Issued in early 2006, ROCK forms a trilogy with two other Elvis Presley compilations (COUNTRY and INSPIRATIONAL), each one focusing on a specific aspect of the King's legacy. While the latter sets present primarily late-1960s/early-'70s material, this appropriately lively installment features tracks recorded between 1956 and '58, showcasing Elvis as he tries superstardom on for size. This is of course the man who brought rock & roll to mainstream America, and while the collection includes many of the usual suspects ("Don't Be Cruel," "Hound Dog," "Jailhouse Rock," etc.), it also boasts more obscure sides such as the fierce "Hard Headed Woman," the swaggering film tie-in "King Creole," and the aptly titled "Party." Although there are numerous collections that mine similar territory, few have such clear-cut intentions, making ELVIS: ROCK a notable release.
