Calling Elvis

Elvis died around this time  37 years ago. 

I'm not much of a fan but the best and the biggest were ! (Here's a fun BBC piece on when the Fabs met EP). By all accounts his music, the package beyond just the man, ignited the whole scene for them. Not to deride or anything - far from it ! - but my impolite, politically incorrect and possibly incorrect take is this  : which and how many other  alternatives did they have ?! 

That said, I do totally get his place in rock history.It's one of those 'time and place' things in life. Had there been no Elvis there'd have been another Elvis in his place. To me Elvis the phenomenon (the time-and-place context)  and the showbiz superstar as a human story (the blazing meteor that went to seed) is what it boils down to. 

My favourite Elvis music is from his last late 60's-70's phase. I really like songs like Suspicious Minds, I Just Can't Help Believing and this gem If You Love Me Let Me Know. It's from Moody Blue , his last studio - and my favourite - Elvis album.(This was the second Elvis record we owned , my sister bought it around 1983. Good tracks all, with a superb arrangement of Unchained Melody. The first Elvis record I unwittingly bought before that, nine years old and clueless,was the gospel music album  His Hands In Mine. I don't think I ever gave it a third listen !)