Album: Raised on Rock

Background:
"Raised on Rock" is the 19th studio album released by Elvis Presley in 1973, during a troubled period in the singer's life. The record was released by RCA Records and produced by Felton Jarvis, a long-time collaborator with Presley. The majority of the album was taped at Stax Studios, a prominent website in Memphis legendary for hosting sessions with numerous iconic artists such as Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes. The tracks included on the album display an eclectic mix of rock, soul, and nation categories. At the time of its release, "Raised on Rock" received mixed evaluations and did not attain the business success of Presley's previous works.

Album Production and Recording:
The sessions for the "Raised on Rock" album happened at Stax Studios between July and December 1973. These sessions marked Presley's very first recordings in Memphis given that his victorious "From Elvis in Memphis" album in 1969. The recording sessions for the "Raised on Rock" album happened during a tough time for Presley, both in his individual and expert life. The vocalist was coping with divorce, health problems, and a subsiding profession in the music market.

For this album, Presley mainly dealt with a group of musicians who had actually frequently been working together with him because the late 1960s, consisting of James Burton on guitar, Jerry Scheff on bass, and Ronnie Tutt on drums. Despite the Stax Studios' noteworthy tradition, the sessions were apparently messy and often disturbed due to Presley's unpredictable emotion.

Among the most substantial aspects of the recording process was Presley's choice to consist of tunes composed by several revered and prolific songwriters like Mark James, Tony Joe White, and Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller. The inclusion of these songwriters in the album was evident of Elvis Presley's intent to explore new designs and lyrical content.

Track Listing:
The album consists of 10 tracks, with side one featuring the title track "Raised on Rock", "Are You Sincere", "Find Out What's Happening", "I Miss You", and "Girl of Mine". Side two includes "For Ol' Times Sake", "If You Don't Come Back", "Just a Little Bit", "Sweet Angeline", and "Three Corn Patches".

"Raised on Rock", the title track and very first single launched from the album, was penned by Mark James and is a nod to Presley's rock-and-roll roots. The song did not chart along with anticipated, peaking at # 41 on the Billboard Hot 100. "For Ol' Times Sake", composed by Tony Joe White, was the second single and attained moderate success, reaching # 42 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The album showcases a diverse mix of musical designs, veering from rock 'n' roll to funk, country, and even gospel-influenced tracks. The energetic and soulful arrangements of songs such as "Find Out What's Happening" and "If You Don't Come Back" stand in contrast with the more reflective and mellow tunes like "I Miss You" and "Sweet Angeline".

Reception and Legacy:
Upon its release, "Raised on Rock" reached # 50 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and # 44 on the Top Country Albums chart. Seriously, the album got combined reviews, as some critics felt that the collection did not satisfy the high standards set by Presley's previous works. However, numerous fans appreciated the experimental approach and the singer's effort to explore brand-new designs and sounds.

"Raised on Rock" captures a transitional period in Elvis Presley'scareer, as the artist aimed to keep his location amid rapidly developing market patterns. In spite of the album's shortcomings and obstacles faced throughout its recording, it stays a vital part of Presley's large discography, supplying an appealing insight into the musical icon's journey throughout a critical stage of his career.