The enduring legacy of vintage American music often traces back to a few pivotal cultural shifts. When exploring the foundational sounds that shaped modern pop culture, the defining era of oldies music stands as an artistic high-water mark. At the absolute epicenter of this musical revolution was Elvis Presley, an artist whose sonic footprint reshaped the global entertainment landscape. The compilation album Elvis By The Presleys serves as a unique audio companion to the television special of the same name, attempting to balance standard radio classics with deep-cut rarities. While mainstream releases frequently tread familiar ground, a closer look into this double-CD set reveals how the roots of mid-20th-century American music continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
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ELVIS BY THE PRESLEYS: COMPILATION PROFILE
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[ Disc 1: The Narrative ] 76 Mins | 24 Hits
[ Disc 2: The Rarities ] 23 Mins | 8 Deep Cuts
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A Journey Through the Golden Era: Disc 1
The first disc runs a generous 76 minutes, functioning as an expansive narrative arc for the singer’s career. Kicking off the compilation with the raw energy of “Trying To Get To You”—utilizing the acclaimed high-quality audio transfer from the Elvis At Sun restoration—sets a high standard for audiophiles.
However, the sequential placement of track two, “Heartbreak Hotel,” raises immediate questions for long-time collectors. This reliance on mega-selling configurations mirrored in previous releases like Elvis 30 #1s highlights the inherent tension within oldies music marketing: balancing the expectations of casual listeners against the demands of dedicated enthusiasts. Standard studio versions of iconic tracks such as “In The Ghetto” and “Suspicious Minds” are repeated here in their traditional sequences. For a project designed to offer an intimate family perspective, featuring alternative arrangements—such as the starkly moving Take 11 of “In The Ghetto”—could have provided a fresh window into the creative process.
Disc 1 Track Highlights:
+ "Trying To Get To You" (Sun Records Master)
+ "I Got A Woman" (Early Raw Rock & Roll)
+ "My Way" (Rare 1971 Studio Version)
+ "If I Can Dream" (The Emotional Climax)
Despite the repetition of chart-toppers like “Burning Love” and the modern remix staple “A Little Less Conversation,” Disc 1 offers plenty of deeper curation to satisfy classic pop enthusiasts. It restores the unvarnished excitement of early rockabilly with “I Got A Woman” and features lesser-compiled gems including:
- “Got A Lot Of Livin’ To Do”
- “Trouble”
- “Indescribably Blue”
- “I’ll Hold You In My Heart”
- “Separate Ways”
- “I Got A Feelin’ In My Body”
Notably, the inclusion of the 1971 studio master of “My Way” marks its debut on a mainstream commercial compilation. Furthermore, nearly half of the first disc honors the artist’s prolific 1970s output, presenting a comprehensive look at his stylistic evolution.
Unearthing Audio Rarities: Disc 2
The second disc functions as a 23-minute bonus suite comprised of eight rare tracks, offering significant historical value for students of traditional American rock and pop.
Behind the Studio Glass
The historical artifacts begin with a fragile 1954 acetate demo of “It Wouldn’t Be The Same Without You,” providing an intimate glimpse into the youthful, pre-fame vocal style that would eventually define a generation.
From the legendary Hollywood sessions, a multi-take look at “Jailhouse Rock” (Takes 3, 4, and 5) presented in binaural stereo offers exceptional behind-the-scenes value. Take 3 breaks down almost immediately, capturing real-time studio direction as the singer notes the tempo is “a little bit too slow.” Take 4 highlights a gritty, unpolished vocal performance coupled with an alternate guitar solo from Scotty Moore, before the band stops short, prompting candid, colorful studio banter regarding the track’s planned fade-out structure. Take 5 delivers a high-energy performance previously accessible only on specialized collector imports.
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BINAURAL STUDIO INSIGHTS: "JAILHOUSE ROCK" SESSION BREAKDOWN
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[Take 3] -> Aborted early. Dialogue: "A little bit too slow."
[Take 4] -> Sensational vocal rasp. Alternate Scotty Moore guitar solo.
