VA - All About Elvis: A Tribute to the King (2015)

Not only would 2015 have marked Elvis Presley's 80th birthday (having been born on 8th January 1935), but 2015 also celebrates 60 years since he signed his first major recording contract in November 1955, with venerable RCA Victor, embarking on a journey that would lead him to become the world's first and greatest rock & roll superstar. Even today, almost 38 years since he died, Elvis Presley is a real phenomenon. It is that phenomenon that is thoroughly explored on All About Elvis: A Tribute To Elvis Presley, a 3CD set compiled and annotated by rock & roll authority Dave Penny. It's 97 tracks, dating from 1954 to 1962, were recorded by Elvis s contemporaries. CD1 Elvis Style rounds up recordings sung in the style of Elvis, including contributions by Conway Twitty, Ral Donner, Roy Orbison and Sleepy LaBeef. CD2 Elvis Songs comprises songs associated with Elvis, featuring the likes of Carl Perkins, Ricky Nelson, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, Wanda Jackson and Eddie Cochran. Bobby Bare aside, CD3 Elvis Adored has the least familiar names, as all manner of artists rushed to sing the praises of The King. Manager Colonel Tom Parker was a prolific licensor of lucrative Elvis merchandise, including badges, combs, dolls and key chains, and he was also a ruthless protector of copyright, so many recordings that traded on brand Presley were quashed or pulled from release at his instigation. But enough reached the public to offer a treasure trove of Presleyana. We hope you enjoy our quirky trawl through the early years of the Cult of Elvis and this idiosyncratic selection of recordings which span the novelty pop, country, rhythm & blues and rock & roll fields. With the Elvis At The O2 exhibition due to run until August 2015, there is no shortage of interest in all things related to Elvis.