Elvis Presley – Elvis is Back 45RPM, 200g 2 LP Analogue Productions Vinyl

“…This 45 RPM mastering by George Marino at Sterling Sound is astonishing. Yes, the double 45 RPM format is bound to yield a sonic improvement and I’d never bet against Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman at AcousTech, but this sounds so far superior in almost every way.” Music = 10/11; Sound = 10/11 – Michael Fremer, musicangle

The ultra-hyped, hugely celebrated return of the King most certainly did not disappoint. Elvis Presley’s first full-length release after leaving the Army, aptly titled Elvis Is Back! was the answer to Elvis fans waiting anxiously for new material. Record label executives worried about whether he’d still be able to crank out the hits. Radio stations were dying for something new for their most requested playlist. It all combined to mount tremendous pressure on Elvis and all involved to deliver something that lived up to expectations. As it turned out, it was worthy of a giant yellow exclamation point on the front cover!

Almost immediately after his service time had ended, Elvis entered the studio in March 1960 to record a batch of songs that would go on to become monumental worldwide hits. The singles “Are You Lonesome Tonight” and “It’s Now Or Never” created a tidal wave of excitement. And the LP tracks like “Fever,” “The Thrill Of Your Love,” “Dirty, Dirty Feeling” and “Like A Baby” confirmed that the King was still able to deliver a whole program worth of incomparable material. Listen to “Fever” at 45 RPM if you want to show someone what this hobby of yours is all about. Just vocals, bass and finger-snapping, it sounds so dark and haunting. It’s worth the price of admission for just this one track alone.

While Presley’s records, in the eyes of some reviewers, yielded inconsistencies (mostly songs he recorded at the suggestion of others to appeal to a certain audience or tie-in with a film), there’s not one example of musical filler or a single forgettable performance on this 1960 gem.

Until now, Elvis fans have satiated their desires with the prized DCC double LP edition (regularly commanding upwards of $200 on eBay) as well as the DCC gold disc (a rare find fetching $150 and more). Now no longer do you have to pay a premium to enjoy the magic of Presley’s voice, rhythms and foundation-paving melodies. Mastered by George Marino, the King’s best work has never sounded so intimate, detailed, present and alive. Images are true, tones are balanced, and the unbeatable warmth that only analog provides comes through unabated on every cut.

Recorded over the course of two marathon sessions (one taking place in Hollywood and the other in Nashville), the sound is wonderfully natural and present. Every alluring shade, texture, and contour of Presley’s voice comes into your room with sheer transparency.

Buy a copy and order another to keep sealed as an investment for when these sought-after platters go out of print. You won’t be sorry.

Track Listing

Make Me Know It
Fever
The Girl of My Best Friend
I Will Be Home Again
Dirty, Dirty Feeling
Thrill of Your Love
Soldier Boy
Such a Night
It Feels So Right
Girl Next Door Went A’Walking
Like a Baby
Reconsider Baby