This five-disc set was the first release in BMG's effort to present Elvis's recorded legacy in a manner befitting the most important musical artist of his time. The strategy was simple--showcase, in chronological order, remastered versions of the King's 1950s output, from his sessions with Sam Phillips at Sun Studios (where they arguably invented the very notion of rock & roll) through his 1958 Army induction. Not everything Elvis recorded in the '50s was great (just as not everything he recorded in Hollywood was rotten), but there are dozens of tracks here that, quite simply, can make a bad day seem all that much better. Which surely still makes him the king of something. Suffice it to say this is one box set that lives up to its title. --Bill Holdship

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"The Legendary 50s Masters" gives Presley the regal treatment given his subjects: Dylan, Clapton, Zeppelin. Its 140 songs across five discs (including rarities and a 1958 press conference), and deluxe booklet (including rare photos and author Peter Guaralnik's essay) preface and tell the first, happiest chapters of one of last century's most compelling stories.

Starting before the beginning with Elvis' original demo, "My Happiness," the songs tour his amazing first year at Sun, his RCA signing and the seismic musical and film success that followed. Before influencing the world, Elvis acknowledges his own influences, covering songs by Bing Crosby, Junior Parker, Bill Monroe, Ray Charles, and Clyde McPhatter among others. We also musically meet the supporting cast: Scotty Moore, Bill Black, D.J. Fontana, Sam Phillips, the Leiber/Stoller songwriting team, and others who painstaking created this supposed rock and roll explosion using ageless musical ingridients.

This set has so much to recommend and celebrate. Elvis' voice in all guises (growler, crooner, hillbilly) has never sounded clearer in music now nearly a half-century old. The fifth disc is a revelation, containing alternate takes of Presley's hits, a piece of the "Million Dollar Quartet" session, and three songs from his Las Vegas debut (suffice it to say his conquering of the town would come later). Even without these treats, "The Legendary 50s Masters" would, by packaging alone, be the finest posthomous Presley release and, subsequently, one of the finest box sets ever.

13 of 13 found the following review helpful:

Definitive Elvis '50s compilationFeb 25, 2007
By Annie Van Auken
THE KING OF ROCK 'N' ROLL: THE COMPLETE 50's MASTERS is a four-CD set, with a bonus disc containing alternate studio takes, and a lot of "live" Elvis recordings-- MGM Grand stuff, mostly. Except for the acetate of "That's When Your Heartaches Begins" and the few alternates, DISC 5 is fluff.

The other four CDs however are a treasure trove of the music that defined "The King." From his one-of-a-kind 1953 recording booth acetate of "My Happiness" to the 1958 fast version of "Ain't That Loving You Baby," this set documents Presley's recording career in chronological order and without gaps.

The 102-page long box-sized book includes sessionography, discography, color photos of all LP, EP and 45 picture sleeves, an excellent bio in easy to read print, and lots of other color and B&W photos. Sound quality is excellent. This one gets five stars for the biggest star of all!

TOTAL RUNNING TIMES --

DISC ONE -- 71:22

DISC TWO -- 70:40

DISC THREE -- 71:49

DISC FOUR -- 62:39

DISC FIVE (Rare And Rockin')-- 61:31

15 of 16 found the following review helpful:

The King changed popular music foreverApr 26, 2004
By Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan"
Elvis is the singer who made rock'n'roll popular, although even in his early years he did not limit his music to that genre. This compilation containing (supposedly) every song that Elvis recorded during the fifties, plus alternate versions of some of them, shows just how good Elvis was at several different styles.

Here you get all his famous rockers including Heartbreak hotel, Don't be cruel, Blue suede shoes, Hound dog, Mystery train, Paralyzed, Party, All shook up, Jailhouse rock, Teddy bear and One night, together with great covers of Tutti fruiti, Shake rattle and roll and other classics. Of course, you also get his recording of That's alright Mama, the song that secured his recording contract.

Elvis also recorded a number of country songs, though not as many as he did later in his career. Sometimes (as with Blue moon of Kentucky), he re-interpreted them very differently from the originals, but most of his covers were more faithful, albeit adapted to his own style. I forgot to remember to forget, Old Shep, Have I told you lately that I love you, Your cheating heart and Fool such as I are among the country songs to be found here.

