10 Songs that Explain Elvis Presley’s Genius ft. Baz Luhrmann | The Track Star Podcast

Filmmaker Baz Luhrmann joins The Track Star Podcast to talk about Elvis Presley and what made his music and live performances so powerful.

Using songs from the new concert film Elvis: The King in Concert, Baz and Jack explore what made Elvis a singular entertainer, from the raw power of “Polk Salad Annie” to the emotional weight of songs like “In the Ghetto.”

The conversation traces Elvis’s upbringing in the American South, the unlikely path that led him from Hollywood movie star to Las Vegas showman, and why the physicality of his performances, his voice, his body, and his connection to the band and the audience still feels unmatched.

Along the way, Baz also explains how lost archival footage, recovered audio recordings, and modern restoration techniques helped bring Elvis’s performances back to life.

Listen to our extended playlist for this episode:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1KGfBkN1GRwiqTLQoE711v?si=af4314587f534e14
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/the-track-star-podcast-episode-23/pl.u-aZb0geDs1j5Gj10
YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJwfZsOZW3kUSbp6dGgJfa3zAHQ_jXzkX&si=WQG_uE1uidwJ-YF_

This Episode’s Tracklist:
00:00 Intro
06:30 Polk Salad Annie
12:19 Wearin' That Night Life Look
21:09 Tiger Man
21:53 Burning Love
30:10 Never Been To Spain
31:17 Little Sister/Get Back
45:17 How Great Thou Art
49:52 In The Ghetto
53:41 Bridge Over Troubled Water
55:47 American David

New episodes of The Track Star Podcast drop every Wednesday. Let us know what artist, era, or moment in music history you want us to explore next.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1d5i6AQX4dZaO4MDCbdhjR
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-track-star-podcast/id1836496108
iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-track-star-podcast-294088650/
More platforms: https://play.megaphone.fm/f-rd86qotxojfhckdq6uaa

Track Star Team: Jack Coyne, Kieran Coyne, Henry Kornaros, Haley Sobel, Noah John, Alex Fabry, Sarah Mann, Ellie Aslanian, Ryan Dirgins, Lauren Kennedy