Elvis Presley wasn't one for titles.
A humble boy from America's deep South, he knew that rock 'n' roll began before he first touched a microphone stand.
But if rock 'n' roll has one definitive figure – a King, even – then it remains Elvis Aaron Presley.
From those urgent rockabilly cuts to the grandiose figure stalking Las Vegas, Elvis became one of the 20th century's greatest icons, someone whose name – no surname is necessary – is practically a by-word in rebellion, sex, social upheaval, and life generally spent without rules.
Elvis passed on 40 years ago today (August 16th) – here, London based vinyl selector DJ Diddy Wah picks out a few of the King's greatest ever cuts…
There’s been plenty written about Elvis Presley by people far more qualified and better at putting words together than me so, instead of a cack-handed attempt at a eulogy, here are six songs that never stray too far from my playbox.
'Jailhouse Rock'
Everyone knows this Leiber/Stoller classic from the film of the same name and it excites dancefloors to this day. Let’s rock!
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'Blue Suede Shoes'
Similar recognition level to 'Jailhouse Rock', the opening just gets people on their feet. I know it’s Carl Perkins’ song, but Elvis made it bigger.
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'Viva Las Vegas'
Great for ending a night on an upbeat note. Huge sound, recorded long before Elvis’s Vegas period and he never played it live.
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'My Baby Left Me'
Like his first Sun single, this was a blues song by Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup before Elvis, along with Scotty Moore, Bill Black and D.J. Fontana, recast it as perfect rockabilly.
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'Crawfish'
A sultry ode to the Louisiana variety of freshwater crustacean that, round where I grew up, is known as a yabby. A duet with Kitty White from the movie King Creole.
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'Can’t Help Falling In Love'
Super slow-grinder, end-of-the-night erection-section gear. I’ve played this pitched down to minus 8, for extra depth and length, to a packed Dalston pub at 3am.
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Catch DJ Diddy Wah on NTS.
DJ Diddy Wah joins the line up for A Date With Elvis at London's Strongroom Bar tonight (August 16th) – a tribute to the rock 'n' roll icon.