Simultaneously with the long player "Elvis Presley" RCA Victor also released an extended player and a double extended player of the same name. In contrast to the single ep this set didn't chart, but RCA Victor still sold several 100,000 copies.

The label must have puzzled the fans somewhat, because with "Elvis Presley" (the album), "Elvis Presley" (the ep) and "Elvis Presley" (the double-ep) there were three releases of the same name and with the same artwork. At least the back covers were designed differently, here a photo made at one of Elvis' appearances on "The Stage Show" was used.

The ep is not available on the streaming platforms since all tracks can be found on the album "Elvis Presley" (1956).  

The song is based on an occurrence Johnny Cash had witnessed while on military service in Landsberg Am Lech/Germany. His supervisor always used to say "don't step on my blue suede shoes" when he wanted to point out one should not challenge him. Cash told the story to Carl Perkins and when he saw a dancing couple with the man keeping the lady at distance to avoid she was stepping on his shoes, he mixed the incidents and turned them into a song. He called the result "Blue Suede Shoes" and released it on January 1, 1956 on a single. Because Elvis liked the song and had performed it on television Steve Sholes pressed him to record it in the studio. The young singer gave in and put the song on tape on January 30, 1956 within ten takes. Sholes planned to release the song on a single and use the market power of RCA Victor to entice the hit away from Carl. It is said that Elvis opposed and the track was used on the album only. However, in August 1956 "Blue Suede Shoes" was issued on a single with "Tutti Frutti", another cover version of a recent hit. Elvis re-recorded "Blue Suede Shoes" in 1960 for the movie "G.I. Blues", but this time in a much tamer arrangement. Live versions can be found on "From Memphis To Vegas / From Vegas To Memphis" (1969) and "Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite" (1973). Another recording, this time made in 1968 for the tv special "SINGER presents Elvis", was featured on "A Legendary Performer - Volume 2" (1976). It's safe to say that Elvis never even came close to his great original recording.

The ballad was penned by Don Robertson and recorded by Elvis on January 11, 1956 at the RCA Studio in Nashville/Tennessee. The slow song costed him some effort, he needed 17 takes before he archived a satisfactory result. In general I like this song, but I am sure that Elvis would have performed it better an later years.

In early 1955 Ray Charles had stormed the R&B-Charts with a song called "I've Got A Woman" and a very young Elvis had included it in his live show almost immediately. The song was based on the gospel "It Must Be Jesus" and was written by Renald Richard and Ray Charles. The Hillbilly Cat recorded it on January 10, 1956 at the RCA Studio in Nashville/Tennessee and needed eight takes to do so. Elvis himself obviously loved the song because he kept it in his live show until the very end. It's also featured on "Elvis Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis" (1974) and "Elvis In Concert" (1977).

On January 30, 1956 Elvis recorded "One-Sided Love Affair" within eight takes. The song was written by Bill Campbell. Today it's overlooked by fans and critics, but I like the song very much.

In early January of 1956 Little Richard had scored a number 2 hit with "Tutti Frutti" on the "Rhythm & Blues Chart", on the 31st of the same month Elvis recorded his variation of the tune. While the original artist had nailed the song within three takes Elvis needed ten attempts to get it right. Little Richard had written the funny song about the qualities of his female acquaintances himself, but his producer Robert Blackwell regarded the lyrics too raunchy and had Dorothy LaBostirie adjusting them. 

"Trying To Get To You" was written by Rose Marie McCoy and Charles Singleton and released in 1954 by The Eagles. In January or February 1955 Elvis tryed to record his own version at SUN Records, but Sam Phillips wasn't convinced by the results. On July 21st the Hillbilly Cat tried again and the master was selected for the a-side of a single. When RCA Victor bought the contract the plan was burried. Elvis himself must have liked this song very much, because live versions can be found on "A Legendary Performer" (1974), "Elvis Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis" (1974) and "Elvis In Concert" (1977). Even though I like the studio recording very much, my favorite is the one released on "A Legendary Performer", which was recorded in 1968 for the tv special "SINGER presents Elvis".

Anno 1956 Roy Hamilton released "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You)", Elvis recorded the song on January 31, 1956 at the RCA studio in New York. The young singer worked hard on the tune and needed 18 attempts to archive a master. In the song, written by Joe Thomas and Howard Biggs, the singer announces to descend into misery if his big love ever leaves him, but he does it in form of a happy uptempo popsong. In later years the song was also covered by Del Shannon, Shakin' Stevens and The Beatles.

The ballad was penned by Jimmy Wakely, Elvis recorded it in September 1954 at SUN Records in Memphis/Tennessee. He sings very emotional and the echo effect creates a great atmosphere, but somehow the song doesn't work for me. Maybe it's Elvis voice, maybe the lack of technique. I don't know.