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Moody Blue
Studio album by
Elvis Presley
ReleasedJuly 19, 1977
Recorded20 March 1974, February 2 and 4, 1976
October 29 and 31, 1976
April 24 and 26, 1977
Genre
Length31:35
LabelRCA Victor
ProducerFelton Jarvis
Elvis Presley chronology
Welcome to My World
(1977) 		Moody Blue
(1977) 		Elvis in Concert
(1977)
Singles from Moody Blue
  1. "Moody Blue"
    Released: November 29, 1976
  2. "Way Down"
    Released: June 6, 1977

Moody Blue is the twenty-fourth and final studio album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on July 19, 1977, by RCA Records, about four weeks before his death. The album was a mixture of live and studio work and included the four tracks from Presley's final studio recording sessions in October 1976 and two tracks left over from the previous Graceland session in February 1976. "Moody Blue" was a previously published hit song recorded at the earlier Graceland session and held over for this album. Also recorded at the February session was "She Thinks I Still Care". "Way Down" was released as a single on June 6, 1977, and peaked at No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending August 6, then held that position for a second week on August 13, 1977, before falling out of the Top 40 on the chart for the week ending August 20, 1977. Following Presley's death, the song reentered the Top 40 and reached No. 18 on the chart for the week ending September 24, 1977, held that same position one week later, and then fell back down the charts again. The album was certified Gold and Platinum on September 12, 1977, and 2× Platinum on March 27, 1992, by the RIAA.

The first American copies of Moody Blue were pressed on limited edition translucent blue vinyl, the first time a Presley album had been issued on colored vinyl. The album was soon switched to black vinyl. After Presley's death, however, the album was heavily in demand and repressed on blue vinyl, making the original American black vinyl issue the scarcer of the two. In the United States, the album was also released on white and yellow vinyl. All overseas pressings were on black vinyl, except for the first Argentinian and Canadian pressings that were pressed on blue translucent vinyl.

Contents

[edit]

As described in Elvis: The Illustrated Record, RCA was not able to obtain sufficient new studio material for a complete album, with all but two songs of Presley's studio recordings of 1976 having already been used in the previous album, From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee, or released as singles. The company chose to use the contents of two singles that had not yet been included on an album, along with the two last remaining unreleased tracks from the Graceland sessions; the track list was then augmented with three live songs recorded in multi-track in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on April 24 and 26, 1977, which were heavily overdubbed for the album. One of these was his version of "Unchained Melody", on which he accompanied himself on the piano.

RCA producer Felton Jarvis had booked a recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee, for January 1977, to record some new tracks for this album. Presley had chosen a few songs to record with the help of Jarvis, most of them country and uptempo. Unfortunately, Presley never appeared for that session, claiming that he was ill and thus staying at home (an excuse that Presley used rather frequently during the 1960s to avoid recording poor soundtracks for his motion pictures). Additionally, Jarvis had tried to get Elvis to record the song "There's a Fire Down Below" (written by Presley's bassist Jerry Scheff of his TCB Band) during the October 1976 sessions, but succeeded only in getting the backing instrumental track recorded and was unable to get Elvis to record a vocal. Jarvis and RCA had nothing left to do but complete the album using the live tracks mentioned above. "Let Me Be There" which had already been issued only three years earlier on the album Elvis: As Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis and was still available at the time of this album's release was also included as RCA did not have any other new tracks to include besides live versions of previously released songs. They had a few new songs as live recordings but only as a poor quality soundboard recordings.

The song "Moody Blue" was released as a single in November 1976 and it reached number one on the Billboard Country Singles Chart and No. 31 on the pop chart. "Way Down" was released as the album's next single during the early summer of 1977. It did not go very far up the chart initially, but it soared to No. 18 after Presley's death in August (jumping to number one in the UK). It was a bigger hit on the country charts, and it had risen to number one in the same week of the death of Presley. This album reached number three on the Billboard album charts after his death, although it had already entered the top 40 before he died. This was the last album by Presley to reach the top 40. Moody Blue was also a number one album on the Country Albums chart. Moody Blue was issued in late June 1977, and it peaked on the album chart at No. 3 after Presley's death on August 16, 1977.

