Best track on "Today" LP 1975

Post by **dreambear** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:23 pm

Hi everyone!

It´s been a long time since the last poll but here we go.

I have mixed emotions to this album. It´s highly polished productionwise and it sounds like no other recordings by Elvis. The drums is quite heavy so Ron Tutt-fans has a good day while listening to this album.

Elvis sings perfect all way through, but didn´t do as lot of takes on every song that he used to do (perhaps, just because he was in such a good shape vocally). The album is way better than most of his other 70´s album, but something´s missing to reach the quality of "Country" or "Promised land". It´s probably the song selections.

The first track is a fantastic performance from Elvis, but I would have prefered a little dirtier background (a distorted guitar from James), like "Promised land" or "Whole lotta shakin´goin´ on".

"And I love you so" is also well performed.

"Susan when She tried" is a fun recording and bit unusual.

"Woman without love" is a bit overproduced in my opinion, but again, a solid performance from Elvis.

Side one ends in a style that Elvis could have made a good recording in his sleep. Isn´t there a saxophone somewhere? Unusual for Elvis in the 1970´s. Shake a hand is one of the better tracks here.

"Pieces of my life" is a masterpiece and probably the only song that can match the "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" here. There´s an extra nerve in Elvis´ singing here and the recording overall is splendid. Probably my favourite here.

"Fairytale" isn´t my cup of tea really, but the vocals are very good, especially when his voice cracks up a bit in the ending ("but I bet, you won´t forget me when...").

"I can help" is nice, but doesn´t really differs that much to Billy Swan´s recording. Elvis is out of breath in few places, most notably on "Our memories of Elvis vol. 2".

"Bringing it back" is a good enough ballad with a nice production.

The album ends with "Green green grass of home" and again, a solid version, but not that special (compare with "Gentle on my mind" where he makes the song his own).

"Today" is probably the closest contender to be Elvis´ cover-album (well, In some way, all his recording, with a few exceptions, are covers) and that´s the main problem with this album. Elvis fantastic vocals during those sessions saves the day. In less than a year, dramatic changes in his vocals would appear.

Keep voting!

Kind regards

Björn

Post by **Lennart** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:21 pm

I voted for T.R.O.U.B.L.E!
A great rocker and a song I often listen to!
I agree a dist. guitar would have been great but it´s still a rocking song.

The only weak track on this album is Woman without love, it´s not a disaster like This is our dance but I wish
Elvis would have done Susie Q instead.

I can help is really good but I don´t listen to it as often as I used to.
Pieces of my life is a strong performance but not my nr. 1 choise, still among the best on this album along
with the two I mentioned and Shake a hand.

Lennart

Post by **Suspicious Minds** » Fri Apr 17, 2009 11:16 pm

I voted for And I Love You So.
One of his best studio recordings in the 70's.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 1:08 am

"Pieces Of My Life" gets my vote.

Post by **RonBaker2003** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:34 pm

I voted for "T-R-O-U-B-L-E", but "Pieces of My Life" is also a very good one. My main complaint with the album is that the piano is way too loud for my tastes.

Post by **dreambear** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:51 am

Surprise! The title track is just on the third place so far.

Kind regards//Björn

Post by **JamieAKelley** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 3:23 am

I picked "Bringin' It Back", but there really isn't a bad song on here. It'd be cool if Sony re-released and pushed this album in the mainstream market. I think it's a *very* solid country album.

Post by **drjohncarpenter** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:17 am

dreambear wrote:Surprise! The title track is just on the third place so far.

There is no song called "Today" on that record, Björn.

Has anyone voted for "Woman Without Love" yet?

Oh, where is midnightx when you need him?

Post by **JamieAKelley** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:57 am

I almost voted for "Woman Without Love" - I love that song.

Post by **dreambear** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:36 am

drjohncarpenter wrote:
dreambear wrote:Surprise! The title track is just on the third place so far.
There is no song called "Today" on that record, Björn.

Has anyone voted for "Woman Without Love" yet?

Oh, where is midnightx when you need him?

