Customer Reviews

That's the Way It Is

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have 80% of all that Elvis recorded and this one is my favorite hands down. This is a group of recordings that are unmatched, belonging together in such a way that you must hear to appreciate. I never grow weary of listening to it again.

This is a classic album in every sense of the word. This album mixes live and studio recordings to accompany the 1970 documentary "Elvis - That's The Way It is".
The result is one of Elvis' best ever efforts (and that's saying something). As good (or should i say great!) as they were, his albums of the 50s and 60s do not match up to this extraordinary effort, from a singer who had always been extraordinary since the start.

Fresh from the success of the chart-topping single "The Wonder of you" and the hot "On Stage" album, Presley was on a roll.
The album "That's the way it is" contained a mere 12 of many songs recorded at the live shows, rehearsals and studio sessions during this time. Nevertheless why complain when the result is a true 5 STAR album as this?

It has a huge Country feel from the first cut ("I just can't help believing") and this is echoed throughout most of the album.
I actually bought this album after hearing 2 songs. The already mentioned Just can't help believing" and Elvis' version of the Simon and Garfunkel classic "Bridge over troubled water", whioch ironically is the albums last song.

The material in-between does not disappoint.
"Just Pretend" has to be the highlight. This is my second favourite song Presley EVER recorded (right next too "If I can dream", recorded 2 years earlier).
This is the ultimate love song about a man who has argued with his love and has left, however (obviously the two are in a telephone conversion) miles apart, both are now wishing they were back together.
Presley then sings "I'll come flying to you again, all the crying is true/through, I will hold you and love you again, but until then, well, Just Pretend". A marvellous song.

Unlike a lot of Live albums (this was half live, half studio) we are treated to 100% material never before released by Elvis.
"That's the way it is" shows Elvis at his best. This proves the later Elvis material was right up their with anything he had done before.

Anyone who claims he was past it in 1960, should check this set out. It's Presley's finest.

This Albums opens up with very soft and pretty love song, "I Just Can't Help Believin", it is a classic to me of Elvis's career. Their are magnificient dramatic bring it all down pieces on this album. They represent his days singing at Sun Studios, such songs as "How The Web Was Woven", "Just Pretend". They mixe his singing roots of Blues and Country. His live recordings, are his best music coming from Vegas in 1970, such songs, as "You've Lost The Lovin' Feeling", and "A Bridge over Trouble Water". Elvis's version of "A Bridge Over Trouble Water" is so over powering it puts people that love music to tears. I listen to this album almost every day and it is the best studio live albums of Elvis's later career.

This is a soundtrack to the documentary "Elvis That's the Way It Is." The album was a modest hit when it was released in 1970 peaking at 21 on the US album chart (number 8 on the US Country chart) and 12 in the UK. It would be certified GOLD by the RIAA. The documentary covered Elvis' concerts in Las Vegas. It includes both live recordings from the show and "studio rehearsal" recordings. It includes the US hit single "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" and the UK hit single "I Just Can't Help Believin'". While it is a little lite on the number of songs included (it is just a reissue of the LP) it is still an excellent collection and a must for Elvis fans. Elvis is in top form for these recordings.

This CD is a great way for the new fan or the fan whose affection for Elvis is growing to truly discover the multifaceted vocal talents that Elvis possessed. It takes you outside the "overplayed" standards that everyone grew up listening to on the radio and thrusts the fan into a broader realm of his great instrument. Elvis' voice.

This album is supreme. It was Elvis' only album to be released on a 24 kt gold disc because of its quality. Not surprising considering Elvis was at his best in every capacity on this album from his choice of songs to the arrangements, from the musicians to Elvis' own excitement at being back on stage. This is my all time favorite album. When you listen to Elvis' version of "Bridge Over Troubled Water", turn up the volume. Feel the intensity and the heart Elvis puts into this beautiful song. It gives me chills every time. You won't be disappointed in this album. After you buy the album, buy the video of this concert and you'll really be blown away watching Elvis perform not only these songs but many other great songs like "Suspicious Minds" and "Polk Salad Annie".