RCA pressed the album on blue vinyl, to match the title track. Since colored vinyl pressings were relatively uncommon at the time, and they almost never occurred in a wide release, this has led to collectors mistakenly assuming that blue vinyl copies of Moody Blue are collector's items, when in fact, the true collectables are pressings from immediately before Presley's death on standard black vinyl. (Immediately following his death, the production of Moody Blue was shifted back to blue vinyl. However, in later years the album was produced again using standard black vinyl).

Following Presley's death, "Unchained Melody" was also released as a single, and it peaked at No. 6 on the country music charts. This version was not the same as on the Moody Blue LP. The single version was an overdubbed version of another live version, recorded in Rapid City, June 21, 1977, during one of the two concerts that produced the album and TV special Elvis In Concert.

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStar[1]
Christgau's Record GuideB−[2]
MusicHound RockStarStarStar[3]
The Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStarStar[4]
The Rough Guide to ElvisStarStarStar[5]

The Los Angeles Times concluded that "the voice is still intact, but the arrangements are often off-center and the material is often uninspired."[6]

Reissues

[edit]

RCA first reissued the original 10 track album on compact disc in 1988. In 2000, RCA reissued the album on CD again, with revised cover art including a different concert photo of Elvis and omitted the track "Let Me Be There", due to its presence on Elvis: As Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis, and added the complete album From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee as tracks 10–19 – in effect compiling the Graceland sessions rather than reissuing the original album. In 2013, Moody Blue was reissued on the Follow That Dream label in a special edition that contained the original album tracks along with a selection of alternate takes.

Track listing

[edit]

Original release

[edit]
Side A[7]
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording dateLength
1."Unchained Melody" (recorded on tour)Alex North, Hy ZaretApril 24, 19772:32
2."If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" (recorded on tour)John RostillApril 26, 19772:57
3."Little Darlin'" (recorded on tour)Maurice WilliamsApril 24, 19771:52
4."He'll Have to Go" (recorded at Graceland)Joe Allison, Audrey AllisonOctober 31, 19764:28
5."Let Me Be There" (from the album Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis)John RostillMarch 20, 19743:26
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Recording dateLength
1."Way Down" (recorded at Graceland)Layng Martine, Jr.October 29, 19762:37
2."Pledging My Love" (recorded at Graceland)Don Robey, Ferdinand WashingtonOctober 29, 19762:50
3."Moody Blue" (recorded at Graceland)Mark JamesFebruary 4, 19762:49
4."She Thinks I Still Care" (recorded at Graceland)Dickey Lee, Steve DuffyFebruary 2, 19763:49
5."It's Easy for You" (recorded at Graceland)Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim RiceOctober 29, 19763:26

Follow That Dream re-issue

[edit]
Disc one
No.TitleLength
1."Unchained Melody"2:34
2."If You Love Me (Let Me Know)"3:01
3."Little Darlin'" (live, April 24, 1977)1:55
4."He'll Have to Go"4:34
5."Let Me Be There"3:37
6."Way Down"2:41
7."Pledging My Love"2:53
8."Moody Blue"2:52
9."She Thinks I Still Care"3:53
10."Its Easy for You"3:30
11."Unchained Melody" (undubbed master)3:17
12."If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" (undubbed master)2:56
13."Moody Blue" (take 6)4:06
14."She Thinks I Still Care" (take 2B)4:42
15."My Way" (live)4:21
16."Way Down" (undubbed master)3:04
17."Little Darlin" (undubbed master)2:02
18."He'll Have to Go" (rough mix)4:37
19."Pledging My Love" (composite of rehearsal and take 3)3:21
20."It's Easy for You" (take 1)3:46
21."She Thinks I Still Care" (takes 1, 2A)5:35
22."America, The Beautiful"2:19
23."Softly, as I Leave You"3:04
Disc two
No.TitleLength
1."Way Down" (rehearsal, take 1)3:15
2."Way Down" (take 2A)2:54
3."She Thinks I Still Care" (takes 3, 4)4:58
4."Moody Blue" (take 1)3:30
5."Pledging My Love" (takes 1, 2)2:38
6."Pledging My Love" (take 3)4:53
7."It's Easy for You" (takes 3, 4)1:56
8."It's Easy for You" (undubbed master)3:40
9."She Thinks I Still Care" (takes 7, 9)2:28
10."She Thinks I Still Care" (take 10)4:21
11."Blue Eyes Crying in The Rain" (unedited rough mix of master)4:23
12."Moody Blue" (takes 7, 5)5:31
13."Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall" (rough mix of master)3:29
14."Pledging My Love" (takes 4–5)2:06
15."Pledging My Love" (undubbed, unedited master)5:24
16."Way Down" (take 2B)1:42
17."Way Down" (rough mix of master)2:39
18."Moody Blue" (takes 8, 9)1:04
19."Moody Blue" (master unedited rough mix)3:57
20."She Thinks I Still Care" (take 15)4:16
21."America, The Beautiful" (composite of single master and the surviving ending of the erased studio version)2:16

