Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters

Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters is a five-disc box set compilation of the recorded work of Elvis Presley during the decade of the 1970s. It was released in 1995 by RCA Records, catalog number 66670-2, following similar box sets that covered his musical output in the 1950s and 1960s. This set's initial long-box release included a set of collectable stamps duplicating the record jackets of the LP albums on which the tracks in the box set were originally released by RCA. It also includes a booklet with an extensive session list and discography, as well as a lengthy essay by Dave Marsh, some of it excerpted from his 1982 book on Presley. The box set was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on July 15, 1999.

Walk A Mile In My Shoes: The Essential 70s Masters
Box set by
ReleasedOctober 10, 1995 (1995-10-10)
RecordedFebruary 1970 – June 1977
GenreRock
Length6:12:11
LabelRCA Records
ProducerErnst Mikael Jorgensen
Roger Semon
Elvis Presley chronology
Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II
(1995)
Walk A Mile In My Shoes: The Essential 70s Masters
(1995)
Elvis 56
(1996)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
MusicHound[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]
Rough Guides[4]

Contents

The first two discs present the A and B sides of every single released in the United States by Presley during the decade, with the following exceptions: "Kentucky Rain" b/w "My Little Friend", and the b-side "Mama Liked the Roses", recorded in the 1960s; the gospel single "He Touched Me" b/w "Bosom of Abraham", the gospel b-sides "Only Believe" and "Help Me" already included on his first gospel compilation; and "O Come All Ye Faithful", the flipside to the 1971 Christmas single "Merry Christmas, Baby." His final two singles issued posthumously, the #22 "My Way" b/w "America the Beautiful" from November 1977, and "Unchained Melody" b/w "Softly As I Leave You" from February 1978, are also not included, although "Unchained Melody" is on the fifth disc, and versions of "My Way" and "Softly As I Leave You" are also on other discs in the set. Of the 23 American singles on these discs, 19 made the Top 40, with "The Wonder of You" and "Burning Love" also making the top 10. Included as well are four tracks issued at 45 rpm in Great Britain only: the top ten single "I Just Can't Help Believin'" b/w "How the Web Was Woven", the A-side "Green Green Grass of Home", and "Loving Arms", the British flip side to "My Boy." In the U.S., the "Can't Help Believin'" single appeared as two LP tracks on That's the Way It Is, "Loving Arms" on Good Times, and "Green Grass" on Today.

Discs 3 and 4 compile studio tracks from various albums, with 10 previously unreleased recordings or alternate takes. All but five of the 23 tracks on disc three originate from a single series of sessions, held over four days during June 1970, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. A facsimile of the album "Elvis Country" can be assembled from this disc, minus the lead single, "I Really Don't Want to Know" b/w "There Goes My Everything", included on disc 1. Disc 4 continues highlights through Presley's final studio session, at home in Graceland on October 30, 1976. It also includes a take of "Merry Christmas Baby" shorter than the album track but longer than the single, as well as two songs by Bob Dylan, "I Shall Be Released" and "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right", and a master studio take of the Sinatra signature song, "My Way."

The fifth disc approximates a Presley stage show typical to the era, taken mostly from shows in 1970 and 1972, with 21 songs running to about an hour. Eleven of the concert tracks are previously unreleased, "Reconsider Baby" and "I'll Remember You" originating from the matinee show at Madison Square Garden issued in 1997 on An Afternoon in the Garden. The disc does not open, as Presley shows often did, with the introduction to Strauss' tone poem Also sprach Zarathustra, played by the backing orchestra to announce the entrance of Elvis. The rock and roll instrumental support consists of the TCB Band, in addition to Presley's usual coterie of back-up vocalists, and the orchestra led by Joe Guercio. The final five songs present a "rehearsal" for the show, deriving from informal recordings made at actual rehearsals at RCA Studios in Hollywood in preparation for Elvis: That's the Way It Is and for a summer 1974 engagement in Las Vegas.

RCA Records issued two similarly configured box set companions, one for the 1950s, and another for the 1960s, the former his complete known masters from that decade, and the latter set chronicling his non-soundtrack/non-gospel recordings from the second decade of his career. Additional two-disc sets featuring his complete gospel recordings and selections from his soundtracks were also issued under this series. Unlike the first two decades collections, however, the compilers of Walk a Mile in My Shoes chose not to collect every studio recording Presley made during his final decade, choosing to focus on the singles, a sampling of "studio highlights" and an example of his live work.

