Search - Elvis Presley :: Burning Love

The *real* Burning Love album

Phil S. | USA | 02/03/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The budget album released under the big hit title was pretty o.k. - remove about three negligible numbers and you've got a decent collection (including a powerful track that even the most supportive critics always seem to miss, "Tonight Is So Right For Love"). Anyway, this CD comes about 27 years later and contains more than enough for a great record - strong material, well produced, well performed. But we have to eliminate six tunes for the '72 album that shoulda been.

It's unusual to begin by listing these tracks which ofcourse stand alone mightily - the brilliant, patriotic "An American Trilogy", probably his best rendition, could have been saved for an *Inspirational* l.p., along with "The Impossible Dream", a compelling workout, which unfortunately reveals some small inconsistencies in Elvis' vocal. He may have bitten off more than he can chew on this soaring ballad. "Never Been To Spain" is one of Presley's best lesser-discussed set pieces but it would belong in a more typical, eclectic E. P. record at that time. "Hound Dog", "A Big Hunk...", and "Little Sister"/"Get Back" are engaging but also would belong elsewhere.

Now we are left with space for 12. And "Burning Love" would naturally lead off. It seems Elvis himself did not care much for the song or for singing it, but it became a late-career classic. The bass run at midsong is irresistible. Red West's ballad "Separate Ways" still sounds great, and still is Top Ten material. "I'm Leavin'" also missed the Top Ten slot it deserved. Perhaps the unusual "beat ballad" was...too unusual. It is a tribute to the man that he could effortlessly transform his own voice for the sake of the song. "It's A Matter Of Time" could be described in the same way - more commercial (in the Country-pop direction) but no off-hand B-side. "It's Only Love" landed even farther away from the vaunted area of the chart than did "Leavin'" but here we have another fine vocal over an insistent rhythm.

The less familiar "You Gave Me A Mountain" found here is really a masterpiece. It must have been a challenge for Elvis to deal with some of the lyrics which must have had a biographical significance for him. "Always On My Mind" succeeded as a *global* hit and is another gem which warrants more spins - in '72 record business jargon. "Fool" and "It's Over" may been a bit overproduced but are consistent with the Presley '70s sound.

The atmospheric "Where Do I Go From Here" is B-side/album-filler material with interesting use of echo. Some may find his voice too far back - but there are indications that the artist preferred this kind of mix.

Good to great songs and attractive packaging and terrific booklet notes make for a pleasant musical experience."

What might have been...

A Fan | VA | 12/26/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a solid collection that I think highlights the argument that Elvis' management did not understand how to package and promote his albums. This collection leads off with Elvis' biggest hit of the 1970's and one of his best songs "Burning Love", which went to number 2 on the Billboard singles chart and all the way to number 1 on the rival Cashbox singles chart. Instead of taking advantage of this hit by putting out a high quality album with contemporary recordings such as some of the songs included here, Elvis' management packaged it with some leftover songs from his movies to put out the mediocre "Burning Love And Hits From His Movies, Volume 2", which understandably failed to crack the top 20 on the US album charts.



This CD shows what could have been had Elvis had better management. In addition to the outstanding title track, this CD includes several other songs that were hits in the early 1970's including "I'm Leavin'" (36 on the Billboard singles chart and number 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart), "It's Only Love" (51 on singles chart, 19 on the Adult Contemporary chart), "Separate Ways" (Top 20 hit, 16 on country and 3 on AC charts), "An American Trilogy" (66 on singles chart and 31 on the AC chart), "Fool" (which was a b-side that made the country and AC charts), "It's A Matter Of Time" (another b-side that made the country and AC charts), and "Always On My Mind" (a b-side that was a minor country hit but was a big hit in Europe). This material packaged with a few other songs would have made a very strong album that would have been a big hit! Instead these songs would dribble out on other low-budget albums, certainly not they way to treat material recorded by the 20th Century's pop icon! Elvis' management seemed to be stuck in a 1950's mindset where singles were the primary way to promote an artist and albums were an after thought. Makes one wonder what might have been had he had better management!"

What if

Eric Cornelius | Bethany,Oklahoma | 07/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What if RCA had built an album around Elvis' classic hit Burning Love?It probably would have ascended to the top of the charts and given the gold standard yet another gold record and very easily could have been maybe his best album ever...we'll never know for sure.But thanks to this amazingly awesome CD...what we have is the next best thing.The gem of this set is the seldom played I'm Leavin.It's hauntingly beautiful.Elvis' voice is dramatic on Never Been to Spain,You Gave Me a Mountain,Seperate Ways and Always on my mind.I love the inclusion of his live version of Hound Dog...Elvis literally re-made the timeless classic for his live shows and its great.And how can you not love An American Trilogy and Impossible Dream.Another solid number here is It's Only Love.I love this disc and have almost worn it out.This is the album that should have been."