Elvis Presley – Elvis (The “Fool” Album) (1973)
Studio Album • Released: July 16, 1973 • RCA Victor • Producer: Felton Jarvis
Often referred to by fans and collectors as Elvis (The “Fool” Album) due to the prominence of its opening track “Fool”, this record is the eighteenth studio album by American music legend Elvis Presley. Released in mid‑1973, it’s notable for being a collection of studio leftovers and rarities from sessions spanning 1971–1972, including one live performance — a snapshot of Elvis’s eclectic early‑’70s output.
📀 Tracklist (Original LP)
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Fool
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Where Do I Go from Here
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Love Me, Love the Life I Lead
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It’s Still Here
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It’s Impossible (live)
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(That’s What You Get) For Lovin’ Me
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Padre
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I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen
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I Will Be True
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Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
(Various reissues and collector editions include bonus outtakes and alternate takes from the recording sessions.)
🎤 Album Credits
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Artist: Elvis Presley
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Producer: Felton Jarvis
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Label: RCA Victor
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Recorded: 1971–1972
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Studios: RCA Studio B (Nashville, TN) & other sessions including live material
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Genre: Rock, Country, Pop, Folk influences
Personnel Highlights:
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Elvis Presley – Lead vocals (& piano on several tracks)
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James Burton – Lead guitar
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Chip Young – Rhythm guitar
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Jerry Carrigan, Kenneth A. Buttrey – Drums
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Norbert Putnam – Bass
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Glen D. Hardin – Piano & string arrangements
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The Sweet Inspirations & The Nashville Edition – Backing vocals
(and other session musicians across tracks)
🖼️ Cover Art & Design
The cover of Elvis (The “Fool” Album) features a photograph of Elvis Presley from the Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite era (early 1973) — usually in stage attire against a photographic backdrop — tying the album visually to his then‑current public persona. Because the official title is simply Elvis, fans and collectors distinguish it by placing “The Fool Album” in quotes, referencing the first track on the LP.
📈 Chart Performance & Certifications
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Billboard 200 (US): Peaked around #52 (initial release)
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UK Albums Chart: Charted strongly, reaching approximately Top 15 in 1973
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Sales: Over 1 million copies sold worldwide, eventually earning multi‑platinum certifications thanks to decades of catalog sales.
Despite modest commercial ambition — as it largely comprised previously unreleased tracks — the album performed respectably and maintained Elvis’s presence on the charts following his 1973 successes.
⭐ Ratings & Reception
Elvis (The “Fool” Album) has generally received mixed to positive fan reviews over the years. Because it consists mainly of leftover studio material, critics often view it as a patchwork collection rather than a cohesive artistic statement. However, many fans appreciate its diversity and highlights, including heartfelt performances and rare recordings.
In retrospective assessments, it’s seen both as an interesting sampling of Elvis’s early‑’70s phases and a product of label decisions aimed at maximizing catalog profitability.
🎵 Popular Tracks & Highlights
✔ Fool – A poignant ballad and the first track, which inspired the album’s nickname among fans.
✔ Where Do I Go from Here – Emotional and reflective, emblematic of Elvis’s early‑’70s stylistic maturity.
✔ It’s Impossible (Live) – A live version of the Perry Como classic, recorded in Las Vegas.
✔ Padre – A dramatic ballad with orchestral backing.
✔ Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right – A cover of the Bob Dylan standard, notable for its interpretation.
🎉 Fun Facts & Trivia
🔹 Although officially titled just Elvis, this 1973 album is widely known as The “Fool” Album to distinguish it from his 1956 self‑titled debut.
🔹 The single “Fool” was released in 1973 alongside “Steamroller Blues” and reached the Top 20 on the UK Singles Chart.
🔹 Several tracks on the album were leftovers from sessions held in 1971 and early 1972, a period when Elvis was transitioning between Nashville and Las Vegas work.
🔹 Elvis himself plays piano on a few tracks (“It’s Still Here”, “I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen”, “I Will Be True”), highlighting his multi‑instrumental contributions.
🔹 The live track “It’s Impossible” was recorded at Las Vegas’s Hilton Hotel during his February 1972 engagement.
🤔 Did You Know?
🎸 Because RCA had acquired full rights to Elvis’s masters in early 1973 for a then‑huge sum, this album was one of the first records issued after that deal, and it was assembled largely from unused material rather than newly recorded songs.
🎧 The album has since become a collector favorite, partly because its tracklist reveals lesser‑known sides of Elvis’s repertoire, including his interpretations of folk and country standards, as well as rare live performances.
📀 Long after its issues on vinyl, Elvis (The “Fool” Album) has been reissued on CD and streaming platforms, sometimes with bonus alternate takes and session outtakes that showcase the depth of Elvis’s early‑’70s recording sessions.
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