Maps of Music

Today (1975)

Where the lyrics of Today take you, and where it was really made.

The Today sessions were the last time Presley recorded in a studio.

Key places

Recording at RCA Studio C, Hollywood (1975)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — The Today sessions were held at RCA's Studio C in Hollywood in March 1975. The map point marks Los Angeles city center, not the exact studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Today: twenty-second studio album by Elvis Presley
• Released May 7, 1975 by RCA Records
• Country and pop sound typical of Elvis in the 1970s
• The sessions marked the last time Presley recorded in a studio
• Covers of songs by Perry Como, Tom Jones, the Pointer Sisters, Billy Swan, Faye Adams, the Statler Brothers and Charlie Rich

Background

• Elvis was 40 years old at the time of the sessions
• He was accompanied by his then-current girlfriend, Sheila Ryan
• He had last recorded at Studio C in Hollywood in 1972, where he cut the gold records "Burning Love" and "Separate Ways"

Recording

• The sessions were held in RCA's Studio C, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, March 10–12, 1975
• The new rock and roll song "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" was included on the album

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Born January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi; family moved to Memphis, Tennessee when he was 13.
• Began his career in 1954 at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring African-American music to a wider audience.
• Recorded "That's All Right" with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black in July 1954.
• A pioneer of rockabilly, a fusion of country music and rhythm and blues.

Members

• Classic quartet: Presley (vocals, guitar), Scotty Moore (lead guitar), Bill Black (bass), and D. J. Fontana (drums), who joined in 1955.

Career

• RCA Victor acquired his contract in 1955 for $40,000; "Heartbreak Hotel" hit number one in the US in 1956.
• Became a leading figure of rock and roll, though his style was considered a threat to white American youth by some.
• Made his film debut in Love Me Tender (1956) and devoted much of the 1960s to Hollywood films.
• Returned to the stage with the 1968 NBC special Elvis, followed by a Las Vegas residency and tours.
• Gave the first solo-artist concert broadcast worldwide, Aloha from Hawaii, in 1973.
• Died August 16, 1977 at Graceland, aged 42.
• Estimated to have sold 500 million records worldwide; won three Grammy Awards.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Released May 7, 1975 by RCA Records as Presley's twenty-second studio album
• Country and pop sound typical of Elvis in the 1970s
• New rock and roll song "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" issued as the first single
• "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" went Top 40 in the US
• "Bringing It Back" was the second US single
• Covers of songs by Perry Como, Tom Jones, the Pointer Sisters, Billy Swan, Faye Adams, the Statler Brothers and Charlie Rich

Reappraisal

• The page's external links include a Rolling Stone review by Dave Marsh, dated July 3, 1975
• The external links also include the Today entry at Discogs (list of releases)
• The Elvis Presley Record Research Database Today guide is linked as a reference

Records

• "Green, Green Grass of Home" was released as a single in the UK and reached the Top 30
• The same song also received US airplay
• Catalog numbers APL1-1039 and APD1-1039 are listed in the Record Research Database Today guide

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Presley was a big fan of Tom Jones' version of "Green, Green Grass of Home", and while travelling he had friends call local radio stations to request it repeatedly.
• "And I Love You So" and "Fairytale" stayed in his live concerts until his death.
• On stage he often referred to "Fairytale" as the story of his life.
• The sessions were recorded in March 1975, a few months before the album's May release.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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