Back in 1973 Elvis had signed a new contract with RCA, that called for 24 new masters per anno. The first year he came up with the expected number of tracks as late as December, in 1974 Elvis didn't set a foot in a recording studio at all and in 1975 he just recorded 10 new songs. Of course RCA didn't sue the legendary singer, but installed recording equipment in his Graceland mansion. It was promised, that Elvis would produce 24 new masters in the comfort of his home. The sessions took place in February 1976, so RCA could release the two albums and four singles throughout the year. As feared by each and everyone, the singer just came up with 12 new tracks and insisted on saving two of them for the future. To make it worse, his voice seemed to have aged several decades. At the age of 41 Elvis Presley suddenly sounded like an old man. In October 1976 he was in better voice and another session was set up. But the king wasn't interested in recording at all and produced no more than four new masters. With two more in the can from the February sessions he left RCA with six unreleased tracks - too little to fill another album and shy of eight to meet his contract.

Due to the nature of the material and also to hide the vocal condition of his boss, Felton Jarvis added a lot of strings, horns and harmony voices. Unfortunately he did it in a somewhat coarse way and literally burried the actual performances under his truckload of sugar coating. In 2016 Matt Ross-Spang remixed the masters and breathed some fresh air into the tracks. So if you want to listen to the original material, I'd recommend the compilation "Way Down In The Jungle Room". Eight years later Matt's task was to remix the performances, as recorded in the den of Graceland. He brought the drums, the bass and the guitar to the fore, as well as the harmony singers and the organ. Therefore the tracks don't sound "empty" without all the additional stuff. Matt also removed the echo, which at times just emphasized on the king's vocal shortcomings. The results sound less kitschy, in most cases the stunt works well.

Elvis recorded "Hurt" on February 5, 1976 within seven takes. The song wasn't a new one, in 1954 Roy Hamilton had scored a top ten hit on the "R&B Best Sellers Chart" and in 1961 Timi Yuro's version even made it on the top 5 of Billboard's "Hot 100". When Elvis' cover version of the song by Jamie Crane and Al Jacobs was released on the b-side of "For The Heart", it at least made it on the top 30. I like the performance very much. The loved one of the narrator has a new partner and the hurt and pain is expressed in big voice and with a lot of drama. The remix does without the additional harmony voices (recorded on February 16th) and the drums (added on February 17th). It sounds fine and Elvis' vocals are nothing but impressive.

Here we have another big voiced ballad about a lost love, this time the singer swears to never fall in love again, because he couldn't handle another loss. The song was written by Billy Ed Wheeler and Jerry Chesnut, who had also come up with "It's Midnight" three years earlier. Just like "Hurt" Elvis doesn't just sing the song, but he virtually lives it. The song was recorded on February 6th, the 14th attempt was approved for post-production and release. On February 16th and 17th Felton Jarvis added harmony voices and drums, on March 24th the recording was enhanced with strings. Without them the ballad sounds less operatic and more down to earth.

At the time most people associated "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain" with Willie Nelson, because he had scored a number one hit on the country charts with it the previous year. In fact, the song by Fred Rose had been recorded for the first time in 1945 by Roy Acuff. The singer and his loved one have to part and he is sure, that they will never meet again in this world. Elvis taped "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain" on February 7, 1976 within 5 takes. The remix features the complete recording (until the musicians actually stop to play) and does without the artificial echo. In general the new version sounds better, but still one can hear, that the king's voice was wearing thin and at times displayed a nasal sub-tone.

The song was written in 1910 by Frederic Weatherly and is based on "Londonderry Air". Expecting his death the singer says goodbye to his leaving son and does everything to get the tears flowing. Once again Elvis proves to be the master of rendition, his voice is full of sadness and sounds absolutely stunning. Without doubt nobody will ever be able to sing "Danny Boy" better than the king! The first recording of this song was done in 1915 by Ernestine Schuhmann-Heink. Elvis followed her on February 5, 1976 and needed ten attempts to deliver the ultimate version. The remix just emphasizes on the beauty of this performance.