Personnel

[edit]

Partial credits from Keith Flynn and Ernst Jorgensen's examination of session tapes, RCA paperwork, and AFM/musicians' union paperwork/contracts,[8][9][10][11][12][13] except where noted.

  • Elvis Presley – vocals, piano on "Unchained Melody", executive producer
  • James Burton – lead guitar
  • John Wilkinson – rhythm guitar
  • Charlie Hodge – harmony and backing vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
  • Chip Young – guitars
  • Jerry Scheff – bass except "Let Me Be There"
  • Duke Bardwell – bass on "Let Me Be There"[8]
  • Tony Brown – piano except "Unchained Melody", "Let Me Be There", "Moody Blue", and "She Thinks I Still Care"; overdubbed organ on "Unchained Melody"
  • Glen D. Hardin – piano on "Let Me Be There",[8] "Moody Blue", and "She Thinks I Still Care"
  • David Briggs – Fender Rhodes electric piano, clavinet, overdubbed piano on "Unchained Melody", "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)", "Way Down" and "Little Darlin’"
  • Ronnie Tutt – drums
  • The Sweet Inspirations (Myrna Smith, Estelle Brown, Sylvia Shemwell) – backing vocals[8]
  • Sherrill Nielsen – backing vocals
  • Kathy Westmoreland – backing vocals
  • J.D. Sumner & The Stamps (Bill Baize, Ed Enoch, Ed Hill, Larry Strickland) – backing vocals
  • Voice – backing vocals[8]
    • Sherrill Nielsen – backing vocals
    • Per-Erik "Pete" Hallin – backing vocals on "Let Me Be There"
  • Bergen White – string and horn arrangements, orchestral overdub conductor
  • Joe Guercio – orchestra conductor ("Unchained Melody", "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)", "Little Darlin’", and "Let Me Be There")[8]
  • Joe Guercio Orchestra – orchestra on "Unchained Melody", "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)", "Little Darlin’", and "Let Me Be There"[8]
Overdubbed
  • Bobby Ogdin – acoustic piano on "Unchained Melody"[14]: 142  and "Little Darlin'"
  • Norbert Putnam – bass on "Unchained Melody"[14]
  • Alan Rush – guitar on "Unchained Melody", "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" and "Little Darlin’", backing vocals on "Little Darlin’"
  • Dennis Linde – bass on “Unchained Melody”, “If You Love Me (Let Me Know)”, “Little Darlin’”, and "Moody Blue"; backing vocals on “Little Darlin’”
  • Randy Cullers – drums on "Unchained Melody", "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" and "Little Darlin’"
  • Farrell Morris – percussion and bells on "Unchained Melody"; congas and timpani on "Moody Blue"
  • Shane Keister – Moog synthesizers on "Moody Blue"
  • Sheldon Kurland, Lennie Haight, George Binkley III, Brenton Banks, Carl J. Gorodetzky, Martin Katahn, Lawrence M. Hertzberg, Steven M. Smith, Samuel Terranova, Donald Teal Jr., Pamela Sixfin, Lisa Silver – violins on "Moody Blue" and "She Thinks I Still Care"
  • Marvin Chantry, Gary Vanosdale, Virginia Christiensen, Kathy Plummer – violas on "Moody Blue" and "She Thinks I Still Care"
  • Roy Christiensen, Martha McCrory – cellos on "Moody Blue" and "She Thinks I Still Care"
  • Cindy Reynolds – harp on "Moody Blue" and "She Thinks I Still Care"
  • Eberhard Ramm, David Elliott – French horns on "Moody Blue" and "She Thinks I Still Care"
  • Dennis A. Good – trombone on "Moody Blue" and "She Thinks I Still Care"
  • Bobby G. Taylor – oboe and/or English horn on "Moody Blue" and "She Thinks I Still Care"
Production and technical staff
  • Felton Jarvis – producer
  • Brian Christian – engineer ("Moody Blue", "She Thinks I Still Care")
  • Al Pachucki – engineer ("Moody Blue" and "She Thinks I Still Care" overdub sessions)
  • Sheldon Kurland – overdub session contractor ("Moody Blue" and "She Thinks I Still Care" overdub sessions)
  • Joe Layne – string and horn arrangement copyist ("Moody Blue" and "She Thinks I Still Care" overdub sessions)
  • Don Wardell – executive producer, producer (reissue)
  • Chick Crumpacker – producer (reissue)
  • Dick Baxter – engineer
  • Glenn Meadows – original mastering
  • Vic Anesini – digital remastering

