Elvis Presley Albums (53)
'At the Louisiana Hayride'
Release Date 2/17/2004
Tracks 57
Label Charly
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Louisiana Hayride and Interviews with Elvis'
Release Date 11/25/2003
Tracks 19
Label Dynamic (Emp520)
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Live at the Louisiana Hayride'
Release Date 4/29/2003
Tracks 14
Label Dynamic
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
King Creole was the last movie that Elvis Presley made before he entered the army in the spring of 1958 -- it was also his last film in black-and-white, as well as his final effort directed by a serious old-time filmmaker (Michael Curtiz); and, apart from a few isolated, quirky efforts like Flaming Star, Change of Habit, and Charro, this was the last of his serious movies, in which Presley was trying hard, pushing himself as an actor and, really, all through the score, as a musician. This is reflected in the soundtrack, which is one of the stronger film-related releases of his career. The original 11 songs included a hot title track by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller that was a dazzling showcase for Scotty Moore's and Tiny Timbrell's guitars as well as Elvis' intense, exciting lead vocal. Leiber and Stoller's "Trouble" and Claude Demetrius' "Hard Headed Woman" have Moore's and Timbrell's electric guitars competing successfully with a five-man brass and reed section. Even "Dixieland Rock," if not up to the level of those other two numbers, features good playing and a strong performance by Presley, and "Young Dreams" is a decent midtempo number. The slow ballads are where the soundtrack falls flat, "As Long As I Have You" coming up to standard but "Lover Doll" and "Don't Ask Me Why" failing to excite or maintain interest; "Crawfish" can only have been included to bring the album up to the minimum acceptable length for an LP. [The 1997 remastered CD features rather upgraded sound and seven additional numbers that are outtakes from the score; these include two alternate takes of "King Creole" with considerably different guitar and brass parts, and two superior alternate versions of "As Long as I Have You," both in a much more spare arrangement -- basically just Elvis and a single piano accompanying him -- plus a discarded alternate title track ("Danny"). The undubbed "Lover Doll" is superior to the released version, featuring Presley accompanied by a single acoustic guitar. Even with the bonus cuts, this CD only runs 34 minutes and change.] ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
'Elvis Sings for Children and Grownups Too!'
Release Date 1/1/1978
Tracks 10
Label RCA
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What The Critics Say
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 reinterpretation 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. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Astonishingly, given Elvis Presley's physical condition, he (or his management) agreed to film a TV special in June 1977 at two concerts held in Omaha and Rapid City, SD. There was no soundtrack album scheduled, and it's hard to believe that CBS-TV actually would have aired the show if Presley hadn't died two months later, making it his final recorded performance, and making his records big sellers again. CBS showed the one-hour special on October 3, 1977, and RCA released this double-LP set, in which Presley walks through some of his best-known numbers, his fans are heard praising him, and his father signs off mournfully (in the middle of the album). "My Way," released as a single, made the Top 40 and went gold, and it and "Unchained Melody" made the Country Top Ten, while the album was platinum within two weeks. But it is Elvis Presley's least as well as his last. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
'From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee'
Release Date 1/1/1976
Tracks 10
Label RCA
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Elvis Today is often cited by writers as Elvis' uncertain return to his Sun origins. There really isn't that much difference from the trio that resulted from 1973's Stax sessions, with the lesser tracks being a bit more substantial. The sound is better but the packaging had become, at this point, practically offensive: One color close-up after another, almost all from the Aloha from Hawaii special (or that pre-bloated period), back covers with no notes or technical data, just ads for other Presley Product. Still, an album with "Susan When She Tried," "T-R-O-U-B-L-E," and a hilariously appropriate reading of "I Can Help" is worth listening to any time. ~ Neal Umphred, All Music Guide
