Elvis Presley - Moody Blue

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Music reviews of Moody Blue

Music Review: The final recording sessions...and '77 concert highlights
Rating: 4 Stars

After 1975's "Today" sessions, Elvis never again recorded in a bona fide recording studio. RCA, desperate to get SOMETHING new from The King (that was not in a live concert format), it was decided to bring the studio to Elvis. In February of 1976 (and later in October as well), Elvis cut tracks within his own home, Graceland.

This CD features the two final albums by the King featuring new material. They have been combined together in this package, making it a nice little investment. Tracks 1-9 are from the original "Moody Blue" album, and tracks 10-19 were from the album "From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee".

1-UNCHAINED MELODY Recorded live in April of '77, this shows that Elvis's range has not deteriorated like his health and appearance had. Very effective, a similar performance was filmed in June of that year for the CBS special that aired shortly after his death. Although it didn't make the final cut of the special, it was later released on both the video "Elvis: The Great Performances-Center Stage" and the accompanying CD "Elvis: The Great Performances"

2-IF YOU LOVE ME, LET ME KNOW Elvis had been performing this song since his August '74 Vegas engagement, but no version of it was legitimately released until this one, recorded on stage in April '77. While not one of the King's more memorable performances, it's quite bouncy and fun. A similar version was recorded in June of '77 and is featured on the album "Elvis In Concert".

3-LITTLE DARLIN' This toungue-in-cheek performance, also from Elvis' April '77 concert tour, shows that despite being only months away from death, he still didn't lose his sense of humor.

4-HE'LL HAVE TO GO Elvis sings this Jim Reeves hit with a lot of nice low notes, comparable to "In the Ghetto". Recorded in Graceland in October '76, this would ultimately be the last studio recorded The King ever made.

5-WAY DOWN Also recorded in the October '76 Graceland sessions, this cool rocker showed that Elvis didn't do all slow ballads in the end. A late classic.

6-PLEDGING MY LOVE Recorded immediately after "Way Down", Elvis appears to be enjoying himself on this Johnny Ace hit. Nicely sung, a similar (and longer) version appears on "Platinum: A Life In Music"

7-MOODY BLUE Recorded in February '76 in Graceland, this is the closest Elvis ever got to doing a disco record. A happy tune, it did well on the country charts, peaking at #1.

8-SHE THINKS I STILL CARE Another country classic given a treatment by Elvis. Recorded in February '76 in Graceland, Elvis gives it a nice, if not outstanding, treatment. A slightly different version appears on "Walk a Mile In My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters"

9-IT'S EASY FOR YOU Recorded during the October '76 Graceland sessions, this melodramatic ballad would end up being the last song on the last album released during Elvis' lifetime ("Moody Blue", July '77). A haunting way to end a 20+ recording career.

The remaining tracks were all recorded during the Graceland sessions in February '76:

10-HURT A late Elvis classic, Elvis puts full gusto into this Timi Yuro hit. The power of his voice and range make this a must-listen.

11-NEVER AGAIN Another melodramatic ballad, Elvis puts a lot of soul in this rather ordinary tune.

12-BLUE EYES CRYING IN THE RAIN Nice lead guitar work on this one. Elvis sounds a little tired, though.

13-DANNY BOY Another old song given a try by the King. Not outstanding, but again kind of cryptic, considering The King would be dead a year and a half later.

14-THE LAST FAREWELL One of the lesser moments of the Graceland sessions, this ordinary tune isn't anything spectacular.

15-FOR THE HEART The most upbeat tune on the "From Elvis Presley Boulevard" album, this has a fine vocal by Elvis and cool background singing as well. A nice outtake appears on "Platinum: A Life In Music"

16-BITTER THEY ARE, HARDER THEY FALL Another melodramatic ballad, Elvis seems to pour a lot into this one. Not a song to play when in a manic depressive state.

17-SOLITAIRE This Neil Sedaka tune, recently a hit for the Carpenters, is done rather lethargically by Elvis. Nothing great by any means.

18-LOVE COMING DOWN Yet another depressing tune. One really wonders exactly HOW lonely Elvis felt at the time.

19-I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Although the album was entitled "From Elvis Presley Boulevard...", a better title would have been "Elvis Sings Really Miserable Songs". This Tom Jones hit actually fails in the hands of Elvis Presley. Elvis fails to hit the high notes that he had done so graciously in the past on tunes such as "An American Trilogy" and "What Now, My Love".

This album is essential for the Elvis collector, considering that these are the final recordings done during his lifetime, save for the June '77 concert performances released on the posthumous release "Elvis In Concert"

The artwork is heavily borrowed from the original "Moody Blue" album, but now with a bigger, more recent photo. The original featured a rather tiny photo from the November '72 (!) tour, while this one features a summer '75 picture.

Nicely packaged, with good sound, it is a worthwhile investment. The highlights far outweigh the misses.

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