This was rock & roll's first greatest-hits album, and it set the standard for all others to follow. As originally conceived, it was a 14-song collection of most of the King's biggest hits up to that time, released on the eve of his start of military service — a dearth of material being in the offing, it seemed only logical to assemble these hits. Each of the 14 songs had earned a gold-record award for a million sales, a record unequaled at that time by anyone else in rock & roll. The album wasn't intended as a history lesson, so "Hound Dog" and "Loving You" precede "Heartbreak Hotel" — the 1997 remastering also tampers with the concept a bit, adding six bonus tracks. Elvis' singing never sounded richer or more expressive, and one can fully appreciate in vivid detail the delicate nuances of his phrasing on songs like "Too Much." On the downside, the remastering has made the sound so clean on some of the harder songs that some of the raw, "dirty" ambience that characterized this stuff on the radio and the original 45s is lacking. Still, Scotty Moore's groundbreaking lead guitar part on "Hound Dog" and the Jordanaires' backup singing never came through more sharply or cleanly, and the all-important rhythm section is almost up front in the mix. Those who own the first Elvis box from RCA, covering the '50s masters, may hesitate to pick up this or the other parts of this latest remastered series, but the sound has been upgraded one more level, and Golden Hits does give a bite-sized glimpse of where Elvis had come from and where he was going (for better or worse) musically on the eve of heading into the Army.
ELVIS PRESLEY
ELVIS' GOLDEN RECORDS
RCA Victor LPM-1707March/1958
Produced by Steve Sholes & Jeffrey Alexander
Elvis Presley - vocal/guitarScotty Moore, Chet Atkins, Hilmer Timbrell - guitar
Bill Black - bass
D.J. Fontana - drums
Shorty Long, Gordon Stoker, Floyd Cramer, Dudley Brooks - piano
Vocals:
The Jordanaires (Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins, Neal Matthews, Hugh Jarrett)
Ben and Brock Speer
Recorded:
Jan 10/1956, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (4)
Apr 14/1956, RCA Victor Studio, Nashville (14)
July 2/1956, RCA Studios, NY City (1,8,13)
Aug 24/1956, 20th Century Fox Stage 1, Hollywood (11)
Sept 1-3/1957, Radio Recorders, Hollywood (6,7)
Jan 12-13/1957, Radio Recorders, Hollywood (3,9)
Jan 15-18/1957, Paramount Scoring Stage, Hollywood (2,10)
May 3/1957, Radio Recorders, Hollywood (12)
Apr 30/1957, Radio Recorders, Hollywood (5)
1.
HOUND DOG
(Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller) « © '57 Gladys Music, ASCAP / Cherry Lane Music, ASCAP / MCA Music, ASCAP »You ain't nothin' but a hound dog cryin' all the time
No you ain't nothin' but a hound dog just cryin' all the time
Well you ain't never caught a rabbit and you ain't no friend of mine
And when they said you was high classed well honey that was just a lie
When they said you was high classed well that was just a lie
Yeah you ain't never caught a rabbit and you ain't no friend of mine
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog...
[ guitar ] Well when they said you was high classed...
[ guitar ] Well when they said you was high classed...
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog...
**********
2.
LOVING YOU
(Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller) « © '57 Jerry Leiber Music, ASCAP / Mike Stoller Music, ASCAP »I will spend my whole life through loving you just loving you
Winter summer springtime too loving you loving you
Makes no difference where I go or what I do
You know that I'll always be loving you just
And if I'm seen with someone new oh don't be blue don't you be blue
I'll be faithful I'll be true always true true to you
There is only one for me and you know who
You know that I'll always be loving you
**********
3.
ALL SHOOK UP
(Otis Blackwell - Elvis Presley) « © '57 Cherry River Music, BMI / Chrysalis Songs, BMI / Unart Catalog, BMI »Oh well bless my soul what's wrong with me
I'm itching like a man on the fuzzy tree
My friends say I'm acting quite as a bug
I'm in love I'm all shook up hmm uh uh yeah yeah
Well my hands are shaky and my knees aree week
I can't seem to stand on my own two feet
Who do you thank when you found such luck
I'm in love I'm all shook up hmm uh uh yeah yeah
Well please don't ask me what's on my mind
I'm a little mixed up but I'm feeling fine
Well I'm near that girl that I love best
My heart beats so it scares me to death
When she touched my hand what a chill I got
Her lips are like a volcano that's hot
I'm proud to say she's my butter cup
I'm in love I'm all shook up hmm uh uh yeah yeah
My tongue gets tied when I try to speak
My inside shakes like a leaf on a tree
There's only one cure for this body of mine
That's to have that girl that I love so fine
She touched my hand what a chill I got...