Professional studio recordings made at RCA Studio B in Nashville, RCA Studio C in Hollywood, Stax Studio in Memphis, and in the Jungle Room at Graceland. Live recordings from The International Hotel in Las Vegas, Madison Square Garden in New York City, the H.I.C. Arena in Honolulu, and the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Original recordings produced by Felton Jarvis. "Are You Sincere" recorded at Elvis' home in Palm Springs, California, and produced by Presley.

Purpose

After the success of his television special in 1968, the album From Elvis in Memphis and the chart-topping single "Suspicious Minds" in 1969, Presley stopped making motion pictures, which had become central to his public identity in the 1960s, and concentrated on making music. During the course of the 1970s, in addition to the aforementioned singles, 41 Presley albums appeared in the U.S. prior to his death: seven new compilations from RCA, including The Sun Sessions; nine compilations on the budget RCA Camden label, including an altered reissue of the 1957 Christmas album; two additional compilations on the bargain-bin Pickwick label; four more reissues; six concert documents, including Having Fun with Elvis on Stage and the posthumous Elvis in Concert; and thirteen original albums of new material, with one Christmas LP and one gospel LP among them.

As seen from the chart positions in the discography, public reaction to Presley's output during this period was mixed, in part owing to the sheer volume of released items. Unlike the fifties box, Walk a Mile in My Shoes cherry-picks the material in three sections – commercial singles, choice album cuts, and live performance. Winnowing down the selections argues for the continued vitality of Presley's work in this period. As stated by Marsh in the liner notes:

Elvis' Seventies music has been picked at and picked over, issued and reissued, discussed, dissected, distorted, displayed, and dismissed. But it's only now, gathered into one place, that it kind of makes you gulp a bit to realize how productive he was in the last six years of his life...Certainly, Elvis' albums lack the structural integrity of some other artists recording in this period – which is one reason a box set such as this can in fact present a clearer picture of his music than weeding through all his discs one by one.[5]

Track listing

Chart positions for albums from the Billboard 200; positions for singles from the Billboard Hot 100, except where noted. Certain tracks listed as unreleased on the insert card of the jewel cases are unedited masters of issued tracks, or without later overdubs; those are indicated with an asterisk and listed with the original issue information for the released master.

Disc one: The Singles

TrackSong TitleWriter(s)TimeRecordedRelease DateCatalogueChart Peak
1.The Wonder of YouBaker Knight2:341970-02-181970-04-2047-9835#9
2.I've Lost YouAlan Blaikley and Ken Howard3:301970-06-041970-07-1447–9873#32
3.The Next Step Is LovePaul Evans and Paul Parnes3:311970-06-071970-07-1447-9873b
4.You Don't Have to Say You Love MeVicki Wickham, Simon Napier-Bell, Pino Donaggio, Vito Pallavicini2:301970-06-061970-10-0647–9916#11
5.Patch It UpEddie Rabbitt and Rory Bourke3:081970-06-081970-10-0647-9916b
6.I Really Don't Want to KnowHoward Barnes and Don Robertson2:541970-06-071970-12-0847–9960#21
7.There Goes My EverythingDallas Frazier2:581970-06-081970-12-0847-9960b
8.Rags to RichesRichard Adler and Jerry Ross1:541970-09-221971-02-0347–9980#33
9.Where Did They Go, LordDallas Frazier and A.L. "Doodle" Owens2:271970-09-221971-02-0347-9980b
10.LifeShirl Milete3:101970-06-061971-05-2547–9985#53
11.I'm Leavin'Michael Jarrett and Sonny Charles3:511971-05-201971-06-2247–9998#36
12.Heart of RomeAlan Blaikley, Ken Howard, Geoff Stephens2:531970-06-061971-06-2247-9998b
13.It's Only LoveMark James and Steve Tyrell2:411971-05-201971-09-2148–1017#51
14.The Sound of Your CryBernie Baum, Bill Giant, Florence Kaye3:171970-06-041971-09-2148-1017b
15.I Just Can't Help Believin'Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann4:341970-08-111971-112158UK #6
16.How the Web Was WovenDavid Most and Clive Westlake3:251970-06-051971-112158b
17.Until It's Time for You to GoBuffy Sainte-Marie2:171971-05-171972-01-0474–0619#40
18.We Can Make the MorningJay Ramsey3:541971-05-201972-01-0474-0619b
19.An American TrilogyMickey Newbury4:301972-02-161972-04-0474–0672#66
20.The First Time Ever I Saw Your FaceEwan MacColl3:421971-03-151972-04-0474-0672b
21.Burning LoveDennis Linde2:501972-03-281972-08-0174–0769#2
22.It's a Matter of TimeClive Westlake3:021972-03-291972-08-0174-0769b
23.Separate WaysRed West and Richard Mainegra2:361972-03-271972-10-3174–0815#20