Charts

[edit]

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[31] 2× Platinum 200,000^
France (SNEP)[32] Gold 100,000*
New Zealand
Sales in 1977 		— 7,500[33]
United Kingdom (BPI)[34] Silver 60,000‡
United States (RIAA)[35] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Moody Blue

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Moody Blue is the twenty-fourth and final studio album by American singer and musician , released on July 19, 1977, by . The album, which compiles tracks recorded between 1974 and 1977, features a mix of studio sessions at Graceland's Jungle Room, earlier live recordings from Memphis, and performances captured during Presley's last tours. It includes the singles "Moody Blue," which topped the Hot Country Songs chart earlier that year, and "," a posthumous number-one hit on both the and Hot Country Songs charts following Presley's on August 16, 1977. Assembled after Presley completed his final recording sessions in October 1976, Moody Blue draws from diverse sources: four tracks from those late sessions, one from a 1974 live , and three live cuts from his 1977 tours. The title track, written by Mark James and recorded in February 1976, exemplifies the album's blend of , and pop influences, with arrangements by Bergen White on strings and horns for select songs. Other notable tracks include covers like "" and "Pledging My Love," alongside Olivia Newton-John's "," showcasing Presley's versatile vocal style in his later career phase. The album's release just weeks before Presley's death propelled it to commercial success, peaking at number three on the and selling over three million copies worldwide in the aftermath. It also reached number three on the , where it spent 15 weeks. Critically, Moody Blue is often viewed as a poignant capstone to Presley's discography, capturing his enduring charisma amid health challenges and reflecting the evolution of his sound in the 1970s.

Background and recording

Concept and development

The album Moody Blue was conceived in late 1975 as Elvis Presley's follow-up to his 1975 release Promised Land, aiming to shift back toward contemporary pop and rock sounds after the gospel-leaning material of its predecessor, by incorporating unused tracks from prior sessions spanning early 1976. This approach reflected Presley's sporadic recording activity during a period marked by intense touring schedules, allowing RCA Records to assemble a cohesive project from existing material rather than demanding extensive new commitments from the artist. Presley himself played a key role in selecting tracks, personally approving material that aligned with his evolving tastes, including the title track "Moody Blue," a commercial-oriented single written by Mark James in 1975 and recorded by Presley the following year. His manager, , advocated for such hit potential in song choices to bolster Presley's chart presence amid shifting musical trends, emphasizing uptempo, radio-friendly numbers to appeal to a broad audience. The project's development was profoundly shaped by Presley's deteriorating health in 1975 and 1976, including significant —estimated at up to 70 pounds from his ideal 175 pounds—attributed to a poor diet heavy in and fluid retention, alongside a growing dependency on prescription medications for pain and . These issues severely limited his stamina for prolonged studio work, contributing to the album's informal, patchwork structure as a compilation drawn from multiple sessions, including the Jungle Room at in early 1976, rather than a fresh, unified recording effort. This marked Moody Blue as Presley's final studio album, released posthumously in July 1977, just weeks after his death on August 16, 1977.

