You’re journeying into a fantastic realm whose limits are only that of imagination. There’s the station up ahead. Your next stop… the edge of reality.

The original version of Elvis’ Halloween Album has served us well for years, but RCA recently released a reconfigured version on their Camden budget label. With gas prices soaring to 40 cents a gallon and first-class postage stamps at an unbelievable 8 cents, 1971 is turning out to be a very expensive year for everyone. Elvis fans have it even worse, though, as this “new” record is just the latest in a series of Presley releases this year.

This time out, RCA/Camden has dropped the non-Halloween selections that filled out the original version of Elvis’ Halloween Album and replaced them with a couple of newer chilling tracks – including the weirdest Elvis song ever released.

I’m referring to the leadoff song, “Moonlight Sonata.” While someone plays the Beethoven piece on the piano, Elvis and others accompany with various vocal tones: “Duhhhh duhhhh duhhhhhh….”

It sounds like it was recorded on a personal tape recorder at Elvis’ home, but the lower sound quality actually adds to the haunting effect. Only Elvis could get away with putting this out on record, yet it works!

Another new addition is “Cotton Candy Land,” which was recently featured in Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut, Play ‘Cotton Candy Land’ For Me. I won’t spoil the movie, since it features one of Elvis’ best roles since King Creole, except to say that you know bad things are about to happen whenever a certain character plays this song.

There are still a couple of months left in 1971, and RCA is not finished with us yet. That’s right, even more new Elvis releases are on the way. As for the new version of Elvis’ Halloween Album, I give it an 8 out of 10. Worth picking up if you don’t already have the original or if you want to hear the bizarre “Moonlight Sonata.”

Elvis’ Halloween Album (1971 Edition)

Side A
Moonlight Sonata
Devil In Disguise
Night Rider
Ghost Riders In The Sky
Edge Of Reality

Side B
Dark Moon
Witchcraft
Mystery Train
Blue Moon
Cotton Candy Land

This imaginary album is available only in… the edge of reality.

[With apologies to Serling.]