Disc two: The Singles

TrackSong TitleWriter(s)TimeRecordedRelease DateCatalogueChart Peak
1.Always on My MindJohnny Christopher, Mark James, Wayne Carson3:371972-03-291972-10-3174-0815b
2.FoolCarl Sigman and James Last3:301972-03-281973-03-0474-0910b
3.Steamroller BluesJames Taylor3:041973-01-141973-03-0474–0910#17
4.Raised on RockMark James2:381973-07-231973-09-22APBO 0088#41
5.For Ol' Times SakeTony Joe White3:361973-07-231973-09-22APBO 0088b
6.I've Got a Thing About You BabyTony Joe White2:201973-07-221974-01-11APBO 0196#39
7.Take Good Care of HerArthur Kent and Edward C. Warren2:511973-07-211974-01-11APBO 0196b
8.If You Talk in Your SleepRed West and Johnny Christopher2:341973-12-111974-05-10APBO 0280#17
9.Promised LandChuck Berry2:551973-12-151974-09-27PB 10074#14
10.It's MidnightBilly Edd Wheeler and Jerry Chesnut3:211973-12-101974-09-27PB 10074b
11.My BoyBill Martin, Jean-Pierre Bourtrayre, Phil Coulter, Claude Francois3:191973-12-131975-01-04PB 10191#20
12.Loving ArmsTom Jans2:501973-12-131974-102548b
13.T-R-O-U-B-L-EJerry Chesnut and Steve Tyrell3:021975-03-111975-04-22PB 10278#35
14.Mr. SongmanDonnie Summer2:071973-12-121975-04-23PB 10278b
15.Bringing It BackGreg Gordon3:001975-03-121975-09-30PB 10401
16.Pieces of My LifeTroy Seals4:031975-03-121975-09-30PB 10401b
17.Green Green Grass of HomeCurly Putman3:351975-03-101975-112635UK #29
18.Thinking About YouTim Baty3:001973-12-121975-01-04PB 10191b
19.HurtJimmie Crane and Al Jacobs2:061976-02-051976-03-12PB 10601#28
20.For the HeartDennis Linde3:221976-02-051976-03-12PB 10601b
21.Moody BlueMark James3:221976-02-041976-11-29PB 10857#31
22.She Thinks I Still CareDickey Lee3:511976-02-021976-11-29PB 10857b
23.Way DownLayng Martine Jr.2:381976-10-291977-06-06PB 10998#18
24.Pledging My LoveDon Robey and Ferdinand Washington2:501976-10-291977-06-06PB 10998b

