This might seem like just an album of Elvis Presley songs rather than an album by Elvis Presley; the third-person title reference is somewhat confusing, in other words; until you consider the title of his previous Christmas album. Then it starts to make sense. Not that a compilation of his most popular songs this early in his career has any good reason to exist other than more album sales for RCA Victor and more of an ego boost for a singer who insists on using his name with an apostrophe instead of the word “My”.

As far as the music goes, while all but one of these Golden Records are charted singles or B-sides to charted singles, about half are aesthetic hits. That’s When Your Heartaches Begin, an Ink Spots remake released a year ago with All Shook Up, is probably the best song here. It’s also the saddest as a melancholic Presley mourns over the loss of a “sweetheart” to a friend he seems to suggest was introduced to her as part of a sexual threesome. Other standouts include Anyway You Want Me, Love Me Tender and Hound Dog.

my rating : 3 of 5

1958