Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 2
Encyclopedia
Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 2 is a compilation album
featuring recordings by American singer Elvis Presley
. As with the first volume of the series
, issued in 1974, the collection was a mixture of previously released and never-before-released recordings. In this volume, RCA Records
released for the first time "Harbor Lights", a ballad Presley recorded during his first session for Sun Records
in July 1954. Thie marked the first time since the 1965 album Elvis for Everyone
, in which the Sun recording "Tomorrow Night" was included, that RCA had released any "new" songs from the Sun Records archives. Other previously-unreleased material included an alternate take of his 1956 hit, "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You", several performances from the 1968 NBC TV special
that had not been previously issued, the song "A Cane and a High Starched Collar" from the soundtrack of the 1960 film, Flaming Star
, and an alternate take of his 1960 recording, "Such a Night". Also included were a pair of previously unreleased interview recordings. It was certified Gold on 10/25/1977 and Platinum and 2x Platinum on 7/15/1999 by the R.I.A.A.
The Legendary Performer series would continue with Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 3
, which was released in 1979, two years after Presley's death.
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
featuring recordings by American singer Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. As with the first volume of the series
Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 1
Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 1 is a greatest hits collection from the rock star Elvis Presley issued in 1974 by RCA Records. It features 14 tracks, which includes twelve songs and two interviews with Presley....
, issued in 1974, the collection was a mixture of previously released and never-before-released recordings. In this volume, RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
released for the first time "Harbor Lights", a ballad Presley recorded during his first session for Sun Records
Sun Records
Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...
in July 1954. Thie marked the first time since the 1965 album Elvis for Everyone
Elvis for Everyone
Elvis for Everyone! is the twenty-third album by Elvis Presley, issued on RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 3450, in August 1965. Recording sessions took place over a ten-year span at Sun Studio in Memphis, RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, and Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California...
, in which the Sun recording "Tomorrow Night" was included, that RCA had released any "new" songs from the Sun Records archives. Other previously-unreleased material included an alternate take of his 1956 hit, "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You", several performances from the 1968 NBC TV special
Elvis Presley's '68 Comeback Special
Elvis, starring Elvis Presley, was the title of a 1968 United States television special. Sponsored by The Singer Sewing Machine Company, it aired on December 2, 1968 on the NBC television network...
that had not been previously issued, the song "A Cane and a High Starched Collar" from the soundtrack of the 1960 film, Flaming Star
Flaming Star
Flaming Star is a 1960 western film starring Elvis Presley, based on the book Flaming Lance by Clair Huffaker. Critics agreed that Presley gave one of his best acting performances as the mixed-blood "Pacer Burton", a dramatic role. The film was directed by Don Siegel, and had a working title of...
, and an alternate take of his 1960 recording, "Such a Night". Also included were a pair of previously unreleased interview recordings. It was certified Gold on 10/25/1977 and Platinum and 2x Platinum on 7/15/1999 by the R.I.A.A.
The Legendary Performer series would continue with Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 3
Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 3
Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 3 is a compilation album featuring recordings by American singer Elvis Presley. It was the third in a series of albums that began with Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 1 in 1974, the first to be released since Presley's death in 1977, and the last edition...
, which was released in 1979, two years after Presley's death.
Track listing
- Harbor LightsHarbor Lights"Harbor Lights" is a popular song by Hugh Williams with lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy. This song was originally sung by Frances Langford in 1937 and was published again in 1950....
(Recorded: Sun Studios, Memphis, July 5, 1954) - Interview With Elvis - Jay Thompson, Wichita Falls, Texas, April 10, 1956
- I Want You I Need You I Love YouI Want You, I Need You, I Love You"I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" is a popular song written by Maurice Mysels and Ira Kosloff. It is known best for being Elvis Presley's second RCA single album release...
(Alternate Take 14) (Recorded: RCA Studios, Nashville, April 14, 1956) - Blue Suede ShoesBlue Suede Shoes"Blue Suede Shoes" is a rock and roll standard written and first recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955 and is considered one of the first rockabilly records and incorporated elements of blues, country and pop music of the time...
(Live) - Blue ChristmasBlue Christmas"Blue Christmas" is a Christmas song written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson. The heart-broken tale of unrequited love during the holidays had long been considered a Christmas staple of country music, having been recorded first by Doye O'Dell in 1948 and popularised by Ernest Tubb the next year...
- Jailhouse RockJailhouse Rock (song)"Jailhouse Rock" is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller that first became a hit for Elvis Presley. The song was released as a 45rpm single on September 24, 1957, to coincide with the release of Presley's motion picture, Jailhouse Rock...
- It's Now Or NeverIt's Now or Never (song)"It's Now or Never" is a popular song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company, in 1960. The melody of the song is adapted from the Italian standard, "'O Sole Mio", but the inspiration for it came from the song, "There's No Tomorrow", recorded by...
- Cane And A High Starched Collar (Recorded: 20th Century Fox Studios, Hollywood, August 8, 1960)
- Presentation Of Awards To Elvis - Pearl HarborPearl HarborPearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, Hawaii, March 25, 1961 - Blue HawaiiBlue HawaiiBlue Hawaii is a 1961 musical film set in the state of Hawaii and starring Elvis Presley. The screenplay by Hal Kanter was nominated by the Writers Guild of America in 1962 in the category of Best Written American Musical. The movie opened at no...
(Recorded: Honolulu International Centre, Honolulu, Hawaii, January 14, 1973) - Such A NightSuch a Night"Such a Night" is a popular song from 1953, written by Lincoln Chase and first recorded by The Drifters.The Drifters' original version, featuring Clyde McPhatter, was recorded in November 1953 and released in January 1954...
- Baby What You Want Me to DoBaby What You Want Me to Do"Baby What You Want Me to Do" is a blues song that was written and recorded by Jimmy Reed in 1959...
(NBC-TV Special) - How Great Thou ArtHow Great Thou Art (hymn)"How Great Thou Art" is a Christian hymn based on a Swedish poem written by Carl Gustav Boberg in Sweden in 1885. The melody is a Swedish folk song. It was translated into English by British missionary Stuart K. Hine, who also added two original verses of his own composition. It was popularized by...
- If I Can DreamIf I Can Dream"If I Can Dream" is a song made famous by Elvis Presley, written by Walter Earl Brown and notable for its direct quotations of Martin Luther King, Jr. It was recorded by Presley in June 1968, two months after King's assassination...
(NBC-TV Special)