That's the Way It Is: Special Edition

One of my very favorite Elvis albums is That's the Way It Is: Special Edition (TTWIISE) highlighting his comeback Vegas concert in 1970. To put it simply, if you're an Elvis fan, you MUST have this three CD set in your collection. I've always considered the period of 1968-1974 to be Elvis's absolute best, and TTWIISE certainly proves that.

The first CD contains the 12 tracks from the original album, plus 7 additional songs which range from a tender, heartfelt version of "Love Letters" to the lively, rockin' "Cindy, Cindy." The second disc contains Elvis's live Vegas concert. Included are knockout versions of "Just Pretend," "Sweet Caroline," and "You've Lost That Loving Feeling." There's a section of the show that Elvis dedicates to some of his older songs, and it's more like a jam session than a concert. He messes up the words to "I Was the One," directs the band to finish the song, and jokes with the audience about it. You can hear the delight of the crowd at seeing Elvis so laid back and casual. The third CD contains 9 additional live songs taken from the rehearsals, including some absolutely outstanding versions of "Twenty Days and Twenty Nights," "Make the World Go Away," and "Don't Cry Daddy." The rest of this disc is filled with songs from Elvis's band rehearsals. Some are excellent recordings in their own right, but many of them are of Elvis joking around with the band (such as "Peter Gunn Theme," in which Elvis impersonates the famous horn riff in that tune). It's interesting to hear these rehearsals without the addition of backup singers and the orchestra. The raw energy of the core musicians in Elvis's band is fantastic.

Sweet Caroline
Polk Salad Annie
Stranger in the Crowd
Buy It

Funny Toon