Tracks included in the Koizumi compilation

Are you Lonesome Tonight? It's Now or Never I want You, I need You, I Love You

"We are expecting that this Elvis CD would also attract fans of Mr Koizumi," Mr Miyata said.

According to one report, Mr Koizumi even found time to write the sleeve-notes for the album, which, the record company said, commemorates the 24th anniversary of Presley's death.

The initial run for the 25-track CD, which is to be released only in Japan and will sell for just over $20, is 50,000 units.

Bad month for Elvis fans

Mr Koizumi has some claim to a special kinship with Elvis - they share the same birthday, 8 January.

His love of the King is shared by millions of Japanese, some of whom have been out marking the anniversary of his death on 16 August with renditions of his songs.

But the prime minister may have other reasons to be blue this August.

Japan's prime minister is no stranger to stardom himself

A nationwide opinion poll taken as he was preparing to visit the controversial Yasukuni war shrine showed a fall in his government's popularity of 5.1 points.

It is a worrying sign for the man who swept to power this year on a tide of public adulation of Presley proportions and who will soon be needing all the support he can get for his reform programme.