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Since From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential 60's Masters gave up the ghost of being a complete overview of Elvis Presley's '60s recordings, the compilers of the companion five-disc box set Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential 70's Masters — the third and final installment in RCA's justifiably acclaimed Elvis box set reissue series — decided to throw even the illusion of comprehensiveness out the window and just serve up five discs and 120 tracks of highlights.
Instead of adhering to a strict chronological sequencing, which the two previous boxes did, this is divided into two discs of singles, two discs of studio highlights, then one disc that attempts to present the ultimate Elvis Presley live show by culling peaks from several gigs throughout of the decade. This is a sharp move, since there is simply too much recorded material from the '70s to be presented either completely or chronologically, and his high points are easier to digest broken down in this fashion.
Truth be told, he didn't have too many outright classics during this time — just "Burning Love," "Always on My Mind," "Raised on Rock," "Promised Land," and "Moody Blue," ( -editor) along with 1971's excellent album Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old) — but it was a far more consistent era than the '60s, and it was more adventurous in terms of material and production, never sounding like pandering, which the early '60s could on occasion.
This is more evident on the studio highlights than on the singles discs, particularly because those two discs delve into records like Elvis Country, but the end result is a set that is far more consistent and entertaining than From Nashville to Memphis, even if it doesn't sustain the delirious heights of his late-'60s comeback.
If the fifth, final live disc is the kind of thing that you listen to only once or twice, it still crackles with energy, and the two studio highlights discs prove that Presley was still a sensitive, inventive interpreter of strong material, and the productions have a rich, robust diversity that keeps this interesting and enjoyable. To say that the '70s recordings are more consistent than the '60s is true, but it does give the impression that Elvis was as consistently brilliant as he was a decade earlier.
That's simply not the case — the best of the '60s recordings overshadows the best cuts here without effort — but this does have a diversity of material and sound (even if it sometimes borders on the splashy excess of Vegas) that not only keeps it interesting, it proves that, when pressed, Elvis was still restless and inventive.
Maybe the music here isn't as outright classic as those on the previous box sets, but it captures its era just as well, and provides the final piece of musical narrative while serving up some terrific music.
And if the final chapter of the most iconic figure in American popular music is not essential to a library, then you don't truly care for American popular music.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracks
Title
Composer
Time
1 The Wonder of You Knight 2:34
Composed by: Knight
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet
2 I've Lost You Blaikley, Howard 3:30
3 The Next Step Is Love Evans, Parnes 3:31
Composed by: Evans, Parnes
Performed by: Presley, Nashville Edition
4 You Don't Have to Say You Love Me Donaggio, Napier-Bell ... 2:30
Composed by: Donaggio, Napier-Bell, Pallavicini, Wickham
5 Patch It Up Bourke, Rabbitt 3:08
6 I Really Don't Want to Know Barnes, Robertson 2:54
Composed by: Barnes, Robertson
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet
7 There Goes My Everything Frazier 2:58
Composed by: Frazier
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet
8 Rags to Riches Adler, Ross 1:54
9 Where Did They Go, Lord Frazier, Owens 2:27
Composed by: Frazier, Owens
Performed by: Presley, Jordanaires, Imperials Quartet
10 Life Milete 3:10
11 I'm Leavin' Charles, Jarrett 3:51
Composed by: Charles, Jarrett
Performed by: Presley, Imperial Quartet
12 Heart of Rome Blaikley, Howard, Stephens 2:53
13 It's Only Love James, Tyrell 2:41
Composed by: James, Tyrell
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet
14 The Sound of Your Cry Baum, Giant, Kaye 3:17
15 I Just Can't Help Believin' Mann, Weil 4:34
Composed by: Mann, Weil
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet, Sweet Inspirations
16 How the Web Was Woven Most, Westlake 3:25
17 Until It's Time for You to Go Sainte-Marie 3:58
Composed by: Sainte-Marie
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet
18 We Can Make the Morning Ramsey 3:54
Composed by: Ramsey
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet
