The Elvis albums "For LP Fans Only" and "A Date with Elvis" are often overlooked, excluded from review, on account of being considered compilations of already issued material. In this essay, I take the view that both albums stand comparison with the critically acclaimed albums of 1956, "Elvis Presley" and "Elvis." The quality of material on both albums is stellar.
The question of Elvis Presley's worst recordings has been a 'fun' preoccupation on the part of those with too much time on their hands. The neurotic obsession with the songs at the disposable end of Elvis' catalogue has tended to diminish Elvis' reputation as an artist. That, I am afraid, is the price of having strayed into Hollywood and stayed too long. My take on this is that the problem with Elvis Presley's career is that he did too much and recorded too much, attempted to cover all bases, and hence recorded material that was beneath him. Take away the disposable, what is most striking about Elvis is how prolific he was and at a high standard. The terrible songs he recorded are very much the exception. But they exist. And are (un)worthy of comment. In my view, some of them are nowhere near as bad as critics, lazily, suggest. But some of them are. These are my selections of the worst Elvis recordings.
A rumour was spread in 1957 that Elvis Presley made an explicitly racist statement. It was investigated and found to be without substance. And yet it continues to be resurrected. This post examines the reason why, and concludes emphatically that Elvis Presley was entirely without prejudice, treating each and all equally and seeking a world without division, hatred, and recrimination.