronic" review: 'Shite Politics'. I mean, S-H-I-T-E P-O-L-I-T-I-C-S. DO NOT underestimate some music's cultural influence just because it whitewashed things. Without Elvis we won't be able to have the Beatles and everything else. You know, only Little Richard and Chuck Berry is not enough..." with betting adverts, came SKY Radio Sports. "Manchester City scores! Phil Foden, what a pretty shot! The citizens probably are singing 'Blue Moon' on the terrance now!" it's now Legacies, where people discuss music, mainly classic rock. "It's pretty useless to underrate the importance of a cover song just because the original have 'passion' and 'soul', as you heard in the versions of Hallelujah, Jeff did this beautifully rendition and has more emotion oozing from his voices but WHY STILL VALUE LEONARD COHEN?" The radio switched back to the Main station. "Admit it, its of course not as good as radiohead. So give it a 3 and end the whole headspace thing." 3/5
1. Blue Suede Shoes - 9 Great sound. This is Elvis' debut album and this is about as strong track you could open the album with. There's a few times where a band or artist who reaches the highest heights start with an absolute classic. "Rock and Roll Star" by Oasis comes to mind as an example but this song is one as well. Really great tempo and all around excellent sound. For the era, it is without little doubt as to why Elvis was so popular and I do believe this has stood the test of time quite well. 2. I'm Counting On You - 5 Much slower song. Not really my style and I'm not very fond of his vocals on the chorus. The background singers makes this feel too much like The Pops as opposed to rock and roll. 3. I Got a Woman - 9 Classic track. My favourite version of this song is the one Ray Charles did, but this is just a great sound to an absolute old time classic of a song. Sound is great and drum is the star of the show here. Really enjoyable track. 4. One-Sided Love Affair - 8 Reminds me of boogie woogie piano style music at the beginning. Really solid swing music which Elvis really became known for. Lyrically it is very good. You will find yourself tapping your foot subconsciously to this. 5. I Love You Because - 6 Pretty sweet love song. Really slower tone, even more so than I Got a Woman. Still, Elvis' vocals are a lot better on this track than on I Got a Woman. All around a solid song. 6. Just Because - 7 Pretty strong opening verse. Instrumentally this is a very enjoyable listen as the instruments are given a good amount of space to have a small jam session for 20-30 seconds between the two verses. Choruses aren't even separated by a tone or shift in a drumline like modern songs. Good track. 7. Tutti Frutti - 7 Great swing to the song but the chorus is a bit strange lyrically. Puts a lot of stress on the instrumentals to deliver but of course they do in spectacular fashion. If there were an unserious track on the album, this would be that track. 8. Trying to Get You - 8 Elvis sounds incredible on this track. Really get a true understanding of his true vocal on this track and it's such an enjoyment. This might be the best thing on the album that actually showcases the full scale of how talented he was. 9. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) - 7 Overall a good song. Another one of these blues inspired love songs that Elvis really became famous for. The guitars between the verses and choruses sounds fantastic. 10. I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') - 6 Real slower song. You get small hint of Elvis right at the end but the song is way to melancholic for the album. If there was a track on the album that really struggled to highlight Elvis' talent then this would be that track. 11. Blue Moon (Take 9/M) - 4 The octave and pitch changes are too extreme on this track to really enjoy the slower pace of it. Lyrics are fine and there's not much in terms of instrumentals to pick at, which is fine, but when coupled with the constant peaks and valleys of Elvis here it just makes the track seem like a wash over. 12. Money Honey - 7 Lyrically a good tack and pretty much exactly what the album needed in terms of how it should have ended. The guitar really highlights what that instrument is even capable of doing. It's a great chord that really highlights the change that music was undergoing with an artist like Elvis. Solid track. Average Rating: 6.9 Adjusted to a 5-Point Scale: 3.45 Rounded Down: 3 stars
As a certified Elvis hater, I didn't hate this. The Tutti Frutti cover is abysmal and I despise Elvis's slow songs, but the rest was alright.
I felt my arteries clogging with peanut butter, jelly and bacon sandwiches.
Gostei deste álbum, não o conhecia na totalidade. Descobri com este álbum que uma música que adoro teve como base a I Got a Woman. Depois fui procurar e percebi que não era original do Elvis mas sim do Ray Charles.
I've been a bit soured on Elvis ever since I understood that most of his music was appropriating that of black artists. It is evident here in "Tutti Frutti" and "I Got A Woman" amongst others. Elvis' singing is undoubtedly great, like a stuttered tremolo. It does get a bit tiring after a while, with many of the songs a similar tempo. It probably would have been better as dance/background music rather than sitting and listening intently as I did. As immensely important as this first Elvis record is, it didn't leave a lasting impression on me. An exception is "Blue Moon" which remains one of my favorite songs ever.
Obviously a massive album. Doesn't have the raw excitement it had in it's day but still holds up as a fun listen
I think this suffers the same problem as the Crickets album - both very stuck in their time, a time so far removed from pop of the modern day. Though this is more enjoyable than the Crickets album and it should definitely be on this list, not sure I'll listen to this again.
A mix of very up tempo songs (such as the iconic Blue Suede Shoes) with slower ballads (such as the iconic Blue Moon) - all well-performed, although the sound recording quality varies. Includes a mix of covers and originals. This album was therefore not very cohesive, which makes sense since the record company threw together songs trying to capitalize on Elvis' rapidly growing fame. It was an enjoyable album but probably not one I would buy or listen to again.