In 1976, Elvis Presley recorded what would become the last batch of songs in a studio setting...sort of...

After 1975's "Today" sessions, Elvis never again recorded in a bona fide recording studio. RCA, desperate to get SOMETHING new from The King (that was not in a live concert format), it was decided to bring the studio to Elvis. In February of 1976 (and later in October as well), Elvis cut tracks within his own home, Graceland.

This CD features the two final albums by the King featuring new material. They have been combined together in this package, making it a nice little investment. Tracks 1-9 are from the original "Moody Blue" album, and tracks 10-19 were from the album "From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee".

1-UNCHAINED MELODY Recorded live in April of '77, this shows that Elvis's range has not deteriorated like his health and appearance had. Very effective, a similar performance was filmed in June of that year for the CBS special that aired shortly after his death. Although it didn't make the final cut of the special, it was later released on both the video "Elvis: The Great Performances-Center Stage" and the accompanying CD "Elvis: The Great Performances"

2-IF YOU LOVE ME, LET ME KNOW Elvis had been performing this song since his August '74 Vegas engagement, but no version of it was legitimately released until this one, recorded on stage in April '77. While not one of the King's more memorable performances, it's quite bouncy and fun. A similar version was recorded in June of '77 and is featured on the album "Elvis In Concert".

3-LITTLE DARLIN' This toungue-in-cheek performance, also from Elvis' April '77 concert tour, shows that despite being only months away from death, he still didn't lose his sense of humor.

4-HE'LL HAVE TO GO Elvis sings this Jim Reeves hit with a lot of nice low notes, comparable to "In the Ghetto". Recorded in Graceland in October '76, this would ultimately be the last studio recorded The King ever made.

5-WAY DOWN Also recorded in the October '76 Graceland sessions, this cool rocker showed that Elvis didn't do all slow ballads in the end. A late classic.

6-PLEDGING MY LOVE Recorded immediately after "Way Down", Elvis appears to be enjoying himself on this Johnny Ace hit. Nicely sung, a similar (and longer) version appears on "Platinum: A Life In Music"

7-MOODY BLUE Recorded in February '76 in Graceland, this is the closest Elvis ever got to doing a disco record. A happy tune, it did well on the country charts, peaking at #1.

8-SHE THINKS I STILL CARE Another country classic given a treatment by Elvis. Recorded in February '76 in Graceland, Elvis gives it a nice, if not outstanding, treatment. A slightly different version appears on "Walk a Mile In My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters"

9-IT'S EASY FOR YOU Recorded during the October '76 Graceland sessions, this melodramatic ballad would end up being the last song on the last album released during Elvis' lifetime ("Moody Blue", July '77). A haunting way to end a 20+ recording career.

The remaining tracks were all recorded during the Graceland sessions in February '76:

10-HURT A late Elvis classic, Elvis puts full gusto into this Timi Yuro hit. The power of his voice and range make this a must-listen.

11-NEVER AGAIN Another melodramatic ballad, Elvis puts a lot of soul in this rather ordinary tune.

12-BLUE EYES CRYING IN THE RAIN Nice lead guitar work on this one. Elvis sounds a little tired, though.

13-DANNY BOY Another old song given a try by the King. Not outstanding, but again kind of cryptic, considering The King would be dead a year and a half later.

14-THE LAST FAREWELL One of the lesser moments of the Graceland sessions, this ordinary tune isn't anything spectacular.

15-FOR THE HEART The most upbeat tune on the "From Elvis Presley Boulevard" album, this has a fine vocal by Elvis and cool background singing as well. A nice outtake appears on "Platinum: A Life In Music"

16-BITTER THEY ARE, HARDER THEY FALL Another melodramatic ballad, Elvis seems to pour a lot into this one. Not a song to play when in a manic depressive state.

17-SOLITAIRE This Neil Sedaka tune, recently a hit for the Carpenters, is done rather lethargically by Elvis. Nothing great by any means.

18-LOVE COMING DOWN Yet another depressing tune. One really wonders exactly HOW lonely Elvis felt at the time.

19-I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Although the album was entitled "From Elvis Presley Boulevard...", a better title would have been "Elvis Sings Really Miserable Songs". This Tom Jones hit actually fails in the hands of Elvis Presley. Elvis fails to hit the high notes that he had done so graciously in the past on tunes such as "An American Trilogy" and "What Now, My Love".

This album is essential for the Elvis collector, considering that these are the final recordings done during his lifetime, save for the June '77 concert performances released on the posthumous release "Elvis In Concert"

The artwork is heavily borrowed from the original "Moody Blue" album, but now with a bigger, more recent photo. The original featured a rather tiny photo from the November '72 (!) tour, while this one features a summer '75 picture.

Nicely packaged, with good sound, it is a worthwhile investment. The highlights far outweigh the misses.

