Great Man

Six tunes from Elvis Presley's movies are the centerpiece of this, the second of three discs contained in the superb Elvis: The Great Performances set; and while his 33 films were generally atrocious, songs like "Trouble," "Return to Sender," and "Treat Me Nice" are a delight. Elsewhere, "The Man and the Music" touches on (via narration, some charming home movies, etc.) Presley's very first recording ("My Happiness," a gift to his beloved mother), his induction into the army, his life with (and divorce from) Priscilla, the absurd decision to shoot his TV performances from the waist up, and his return to live concerts after a decade-long layoff. As usual, it's the music that carries the day: one look at "Shake, Rattle and Roll" from the Dorsey Brothers' TV show in '56 is ample proof that in his heyday, Elvis Presley was a serious contender for the title of coolest guy on the planet. --Sam Graham