Uh uh uh uh yeah yeah I'm all shook
**********
4.
HEARTBREAK HOTEL
(Mae Boren Axton - Tommy Durden - Elvis Presley) « © '56 Tree Publishing, BMI »Now since my baby left me I've found new place to dwell
Down at the end on Lonely Street at Heartbreak Hotel
I'm so lonely I'm so lonely I'm so lonely that I could die
Although it's always crowded you can still find some room
For broken hearted lovers to cry there in the gloom
I'd be so I'd be so lonely baby I'd be so lonely I'd be so lonely could die
The bellhop's tears keep flowing the deskclerk's dressed in black
They've been so long on Lonely Street they never will go back
They'd be so lonely baby they'd be so lonely they'd be so lonely they could die
So if your baby leaves and you have a tale to tell
Just take a walk down Lonely Street to Heartbreak Hotel
Where you'll be so lonely baby I'll be so lonely we'll be so lonely that we could die
[ guitar - piano ] Although it's always crowded..
**********
5.
JAILHOUSE ROCK
(Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller) « © '57 Jerry Leiber Music, ASCAP / Mike Stoller Music, ASCAP »The warden threw a party in the county jail
The priosn band was there and they began to wail
The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing
You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing
Let's rock everybody le's rock
Everybody in the whole cell block was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock
Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone
Little Joe was blowin' on the slide tronbone
The drummer boy from Illinois went crash boom bang
The whole rhythm section was the purple gang
Let's rock everybody le's rock...
No 47 said to No 3
You're sure the cutest jailbird I ever did see
I sure would be delighted with your company
Come on and do the Jailhouse Rock with me
Let's rock everybody le's rock...
[ guitar ] The sad sack was a sittin' on a block of stone
Way over in the corner weepin' all alone
The warden said hey buddy don't you be no square
If you can't find a partner use a wooden chair
Let's rock everybody le's rock...
Shifty Heny said to bugs for heaven's sake
No one's looking now's our chance to make a break
Bugsy turned to shifty and he said nix nix
I wanna stick around a while and get my kicks
Let's rock everybody le's rock...
Dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock
Dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock
**********
6.
LOVE ME
(Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller) « © '54 Jerry Leiber Music, ASCAP / Mike Stoller Music, ASCAP »Treat me like a fool treat me mean and cruel but love me
Bring my faithful heart tear it all apart but love me
If you'll ever go darling I'll be oh so lonely
I'll be sad and blue crying over you dear only
I would beg and steal just to feel
Your heart beating close to mine
If you'll ever go darling I'll be oh so lonely
I'll be sad and blue crying over you dear only
I would beg and steal just to feel...
**********
7.
TOO MUCH
(Bernard Weinman - Lee Rosenberg) « © '56 Cherry River Music, BMI / Chrysalis Songs, BMI / Southern Belle Music, BMI »Well honey I love you too much I need your loving too much
I want the thrill of your touch well gee I can't love you too much
You do all the living while I do all the giving for I love you too much
Well you sepnd all my money too much have to share you honey too much
When I want some lovin' you're gone
Don't you know you're treatin' me any wrong
Now you got me started don't you leave me broken hearted
Cause I love you too much
I need your loving all the time need your hugging please be mine
Need you near me stay real close please please hear me you're the most
Now you got me started don't you leave me brken hearted
Cause I love you too much
[ guitar ] Well every time I kiss your sweet lips I can feel my heart go flip flip
I'm such a fool for your charms take me back my baby in your arms
Like to hear you sighing even though I know you're lying
Cause I love you too much
I need your loving all the time...
**********
8.
DON'T BE CRUEL
(Otis Blackwell - Elvis Presley) « © '56 Cherry River Music, BMI / Chrysalis Songs, BMI / Unart Catalog, BMI »You know I can be found sittin' home all alone
If you can't come around at least please telephone
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true
Baby if I made you mad for something I might have said
Please let's forget my past the future looks bright ahead
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true
I don't want no other love baby it's just you I'm thinking of
Don't stop thinking of me don't make me feel this way
Come on over here and love me you know what I wanted you to say
Don't be cruel to a hear that's true
Why should we be apart I really love you baby cross my heart
Let's walk up to the preacher and let us say I do
Then you'll know you have me and I'll know I'll have you too
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true
And I don't want no other love baby it's just you I'm thinking of
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true
I don't want no other love baby it's just you I'm thinking of
**********
9.
