Elvis Presley wasn't just the King of Rock `n' Roll, he was an artist who prospered in spite of an unsympathetic manager, and a star who rose to a second great peak, resurrecting himself from the ashes of a moribund career. His incendiary, game-changing hits of the `50s led to the start of a bright film career, but after losing his crown in a repetitive string of artistically lean popcorn movies, it took a string of three key performances to regain the throne. The first, 1967's

, was a gospel album anchored in Elvis' musical roots; the second, an iconic

in 1968, proved he still had the rock `n' roll spark; and the third, this 1969 return to his Memphis home ground, showed he still had something new and potent to offer. There was more, including live and country albums in 1970 and 1971, but the artistic and commercial renaissance of 1967-69, capped by this soul and gospel masterpiece (and its hit single, "In the Ghetto"), is one of the great comebacks in music history.

Even more impressive, the album's dozen tunes are less than half the Memphis sessions' output. RCA's 2-CD Legacy reissue collects 36 tracks from Elvis' stay at Chip Moman's American Studio, adding ten tracks from the second platter of From Memphis to Vegas - From Vegas to Memphis (subsequently reissued as

), four single mixes of album tracks, six non-LP singles (including the trio of chart hits "Suspicious Minds," "Don't Cry Daddy," and "Kentucky Rain"), and four bonus tracks. Having recorded in Nashville and Hollywood since his mid-50s departure from Sun, Elvis returned to Memphis to find soul music still heavily influenced by gospel and blues, but also powered by the bass-and-horns funk developed by the Stax, Hi, FAME, American and Muscle Shoals studios.

Buoyed by the success of his televised comeback, Elvis shook off the insipid material he'd been recording, and dug deeply into a set of blues, country, gospel and pop sounds, pushed by Moman and his crack studio band. You can hear Elvis rediscovering himself as he tests his crooning, wandering through a loose arrangement of "I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)" that turns Eddy Arnold's 1940s country twanger into an emotion-soaked gospel. He's commanding with the testimony of "Power of My Love" and swaggering and blue at the same time on "After Loving You." He nails a slow-burning gospel-tinged cover of "Long Black Limousine," lightens to horn-lined Memphis melancholy with "Any Day Now" and closes the album with the stunning "In the Ghetto." The extras on disc one are finished tracks that include Bobby Darin's "I'll Be There," the Beatles' "Hey Jude," and the gospel "Who Am I?"

The ten tracks of the follow-up album open disc two, and though the sessions were well picked-over for the original album, there are several highlights in the second set, including the slow building blues rocker "Stranger in My Own Hometown," the dramatic farewell of "The Fair's Moving On" and the gospel soul "Without Love (There is Nothing)." Disc two's pay-off are the original mono single mixes, six of which don't appear on either Memphis album, including the hits "Suspicious Minds," "Don't Cry Daddy" and "Kentucky Rain," and the supremely funky "Rubberneckin'." All of these tracks have been previously released, scattered across LPs and singles, and brought together on collections such as

and

. But never before has Elvis' homecoming been drawn as such a vivid portrait.

This brief leave from Col. Parker's stifling control gave Elvis a chance to go home, both literally and figuratively, and the circumstances in which to wax one of the two or three finest albums of his career. The energy created in Memphis sustained the King through a resurgent live show, but as the bubble closed back around him, these blue-eyed soul sessions turned into the last studio high point of his extraordinary career. Legacy's 2-CD set is delivered in a tri-fold digipack that reproduces the covers of both From Elvis in Memphis and Back in Memphis, and includes a 24-page booklet stuffed with photos and excellent liner notes by Robert Gordon and Tara McAdams. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]

Elvis was 34 years old when he recorded this brilliant collection of pop, country, blues and soul music. It's an eclectic mix, and probably not to all tastes, but one thing is abundantly clear - Elvis was at his peak when he set foot in the American studios in Memphis that winter of 1969.

