Drawn from a previous post, this is not part of my book The Greatest Record v\Ever Made! (Volume 1). In the book, King Elvis I is represented by "Heartbreak Hotel."
An infinite number of tracks can each be THE greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. Today, this is THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE!
From the time he burst into the national scene in the mid '50s until he left the building in 1977, Elvis Presley was as big a star as the world had ever seen. His impact was unparalleled. His levels of fame and fortune were beyond reproach, unquestioned. King Elvis I. It was a crown he had earned, a crown he would never need to surrender.
But he had strayed from the incendiary ways that had warranted his ascension. He was a star of stage and screen, sure, and an inspiration to rock 'n' roll groups that followed him. Even those long-haired British Invaders knew who was King.
And yet...he had strayed nonetheless.
In the '60s, as sounds grew heavier, Elvis kept on keepin' on, making lightweight movies of no consequence, and providing an inoffensive soundtrack to match. This is an oversimplification, but it's also pretty much true. Just over a decade after "Heartbreak Hotel" notched Elvis's first # 1 pop hit in 1956, the King wasn't dead; he he had merely become old-fashioned. Establishment. Kids weren't listening to Elvis. Beatles fans, Rolling Stones fans, Jimi Hendrix fans, Motown fans, Otis Redding fans, Doors fans, rock and soul fans...few of them were listening to Elvis. Elvis was for people nearing thirty, or even older. And one couldn't trust anyone over thirty...could one?
In this cultural DMZ between mainstream success and artistic relevance, the King shrugged and reasserted his reign. The 1968 comeback TV special was amazing, a potent reminder of the pure and undeniable power of Elvis Presley. In 1969, the stunning single "Suspicious Minds" became Elvis's first # 1 hit since "Good Luck Charm" in 1962.
Never count the King out. The King is out when the King says he's out.
"Kentucky Rain" followed in 1970, peaking at # 16, but arguably an even better record than "Suspicious Minds." Alas, the King chose to turn away from this path. Vegas beckoned. Show biz beckoned. The King moved his kingdom to those lucrative lands instead. The King had nothing to prove.
But man...can you imagine what Elvis could have done if he had thought he did have something to prove? "Kentucky Rain" is lasting evidence that a King walked this earth.
Long live the King.
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I compiled a various-artists tribute album called Make Something Happen! A Tribute To The Flashcubes, and it's pretty damned good; you can read about it here and order it here. My new book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) is now available, and you can order an autographed copy here. You can still get my previous book Gabba Gabba Hey! A Conversation With The Ramones from publisher Rare Bird Books, OR an autographed copy here. If you like the books, please consider leaving a rating and/or review at the usual online resources.
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, streaming at SPARK stream and on the Radio Garden app as WESTCOTT RADIO. You can read about our history here.
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