Elvis Presley may have been the king of rock’n’roll, but he also had a convincing way with a country song and spent plenty of time atop the country charts, as well. That part of the Presley canon is well-documented in this RCA reissues package, part of an extensive Presley classic album series that includes Heart & Soul, Elvis 56, and Can’t Help Falling in Love —The Hollywood Hits. A country boy at heart, Presley turned to “hillbilly” music early, but his unique phrasing and patented vocal quaver still dominates early releases like “I Forgot to Remember to Forget” and a rockabilly “Blue Moon of Kentucky.” An incredibly confident Presley tackled Hank Williams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” a passionate “From a Jack to King,” and the country gold “There Goes My Everything.” Eddie Rabbitt’s “Kentucky Rain” is a powerful classic, and Presley’s unmatched vocal stamp takes ownership of such chestnuts as “Gentle on My Mind,” “Make the World Go Away,” “Always on My Mind,” and “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” As Charles Wolfe’s informative liner notes point out, a smoldering “He’ll Have to Go” was recorded at Graceland in the fall of ’76, making it Elvis’ last session. A true country artist to the end.—RW
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