• Track Listing

In addition to growing up in Memphis and calling it his home from age 13 onward, Elvis Presley recorded crucial sessions there again and again. First, of course, came the Sun sessions that made him a star and made rock ’n’ roll a phenomenon. Then, after a 13-year absence, Elvis returned to the studios of Memphis in the late ’60s, cutting the smashes "Suspicious Minds," "In the Ghetto," "Kentucky Rain" and many more outstanding tracks at Chip Morman’s American Sound Studios. Then came 1973, when he led the charge to record at the red-hot Stax studios, assembling members of the MG’s, Memphis Boys and his own TCB band. Two sessions arose, in July and December of ’73, and three albums resulted: "Raised on Rock/For Ol’ Times Sake," "Good Times" and "Promised Land." Those 1973–75 LPs did hit the charts, but they do not tell the complete story of Elvis Presley’s storied Stax sessions. This new release, at long last, does. The single-disc edition includes the masters of his hits "Raised on Rock," "I’ve Got a Thing About You Baby," "If You Talk in Your Sleep" and "Promised Land" plus "My Boy" (take 1), "Spanish Eyes" (take 2), "For Ol’ Times Sake" (take 4), "It’s Midnight" (take 7), "Loving Arms" (take 2) and more. Those 17 masters and alternate takes can also be acquired in a handsome double-vinyl set. But the clear "king" here is the 3-CD deluxe edition, which kicks off with "The R&B and Country Sessions: The Outtakes," which includes takes of "I Got a Feelin’ in My Body," "Find Out What’s Happening," "She Wears My Ring," "Three Corn Patches" and more. Disc two continues with "The Pop Sessions: The Outtakes" (takes of "Mr. Song Man," "Take Good Care of Her," "Girl of Mine" and more) before the set (which includes everything on the other editions plus a whole lot more) concludes with the July and December masters: "Just a Little Bit," "Sweet Angeline," "Help Me," "Love Song of the Year," "You Asked Me To," "Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues"…55 recordings from a fascinating chapter in the stories of both Elvis Presley and Stax Records! Sony Legacy.