Disc three: Studio Highlights 1970–1971

TrackSong TitleWriter(s)TimeRecordedRelease DateCatalogueOriginal IssueChart Peak
1.Twenty Days and Twenty NightsScott Weisman and Clive Westlake3:151970-06-041970-11-11LSP 4445That's the Way It Is#21
2.I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years AgoTraditional3:281970-06-041972-02-20LSP 4460Elvis Now#43
3.The FoolNaomi Ford and Lee Hazlewood2:241970-06-041971-01-02LSP 4671"Elvis Country"#12
4.A Hundred Years from NowLester Flatt and Earl Scruggs1:401970-06-04previously unreleased
5.Little Cabin on the HillBill Monroe and Lester Flatt1:471970-06-041971-01-02LSP 4460"Elvis Country"#12
6.Cindy CindyDolores Fuller, Buddy Kaye, Ben Weisman2:311970-06-041971-06-16LSP 4530Love Letters from Elvis#33
7.Bridge over Troubled WaterPaul Simon4:291970-06-051970-11-11LSP 4445That's the Way It Is#21
8.Got My Mojo Working/Keep Your Hands Off of ItPreston Foster, Elvis Presley4:341970-06-051971-06-16LSP 4530Love Letters from Elvis#33
9.It's Your Baby You Rock ItShirl Milete and Nora Fowler2:591970-06-051971-01-02LSP 4460"Elvis Country"#12
10.Stranger in the CrowdWinfield Scott3:471970-06-051970-11-11LSP 4445That's the Way It Is#21
11.Mary in the MorningJohnny Cymbal and Michael Rashkow4:111970-06-051970-11-11LSP 4445That's the Way It Is#21
12.It Ain't No Big Thing (But It's Growing)Shorty Hall, Alice Joy Merritt, Neal Merritt2:461970-06-061971-06-16LSP 4530Love Letters from Elvis#33
13.Just PretendGuy Fletcher and Doug Flett4:021970-06-061970-11-11LSP 4445That's the Way It Is#21
14.Faded Love*Bob Wills and Johnnie Lee Wills4:061970-06-071971-01-02LSP 4460"Elvis Country"#12
15.Tomorrow Never Comes*Johnny Bond and Ernest Tubb4:041970-06-071971-01-02LSP 4460"Elvis Country"#12
16.Make the World Go AwayHank Cochran3:351970-06-071971-01-02LSP 4460"Elvis Country"#12
17.Funny How Time Slips AwayWillie Nelson4:191970-06-071971-01-02LSP 4460"Elvis Country"#12
18.I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water*Joe Babcock4:571970-06-071971-01-02LSP 4460"Elvis Country"#12
19.SnowbirdGene MacLellan2:041970-09-221971-01-02LSP 4460"Elvis Country"#12
20.Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' OnDave "Curly" Williams and Sunny David3:021970-09-221971-01-02LSP 4460"Elvis Country"#12
21.Amazing Grace*Traditional3:261971-03-151972-04-03LSP 4690He Touched Me#79
22.(That's What You Get) For Lovin' MeGordon Lightfoot2:081971-03-151973-07-16APL1 0283Elvis#52
23.Lady MadonnaJohn Lennon and Paul McCartney1:201971-05-17previously unreleased

Disc four: Studio Highlights 1971–1976

TrackSong TitleWriter(s)TimeRecordedRelease DateCatalogueOriginal IssueChart Peak
1.Merry Christmas, BabyLou Baxter and Johnny Moore5:431971-05-151971-10-20LSP 4579Wonderful World of Christmas
2.I Shall Be ReleasedBob Dylan0:481971-05-20previously unreleased
3.Don't Think Twice, It's All Right*Bob Dylan4:001971-05-161973-07-16APL1 0283Elvis#52
4.It's Still Here*Ivory Joe Hunter3:291971-05-191973-07-16APL1 0283Elvis#52
5.I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen*Thomas P. Westendorf2:281971-05-191973-07-16APL1 0283Elvis#52
6.I Will Be TrueIvory Joe Hunter2:341971-05-191973-07-16APL1 0283Elvis#52
7.My WayPaul Anka, Claude Francois, Jacques Revaux4:321971-06-10previously unreleased
8.For the Good TimesKris Kristofferson3:111972-03-27previously unreleased
9.Just a Little BitRalph Bass, Buster Brown, John Thornton, Fats Washington2:311973-07-221973-10-01APL1 0388Raised on Rock#50
10.It's Diff'rent NowClive Westlake2:311973-07-21previously unreleased
11.Are You SincereWayne Walker1:591973-09-231973-10-01APL1 0388Raised on Rock#50
12.I Got A Feelin' in My BodyDennis Linde3:331973-12-101974-03-20CPL1 0475Good Times#90
13.You Asked Me ToWaylon Jennings and Billy Joe Shaver2:521973-12-111975-01-08APL1 0873Promised Land#47
14.Good Time Charlie's Got the BluesDanny O'Keefe3:121973-12-131974-03-20CPL1 0475Good Times#90
15.Talk About the Good TimesJerry Reed Hubbard2:361973-12-141974-03-20CPL1 0475Good Times#90
16.Tiger ManLewis Burns, Al Lewis, Joe Hill Louis3:051975-03-11previously unreleased
17.I Can HelpBilly Swan4:021975-03-101975-05-07APL1 1039Today#57
18.Susan When She TriedDon Reid2:161975-03-111975-05-07APL1 1039Today#57
19.Shake a HandJoe Morris3:481975-03-111975-05-07APL1 1039Today#57
20.She Thinks I Still CareDickey Lee3:261976-02-02unreleased alternate take
21.Danny BoyFrederick Weatherly3:561976-02-051976-04-20APL1 1506From Elvis Presley Boulevard#41
22.Love Coming DownJerry Chesnut3:061976-02-061976-04-20APL1 1506From Elvis Presley Boulevard#41
23.He'll Have to GoJoe Allison and Audrey Allison4:301976-10-301977-07-19AFL1 2428Moody Blue#3

