Recorded primarily in May and June of 1971,
Elvis Now
is quintessential '70s Elvis Presley, an eclectic mix of ballads, rockers, and gospel numbers all seemingly arranged with
Elvis
' lavish Las Vegas stage show very much in mind. Much of the material would have been familiar to a Vegas audience even before they heard
Presley
perform it. "Help Me Make It Through the Night" had recently been a big hit for
Sammi Smith
,
Ocean
's "Put Your Hand in the Hand" had reached number two months before
recorded it, and "Early Morning Rain" was a big country hit for
George Hamilton IV
in 1966. As usual,
's singing is always good and occasionally breathtaking, and his backing band is excellent, if perhaps a little too large for some tastes. This album won't change anyone's mind about
's late career output, but taken on its own terms,
is a solid effort.