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Elvis Presley: 2nd To None

2 Ratings: 2.5

2003 audio CD release

With the international chart-topping success of ELVIS: 30 #1 HITS, the handlers of Elvis Presley's estate attempt to capture lightning in a bottle again with ELVIS: 2ND TO NONE. This compilation does not disappoint, thanks to a mix of number one hits, … see full wiki

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Somewhat disappointing sequel to "Elvis: 30 #1 Hits"

Dec 23, 2008

by drifter51
posted in Music Matters

Rating:

When I heard BMG's dazzling 2002 compilation "Elvis: 30 #1 Hits" I was simply flabbergasted!! The audio quality on that disc was stunning and was far superior to other Elvis Presley collections I owned that had been released in the late 1980's.

And so I immediately did two things. First, I disposed of my older Elvis CD's and immediately ordered "Elvis Presley: 2nd To None". Since this compilation was released in 2003 I thought I had every right to expect a comparable remastering job to "Elvis: 30 #1 Hits." After all, the same note that stated "Mixed and mastered from original master tapes for optimal sound quality" appeared on both covers. Unfortunately, I would be remiss if I did not invoke that old saying "buyer beware". And I am here to tell you that I found this collection to be a huge disappointment.

Certainly it goes without saying that the material included on "2nd To None" is no match for the tunes that appeared on "Elvis: 30 #1 Hits". That collection included the absolute cream of the crop from Elvis' long and wildly successful career. But as Larry King might like to say the 30 tunes included on "2nd to None" "ain't chopped liver". I n fact, several of my favorite Elvis tunes appear on this disc including "Little Sister", "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" and his 1968 comeback hit "If I Can Dream". Also featured are several of his chart hits from the 1970's like "Memories", "Don't Cry Daddy" and "Kentucky Rain". And while one might quibble about the inclusion of 2 or 3 songs in this collection it is for the most part another nice mix of Presley classics spanning the decades.

But my problem is not with the music. My problem is with the extremely mediocre remastering job done on this disc. I found the sound quality on "2nd To None" to be vastly inferior to what I had heard on "30 #1 Hits". I must say I was bitterly disappointed. I don't pretend to be an audiophile and frankly I am not generally all that fussy. But the reason I picked up this disc is that I expected the same kind of sound quality that so impressed me on "30 #1 Hits". Instead I wound up with a collection that sounded about the same as those 1988 collections I had tossed away. I just don't get it. In fact, I really wish I never had. You have been forwarned!!!

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