America the Beautiful

I'm not even american and still love the song. i'm still waiting for an invitation to perform this at the Super Bowl..

Great song sung by a man whose love for his country is par excellance. It has no political content. (We all know that he kept his political views to himself.) So let's keep away from that and appreciate that the King loved his motherland with so much sincere love and genuine conviction. I appreciate this song very much.

A strong showing of patriotism from Elvis here which like Marmite you either love or hate it. I'm not sure that Elvis' political views were kept to himself as he gave President Nixon some support as we know. I see nothing wrong with expressing the love you have for your country, no matter where your country happens to lye on the map. Myself I'm a Rule Brittania man.

It was proper when it came in 1976, the 200th anniversary year, but I skip it now.

wasn't it a missed opportunity to get a special single published back then, containing a live version combined with maybe a message by elvis on the flipside. one would hunt it around the world today, or were there way too many pepole doing that? Oh...what about America... and God Bless America on the flipside?

I really love Elvis's unique voice in the talking part...

I love Elvis' version of this song!

I skip this one. One of the weakest songs from Elvis in the 70's, in my opinion.

Absolutely like it ! Fitted Elvis' voice perfectly. There are fantastic Live versions out there now..

Elvis, recorded this song, in the den, at Graceland, courtesy of a mobile recording truck, which was sent, by RCA, to Memphis, to get Elvis, to record some new music. I guess Elvis wasn't satisfied with the home studio version of the song, because the tapes, were erased. Thankfully RCA found a small portion, of the song, and we hear the ending, on the FTD Release, "The Jungle Room Sessions". Later Elvis would perform the song, very often, on stage, his 1976 tours, as a tribute to America's birthday. RCA finally released a live version of this song, as a "B" side in 1977. The "A" side was the "Elvis in Concert" 1977 version or Elvis performing "My Way". Of note, Elvis' version of "My Way" charted higher than Frank Sinatra's original version, on the Billboard pop charts. Elvis various versions of "America" have shown up on various Concert tapes, which have been released on various CDs. Elvis always gave a strong performance, of the song, and did "America" proud, and it finds a nice place in Elvis' Catalog of music.

I like how this song sounds on the "Old Times They Are Not Forgotten" import CD.

Never heard anyone do this song better!

A very nice rendering of the "alternate" national anthem with a moving spoken bridge. Not quite as powerful as "An American Trilogy", but it was good enough to have been a single in '76 (definitely a missed opportunity). Elvis performed this song from late '75 through almost the entire year of '76 in concert and it would have been an ideal way to promote his tours and celebrate the U.S.A.'s 200th birthday. It was finally released as a single in late '77 as the flipside of "My Way".

There is no evidence, statements of any kind, that indicate Elvis supported Nixon. It wouldn't have mattered who was in office at that time since he made the visit for one purpose only. But, again, none of this has anything to do with the song or his performance of it. It is very easy to get side tracked from the subject!

As stated yet another missed opportunity to bring our man to the fore by releasing an almost certain top 20 US, and global hit record. He uses that powerful ballad voice, and massive vocal finish, that makes even this Englishman feel patriotic.

I can't stand the God bless America s--t. But now I know it's for the 200th anniversary, it makes sence. Still hate it though.