54 Years Ago Today: Legendary Singer Released His Most Underrated Album

June 18 is a historic day for the music industry in more ways than one.

Today, the great Sir Paul McCartney celebrates his 84th birthday. It's also the milestone 50th birthday for legendary American country singer Blake Shelton.

59 years ago today, the Jimi Hendrix Experience played its first concert in the United States at the Monterey International Pop Festival in Monterey, California. Five years later, on June 18, 1972, another American music icon released one of his most underrated albums.

After a seven-year hiatus from live performances to work on a movie career, Presley returned to the music scene with his '68 Comeback Special. NBC aired the program on Dec. 3, 1968, a historic moment that served as a turning point in Presley's career.

Following the April 1972 release of his latest hit studio album, He Touched Me, Elvis Presley turned his focus to a studio album.

On June 10, 1972, the King of Rock and Roll performed a concert at New York City's Madison Square Garden, the world's most famous arena. His latest hit album, Elvis As Recorded at Madison Square Garden, would be released eight days later.

The track included most of Presley's signature hits, such as "Hound Dog," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Suspicious Minds," "All Shook Up," "Can't Help Falling in Love," "Don't Be Cruel, and "That's All Right."

The Elvis at MSG Album Peaked at No. 11 on ‘Billboard' 200

According to the Graceland official website, Elvis As Recorded at Madison Square Garden sold more than three million copies in the United States. The website noted that it only took "a matter of weeks" for the album to reach one million sales.

The live album also reached No. 11 on the Billboard 200 for the week of Sept. 9, 1972. It was one of five Elvis problems to reach the Billboard 200 that year, along with Elvis Now, He Touched Me, Elvis Sings Hits from His Movies, Volume 1, and Burning Love and Hits from His Movies, Volume 2.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 5:30 AM.