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There are plenty of people who think that Elvis recorded nothing worth listening to during the seventies, but while I'll concede that his seventies music was not always great, he did make plenty that I enjoy. This set, made up of the eighteen tracks that Elvis recorded during a six-day period in December 1973, is as good as anything that Elvis recorded in the seventies. The first ten tracks were originally released on an LP titled Promised Land, while the remaining eight tracks appeared on an LP titled Good times - this album contained two other tracks recorded at a different time, which are omitted from this set.The songs are a mix of covers (drawn from pop, country and gospel sources) and originals. Among the covers are Promised land (Chuck Berry), Loving arms (first recorded by Dobie Gray), Help me (Larry Gatlin), Talk about the good times (Jerry Reed), Good time Charlie's got the blues (Danny O'Keefe), If that isn't love (Dottie Rambo), Spanish eyes (Al Martino), She wears my ring (Ray Price), There's a honky tonk angel (Conway Twitty) and You asked me to (Waylon Jennings). However, the cover with the most interesting history is My boy, which was originally co-written and first recorded by French singer Claude Francois in 1969 as Parce que je t' aime mon enfant. Translated into English in 1970, Richard Harris recorded the song and it is this version that Elvis covered. You've never heard of Claude Francois? He also co-wrote and first recorded Comme d' Habitude, a song that later became My way (and which Elvis also recorded, but not in 1973).The original songs are mostly of a very high quality, especially It's midnight, I got a feeling in my body, Your love has been a long time coming.If you are interested in Elvis Presley's seventies music, this is definitely for you. If you enjoy his late sixties music but remain to be convinced that he did anything worthwhile thereafter. Give this a listen.

Rating: 5 out of 5

this album is his best and always will be1

Rating: 5 out of 5

this album is an amazing feat,it has everything; sincere moments,country rockers,pure rockers and the occasional weepie moment.The album starts off with a fast and rockin version of chuck berrys "promised land" the rest of the material can be reffered to as adult but never boring.If you only buy one of elvises albums get this one you will not regret it!

Rating: 5 out of 5

Two things other reviews haven't emphasised.1) This is Elvis's last proper studio album before he died. The rest werecobble togethers or live tracks.2) This is a Divorce album with a D*I*V*O*R*C*E. Most tracks are hauntingsouthern country or country soul and the song choice shows Elvis'sheatreak to all.The title track is played on an 8-Trac in 'Men In Black' as they shootdown the New Jersey tunnel upside down. It's a belting rendition but nottypical of the album at all. Chuch Berry is one of the 50s most underratedsongwriters. OK so the tune is pollywollydoddle but Berry's lyrics arebrilliant. A political song under cover too as 'Promised Land' is aboutyoung blacks quitting the South and travelling up to Chicago for jobs andfreedom from Jim Crow. Elvis does it proud.

Rating: 4 out of 5

When Elvis first entered the Stax studios in Memphis, mid-1973; the session was doomed and proved very unsucessfull with all but two songs being any good (If You Don't Come Back & I Got a Thing About You Baby).Forward a few months, and the King returns to Stax and delivers some of the performances of his life.The Stax sessions strongly rate along side the Memphis 69 and Nashville 71 sessions as Elvis best work of the late 60s and 70s.Tracks like Promised Land and If You Talk In Your Sleep are breathtakingly good. The entire CD is outstanding, especially for those who enjoy country tinged music, although there is rock, soul and funk here also; this cd will not fail to please.

Rating: 5 out of 5