This is one of my more preferred total albums from Elvis I've heard so far. There are some of the more enjoyable elements of Gospel without being religious that really make some great pop songs. Perhaps that made for cultural appropriation arguments at the time, or even know, but it played for me as a very good hybrid. The songs that were new to me surprised me with how much I enjoyed them. The hits I knew well (primarily "In the Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds") fit perfectly. I love "Suspicious Minds" and pretty much every other version of it I've ever heard, it's a great song, but that fade out and back in always confuses and bothers me. The only disappointment for me was the cover of "Gentle On My Mind." Rather than the wistful stroll honoring a beloved partner, this version just sort of lopes along with no real pace or emotion despite Elvis's voice and inflection. His voice is really strong and mature on the album, though it does at times drift into that more mockable later-Elvis style that feels like a contrived bit.