Elvis Presley's final studio tracks have been unappreciated by critics and historians, but this recent packaging of "Moody Blue" (1977) with "From Elvis Presley Boulevard" (1976) deserves a listen. Recorded in Graceland's "Jungle Room," Presley's instinctive eclecticism rarely falters as he runs the gamut from country weepers to spirited rock 'n' roll. Despite ill health and emotional turmoil, he gives it his all with bravura revivals of "Hurt," "Danny Boy" and "He'll Have to Go." Even toward the end, Elvis remained a compelling rocker - delivering the goods on classic tracks such as "Moody Blue," "Way Down" and "For the Heart." The overall CD is a revelatory work from an artist whose musical commitment still touches the soul.

The original Moody Blue album is one of my favorite records of all-time. Elvis, who could sing anything and make it sound like gold was sadly in poor health when he recorded these tracks. He had lost his passion for life and was terribly unhappy. His soul was crying out and the evidence is on this, his final album. These are perhaps the most moving performances of his career. They are unlike anything else you will ever hear. This album is beefed up with his previous release, "From Elvis Presley Boulevard". Another terrific album along the same lines but a little more country oriented. RCA did a bang up job with this release. Those not familiar with these tracks will find that Elvis Presley was not only the King of Rock and Roll, but he was also one of the most incredible artists this world will will ever know. Bravo!

The Graceland den, 1976: the setting for what would be Elvis Presley's final recording sessions. By this time, Elvis was overweight, overmedicated, and less eager to visit a recording studio. This reissue of MOODY BLUE is paired with all the songs from the FROM ELVIS PRESLEY BLVD. album. The now-famous (or infamous) "Jungle Room" sessions may be considered the closest Elvis ever got to producing an autobiography, but through music.

At the age of 41, Elvis was depressed and bored with life, and had suffered from various illnesses commonly associated with an elderly person (e.g. blurred vision, bouts of the flu, and heart disease). He was also unable to fully recover from his divorce from Priscilla. This is reflected in many of the songs he recorded at these sessions, including "Hurt," "Never Again," "Solitaire," "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," "Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall," "Love Coming Down," "It's Easy for You" and "She Thinks I Still Care."

It's interesting that MOODY BLUE and its title track were part of Elvis' final sessions, because Elvis displayed some moodiness of his own. For example, his rendition of Timi Yuro's "Hurt" is blistering and power, but his cover of Neil Sedaka's "Solitaire" goes nowhere fast. It's ironic since he became obsessed with singing about divorce, regret and loss during the last few years of his life. But he somehow managed to maintain a sense of humour through it all, as heard on his live cover/parody of "Little Darlin'."

This "two-fer" reissue could have been treated with better care, however. The "new" cover of Elvis in a blue suit is fine, but the producers took too much liberty in removing his live recording of "Let Me Be There," even though it is noted in the booklet that it can be found on the 1974 LIVE ON STAGE IN MEMPHIS album. The photos also appear grainy and out-of-focus, despite the fact that Elvis wasn't looking his best when they were taken.

From a musical standpoint, MOODY BLUE would not be a good way to begin an Elvis collection. There are some highlights worth noting, like "Hurt," "Moody Blue," "Danny Boy," "Unchained Melody" and "Way Down" (his final rocker). But to best hear Elvis in his prime, one should start with the '50s box set THE KING OF ROCK 'N' ROLL and work from there.

I see copies of the original vinyl "Moody Blue" all the time. People think just because it's blue vinyl that it's a collectible. RCA must've pressed several million of them over the years. My copy has a promo stamp on the back cover, so it might be worth something. "Moody Blue" is still one of Elvis' biggest selling albums (aside from compilatons), and there are two cd versions of it, but this is the complete one here. Elvis wasn't interested in going to a recording studio in 76-77, so RCA recorded him on tour and at home. "Unchained Melody" is Elvis live in 1977, and I think his version of this classic is the best ever (sorry Righteous Brothers fans!). His update of the Diamonds' "Little Darlin'" is a lot of fun, and he also tackles two Olivia Newton-John hits, "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)", and "Let Me Be There". James Burton's guitar playing highlights both songs. The studio tracks were all recorded at Graceland in late '76. "He'll Have to Go" is a gentle remake of the Jim Reeves standard; "Pledging My Love" was a hit for the late great Johnny Ace in the 50's, Elvis sings with much warmth on this version. "Way Down" is a gospel fried rocker, featuring the double low C of bass singer J. D. Sumner. This performance really cooks! It was #1 on the Billboard country chart the day Elvis died. "Moody Blue" was also a #1 country hit, but the sound is closer to Neil Diamond, more pop than country. Once again, I gotta note the nice guitar work of James Burton. "She Thinks I Still Care" is another country standard, and Elvis sings it like he means it. The closing track, "It's Easy for You", is one of the most personal songs Elvis ever recorded, and is downright depressing in light of later events. Elvis may not have been too interested in recording the last year of his life, but when he did it, he still gave the songs all he had.