ELVIS: Just Out Of The Army!

Original Released on LP RCA Victor LSP 2231

(US, April 1960)

One of the greatest understatements in the history of rock and roll album titles, "Elvis Is Back!" declared in no uncertain terms that Elvis Presley wasn't as good as he was in the 1950s, he was better. From rock to pop, gospel-tinged ballads to tough Chicago blues, Elvis made magic in less than an hour. Seldom in his career would he be so consistently superb in voice, performance and material. Anyone who said that Elvis was dead after the army could not possibly have heard this album, and the singles that were released around it. The DCC mastering is about as good as it gets. The stuff simply has never sounded better. Anyone who thought Elvis lost his intensity and his feeling for the blues after the army (I have read this) must be deaf!

Just out of the army, and distanced from the new smooth pop of the day, Elvis seems totally at ease whether singing the sublime harmony-laden doo-wop of "Thrill Of Your Love"; cool pop, "Stuck On You"; sultry jazz, "Fever"; steamy blues, "Reconsider Baby" or just plain down-&-dirty rock’n’roll, "Such A Night". Whatever the type of music, Elvis seems totally at home and unstoppable. This album is the most overlooked rock masterpiece in the pop music genre. If there is any doubt as to Elvis's talents as a singer, and any question as to his vocal range, and any wondering as to his depth of feeling, this album eliminates them. Although the album lacks thematic unity, the listener is treated to a wide-range of musical genres, and a close listen shows that Elvis had a knack for making all genres his own. Perhaps the most profound insight one gains from listening to this remarkable album is the utter loss we have all suffered as a result of the poor management he received. No one can ever really know what Elvis could have accomplished had he not languished in Hollywood hell during his prime recording years. This album provides a clue, and it is painful to realize what could have been.