Continued from page 28 went on to be covered by artists too numerous to cite over the years, Allen received little immediate recognition beyond the lone star borders. Yet as the years passed, the recording has accrued near cult-like status among cognoscenti of the native Texas musical genre and, indeed, musicians and songwriters of every persuasion. Now lovingly remastered and re-issued, the complete 21 song cycle of satirical observation,“ nudgewink” jokes and plainsong odes to daily West Texas daily life that wasn’ t aware it was changing even as it was being left behind are re-born for new generations to savor. Keystone to the recording’ s success is the musical imprint levied by Allen’ s long-time musical partner who’ s assembled a crack band of local scene vets capable of pivoting from romantic waltz to down-home country to pedal steel swing to roadhouse boogie at the drop of a Stetson— giving further resonance to Allen’ s oft’ subversive, borderline sneering but always honestly tender lyrical paean to the time that was his life.
– David C. Eldredge
7
ELVIS PRESLEY The Album Collection
( RCA / Legacy))
This whopper of a box set is the alpha and omega of your Elvis Presley collection. The sticker price tops $ 200, but if it’ s within your means, this sturdy collection includes a stunning 60 discs encompassing Presley’ s studio, soundtrack and live albums. Everything he recorded for RCA is here, from 1956’ s Elvis Presley( featuring Carl Perkins’“ Blue Suede Shoes” and the album cover mimicked by The Clash’ s London Calling) to 1977’ s Moody Blue( with“ She Thinks I Still Care” and“ Way Down,” the final single released during Presley’ s lifetime that features J. D. Sumner’ s impossibly deep vocal).
The presentation is fit for the King of Rock and Roll, arriving in a picture box decorated in elegant black, white and gold. The contents are what count, however, and they prove the 1953 quote by Presley stickered to the lid:“ I don’ t sound like nobody.” Attention to mastering detail is excellent; every disc pulled for review sounded full, detailed and present. Soundtrack highlights include Blue Hawaii, with versions of Hawaiian favorites like“ Kuuipo” that are favored far and wide by homespun ukulele groups, and the # 1 pop crooner“ Can’ t Help Falling in Love.” Presley’ s love of Gospel music is featured on 1966’ s grand and reverent How Great Thou Art. Live releases are topped by 1973’ s innovative, multi-platinum selling Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite with hot versions of“ Burning Love,”“ Fever” and“ Suspicious Minds” featuring TCB Band guitarist James Burton, bassist Jerry Scheff and drummer Ronnie Tutt. Collections include Elvis’ Gold Records – Volume 2 with its famous declaration on the often-imitated album sleeve,“ 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’ t Be Wrong.” Each album is packaged in reproduction album sleeves with insert, cover stickers, and vinyl labels reproduced on the CD face. With a stack like this, it’ s a good thing the spines include numbers for chronological order. A 300 page hardcover book includes new essays, along with liner notes, session notes and relevant photos for each disc.
– Jeff Elbel
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ROY ORBISON The Ultimate Collection
( Legacy)
It ' s been a good year to rediscover Roy Orbison. After Universal’ s massive The MGM Years 1965-1973 box set spanning Orbison’ s pivotal years, Legacy Recordings has done its best to preserve and promote the golden-voiced crooner’ s own legacy. The Ultimate Collection is a 26- song overview fitting on one CD or two vinyl platters, spanning Orbison’ s full career. It’ s not a chronological history, but rather a greatest hits set in reverse. The showstopper“ Oh, Pretty Woman” leads the way, followed by a pair of Jeff Lynne productions from Orbison’ s late ' 80s renaissance including 1989’ s“ You Got It.” Other signature songs on the all-killer-nofiller side one include Monument Records’ Orbison-penned singles“ Crying,”“ Only the Lonely” and 1963’ s“ In Dreams” – songs with influence that can be heard in the early Beatles’ repertoire. A live version of“ Claudette” from Black & White Night features star-studded friends among a raft of guitarists with names including Springsteen and Costello. Tom Waits even joins on organ, but the engine is Elvis Presley’ s famous rhythm section of bassist Jerry Scheff, drummer Ronnie Tutt, and guitarist James Burton. The list of highprofile admirers and sidemen goes a long way in explaining Orbison’ s broad-based appeal and respect among musos. Orbison was included in equal standing in the Traveling Wilburys alongside a Beatle, Bob Dylan, and frontmen for the Heartbreakers and ELO for good reason. The hits keep coming, including 1962’ s groovy“ Dream Baby” and 1961’ s melancholy but gorgeous“ Blue Bayou.” The set includes a pair of songs from Orbison’ s role as Lefty Wilbury, with a majestic and nearly operatic climax to the heartbroken“ Not Alone Any More.” The Traveling Wilburys’ debut hit“ Handle With Care” plays as the curtain opens on the backward-running show.
– Jeff Elbel
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