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Elvis Aron Presley went through many stages of evolution: outcast, truck driver, singer, cultural iconoclast, rock n' roll star, cultural revolution, soldier, relic, charismatic of messianistic proportions, cultural icon, punchline, mythical figure. He now may finally be remembered as the sterling singer he was, however, thanks to the new JXL remix of one of his forgotten soundtrack items, "A Little Less Conversation," which just hit #1 in Britain, finally giving him as many Numero Unos there as a little band called the Beatles. The single's poised to repeat that success in America.

And why not? Whatever you think of "Spinout," the Jungle Room, peanut-butter-and-banana sandwiches, or post-death sightings, Elvis Presley caught the public's imagination through two things: his unique ability to synthesize all American music styles and his fantastic interpretive qualities as a vocalist. That he managed to keep the public's attention after the music began to suffer is due to his remarkable charisma, an unparalleled force that was stronger than any ten other men in his peer group. It's the charisma that allowed him to get away with covering substandard songs like "A Little Less Conversation," but it's his musical ability alone that elevated it to a status it didn't deserve, creating something so endearing that the simplest of remix jobs could make it sound contemporary a quarter-century after his death. He may always be a punchline to some people, but the continuing evolution of our fascination with the King has to do with his ability to reinvent himself every time he's heard. Even, apparently, from beyond.

Here's a collection of links to the best Elvis sites on the web. As time goes on, this page will expand into loads of categories, all dealing with the King, his life, his music, and his legacy!

History