Search - Elvis Presley :: Promised Land

Proof that The King could still ROCK in the 70s!

Burning Love | US | 06/11/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This new and greatly improved reissue of "Promised Land" shows that Elvis Presley was NOT a washed up has-been by the 70s. There are a lot of fine moments on this disk, which is composed of the entire 1975 LP of the same name as well as 8 out of the 10 tracks from the 1974 LP "Good Times". In fact, this particular release combines every master Elvis recorded in Stax Studios in December '73.1-PROMISED LAND Elvis goes full steam on this Chuck Berry rocker. This particular mix is very groovy, with the echo effect and the backing vocals. For some reason, on the "Walk a Mile In My Shoes" 70s box, they used an alternate mix, without the echo and no backing vocals. Fine outtakes of this song are found on "Rhythm and Country" and "Platinum: A Life In Music"2-THERE'S A HONKY TONK ANGEL This rather typical country song is elevated by Elvis' voice. Another example of the singer improving an otherwise ordinary tune.3-HELP ME Elvis really identified with the words of this song, a pleasant easy-listening tune. It is rumored that Elvis was so into doing this one, he was literally down on his knees in the recording studio when recording this one.4-MR. SONGMAN One of this CD's lesser moments, this is basically a throw-away number. It's not a BAD song, but very unmemorable.5-LOVE SONG OF THE YEAR Another so-so country tune, again elevated by Elvis' pleasant voice.6-IT'S MIDNIGHT An excellent ballad, Elvis lets his range get a good workout on this highlight.7-YOUR LOVE'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING Another fine song, again sung passionately by The King.8-IF YOU TALK IN YOUR SLEEP One of the funkiest tracks Elvis recorded in the 70s, this features a nice horn arrangement.9-THINKING ABOUT YOU Another fine ballad, again with a lot of compassion from Elvis.10-YOU ASKED ME TO A catchy country number, this features a nice arrangement, and fine backing vocals (especially Kathy Westmoreland's soprano singing).11-LOVING ARMS Recently recorded by the Dixie Chicks, it'd be no surprise if this particular recording was the inspiration of them doing so. Great vocals from Elvis.12-I GOT A FEELING IN MY BODY Another funky tune, featuring inspired singing by Elvis and a nice echo effect.13-IF THAT ISN'T LOVE A nice gospel ballad, sung with a lot of passion. Also of note is that it is the final gospel recording Elvis made in a recording studio.14-SHE WEARS MY RING Another ordinary country song, again elevated by Presley's voice.15-MY BOY For some reason, a lot of people like to dismiss this song as one of Elvis' lesser moments. I fail to agree... I think it's a WONDERFUL ballad and Elvis loved the song as well. In fact, he had performed it in concert months before finally recording it in the studio.16-SPANISH EYES An old standard, Elvis sings it very well, but it's nothing memorable compared to the other tracks.17-TALK ABOUT THE GOOD TIMES A very catchy song, this (along with "Promised Land" and "I Got a Feeling In My Body") shows that Elvis still had quite a rockin' feel in this point in time.18-GOOD TIME CHARLIE'S GOT THE BLUES Another fine ballad, Elvis again seems to relate to the words of this one. Fine singing and a haunting way to end an album as well.Nicely packaged with greatly improved sound when compared to the earlier CD releases of "Promised Land" and "Good Times", this is certainly worth the investment. Plus, it's a good starting point for those who want to hear Elvis in the 70s."

Best of Elvis in the mid-70's is great

Anton Karidian | Tennessee | 11/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"PROMISED LAND is one of the two or three best studio albums Elvis made in the last seven years of his life, that is, after 1970. The emphasis is on slower country ballads, but as with any Elvis album there's a mix of styles, from the infectious rocker "Promised Land" to the exotic romance of "Spanish Eyes." Several are spiritually oriented: "Help Me," "I Got a Feelin' in My Body," and "If That Isn't Love." Though Elvis's health had declined some by 1973, there's little evidence of that here - his voice was still strong and he sang with much conviction. Still, the material and Elvis himself seldom equal the benchmark he set in his great 1969 Memphis sessions (check the CD SUSPICIOUS MINDS), but that was perhaps the peak of his career.



As with most of his '70s recordings, PROMISED LAND has a very "lush" background of instrumentals and vocals, but in my opinion this is seldom excessive ("My Boy" being an exception) and never is Elvis himself hard to hear. The stereo sound quality is very good, apart from an occasional background hiss.



PROMISED LAND is one of three albums that came from Elvis's 1973 "Stax Sessions" in Memphis. Tracks 11-18 on this CD were not on the original album, but are the best songs from the album Good Times, making this a really great deal. The weakest of the Stax albums, but still well worth having, is Raised on Rock. Together, they disprove the common notion that Elvis was no longer making good music by 1973. Listen to these recordings and hear that he was still The King."

Obscure Elvis album from the '70s a surprise treat

Don Barrie | Toronto, Canada | 06/25/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The year 1973 consisted of major high and low points for Elvis. His Aloha from Hawaii special at the beginning of the year was popular, but the only albums that were selling were his older recordings. Elvis' health was starting to decline due to dependence on prescription drugs and an unforgiving tour schedule. According to Ernst Jorgensen in his book ELVIS PRESLEY: A LIFE IN MUSIC, Elvis was also losing interest in recording new material. Most of the new recordings he released that year, found on the RAISED ON ROCK album, were considered a disappointment. Elvis was in poor voice and was not committed to the material, even though the album was recorded at the famed Stax Studios in Memphis with a supportive group of musicians. But somehow, the recordings on PROMISED LAND cut in December of that year reveal Elvis in good voice, despite having lost most of its youthfulness.The tracks on PROMISED LAND were also recorded in Memphis, and were a vast improvement over most of the songs that appeared on RAISED ON ROCK. PROMISED LAND was originally released in 1975, following the GOOD TIMES album, which featured other songs from the '73 Memphis sessions (and eight of them are on this upgraded reissue). Elvis had been focusing more on country and modern gospel music during this period, and less on the uptempo rock music that made him famous. He was familiar and happy with songs like "She Wears My Ring," which he often sung privately at home, and "Help Me," a contemporary Christian number by Gatlin brother Larry Gatlin). He gives sensitive readings of "Loving Arms," "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" and the divorce-themed ballad "My Boy" (the latter reflects the obvious pain he felt after leaving his wife Priscilla and his only child, daughter Lisa Marie). His excellent cover of Chuck Berry's rocker "Promised Land" reveals a performer at the peak of his powers, and not a performer in decline. This 2000 reissue of PROMISED LAND is a good way to begin a collection of Elvis' 1970s recordings. The sound quality is a major improvement over the previous 1989 CD release, as Elvis' vocals and music accompaniment are heard clearly. The CD itself provides a late-career sampling of the music Elvis loved or had an influence on -- rock, R&B, country, MOR pop, and gospel -- and his range is demonstrated, both vocally and musically. He would never sound this good again."