BILLY SWAN
Like Elvis Used To Do (Audium)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

---

Well, actually, other than using the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis for the session, this isn't like Elvis used to do at all. Sure, Billy Swan sticks with the Elvis songbook all the way through his latest release, but he throws in twists and turns that the King probably never would have imagined--but he almost certainly would have enjoyed them. As many liberties as Swan takes with the material (a boogie-woogie arrangement of "Wooden Heart" is a mild example, a doo-wop "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" is a more typical one), he approaches each track with obvious affection. The composer and performer of his own #1 pop and country hit, "I Can Help," and a producer and sidemen on a raft of other top tunes, Swan is one of the very few that could pull off this kind of reinvention of such hallowed material without pulling charges of sacrilege.

I don't know how important this album is, but it's tremendously entertaining, and it has the Sam Phillips seal of approval to boot. It's a flat-out good one.

Track List:

Suspicious Minds * Mystery Train * Wooden Heart * Blue Moon Of Kentucky * Viva Las Vegas * Too Much * Milk Cow Blues Boogie * Heartbreak Hotel * Jailhouse Rock/King Creole * Love Me Tender * Sun Medley: Baby Let's Play House/I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone/You're A Heartbreaker/Baby Let's Play House (reprise) * Burnin' Love * Memphis Rocks * That's All Right (Mama)

© 2000 - Shaun Dale