Elvis Now cover

Elvis Now

Released

Though it’s called Elvis Now, this album gathers tracks from sessions in 1969, 1970, and 1971. Presley tackles a broad range of material, including Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through The Night,” Buffy Sainte-Marie’s “Until It’s Time For You To Go,” Gordon Lightfoot’s “Early Mornin’ Rain,” and the Beatles’ “Hey Jude,” which he sings in an oddly nasal register, only truly unleashing himself on the coda. He also throws in a couple of gospel songs, “Miracle of the Rosary” and “Put Your Hand in the Hand,” and a version of “Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread),” a standard dating back to 1940. The arrangements mostly tend toward glossy Nashville country-pop, with an R&B backbeat popping up occasionally.

Phil Freeman

Suggestions