Recording sessions

The recording sessions for Moody Blue primarily took place in the Jungle Room at Elvis Presley's home in , utilizing RCA's mobile recording truck parked in the backyard to convert the space into a makeshift studio. These sessions occurred in two clusters: February 2–8, 1976, and October 29–30, 1976, under the production of , who aimed to capture a relaxed atmosphere to accommodate Presley's declining health and touring schedule. The February sessions yielded the bulk of the album's studio material, including masters of "Moody Blue," and "," with Presley delivering vocals in a relatively informal setting alongside his core touring band, featuring guitarist , drummer Ronnie Tutt, and keyboardist Tony Brown. The October sessions were shorter and less productive, producing four masters: "Way Down," "It's Easy for You," "Pledging My Love," and "He'll Have to Go," all recorded over two days with the same mobile setup and band configuration. Due to Presley's fatigue and health issues, including and effects, vocals were often isolated during tracking to allow for overdubs later, minimizing live band interaction and emphasizing Presley's performance. The sessions employed a 24-track mobile recorder, though much of the work stayed within 16-track basics for efficiency, with post-session overdubs and mixing handled at RCA studios in the ensuing months. The album's piecemeal construction incorporated one earlier live track, "Let Me Be There," recorded on March 20, 1974, at Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis during sessions for the Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis album. The remaining tracks were live recordings captured during Presley's tours, including "Unchained Melody" and "Little Darlin'" from Ann Arbor, Michigan, on April 24, 1977, and "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" from Ann Arbor on April 26, 1977, rather than new studio efforts. This mix reflected the challenges of Presley's final year, where health constraints limited fresh material to the Graceland sessions alone.

Musical content

Style and influences

Moody Blue showcases an eclectic blend of genres that highlights Elvis Presley's versatility in his late career, incorporating elements in tracks like "," influences in the title song "Moody Blue," pop standards such as "" and "Pledging My Love," and tender ballads throughout. This mix aligns with the 1970s countrypolitan style, characterized by smooth, crossover appeal that fused with pop orchestration for broader radio play. The album's production, overseen by , prioritizes polished, radio-friendly arrangements designed to capture Presley's live energy in a studio setting. Arrangements feature lush strings and horns orchestrated by Bergen White, complemented by backing vocals from and the Stamps Quartet, Kathy Westmoreland, and , creating a full, layered sound that emphasizes emotional depth over raw intensity. Drawing from Presley's early roots, the album revives 1950s through the cover of Johnny Ace's "Pledging My Love," while incorporating contemporary country touches via the adaptation of Jerry Reed's 1974 track "Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall," bridging his foundational influences with modern . These sessions took place primarily at a makeshift studio in Presley's home during February and October 1976. Presley's vocal performance on Moody Blue employs his signature range, which, despite evident strain from ongoing health issues including use and physical ailments, maintains a charismatic warmth through spontaneous ad-libs and improvisational flourishes, particularly in tracks with a live-concert feel.

