Elvis Presley

The Camden series is, except for diehards, of negligible interest. The first couple of Elvis titles drew the consumer in with a couple of tasty recent outtakes (1968's "Tiger Man" and a pair from the 1969 Memphis sessions) and then padded the albums out with soundtrack items that were, for the most part, better forgotten. Even at the budget price they were an iffy buy. Not so this one, which collects ten single sides from both the movies and the studio in an interesting package that illuminates the dichotomy that was Elvis Presley in the two years prior to the NBC special. "Clean Up Your Own Backyard" and "U.S. Male" are very interesting country explorations while "Long Legged Girl (With the Short Dress On)" and "A Little Less Conversation" are so awful they need to be heard by everyone! And somewhere in between those polar opposites, as well as the two tracks themselves, is "Edge of Reality," an (understandably) rare venture by the King of Rock & Roll into psychedelia -- admittedly, it is of the poppiest and most rhythmic variety of psychedelic pop (and one should see the dream sequence from Live a Little, Love a Little to which it is attached onscreen, for a real unintended hoot); it's more interesting than good, in terms of the singer trying to stretch his range and image, but also interesting enough for a listen and a glimpse down a road along which, fortunately, Presley never ventured too far. ~ Neal Umphred & Bruce Eder, All Music Guide. Fall in love all over again with the king of rock and rolllet him charm your heart and soul with love songs you fell in love with.