Not all recording sessions are magic. Elvis Presley went to Stax studio in July 1973, and it was mostly a bust. But then he went back that December, and everything changed. He was fighting to find his spark again, and this time, he lit a fire. He recorded a powerful cover of a Chuck Berry classic, “Promised Land”.
This song was not the same Elvis from just a few years before. You can almost hear him pushing himself. It did not have the old grit, but it had something new. It was packed with speed and intense energy. It even had a little bit of that old rockabilly sound mixed in. It was the King finding a new way to rock.
Elvis Presley – Promised Land (Official Audio)
People listening knew it was special, too. The song climbed the charts and landed at number 14. This was not just a lucky hit. Reviewers and fans agreed that the high chart spot was totally deserved. It was a true bright spot in a tough decade and showed he still had that power.
That December session showed Elvis was still a fighter, full of rock and roll. But those same sessions also revealed a different side of him. It was a man dealing with a lot of personal change. He recorded other songs, like “My Boy,” that felt like they came from a completely different person.
My Boy
This song was not a rock and roll barn burner. It was a softer, middle-of-the-road tune. Some think Elvis picked it because of his recent divorce from Priscilla. He was a father, and maybe the song felt personal. But listening to it, you can tell his heart was not fully in it. It feels like he is holding back.
Elvis Presley’s journey was never simple. He was a superstar, but he was also a human with real struggles. His music in the seventies shows that fight. You can hear his highs and his lows, sometimes in the same recording session. That honesty is what still connects with people today. Follow Elvis Presley on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You will keep finding new sides to the King.