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A Big Hunk Of Love

CD

A Big Hunk Of Love
Rating:
4.2 / 5
Released: 2007/10/15 by Sony BMG
Each numbered CD comes as a ‘mini-vinyl’ replica card sleeves with an outer and inner bag. The outer bag features the original U.S. picture sleeve artwork, while the inner bag replicates a generic U.K. RCA single from the time of the original U.K. release. Rather than have the standard silver finish on the ‘playing’ side of the disc, each CD rear comes with a black finish, again to replicate a miniaturised version and the look of the original vinyl release.

ElvisNews review

Single #10 in the 2007 single re-issue series from BMG U.K.

Design

The picture shows Elvis stationed in Germany; the place Elvis was during the original release of the single. The numbered CD comes as a ‘mini-vinyl’ replica card sleeves with an outer and inner bag. The outer bag features the original U.S. picture sleeve artwork, while the inner bag replicates a generic U.K. RCA single from the time of the original U.K. release. Rather than have the standard silver finish on the ‘playing’ side of the disc, each CD rear comes with a black finish, again to replicate a miniaturized version and the look of the original vinyl release.

Content

After recording "I Need Your Love Tonight" Elvis taped the even steamier "A Big Hunk O'Love" with lyrics like "I ain't greedy baby, all I want is all you've got". From the first notes of the song this song catches you with the little offbeat drum, wild piano and interaction between Elvis and the band. The first take which is added as the bonus track shows clearly in which direction the final master would develop; a wilder version. In between these two versions of the steamy "A Big Hunk O'Love" the sacred sounding "My Whish Came True" is a bad choice for the flip side, or was it chosen to make up for the sexy sounding A side.

Additional information from Wikipedia:

"A Big Hunk o' Love", a song sung by Elvis Presley, was recorded on June 10, 1958 in RCA's Nashville, Tennessee studio, while Presley was on leave from the U.S. Army. It was released as a single A-side on June 23, 1959. Its B-side was "My Wish Came True". It was Presley's twelfth number-one hit, and it reached number four in the United Kingdom. The song was recorded in four takes; the released version is actually spliced from takes three and four.

The song was added to the "50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong: Elvis' Gold Records - Volume 2" compilation. The ninth album by Elvis Presley, issued on RCA Records, LPM 2075, in November of 1959. From two recording sessions in June, 1958 at RCA Studios in Nashville, and three at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, it is a compilation of hit singles released in 1958 and 1959 by Presley. It peaked at #31 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, and is considered to be one of the most successful and influential compilation albums of all time.

The song was revived by Presley in 1972 during his engagements at the Las Vegas Hilton in February 1972 and was used in his live shows until mid 1973. It was performed live for the last time on January 26, 1974. The song is included in the 1972 documentary Elvis On Tour and his 1973 show broadcast via satellite, Aloha from Hawaii. During this time period, the Elvis’ TCB Band, and featured Glen D. Hardin and James Burton played it.

Tracklisting


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stanton wrote on July 27, 2007
I now wanna tell a story from Germany, real short: twice a year there is a fesitval in Bad Nauheim / the Burgpforte is the Cover Art of that soundtrack, always was. The city of Bad Nauheim is NOT able to keep the cars from parking around that Burgpforte / name of the gate seen in background, so tourists can take a photo from the thing without it being parked full will cars. We even put up traffic signs saying "no parking" that we got for money at the local bureau in order of trafic equipments, and the inhabitants from Bad Nauheim still park there anyways. This is basically no big thing, but it is getting on our nervs big time, twice a year! That is what I wanted to tell about this cover, every time I look at it it reminds me of the troubles with the city of Bad Nauheim; even with little things like this - the struggle there is awful and endless, in many ways.
Rating: 3 / 5
Colonel wrote on August 08, 2007
stanton: This has nothing to do with the music, so why don't just review this single? Probably one of the greatest, if not the greatest rock-song Elvis did. I used to like the b-side more but now I think it could've been done better.
Rating: 4 / 5
JerryNodak wrote on August 11, 2007
"Big Hunk O' Love" is my favorite Elvis rock 'n' roll song of the '50s. I'm not as fond of "My Wish Came True," but Elvis sing it well.
Rating: 4 / 5
Mystery Rider wrote on August 11, 2007
I Love this song, a stroke of Genius by Col Parker making this the last 50's release in july 59 and not releasing another until until april of 60 and that one sold a million before it was even released. as much as i dislike the colonel he was a marketing Genius. They had other material still in the tank one being aint that loving you baby but he held out for the big payday and the New Elvis Presley that opened the 1960's.
Rating: 5 / 5
Jumpin Jehosaphat wrote on August 22, 2007
A big Hunk of Love was Elvis' last true Rock N Roll Song,being done in 1958 while on leave. In 1960 the new Elvis was born and the music did change, and so did Elvis.
Rating: 5 / 5