Many fans and critics consider it to be one of the greatest musical mishaps of the former rock'n'roll king to record a song by Roger Whittaker. But in fact Elvis loved the song and was eager to record it. In 1971 Whittaker hosted a radio show on which he encouraged his listeners to send him lyrics, which he turned into songs. A blacksmith named Ron A. Webster send a poem named "The Last Farewell". It's about British soldier on an island in the South See, who was ordered back home and has to part with his loved one, knowing never to see her again. Whittaker added a sentimental melody and sold 11 million singles (which translates to 1.7 billion paid streams). Elvis recorded "The Last Farewell" on February 2nd, the master take was spliced of the takes number 3 and 5. The result was later enhanced with Sherrill Nielsen's harmony vocals and strings. Without them the performance sounds much more lively than the original master. So the remix is a real improvement.

The swamp rocker by Dennis Linde was supposed to be the a-side of Elvis' previously released single, but it was just listed on the "Hot Country Singles Chart" and never made it past number 45. Without doubt "Hurt" was the favorite song. The king recorded it on February 5, 1976 (bass and additional harmony vocals were added on February 15th and 16th), but he wasn't the first to release "For The Heart". The song had been issued the previous year by Teresa Brewer on an album called "Unliberated Woman". Even though Elvis sounds a bit toothless and tired, I like the song. He harmonizes very well with his background singers, it's somewhat reminiscent of the good ole' days with The Jordanaires. The remix focuses on the drums and the guitar and therefore sounds more rockin' than the original version. To make up for the additional harmony voices, Mr. Ross-Spang brought the singers, that actually were present in the Jungle Room, a bit to the fore.

After the short excursion to rhythmical domains the album returns to slow, big orchestrated ballads. This one was written and recorded by Larry Gatlin in 1973, Elvis taped his version on February 2, 1976 within seven takes. Once again the singer bemoarns the failture of a relationship and once again the king delivers a good, believable performance. However, without Sherrill Nielsen's harmony voice and the strings (both recorded on February 9th) the track sounds somewhat empty.

The song stays on topic and describes the fate of a man, who was left by his wife and now spends his time playing cards. Elvis' voice is full of loneliness and pain, it's a very moving presentation. It was taped on February 3rd, the 11th take was selected for release. By the way: Neil Sedaka didn't like Elvis' version of his song, because the king changed it too much for his taste. I like the king's performance very much, the omission of the strings (added on March 24th) makes the ballad sound more intimate.

George Jones recorded Jerry Chesnut's "Love Coming Down" in 1975, Elvis followed him on February 6, 1976. The 5th attempt was later enhanced with bass (February 15th), harmony vocals (February 16th), a guitar (February 24th) and strings (March 24th). The narrator hadn't paid too much attention to his wife, because he had focused on his career. Now she plannes to leave him and he asks for a second chance. Elvis performed the song in such a believable fashion, that one might think he revealed a part of his true feelings. However, the additions distracted from the king's weary vocals. Of course the pure performance reveals nothing but the truth, but I like the original master much better.

This ballad was written by Jimmy Currie and Lonnie Donegan, who also recorded it in 1962. But it was Tom Jones, who scored the big hit with "I'll Never Fall In Love Again". In 1967 his version made it to number 2 of the UK Charts and became a number one on Billboard's "Easy Listening Chart" in the US. On February 4, 1976 Elvis recorded five takes of "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", before he turned to "Moody Blue". Then he recorded another six takes of "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" and selected the 9th one (the producer continued the numbering) for release. Here the narrator was cheated on by his wife and foreswears love completely. Elvis presents the song in an absolute believable way, but also sounds a bit strained. The remix does without the strings (taped on March 24th), which makes the whole thing sound less kitschy. But leaving out the harmony singers, who actually were present during the sessions, isn't a clever choice. At times they completed the lead vocalist's phrases and now it appears, that Elvis stopped to sing without any reason.

