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From Elvis in Memphis (1969)

Where the lyrics of From Elvis in Memphis take you, and where it was really made.

Presley left RCA's own studios for a Memphis room where the house band was known as the Memphis Boys, and the album he made there became his first non-soundtrack record after his film contract ended.

Key places

Where the album was recorded (1969)

Recording site American Sound Studio — Recording for the album began here on January 13, 1969, when Presley arrived at the studio. Sessions with the house band continued through February 1969. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• From Elvis in Memphis: tenth studio album by Elvis Presley
• Released by RCA Records on June 2, 1969
• Recorded at American Sound Studio in Memphis in January and February 1969
• Produced by Chips Moman, backed by the studio's house band, informally known as the Memphis Boys
• Presley's return to non-soundtrack albums after completing his MGM film contract
• Followed the success of the TV special Elvis and its soundtrack

Background

• In 1960, manager Colonel Tom Parker shifted Presley's career from live performance and studio recording toward films and their soundtracks
• From 1964 to 1968, Presley had just one top-ten hit: "Crying in the Chapel" (1965)
• In that period, the only new-material album was the gospel collection How Great Thou Art (1967)
• The 1968 NBC Christmas special and its RCA Victor LP re-established Presley's popularity
• Presley decided to concentrate on music rather than films and record a new album

Recording

• Presley left his usual musicians and studios, including RCA Studios, and recorded new material in Memphis
• His entourage suggested American Sound Studio, an up-and-coming studio
• Recording began on January 13, 1969
• The agreed plan was ten days of recording at a cost of $25,000
• Backing band: the 827 Thomas Street Band, informally known as the Memphis Boys
• Twelve tracks were selected from thirty-four recorded in the American Sound sessions
• Presley's final session was on February 22, 1969

Cover

• The cover is a still from the "Trouble"-"Guitar Man" production number of NBC's Elvis special
• Presley is shown with a red electric guitar, a black leather suit and a red scarf around his neck

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi; family moved to Memphis, Tennessee when he was 13.
• Began his career in 1954 at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring African-American music to a wider audience.
• Recorded "That's All Right" with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black in July 1954.
• A pioneer of rockabilly, a fusion of country music and rhythm and blues.

Members

• Classic quartet: Presley (vocals, guitar), Scotty Moore (lead guitar), Bill Black (bass), and D. J. Fontana (drums), who joined in 1955.

Career

• RCA Victor acquired his contract in 1955 for $40,000; "Heartbreak Hotel" hit number one in the US in 1956.
• Became a leading figure of rock and roll, though his style was considered a threat to white American youth by some.
• Made his film debut in Love Me Tender (1956) and devoted much of the 1960s to Hollywood films.
• Returned to the stage with the 1968 NBC special Elvis, followed by a Las Vegas residency and tours.
• Gave the first solo-artist concert broadcast worldwide, Aloha from Hawaii, in 1973.
• Died August 16, 1977 at Graceland, aged 42.
• Estimated to have sold 500 million records worldwide; won three Grammy Awards.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Rolling Stone: critic Peter Guralnick called the album "great ... Flatly and unequivocally the equal of anything (Presley) has ever done"
• Billboard: said Presley had "never sounded better, and the choice of material is perfect"
• High Fidelity: wrote, "Elvis has been through a number of stages, and his latest is the best"
• Los Angeles Times: critic Pete Johnson praised Presley's voice but criticized the arrangements as "Hollywoodish"
• Associated Press: said the album presented "quality country" with Presley's voice featuring "depth"
• Pittsburgh Press: called it a "typical" Presley album
• Detroit Free Press: said Presley's style appeared "brand new" on the album

Reappraisal

• Rolling Stone in 2009: described the album as "extraordinary" and credited Moman's "warm, distinctly Southern musical backing"
• AllMusic: gives it five stars out of five and names it an "AllMusic album pick"
• Bruce Eder of AllMusic: called it Presley's "greatest album" along with the 1956 Elvis Presley
• PopMatters: described it as "some of the best music Elvis Presley ever made"

Records

• US Billboard 200: number 13
• US country albums: number 2
• UK Albums Chart: number 1, displacing Jethro Tull's Stand Up for one week
• Single "In the Ghetto": number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100
• RIAA: certified gold on January 28, 1970, after selling over 500,000 copies
• Rolling Stone 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums: number 190

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The cover is a still from the "Trouble"-"Guitar Man" production number of NBC's Elvis special, showing Presley with a red electric guitar.
• Presley's usual producer Felton Jarvis grew worried about losing control of Presley and his recordings as the single's success triggered a confrontation between RCA and American Sound.
• Presley originally did not plan to record "In the Ghetto" because he thought it might alienate fans; his friends convinced him to record it.
• Presley's Las Vegas return followed the release of the album, with a band later known as the TCB Band.
• From Elvis in Memphis and Dusty Springfield's Dusty in Memphis both became well-known American Sound Studio productions.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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