Elvis Presley proves he was more than just Rock and Roll with #1 ‘If I Can Dream’ album
“Elvis wasn’t just rock and roll. He was not. A lot of his frustration was that people put him in just that category and genre of music.” – Priscilla Presley in October 2015 discussing the new If I Can Dream album
In its first week of release, Elvis Presley’s new collaboration with London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, If I Can Dream, debuted at #1 on the official UK and Australia album charts and #2 in Ireland. On the Billboard U.S. music charts, the album debuted at #1 on Top Classical Crossover, #9 on Top Current Albums and #21 on the Top 200. The King of Rock and Roll and a full-blown orchestra may seem like an unlikely pairing, but in fact, this style of music couldn’t be better-suited for Elvis.
As discussed in the new book, Elvis: Behind The Legend, Presley had a diverse range of musical tastes, which contributed to his ability to masterfully combine different genres and, as a result, be hailed as The King of Rock and Roll. However, Presley did not grow up wanting to be a rock and roller, but rather a crooner in the vein of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and even Bing Crosby.
Presley’s unique rock and roll sound was something he admittedly “stumbled upon” along with the help of Sun Studio founder and music producer Sam Phillips. It was only after Elvis became successful did his true musical passions start emerging.
While many rock and roll loyalists like John Lennon blamed Presley’s abandonment of his rebellious musical image on his two-year stint in the army, this period seemed to offer Elvis a welcomed opportunity to shift his style. A few months after his return from Germany in 1960, Elvis told a reporter: “In the two years I was in the army, I think the music got better. There wasn’t so much of the wild stuff.”
Moving away from the “wild stuff,” Elvis turned to an old Italian song recorded by opera star, Mario Lanza, for his next big hit. “It’s Now or Never,” based on the song “O Sole Mio,” came out in the summer of 1960 and became Presley’s biggest single with more than 20 million records sold worldwide. This song is included on If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and features a more Italian sound with the help of the trio Il Volo as backup singers.
As Elvis matured, he would record many slower ballad-type songs that any crooner like Sinatra or Martin would have sang. In the 1970s, Presley’s live shows featured a variety of songs ranging from gospel to R&B to pop ballads.
The first track, “Burning Love,” is the only rock song included on If I Can Dream, and may seem out of place to some fans. It starts off with an unrelated classical intro and then cleverly merges the rock and roll beat with strings in the background. While some purists may have trouble accepting the enhanced version of this song, repeated listening on full surround sound should quickly change their minds.
This reviewer can’t stress enough the importance of listening to the CD on either a car stereo or home stereo system to hear the brilliant sound of Presley’s voice, accompanied by the fullness of the orchestra. If a listener makes the mistake of listening to the album through flat speakers, like those of a computer, they will not fully appreciate the instrumentation of the songs. In addition, flat speakers may give the illusion that Elvis’ voice is being overpowered by the orchestra, but as evident on the full stereo sound, that is not the case.
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Where the collaboration works best is in songs that originally had empty spots in their instrumentation. For example, The Royal Philharmonic fits in perfectly with songs like “Love Me Tender,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”. In “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, the combination of Presley’s voice and the orchestra mesh together perfectly. Priscilla has a soft spot for this song since Elvis dedicated this song to her during a concert in Las Vegas after they had just learned that one of their beloved horses had died back at Graceland.
“This would be a dream come true for Elvis,” Priscilla Presley said about the album. “He would have loved to play with such a prestigious symphony orchestra. The music…the force that you feel with his voice and the orchestra is exactly what he would have done.”
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Another one of the best recordings of Elvis’ voice coupled with the orchestra is surprisingly not even on the If I Can Dream album. “What Now My Love” which was also recorded with the Royal Philharmonic, was only released on the recent Elvis Forever CD from the US Postal Service. The omission of this song is a shame because “What Now My Love” is such a great fit to the overall theme of the album.
As a whole, the album is a great representation of how Elvis could match up to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin any day and will hopefully bring a new appreciation for Presley as the diverse, multi-talented artist he was: The King of Rock and Roll and so much more.
–Review by Trina Young
I have thoroughly enjoyed becoming back in touch w/Elvis Presley since purchasing a van with a Sirius XM Radio!! I listen to Channel 19 pretty much every time I am in the van driving and on trips. I was born in 1949 so familiar with his movies in late 50s, early 60s. I still have two RCA 45s still, each side w/two songs for total of 4/record in their jackets, having been played may times after purchasing. I have learned so much listening to GK and his guests/phone and discussed and those who have given phone interview conversations. Keep up with the wonderful job of sharing Elvis’ talent, song, musicianship, and his person. He was talented beyond the Public’s knowledge at that time. I am glad his PASSION has been coming to be known and appreciated. Blessings to Priscilla and Lisa Maria for their continuing Love and Support in their endeavors to preserve, share, educate Elvis’ affect in our society and music. Priscilla was surely meant to be where she was at the time she was introduced to Elvis and definitely vice-versa! One of my goals is to visit (again) and tour Graceland in 2016!! Thanks to Everyone for their works and contributions!! Very Much APPRECIATED.
I agree with this post. I was born in 1939 and Elvis’s music filled my soul. I love the new rendition with the Philhormanic Orch. I really appreciate Pricilla and Lisa Maria for their devotion to us fans and keeping Elvis’ music current and out there for the world, They are recruiting more and more E fans as they keep his music alive. Thank you, Thank you very much.
From a Mississippi fan.