19 An American Trilogy Newbury 4:30
Composed by: Newbury
Performed by: Presley, Sweet Inspirations
20 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face MacColl 3:42
Composed by: MacColl
Performed by: Presley, Nashville Edition, Imperials Quartet
21 Burning Love Linde 2:50
Composed by: Linde
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
22 It's a Matter of Time Westlake 3:02
Composed by: Westlake
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
23 Separate Ways Mainegra, West 2:36
Composed by: Mainegra, West
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
24 Always on My Mind Christopher, James, Thompson 3:37
Composed by: Christopher, James, Thompson
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
25 Fool Last, Sigman 2:42
Composed by: Last, Sigman
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
26 Steamroller Blues Taylor 3:04
Composed by: Taylor
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
27 Raised on Rock James 2:38
28 For Ol' Times Sake White 3:36
29 I've Got a Thing About You Baby White 2:20
Composed by: White
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
30 Take Good Care of Her Kent, Warren 2:51
Composed by: Kent, Warren
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
31 If You Talk in Your Sleep Christopher, West 2:34
32 Promised Land Berry 2:55
33 It's Midnight Chesnut, Wheeler 3:21
Composed by: Chesnut, Wheeler
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & the Stamps, Voice
34 My Boy Bourtayre, Coulter, Francois ... 3:19
Composed by: Bourtayre, Coulter, Francois, Martin
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & the Stamps, Voice
35 Loving Arms Jans 2:50
Composed by: Jans
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & the Stamps, Voice
36 T-R-O-U-B-L-E Chesnut 3:02
Composed by: Chesnut
Performed by: Presley, Voice
37 Mr. Songman Summer 2:07
Composed by: Summer
Performed by: Presley, Voice
38 Bringing It Back Gordon 3:00
Composed by: Gordon
Performed by: Presley, Holladays, Voice
39 Pieces of My Life Seals 4:03
Composed by: Seals
Performed by: Presley, Voice
40 Green, Green Grass of Home Putman 3:35
Composed by: Putman
Performed by: Presley, Holladays, Voice
41 Thinking About You Batty 3:00
Composed by: Batty
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps, Voice
42 Hurt Crane, Jacobs 2:06
Composed by: Crane, Jacobs
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
43 For the Heart Linde 3:22
Composed by: Linde
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
44 Moody Blue James 2:49
Composed by: James
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
45 She Thinks I Still Care Lipscomb 3:51
Composed by: Lipscomb
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
46 Way Down Martine 2:38
Composed by: Martine
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
47 Pledging My Love Robey, Washington 2:50
Composed by: Robey, Washington
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
48 Twenty Days and Twenty Nights Weisman, Westlake 3:15
49 I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago Presley, Traditional 3:28
50 The Fool Ford 2:24
51 A Hundred Years from Now [#] Flatt, Scruggs 1:40
52 Little Cabin on the Hill Flatt, Monroe 1:47
53 Cindy, Cindy Fuller, Kaye, Weisman 2:31
54 Bridge over Troubled Water Simon 4:29
55 Got My Mojo Working/Keep Your Hands Off of It Foster, Presley 4:34
56 It's Your Baby, You Rock It Fowler, Milete 2:59
57 Stranger in the Crowd Scott 3:47
58 Mary in the Morning Cymbal, Rashkow 4:11
Composed by: Cymbal, Rashkow
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet
59 It Ain't No Big Thing (But It's Growing) Hall, Merritt, Merritt 2:46
Composed by: Hall, Merritt, Merritt
Performed by: Presley, Nashville Edition
60 Just Pretend Fletcher, Flett 4:02
61 Faded Love [#] Wills, Wills 4:06
62 Tomorrow Never Comes [#] Bond, Tubb 4:04
Composed by: Bond, Tubb
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet
63 Make the World Go Away Cochran 3:35
Composed by: Cochran
Performed by: Presley, Jordanaires, Imperials Quartet
64 Funny How Time Slips Away Nelson 4:19
Composed by: Nelson
Performed by: Presley, Jordanaires, Imperials Quartet
65 I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water [#] Babcock 4:57
66 Snowbird MacLellan 2:04
67 Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On David, Williams 3:02
68 Amazing Grace [#] Newton 3:26
69 (That's What You Get) For Lovin' Me Lightfoot 2:08
Composed by: Lightfoot
Performed by: Presley, Nashville Edition
70 Lady Madonna [#] Lennon, McCartney 1:20
71 Merry Christmas, Baby Baxter, Moore 5:43
72 I Shall Be Released [#] Dylan :48
73 Don't Think Twice, It's All Right [#] Dylan 4:00
74 It's Still Here [version] Hunter 3:29
