Customer Reviews

Elvis (The Fool Album)

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"ELVIS", also known as the "Fool" album, was the first release after the very successful "Aloha from Hawaii" special and album (which went to number One on the charts).

But, when this album was released in the summer of '73, it only hit #50 on the charts! Why is that? Perhaps lack of promotion from RCA?

This album contains tracks recorded from 1971 to 1972 (one which is from a Las Vegas performance). All songs on this release have something to offer: "Fool" and "Where Do I Go From Here" are pleasant tunes that are decidedly "non-commercial" by Elvis standards.

"Love Me, Love the Life I Lead" is probably one of the most overlooked Elvis performances. He sings it tough, hitting lots of high notes and showing a lot of expressionism. A classic!

"It's Still Here", "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" and "I Will Be True" were all recorded alone in the studio with Elvis alone at the piano. Overdubbs were added later. These give you a feel of intimacy as Elvis sings his heart out.

"It's Impossible" is Elvis' cover of a Perry Como hit. It's probably the weakest track on the album, but weak doesn't necessarily mean BAD. It's just not my personal fave, that's all.

"For Lovin' Me" was recorded during Elvis' "folk music" period (when he also recorded "Early Morning Rain"). This is a nice cover of a song he heard Peter, Paul and Mary do.

"Padre" is a favorite song of Elvis' (as he mentions on the interview found on the "King of Rock and Roll-The Complete 50s Masters" box set. This is quite a performance, starting out calmly and leading up to a crescendo ending, as only Elvis could do.

"Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" is one of two Bob Dylan covers released during Elvis' lifetime (the other being "Tomorrow Is a Long Time", originally released as a 'bonus track' on the SPINOUT LP and later released on the "From Nashville To Memphis: The Essential 60s Masters"). This is a brief edit of a 10+ minute jam that Elvis and his band would sometimes evolve into. A longer version appears on the 70s box, and an even longer one is on the long out-of-print LP OUR MEMORIES OF ELVIS, VOLUME 2.

This is an album that really deserves another listen. Just because there are no hit songs on this album, that doesn't make it any less of an Elvis classic. In fact, it's his best release until PROMISED LAND.

It's amazing that so few people know about can be such a wonderful experience over and over. This album and "That's The Way It Is" represent the best Elvis had to offer. "Elvis" offerings include the phenominal "Fool", the heartfelt "Love The Life I Lead" and "Padre". Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" get's a first class treatment, and a nice version of the standard "It's Impossible" is also included. "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen" and"It's Still Here" are raw Elvis. These tracks have Elvis on vocals and piano with a small bass part in the background. What this album shows is the emotion that the King was going through during this period of his life. The emotion shows in his voice and the power in which he delivers the songs. If you want a top notch album this is the one to have.

This is a really great album. I had the vinyl from years ago and recently went and got the CD. Those who say Elvis lost the plot in the seventies should give this a good listen. It's hard to pick the best track but a personal favourite is 'Love the Life I lead'. Turn it up loud...it's great stuff! The ballads are great too, particularly 'It's Still here'. Elvis is in fine voice throughout. Highly recommended.

The Fool album is one of Elvis' most underrated albums of his career. It should have been a major hit at least on the Country charts. It represents a nice break from his usual material that most people think about when they hear the name 'Elvis Presley'.

As some Elvis experts now admit, the Fool album is an example of the lack of marketing on the part of RCA when it came to Elvis' newly recorded music of the 70's. Most of Elvis' albums during the 70's gave mainstream D.J.'s of that era the wrong impression that the only albums that Elvis was putting out were live concert albums instead of new material. In fact, I remember one D.J. in Rhode Island who followed this misconception later admitted that Elvis was robbed of several hits from 1970-77 because of RCA's lack of marketing (RCA felt they were already making a ton of money off of Elvis' name and image and so there was no need to aggressively promote his new material). This D.J.'s thinking changed after he played some of Elvis' 70's albums like Fool and Promised Land, but this happened, unfortunately, long after Elvis had already passed away. As for me, I was not aware of the Fool album until a couple of years after it was released and at that time I always kept up as a dedicated fan with current news about Elvis either in the print media, on radio or on television which were each limited compared to the widespread marketing of entertainers that you see today on cable and on the Internet.

