Elvis comments on albums in the 70's

[Menwithbrokenhearts]

Are there any known recordings or statements made by Elvis commenting on studio albums he made in the 70's? Likes and dislikes, how it was produced, how it came out, favorites and least favorites?

I've never read any critiques he gave out about his own work in the 70's. Just wondering.. Thanks

[franny]

I did find some info about Elvis and his songs/albums in the 70's...
Sorry, I know this isn't exactly what you were asking, but it does give info about that time period...I couldn't find Elvis' thoughts, but will keep looking...

franny

The idea presented by some media that the seventies Elvis was washed up commercially, a joke discarded by the record industry, is completely ludicrous. Had Elvis Presley left RCA in 1973/1974 they would have cut their wrists. And any other label would have killed to have him. From 1970 to 1974, Elvis had at least two of RCA's highest charting singles in every year except 1972 where he had just one - but even then it was #2 for the whole year! In 1970 Elvis and The Guess Who had all of RCA's top six recordings. Over the years, the other names changed on RCA's hit list but Elvis remained their constant. Counting singles and albums, Elvis sold at least 10 million records domestically in 1970 alone.

On the album front he was equally successful. For starters, he charted more albums in this one decade than any other artist in any other decade. Virtually every release was guaranteed at least 500,000 domestically and some like the ?Madison Square Garden? set, ?Aloha?, or ?On Stage? caught fire and topped the million mark or plus. While there were few dominant sellers, thanks to the excessive release schedule, people were still buying both new and old Elvis records. This does not even take into account worldwide sales. In England Elvis was a Top Ten regular during the 1970s - ie the single "I Just Can?t Help Believing" making #6 (not even released in the US!), "My Boy" #5, "Moody Blue" #6. Critic and sometimes FECC board poster Neal Umphred estimated in an article in "Goldmine" that Elvis moved more than 100 million records worldwide in the two years preceding his death.

Never has there been printed anywhere a notion that RCA even considered dropping Elvis. Their main complaint was that there wasn't enough product. Remember that one of the alleged reasons for the 1973 buy-out was to keep Elvis and the Colonel happy. This does not even consider the prestige factor of having Elvis Presley on the label.

On the road Elvis continued to break attendance records throughout the decade. In 1975 alone, when according to the myth he was a complete has-been, more than 60,000 folks packed into the Pontiac Silverdome for one concert event, just to watch Elvis. Even by today?s concert standards of super-domes that is a staggering amount.

[Menwithbrokenhearts]

I did find some info about Elvis and his songs/albums in the 70's...
Sorry, I know this isn't exactly what you were asking, but it does give info about that time period...I couldn't find Elvis' thoughts, but will keep looking...

franny

Thank you for that article. Very informative! And thanks, in advance, for looking for more!

[franny]

You're welcome, Menwithbrokenhearts!
this is tougher than I thought...finding quotes by Elvis, but I'm up for the challenge...lol

franny

I did find this bit of info...As Producer...

?So what it boils down to was Elvis produced his own records. He came to the session, picked the songs, and if something in the arrangement was changed, he was the one to change it. Everything was worked out spontaneously. Nothing was really rehearsed. Many of the important decisions normally made previous to a recording session were made during the session. What it was was a look to the future. Today everybody makes records this way. Back then Elvis was the only one. He was the forerunner of everything that?s record production these days. Consciously or unconsciously, everyone imitated him. People started doing what Elvis did.? Bones Howe Recording Engineer As quoted in Jerry Hopkins? 1971 book, Elvis, A Biography.

[0349054]

It could be a challenge to find quotes from him about the albums, as he was so apathetic towards recording in general by the 1970's.

The 70's became too repetitive, the same old publishing companies the same old players and the same musically bland results, with some exceptions. Looking back on the 70's Elvis was not recording to the calibre that he was capabale of. For instance, during the Stax and Graceland sessions, Elvis said that he didn't want to record but only did because he had to fulfil his contract with RCA.

[Indre]

0349054, well, I think all those recordings were great. It's true that Elvis didn't really show much eagerness to record towards the end of the 70s, but he still did his job very well.