75 I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen [Original Undubbed Version] Traditional, Westendorf 2:28
76 I Will Be True Hunter 2:34
77 My Way [#] Anka, Francois, Revaux ... 4:32
Composed by: Anka, Francois, Revaux, Thibault
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet
78 For the Good Times [#] Kristofferson 3:11
Composed by: Kristofferson
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
79 Just a Little Bit Bass, Brown, Thornton ... 2:31
Composed by: Bass, Brown, Thornton, Washington
80 It's Diff'rent Now [#] Westlake 2:31
Composed by: Westlake
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
81 Are You Sincere Walker 1:59
Composed by: Walker
Performed by: Presley, Voice
82 I Got a Feelin' in My Body Linde 3:33
Composed by: Linde
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps, Voice
83 You Asked Me To Jennings, Shaver 2:52
Composed by: Jennings, Shaver
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps, Voice
84 Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues OKeefe 3:12
Composed by: OKeefe
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps, Voice
85 Talk About the Good Times Reed 2:36
Composed by: Reed
Performed by: Presley, Voice
86 Tiger Man [#] Burns, Lewis, Louis 3:05
87 I Can Help Swan 4:02
Composed by: Swan
Performed by: Presley, Voice
88 Susan When She Tried Reid 2:16
Composed by: Reid
Performed by: Presley, Voice
89 Shake a Hand Morris 3:48
Composed by: Morris
Performed by: Presley, Holladays, Voice
90 She Thinks I Still Care [#] Lipscomb 3:26
Composed by: Lipscomb
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
91 Danny Boy Weatherly 3:56
Composed by: Weatherly
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
92 Love Coming Down Chesnut 3:06
Composed by: Chesnut
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
93 He'll Have to Go Allison, Allison 4:30
Composed by: Allison, Allison
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
94 See See Rider [live] Traditional 2:33
Composed by: Traditional
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet
95 Men With Broken Hearts [live/#] Williams :31
96 Walk a Mile in My Shoes [live] South 2:57
Composed by: South
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet
97 Polk Salad Annie [live] White 4:46
98 Let It Be Me (Je T'Appartiens) [live] Becaud, Curtis, Delanoe 3:28
Composed by: Becaud, Curtis, Delanoe
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet
99 Proud Mary [live] Fogerty 2:30
Composed by: Fogerty
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet
100 Something [live/#] Harrison 3:40
Composed by: Harrison
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet, Sweet Inspirations
101 You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' [live] Mann, Spector, Weil 4:23
Composed by: Mann, Spector, Weil
Performed by: Presley, Imperials Quartet, Sweet Inspirations
102 Heartbreak Hotel [live/#] Axton, Durden, Presley 1:41
103 I Was the One [live/#] Blair, Demetrius, Peppers ... 1:19
Composed by: Blair, Demetrius, Peppers, Schroeder
104 One Night [live/#] Bartholomew, King, Steiman 1:47
105 Never Been to Spain [live/#] Axton 3:28
Composed by: Axton
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
106 You Gave Me a Mountain [live/#] Robbins 3:15
Composed by: Robbins
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
107 It's Impossible [live] Manzanero, Wayne 2:52
Composed by: Manzanero, Wayne
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
108 A Big Hunk o' Love [live/#] Schroeder, Wyche 2:02
109 It's Over [live/#] Rodgers 2:20
Composed by: Rodgers
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
110 The Impossible Dream (The Quest) [live] Darion, Leigh 2:29
Composed by: Darion, Leigh
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
111 Reconsider Baby [live] Fulson 2:41
112 I'll Remember You [live] Lee 2:35
Composed by: Lee
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
113 I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry [live] Williams 2:15
Composed by: Williams
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
114 Suspicious Minds [live] James 4:29
Composed by: James
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
115 Unchained Melody [live] North, Zaret 2:27
Composed by: North, Zaret
Performed by: Presley, Sumner, J.D. & The Stamps
116 The Twelfth of Never [#] Livingston, Whittaker 2:39
Composed by: Livingston, Whittaker
Performed by: Presley, Voice
117 Softly, As I Leave You [#] Calabrese, DeVita, Shaper 2:14
Composed by: Calabrese, DeVita, Shaper
Performed by: Presley, Sherrill Nielsen
118 (Alla En) El Rancho Grande [#] Del Moral, Ramos, Urange 2:04
119 Froggie Went a Courtin' [#] Creatore, Peretti, Rodgers 2:15
120 Stranger in My Own Home Town [#] Mayfield 4:37