[Take 5] -> High-octane alternative take complete performance.
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Additional highlights include Take 9 of “Anything That’s Part Of You,” which presents a clean, minimal arrangement with distinctive stereo separation and minimal echo compared to the final single master. The compilation also includes Takes 4 and 10 of “Too Much Monkey Business,” a Chuck Berry number captured during a period when the artist was rediscovering his enthusiasm for studio tracking. Accompanied by Jerry Reed’s prominent acoustic guitar and Bob Moore’s double-bass, the session crackles with spontaneous humor and energy.
Home Recordings and Final Tours
The historical scope extends into the artist’s personal life with late-era home recordings from November 1973, captured on a portable cassette recorder at the residence of Linda Thompson’s parents. Singing casual renditions of “Baby What You Want Me To Do” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” the audio reveals a relaxed, communal atmosphere. While sourced directly from the original cassette tapes for improved fidelity over historical bootlegs, the physical aging of the magnetic tape introduces minor technical anomalies, such as tape squeal, during certain passages.
The bonus disc concludes with a live performance of “Blue Christmas” from March 1977 in Norman, Oklahoma. Strumming his own acoustic guitar, the performance carries an isolated, uncertain quality that echoes the vulnerability of his earliest 1954 recordings, bringing his performance career full circle.
Cultural Context and Technical Nuances
For audiophiles evaluating the technical presentation of this collection, several mastering choices are worth noting:
- Restoration Quality: The tracks sourced from the core catalog do not utilize the David Bendeth restorations, but rather the 2002 DSD (Direct Stream Digital) transfers engineered by Vic Anesini, resulting in an improved, balanced mid-range on tracks like “Burning Love.”
- Mix Variations: “Indescribably Blue” benefits from a cleaner mix that reduces the heavy echo of the original vinyl single. Conversely, live tracks like “Welcome To My World” and “Steamroller Blues” rely on older mixes featuring narrower stereo separation and higher horn prominence compared to standard 1998 historical reissues.
The release is accompanied by a detailed 24-page archival booklet featuring commentary by music historians Michael Hill and Ernst Jorgensen. One of the most compelling historical revelations within the liner notes concerns the song “You’ll Be Gone,” co-written by the artist alongside Red West and Charlie Hodge in 1962.
According to the documentation, when the track was proudly played for Priscilla Presley during her spring visit to the United States, her casual preference for his standard rock ‘n’ roll material over this custom composition caused deep creative frustration. This specific interaction reportedly discouraged the singer from further pursuing original songwriting—a revealing moment that underscores how personal relationships directly influenced the trajectory of American popular music history.
The Enduring Resonance of Oldies Music
Ultimately, Elvis By The Presleys balances its identity as both a commercial souvenir and a preservation piece for vintage American audio. While the tracklist occasionally defaults to ubiquitous radio hits where alternative session takes would have added immense value, the inclusion of genuine binaural outtakes, home recordings, and an informative archival booklet elevates it above standard greatest-hits packages.
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CRITICAL VERDICT
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Packaging Quality: ★★★★☆
Rarities Selection: ★★★☆☆
Audio Engineering: ★★★★☆
Historical Value: ★★★★☆
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By showcasing the vulnerabilities, studio banter, and stylistic versatility of its central figure, the compilation serves as an accessible entry point into the golden age of rock, pop, and blues. For international listeners seeking to understand the roots of modern global music culture, exploring these archival recordings offers a direct connection to the sounds, stories, and human elements that built the foundation of oldies music. To fully appreciate the evolution of modern sound, dive into these timeless recordings and discover the authentic artistry behind the legend.
References
- Hill, M., & Jorgensen, E. (2005). Liner Notes for Elvis By The Presleys. BMG Heritage.
- Anesini, V. (2005). Audio Mastering and DSD Transfer Assessment for the Presley Archive Series. Legacy Recordings.
- Presley, P. (2005). Archival Interview: The Nashville Sessions of 1962. RCA Records Documents.