Over here we’ve been known to not take our heroes with the seriousness they demand and Elvis Presley, one of the greatest musicians who ever lived, tends to get voted somewhere under the man in black. To each his own but I’m gonna go along with English TV who had a show wherein ordinary folks like you and me voted for our fave Presley tracks.
As my friend Ted Cogswell, many of these wouldn’t be among my top songs but I don’t actively dislike any of them. I mean, it is Elvis, what’s not to like?. PS in order of approval:
“The Nation’s Favorite Elvis Song” Countdown:
Always On My Mind (1972) – Presley sings the hell out of this song, though I could’ve done without the back up singers who seem to be underlining what doesn’t need to be touched. I mean, did Presley not think he his voice alone woud do the job. Plus, Willie owns it. Those English are crazy – B
Suspicious Minds (1969) – It starts with a deadly guitar lick and Presley is all tenderness and pain, he seems to be holding back the tears. However, has anybody ever taken all the goop off the production and released an “Elvis Naked” album? – A+
Can’t Help Falling In Love (1962) – From the terrific dream of summer “Blue Hawaii”, a just about perfect version which seems to take the slightest of Hawaiian influences (no steel guitar) and flows like the river – A+
In The Ghetto (1969) – Presley isn’t known for agit-pop but in ’69 you couldn’t hide from it and here he grasps the heart of the matter in a pop folk melody all coming from the acoustic guitar with the orchestra mournful in the background as the cycle continues – A-
A Little Less Conversation (1968/2002) – The 2002 Nike remix by DJ Tom Holkenberg kicks (pun intended) the original by adding a load of drums and extennding it – B+
Jailhouse Rock (1958) – Blues rocker so influential it is hard to imagine rock and roll without it – A+
Hound Dog (1956) – The Presley legend begins here, debatably the greatest song of all time – A+
Love Me Tender (1956) – My niece Louba and her husband Mike’s wedding song – A
Return to Sender (1962) – The bridge is a vocal tour de force – A
Are You Lonesome Tonight (1961) – Off his best album, it is so overwhelming he has to joke around on stage during the spoken word portion or get swamped with feeling – A
The Wonder of You (1970) – A little overblown for my tastes though Presley carries it as if it was a masterpiece – B
Blue Suede Shoes (1956) – Oh please, I mean really – A+
All Shook Up (1957) – One of the sexiest vocals of all while it does what he claims he is – A+
It’s Now or Never (1960) – A classic Italian pomp and pop blown all of proportion – A
An American Trilogy (1972) – Lives up to its title but there is a deep sense of loss, of an America lost forever – A-
Heartbreak Hotel (1956) – Possibly the greatest song of all time: it digs itself so deep it is all of life and loss in two minutes. Ridiculous genius – A+
Viva Las Vegas (1964) – Have you heard Springsteen’s cover? – A-
Don’t Be Cruel (1956) – A pop rock masterpiece, with a vocal that echoes through the ages, it’s all sweetness and longing and puppy eyes – A+
If I Can Dream (1969) – Presley improved everything he sang so the grade hear shows how much I dislike the song – B
King Creole (1958) – Great lick – A
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