I was 21 when I wrote this review back in 1996 for The Elvis Beat #15, my official Elvis Presley Fan Club newsletter.

A Hundred Years From Now (RCA), recorded by Elvis Presley, 1970 and 1971, RCA Studios (Nashville). Released: July 1996 (CD).

A Hundred Years From Now is volume 4 of the Essential Elvis series. It contains 22 tracks recorded in 1970 and 1971, including 17 previously unreleased performances.

1970 is one of my favorite Elvis years, but A Hundred Years From Now is rather disappointing. Quite often alternate takes of Elvis songs are as good or better than the master releases. Or at least they are notable for the variations from the released versions. Unfortunately, most of the alternates on this album either are not significantly different from the originals or are surpassed by the originals.

“I Didn’t Make It On Playing Guitar” is an informal instrumental jam and a song never released before in any form. Although Elvis and the band sound great, unfortunately the track itself is boring and hard to listen to more than once or twice.

The other song never released before by Elvis on A Hundred Years From Now is “The Lord’s Prayer,” which is also disappointing and an informal recording.

The title song, “A Hundred Years From Now,” is great and was first released last year in the ELVIS: Walk A Mile In My Shoes – The Essential 70s Masters boxed set, though it sounds a bit different here.

The alternates of “I’ve Lost You” and “Just Pretend,” two of my favorite songs, are disappointing. The original master releases of these two incredible songs are far superior. The same could be said for nearly all the other songs presented here.

Two highlights are a beautiful performance of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and an extended version of “The Fool.” It should also be noted that this album, like most RCA releases in the last six or seven years, is beautifully packaged despite the poor quality cover art.

For collectors of Elvis’ 1970s songs, this album is a requirement in order to be complete. Others would be better advised to purchase the original source material, such as the album That’s The Way It Is.

Songs:

1. I Didn’t Make It On Playing Guitar
2. I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water
3. Little Cabin On The Hill
4. A Hundred Years From Now
5. I’ve Lost You
6. Got My Mojo Working/Keep Your Hands Off Of It
7. You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me
8. It Ain’t No Big Thing
9. Cindy, Cindy
10. Faded Love
11. The Fool
12. Rags To Riches
13. Just Pretend
14. If I Were You
15. Faded Love
16. Where Did They Go, Lord
17. It’s Only Love
18. Until It’s Time For You To Go
19. Patch It Up
20. Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On
21. Bridge Over Troubled Water
22. The Lord’s Prayer

Rating: 7 out of 10