What does the Fool album do primarily? The Fool album basically shows off Elvis' voice and presents him as a great all-around ballad singer. His charm, sensitivity, strength, range and character and his roots can be heard and felt in each song. Psychologically, the album sounds very personal to him as he pours out his heart in ballads like Fool, Where Do I Go From Here, Love Me Love The Life I Lead, Padre and so forth. The songs equal and, in some cases, surpass the popular ballads that Elvis had hits with in the 50's and 60's. What is also impressive is the music that accompanies his vocals. It is so good to hear pianos and guitars or some other instruments that do not drown out Elvis' voice, but are modest and placed at a respectable level that is meant to compliment the singing of Elvis. This is a fact that is often overlooked among critics. So if you purchase this album please listen to it as an album that projects Elvis as a top-of-the-notch vocalist who decided to record these special songs because they spoke to him personally. On the Fool album, Elvis invites each of us into a personal perspective of his life in a way that is real and alive even over 35 years later after the Fool album was originally released.

I give every song on this album an A plus because it shows Elvis' warm and powerful vocals at a high standard level during a time when Elvis was in top shape physically. People who purchase this album will find that it compliments the more widely known Elvis albums in their collection.

My only criticism is that RCA should have added a few more songs that Elvis recorded in the studio during '71 and 72, especially Separate Ways and Always On My Mind. I also think the original album cover should not have contained a shot from a concert as did most of the new Elvis albums of the 70's. This is a major reason why so many people, including D.J.'s, during that time thought that Elvis was only putting out concert albums!

RCA Records wanted to follow up Aloha From Hawaii with a new Elvis studio album in 1973, but all they had to work with were leftover recordings. The songs that ended up on the album were all recorded one or two years before. The first two tracks were taped in March of 1972. Six of the tracks date from May of 1971. "(That's What You Get) For Lovin' Me" is from March of 1971, and "It's Impossible" is a live recording from February 1972. Despite the hodgepodge nature of the album, it's actually pretty good. There a couple of weak songs, like "Love Me, Love the Life I Lead" and "Padre", but the rest of the material is pretty strong. There are three great songs where Elvis is alone at the piano: "It's Still Here", "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen" and "I Will Be True". I'm also fond of "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right", which is sloppy, but fun. Most Elvis fans should enjoy this album. But I should mention that it's only 26 minutes long.

Item was delivered quickly, in good shape, and matched product description. I ordered it on behalf of my mother-in-law, who doesn't have a computer and has been looking for one particular Elvis song forever. She was thrilled to find it, and it wouldn't surprise me if she's already worn the album out!

For me, the most significant detail of this album is the fact that it was out of print for a long time after its first release. Then it was reissued in CD in the 90's, as all Elvis original albums released in the 70's when he was alive. In 1978 I discovered by chance the only copy left in a store in Puerto Rico. The album was new to me. I wasn't aware then that it was such a special album, neither I knew the songs then, except for Elvis version of "It's Impossible", included in the album "Elvis: Pure Gold"; "That's What You Get For Loving Me" from the compilation "Elvis: A Canadian Tribute" and "Padre", included in the compilation "He Walks Beside Me". Contrary to the review written by "burning" in this space, I think "It's Impossible" is a beautiful and dramatic version, Elvis's voice sounds sublime and passionate here. All tracks of the album are great. My other favorites are "Fool", "Padre", "Where do I Go From Here", "Love Me (Love The Life I Lead)" and "I'll Take You Home Kathleen." If you have not read the review from "burning", please read it, so you'll know all the important facts about this album. I only differ with regard to "It's Impossible".

Since I love all the elvis songs, I wanted this album for the song - "I'll take you home again Kathleen". It is beautiful. Elvis is the King.

I am a huge Elvis fan, and when I was a teenager it was the mid-70s, and this music was his new stuff. This release followed the ALOHA FROM HAWAII Special, and I found it disappointing. Elvis was also coming off 1972, which on the single's chart was his best since 1969. He had his first real GOLD RECORD since Suspicious Minds, with BURNING LOVE, and was again rockin'. He also did well with SEPERATE WAYS. The "B"s sides of both were also excellent. Instead of releasing an LP with new material along with these Hit singles, RCA elected to release both with old movie tracks. In my opinon a waste. The "Fool" release was another odd grouping of songs that had lingered in the vaults, with the exception of FOOL and WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE, which were from the Burning Love sessions. Four tracks on the release appear to be Elvis just messing around at the piano, and probably not intended for release, I'm Still Here / I Will Be True and I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen, and Don't Think Twice, appears to be just a jam, and has no introduction, it simply fades in. The album includes some of the weakest Elvis material of his career, such as "Love The Life I Lead" & "Padre". The range of both songs, exceed that of the King's voice, and it seems he strains to hit the notes. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, is an exceptional Live recording originally meant for "Standing Room Only", which was replaced by LIVE In MSG. This LP seemed to have been thrown togather, just to release something to fill in, until "ALOHA" was ready for the charts. Elvis would follow this release with some of his very best studio work in December of 1973.

bwalter