Elvis Presley – Love Letters from Elvis (1971)
Studio Album • Released: June 16, 1971 • RCA Victor • Producer: Felton Jarvis
Love Letters from Elvis is the fourteenth studio album by American music icon Elvis Presley, released in the summer of 1971. Compiled mostly from the leftover tracks of Elvis’s marathon June 1970 Nashville recording sessions, the album is known for its ballads, R&B‑influenced tracks, and soulful performances, even if it received mixed critical response upon release.
📀 Original Tracklist
(Typical LP version)
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Love Letters – 2:53
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When I’m Over You – 2:28
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If I Were You – 2:50
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Got My Mojo Working / Keep Your Hands Off of It – 4:36
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Heart of Rome – 2:56
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Only Believe – 2:49
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This Is Our Dance – 3:16
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Cindy, Cindy – 2:33
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I’ll Never Know – 2:25
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It Ain’t No Big Thing (But It’s Growing) – 2:49
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Life – 3:10
Some reissues and expanded editions include bonus tracks such as “The Sound of Your Cry,” “Where Did They Go, Lord,” and “Rags to Riches.”
🎤 Album Credits
Artist: Elvis Presley
Producer: Felton Jarvis
Label: RCA Victor (LSP‑4530)
Recorded: June 4–9, 1970 – Nashvile Marathon Sessions
Genres: Soft Rock · Pop · Country · Gospel
Musicians / Personnel:
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Elvis Presley – Lead vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
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James Burton – Lead guitar
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Chip Young – Rhythm guitar
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Norbert Putnam – Bass
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David Briggs – Piano
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Jerry Carrigan – Drums
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Charlie McCoy – Harmonica, vibraphone, organ
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Charlie Hodge – Harmony vocals & acoustic guitar
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The Imperials Quartet – Backing vocals
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The Jordanaires – Backing vocals (on “When I’m Over You”)
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The Nashville Edition – Backing vocals (on “It Ain’t No Big Thing…”)
🖼️ Cover Design & Artwork
The Love Letters from Elvis album cover features Elvis in performance photos set against a stark white background, with soft pastel‑style lettering for the title — a stark contrast to many of his other 1970s LPs. This design highlighted the romantic and emotive theme suggested by the title, even if the music itself spans multiple styles.
While some critics at the time called the artwork “functional rather than inspired,” fans have since appreciated its clean aesthetic and focus on Elvis’s stage presence.
📈 Chart Performance & Reception
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Billboard 200 (US): Peaked at #33
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US Top Country Albums: #12
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UK Albums Chart: #7
Although it failed to crack the top 20 on the main Billboard album chart, the record still found modest commercial success — especially in the UK and country markets. Overall sales upon initial release were around 300,000 copies.
⭐ Ratings & Legacy
Critic Score: ~50/100
User Score: ~52/100 (AlbumOfTheYear.org)
Critically, Love Letters from Elvis was often seen as a collection of leftovers from 1970 sessions, lacking the cohesion and impact of That’s the Way It Is or Elvis Country. However, many fans appreciate Elvis’s vocal performances and the emotional variety across the tracks.
🎵 Popular Tracks & Singles
✔ Love Letters – Title track, a remake of his 1966 hit.
✔ Life / Only Believe – Released as a single in March 1971, reached #53 on the US singles chart.
✔ Heart of Rome – B‑side to I’m Leavin’, reached #23 in the UK.
✔ When I’m Over You – Romantic country‑theme standout.
✔ It Ain’t No Big Thing (But It’s Growing) – Funky R&B crossover.
🎉 Fun Facts & Trivia
🔹 This album was assembled from leftovers of Elvis’s marathon Nashville sessions in June 1970, the same sessions that yielded That’s the Way It Is and Elvis Country.
🔹 The title song “Love Letters” was re‑recorded in 1970, even though Elvis had previously released it in 1966.
🔹 “Got My Mojo Working” is taken from an impromptu studio jam, edited down for the album.
🔹 Despite mixed critical reactions, many fans enjoy the softer ballads and romantic numbers on this album as underrated gems.
🤔 Did You Know?
🎙️ Elvis’s voice on this album reflects his late‑career blend of country, pop, and gospel, showcasing his versatility even on tracks that weren’t major hits.
🎵 The 1970 version of Love Letters is considered by many fans to be smoother and richer than the original 1966 recording.
📀 Because the album was compiled from leftover material, some listeners feel it’s more of a collated snapshot of sessions than a standalone artistic statement — yet it remains a culturally interesting part of Elvis’s dense 1970s catalog.
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