THE BARGAIN BUY: Elvis Presley; The 1950s

With songs from the rock'n'roll era coming out of copyright and record companies shoving out old catalogue as CD sales decline further, you can expect to see many more collections like this.

In fact this four CD collection (48 songs which might have actually fitted on a double disc) is subtitled The Box Set Series, and that self-same imprint includes about 10 other similar collections which we'll get to in time.

But this commands our attention because six decades ago the first two songs here -- rocked up versions of the black blues song That's All Right and the white country standard Blue Moon of Kentucky -- started the rock'n'roll revolution . . . as much for the sexy face that Elvis put to the music as the songs themselves.

And this collection takes off from there with Good Rockin' Tonight, Milkcow Blues Boogie, Baby Let's Play House, Mystery Train, Heartbreak Hotel and Blue Suede Shoes (and others) on the first disc alone.

Elvis fans and collectors will rightly observe there are more thorough collections than this (notably that superb box set The Complete 50's Masters from '92).

But for those curious about the man who was the King and just wanting a good intro which takes you up to I Got Stung and stops off at key hits along the way, this is about as good as it gets.

And for another reason: these 48 songs come in at a mere $13 at JB HiFi stores here. I call that a bargain.

And for more Elvis at Elsewhere, we have acres of it starting here.