With the recent release of the film "Elvis," I thought this would be a good time to present this optional Moody Blue.
In early 1977, RCA faced a problem. The record company had scheduled a new Elvis Presley album, but the singer showed no interest in recording new material. A studio session was scheduled in January 1977, but Elvis either never showed up or dropped by the studio briefly and left (reports differ).
Producer Felton Jarvis had six songs recorded by Elvis in 1976 that had not yet appeared on an album, although two tracks (“Moody Blue” and “She Thinks I Still Care”) were issued as a single in November 1976.
To complete the album, Jarvis selected three songs that had been recorded live in concert in April 1976, as well as one other live song that had already appeared on the album Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis released in 1974 – a somewhat bizarre choice. The result, Moody Blue, was a fairly sad affair, especially when it ended up being the last new album released before Elvis died. The album included two live covers of Olivia Newton-John hits, a silly live version of The Diamonds' "Little Darlin'" as well as a good live version of "Unchained Melody," the best-known version of which was recorded by the Righteous Brothers.
There was, however, another option. Had Jarvis reviewed earlier studio sessions, he would have discovered four tracks that could have been used instead.
SIDE A
1. Way Down
2. She Thinks I Still Care
3. Pledging My Love
4. Tiger Man
5. My Way
SIDE B
1. Moody Blue
2. He’ll Have to Go
3. It’s Easy for You
4. A Hundred Years from Now
5. For the Good Times
I used three of the 1976 songs to begin each side of the album and used the four older tunes to end each side. The album kicks off with what would be the new single, “Way Down.” Of the six "new" tunes, it’s the closest thing to a rock song. I followed it with "She Thinks I Still Care" and "Pledging My Love," respectively, the B-sides of the “Moody Blue” and “Way Down” singles.
Despite having recorded it live a few times, this impromptu jam from 1975 is the only known studio version of “Tiger Man” that Elvis recorded. And unlike the live versions, this one is slower and funkier. “A Hundred Years from Now” is also a studio jam, this one recorded in 1970.
Both sides end with outtake recordings that seemingly should have been released much earlier. “My Way,” a song that basically became Frank Sinatra’s anthem, was recorded in 1971; and Kris Kristofferson’s “For the Good Times,” had been recorded in 1972.
While these changes don’t make Moody Blue a great album by any means, it would have seemed like a more complete album if it had been released. And theoretically, some new overdubs could have been made to give the older songs modern production touches to match the rest.
All tracks are available on the box set Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential ‘70s Masters. I used cover art for an alternative version of the Moody Blue album I found online.
