| Heralded in the UK by an ultra-cool remix by JXL, Elvis: 30 #1 Hits is one of the most succinct packages of Presley's best work ever released. Based on the idea of the Beatles 1 album, this compilation includes all 31 Elvis singles that have been number one in either the US or the UK. Set in roughly chronological order, the collection begins with his first hit, the swaggering "Heartbreak Hotel". Despite digital remastering it still sounds nearly half a century old when compared to his most recent (and posthumous) hit "A Little Less Conversation", but it remains a timeless classic for new generations to discover. Most people--young or old--will know of or be able to hum a few bars from most of the songs here. Many a karaoke singer will have had a stab at "Love Me Tender" or "Suspicious Minds"; others will have heard a family member brutally crooning their way through "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" or "It's Now or Never". Twenty-five years after Elvis's untimely death, younger generations have become accustomed to the image of Presley as a tragic icon of comedy excess, remembering him for garish jump-suits, trademark shades and a thick black quiff. Elvis: 30 #1 Hits will remind many that he was the King for a very good reason. --David Trueman |
