Raised on Rock [Import]

It has been said that Elvis' music of the 70's is the weakest of his career. I disagree! I feel the 70's is actually Elvis's best. Maybe the hits like Hound Dog and company were things of the past, but what he recorded was music he wanted to record. This is what comes through song after song. The emotion in these albums are unequalled in the 50's and 60's recordings save the 69 Memphis recordings and the 68 Comeback Special. This album is a perfect example. All ten tracks shine! From the grooves of Raised On Rock, If You Don't Come Back, and Just A Little Bit to the regret of For 'Ol Times Sake and the sadness of Sweet Angeline and I Miss You this is a classic Elvis album. Treat yourself and give this a listen. You will be glad you did!

There are 5, count 'em 5 rockers on this album and the song Raised On Rock is a winner. The first thing you hear is thudding bass, followed by a splintering guitar. "Just A Little Bit" is a classic R&B song done many times, and Elvis gives it a sultry southern soul treatment that's very worthy. The surprise on the album is the song "If You Don't Come Back" a VERY funky tune, in the purest meaning of the word funk, with funky wah-wah guitar and great syncopated rhthym, it kicks. There's a ballad on here called "For Old Times' Sale" that is just beautiful and heart wrentching, showing the delicacy of Elvis' voice when he wanted to convey tender emotion through this beautiful pseudo-country ballad with pop flavor. "Find Out What's Happening", I understand, was covered by some recent group - I haven't heard their version but I can ASSURE you that this original version is the definitive. And these songs don't sound old, the sound quality is crisp and clean, the bass pumps, the sound is all that. "I Miss You", another ballad, could bring the macho man to tears, it's absolutely beautiful. It can remind you of a lost love, or someone who's passed on, and it's invoking of many emotions. The rest of the songs are just as strong, while "Three Corn Patches" may be a little clichéd attempt at 50's rock and roll, it's still a great tune. Buy this album, before it's gone - because it is deleted. I recommend getting it now, because once it's gone, it's gone. Raised On Rock!

"Raised on Rock" was Elvis' 3rd major release of 1973. The first Aloha From Hawaii soared to number 1. That was followed by was Elvis fans call the "Fool" album, which was a thrown together hodge podge of unreleased studio, live, and studio jam numbers. Only made it half up Billboards top 100 album chart.

Rasied On Rock was released in the fall of that year and in spite of the fact that Elvis was always on tour, still packing them in, he or RCA didn't promote the album at all. The only single and title cut was a fine rock single, but only made it to number 41 in Billboard's hot 100. The song however did have quite an impact with other artists, it was covered by a number of people including Johnny Winter and Helen Ready. It was written by Mark James (Suspicious Minds, Moody Blue, Always On My Mind). Elvis performed the song a grand total of once in concert. "Are You Sincere" is a so-so love song followed. Next is a fine rocker with some great pickin' by the legendary James Burton. "I Miss You" is another mellow song, but a fine one penned by Donnie Sumner (of The Stamps & Voice see my review of Donnie's new Christmas cd) added a great touch. Donnie should have composed a whole lp for the king. "Girl of Mine" another so-so laid back number. Tony Joe White's "For Ol' Times Sake" the b side of the single is one of the albums standout songs. "If You Don't Come Back" what a song!!! A funky peace of music, where Elvis sings about as low as he ever did, with the soulful Sweet Insparations singing backup and James Burton on wah wah guitar is one of Elvis' great moments of the 70's, it sould have been much longer. The old r& b standard "Just A Little Bit" is performed to perfection and again James Burton's guitar playing is awsome. After 3 killer cuts in a row Elvis hits a pothole with "Sweet Angeline". The album ends with the country rocker "Three Corn Patches", a solid song with a bouncy piano solo by Glen D. Hardin, and fades out with some gritty guitar licks by Mr. Burton. All in all a very good album, but had Elvis put a bit more effort into it, extended the songs some (the running time is under a half hour), and maybe replaced "Sweet Angeline" with a good blues workout, it could have been one of the year's best. Chartwise, it too only made half way up the top 100 album chart.