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

"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 and film success that followed. Before influencing the world, Elvis acknowledges his own influences, covering songs by Bing Crosby, Junior Parker, Bill Monroe, Ray Charles, and Clyde McPhatter among others. We also musically meet the supporting cast: Scotty Moore, Bill Black, D.J. Fontana, Sam Phillips, the Leiber/Stoller songwriting team, and others who painstaking created this supposed rock and roll explosion using ageless musical ingridients.

This set has so much to recommend and celebrate. Elvis' voice in all guises (growler, crooner, hillbilly) has never sounded clearer in music now nearly a half-century old. The fifth disc is a revelation, containing alternate takes of Presley's hits, a piece of the "Million Dollar Quartet" session, and three songs from his Las Vegas debut (suffice it to say his conquering of the town would come later). Even without these treats, "The Legendary 50s Masters" would, by packaging alone, be the finest posthomous Presley release and, subsequently, one of the finest box sets ever.


The King changed popular music forever   April 26, 2004
Peter Durward Harris (Leicester England)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

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 to remember to forget, Old Shep, Have I told you lately that I love you, Your cheating heart and Fool such as I are among the country songs to be found here.

Elvis also recorded some brilliant pop ballads in the fifties. Love me tender is the most famous but there are plenty of others. Among the lesser known ones, I particularly like As long as I have you. Gospel music was important to Elvis and here you can find Peace in the valley, Take my hand precious lord, It is no secret and I believe. You also get the eight Christmas songs that Elvis recorded in the fifties including Blue Christmas and Santa bring my baby back.

This is the first of three boxed sets covering the music of Elvis. While the boxes for the sixties and seventies (which I reviewed a long time ago) are by no means complete, the music he recorded in the fits easily fits on five CD's. Indeed, there is enough room left for a long interview at the end of CD 4 (which I could have done without) and an entire CD of rarities.

This box illustrates just why Elvis was such a powerful influence on popular music in the fifties.


To rip off Rolling Stone- Monumental   June 9, 2000
spamboy (saint paul, MN)
7 out of 10 found this review helpful

What's not to like about this collection? If Elvis sang it, it's here. Even the stuff recorded at county fairs is entertaining, though it shouldn't be consigned to the last disc.

This may not be the essential set to begin a collection (the 60's Masters I is), it's a definite must-have. Every time I listen to it I am reminded what an incredible voice he had. Long live the King!


All Hail the King!   March 15, 2005
Richard B. Luhrs (Jackson Heights, NY United States)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

It's hard to believe that the most important body of recordings in all of rock music can be neatly fit onto four CDs; but that - along with a fifth disc of very agreeable rarities, alternate takes and live material - is exactly what THE KING OF ROCK & ROLL offers. Here it is, all beautifully remastered and conveniently assembled in one gorgeous and highly informative package: both sides of Elvis' 1953 debut acetate recording (a gift for his mother); all of the epochal 1954-55 Sun masters; the complete 1956-58 RCA sessions (chart-topping singles, underrated album tracks, all four 1950s movie soundtracks en toto with plenty of silly stuff to leaven the proceedings throughout); even a press interview from the King's final Stateside hours before leaving for army service in Germany! If the essence of everything rock music ever was, is or might someday be could possibly be tucked inside a box, then make no mistake - this is the box.
No one comes to Elvis (especially early Elvis) as a complete stranger, so I won't even attempt to catalogue or critique the 140 tracks offered herein; but whether you're buying this essential material for the first time or upgrading prior purchases, THE KING OF ROCK & ROLL is without question the cornerstone of any serious rock music collection.


All 50's Masters   June 23, 2005
R. Avila (TEXAS)
6 out of 16 found this review helpful

If you like the Elvis of the 1950s, then you'll love this box set. It contains all of the 50's Master recordings. That is this set's strong point. However, I grew up listening to music in stereo, so the fact that these gems were recorded in Mono is the weak point for me. I can listen to Mono for a while but I get bored with it pretty soon. So I've listened to this set a few songs at a time. I like the set, but I love the Elvis 50s songs that have been released in stereo (on Essential Elvis Vol. 2, for example).