By 1970, Elvis Presley was no longer trying to prove he could become famous.
He had already done that.
What he needed to prove was something much deeper. After years of Hollywood movies and carefully controlled studio work, Elvis wanted people to remember what happened when he stood before a live audience and let the music take over. That is what made That’s the Way It Is so important.
It was not just another album.
It captured Elvis during one of the most powerful live periods of his career, when Las Vegas became more than a place for shows. It became the stage where Elvis rebuilt himself in front of the world. He was no longer only the young rebel from the 1950s. He was older, sharper, richer in voice, and far more emotionally commanding.
Elvis Presley-Rehearsal((That’s The Way It Is 1970), July 1970 MGM Studios, Culver City)
And that is what fans still feel in this era.
This was not Elvis trapped inside a movie script. This was not Elvis softened by Hollywood. This was Elvis under the lights, surrounded by musicians, singers, and an audience that could feel every note he gave them.
Romance, strength, sensitivity, and confidence were all present in the record. In a matter of seconds, Elvis could transition from a soft, expressive line to a powerful vocal moment, all while maintaining a natural flow. His voice sounded both vibrant and lived-in, as though each song had gained a deeper quality over the years.
That is why That’s the Way It Is still matters.
It did not simply preserve music.
Elvis: That’s the Way It Is | Official Trailer | Warner Bros. Entertainment
It preserved a version of Elvis Presley fans needed to see again.
Alive.
Focused.
In control.
The album and the film around it helped turn his Las Vegas years into history. They showed the world that Elvis was not only a memory from rock and roll’s early days.
He was still changing.
Still growing.
Still capable of taking a stage and reminding everyone why he had become Elvis Presley in the first place.