Customer Reviews

Promised Land

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Yes, this is one of Elvis's best 70's studio albums.He seems to be in great voice and mood, and the recordings are generally wonderful.I believe that Elvis's version of "Promised Land" is by far the very best of all I have ever heard (including Chuck Berry's version). It has a funky -countryish-RB sound that is all original. This is an ELVIS song tried and true! He had a knack of taking a song and making it his own. The other songs are mostly original country ballads with a "synthesizer" sound to them. This album is so powerful in it's quality and originality, It could stand alone as THE representative Elvis album of the 70's. Too bad "Burning Love" couldnt have been placed on here.! Listen to It! By the way,next year, RCA plans to redigitalize it again it on CD form, and add some masters of the album that have never been heard before. I cannot wait to hear it!

This album by Elvis was recorded in December 1973. It was a productive recording session, resulting in some (mostly) good songs. The highlights include Elvis' last great rocker "Promised Land", the gospelish "Help Me", the powerful ballad "It's Midnight", and the underrated "If You Talk in Your Sleep". Fans of late period Elvis should enjoy this one.

1973-74. Elvis, post-Aloha, and in the throes of divorce proceedings. Without the (waning) excitement of live concerts what other motivation was there to seek out new material?

Fortunately, the love of music. As this album testifies, the past still provided the adventurous artist with enough richness and diversity to excite even the most jaded performer. Chuck Berry's anthemic title track is the prime example, as Elvis pours all of his considerable energy into making this song his own. Add to this some beautifully performed contemporary numbers such as "Your Love's Been A Long Time Coming", "Thinking Of You" and Waylon Jennings's "You Asked Me To", and "Promised Land" delivers the sense of purpose and energy lacking in many of his other album releases.

This is an extremely underrated album, as were many of The King's releases from this era. There's country, and rock and roll, and even a little funk with "Talk In Your Sleep." Elvis is in fine form vocally, and the album is pretty well produced as well. I hope that maybe someday there will be new releases of these albums that are remastered and maybe with some musical or other enhancements to bring it up a notch. Unfortunately, many of Elvis' albums from the '70s were shoddily produced and thrown together without much care or thought at all. This was the Colonel at his worst. Another complaint is the cover. Just about every cover from the '70s had some kind of concert photo, and they looked very generic. Another suggestion would be to re-release these albums with covers that have the quality and imagination that would make even Elvis proud. It could be a way of re-introducing The King to a whole new fan base. Either way, this is still a solid album and an excellent addition to anyone's Elvis collection. Buy it!

This is not a bad album, however titling it after one of Elvis' great rock songs (Promised Land) may give people the impression that it is a rock album. It is not. "Promised Land" is the only real rocker on the album and it does include the pop hit "If You Talk In Your Sleep", but the rest of the songs are mostly 70's era country ballads. That doesn't make it bad, in fact several of them were hits on the US country charts, including the moving "Help Me". But buyer beware. If you are not into country, you will probably not be into this CD.

This is my favorite Elvis album of the 70's. It kicks off with a rockin' rendition of the Chuck Berry hit "Promised Land". Elvis is at his natural best here, with a song that speaks to his personal experience. James Burton contributes some smokin' guitar solos, while drummer Ronnie Tutt anchors the locomotive rhythm section. "There's a Honky Tonk Angel (Who Will Take Me Back In)" is a country ballad, but Elvis sings it with the passion of a southern soul singer. "Help Me", written by country star Larry Gatlin, is contemporary gospel, and once again Elvis sings it with passion, the words obviously having special meaning for him at this time in his life. "Mr. Songman" follows at similar tempo, written by one of Elvis' backup singers, Donnie Sumner of Voice. "Love Song of the Year" is a sad, slow song, but once again Elvis is in excellent voice. "It's Midnight" is downright despondent, and Elvis' singing aches with the pain of his loneliness. The understated backing of his TCB band really enhances the performance. 'Your Love's Been a Long Time Coming" wipes away the gloom, with the glow of newfound love, another invigorated performance. The funky "If You Talk in Your Sleep" changes the mood once again, the TCB band is at their best here, and the string and horn arrangement adds to the feeling of danger and foreboding. "Thinking About You" is much lighter, Elvis finally putting some past memories behind him. The closing track, Waylon Jennings' "You Asked Me To", is carefree and fun, just a straight country tune, with some more nice picking from James Burton. These tracks represent the best of Elvis' '73 Stax sessions. He would only enter a studio proper once after this. "Promised Land" was one of his biggest selling singles of the 70's (#14 in winter 74/75), "If You Talk in Your Sleep" also made the top 20, and the album went all the way to #1 on the country albums chart. This CD is proof that Elvis still had "it" long after the critics had written him off.

One writer wrote a negative review that was obviously just not an Elvis fan. This was about the time sadly things in Elvis' personal life was getting worse his Divorce, his health ect., listening to this record you can tell this by his choice of songs mostly sad ballads, he never sang with more heart and emotion or with a stronger voice and is probably one of Elvis' best release of the 70's. In the song Help Me you can feel him singing and pleading with god for guidance. If your an Elvis fan or just a fan of good music this is an essential for you to own. Also the Rocker Promised Land the first song on the CD is great to. This is a must Have.

I can't think of a better song to listen to when I'm cruising down the interstate in a pink Cadillac than Elvis's version of Chuck Berry's "Promised Land." It really TCBs. The rest of the record isn't on that level but hey it's the King.

Elvis has received a lot of critisism for his later recordings which i feel is unjustified.This album is full of top quality tracks that still sound great in 2004.Give this a go - you will not be let down by the Artist Of The Century.

This album, despite its strong first two songs, is pretty underwhelming. "Help Me," "Mr. Songman," "Love Song of the Year," and "It's Midnight" are just plain laughable. They signify Elvis at his laziest. These renditions are not innovative or sincere. Even though "Promised Land" and "There's a Honky Tonk Angel" are the best songs, especially from a technical standpoint, "If You Talk in Your Sleep" is the most unique one, proving that Elvis could master any musical genre. Its funk-based rhythms and horns are powerful, and his vocals are perfect. The closing song, "You Asked Me To," is a good song, but the undubbed version on Elvis Essentials Vol. 5 is much better. In fact, I would recommend owning that CD over this one because that disc contains all the good songs from this album, except for "If You Talk in Your Sleep." Overall, this album does not live up to its counterparts, Good Times and Raised on Rock. The songs from those two albums are much better. Even the goofy version of "Spanish Eyes" has more soul than "Mr. Songman." To put in clichédly, Promised Land promises much more than in delivers.