ELVIS LIVES

The girls and I listened to Elvis Presley en route to their school this morning.
The girls welcomed the brief respite from the almost constant reggae onslaught of recent weeks. I welcomed the chance to renew acquaintances with the King's musical legacy.
The music of Elvis remains a remarkably resonant force in popular music, in part because fans of all stripes can find something to their liking.
Kids adore "Hound Dog" and some of the other classics included in the animated feature "Lilo & Stitch."
Grandmothers tear up when they hear "Love Me Tender" or "Are You Lonesome Tonight."
Rockers can revel in riff-laden tracks such as "Little Sister."
The country crowd and blues followers can appreciate his interpretations of "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I" and "Milkcow Blues Boogie," respectively.
Ironic, kitsch-cherishing hipsters can nod approvingly when "Rock-a-Hula Baby" spills out of the speakers and even clubbers can share in the Elvis love, thanks to Dutch DJ Junkie XL and his technologically updated take on "A Little Less Conversation."
I recently read Peter Guralnick's "Last Train to Memphis." Guralnick describes the shocked excitement surrounding the release of the (now 40-year-old) sides cut at Sun Records. It was as if a black-and-white world suddenly burst into full color.
Elvis produced more than a few clunkers.
Still, the body of his work defies musical categorization and most of it still sounds great -- decades after Elvis recorded the tracks.
Take some time to listen to Elvis Presley today. You might not receive any revelatory insights into his musical legacy. You'll almost certainly have a good time, though.
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