Themes and song selection

The album Moody Blue features dominant themes of love, regret, and resilience, reflected in its collection of ballads and introspective tracks that capture emotional depth amid romantic turmoil. For instance, "She Thinks I Still Care" explores heartbreak and lingering attachment after a relationship's end, with lyrics depicting the pain of watching an ex-partner move on while the narrator remains bound by memories. Similarly, "Pledging My Love" conveys unwavering devotion and commitment, drawing on classic doo-wop sentiments of eternal loyalty despite adversity. The album shifts to introspection in tracks emphasizing personal reflection on a life of triumphs and regrets, aligning with Presley's career-spanning narrative of independence and endurance. Song selection for Moody Blue involved a deliberate mix of new compositions, covers from contemporary peers, and timeless standards to broaden appeal across pop, , and adult contemporary audiences. New material included "It's Easy for You," a poignant breakup written by and and recorded during the October 1976 sessions at , offering a fresh perspective on emotional disparity in relationships. Covers such as "She Thinks I Still Care" (written by and Steve Duffy, originally recorded by ) brought a edge, while standards like the 1950s hit "Pledging My Love" (originally by ) provided familiarity and gravitas. This eclectic approach, assembled from sessions spanning 1974 to 1977, aimed to showcase Presley's while prioritizing commercially viable tracks over niche genres. Several tracks resonate with aspects of Presley's during his final years, marked by the fatigue from his rigorous Las Vegas residencies and ongoing relational challenges following his 1973 divorce. The live recording of "," captured during the February 1977 tour, evokes themes of longing and separation that echo the strains in Presley's post-marital relationships, delivered with a raw intensity that highlights his enduring emotional expressiveness. Likewise, "Just Pretend" delves into and fantasy as a means to relive lost love, mirroring the exhaustion and desire for respite Presley experienced amid his demanding performance schedule. Despite Presley's deep personal interest in gospel music—evident from his earlier acclaimed albums like How Great Thou Art (1967)—Moody Blue excludes such material, opting instead for secular hits to maximize commercial viability in the pop market. RCA Records favored this strategy, as gospel releases historically underperformed compared to mainstream fare.

Release

Production and packaging

The album Moody Blue derives its title from the lead single of the same name, written by Mark James and recorded by Elvis Presley at Graceland in February 1976, which RCA released in November 1976 to capitalize on its thematic appeal. RCA selected the title for the full album to enhance its commercial draw, aligning with the song's exploration of shifting moods. The cover artwork features a photograph by Ed Bonja, capturing Presley in a blue jumpsuit posed against a solid blue background, a deliberate visual motif that reinforces the title's and emotional tone. The inner sleeve includes penned by producer , providing context on the album's assembly from recent studio and live recordings. Released in stereo LP format on RCA Victor under catalog number AFL1-2428 at 33⅓ RPM, the album employed a gatefold sleeve design to accommodate track listings and personnel credits on the interior spread. Initial pressings originated from RCA's Indianapolis plant on translucent blue vinyl, identifiable by matrix numbers such as AFL1-2428-A 1S A4W and AFL1-2428-B 1S B1, with an estimated run of 250,000 copies before shifting to black vinyl in early August 1977. Although Presley contributed no further input after the October 1976 sessions—amid his declining —the album's editing and sequencing were finalized by and RCA prior to its July 19, 1977, release, four weeks before Presley's death on August 16. Post-release, surging demand prompted RCA to revert to blue vinyl pressings without Presley's involvement.

Promotion and posthumous context

RCA Records released Moody Blue on July 19, 1977, as Elvis Presley's twenty-fourth and final studio album during his lifetime, just one month before his death on August 16, 1977. The album's rollout capitalized on Presley's ongoing popularity, with pre-release promotion centered on its lead singles to build anticipation. The title track, "Moody Blue," was issued as a single in November 1976, reaching number one on the chart in February 1977 and peaking at number 31 on the Hot 100. Followed by "" in June 1977, which became Presley's eighteenth and final number-one hit on the chart and reached number 18 on the Hot 100 after re-entering the chart posthumously. Promotion efforts by RCA included heavy radio airplay for the singles, which helped drive demand ahead of the album's launch, alongside television advertisements highlighting Presley's enduring appeal and the album's mix of studio and live recordings. On June 26, 1977, at his final concert in , Presley received a plaque from RCA commemorating the two billionth record pressed at their plant (using a copy of Moody Blue), serving as a key publicity moment. The campaign also tied into Presley's television special , filmed during his June 1977 tour dates in Omaha and Rapid City and originally intended to showcase his live performances; although aired posthumously on October 3, 1977, its production overlapped with the album's marketing, featuring songs from his repertoire that complemented Moody Blue's live tracks. No additional live tours were planned post-release due to Presley's health decline and subsequent passing, shifting focus to broadcast and retail promotion. In the wake of Presley's death, Moody Blue took on significant posthumous context as his de facto farewell , with RCA positioning it as a project amid widespread fan grief. surged dramatically, with the album climbing to number three on the and exceeding three million units sold in the United States, fueled by renewed interest and tributes. The Presley estate, managed by executor Vernon Presley, approved the album's content and release prior to Elvis's death, allowing RCA to proceed with posthumous distribution without interruption, though the estate later oversaw related merchandising and reissues to honor his legacy. This timing transformed the album into a poignant capstone, amplifying its emotional resonance for fans and sustaining its commercial momentum through memorial-driven purchases.

