While 1968 was Elvis’ ‘Comeback’ year, everything could have faded away once again had Elvis not found himself in Chips Moman’s American Studios in Memphis recording some of the most important music of his career. While Elvis’ legendary status was defined by his early fifties rock’n’roll creativity, his unbeatable position as the most influential musical icon the world would ever see was cemented forever by ‘Suspicious Minds’ and the astounding music recorded in Memphis in 1969.

The unfortunate reality is that while “From Elvis In Memphis” would be one of Elvis’ most important LPs of all-time, along with his first 2 albums, ‘How Great Thou Art’ & ‘Elvis Is Back!’, it never achieved the true status that it deserved. Elvis’ creativeness was at its peak, the musicians were new to Elvis giving him the inspiration that he needed, plus both producers Chips Moman & Felton Jarvis were there to push Elvis to new heights.

This is the LP that should be voted in the Top Five in every music poll along with Sgt Pepper & The Beach Boys ‘Pets Sounds,’ but something let it down. And although “FEIM” managed five star reviews in the music press at the time, nowadays it hardly gets any recognition from the general public & hell, it often doesn’t even scrape into the Top 100 greatest albums! While the 1968 Singer TV Special had proved that Elvis could once again be a force in the LP charts, unfortunately it still presented the public with too many ‘greatest hits’ rather than an LP of new creativity. It did reach # 8 in the LP charts, but so did the ‘Harum Scarum’ soundtrack! Elvis’ last serious stab at LP credibility (aside from Gospel) had been ‘Something For Everybody’ which had reached #1 in 1961!

In 1969 the public really needed an astounding & unforgettable statement of inspiration from Elvis that everyone would remember and rush out to buy. It needed to be a classic, riding off the back of Elvis’ recent chart successes, with a name that no one could forget. Sorry but “From Elvis In Memphis” is not a title that the general public will remember. Hell, Elvis was always in Memphis wasn’t he? - so why that title in 1969? The songs also needed to be the absolute cream-of-the-crop, tracks that fans would play again and again. There cannot be any doubt that the album should have been called ‘Suspicious Minds.’

Nightrider has kindly designed a new front & back album cover for our suggested ‘Suspicious Minds’ LP and how could anyone not resist an album cover as good as this? Elvis looks soulful, sexy and very “1969” as well as having that fabulous ‘Suspicious’ look in his eyes. EIN thanks Chris for his fabulous work.

Piers Beagley :: For the full article visit EIN – www.ElvisInfoNet.com