Elv1s: 30 #1 Hits

Set in roughly chronological order, the collection begins with his first hit, the swaggering "Heartbreak Hotel". Despite digital remastering it still sounds nearly half a century old when compared to his most recent (and posthumous) hit "A Little Less Conversation", but it remains a timeless classic for new generations to discover. Most people--young or old--will know of or be able to hum a few bars from most of the songs here. Many a karaoke singer will have had a stab at "Love Me Tender" or "Suspicious Minds"; others will have heard a family member brutally crooning their way through "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" or "It's Now or Never".

Twenty-five years after Elvis's untimely death, younger generations have become accustomed to the image of Presley as a tragic icon of comedy excess, remembering him for garish jump-suits, trademark shades and a thick black quiff. Elvis: 30 #1 Hits will remind many that he was the King for a very good reason. --David Trueman