Tuesday, June 30, 1992

The Wire: 100 Most Important Records Ever Made

The Wire:

100 Most Important Records Ever Made

The Wire is a UK music magazine which was founded in 1982. As explained on their website, they cover “a wide range of global alternative, underground and experimental musics. The Wire celebrates and interrogates the most visionary and inspiring, subversive and radical, marginalised and undervalued musicians on the planet, past and present, in the realms of avant rock, electronic music, hiphop, new jazz, improvised music, modern composition, traditional musics and more.”

In 1992, they created their list of the 100 most important records ever made for their 100th issue in June 1992, saying “To mark our milestone we've chosen the most significant records made in the 20th Century - in a chart which sets down all the finest most marvellous and most great moments on record as they happened.” The list isn’t ranked, but in chronological by dates of recording, not release. The list oddly throws a handful of songs into a mostly album-oriented list. This is also an interesting mix of bona fide classics and obscurities.

Check out other publications and organizations’ best-of album lists here.

1. Igor Stravinsky (composer) L’Oiseau de Feu (The Firebird) (ballet, composed 1910) / Pétrouchka (aka “Petrushka”) (ballet, composed 1910-11) / Le Sacre Du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) (ballet, composed 1913)
2. Louis Armstrong Hot Fives and Hot Sevens (recorded 1927-28, released 1999)
3. Dinwiddie Colored Quartet Early Negro Vocal Quartets Volume One (recorded 1894-1928, released 1991)
4. Blind Willie Johnson Praise God I’m Satisfied (recorded 1927-30, released 1977)
5. Jelly Roll Morton Centennial: His Complete Victor Recordings (recorded 1930, released 1990)
6. Various Artists On the Halls (1930)
7. Dziga Vertov Enthusiasm: Symphony of the Donbas (1931)
8. Bessie Smith The Complete Recordings Vol. 1: The World’s Greatest Blues Singer / Any Woman’s Blues / Empty Red Blues / The Empress / Nobody’s Blues But Mine (box set, recorded 1923-33, released 1991)
9. Various Artists Really! The Country Blues (compilation: recorded 1927-33, released 1962)
10. Charley Patton Founder of the Delta Blues (compilation: 1929-34, released 1969)

11. Robert Johnson The Complete Recordings (recorded 1936-37, released 1990)
12. Alban Berg Lulu (composed 1937, released 1979)
13. Billie Holiday With The Teddy Wilson Orchestra Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia (recorded 1933-44, released 2001)
14. Muggsy Spanier The Great 16 (compilation: recorded ? to 1939, released 1956)
15. Count Basie The Original American Decca Recordings (recorded 1937-39, released 1992)
16. Coleman Hawkins “Body and Soul” (1940)
17. Duke Ellington The Blanton-Webster Band (box set: 1939-42, released 1990)
18. Anton Webern Complete Works Conducted By Pierre Boulez (covers music composed in Webern’s lifetime from 1883-1945, recorded 1978)
19. Béla Bartók At the Piano (recorded 1920-45)
20. Woody Herman Four Brothers (compilation: recorded 1948, released 1988)

21. Charlie Parker The Complete Savoy Sessions (box set: 1944-48, released 2000)
22. Oliver Messaien Turangalia Symphony (1950)
23. Thelonious Monk Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 1 (1947) / Genius of Modern Music, Vol. 2 (1951)
24. Various Folk Music of the Mediterranean (compilation: 1952)
25. Art Tatum The Solo Masterpieces (1953)
26. Elvis Presley “That’s All Right (Mama)” / “Blue Moon of Kentucky” (1954)
27. Julie London Julie Is Her Name (1955)
28. Sonny Rollins Saxophone Collosus (1956)
29. Frank Sinatra Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! (1956)
30. Lennie Tristano Intuition (recorded 1956)

31. The Five Royales “Dedicated to the One I Love” (1957)
32. Chuck Berry “Sweet Little Sixteen” (1958)
33. Miles Davis Kind of Blue (1959)
34. Bo Diddley Go Bo Diddley (1959)
35. Gil Evans Out of the Cool (1960)
36. Ornette Coleman Change of the Century (1960)
37. Karlheinz Stockhausen Gesang Der Junglinge / Kontakt (1960)
38. Bill Evans Trio The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings (live, recorded 1961)
39. Oliver Nelson The Blues and the Abstract Truth (1961)
40. Booker T And The MGs “Green Onions” (1962)

41. The Kingsmen “Louie Louie” (1963)
42. Charles Mingus The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (1963)
43. La Monte Young Sunday Morning Blues (1963)
44. Albert Ayler Trio Spiritual Unity (1964)
45. Eric Dolphy Out to Lunch! (1964)
46. Ezz Reco and the Launchers “King of Kings” (1964)
47. Various Artists A Collection of 16 Tamla/Motown Hits (compilation: released 1965)
48. James Brown “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” (1965)
49. John Coltrane A Love Supreme (1965)
50. Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited (1965)

51. The Kinks “See My Friends” (1965)
52. The Beatles Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
53. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Axis: Bold As Love (1967)
54. Morton Subotnick Silver Apples of the Moon (1967)
55. The Velvet Underground White Light/White Heat (1967)
56. Sly & the Family Stone “Dance to the Music” (1968)
57. Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention We’re Only in It for the Money (1968)
58. Various Artists Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968 (box set: 1964-68, released 1972)
59. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band Trout Mask Replica (1969)
60. The Melodians Pre-Meditation (1969)

