BMG Heritage's 2005 release Love, Elvis is not the first Elvis Presley collection released in time for Valentine's Day, nor is it likely to be the last (although, to be fair, it's likely to be the first and last collection to bear a picture of Elvis visibly tongue-kissing a girl on the cover), but that doesn't immediately discount its merit. For...

BMG Heritage's 2005 release Love, Elvis is not the first Elvis Presley collection released in time for Valentine's Day, nor is it likely to be the last (although, to be fair, it's likely to be the first and last collection to bear a picture of Elvis visibly tongue-kissing a girl on the cover), but that doesn't immediately discount its merit. For one thing, it's a far more generous collection than other previous love song albums from Presley, weighing in at a hefty 24 tracks, which makes it a good value for the money. Secondly, apart from the rather bizarre inclusion of "Hawaiian Wedding Song" -- which may indeed work on the soundtrack for a Hawaiian wedding but is almost certain to be a speed bump on any romantic evening -- this is a well-chosen batch of songs, containing such staples as "Are You Lonesome Tonight?," "Can't Help Falling in Love," "Always on My Mind," and "It's Now or Never," along with lesser-known hits and sides from the '60s and '70s. Only one cut is previously unreleased -- "alternate take 3" of "For the Good Times," which is fine, but hardly a lost treasure -- making this not of great interest for collectors, but anybody wanting a good romantic Elvis album will be satisfied. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi