In the year of the 70th anniversary of his birth, there’s enough Elvis product out to pave a road from here to Graceland. But that shouldn’t put you off this triumphal trio. Here are Presley’s first three albums in chronological order, complete with bonus tracks.

For those who have forgotten that before he became a bloated Las Vegas parody he was a lean and hungry rockabilly star, the man who transformed the face of popular music, these albums should be a revelation.

The first album featured five Sun-era tracks along with seven RCA tracks which, together, give us a cross-section of American roots music covering country (I Love You Because), rock’n’roll (Tutti Frutti), blues (I Got a Woman) and doo-wop (Trying to Get to You). The second album was more of the same, with the Leiber and Stoller song Love Me, a C&W tearjerker in the shape of Old Shep and, on the bonus cuts, three absolute stunners in a row: Too Much, Don’t Be Cruel and Hound Dog. By the time we get to Loving You (two versions), the rebellious edge has been worn down. We could do without Lonesome Cowboy, but we do get possibly his finest blues cut, When It Rains It Really Pours. / /

BACKGROUND

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• Must-have reissue

• Elvis Presley

BACKGROUND

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Multimedia

• Elvis Presley

Related Internet Links

• Go to the Times Online Elvis Presley page

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