61. The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed (1969)
62. Scott Walker Scott 3 (1969)
63. Joni Mitchell Ladies of the Canyon (1970)
64. The Meters Look-ka Py Py (1970)
65. Soft Machine Third (1970)
66. The Stooges Fun House (1970)
67. Dr. Roger Payne (producer) Songs of the Humpback Whale (1970)
68. Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
69. Ravi Shankar And Ali Akbar Khan In Concert (1972)
70. Steely Dan Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972)

71. Marvin Gaye Let’s Get It On (1973)
72. Bob Marley & the Wailers Catch a Fire (1973)
73. Stevie Wonder Innervisions (1973)
74. Can Soon Over Babaluma (1974)
75. Philip Glass Music in Twelve Parts (1974)
76. Brian Eno Another Green World (1975)
77. Grupo Folklorio Y Experimental Nuevayorquino Concepts in Unity (1975)
78. Patti Smith Horses (1975)
79. Fela Ransome Kuti and the Africa 70 Kalakuta Show (1976)
80. The Clash The Clash (1977)

81. Kraftwerk Trans-Europa Express (Trans Europe Express) (1977)
82. Hans Jurgen Syberberg Hitler, a Film from Germany (soundtrack, 1977)
83. Evan Parker Monoceros (1978)
84. Pere Ubu Dub Housing (1978)
85. Alegre All-Stars They Don’t Make ‘Em Like Us Anymore (1979)
86. The Pop Group Y (1979)
87. Public Image Ltd. Metal Box (aka “Second Edition”) (1979)
88. Minor Threat Minor Threat (EP, 1980)
89. The Fall Slates (EP, 1981)
90. Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five “The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel” (1981)

91. Michael Jackson Thriller (1982)
92. King Sunny Ade Juju Music (1983)
93. Hüsker Dü Zen Arcade (1984)
94. Madonna “Into the Groove” (1985)
95. Christian Marclay Record Without a Cover (1985)
96. Cecil Taylor In Berlin (1986)
97. Various The Indestructible Beat of Soweto (1986)
98. Ami Koita Tata Sira (1988)
99. Mr. Fingers “Washing Machine” (1988)
100. Public Enemy “Bring the Noise” (1988)

Resources and Related Links:

First posted 12/11/2021; last updated 6/10/2024.

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Tuesday, June 23, 1992

Elvis Presley The King of Rock and Roll box set released

Elvis Presley

A Retrospective: 1953-1959

Compilations:

This page focuses on compilations covering Elvis Presley’s output in the 1950s. Check the Retrospective: 1954-1977 page for a full career overview which includes Elvis Presley links within and outside of this website, a list of his significant awards,

If a code is followed with an “X” that means the song was added as a bonus track to a reissue of the album.

Studio Albums:

These are the Elvis Presley studio albums covered on this page.

Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies are noted. If the song charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to charts.

The Sun Sessions (archives)

Elvis Presley

Recorded: August 1953 to October 1955

Released: September 6, 1975

Peak: 76 US, 16 UK, 12 DF

Sales (in millions): 1.0 US

Genre: early rock and roll

Rating:

4.504 out of 5.00 (average of 25 ratings)

Tracks:

  1. That’s All Right, Mama (Arthur Crudup) [1:55] (recorded 7/5/54, released 7/19/54, 3 UK, sales: 0.5 m) G1x, KR
  2. Blue Moon of Kentucky (Bill Monroe) [2:04] (recorded 7/7/54, released 7/19/54) KR
  3. I Love You Because (Leon Payne) [2:41] (recorded 7/5/54) KR
  4. Blue Moon (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) [2:40] (recorded 8/19/54, released 9/29/56, 55 US, 9 UK) KR
  5. I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine (Mack David) [2:28] (recorded 9/10/54, released 9/54, 74 US, 23 UK) KR
  6. Good Rockin’ Tonight (Roy Brown) [2:14] (recorded 9/10/54, released 9/25/54) KR
  7. I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’) (Wakely) [2:22] (recorded 9/10/54) KR
  8. Just Because (Sydney Robin, Bob Shelton, Joe Shelton) [2:31] (recorded 9/10/54) KR
  9. Milk Cow Blues Boogie (Kokomo Arnold) [2:39] (recorded 11/12/54, released 12/28/54) KR
  10. You’re a Heartbreaker (Jack Sallee) [2:12] (recorded 11/12/54, released 12/28/54) KR
  11. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (Stan Kesler, William Taylor) [2:36] (recorded 3/5/55, released 4/10/55, 21 UK) KR
  12. Baby Let’s Play House (Arthur Gunter) [2:17] (recorded 2/5/55, released 4/10/55, 5 US) G1x, KR
  13. Mystery Train (Herman Parker Jr., Sam Phillips) [2:24] (recorded 7/11/55, released 8/6/55, 25 UK, 11 CW) G1x, KR
  14. I Forgot to Remember to Forget (Stan Kesler, Charlie Feathers) (recorded 7/21/55, released 9/17/55, 1 CW) KR
  15. Trying to Get to You (Rose Marie McCoy, Charles Singleton) [2:32] (recorded 7/21/55, 9/8/56, 16 UK) KR

About the Album:

This archival collection gathered Elvis’ material that he recorded with Sun Records from 1953 to 1955 before he signed with RCA. Read more on the DMDB page for this album.

