The core of this set are the masters, the versions of the songs Elvis wanted to be released. Matt Ross-Spang used the master takes, but left out the overdubbed strings, horns, country fiddles and additional voices. However, he did use some of the guitar and bass parts, that were added after the original sessions. In general Matt omitted the sweeteners and put the focus on guitars, drums, bass and piano. The result sounds fresh, punchy and a lot less cluttered than the original masters. When I write about the songs, I also mention the original overdubs, so you can detect the differences.

The recordings from March 1972 were released on the singles "Burning Love" / "It's A Matter Of Time" and "Separate Ways" / "Always On My Mind". To cash-in once more Elvis agreed to combine the recent hit singles with tunes from the previous decade and re-release them on the budget albums "Burning Love And Hits From His Movies" and "Separate Ways". "Fool" was used for the b-side of "Steamroller Blues" and later appeared on the album "Elvis", a collection of leftovers from 1971/1972. "For The Good Times" stayed in the vaults since the album "Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden" included a live version of the song. In 1975 the situation was vastly different. RCA already had released everything they had in the can and so all ten tracks were needed to fill the album "Elvis Today". Before the longplayer was brought into the stores, the label released "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" on a single and used a song from Elvis' previous longplayer on the b-side. Later that year two more songs from the "Today" album were released on a single, but it didn't make any impact and became one of the biggest sales flops of Elvis' career. However, that doesn't say anything about the quality of the material or the performances.

Elvis recorded the rock'n'roll tune on March 28, 1972 within six takes. On April 27th Felton Jarvis added further instruments and shortened the recording of half a minute. The song was written by Dennis Linde and originally released by Arthur Alexander. Even though "Burning Love" is a straight rock song, Elvis doesn't perform it with the necessary agression. Maybe it was because of his peddled dislike of the song, maybe he simply wanted to sound like a popsinger. In the US "Burning Love" became a #2 hit and was certified with a Double Platinum Award.

The singer affirms, that his wife was always on his mind, even though he had treated her not well and finally was left. The lyrics could have been an excerpt of Elvis' diary, but this time it was nothing but a coincidence. "Always On My Mind" was written by Wayne Carson, Mark James and Johnny Christopher and had nothing to do with the king's situation. Elvis recorded the song on March 28, 1972 and needed seven takes to get it right. On April 27th further instruments were added, strings and horns followed on May 8th. Once again Elvis wanted to do without the violins, so they were removed before release. The single "Separate Ways" / "Always On My Mind" reached Platinum status, on the pop chart "Always On My Mind" peaked at number 46.

The song by Paul Williams must also have met his feelings, because I am pretty sure that Elvis asked himself where to go and what to do now. It was recorded on March 27, 1972 and even though his performance was far from perfect the king wanted the 8th take to be prepared for release. Now it was up to Felton Jarvis to safe the track in post production. He tried to do so on May 8th by adding strings and horns.

In the song, the narrator splits from his wife and therefore has to leave his little daughter, too. "Separate Ways" was written by Red West and Richard Mainegra directly for Elvis and fit the current situation of the king like a glove. On March 27, 1972 he recorded 25 takes and selected the 21st attempt for release. On the day of the recording Felton Jarvis added harmony voices, strings and horns followed on May 8th. Later the violins were removed, because Elvis didn't like the arrangement. With sales of 1.75 million units "Separate Ways" earned the king another Platinum, but compared to "Burning Love" the demand was 42% lower.

During the king's lifetime only the version on the album "Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden" was available. The studio recording, made on March 27, 1972 within four takes, was released for the first time in 1995 on the boxed set "Walk A Mile In My Shoes - The Essential 70's Masters".

This country-styled ballad was written by Clive Westlake, whose daughter was a well-known tv show host in Germany. Elvis sings the song with a touch of sadness in his voice, which fits the wistful melody well. He recorded "It's A Matter Of Time" on March 29, 1972 and approved the 5th attempt for release. Felton Jarvis added strings and horns, but didn't meet the king's taste and therefore had to remove his overdubs. The track was released on the b-side of "Burning Love" and reached #22 on the pop charts.

In 1969 the German bandleader James Last released an instrumental track called "No Words". Later Carl Siegman wrote lyrics to it and Wayne Newton sang the song, which now was named "Fool". Elvis recorded it on March 28, 1972. Take 2 was selected as master take, on May 8th strings and horns were added. The king didn't like the overdubbs, so they were removed before the song was released on the b-side of "Steamroller Blues". The song is a kitschy self-flagellation after his woman had left the singer, but Elvis performs it in a very believable way. Maybe, because "Fool" mirrored his feelings regarding the recent separation from Priscilla. In March 1973 RCA released the track on the b-side of "Steamroller Blues". On the pop charts the track peaked at number 17.

Even though it's a rock'n'roll song in classic Jerry Lee Lewis style, Elvis performs it without any aggression. I like his relaxed, but still powerfull vocals very much. No wonder, RCA released "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" on a single. Between April and August 1975 it was also a regular feature of his live show. The song was written by Jerry Chesnut especially for Elvis, who recorded it on March 11, 1975 within four takes. In April "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" was released on a single and reached #35 of the pop chart.

