The King of Rock n Roll: The Complete 50s Masters

Product Review

This five-disc set was the first release in BMG's effort to present Elvis's recorded legacy in a manner befitting the most important musical artist of his time. The strategy was simple--showcase, in chronological order, remastered versions of the King's 1950s output, from his sessions with Sam Phillips at Sun Studios (where they arguably invented the very notion of rock & roll) through his 1958 Army induction. Not everything Elvis recorded in the '50s was great (just as not everything he recorded in Hollywood was rotten), but there are dozens of tracks here that, quite simply, can make a bad day seem all that much better. Which surely still makes him the king of something. Suffice it to say this is one box set that lives up to its title. --Bill Holdship

Title Tracks for The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters

1. My Happiness
2. That's All Right
3. I Love You Because
4. Harbor Lights
5. Blue Moon Of Kentucky
6. Blue Moon
7. Tomorrow Night
8. I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin')
9. I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine
10. Just Because
11. Good Rockin' Tonight
12. Milkcow Blues Boogie
13. You're A Heartbreaker
14. Baby Let's Play House
15. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone
16. Mystery Train
17. I Forgot To Remember To Forget
18. Trying To Get To You
19. When It Rains, It Really Pours
20. I Got A Woman
21. Heartbreak Hotel
22. Money Honey
23. I'm Counting On You
24. I Was The One
25. Blue Suede Shoes
26. My Baby Left Me
27. One-Sided Love Affair
28. So Glad You're Mine
29. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You)
30. Tutti Frutti
31. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy
32. Shake, Rattle And Roll
33. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
34. Hound Dog
35. Don't Be Cruel
36. Any Way You Want Me (That's How I Will Be)
37. We're Gonna Move
38. Love Me Tender
39. Poor Boy
40. Let Me
41. Playing For Keeps
42. Love Me
43. Paralyzed
44. How Do You Think I Feel
45. How's The World Treating You
46. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
47. Long Tall Sally
48. Old Shep
49. Too Much
50. Anyplace Is Paradise
51. Ready Teddy
52. First In Line
53. Rip It Up
54. I Believe
55. Tell Me Why
56. Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do!
57. All Shook Up
58. Mean Woman Blues
59. (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me)
60. That's When Your Heartaches Begin
61. Take My Hand, Precious Lord
62. It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)
63. Blueberry Hill
64. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
65. Is It So Strange
66. Party
67. Lonesome Cowboy
68. Hot Dog
69. One Night Of Sin
70. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear
71. Don't Leave Me Now
72. I Beg Of You
73. One Night
74. True Love
75. I Need You So
76. Loving You
77. When It Rains, It Really Pours
78. Jailhouse Rock
79. Young And Beautiful
80. I Want To Be Free
81. (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care
82. Don't Leave Me Now
83. Blue Christmas
84. White Christmas
85. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus...
86. Silent Night
87. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
88. Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)
89. Santa Claus Is Back In Town
90. I'll Be Home For Christmas
91. Treat Me Nice
92. My Wish Came True
93. Don't
94. Danny
95. Hard Headed Woman
96. Trouble
97. New Orleans
98. Crawfish
99. Dixieland Rock
100. Lover Doll
101. Don't Ask Me Why
102. As Long As I Have You
103. King Creole
104. Young Dreams
105. Steadfast, Loyal And True
106. Doncha' Think It's Time
107. Your Cheatin' Heart
108. Wear My Ring Around Your Neck
109. I Need Your Love Tonight
110. A Big Hunk O' Love
111. Ain't That Loving You Baby
112. (Now And Then There's) A Fool Such As I
113. I Got Stung
114. Interview With Elvis
115. That's When Your Heartaches Begin
116. Fool, Fool, Fool
117. Tweedle Dee
118. Maybellene
119. Shake, Rattle And Roll
120. Blue Moon Of Kentucky
121. Blue Moon
122. I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone
123. Reconsider Baby
124. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy
125. Shake, Rattle And Roll
126. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
127. Heartbreak Hotel
128. Long Tall Sally
129. Blue Suede Shoes
130. Money Honey
131. We're Gonna Move
132. Old Shep
133. I Beg Of You
134. Loving You (Slow Version)
135. Loving You (Uptempo Version)
136. Young And Beautiful
137. I Want To Be Free
138. King Creole
139. As Long As I Have You
140. Ain't That Loving You Baby (Fast Version)

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review

(38 customer reviews)

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

King's Regal, Rockin' Crown Jewels On Display, May 30, 2000

Anthony G Pizza "trivialtony" (FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters (Audio CD)

RCA Records spent the first decade after Elvis Presley's death releasing compilations wrongheaded at best (a Canadian tribute, a children's album) criminally negligent at worst (the "Elvis Medley," the re-recording "I Was The One"). BMG's takeover of RCA increased the flow of reissues, but also their quality; Elvis now stood atop the time and style he lived in, rather than had his songs sicced on trends or revivals."The Legendary 50s Masters" gives Presley the regal treatment given his subjects: Dylan, Clapton, Zeppelin. Its 140 songs across five discs (including rarities and a 1958 press conference), and deluxe booklet (including rare photos and author Peter Guaralnik's essay) preface and tell the first, happiest chapters of one of last century's most compelling stories.Starting before the beginning with Elvis' original demo, "My Happiness," the songs tour his amazing first year at Sun, his RCA signing and the seismic musical...Read more

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

Definitive Elvis '50s compilation, February 25, 2007

Annie Van Auken (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters (Audio CD)

THE KING OF ROCK 'N' ROLL: THE COMPLETE 50's MASTERS is a four-CD set, with a bonus disc containing alternate studio takes, and a lot of "live" Elvis recordings-- MGM Grand stuff, mostly. Except for the acetate of "That's When Your Heartaches Begins" and the few alternates, DISC 5 is fluff.

The other four CDs however are a treasure trove of the music that defined "The King." From his one-of-a-kind 1953 recording booth acetate of "My Happiness" to the 1958 fast version of "Ain't That Loving You Baby," this set documents Presley's recording career in chronological order and without gaps.

The 102-page long box-sized book includes sessionography, discography, color photos of all LP, EP and 45 picture sleeves, an excellent bio in easy to read print, and lots of other color and B&W photos. Sound quality is excellent. This one gets five stars for the biggest star of all!

TOTAL RUNNING TIMES --

DISC ONE -- 71:22

DISC TWO -- 70:40...Read more

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

The King changed popular music forever, April 26, 2004

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters (Audio CD)

Elvis is the singer who made rock'n'roll popular, although even in his early years he did not limit his music to that genre. This compilation containing (supposedly) every song that Elvis recorded during the fifties, plus alternate versions of some of them, shows just how good Elvis was at several different styles.Here you get all his famous rockers including Heartbreak hotel, Don't be cruel, Blue suede shoes, Hound dog, Mystery train, Paralyzed, Party, All shook up, Jailhouse rock, Teddy bear and One night, together with great covers of Tutti fruiti, Shake rattle and roll and other classics. Of course, you also get his recording of That's alright Mama, the song that secured his recording contract.Elvis also recorded a number of country songs, though not as many as he did later in his career. Sometimes (as with Blue moon of Kentucky), he re-interpreted them very differently from the originals, but most of his covers were more faithful, albeit adapted to his own style. I forgot...Read more