Elvis Presley’s Posthumous Compilations: A Closer Look

We now delve deeper into Elvis Presley‘s collection of compilation albums, exploring a mix of valuable, puzzling, diabolical, and exploitative releases that emerged following the music legend’s passing.

Elvis In Concert, the first posthumous release, has sparked both historical significance and exploitative concerns. The show, broadcast by CBS, showcased Elvis in a frail state and featured some performances plagued by decline. Despite memorable renditions of select tracks like How Great Thou Art and Tryin' To Get To You during the Rapid City concert, the visual record of Elvis on the tour was notably distressing.

Following Elvis’s demise, a surge of re-released singles and albums inundated the market, paving the way for a series of posthumous compilations. The ethos behind Elvis In Concert stirred a mix of anticipation and skepticism about what subsequent releases would bring.

He Walks Beside Me: Favorite Songs of Faith and Inspiration was one of these compilations, seemingly aligning well with Elvis’s religious inclination and adoration for gospel music. The album, however, fell short of delivering a comprehensive gospel collection, casting a shadow over an otherwise fitting tribute.

Elvis Sings For Children And Grownups Too! emerged as one of the most off-putting releases, marred by baffling creative choices. The gatefold special, laden with crayon scribblings, was an unexpected ode to juvenile aesthetics. Offering a range of songs that transcended traditional children’s tunes, the album veered into a territory that perplexed audiences with an oddity like Old Shep and a misleading inclusion of tracks like Teddy Bear in its kid-friendly façade.

As the posthumous Elvis compilation discourse unfolded, the industry navigated through a spectrum of releases, culminating in unique blends of respect, exploitation, and dubious creative initiatives.