When Elvis Presley died, he undoubtedly took a huge piece of American music history with him. Luckily, he left behind enough songs to satisfy our collective craving for years to come.
In September 2002, just a short year ago, Elvis: 30 #1 Hits was released, combining for the first time some of The King’s greatest classics. From the beginning of track one, “Heartbreak Hotel,” to the last strains of the final track, “Way Down,” the album combines all the songs that continue to make people of all generations sing along.
This week, almost exactly a year after 30 #1 Hits was released, comes the release of Elvis: 2nd to None, the second volume of the collection. While this disc features more blues/country-oriented Elvis anthems, both the #1 Hits album and this one work together well to provide a comprehensive picture of the man who changed American music like no other.
2nd to None includes many of The King’s most recognizable songs, among them “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Wear Your Ring Around My Neck,” “Little Sister” and “Viva Las Vegas.” The more well-known tunes are spaced out among the lesser-known ones, ensuring that both die-hard fans and newcomers get what they paid for.
One of the special treats this collection offers is the first-ever availability of “I’m a Roustabout,” a track that was unearthed for the first time exactly 26 years after The King’s death. Originally recorded in 1964 and intended for use in the film Roustabout, this track alone is worth the price of the CD and then some, especially for the thousands of Elvis collectors in our midst. The song was eventually rejected by the movie’s producer, and a completely different song was recorded and used in its place. When BMG, 2nd to None‘s distributor, heard of the find, they jumped at the opportunity and quickly snagged the rights, presenting it here for the first time. Anytime anything new is uncovered from such a legend, it’s cause for celebration.
Another bonus on 2nd to None is a remix of “Rubberneckin’,” done by the King of electronic music himself, Paul Oakenfold. Though it seems as though the two kings could never respectfully mix, surprisingly the track somehow pulls through and may even make older Elvis fans give him a new look.
While #1 contained some of The King’s best-known hits (obviously, lots of people liked them — they all went to #1 on the charts), 2nd to None highlights some tracks the average Joe might not be familiar with. “Wear Your Ring Around My Neck,” for example, may not be the best representation of his career, but provides new and old fans with a bit of feeling and nostalgia, respectively.
Likewise, several songs from Elvis’s movies (“Rock-A-Hula Baby” stands out) connect viewers with listeners. Even if you’ve never heard “Promised Land,” for example, chances are you’ve seen at least one Elvis flick.
This is the second 30-song Elvis collection released in two years, and though it hasn’t been confirmed that a third, and maybe even a fourth, album is in the works, the fact remains that Elvis’s best material has not been used up on these two efforts. He still has quite a few stellar tracks to choose from, such as “Blue Christmas” and some of his gospel songs, which have yet to see widespread release.
It wouldn’t be any great surprise to get yet another longer-than-average release of Elvis classics at some point in the next year or so, and fans will just continue to eat them up, proving once and for all that Elvis has had as great an impact on 20th century rock ‘n’ roll as anyone else in the industry.