Elvis Presley (aka “Rock ‘N’ Roll”)

Elvis Presley

Released: March 23, 1956

Peak: 110 US, 11 UK

Sales (in millions): 0.5 US

Genre: early rock and roll

Rating:

4.320 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)

Tracks (original U.S. release):

  1. Blue Suede Shoes (Perkins) [1:59] (recorded 1/30/56, released 4/7/56, 20 US, 39 UK, sales: ½ million) KR
  2. I’m Counting on You (Robertson) [2:22] (recorded 1/11/56) KR
  3. I Got a Woman (Charles/ Richards) [2:23] (recorded 1/10/56) KR
  4. One-Sided Love Affair (Campbell) [2:10] (recorded 1/30/56) KR
  5. I Love You Because *
  6. Just Because *
  7. Tutti Frutti (LaBostrie/ Little Richard) [1:57] (recorded 1/31/56) KR
  8. Tryin’ to Get to You *
  9. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry Over You (Biggs/ Thomas) [2:01] (recorded 1/31/56) KR
  10. I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’) *
  11. Blue Moon *
  12. Money Honey (Stone) [2:33] (recorded 1/10/56, 5/1/56, 76 US) KR
Songs marked with an asterisk (*) appeared on The Sun Sessions. See that album for details about the songs.

Bonus tracks added to reissues:

  1. Heartbreak Hotel (Mae Axton, Tommy Durden, Elvis Presley) [2:08] (recorded 1/10/56, released 1/27/56, 1 US, 2 UK, 3 RB, 1 CW, sales: 2 million, airplay: 2 million) G1, KR
  2. I Was the One (Hal Blair, Claude Demetrius, Bill Peppers, Aaron Schroeder) [2:34] (recorded 1/11/56, released 1/27/56, 19 US, 8 CW) G1x, KR
  3. Lawdy Miss Clawdy (Lloyd Price) [2:08] (recorded 2/3/56, released 11/8/57, 15 UK) KR
  4. Shake, Rattle and Roll (Charles Calhoun) [2:37] (recorded 2/3/56) KR
  5. My Baby Left Me (Arthur Crudup) [2:11] (recorded 1/30/56, released 5/4/56, 31 US, 19 UK, 13 CW) G1x, KR
  6. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You (Kosloff/ Mysels) [2:40] (recorded 4/14/56, released 5/12/56, 1 US, 14 UK, 3 RB, 1 CW, sales: 1 million) G1, KR

About the Album:

Read more on the DMDB page for this album.

Elvis

Elvis Presley

Released: October 19, 1956

Peak: 15 US, 3 UK

Sales (in millions): 0.5 US

Genre: early rock and roll

Rating:

3.803 out of 5.00 (average of 17 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks (original U.S. release):

  1. Rip It Up (Robert Blackwell, John Maraascalo) [1:50] (recorded 9/3/56, 10/56, 27 UK) KR
  2. Love Me (Leiber/ Stoller) [2:44] (recorded 9/1/56, released 10/19/56, 2 US, 7 RB, 10 CW) G1, KR
  3. When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again [2:18] (recorded 9/2/56, released 10/19/56, 19 US) KR
  4. Long Tall Sally (Robert Blackwell, Enotris Johnson, Richard Penniman) [1:51] (recorded 9/2/56) KR
  5. First in Line (Aaron Schroeder, Ben Weisman) [3:21] (recorded 9/3/56) KR
  6. Paralyzed (Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley) [2:24] (recorded 9/2/56, released 10/19/56, 59 US, 8 UK) G2x, KR
  7. So Glad You’re Mine (Arthur Crudup) [2:18] (recorded 1/30/56) KR
  8. Old Shep (Red Foley, Arthur Williams) [4:10] (recorded 9/2/56, released 12/56, 47 US) KR
  9. Ready Teddy (Robert Blackwell, John Marascalco) [1:55] (recorded 9/3/56) KR
  10. Anyplace is Paradise (Joe Thomas) [2:26] (recorded 9/2/56) KR
  11. How’s the World Treating You (Chet Atkins, Boudleaux Bryant) [2:23] (recorded 9/1/56) KR
  12. How Do You Think I Feel (Webb Pierce, Wiley Walker) [2:10] (recorded 9/1/56) KR

Bonus tracks added to reissues:

  1. Hound Dog (Leiber/ Stoller) [2:15] (recorded 7/2/56, released 7/13/56, 1 US, 2 UK, 1 RB, sales: 4 million) G1, KR
  2. Don’t Be Cruel (Blackwell/ Presley) [2:03] (recorded 7/2/56, released 7/13/56, 1 US, 24 UK, 1 RB, 1 CW, sales: 4 million, airplay: 4 million) G1, KR
  3. Any Way You Want Me That’s How I Will Be (Cliff Owens, Aaron Schroeder) [2:16] (recorded 7/2/56, released 9/28/56, 20 US, 12 RB) G1, KR
  4. Love Me Tender (Maston/ Presley) [2:42] (recorded 8/24/56, released 9/28/56, 1 US, 11 UK, 3 RB, 3 CW, sales: 3 million, airplay: 3 million) G1, KR
  5. Playing for Keeps (Stan Kesler) [2:50] (recorded 9/1/56, released 1/26/57, 21 US, 8 CW) 4, G2x, KR
  6. Too Much (Lee Rosenberg, Bernard Weinman) [2:32] (recorded 9/2/56, released 1/4/57, 1 US, 6 UK, 3 RB, 3 CW, sales: 1 million) G1, KR

About the Album:

All Music Guide review by Bruce Eder:

“If Elvis isn’t quite as important historically as the Elvis Presley album that preceded it, that’s only because it came second – musically, it’s a more confident and bolder work than his debut, and in any other artist’s output it would have been considered a crowning achievement. At the sessions for his first album, the singer and all concerned were treading into unmapped territory and not sure what they were doing or if they were ready for it – by September of 1956, when the three days of sessions behind the Elvis album took place, he was on top, a national phenomenon of a kind that hadn’t been seen in music since Frank Sinatra a dozen years earlier, and he had some more experience recording. And with that confidence came better singing.”