Disc five: The Elvis Presley Show

TrackSong TitleWriter(s)TimeRecordedRelease DateCatalogueOriginal IssueChart Peak
1.See See RiderTraditional2:231970-02-181970-06-23LSP 4362On Stage: February 1970#13
2.Men With Broken HeartsHank Williams0:311970-08-11previously unreleased
3.Walk A Mile In My ShoesJoe South2:571970-02-191970-06-23LSP 4362On Stage: February 1970#13
4.Polk Salad AnnieTony Joe White4:461970-02-181970-06-23LSP 4362On Stage: February 1970#13
5.Let It Be MeGilbert Bécaud, Mann Curtis, Pierre Delanoë3:281970-02-171970-06-23LSP 4362On Stage: February 1970#13
6.Proud MaryJohn Fogerty2:301970-02-161970-06-23LSP 4362On Stage: February 1970#13
7.SomethingGeorge Harrison3:401970-08-11previously unreleased
8.You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Phil Spector4:231970-08-121970-11-11LSP 4445That's the Way It Is#21
9.Heartbreak HotelMae Axton, Tommy Durden, Elvis Presley1:411970-08-11previously unreleased
10.I Was the OneAaron Schroeder, Claude DeMetrius, Hal Blair, Bill Peppers1:191970-08-12previously unreleased
11.One NightDave Bartholomew, Pearl King, Anita Steiman1:471970-08-11previously unreleased
12.Never Been to SpainHoyt Axton3:281972-02-16previously unreleased
13.You Gave Me a MountainMarty Robbins3:151972-02-16previously unreleased
14.It's ImpossibleArmando Manzanero and Sid Wayne2:521972-02-161973-07-16APL1 0283Elvis#52
15.A Big Hunk o' LoveAaron Schroeder and Sidney Wyche2:021972-02-16previously unreleased
16.It's OverJimmie F. Rodgers2:201972-02-17previously unreleased
17.The Impossible DreamJoe Darion and Mitch Leigh2:291972-02-171978-02AFL1 2772He Walks Beside Me#113
18.Reconsider BabyLowell Fulsom2:411972-06-10previously unreleased
19.I'll Remember YouKui Lee2:351972-06-10previously unreleased
20.I'm So Lonesome I Could CryHank Williams2:151973-01-141973-02-04VPSX 6089Aloha From Hawaii: Via Satellite#1
21.Suspicious MindsMark James4:291973-01-141973-02-04VPSX 6089Aloha From Hawaii: Via Satellite#1
22.Unchained MelodyAlex North and Hy Zaret2:271977-04-241977-07-19AFL1 2428Moody Blue#3
23.The Twelfth of NeverJay Livingston and Paul Francis Webster2:391974-08-16unreleased rehearsal
24.Softly As I Leave YouGiorgio Calabrese, Antonio deVita, Hal Shaper2:141974-08-16unreleased rehearsal
25.Allá en el Rancho GrandeSilvano Ramos, Del Moral, Urange2:041970-07-15unreleased rehearsal
26.Froggy Went A-CourtingTraditional2:151970-07-29unreleased rehearsal
27.Stranger in My Own Home TownPercy Mayfield4:371970-07-24unreleased rehearsal

Personnel

References

  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Elvis Presley Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters". AllMusic. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  2. Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (eds) (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, Michigan: Visible Ink Press. p. 891. ISBN 1-57859-061-2.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  3. McGee, David. "Elvis Presley: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 18, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  4. Simpson, Paul (2004). The Rough Guide to Elvis. London: Rough Guides. p. 163. ISBN 1-84353-417-7.
  5. Marsh, Dave, Walk A Mile In My Shoes: The Essential 70s Masters insert booklet, p. 5 and p.32
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