Elvis Presley
Love, Elvis

Are you lonesome tonight?
Well then, you've come to the right place. This collection displays Elvis Presley at his most intimate, unguarded and boyishly sincere. His legendary hip-swiveling performances may have sparked a musical and sexual revolution, but in these songs, he is more courtly than carnal, an ardent suitor down on one knee pledging his endless devotion. As a romantic balladeer, Elvis is utterly straightforward, absolutely earnest; there's no pop star cynicism, no hint of calculation. Check out his discreet but firm entreaties for a little more physical affection from a hesitant lover on "Don't," a gently swinging Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller tune that also showcases terrific harmony singing from the Jordanaires. Elvis is as swept up in the moment, in the pulse-quickening emotions of the song, as you the listener will be. On the spoken refrain to "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" Elvis practically whispers in your ear. lt never fails to be goose-bump inducing, even if you've played it a thousand times. You can almost feel him breathing next to you.

Unlike the work of the mang digitally polished pop stars of today, these performances are the real thing. That's the unadulterated Elvis reaching for the last big notes of "It's Now Or Never"; there's no Pro-Tools in sight. The relatively primitive recording technology of half a century ago has worked to Elvis's - and our - benefit. What you are experiencing now came straight from his soul and was captured directly onto tape; no high-tech production pizzazz could make his performances any more thrilling. Hearing is believing, over and over again.

Elvis culled his repertoire of ballads from a wide range of sources: Tin Pan Alley, the Brill Building, Nashville Row. He was as comfortable with country-style crooning as with pop-operatic serenading or the softer side of rhythm and blues. "Love Me Tender" was adapted from a Civil War era tune called "Aura Lee" and first performed in Elvis's movie debut, a period western that his Hollywood studio wisely decided to also call Love Me Tender. "Can't Help Falling in Love," a live concert staple, was originally featured in Blue Hawaii, arguably Elvis's most popular movie (and for which "Hawaiian Wedding Song" was also recorded). Songs like "It's lmpossible" and "Unchained Melody" had been signature hits for other well-known artists, but in performing each one Elvis rose to the challenge of making them his own.

Elvis is often portrayed as so much !arger than life that it can be startling to hear him sounding so down to earth. We've come to revere him as an icon, but with these ballads, he's often just being a man - yearning, seductive, sweet. The cover of this package sets the tone with a just-thisside-of-naughty image that is caught, not posed: a gorgeously youthful Elvis going playfully tongue to tongue with a local fan from Virginia. (Let's face it - he was more than just handsome then, he was downright beautiful.) For further proof of his natural sex appeal, his unrehearsed charm, check out Elvis: '68 Comeback Special Deluxe Edition DVD. Although no longer quite that young, Elvis was just as magnetic and unequivocally hip.

So turn on your stereo now, open your heart, surrender. You can't help falling in love with these songs, with this singular star, with this man. Some things are meant to be. (from the liner notes - Michael Hill)