Mark James wrote and recorded the song in 1974, but it wasn't successful at all. On February 4, 1976 Elvis put the song on tape in the den of his "Graceland" mansion within 10 takes. Later Felton Jarvis added bass (February 15, 1976), drums (February 17, 1976), guitars (February 24, 1976) and strings (February 24, 1976). He also shortened the recording of 1.5 minutes. The result was released in November 1976 and became a number one hit on the "Hot Country Singles Chart" in early 1977. Here the singer struggles with his relationship with an inconsistently acting lady. He does it in form of a popsong with disco elements, which was quite popular back then. The style is atypical for Elvis, but works very well. Without the additions "Moody Blue" sounds less 1970ish, but once again the king's vocal shortcomings are revealed to a larger degree. It's not a bad performance, but Elvis should have tried a bit harder.

The b-side of "Moody Blue" was first released in 1962 by George Jones. In Dickey Lee's song the narrator was left by his lady, but refuses to admit that he still loves her. On February 2, 1976 Elvis toiled through 19 takes (because the numbers 2 and 12 were used twice the official master take is number 17), but still the final version includes several vocal shortcomings. Nevertheless the king sounds impressive at times and delivers the country ballad in a very emotional and believable way. The new mix just emphasizes on the strong points and certainly is my choice if I want to listen to the song.

 On the country chart the track became a number 1, but on the more important "Hot 100" it didn't make it past the Top40. "Way Down" was written by Layng Martine jr, Elvis recorded it on October 29, 1976 at the den of "Graceland" mansion. The master take is numbered 2c, because Felton Jarvis messed up the counting. If it had been correct, it would have been take 5. On January 22, 1977 the producer added harmony vocals. I would describe "Way Down" as an uptempo popsong with retro rock'n'roll elements. It could have been great if Elvis had invested a little more energy. It's still a nice track, but also a missed opportunity. The remix focuses on the drums and the guitar while leaving out the additional harmony voices (recorded on January 22, 1977). So it's sounds more rocking than the original version.

On October 30, 1976 Elvis and the band were supposed to record some more songs in the den of the king's "Graceland" mansion, but the singer refused to leave his bedroom. So the musicians recorded rhythm tracks to which Elvis could add his vocals on a later date. He did it the very next day, as it turned out this would be his final "studio" recording. On April 7, 1977 Felton Jarvis added a guitar. The song was written by Joe and Audrey Allison and recorded in 1957 by Billy Brown. While this original rendition wasn't successful at all, the cover version by Jim Reeves held the top position of Billboard's Country Chart for 14 weeks and became one of the best sellers of this genre. In the song the narrator is phoning his lady and wants her to decide between him and another man. Elvis sounds sad and a little tired. He doesn't fight for her, he just wants a decision. I like Elvis' performance very much, the remix sounds more crisp and clear than any other version of the recording.

On the same day Elvis also recorded "Pledging My Love". In contrast to his somewhat tired performace of the rocker this country ballad is sung with emotion and enthusiasm. To me this one is another highlight. The song was written by Ferdinand Washington and Don Robey and first performed in 1955 by Johnny Ace. According to some rumors the song was also on the set list of the young Mr. Presley. Twentyone years later he needed six takes to put the country ballad on tape. On January 22, 1977 Felton Jarvis added additional vocals and instruments and shortened the recording of two and a half minutes. RCA Records first released "Pledging My Love" on the flipside of "Way Down". Matt Ross-Spang's remix features the complete performance and does without any additions. The result is a simply, yet very appealing country ballad, presented by a spirited singer in fine voice.

The narrator once left his family for another woman, but now she is leaving him and he has to realize that it's much harder for him than it is for her. Elvis nails the song, vocally and emotionally it's an outstanding performance. Many fans and critics dislike "It's Easy For You", but I consider it a highlight. It was written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber and recorded by Elvis on October 29, 1976 at his "Graceland" mansion within 4 takes. The king selected take 2 for post-production and release. The final step was a guitar overdub on April 6, 1977. Without it, the remix doesn't sound all that different. But the new mix is quite an improvement. A great performance in great sound!