Design
How to describe the design for this album? The cover of the original 'Return of the Rocker' LP was not very appealing, and staying as true as possible to the original, Søren Karstensen did his magic for this revisited 2025 edition, that mimics the style of the original. I understand what he did, but I don't like it. Like the original, the cover resembles Elvis, but it isn't actually Elvis.
The design does neatly combine the close-up of Elvis with the big-city picture, some thought went ito this one. This would have made a nice inner-gatefold.
The record label comes as fuel gauge, very nice, another illustration of the eye for detail in the design, and a nice follow up to the 'Rocker' LP that had a tire as a record label. The blue-colored vinyl from Nordsø Records plays as expected, flawlessly. The album is also available on a handful of other colors and splash vinyl variations.
Content
Presley was moderating his sound in this period, so even the rockier stuff wasn't as hard as what he had recorded in the 1950s. But songs like 'Little Sister', 'A Mess of Blues' and 'Return to Sender' still maintained his standard for up-tempo Rock and Roll, and this is some of the best material Presley recorded in the decade."
Listening to this compilation, 40 years after the release of the original, we can only conclude that the All Music review is spot on, but also that the album still stands as an excellent compilation of early sixties rockers. And presented here with upgraded Remixed Stereo mixes, it even sounds better than before.
The transition of Elvis from the rocker he was at SUN, to the slightly polished Rocker he was from 1956 to 1958 at RCA to the more 'Middle-of-the-Road' sound after his return from active duty in Germany is clearly audible. Fortunately this album still holds that raw edge that made Elvis "the rocker"; 'Little Sister', 'A Mess of Blues' and 'Like a Baby' have that hard edge, while 'His Latest Flame', 'Stuck on You' and 'Return To Sender' give us polished Rock and Roll (for the entire family).
The producers selected two great bonus tracks, 'I Feel So Bad' and 'Dirty Dirty Feeling' which remind us that Elvis still rocked in the early sixties, especially as some of the songs were recorded in 1960 or just after it.
As stated, the music was "revisited" too, Anthony Stuchbury created new Stereo Remixes of the original versions. And they sound great as usual, although there is a little too much echo on 'I Want You With Me' for these ears.
Conclusion
Like 'Rocker', this 'Return of the Rocker' is a nice upgrade of the original album, well, visually, that is. Realizing that it isn't possible - even with European copyright regulation - I still hope they will do a late sixties, early seventies follow-up compilation with rockers.
The album is available from the >>> Memphis Mansion webshop.