Franny, THANK YOU so much for the quotes, VERY INFORMATIVE!!!

[orwell1976]

I think one of the greatest problems where the presentation and the ammount of the released albums. With the songs they had RCA VICTOR could have released one good album per year. The songs in their vaults could have been combined a lot better and the albums could have been presented in a better way. Instead of doing a great artwork and a good selection of the material they just threw out everything they had in the most ceap manner possible. And so everything looked so directionless, especially with all those Camden released in-between. Even if Elvis didn't record the best songs possible, with the release of one album a year (maybe with two singles per year) the results could have been a lot better.

[nashville cat]

It could be a challenge to find quotes from him about the albums, as he was so apathetic towards recording in general by the 1970's.

The 70's became too repetitive, the same old publishing companies the same old players and the same musically bland results, with some exceptions. Looking back on the 70's Elvis was not recording to the calibre that he was capabale of. For instance, during the Stax and Graceland sessions, Elvis said that he didn't want to record but only did because he had to fulfil his contract with RCA.

I treasure all the sides Elvis cut in the 70's, because I love to her him sing. I agree that Elvis was not performing at the level he once was. I wish he would have gotten excited about recording again. It's true that RCA and the Colonel were trying to milk the product for everything they could, but Elvis could have put a little more effort into it also.

Also, I wonder how the 1973 royalty deal affected RCA's promotion of Elvis' new material? To me, this has not been focused on nearly enough. They seemed to be putting a tremendous amount of effort into the Legendary Performer series, featuring the older recordings - that made more money for RCA. That stuff did better on the charts then EP's new material was doing.

[0349054]

Exactly. The whole operation was coming apart in the late 70's. He should have been off the road for his own health and for his reputation. Instead the Colonel decided to bring yet more revenue in by filming Elvis in 77'.

As for the recording, I like his 70's material - it's amazing so many good cuts trickled through considering his apathy toward recording at that period of his life.

[Dovey]

"03"

You are absolutely right on both accounts that you posted!!! Dovey

[Jumpsuit Junkie]

I think that part of the reason for Elvis' apathy in the 70's recordings is the tendancy to overproduce the sound, it is known that Elvis was unhappy with the way the Colonel would intercede and ask for Elvis' voice to be brought forward over everyone else. The same can be said of the music sometimes it was way over the top and the result sounded nothing like Elvis had originally recorded. When you listen to Suspicious Minds way back in 69 without the overdubs it is a revelation, so crisp and refreshing to hear.

It must be frustrating having your work undone by those around after the finnished product (Felton Jarvis Included).

Matt

[franny]

You're welcome, Indre!

I'm still looking for Elvis quotes...You're right 0349054, it is harder that I thought it would be...

franny

[Menwithbrokenhearts]

It must be frustrating having your work undone by those around after the finnished product (Felton Jarvis Included).

Matt

No doubt. Despite this fact though, I still like many, many cuts through this time. I'd say that the 70's Masters box is the one I listen to the most.

It is frustrating that with such a wonderful voice that he had that a little more effort or enthusiasm isn't put into some of the songs from the 70's. There are many that could have been excellent if Elvis would have been in better voice, spirits and stepped up to the plate when it came to taking control.

That being said, he still had some gems that are amazing to listen too. And, most of the rest ranges from good to excellent and is, in my opinion, enjoyable. There's only a couple I don't like.

[nashville cat]

If Elvis had completed "Fire Down Below", and the best of the Jungle Room cuts had been used to make a 12 song album - it would have easily been his best in years. But the material was stretched out over two releases and the albums were weaker as a result. Filler like "Little Darlin" did not help people in taking Elvis seriously. And "Let Me Be There" was three years old, and had already been released! I understand though Felton had obligations to fulfill and was trying to make the most out of what he had.

If Elvis had come to Nashville to record in January 1977 - it would have been the best recording studio he had ever recorded in up till that point. The sound would have been incredible, and of course the band cooked. Oh well, I'm just dreaming. We all know that did not happen, for whatever reasons.

Just so you guys will know, I am not knocking the 70's in any way - that has always been my favorite era. I'm just wondering what would have happened if Elvis had the chance to breathe and make his own music on his own time.