A New Album From Elvis? Sort of.

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Elvis Presley
Elvis: That’s the Way It Is (Deluxe Edition)
RCA/Legacy

How many versions of Elvis singing Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” would you like to hear? Is eight enough? That’s what you get on this mammoth eight-CD (plus two-DVD) set. Revisiting one of the true high points of his career, Elvis: That’s the Way It Is (Deluxe Edition) chronicles his summer 1970 run of shows in Las Vegas, when The King was in undeniably fine voice and great spirits. Contents include the original album of the same name, six complete shows (with not-quite-identical set lists), a fun disc of rehearsals, and, on the DVD side, the original theatrical release of the film chronicling the shows, as well as the special edition from 2001. Yes, it’s overkill, but also surprisingly, compulsively entertaining—assuming already you’re a fan. Encompassing the rollicking rock of his youth and the grandiosity of his grown-up self, Elvis would never sound this great again, whether belting out “Hound Dog” or getting convincingly angsty on a latter-day gem like the soaring “Suspicious Minds.” If it becomes disconcerting to hear him cover other people’s hits (for example, Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”), or indulge in corn like “The Wonder of You,” or break the mood with dopey wisecracks, ultimately Elvis’s obvious delight in being onstage transcends any shortcomings in the repertoire. Binge-listening is permitted.