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release in July 1977, Moody Blue received mixed reviews from critics, who noted the album's uneven quality amid Elvis Presley's evident vocal prowess and the nature of its recordings. However, some reviewers critiqued the dated production and inclusion of filler material, such as the lightweight "It's Easy for You," which felt out of place alongside stronger cuts. Standout tracks garnered significant acclaim for their emotional depth. The live rendition of "Unchained Melody" was lauded as a highlight, capturing Presley's raw vulnerability and powerful in a haunting performance recorded during his final tour. Similarly, the bold, personal reinterpretation of "" was celebrated for infusing the standard with Presley's signature intensity and serving as a fitting, theatrical highlight. Retrospective assessments have viewed Moody Blue as a poignant, if inconsistent, reflection of Presley's late-career state, blending live energy with intimate studio sessions at . awarded it three out of five stars, describing it as a "checkered" effort with gems amid weaker moments, but one that nostalgically preserves his final creative sparks. In a 2016 reissue review, called it a "fascinating eavesdrop" into Presley's twilight, emphasizing the bittersweet allure of his voice amid physical frailty. echoed this in its coverage of related Jungle Room sessions, praising tracks like "" and the title song for their soaring quality and hazy AM-pop appeal, positioning the material as a surprising return to form. These analyses underscore the album's role as an affecting endpoint to Presley's , resonant for its unpolished authenticity rather than polished perfection.

Commercial performance

Moody Blue achieved significant commercial success, particularly in the wake of Elvis Presley's death on August 16, 1977. In the United States, the album peaked at number 3 on the chart and spent 31 weeks on the listing. It also topped the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, holding the number 1 position for 10 weeks. Internationally, Moody Blue reached number 3 on the , where it spent 15 weeks. It peaked at number 3 on the Australian albums chart, with 29 weeks on the listing. In , the album attained number 1 status on the RPM Top Albums chart. The album's sales surged posthumously, exceeding 1 million units in the US during 1977 alone and reaching an estimated 2.3 million copies sold domestically as of 2018. Global sales estimates reached 3 to 4 million units by the end of the decade. This boost was amplified by the success of the single "," which topped the for three weeks starting in late August 1977, coinciding with heightened interest following Presley's death. Certifications reflected the album's strong performance: the RIAA awarded Gold and Platinum status (1 million units) on September 12, 1977, followed by 2× Platinum (2 million units) on March 27, 1992. In the UK, it received a BPI Gold certification (100,000 units) in 1977. Canada certified the album 2× Platinum (200,000 units) on May 1, 1978.

Track listing and personnel

Original track listing

The original track listing for the 1977 LP edition of Moody Blue (RCA Victor AFL1-2428) divides the album into two sides. Side A mixes live recordings (three from Elvis Presley's 1977 tour in and one from his 1974 live album) with one studio track from October 1976 at . Side B consists of studio recordings from 1976 Graceland sessions (February and October). The album was released in format, with no mono version produced, and no significant regional variations were noted for the initial pressing.
SideNo.TitleWriter(s)Length
A1"" (live, April 1977), 2:34
A2"If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" (live, April 1977)3:01
A3"Little Darlin'" (live, April 1977)Maurice Williams1:56
A4"" (studio, October 1976)Audrey Allison, Joe Allison4:34
A5"" (live, March 1974)3:30
B1"" (studio, October 1976)2:39
B2"Pledging My Love" (studio, October 1976), 2:54
B3"Moody Blue" (studio, February 1976)Mark James2:51
B4"" (studio, February 1976), Steve Duffy3:52
B5"It's Easy for You" (studio, October 1976)Shrage, Wayne3:34
Total length: 31:37.

