By now, the moment that Elvis Presley went from regional interest to the first rock superstar is part of the American music fabric. In 1956, Elvis moved from Sun to RCA and the rest is history. Along with singles like “Heartbreak Hotel” (singles were Presley’s main market driver), there was also an eponymous first LP, which is forever branded on American music. And not just the music contained therein, but its iconic cover, too.
While many of Elvis’ best songs were reserved for single release, this album holds some solid material and some that have become instantly recognizable even though they were not pushed as singles. Presley’s cover of Carl Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes” is nothing less than a staple of rock music and rightfully so, as are “Tutti Frutti” and “Money Honey.” There are also early signs of Elvis’ ability to sing a ballad like no other in “I’m Counting On You,” and “Tryin’ To Get To You.”
Being an album from 1956, there are some things that seem stale for the modern listener. Some of the songs smack of ‘50s sensibilities, like the classic “I’ve Got A Woman,” “Because” and “One Sided Love Affair,” while others are almost painful in their over-acted style or as the result of being drenched in the reverb effect, like “I Love You Because,” “Blue Moon” and “I’ll Never Let You Go (Lil Darlin).” And after decades of phenomenal guitar playing, some of Scotty Moore’s licks are underwhelming, but it is impossible to not have respect for the groundwork he was laying. Some of his fills are bright and cut through the arrangements to perform a duet with the king in superb style.
In keeping with what Elvis would do for the rest of his career, there is no real direction to Elvis Presley. It is a collection of covers and songs written for him thrown together for release. Still, the album holds a special place for really being a first. It is easy to analyze Elvis’ faults and downgrade him for his ‘70s decline. However, in 1956, there had never been anything like him. His releases that year accounted for the majority of RCA’s earnings, which is quite a feat considering the fact that RCA was an established record brand. No one else had ever, and arguably has ever, galvanized a generation as he did. Nearly 60 years later in a culture engrossed with celebrity to the point where it’s quotidian, we lose sight of that fact. Elvis Presley is a window back into that world.