Sorry! And the worst thing is that I was sober when I wrote that. At least,"T-R-O-U-B-L-E" was the title track of the single T-R-O-U-B-L-E/Mr. Songman

//Björn

Post by **ColinB** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:23 pm

dreambear wrote:...T-R-O-U-B-L-E" was the title track of the single T-R-O-U-B-L-E/Mr. Songman

Err.......................... no ...................... singles don't have a title track, just an 'A' side & a 'B' side...............

Post by **dreambear** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:21 am

ColinB wrote:
dreambear wrote:...T-R-O-U-B-L-E" was the title track of the single T-R-O-U-B-L-E/Mr. Songman
Err.......................... no ...................... singles don't have a title track, just an 'A' side & a 'B' side...............

Errr....that was just a joke...perhaps Swedish kind of humour.

//Björn

Post by **ColinB** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:27 pm

dreambear wrote:
ColinB wrote:
dreambear wrote:...T-R-O-U-B-L-E" was the title track of the single T-R-O-U-B-L-E/Mr. Songman
Err.......................... no ...................... singles don't have a title track, just an 'A' side & a 'B' side...............
Errr....that was just a joke...perhaps Swedish kind of humour.

Err...... so was my response............. perhaps English kind of humour..........

Maybe it's best to be German..................................... with no discernible sense of humour whatsoever..................

Post by **kuenzer** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:59 pm

Yes. It's best to be German. And surely ve haff humor. Ve haff the biggest humor in the Welt.

Post by **jeanno** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:04 pm

JamieAKelley

I almost voted for "Woman Without Love"

My God!

Post by **JamieAKelley** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:55 am

jeanno wrote:My God!

No, no - I'm just a man..

(lol.. sorry, I know that's a terrible joke, but I couldn't resist!)

Seriously, though, I do like the song (I think the whole album is solid)

Post by **jeanno** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:13 am

Code: Select all

No, no - I'm just a man..

Post by **dreambear** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:49 am

ColinB wrote:
dreambear wrote:
ColinB wrote:
dreambear wrote:...T-R-O-U-B-L-E" was the title track of the single T-R-O-U-B-L-E/Mr. Songman
Err.......................... no ...................... singles don't have a title track, just an 'A' side & a 'B' side...............
Errr....that was just a joke...perhaps Swedish kind of humour.
Err...... so was my response............. perhaps English kind of humour..........

Maybe it's best to be German..................................... with no discernible sense of humour whatsoever..................

In fact, I love english humour. Especially "Black adder" and some of the Monthy Pyhon stuff.

KInd regards!

Björn

Post by **rickeap** » Sat May 09, 2009 3:33 pm

Best - T*R*O*U*B*L*E by a mile but the album is very consistent and well sung. Weakest is a toss up between And I Love You So and Woman Without Love, and I probably take the latter

Post by **sylvain** » Sun May 10, 2009 5:00 pm

Pieces of my life

Post by **midnightx** » Wed May 13, 2009 6:33 am

If only more Jerry Chesnut classics had been available for this album....

Post by **BigredG** » Wed May 13, 2009 9:52 pm

Pieces Of My Life.

Deleted User 1099 · Post by **Deleted User 1099** » Thu May 14, 2009 12:25 am

I’m shocked that "Green, Green Grass of Home" hasn’t received any votes yet. And what the hell is "And I Love You So" doing with nine (sic!) votes? There are at least six tracks on this album that is better than that boring mediocrity.

Post by **midnightx** » Thu May 14, 2009 1:02 am

And strangely there are no votes for Fairytale which was a dynamic, mid-late 70's show-stopper in concert.

Post by **ColinB** » Thu May 14, 2009 1:08 am

midnightx wrote:And strangely there are no votes for Fairytale which was a dynamic, mid-late 70's show-stopper in concert.

It's the nature of these polls to distort things somewhat.

'Green, Green Grass of Home' and 'Fairytale' might have been everyone's second or third choice.

But you can only vote for one song..............................

For Elvis CD Collectors