“The songs here were, for the most part, material that he knew well, with one new submission by Otis Blackwell. He slides through them seemingly effortlessly, transforming the 1940s country number When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again into a smooth rocker; roaring through the Little Richard numbers Long Tall Sally, Ready Teddy, and Rip It Up; returns to his blues roots with a killer rendition of Arthur Crudup’s I’m So Glad You’re Mine (a leftover, amazingly enough, from his first RCA session); and shows how refined his voice was becoming on the ballad First in Line and the sentimental favorite Old Shep.”

For LP Fans Only (archives)

Elvis Presley

Recorded: 1954-1957

Released: February 6, 1959

Peak: 19 US

Sales (in millions): --

Genre: early rock and roll

Rating:

3.968 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)

Tracks:

  1. That’s All Right, Mama *
  2. Lawdy Miss Clawdy **
  3. Mystery Train *
  4. Playing for Keeps ***
  5. Poor Boy (Vera Matson, Presley) [2:13] (recorded 8/24/56) KR
  6. My Baby Left Me **
  7. I Was the One **
  8. Shake, Rattle and Roll **
  9. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone *
  10. You’re a Heartbreaker *

* Appeared on The Sun Sessions.
** Also featured on the reissue of Elvis Presley.
*** Also featured on the reissue of Elvis.

See those album for details about the songs.

About the Album:

This archival collection was released while Elvis was serving in the army. It included material from his Sun years and previously released B-sides.

Loving You (soundtrack)

Elvis Presley

Released: July 1, 1957

Peak: 110 US, 13 UK

Sales (in millions): 0.5 US

Genre: early rock and roll

Rating:

3.799 out of 5.00 (average of 15 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks (original release):

  1. Mean Woman Blues (Claude Demetrius) [2:11] (recorded 1/13/57) G2x, KR
  2. Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear (Bernie Lowe, Kal Mann) [1:47] (recorded 1/24/57, released 6/11/57, 1 US, 3 UK, 1 CW, 1 RB, sales: 5 million) G1, KR
  3. Loving You (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) [2:15] (recorded 2/24/57, released 6/11/57, 20 US, 24 UK, 15 CW) G1, KR
  4. Got a Lot O’ Livin’ to Do (Schroeder/ Weisman) [2:33] (recorded 1/12/57, charted 7/1/57, 17 UK) G2x, KR
  5. Lonesome Cowboy (Sid Tepper, Roy C. Bennett) [3:02] (recorded 1/15/57) KR
  6. Hot Dog Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) [1:17] (recorded 1/18/57) KR
  7. Party (Jessie Mae Robinson) [1:28] (recorded 1/21/57, released 4/57) KR
  8. Blueberry Hill (Vincent Rose, Al Lewis, Larry Stock) [2:39] (recorded 1/19/57, released 4/57) KR
  9. True Love (Cole Porter) [2:08] (recorded 2/23/57) KR
  10. Don’t Leave Me Now (Aaron Schroeder, Ben Weisman) [1:58] (recorded 2/23/57, released 7/1/57) KR
  11. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? Scotty Greene Wisemen [2:32] (recorded 1/19/57, released 4/57) KR
  12. I Need You So (Ivory Joe Hunter) [2:40] (recorded 2/23/57, released 4/57) KR

Bonus tracks added to reissues:

  1. Tell Me Why (Titus Turner) [2:05] (recorded 1/12/57) KR
  2. Is It So Strange (Faron Young) [2:28] (recorded 1/19/57, released 4/57) KR
  3. One Night of Sin (Dave Bartholomew, Pearl King, Anita Steiman) [2:35] (recorded 1/24/57) KR
  4. I Beg of You (Rose Marie McCoy, Kelly Owens) [1:50] (recorded 2/23/57, released 1/7/58) KR
  5. When It Rains, It Really Pours (William Emerson) [1:47] (recorded 2/24/57, released 8/10/65) KR

About the Album:

All Music Guide review by Neal Umphred and Bruce Eder:

“Purporting to be the soundtrack to Elvis’ second film, this album collects songs used in the film on one side with new material on the other. The weakness of a couple of the movie tunes and the fact that the new songs were leftovers from the sessions used to produce Elvis’ first gospel EP and latest single add up to his weakest album offering, although any album with Got a Lot O’ Living to Do is alright. If you think of Loving You as simply an Elvis Presley album, rather than a somewhat misleadingly packaged soundtrack, it was actually one of his more coherent and cohesive long-players, assembled from sessions all conducted in the first two months of 1957. By this time, he was doing precious little that was wrong, and his range and control were growing geometrically – thus, amid some powerful rock & roll, including Mean Woman Blues (which could almost have passed for one of his Sun tracks), Teddy Bear, the electric guitar-driven ‘Got a Lot ‘o Livin’ to Do,’ [and] Ivory Joe Hunter’s I Need You So.”

