Friday, October 21, 2011

The Top 200 Albums of All Time: Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley: Elvis Presley (1956)
Elvis Presley was the first rock record to go to #1 on the Billboard charts and the first platinum rock album. Interestingly, the album was mostly covers of other artists. However, Elvis had the ability to take R&B hits and country them up that resulted in his own version of rock n roll.

Key Tracks:
Blue Suede Shoes
I Got a Woman

Elvis Presley: From Elvis in Memphis (1969)
Elvis enjoyed amazing success with a Christmas album motivating him to release a non-soundtrack album. The Memphis album marked Elvis’ return to rock records. Once again, Elvis tied R&B to country music during the height of rock’s popularity. While others were taking rock in many different directions, Elvis brought the genre back to its roots.

Key Tracks:
In the Ghetto
Any Day Now

Elvis Presley: The Sun Sessions (1976)
The Sun Sessions features songs recorded by Elvis at Sam Phillips’ Sun Records in the fifties. He recorded 20 songs and 15 appeared on the album. It includes “That’s All Right” which some consider the first rock song and “I Don’t Care If the Sun Don’t Shine” which had never been released on an album before. The album is a time capsule of rock’s origins.

Key Tracks:
That’s All Right
Mystery Train
Blue Moon of Kentucky
Good Rockin’ Tonight

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