The tv concert "Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite" was about to be aired by NBC in April 1973. To promote the event and to remind the public of the soundtrack album RCA Records released "Steamroller Blues" / "Fool" in March. The single entered Billboard's "Hot 100" on April 14, 1973 at number 80, had a run of 12 weeks and peaked at number 17. On April 28th it also entered the "Easy Listening Chart". Here it stayed for eight weeks and reached number 12. In Great Britain "Fool" was considered to be the a-side and became a top20-hit. Globally the single sold 2 million units which translates to 300 million paid streams. In the previous years only "Burning Love" / "It's A Matter Of Time" had sold better than this one, but still Elvis was way below the sales level of his glory days (1956-1962) or his comeback period (1969/1970). Nowadys "Steamroller Blues" clocks in at 6.5 million streams on Spotify. However, the fans seem to prefer the remake, which features the added sounds of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This version was requested 3.6 million times, while the original recording accumulates 2.9 million streams. The b-side "Fool" comes quite close and clocks in at 2.6 million hits.

Instead of the by now usual concert picture RCA Records used a photo of an old steam roller on the front cover. On the back, however, there was a picture taken during the "Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite" event. A red banner advertised the accordant soundtrack album as well as the budget release "Separate Ways".

The single isn't available on the streaming platforms, because "Steamroller Blues" is included on the album "Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite" and "Fool" can be found on the album "Elvis". For reviews of the RCA releases tap HERE ("Aloha") and HERE ("Elvis").

The song was written by James Tylor, who recorded it in 1970. The first version was by The Masqueraders in 1968. Elvis recorded "Steamroller Blues" on January 14, 1973 at the Honolulu International Center on the island O'ahu / Hawaii. The performance was already known from the soundtrack album "Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite" which had been released by RCA Records in February 1973. In contrast to Tylor Elvis does not emphasize on the funny lyrics, but turns the song into some kind of Vegas blues with lots of brass and backup voices. Unfortunately he sounds somewhat tired for two thrids of the performance and he doesn't really get into it before close to the end. 

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 at RCA Studio C in Hollywood/California. Take 2 was selected as master take, on May 8th strings and horns were added. The king didn't like the overdubbs, so the horns were removed before the song was released on this single. "Fool" 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.