In 1973 Perry Como scored a top 30 hit with "And I Love You So", but the first release was four years earlier by Don McLean, who had also written it. Elvis taped the ballad on March 10, 1975 and selected the 10th attempt for post production. On April 8th a new bass track was recorded, later Felton Jarvis added harmony vocals (April 9th), brass (April 10th) and strings (April 14th). Elvis sings very emotional and the song accentuates his great voice. Between 1975 and 1977 "And I Love You So" was included in many shows, a live version from June 19, 1977 can be heared on "Elvis In Concert". But it has to be said that it doesn't even come close to his great studio recording.

The singer remembers his bygone loves and realizes, that none of them was like Susan. In contrast to many other songs of this kind, this one is no mourning ballad, but an uptempo country-pop. Elvis obviously has fun and I like "Susan When She Tried", too. The song was written by Don Reid and released by The Statler Brothers in 1973. The king covered it on March 11, 1975 and needed six takes to get it right. On April 8th the bass part was re-recorded and the track was shortened of 40 seconds.

This ballad was also written by Jerry Chesnut, but not especially for Elvis. The original recording was by Bob Luman in 1968. The king followed him on March 11, 1975 and taped the song in a single attempt. The harmony voices were added on April 9th, the strings followed on April 14th. Because the narrator's wife knows that he doesn't love her and therefore often cries at night, he comes to the conclusion, that a man without love is only half of a man, but a woman is nothing at all. I guess humbug like that was already considered reactionary in the 70s of the past century, but the melody is nice and Elvis performs the song with emotion.

In 1953 Faye Adams' original recording had blocked the number one spot of the "R&B Charts" for nine weeks. Elvis recorded the song by Joe Morris on March 11, 1975 within 3 takes. His performance has a touch of gospel, which I like very much. Later the track was enhanced with a new bass track (April 8th), harmony vocals (April 9th) and horns (April 10th). During the finale the remix features a guitar, which was almost drowned out on the original version.

One could really believe, that this is Elvis' life confession. His career as a singer, the women, the failed marriage. Everything is there. If the waterglass full of whiskey was substituted by a handfull of pills it would fit in every detail. On top of that the king performs the song with much emotion, it seems he takes the listener into his confidence. In fact, "Pieces Of My Life" has nothing to do with Elvis at all. It was written by Troy Seals, who also released the song in 1973 on an album. The king recorded it on March 12, 1975, the fourth take was approved for post production. On April 8th the bass track was re-recorded, six days later strings were added. In September "Pieces Of My Life" was released on the b-side of "Bringing It Back". It didn't make it on the pop chart, but reached number 33 on the country chart.

The country-pop was written by Anita and Bonnie Pointer and became a top 20 hit for The Pointer Sisters in 1974. Elvis recorded his version on March 10, 1975 within three takes. On April 8th Felton Jarvis added a fiddle and re-recorded the bass track, harmony vocals were taped the following day. The production was finalized on April 14th with the addition of strings and the shortening of the recording of 50 seconds. The narrator confronts his partner with her coldness and Elvis' voice is full of sandness and anger. I like the song very much. "Fairytale" was also a more or less regular feature of the king's live shows and can be found on "Elvis In Concert" (1977). This version was also taped on June 19, 1977 and doesn't hold a candle to the studio recording.

Elvis recorded "I Can Help" on March 10, 1975 within a single take. Officially the master is take 2, but the first take was nothing but a false start. Another try might have been a good idea, because the king can be heared gasping for breath here and there. But that doesn't keep me from loving this track, because the performance sounds so spontaneous and everybody obviously has fun. Felton Jarvis enhanced the track with the re-recording of the bass track (April 8th), harmony vocals (April 9th) and horns (April 10th). The harmony vocals were later removed on Elvis' behalf. "I Can Help" was written by Billy Swan, who scored a number one hit with the song in late 1974.

The sentimental ballad was written by Greg Gordon and recorded in January 1975 by Brenda Lee. Elvis taped his version on March 12, 1975 within four takes. On April 8th the bass track was re-recorded, harmony vocals were added the following day. On April 14th the track was further enhanced with strings. Even though Brenda Lee was the first to record "Bringing It Back", Elvis was the first to release the song. When Brenda scored a minor hit with it in the fall of 1975, RCA jumped on the bandwagon and quickly released Elvis' version on a single, too. But the plan didn't work out, the 45 became a commercial flop and didn't climb past #65 of the pop chart.

The narrator returns to his old homeland, meets his family and his beloved Mary and visits places of his childhood and youth. But in the thrid verse it gets obvious, that he is just dreaming and actually sitting in a death cell, where he awaits the capital punishment. "Green Green Grass Of Home" was written by Claude Putman jr. and was recorded first by Johnny Darrell. In 1966 Tom Jones scored a number one hit with the song on the "UK Charts" and it was his recording that got Elvis' attention. It is said that he once was on a trip back to Memphis and called the radio station several times and asked them to play the song. However, it took him almost a decade before he recorded "Green Green Grass Of Home" himself. On March 10, 1975 he needed five takes to archive a satisfactory result. The master take was enhanced with a new bass track (April 8th), harmony voices (April 9th) and strings (April 14th).