322. Elvis Presley, "From Elvis in Memphis"

 


By 1968, Elvis was mostly washed up.  After he got out of the Army in 1960, at the direction of manager/Svengali Col. Tom Parker, he embarked on a series of movies and accompanying soundtracks that became increasingly unsuccessful and cringeworthy as the decade dragged on.  Just imagine, the King of Rock & Roll reduced to singing crap like "No Room to Rumba in a Sports Car" and "Rock-A-Hula Baby."

Parker must have known that the golden goose was about to  croak and arranged a TV special, called simply "Elvis," that aired in December 1968.  Now known as the "Elvis Comeback Special," it was a sensation.  Elvis looked and sang great, hearkening back to the rock days of the 50's that made him an icon.  If you haven't seen it, it's worth watching at least some of it.  It's great, no joke.  Here's a sample:


Following the success of the Comeback Special, Elvis wanted to record a new album.  He didn't go to his usual studios in New York and Nashville, instead decamping to American Sound Studio in Memphis, where he recorded this great album.  It starts with Elvis wailing "I had to leave town for a little while," so meta.  The song is "Wearin' That Loved On Look," a Dallas Frazier blues-rock joint that the King really brings to life.  Through 12 songs, he moves through melancholy ballads like Eddy Arnold's "I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)", blues like "Power of My Love" and classics like "Long Black Limousine," maybe my favorite track on here.  That song has been covered by everyone from Merle Haggard to the Grateful Dead, but this version is maybe the best-known and for good reason.  Elvis really pours it all out here, giving what could be a treacly mess a sensitive and emotional reading.  It's great.

One weird note - one of the songs from these sessions that wasn't put on this album but was released as a single went on to become one of Elvis's biggest songs, "Suspicious Minds."  (Later CD releases included it.)  

Does this album deserve to be in the Top 500? You bet.

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