Today (Elvis Presley album)

Today
Studio album by Elvis Presley
Released May 7, 1975
Recorded March 10–12, 1975
Studio RCA Studio C, Hollywood, California
Genre Country rock, rock and roll
Length 34:15
Label RCA Records
Producer Felton Jarvis
Elvis Presley chronology
Promised Land
(1975)Promised Land1975		 Today
(1975)		 Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 2
(1976)Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 21976
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Rough Guides[2]
Rolling Stone[3]

Today is the twenty-second studio album by American singer Elvis Presley, released on May 7, 1975 by RCA Records. The album featured a new rock 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.

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

Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording dateLength
1."T-R-O-U-B-L-E"Jerry ChesnutMarch 11, 19753:06
2."And I Love You So"Don McLeanMarch 10, 19753:41
3."Susan When She Tried"Don ReidMarch 11, 19752:20
4."Woman Without Love"Jerry ChesnutMarch 11, 19753:37
5."Shake a Hand"Joe MorrisMarch 11, 19753:52
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording dateLength
1."Pieces of My Life"Troy SealsMarch 12, 19754:07
2."Fairytale"Bonnie Pointer, Anita PointerMarch 10, 19752:47
3."I Can Help"Billy SwanMarch 10, 19754:08
4."Bringin' It Back"Greg GordonMarch 12, 19753:04
5."Green, Green Grass of Home"Curly PutmanMarch 10, 19753:39

Follow That Dream re-issue

Disc 1
No.TitleLength
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) 
Disc 2
No.TitleLength
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) 

Personnel

Technical

  • Al Pachucki, Mike Shockley, Rick Ruggieri - engineer

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ Simpson, Paul (2004). The Rough Guide to Elvis. London: Rough Guides. p. 129. ISBN 1-84353-417-7.
  3. ↑ Rolling Stone review 1975 https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/today-19750703
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