This is ostensibly the soundtrack to the documentary Elvis - That's the Way It Is. The film offered a look at Elvis' concert series in Las Vegas in August of 1970. But only 4 of the 12 songs on the album are actual live recordings from that concert series("I Just Can't Help Believin'", "Patch It Up", "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"). The rest of the songs are studio recordings from June, 1970. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" has applause at the end, but it's a studio recording with the applause overdubbed later. This is a graceful, well-crafted album, weaving together powerful cuts like "Just Pretend" and "Stranger in the Crowd", the delicate and contemporary arrangements of "The Next Step is Love" and "Mary in the Morning", and a strong version of B.J. Thomas' international hit "I Just Can't Help Believin'". Elvis is at his best throughout this outstanding album. My copy of the CD is 24kt gold plated, which is cool, but I don't know if it actually improves the sound.

That's The Way It Is represents one of Elvis' best albums from the 1970's. It is a mixture of live recordings and studio mixes. But it should not be confused with the original soundtrack from the documentary of the same name that is different. Elvis sings every song with feeling and really puts his heart into the music. It is a good record (CD) throughout. And while I would not put it in the top 5 of his greatest albums, it would certainly be in his top 10 - a record that is well worth owning and listening to.

Where Elvis really sores on this album is on the live tracks. "Patch It Up" written by the late, great, Eddie Rabbit is an up tempo pop song that Elvis sings to the hilt and the band plays hard. His version of "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" is probably the best remake of the Righteous Brothers classic that I have ever heard. It's different in sound than the masterful original but like that version, it is very soulful. Elvis gets inside the song and jokes in this live version, "Baby, Baby I'd get down on my knees to you, If this suit wasn't too tight." He was slender at the time and his good humor serves for comic relief, amidst the seriousness of a man looking for a second chance with his woman.

The other outstanding performance on this album is "Bridge Over Troubled Water". To equal the original classic, once voted the greatest song of the 1970's, is no easy task. But in this version Elvis does just that. Masterfully reflecting the eloquent lyrics, he sings them with both drama and panache. His voice soars, the back-up singers voices soar and Elvis leaves his listeners wasted. It's light opera, it's pop, it's musical theater all rolled up into one and it represents one of Elvis' best and most powerful ballads from the 1970's. It's no coincidence that this song was a staple in his live concerts throughout that decade.

Coming close to this brilliant performance is "I've Lost You". This is a beautifully written piece of adult contemporary pop describing a marriage where love and chemistry have disappeared and a child is involved. The lyrics are sad and the orchestration is thoughtful. Yet Elvis performs it with such exhuberance; he almost sounds happy. Perhaps it was the joy of singing to a live audience coming through. (The studio version of this song better reflects the lyrics.) Whatever the reasons for Elvis' jubilation on the track, it represents one of those little paradoxes that he was famous for with those who knew him best. Nevertheless, it's still a gem of a song.

If you're a guy and you buy this album, invite your girlfriend over to listen to it. By the time it finishes she just might like you even more than she did before. If you're a lady and you buy this album; when you're done listening to it, you'll probably wish you had dated Elvis.

This is a soundtrack to the documentary "Elvis That's the Way It Is." The album was a modest hit when it was released in 1970 peaking at 21 on the US album chart (number 8 on the US Country chart) and 12 in the UK. It would be certified GOLD by the RIAA. The documentary covered Elvis' concerts in Las Vegas. It includes both live recordings from the show and "studio rehearsal" recordings. It includes the US hit single "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" and the UK hit single "I Just Can't Help Believin'". While it is a little lite on the number of songs included (it is just a reissue of the LP) it is still an excellent collection and a must for Elvis fans. Elvis is in top form for these recordings.

There can be no dispute that some of Elvis's most memorable performances of the early 1970's were delivered from centre stage at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. This CD features a collection of songs which were specially selected from a series of performances at the Hotel in early 1970.

Enjoy!!