On the CD reissue, we also get “a hard, brittle-textured outtake of I Beg of You, the King does some brilliant ballad singing on One Night of Sin and Is It So Strange, and belts out one of his great blues performances on When It Rains, It Really Pours – which boasts a killer Scotty Moore guitar part – and moves into Sons of the Pioneers territory with the hauntingly beautiful Western ballad Lonesome Cowboy. He doesn’t do badly with Blueberry Hill, either.”

The CD reissue also included alternate versions of “Party,” “Loving You,” and “Got a Lot O’ Lovin’ to Do.”

Elvis’ Christmas Album

Elvis Presley

Released: October 15, 1957

Peak: 14 US

Sales (in millions): 9.0 US, -- UK, 25.0 world (includes US + UK)

Genre: early rock and roll/Christmas

Rating:

3.980 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)

Tracks:

  1. Santa Claus Is Back in Town (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) [2:22] (recorded 9/7/57, released 10/15/57, 41 UK) G2x, KR
  2. White Christmas (Irving Berlin) [2:23] (recorded 9/6/57) KR
  3. Here Comes Santa Claus (Gene Autry, Oakley Halderman) [1:54] (recorded 9/6/57) KR
  4. I’ll Be Home for Christmas (Buck Ram, Kim Gannon, Walter Kent) [1:53] (recorded 9/7/57) KR
  5. Blue Christmas (Bill Hayes, Jay Johnson) (recorded 9/5/57, 12/3/64, 11 UK, 55 CW, sales: 1 million) KR
  6. Santa, Bring My Baby Back to Me (Aaron Schroeder, Claude Demetrius) [1:54] (recorded 9/7/57, released 10/15/57, 7 UK) G2x, KR
  7. O Little Town of Bethlehem (Phillips Brooks, Lewis H. Redner) [2:35] (recorded 9/7/57) KR
  8. Silent Night (Joseph Mohr, Franz Gruber) [2:23] (recorded 9/6/57) KR
  9. There’ll Be Peace in the Valley for Me (Thomas A. Dorsey) (recorded 1/13/57, released 4/1/57, 25 US) KR
  10. I Believe (Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl, Al Stillman) [2:05] (recorded 1/12/57) KR
  11. Take My Hand Precious Lord (Thomas A. Dorsey) [3:16] (recorded 1/13/57, released 4/57) KR
  12. It Is No Secret What God Can Do (Stuart Hamblen) [3:53] (recorded 1/19/57, released 4/57) KR

About the Album:

The last four tracks were originally released on the Peace in the Valley EP in April 1957. Read more on the DMDB page for this album.

A Date with Elvis (archives)

Elvis Presley

Recorded: 1954-1957

Released: July 24, 1959

Peak: 32 US, 4 UK

Sales (in millions): --

Genre: early rock and roll

Rating:

3.477 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)

Tracks:

  1. Blue Moon of Kentucky *
  2. Young and Beautiful (Aaron Schroeder, Abner Silver) [2:02] (recorded 4/30/57, released 10/57) KR
  3. You’re So Square Baby I Don’t Care (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) [1:51] (recorded 4/30/57, released 10/57) KR
  4. Milk Cow Blues Boogie *
  5. Baby Let’s Play House *
  6. Good Rockin’ Tonight *
  7. Is It So Strange **
  8. We’re Gonna Move (Vera Matson, Elvis Presley) [2:28] (recorded 8/24/56) KR
  9. I Want to Be Free (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) [2:12] (recorded 4/30/57, released 10/57) KR
  10. I Forgot to Remember to Forget *

* Appeared on The Sun Sessions.
** Also featured on the reissue of Loving You.

See those album for details about the songs.

About the Album:

This was the second archival collection released while Elvis was serving in the army. It included three songs (“Young and Beautiful,” “You’re So Square,” and “I Want to Be Free”) from the Jailhouse Rock EP released in October 1957, cuts from his Sun years, and some unissued material from the vaults.

Golden Records (compilation)

Elvis Presley

Recorded: 1954-1957

Released: March 21, 1958

Peak: 3 US, 2 UK

Sales (in millions): 6.0 US, 0.06 UK, 10.0 world (includes US and UK)

Genre: early rock and roll

Rating:

4.709 out of 5.00 (average of 17 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: (1) Hound Dog (2) Loving You (3) All Shook Up (4) Heartbreak Hotel (5) Jailhouse Rock (6) Love Me (7) Too Much (8) Don’t Be Cruel (9) That’s When Your Heartache Begins (10) Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear (11) Love Me Tender (12) Treat Me Nice (13) Anyway You Want Me That’s How I Will Be (14) I Want You, I Need You, I Love You

Total Running Time: 32:03

Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:

  • All Shook Up (Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley) [1:57] (recorded 1/12/57, released 3/22/57, 1 US, 1 UK, 1 CW, 1 RB, sales: 7 million, airplay: 2 million) G1
  • That’s When Your Heartache Begins (Fred Fisher, Billy Hill, William Raskin) [3:21] (recorded 1/13/57, released 3/22/57, 58 US) G1
  • Jailhouse Rock (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) [2:27] (recorded 4/30/57, released 9/24/57, 1 US, 1 UK, 1 CW, 1 RB, sales: 9 million) G1, KR
  • Treat Me Nice (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) [2:10] (recorded 9/5/57, released 9/24/57, 18 US, 7 RB, 11 CW) G1, KR

