Today (Elvis Presley album)
Today is the twenty-second studio album by American singer Elvis Presley, released on May 7, 1975 by RCA Records. The album featured the country and pop music sound typical of Elvis during the 1970s,[1] as well as a new rock and roll song, "T-R-O-U-B-L-E", which was released as its first single and went Top 40 in the US. "Bringin' It Back" was its second single in the US. The album also features covers of songs by Perry Como, Tom Jones, The Pointer Sisters, Billy Swan, Faye Adams, The Statler Brothers and Charlie Rich.
Today | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 7, 1975 | |||
Recorded | March 10–12, 1975 | |||
Studio | RCA Studio C, Hollywood, California | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 34:15 | |||
Label | RCA Records | |||
Producer | Felton Jarvis | |||
Elvis Presley chronology | ||||
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Singles from Today | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Christgau's Record Guide | B–[3] |
Rough Guides | |
Rolling Stone | (not rated)[5] |
Content
The Today sessions were held in RCA's Studio C, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 10–12, 1975, and marked the last time Presley would record in a studio. He last recorded at Studio C, Hollywood in 1972 where he recorded the gold records "Burning Love" and "Separate Ways". At this time, Elvis was 40 years old. He was accompanied by his then-current girlfriend, Sheila Ryan. In the 2005 FTD TODAY release from these sessions, Presley asked her to "step up here Sheila, let me sing to ya baby" on Take 1 of Don McLean's "And I Love You So". He continued to make "And I Love You So" and "Fairytale" a part of his live concerts until his death. On stage, he often referred to "Fairytale" as the story of his life.
"Green, Green Grass of Home" was released as a single in the UK, where it went Top 30, and also received US airplay. Presley first heard the song in 1967 while driving his bus back to Memphis after making another movie, and heard Tom Jones' new single "Green Green Grass of Home" for the first time and loved it. He had the Memphis Mafia call the local AM station to make them replay it over and over again. Eight years later, he cut his own version.
Reissues
In 2005 Today was reissued on the Follow That Dream label in a special edition that contained the original album tracks along with a selection of alternate takes.
Track listing
Original release
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" | Jerry Chesnut | March 11, 1975 | 3:06 |
2. | "And I Love You So" | Don McLean | March 10, 1975 | 3:41 |
3. | "Susan When She Tried" | Don Reid | March 11, 1975 | 2:20 |
4. | "Woman Without Love" | Jerry Chesnut | March 11, 1975 | 3:37 |
5. | "Shake a Hand" | Joe Morris | March 11, 1975 | 3:52 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Pieces of My Life" | Troy Seals | March 12, 1975 | 4:07 |
2. | "Fairytale" | Bonnie Pointer, Anita Pointer | March 10, 1975 | 2:47 |
3. | "I Can Help" | Billy Swan | March 10, 1975 | 4:08 |
4. | "Bringin' It Back" | Greg Gordon | March 12, 1975 | 3:04 |
5. | "Green, Green Grass of Home" | Curly Putman | March 10, 1975 | 3:39 |
Follow That Dream re-issue
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" | |
2. | "And I Love You So" | |
3. | "Susan When She Tried" | |
4. | "Woman Without Love" | |
5. | "Shake A Hand" | |
6. | "Pieces Of My Life" | |
7. | "Fairytale" | |
8. | "I Can Help" | |
9. | "Bringin’ It Back" | |
10. | "Green, Green Grass Of Home" | |
11. | "Tiger Man" | |
12. | "And I Love You So" (take 2) | |
13. | "Pieces Of My Life" (take 1) | |
14. | "Fairytale" (takes 1,2) | |
15. | "Bringin’ It Back" (take 1) | |
16. | "Green, Green Grass Of Home" (take 1) | |
17. | "Shake A Hand" (take 1) | |
18. | "Susan When She Tried" (take 3) | |
19. | "Pieces Of My Life" (takes 2,3) | |
20. | "And I Love You So" (take 3) |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Fairytale" | |
2. | "Green, Green Grass Of Home" | |
3. | "I Can Help" | |
4. | "And I Love You So" | |
5. | "Susan When She Tried" | |
6. | "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" | |
7. | "Woman Without Love" | |
8. | "Shake A Hand" | |
9. | "Bringin’ It Back" | |
10. | "Pieces Of My Life" | |
11. | "Green, Green Grass Of Home" (takes 2,3) | |
12. | "Susan When She Tried" (takes 1,2) | |
13. | "And I Love You So" (take 1) | |
14. | "Bringin' It Back" (takes 2,3) | |
15. | "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" (take 1) | |
16. | "Shake A Hand" (take 2) |
2015 reissue
Disc 1
- Same as Follow That Dream 2005 issue
Disc 2
- All tracks previously unissued
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Also Sprach Zarathustra" | |
2. | "See See Rider" | |
3. | "Medley: I Got a Woman / Amen" | |
4. | "Love Me" | |
5. | "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" | |
6. | "Love Me Tender" | |
7. | "All Shook Up" | |
8. | "Medley: (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel" | |
9. | "Hound Dog" | |
10. | "The Wonder of You" | |
11. | "Burning Love" |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
12. | "Introductions / Johnny B. Goode" | |
13. | "Introductions / School Days" | |
14. | "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" | |
15. | "Why Me Lord?" | |
16. | "How Great Thou Art" | |
17. | "Let Me Be There" | |
18. | "An American Trilogy" | |
19. | "Funny How Time Slips Away" | |
20. | "Little Darlin'" | |
21. | "Medley: Mystery Train / Tiger Man" | |
22. | "Can't Help Falling in Love" |
Personnel
- Elvis Presley – lead vocals
- James Burton – lead guitar
- John Wilkinson — rhythm guitar
- Charlie Hodge — harmony and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
- Duke Bardwell — bass guitar on "T-R-O-U-B-L-E"
- Glen Hardin — piano except “Bringin’ It Back”
- Tony Brown – piano on "Bringin' It Back"
- Ron Tutt — drums
- David Briggs – clavinet except “Bringin’ It Back”
- Greg Gordon – clavinet on "Bringin' It Back"
Technical
- Al Pachucki, Mike Shockley, Rick Ruggieri - engineer
Overdubbed
- Buddy Spicher – fiddle on “Fairytale”
- Chip Young – guitar on “Shake A Hand” and “Fairytale,” additional lead guitar on “I Can Help”
- Johnny Christopher – guitar
- Millie Kirkham – background vocals
- Weldon Myrick – steel guitar on “Fairytale”
- Norbert Putnam – bass guitar except "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" and "Shake A Hand"
- Mike Leech – bass guitar on "Shake A Hand"
- Mary Holladay – background vocals
- Ginger Holladay – background vocals
- Lea Berinati – background vocals
References
- Allmusic review
- "Elvis Presley - Green Green Grass Of Home". Retrieved 24 January 2019.
- Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: P". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 10, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- Simpson, Paul (2004). The Rough Guide to Elvis. London: Rough Guides. p. 129. ISBN 1-84353-417-7.
- Rolling Stone review 1975 https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/today-19750703
External links
- Today at Discogs (list of releases)
- APL1-1039 Today Guide part of The Elvis Presley Record Research Database
- APD1-1039 Today Guide part of The Elvis Presley Record Research Database