Love Letters from Elvis

Infobox Album |
Name = Love Letters from Elvis
Type = Studio Album
Artist = Elvis Presley


Released = June 16, 1971
Recorded = 1970 - 1971
Genre = Rock
Length = 32:40
Label = RCA
Producer = Felton Jarvis
Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gxfwxqy5ld6e link]
Last album = "You'll Never Walk Alone (Elvis Presley album)" (1971)
This album = "Love Letters from Elvis" (1971)
Next album = "Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas" (1971)

"Love Letters from Elvis" is a 1971 studio album from Elvis Presley.

The album was made up mostly of leftovers from Elvis' marathon June 1970 recording sessions in Nashville. Most of the other 35 songs recorded during those sessions had been used in Elvis' 1970 albums "That's the Way It Is" and "Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old)". Wanting to squeeze out a third album from the sessions, RCA records had producer Felton Jarvis mix, overdub and compile the remaining songs. However, few of the songs had the rock, country, or gospel feel that inspired Elvis to his greatest performances. As a result the album was critically panned upon release, and failed to crack the top 20 of the Billboard album charts. Like many Elvis albums, it has since gone gold.

The song's title track was a rare instance of Presley re-recording a past hit in the studio, his original version of "Love Letters" having been released as a single in 1966. "Got My Mojo Working" is edited down from an impromptu jam session; Presley's version incorporates lyrics from "Hands Off", a 1940s-eras song by Frankie Castro (RCA often mislabelled this song "Keep Your Hands Off of It when the complete jam was issued on CD years later).

Three songs from this album were released on singles. The single "Life / Only Believe" was released in March 1971 and reached only #53 on the US Billboard Singles chart. It was Elvis's lowest chart position for a single since "Almost in Love" had reached #95 in late 1968. "Heart Of Rome" was placed on the B-side of the non-album track "I'm Leavin'" released as a single in August 1971.
* [http://shop.elvis.com.au/prod859.htm Love Letters From Elvis 2 CD FTD Special Edition (Release Date - July 2008)]

Track listing

# "Love Letters" (Edward Heyman, Victor Young) – 2:53
# "When I'm Over You" (Shirl Milete) – 2:28
# "If I Were You" (Nelson) – 3:01
# "Got My Mojo Working" (Preston Foster) – 4:36
# "Heart of Rome" (Alan Blaikley, Ken Howard, Stephens) – 2:56
# "Only Believe" (Rader) – 2:50
# "This Is Our Dance" (Les Reed, Stephens) – 3:16
# "Cindy, Cindy" (Fuller, Kaye, Ben Weisman) – 2:32
# "I'll Never Know" (Karger, Wayne, Ben Weisman) – 2:25
# "It Ain't No Big Thing (But It's Growing)" (Hall, Merritt, Merritt) – 2:49
# "Life" (Shirl Milete) – 3:10