About the Album:

“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.” BE

“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.” BE

“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.” BE

King Creole (soundtrack)

Elvis Presley

Released: September 19, 1958

Peak: 2 US, 17 UK

Sales (in millions): 0.5 US

Genre: early rock and roll

Rating:

3.470 out of 5.00 (average of 15 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks (original release):

  1. King Creole (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) [2:06] (recorded 1/23/58, released 9/19/58, 2 UK) KR
  2. As Long As I Have You (Fred Wise, Ben Weisman) [1:49] (recorded 1/16/58) KR
  3. Hard Headed Woman (Claude Demetrius) [1:53] (recorded 1/15/58, released 6/10/58, 1 US, 2 UK, 2 RB, 2 CW, sales: 1 million) G2x, KR
  4. Trouble (Leiber/Stoller) [2:17] (recorded 1/15/58) KR
  5. Dixieland Rock (Aaron Schroeder, Rachel Frank) [1:46] (recorded 1/16/58) KR
  6. Don’t Ask Me Why (Fred Wise, Ben Weisman) [2:07] (recorded 1/16/58, 6/30/58, 25 US, 9 RB) KR
  7. Lover Doll (Sid Wayne, Abner Silver) [2:10] (recorded 1/16/58) KR
  8. Crawfish (duet with Kitty White) (Fred Wise, Ben Weisman) [1:49] (recorded 1/15/58) KR
  9. Young Dreams (Aaron Schroeder, Martin Kalmanoff) [2:22] (recorded 1/23/58) KR
  10. Steadfast, Loyal and True (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) [1:17] (recorded 2/11/58) KR
  11. New Orleans (Sid Tepper, Roy C. Bennett) [1:59] (recorded 1/15/58) KR

Bonus tracks added to reissues:

  1. Danny (Fred Wise, Ben Weisman) [1:51] (recorded 2/11/58) KR

About the Album:

All Music Guide’s review by Bruce Eder:

“King Creole was the last movie that Elvis Presley made before he entered the army in the spring of 1958 – it was also his last film in black-and-white, as well as his final effort directed by a serious old-time filmmaker (Michael Curtiz); and, apart from a few isolated, quirky efforts like Flaming Star, Change of Habit, and Charro, this was the last of his serious movies, in which Presley was trying hard, pushing himself as an actor and, really, all through the score, as a musician” (Eder).

“This is reflected in the soundtrack, which is one of the stronger film-related releases of his career. The original 11 songs included a hot title track by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller that was a dazzling showcase for Scotty Moore’s and Tiny Timbrell’s guitars as well as Elvis’ intense, exciting lead vocal. Leiber and Stoller’s Trouble and Claude Demetrius’ Hard Headed Woman have Moore’s and Timbrell’s electric guitars competing successfully with a five-man brass and reed section. Even Dixieland Rock, if not up to the level of those other two numbers, features good playing and a strong performance by Presley, and Young Dreams is a decent midtempo number” (Eder).

“The slow ballads are where the soundtrack falls flat, As Long As I Have You coming up to standard but Lover Doll and Don’t Ask Me Why failing to excite or maintain interest; Crawfish can only have been included to bring the album up to the minimum acceptable length for an LP” Eder).

“The 1997 remastered CD features rather upgraded sound and seven additional numbers that are outtakes from the score; these include two alternate takes of ‘King Creole’ with considerably different guitar and brass parts, and two superior alternate versions of ‘As Long as I Have You,’ both in a much more spare arrangement – basically just Elvis and a single piano accompanying him – plus a discarded alternate title track (Danny). The undubbed ‘Lover Doll’ is superior to the released version, featuring Presley accompanied by a single acoustic guitar. Even with the bonus cuts, this CD only runs 34 minutes and change” (Eder).

The CD reissue of this album also included alternate takes of “King Creole,” “As Long As I Have You,” “Lover Doll,” “Steadfast, Loyal, and True,” “As Long As I Have You,” and “King Creole.”

Golden Records Vol. 2: 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong (compilation)

Elvis Presley

Recorded: 1957-1959

Released: November 13, 1959

Peak: 31 US, 4 UK

Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, -- UK, 1.0 world (includes US and UK)

Genre: early rock and roll

Rating:

4.037 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)

Tracks: (1) I Need Your Love Tonight (2) Don’t (3) Wear My Ring Around Your Neck (4) My Wish Came True (5) I Got Stung (6) One Night (7) A Big Hunk O’ Love (8) I Beg of You (9) Now and Then There’s a Fool Such As I (10) Doncha’ Think It’s Time

Total Running Time: 22:00

Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:

