Commemorative albums

Elvis Presley would have been 67 last Jan. 8. That bit of info may be lost on today’s music lovers who probably see in the departed pop star a fossilized icon who did some great things but has now lost his relevance. Not so, millions of Elvis fans are sure to cry out. And this reaction is not lost on record companies who continue to churn out Elvis Presley albums whenever possible and most especially as a way to observe special days in Presley’s life.

This year the Elvis album by which we remember him by is The 50 Greatest Love Songs Collection. Elvis made hundreds of recordings during his lifetime and a lot of hits. Critics are wont to extol the praises of his rock songs, which influenced generations of performers and permanently changed the face of popular music. No question about that. Even the Beatles admitted that the music of Presley played a major role in the creation of what came to be the Beatles sound. There are others though, and they are mostly Pinoys, who react to music with their gut, with the achingly sweet passion that can only come from the heartfelt performance of a love song. And Elvis had a lot to offer in this direction.

Ask a Filipino what his favorite Elvis Presley song is and he will not answer with the seminal rockers like Heartbreak Hotel or Baby, Let’s Play House but with the O Sole Mio adaptation It’s Now or Never. Sing-along get-togethers will not be merrier with Mystery Train or Good Rocking Tonight but with emotional renderings of The Wonder of You or Can’t Help Falling in Love. Elvis may be the "King of Rock and Roll" but to most of his fans he is the most sentimental lover of them all. And believe you me, this holds doubly true today when most of those followers have reached a certain age and cannot rock as hard anymore. So why bother with Good Rocking Tonight when Love Me Tender and Surrender have the famous Presley voice in all its pristine beauty?

This is the Elvis Presley you get in The 50 Greatest Love Songs. The double CD package has Elvis at his best. Maybe because his movie roles did not give him the opportunity to show off his acting prowess he put all he had into these beautiful songs. Can you think of anything more expressive of loneliness than his version of Are You Lonesome Tonight? What do you remember most out of Blue Hawaii? Can’t Help Falling in Love of course. And when you think of love now lost but could have been, doesn’t Unchained Melody come to mind?

All these songs are in the album plus others. I can’t list down everything but I’ll mention the ones I like best. Suspicious Minds, I Just Can’t Help Believin,’ She’s Not You Always on My Mind, It’s Only Love, Suspicion, There’s Always Me, I’ll Remember You, Old Shep, Love Letters, and As Long As I Have You.

Movie theme songs

Still on commemorative albums. Viva Records came up with a two-volume collection of movie theme songs in observance of the 20th anniversary of Viva Films last year. The songs are culled from the soundtracks of famous films released from the past two decades and the contents of the album range from Basil Valdez to Blakdyak. Movies and their theme songs also evoke memories and I am sure that although there are some of you out there who might loudly describe Andrew E., as baduy, I am also doubly sure you remember Humanap Ka ng Panget and the memories that go with it.

The big treat in the package is the new recording with a pared-down arrangement of You are My Song by Regine Velasquez. There are rarities like Isang Lahi from Gabi Na Kumander by Rico Puno; Buksan from Saan Nagtatago ang Pag-ibig by Basil Valdez; Kadenang Bulaklak from the movie of the same title by Donna Cruz; Papa Bakit May Imelda from Gangland by Hachel Dalawis; and In Love from Radyo by Blakdyak. Not to forget, the usual Viva stuff, the theme songs that helped make record breaking hits at the box-office are all included. Sana’y Wala nang Wakas by Sharon Cuneta; Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw by Regine Velas—quez; Kahit Konting Awa by Nora Aunor, a medley of Kahit Konting Pagtingin and Kumusta Ka by Fernando Poe, Jr., and Sharon Cuneta; and many others.