The record seldom makes lists of great singles. Oddly enough, as the reputation of Elvis’ 70s work has increased with fans, his most famous late period work has fallen into the background. Casual fans knew it and when it hit the streets in ’72 it was greeted with almost unanimous praise from critics including Robert Christgau who picked it as one of the ten best singles of the year. Once upon a time, this ’72 classic was the only consensus late period Elvis pick.

Was 'Burning Love' a classic subversive rock'n'roll single deserving of being Number 1, or was it just an over-rated hunka-hunka self-parody?Įlvis expert Harley Payette explores the excitement & seduction of Elvis' March 1972 recording 'Burning Love'.įor some reason or another, “Burning Love” Elvis’ last Top Ten Billboard US Pop Hit (#1 Cashbox) and his last Top Five Pop Hit on any chart has fallen out of favor amongst Elvis’ fans and pop critics. 'Elvis, the musician, is largely a relic belonging to the baby boomer generation.Elvis, the icon, is arguably one of the most potent symbols of popular culture' but social, political and cultural history' producing.no propelling.an unstoppable, fundamental and primordial shift in not only musical. 'There were rock 'n' roll records before Heartbreak Hotel, but this was the one that didn't just open the door…it literally blasted the door off its rusted, rotten, anachronistic hinges…. 'I wasn't just a fan, I was his brother.there'll never be another like that soul brother' 'No-one, but no-one, is his equal, or ever will be. I was actually stupid enough to believe that having the same birthday as him actually meant something' (Elvis Presley, Madison Square Garden press conference, 1972) 'The image is one thing and the human being is 's very hard to live up to an image' '.especially in the South, they talk about Elvis and Jesus in the same breath' (Mark Feeney on the 'Elvis meets Nixon' meeting) 'Absolute id crashed into absolute superego.as the uptightset man in America shook hands with just about the loosest.'

'History has him as this good old country boy, Elvis is about as country as Bono!' 'For a dead man, Elvis Presley is awfully noisy.' 'If you're an Elvis fan, no explanation is necessary If you're not an Elvis fan, no explanation is possible.'

Hunk a hunk a burnin love