“Months after what would have been Elvis Presley’s 80th birthday, a new album will arrive presenting the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll in a different context,” writes Elysa Gardner in Wednesday’s (8/5) USA Today. “If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley With the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, due Oct. 30, pairs vocals Presley recorded between 1956 and 1973 with new orchestral accompaniment. Michael Bublé performs a virtual duet of ‘Fever,’ and guitarist Duane Eddy appears on ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ and ‘An American Trilogy.’ The popera trio Il Volo lends additional vocals to ‘It’s Now Or Never.’ … Priscilla [Presley] recalled [album producer Don] Reedman approaching her about the project in London…. Elvis had always had diverse taste in music, she noted; the Hollywood tenor Mario Lanza was a favorite, and his album collection included recordings by opera star Enrico Caruso as well as B.B. King, Roy Hamilton, Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick and Mahalia Jackson…. Other songs on Dream are ‘Burning Love,’ ‘Love Me Tender,’ ‘You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling,’ ‘There’s Always Me,’ ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love,’ ‘In the Ghetto,’ ‘How Great Thou Art’ and ‘Steamroller Blues.’ Priscilla noted that part of the intent of the album is to showcase material that had been ‘lost,’ or was less popular.”
Posted August 6, 2015