Elvis also recorded some brilliant pop ballads in the fifties. Love me tender is the most famous but there are plenty of others. Among the lesser known ones, I particularly like As long as I have you. Gospel music was important to Elvis and here you can find Peace in the valley, Take my hand precious lord, It is no secret and I believe. You also get the eight Christmas songs that Elvis recorded in the fifties including Blue Christmas and Santa bring my baby back.

This is the first of three boxed sets covering the music of Elvis. While the boxes for the sixties and seventies (which I reviewed a long time ago) are by no means complete, the music he recorded in the fits easily fits on five CD's. Indeed, there is enough room left for a long interview at the end of CD 4 (which I could have done without) and an entire CD of rarities.

This box illustrates just why Elvis was such a powerful influence on popular music in the fifties.

6 of 6 found the following review helpful:

The best box set ever, period.Dec 18, 2002
By Joseph A Jones
Elvis' monumental records of the 1950s are second to no one. The King earned his crown in the 50's and this set proves why. This set starts off with the 1953 acetate "My Happiness" which is the first time Elvis' voice was recorded on a record. After that piece of history, the first disc moves on to his most important recordings of all time and probably the most important recordings by any rock n roller, his Sun Sessions. Kicking off with "That's All Right", Presley began his smashing of music barriers and the soaring if his unmatched popularity. Other great Sun tunes (all of them are great, really) are "Good Rockin' Tonight", "Baby Let's Play House" and the final Sun tune, "Mystery Train". By time Elvis' recording deal was sold to RCA in November of 1955, the latter was climbing the national country charts and Elvis was a huge star in the southeastern portion of the US. The first disc wraps up with Elvis' first RCA sessions which produced classics such as "My Baby Left Me", "I Was The One", "Blue Suede Shoes" and his first #1 national hit "Heartbreak Hotel". The 2nd disc opens up with the phoenominal Lloyd Price cover of "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" which Elvis makes his own and continues through his 1956 material which includes covers such as "Shake Rattle and Roll", "Long Tall Sally", "Ready Teddy" and "Rip It Up", ballads "Love Me Tender", "Love Me", "Anyway You Want Me" and biggest double sided 45 single ever "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog" as well as many other treats. The 2nd disc closes and the 3rd disc begins with his 1957 material which nearly equals his '56 output in quality. All the big '57 hits are on here such as "All Shook Up", "Teddy Bear", "Loving You" and "Jailhouse Rock" as well as a handful of gospel songs, eight of his best Christmas tunes and the original "One Night" version which is titled "One Night Of Sin". I never cared much for the music from his fourth movie, King Creole so Im not going to go out of my way to praise to first part of disc 4, but the second half showcases Elvis' final tunes before his army hitch. Such songs as "A Fool Such As I", "I Need Your Love Tonight", "A Big Hunk O Love" and others rank up there with some of the most important songs he ever sang as well as arguable the last great true rock n roll songs of the 50's. Disc 4 closes with a nice 15 minute or so interview with Elvis before his departure overseas. Disc 5 is a mixed bag of treats which features mostly previously unreleased alternate takes of his 50's recordings or previously unreleased live performances as well as another acetate "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" which was recorded about six months after "My Happiness" and about 6 months before "That's All Right". Elvis later went on to record "Thats When Your Heartaches Begin" in 1957 and was the B side of his smash hit "All Shook Up".

Like the 60's and 70's set, this also features a wonderful booklet with pictures, stories, and session notes.

Most of these recordings, alone, are classics by themselves. When they are put together in an box set, you have the ultimate of ultimate, the complete recordings of arguably the most famous rock n roll performer and singer of all time from a decade in time where he could do little to no wrong.

5 of 5 found the following review helpful:

More than essential, An absolute must have!Mar 04, 2004
By Daniel Ribel Sr
If God appeared and said I could have only one box set, or even one collection of music on cd, this is the one I would choose. This set is the only way someone, who did not actually live during the 1950's and through the initial Elvis mania, could even come close to understanding what it was like and do grasp his impact on music and culture. The great thing about this set is that it covers, even though all in the late '50's, different aspects of Elvis' carrer. It contains the Sun Sessions, the birth of Rock and Roll, the recordings of, probably, his four best movies and movie soundtracks, His most successful and best Christmas music, great early gospel performances, alternate and rare studio and live recordings and of course, all the other secular recordings of the decade. This box set argues not that he was and still is the King of Rock and Roll alone, but the King of Popular Music.

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