On July 12, 1969, Presley was featured on the cover of "Rolling Stone", with the album receiving the lead review. Peter Guralnick, the magazine's reviewer, described it as "great ... Flatly and unequivocally the equal of anything (Presley) has ever done" and praised the "evident passion which (Presley) has invested in this music", adding: "(he) is trying, and trying very hard, to please us. he needs to have our attention ... It is his involvement after all which comes as the surprise." "Billboard" also published a positive review, saying that Presley had "never sounded better, and the choice of material is perfect". "High Fidelity" wrote, "Elvis has been through a number of stages, and his latest is the best".