Recording personnel

The recording of involved Elvis Presley's longtime touring band for the Jungle Room sessions at in October 1976 (and February 1976 for select tracks), supplemented by Nashville session musicians for overdubs during the same period. Vocals Musicians
The core band for the 1976 sessions included: Production and Engineering Several tracks received vocal and instrumental overdubs in 1976, with no guest artists featured beyond the standard collaborators.

Reissues and legacy

Notable reissues

The first edition of Moody Blue was released in 1988 by , catalog number 2428-2-R, featuring a digital remastering of the original tracks without additional bonus material. This basic reissue, produced in collaboration with BMG, maintained the standard 10-track lineup and was distributed in a jewel case with minimal , marking Elvis Presley's final studio in a widely accessible digital format for the first time. In 2013, Records, the official collectors' label of , issued a deluxe 2-CD expanded edition. This set included the remastered original album on the first disc, while the second disc presented previously unreleased outtakes and alternate versions, such as an extended take of "" and undubbed sessions for "" and "Moody Blue." Accompanying the discs was a 16-page booklet with essays by Elvis Ernst Jorgensen and session details, emphasizing the album's recording context at . The 2016 Way Down in the Jungle Room Legacy Edition, released by and on August 5, incorporated Moody Blue tracks as part of a broader compilation of Elvis's final 1976 studio sessions. Available in 2-CD and 1-LP formats, this featured alternate mixes and undubbed outtakes from the album, including "Moody Blue (Take 1)," "It's Easy for You (Take 1)," and " (Take 3)," alongside selections from the companion release From Elvis Presley Boulevard, . The edition included a 36-page booklet with rare photos and production notes by Grammy-winning Matt Ross-Spang, who oversaw the remastering. Subsequent vinyl reissues in the 2020s have focused on collector editions, such as the 2024 gold sparkle 180-gram double LP set, limited to 4,000 numbered copies worldwide and featuring the original tracks in packaging. This pressing, released by , replicates the 's 1977 aesthetic with enhanced audio quality derived from prior . Streaming versions of the , including remastered tracks, became widely available on platforms like following Music's catalog digitization efforts in the early , though no major dedicated streaming remaster was announced by 2025.

Cultural impact and posthumous significance

Moody Blue stands as 's final studio , released on July 19, 1977, just weeks before his death on August 16, 1977, symbolizing the conclusion of his recording career and often discussed alongside the earlier From Boulevard, as emblematic of his late-period output. The album's mix of studio and live recordings from sessions spanning 1974 to 1976 captured Presley in a reflective phase, influencing immediate posthumous tributes such as the 1977 release of , a live and TV special filmed in 1977 that highlighted his enduring stage presence amid declining health. The title track "Moody Blue," written by Mark James, achieved significant legacy through covers by artists like Jimmy Ellis in 1978, underscoring its appeal in country and rock circles. Similarly, "" became Presley's last major chart success, topping the Hot Country Singles chart in 1977 and peaking at No. 1 on the posthumously, with its funky arrangement featured in various media reflections on his career end. Following Presley's death, Moody Blue experienced a massive sales surge, reaching No. 3 on the and selling over two million copies in the United States alone, contributing substantially to his estate's revenue during a period of heightened global mourning. The album's cultural resonance appears in biographical works like Peter Guralnick's Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley (1999), which details the sessions and frames it within Presley's personal struggles. Documentaries such as HBO's : The Searcher (2018) reference its recordings to explore his artistic evolution in the . In the , Moody Blue maintains modern relevance through streaming platforms, amassing over 176 million plays on , reflecting renewed interest amid reevaluations of Presley's later years in contexts like and relationships depicted in Baz Luhrmann's 2022 biopic Elvis.

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