Recorded in 1976, this album could have been the turning point in Elvis'musical styling. Long gone were the days of the echo-plastered sun recordings or the sometimes "corny" movie soundtracks. Even though he was extremely ill during this period,Elvis poured his heart and soul into each of these recordings. Included on this album are such classics as "Danny boy", "The Last Farewell", "For the heart" and the heart-wreanching "Hurt". (Eat your heart out Pavoratti!) I first bought this album at the age of ten. Seventeen years later it is still my favorite. I highly recommend this album to any fan or person who wishes to familiarize themself with Elvis' final recordings. It is unclear to me why albums such as this one were overlooked by disc jockeys and replaced with the overplayed "classics". Do yourself a favor and add this Gem to your collection.

Thank you, Thank you very much!!!!!!!

This is my very favorite of Elvis's albums! Why? Well, no other album that he ever recorded possesses such a feeling of candidness and self-revelation. Although recorded at a time when Elvis was in turmoil over his personal lifestyle, the songs performed on this album were near and dear to his heart. From the majestic and almost operatic "Hurt" to the tender sentimentality of "Danny Boy", each song exposes the listener to the music that Elvis identified himself with. Granted, this is not your typical Elvis album composed of rock and romance tunes. This album should be purchased because it is a study of the man himself and reveals the true craft that Elvis was so good at perfecting. The compilation of tunes on this album define Elvis in the same way the "68 Comeback Special" did during his return to live performance.The difference---Elvis finally reveals the man behind the myth! Listen to it and you will agree!

I'm 26, and I've been a Presley fan pretty much my entire life. However, I just recently bought this album. My parents had the LP when I was growing up, but for some reason, I never really remember listening to it. But, over the past several months, I have been really getting back into Elvis, and when I saw this album at the store today, I just had to buy it. Actually, it's the Moody Blue/Presley Boulevard split cd. Pretty much most of the other reviews I've read are accurate. This is an EXTREMELY sad album. When I listened to it straight through for the first time, I almost felt emotionally drained. I wouldn't listen to this album when you're extremely depressed....you're liable to hang yourself. (I'm just kidding, but you get the point.) HOWEVER, as somber as this album is, I COULDN'T WAIT to listen to it again. Hence, my 5 star rating. The desperation in Elvis' voice is just amazing. You get the feeling that he is really meaning and FEELING every single word that he is singing. As I've long told other people, love or hate Elvis' "later years", there's no denying that his voice during this period was at it's strongest ever. What a set of pipes!! If you're just getting into Elvis, or only have a couple of his earlier albums, I might not suggest getting this album JUST yet. You sort of need to see and hear his progression up until this point. But, this album is definitely a must-have. If you don't mind sadness and desperation, and love the powerful and awesome voice of Elvis Presley, then you must get this album. I'm going to listen to it again!

In 1976, Elvis' world was literally crashing down. He was in poor health, he was constantly working, and he was bored with the endless tours and Vegas shows. This album was recorded at his home, Graceland. He didn't feel like going to the studio, so RCA brought the equipment in his famous "Jungle Room". The result? A melancholy, bluesy album which can be hard to listen to at times, mainly for the obvious pain Elvis appears to be feeling. Upon hearing the opening song, "Hurt", you know that this is going to be a rather "less-than-happy" album. "Hurt" is one of the best songs that Elvis recorded in the 70s; the power of his voice and the drama of the spoken middle eight really shows a man bearing his soul. Other songs on this album also show his dark side: "Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall", "Solitaire", and "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" are the most obvious. "For the Heart" is a change of pace tune: It is happier and more bouncy than the others (a great outtake of this can be found on the "Platinum" box). Don't let this album make you think that these sessions were in a sour atmosphere. Elvis really had fun making this album. Outtakes and reliable accounts say that he was as nice and funny as usual between takes to songs. But, being a professional, he shows absolutely no signs of such attitude on the finished product. It is not his best, but it is perhaps the most honest.

Mostly ballads. If you like listening to the emotionally scarred music so prevalent in Elvis' later career, you will enjoy this CD. My favorite is The Last Farewell, an old Roger Whittaker song. Like everything Elvis sang, he takes the song, reinvents it, and delivers one of his most beautiful ballads. It's interesting to note: Elvis sang many songs already made popular by other recording artists and made them hits again. But, no one ever took an Elvis song and made you forget who sang it best.