  • My Wish Came True (Ivory Joe Hunter) [2:33] (recorded 9/6/57, released 6/23/59, 12 US, 15 RB) G2, KR
  • Don’t (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) [2:48] (recorded 9/6/57, released 1/7/58, 1 US, 2 UK, 2 CW, 4 RB, sales: 2 million) G2, KR
  • I Beg of You (Rose Marie McCoy, Cliff Owens) [1:50] (recorded 2/23/57, released 1/7/58, 8 US, 4 CW, 5 RB) G2
  • One Night (Dave Bartholomew, Pearl King, Anita Steiman) [2:29] (recorded 2/23/57, released 10/21/58, 4 US, 1 UK, 24 CW, 10 RB, sales: 2 million) G2, KR
  • Wear My Ring Around Your Neck (Bert Carroll, Moody Russell) [2:13] (recorded 2/1/58, released 4/1/58, 2 US, 3 UK, 3 CW, 1 RB, sales: 2 million) G2, KR
  • Doncha’ Think It’s Time (Luther Dixon, Clyde Otis) [1:54] (recorded 2/1/58, released 4/1/58, 15 US, 10 RB) G2, KR
  • I Got Stung (David Hill, Aaron Schroeder) [1:49] (recorded 6/11/58, released 10/21/58, 8 US, 1 UK) G2, KR
  • Now and Then There’s a Fool Such As I (Bill Trader) [2:36] (recorded 6/10/58, released 3/10/59, 2 US, 1 UK, 16 RB, sales: 5 million) G2, KR
  • I Need Your Love Tonight (Bix Reichner, Sid Wayne) [2:04] (recorded 6/10/58, released 3/10/59, 4 US) G2, KR
  • A Big Hunk O’ Love (Aaron Schroeder, Sidney Wyche) [2:12] (recorded 6/10/58, released 6/23/59, 1 US, 4 UK, 10 RB, sales: 1 million) G2, KR

About the Album:

The initial release of Elvis’ second greatest-hits collection, Gold Records, Volume 2 (also known as 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong), featured singles released in 1958 and 1959 and other material from recording sessions in 1957. A reissue of the album added bonus tracks dating back to 1956. Among the songs were the #1 hits Don’t, Hard Headed Woman, and Big Hunk O’ Love and the top ten hits I Beg of You, Wear My Ring Around Your Neck, I Got Stung, One Night, I Need Your Love Tonight and Now and Then There’s a Fool Such As I.

The King of Rock ‘N’ Roll: The ‘50s Masters (box set)

Elvis Presley

Recorded: 1953-1958

Released: June 23, 1992

Peak: 159 US, -- UK, -- CN, -- AU, 11 DF

Sales (in millions): 2.0 US

Genre: early rock and roll

Rating:

4.740 out of 5.00 (average of 20 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Disc 1: (1) My Happiness (2) That’s All Right, Mama (3) I Love You Because (4) Harbor Lights (5) Blue Moon of Kentucky (6) Blue Moon (7) Tomorrow Night (8) I’ll Never Let You Go (9) I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine (10) Just Because (11) Good Rockin’ Tonight (12) Milkcow Blues Boogie (13) You’re a Heartbreaker (14) Baby Let’s Play House (15) I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (16) Mystery Train (17) I Forgot to Remember to Forget (18) Trying to Get to You (19) When It Rains, It Really Pours (20 I Got a Woman (21) Heartbreak Hotel (22) Money Honey (23) I’m Counting on You (24) I Was the One (25) Blue Suede Shoes (26) My Baby Left Me (27) One-Sided Love Affair (28) So Glad You're Mine (29) I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry Over You (30) Tutti Frutti

Disc 2: (1) Lawdy Miss Clawdy (2) Shake, Rattle And Roll (3) I Want You, I Need You, I Love You (4) Hound Dog (5) Don’t Be Cruel (6) Any Way You Want Me (7) We’re Gonna Move (8) Love Me Tender (9) Poor Boy (10) Let Me (11) Playing for Keeps (12) Love Me (13) Paralyzed (14) How Do You Think I Feel (15) How’s the World Treating You (16) When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again (17) Long Tall Sally (18) Old Shep (19) Too Much (20) Anyplace Is Paradise (21) Ready Teddy (22) First In Line (23) Rip It Up (24) I Believe (25) Tell Me Why (26) Got a Lot O’ Livin’ to Do (27) All Shook Up (28) Mean Woman Blues (29) There’ll Be Peace in the Valley for Me

Disc 3: (1) That’s When Your Heartaches Begin (2) Take My Hand, Precious Lord (3) It Is No Secret What God Can Do (4) Blueberry Hill (5) Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (6) Is It So Strange (7) Party (8) Lonesome Cowboy (9) Hot Dog (10) One Night of Sin (11) Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear (12) Don’t Leave Me Now (13) I Beg of You (14) One Night with You (15) True Love (16) I Need You So (17) Loving You (18) When It Rains, It Really Pours (19) Jailhouse Rock (20) Young and Beautiful (21) I Want to Be Free (22) You’re So Square, Baby I Don't Care (23) Don’t Leave Me Now (24) Blue Christmas (25) White Christmas (26) Here Comes Santa Claus (27) Silent Night (28) Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem (29) Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me (30) Santa Claus Is Back in Town (31) I’ll Be Home for Christmas

Disc 4: (1) Treat Me Nice (2) My Wish Came True (3) Don’t (4) Danny (5) Hard Headed Woman (6) Trouble (7) New Orleans (8) Crawfish (9) Dixieland Rock (10) Lover Doll (11) Don’t Ask Me Why (12) As Long As I Have You (13) King Creole (14) Young Dreams (15) Steadfast, Loyal and True (16) Doncha Think It’s Time (17) Your Cheatin’ Heart (18) Wear My Ring Around Your Neck (19) I Need Your Love Tonight (20) A Big Hunk O’ Love (21) Ain’t That Loving You Baby (22) Now and Then There’s a Fool Such As I (23) I Got Stung (24) Interview with Elvis