THAT'S WHEN YOUR HEARTACHES BEGIN
(Gene Raskin - Don Hill - Fred Fisher) « © '57 Sony Tunes, ASCAP »If you find your sweetheart in the arms of a friend
That's when your heartaches begin
When dreams of a lifetime must come to an end
That's when your heartaches begin
Love is a thing you never can share
When you bring a friend into your love affair
That's the end of your sweetheart that's the end of your friend
That's when your heartaches begin
If you find your sweetheart in the arms of your best friend
Brother that's that's when your heartaches begin
And you know when all your dreams when all your dreams of a lifetime
Must all come to an end
Yeah that's that's when your heartaches begin
For you see love is a thing that you never can share
And you know when you bring a friend into your love affair
That's the end of your sweetheart that's the end of your friend
Well that's when your heartaches begin
**********
10.
(LET ME BE YOUR) TEDDY BEAR
(Kal Mann - Bernie Lowe) « © '56 Gladys Music, ASCAP / Cherry Lane Music, ASCAP »Baby let me be your lovin' Teddy Bear
Put a chain around my neck and lead me anywhere
Oh let me be (oh let him be) your Teddy Bear
I don't want to be your tiger cause tigers play too rough
I don't want to be your lion cause lions ain't the kind you love enough
Just wanna be your Teddy Bear
Put a chain around my neck and lead me anywhere
Oh let me be (oh let him be) your Teddy Bear
Baby let me be around you every night
Run your fingers through my hair and cuddle me real tight
Oh let me be (oh let him be) your Teddy Bear
I don't want to be your tiger...
Just wanna be your Teddy Bear...
I just wanna be your Teddy Bear
**********
11.
LOVE ME TENDER
(Elvis Presley - Vera Matson) « © '56 Cherry River Music, BMI / Chrysalis Songs, BMI »Love me tender love me sweet never let me go
You have made my life complete and I love you so
Love me tender love me true all my dreams fulfill
For my darling I love you and I always will
Love me tender love me long take me to your heart
For it's that I belong and we'll never part
Love me tender love me true all my dreams fulfill
For my darling I love you and I always will
Love me tender love me dear tell me you are mine
I'll be your through all the years till the end of time
Love me tender love me true all my dreams fulfill
For my darling I love you and I always will
**********
12.
TREAT ME NICE
(Jerry Leiber - Mike Stoller) « © '57 Jerry Leiber Music, ASCAP / Mike Stoller Music, ASCAP »When I walked through that door baby be polite
You gonna hurt me so if you don't treat me right
Don't you ever kiss me once kiss me twice treat me nice
I know that you've been told it's not paralysis
Baby you're goin' cold I'm really gonna freeze
If you don't want me to be cold as ice treat me nice
Make me feel at home if you really care
Scrach my back and run your pretty fingers through my hair
You know I'll be your slave if you ask me to
But if you don't behave I'll walk right out on you
If you want my love then take my advice treat me nice
Make me feel at home if you really care...
Treat me nice if you don't want me to be cold as ice treat me nice
**********
13.
ANY WAY YOU WANT ME THAT'S HOW I WILL BE
(Aaron Schroeder - Cliff Owens) « © '56 Anne Rachel Music, ASCAP / Rachel's Own Music, ASCAP »I'll be as strong as a mountain or weak as a willow tree
Anyway you want me well that's how I will be
I'll be as tame as a baby or wild as the raging sea
Anyway you want me well that's how I will be
In your hands my heart is clay to take and hold as you may
I'm what you make me you've only to take me and in your arms I will stay
Hey hey hey I'll be a fool or a wise man oh my darling you hold the key
Yes anyway you want me well that's how I will be I will be
**********
14.
I WANT YOU I NEED YOU I LOVE YOU
(Maurice Myself - Ira Kosloff) « © '56 Gladys Music, ASCAP / Cherry Lane Music, ASCAP »Hold me close hold me tight make me thrill with delight
Let me know where I stand from the start
I want you I need you I love you with all my heart
And everytime that you're near all my cares disappear
Darling you're all that I'm living for
I want you I need you I love you more and more
I thought I could live without romance until you came to me
But now I know that I will go on loving you eternally
Won't you please be my own never leave me alone
Cause I die everytime we're apart
I want you I need you I love you with all my heart
Well I thought I could live without romance...
**********
