The barrel is nearly scraped clean, yet one angle in the King's career remained relatively unexplored on CD, until now - the Canadian connection.

 Canada was the only foreign country in which Elvis ever performed, in 1957, and he would later record several songs by Canadian writers. That's reason enough for this release. You guessed it: Elvis sings Snowbird. Originally included on Elvis Country, Anne Murray's signature song sports an absurd Elvian arrangement of sitar, strumming guitars, violins and a squad of singers whose whiteness is nearly blinding.

 He also does Gordon Lightfoot, Hank Snow and other hoary gems of frostback history, largely with the same broad vibrato and laconic vocal timbre that marks most of his work in the '70s. It's as if he was his own Elvis impersonator. A 1977 version of Little Darlin' (an odd inclusion, since it's not Canadian) is both hilarious and tragic.

 Every song here has been released on other records, such as Walk a Mile in His Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters, the last (and least) box set in the series.

 Of interest to those fascinated with Elvianic lore is a press conference conducted after the Vancouver concert in 1957. It's not especially revealing, but it's an unedited 22 minutes of the 22-year-old King answering stupid questions. (The CBC interview is better). Of Canada, all he says is, "It's really beautiful up here."

 Thank you. Thank you very much ....

Track Listing 1. Into... Jailhouse Rock
  2. Intor... (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear
  3. All Shook Up
  4. Loving You
  5. Until It's Time for You to Go
  6. Early Morning Rain
  7. I'm Moving On
  8. Snowbird
  9. (That's What You Get) for Lovin' Me
  10. Put Your Hand in the Hand
  11. Little Darlin'
  12. Beyond the Reef
  13. My Heart Cries for You
  14. Tumblin Tumbleweed
  15. My Way
  16. Vancouver Press Conference
  17. CBC Ottawa Interview with Mac Lipson
  18. CBC Toronto - Interview with Fans; Heartbreak Hotel" (excerpt live from Gardens)