Vocally, this is a very different Elvis from even two years earlier, when he was still producing the sweet almost-crooning sound associated with soundtracks such as Blue Hawaii. Here his voice is stronger and darker, and the raucous opening track (Wearin' that loved on look) shows he is not afraid to sacrifice beauty of sound for a more dramatic effect. That's not to say this album doesn't contain some mellow singing as well - In the Ghetto is proof of that.

But what makes this album great is the sheer individuality displayed in every track as Elvis gives each song his trademark commitment and energy. Stand-outs for me include Only the Strong Survive, in which Elvis transforms an otherwise standard song into a very personal statement; a definitive Gentle on My Mind; After Loving You (with its brilliant vocal gyrations); Any Day Now; and the haunting and moving True Love Travels On A Gravel Road.

The bonus tracks include two songs that should have been on the original album - Suspicious Minds and Kentucky Rain. It's great to have them reunited with their companion pieces from the same recording sessions.

Just one tiny criticism - why has BMG included a photo of the Hollywood Elvis on its cover? It's precisely THAT Elvis that this album seeks to escape from! Perhaps they were being ironic?

The liner notes are excellent, and complement a masterful artistic statement from pop's greatest icon.

The 40th Anniversary Legacy edition of this classic album is its best release to date!! Vic Anesini's mastering is fantastic! He brings the music to life as if it were recorded in 2009, not 1969. There are many reasons why you should buy this 2 disc issue. Aside from the mastering, this collection brings together all of the masters from those incredible sessions in one package. This includes the two albums that came from the sessions, From Elvis in Memphis and Back in Memphis, as well as the 10 other tracks that were released over time. Another fantasic offering from this package are the singles in original mono. In 1960 and 1970, when the vinyl singles were released, they were released in mono. Including these masters is a wonderful trip down memory lane. They do sound different, and to my ear perhaps even better that the stereo versions. It's a matter of taste. Ernst and Roger, if you read this, the only thing that would have made this package better would have been to include the stereo masters of the singles as well. Since we have the stereo version of In The Ghetto already in the album, it would have made the set complete to place Suspicious Minds, Don't Cry Daddy, and Kentucky Rain in stereo on the end of disc 1, leaving disc 2 with the mono versions for comparison. No matter, Vic Anesini has remastered those as well on other packages. This release is a must for all fans. It truly shows the mastery of Elvis Presley.

I own dozens of Cds By Elvis. This is the BEST STUDIO RECORDING OF HIS CAREER. Included in this collection are pop,rock,

R & B, soul, "the Memphis Sound", gospel, blues, and many other well known genres. The production is first class.

Outstanding remastering of the original material. There are two CDs included in this package. The first comprises the

original songs. while the second has newly remastered songs. The quality, production, song selection and arrangements

are outstanding. Of course you have the hits, In the Ghetto, Suspicious Minds, Don't Cry Daddy, Kentucky Rain, and Rubberneckin'.

If you only need one Cd by the King of Rock 'n' Roll, this is the one. Great selection of songs, outstanding production.

This is Elvis at his very best. This validates why he is the KING. You get 34 songs that showcase his voice and

the power of the artist. BUY IT!

From the 'marriage on the rocks' urgency of "Suspicious Minds" to the social commentary of "In the Ghetto" -- FROM ELVIS IN MEMPHIS is without a doubt his best long player. A little more than one month after his earth shattering performance on NBC simply titled "Elvis '68" (with performances of his classic material and the stirring "If I Can Dream") he was poised for a comeback.

Recorded at American Studios, in Memphis, throughout the winter of 1969, Elvis reaches for and climbs back to the top of the ladder of what he so desperately desired -- the worlds greatest pop singer; equal parts balladeer, soulster and sex symbol. Having said that, some of the material on FROM ELVIS IN MEMPHIS isn't all that revealing or thought provoking. However, what you are left with is raw performances by Presley and the various session players (The Memphis Horns, Mary Greene, et al.)

This record above all of his best LP's (namely the self-titled ELVIS PRESLEY) evokes all that the man was: a lethal soul, country and rock stew.

(Note: I've also owned the SUSPICIOUS MINDS 2 disc that covers these sessions in total.)