1975 studio album by Elvis Presley
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. "Bringing 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 .
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 Follow That Dream reissue of the album, Presley can be heard saying "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 was a big fan of Tom Jones ' version of the song; while travelling, he would repeatedly have his friends call the local radio stations to request it.[ 5]
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.
Follow That Dream re-issue [ edit ]
Disc 1 Title 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 Title 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)
Original album track listing + Undubbed Session Mixes
All tracks previously unissued
Title 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" 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 "
Sourced from Keith Flynn and Ernst Jorgensen's examination of original session tapes, session logs, and RCA and union/AFM paperwork.[ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9] [ 10]
Overdubbed
Millie Kirkham – backing vocals
Mary Holladay – backing vocals
Ginger Holladay – backing vocals
Lea Berinati – backing vocals
Chip Young – guitar on "And I Love You So", "Shake A Hand", and "Fairytale"; additional lead guitar on "I Can Help"
Johnny Christopher – guitar except "T-R-O-U-B-L-E", "Shake A Hand", and "I Can Help"
Norbert Putnam – bass guitar except "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" and "Shake A Hand"
Mike Leech – bass guitar on "Shake A Hand"
Buddy Spicher – fiddle on "Fairytale"
Weldon Myrick – steel guitar on "Fairytale"
Farrell Morris – bells and percussion on "And I Love You So", "Shake A Hand", and "I Can Help"
Charles Rose – saxophone on "And I Love You So", "Shake A Hand", and "I Can Help"
Ronald Eades – baritone saxophone on "And I Love You So", "Shake A Hand", and "I Can Help"
Harvey Thompson – trombone on "And I Love You So", "Shake A Hand", and "I Can Help"
Harrison Calloway – trumpet on "And I Love You So", "Shake A Hand", and "I Can Help"
Technical
Felton Jarvis – producer
Al Pachucki, Mike Shockley, Rick Ruggieri – engineer
^ a b c d 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 .
^ Sharp, Ken (June 6, 2016). "Tom Jones as pop icon" . Goldmine .
^ Flynn, Keith; Jorgensen, Ernst. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: March 10-11, 1975" . Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages . Retrieved May 5, 2024 .
^ Flynn, Keith; Jorgensen, Ernst. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: March 11-12, 1975" . KeithFlynn.com . Retrieved May 5, 2024 .
^ Flynn, Keith; Jorgensen, Ernst. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: March 12-13, 1975" . KeithFlynn.com . Retrieved May 5, 2024 .
^ Flynn, Keith; Jorgensen, Ernst. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: April 8, 1975 (Overdub)" . KeithFlynn.com . Retrieved May 5, 2024 .
^ Flynn, Keith; Jorgensen, Ernst. "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: April 10, 1975 (Overdub)" . KeithFlynn.com . Retrieved May 5, 2024 .
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