Disc 5: (1) That’s When Your Heartaches Begin (2) Fool, Fool, Fool (3) Tweedle Dee (live) (4) Maybellene (live) (5) Shake, Rattle, and Roll (alternate) (6) Blue Moon of Kentucky (alternate) (7) Blue Moon (alternate) (8) I’m Left, You’re Right, She's Gone (alternate) (9) Reconsider Baby (10) Lawdy, Miss Clawdy (Alternate) (11) Shake, Rattle, and Roll (alternate) (12) I Want You, I Need You, I Love You (alternate Take) (13) Heartbreak Hotel (live) (14) Long Tall Sally (live) (15) Blue Suede Shoes (live) (16) Money Honey (live) (17) We’re Gonna Move (alternate) (18) Old Shep (alternate) (19) I Beg of You (alternate) (20) Loving You (slow version) (21) Loving You (uptempo version) (22) Young and Beautiful (alternate) (23) I Want to Be Free (alternate) (24) King Creole (alternate) (25) As Long As I Have You (alternate) (26) Ain't That Loving You Baby (fast version - take 11)

Total Running Time: 5:39:29

Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:

  • My Happiness (Betty Peterson Blasco, Borney Bergantine) [2:31] (recorded 7/18/53) KR
  • That’s When Your Heartaches Begin Fred Fisher, Billy Hill, William Raskin) [3:20] (recorded 7/18/53) KR
  • Harbor Lights (Jimmy Kennedy, Hugh Williams) [2:35] (recorded 7/5/54) KR
  • Tomorrow Night (Sam Coslow, Hugh Williams) [2:58] (recorded 9/10/54) KR
  • Fool Fool Fool (Nugetre) [1:51] (recorded 1/6/55) KR
  • Tweedle Dee (live) (Winfield Scott, LaVern Baker) [4/30/55] (recorded 4/30/55) KR
  • Maybellene (live) (Chuck Berry) [8/20/55] KR
  • When It Rains, It Really Pours (William Emerson) [2:01] (recorded 11/20/55) 5x, KR
  • Let Me (Vera Matson, Elvis Presley) [recorded 8/24/56] KR
  • Reconsider Baby (Lowell Fulsom) [2:53] (recorded 4/12/56) KR
  • Heartbreak Hotel (live) [2:54] (recorded 5/6/56) KR
  • Long Tall Sally (live) [2:15] (recorded 5/6/56) KR
  • Blue Suede Shoes (live) [4:59] (recorded 5/6/56) KR
  • Money Honey (live) [2:34] (recorded 5/6/56) KR
  • That’s When Your Heartaches Begin Fred Fisher, Billy Hill, William Raskin) [3:20] (recorded 1/13/57, released 3/22/57, 58 US) KR
  • Your Cheatin’ Heart (Hank Williams) [2:24] (recorded 2/1/58) KR
  • Ain’t That Loving You Baby (Ivory Joe Hunter, Clyde Otis) [2:22] (recorded 6/10/58) KR
  • Expanded Interview Segment [12:34] (recorded 9/22/58) KR

About the Album:

This box set collected all of Elvis’ recordings from the 1950s, which included the albums The Sun Sessions, Elvis Presley, Elvis, Loving You, Christmas Album, and King Creole in their entirety. All of those cuts are listed above over the course of the page. Additional tracks, mostly from the fifth disc of the collection, are indicated below.

In addition, all the songs featured on Elvis’ first two greatest-hits compilations, Golden Records and 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong: Gold Records Vol. 2, are included on this set.

Resources and Related Links:

Last updated 11/26/2023.

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Saturday, June 20, 1992

k.d. lang charted with “Constant Craving”

Constant Craving

k.d. lang

Writer(s): k.d. lang, Ben Mink (see lyrics here)

Released: April 27, 1992

First Charted: June 20, 1992

Peak: 38 BB, 29 CB, 17 GR, 17 RR, 2 AC, 15 UK, 8 CN, 38 AU, 8 DF (Click for codes to charts.)

Sales (in millions): --

Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 16.5 video, 51.47 streaming

Awards:

Click on award for more details.

About the Song:

Country singer/songwriter Kathryn Dawn “k.d.” Lang was born in 1961 in Alberta, Canada. She went to Red Deer College, became fascinated with Patsy Cline, and decided to become a professional singer. After she graduated in 1982, she responded to an ad posted by Jim Alexander. He was looking for a singer for his country-swing band. WK

In the 1980s, lang released three albums with her band the Reclines and a solo album in 1987. On these albums, lang “was a country traditionalist with a difference…there was an intelligence and sly humor in her work that occasionally betrayed her history as a performance artist who entered the musical mainstream through the side door.” AM

For her 1992 album Ingénue, lang “officially abandoned Nashville.” RD She transitioned from “a masterful and thoroughly enjoyable country singer” AM to “a far more introspective adult contemporary singer/songwriter.” AM The album’s lead single, “Constant Craving,” served as a great showcase for her new sound. As Billboard’s Larry Flick said, “There is no denying the rootsy, down-home quality of this wonderfully produced tune.” BB

The song became her sole top 40 hit on the Billboard pop charts, effectively completing her transition from country to pop star. The song won a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and landed nominations for Song and Record of the Year. It helped lift Ingénue to platinum status – lang’s only album to do so – and garnered it a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.

Resources:

Related Links:

First posted 1/12/2025.

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