Press Archive - The Elvis Presley Connection Vol.2 (CD) - Routledge
The Elvis Presley Connection: 33 Roots and Covers of Elvis Presley, 2019, Various Artists, CD, Bear Family BCD 17561 The Bill Haley Connection: 29 Roots and Covers of Bill Haley and His Comets, 2018, Various Artists, CD, Bear Family BCD 17531
Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau were a perfectly imperfect pair. They portrayed The Odd Couple in the 1968 motion picture version of Neil Simon's hit Broadway play. To many fans of rock and roll music, Elvis Presley and Bill Haley seem as mismatched as Lemmon and Matthau. In what ways were they opposites? Although Elvis was supported on stage and in the recording studio by guitarist Scotty Moore, bassist Bill Black, and drummer D. J. Fontana, he was always a singular performing sensation.
The Elvis Presley Connection: 33 Roots and Covers of Elvis Presley, 2019, Various Artists, CD, Bear Family BCD 17561 The Bill Haley Connection: 29 Roots and Covers of Bill Haley and His Comets, 2018, Various Artists, CD, Bear Family BCD 17531
Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau were a perfectly imperfect pair. They portrayed The Odd Couple in the 1968 motion picture version of Neil Simon's hit Broadway play. To many fans of rock and roll music, Elvis Presley and Bill Haley seem as mismatched as Lemmon and Matthau. In what ways were they opposites? Although Elvis was supported on stage and in the recording studio by guitarist Scotty Moore, bassist Bill Black, and drummer D. J. Fontana, he was always a singular performing sensation.
Press Archive - The Elvis Presley Connection Vol.1 (CD) - Old Time Review
The CD contains three live recordings, which can sometimes let down a compilation. The two television performances, from Carl Perkins and Dorothy Collins respectively, vary in quality. Perkins’ more stripped-down approach comes across well, whereas Collins’ big band sound can be a bit ‘too much’ for the technology of the era. The radio recording, taken from The Louisiana Hayride, is a charming Country interpretation performed by Lucy Lynn. Bear Family Records have worked with material from this show previously, and it’s clear. The exclusion of the live performances would have evened the CD out to a nice and neat 30 tracks, but it would have lost the colour.
Something Extra…
Housing the CD is an attractive looking digipak along with an extensive 33-page booklet; featuring song and artist information. Alongside the writing are a few relevant images and illustrations. This approach to packaging is a standard with Bear Family releases and is always welcome.
Conclusion:
Bear Family Records have compiled an impressive selection of tracks to cover the subject nicely. There were a lot of options available for both sides of the compilation, and they have picked a good selection to start For the label to name something as volume 1 gives the impression of more Presley connections to come, and I look forward to seeing what treasures they unearth.
The CD contains three live recordings, which can sometimes let down a compilation. The two television performances, from Carl Perkins and Dorothy Collins respectively, vary in quality. Perkins’ more stripped-down approach comes across well, whereas Collins’ big band sound can be a bit ‘too much’ for the technology of the era. The radio recording, taken from The Louisiana Hayride, is a charming Country interpretation performed by Lucy Lynn. Bear Family Records have worked with material from this show previously, and it’s clear. The exclusion of the live performances would have evened the CD out to a nice and neat 30 tracks, but it would have lost the colour.
Something Extra…
Housing the CD is an attractive looking digipak along with an extensive 33-page booklet; featuring song and artist information. Alongside the writing are a few relevant images and illustrations. This approach to packaging is a standard with Bear Family releases and is always welcome.
Conclusion:
Bear Family Records have compiled an impressive selection of tracks to cover the subject nicely. There were a lot of options available for both sides of the compilation, and they have picked a good selection to start For the label to name something as volume 1 gives the impression of more Presley connections to come, and I look forward to seeing what treasures they unearth.