Best track on "Today" LP 1975

#615262

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

#615724

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

#615847

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

Rob · #615895

"Pieces Of My Life" gets my vote.

#616045

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.

#616886

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

Kind regards//Björn

#617117

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.

#617132

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?

#617166

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

#617170

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

#617186

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...............

#617529

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

#617553

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..................

#617562

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

#617581

JamieAKelley

I almost voted for "Woman Without Love"

My God!

#617867

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)

#618670

Code: Select all

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

#618693

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

#622369

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

#622589

Pieces of my life

#623511

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

#623749

Pieces Of My Life.

Deleted User 1099 · #623825

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.

#623854

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

#623858

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..............................

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