Moody Blue [US Bonus Tracks]

Performer: Elvis Presley
Artist: The Sweet Inspirations; J.D. Sumner & The Stamps
Producer: Chick Crumpacker (Reissue)
Distributor: BMG (distributor)

Notes: Personnel includes: Elvis Presley (vocals); The Sweet Inspirations, Sherrill Nielson, Kathy Westmoreland, J.D. Sumner & The Stamps, Myrna Smith (background vocals). Engineers: Brian Christian, Mike Moran, Clair Brothers. Recorded between February 4, 1976 & April 25, 1977. Includes liner notes by Colin Escott. Elvis' last studio album is, in fact, a hodgepodge of recordings from several 1976 studio sessions and four concert tracks. Also included among the live songs are the Olivia Newton John hit, "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)," a pretty silly take on the Gladiolas' "Little Darlin'," and one of Elvis' favorite songs, "Unchained Melody." Studio tracks include covers of Jim Reeves' country hit "He'll Have to Go," the George Jones hit "She Thinks I Still Care," and two singles that reached the pop Top 40, "Way Down" and the title track. The abundance of country songs on MOODY BLUE reflects the shift in Presley's audience, as does the chart performance of both singles (each reached the number one position on Billboard's country chart). Presley's vocals for the studio tracks were recorded in his den at Graceland. The last Elvis Presley album released in the singer's lifetime, Moody Blue has a somewhat checkered history, especially among fans. Issued two months before Presley died, the album sold moderately well until Presley died -- then it soared up the charts to number three, as his most current album, and it ultimately sold two million copies. As to the music, the original ten-song album was a mixed bag of live recordings, interspersed with new studio work from the previous fall at Graceland. For all of its slapped-together feel, however, Moody Blue held up. The title song, authored by Mark James (who'd previously written "Suspicious Minds"), was just about as good a single as Elvis released in the 1970s, topping the country charts earlier in 1977; additionally, he did a superb re-interpretation of the George Jones hit "She Thinks I Still Care." "Little Darlin'" was almost more of a burlesque of the '50s rock & roll standard than a real performance, but it is more than made up for by the presence of the Johnny Ace classic "Pledging My Love," done with depth and sincerity. At the time, "Let Me Be There" was also on the album, drawn from the 1974 Memphis live album, but it has been removed from the spring 2000 CD remastering, with nine songs from a series of early February 1976 session substituting for it. Some of the 1976 material doesn't hold up as well, but the bonus tracks end this CD on a high note with Presley's rendition of the Tom Jones hit "I'll Never Fall in Love Again." The 24-bit remastering has added a good deal of luster to the 19 songs here, making this the first proper way to hear this material. ~ Bruce Eder

"Before Elvis, there was nothing," John Lennon once said. An overstatement, of course, but Elvis Presley's ascendance to superstardom in the mid-1950s kicked off a musical and social revolution whose impact has yet to abate. After the charming young man from Tupelo, Mississippi was discovered by Sun Records honcho Sam Phillips, the wise studio owner took Presley under his wing, leading to the landmark recording of his first single, "That's All Right (Mama)." The rest, of course, is well-documented history, with Elvis going on to conquer the pop charts, the box office, and beyond. He truly was the King, and his blend of country, pop, and R&B became the cornerstone of rock & roll.

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