Love Me Tender (song)

"Love Me Tender"
"Love Me Tender"
Single by Stuart Sutcliffe
Released	11 October 2011
Recorded	1961
Genre	Ballad
Length	3:10
Label	Stuart Sutcliffe Estate

"Love Me Tender"
"Love Me Tender"
Single by Richard Chamberlain
from the album Richard Chamberlain Sings
B-side	"All I Do Is Dream of You"
Released	1962
Genre	Country
Label	MGM Records
Songwriter(s)	Elvis Presley; Vera Matson;
Richard Chamberlain singles chronology

"Love Me Tender"
"Love Me Tender"
Single by Elvis Presley
from the EP Love Me Tender
B-side	"Any Way You Want Me"
Released	September 28, 1956
Recorded	August 24, 1956, 20th Century Fox Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Folk; rockabilly;
Length	2:41
Label	RCA Victor
Songwriter(s)	Music: George R. Poulton; Lyrics: Ken Darby (uncredited, credited to "Elvis Presley & Vera Matson")
Producer(s)	Ernie Oelhrich; Thorne Norgar;
Elvis Presley singles chronology

"Love Me Tender" is a 1956 ballad song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by "Elvis Presley Music" from the 20th Century Fox film of the same name. Lyrics are credited to "Vera Matson" (though actual lyricist was her husband, Ken Darby) and Elvis Presley himself; this song was adapted from the melody for "Aura Lea", a sentimental Civil War ballad, so its music is credited to American composer George R. Poulton. The RCA Victor recording by Elvis Presley was no. 1 on both the Billboard and Cashbox charts in 1956.

The song is also featured in many other films and television shows such as FM, Touched By Love, This is Elvis, Porky's Revenge, Wild at Heart, Die Hard 2, Honeymoon in Vegas, Backbeat, Gaudi Afternoon, Machine Gun Molly, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, William Eggleston in the Real World, California Dreamin', Love in Space, Masters of Sex, Devil's Due, Just Before I Go, 90 Minutes in Heaven, and Ready or Not.

History[]

The 1956 song "Love Me Tender" puts new words to a new musical adaptation of the Civil War song "Aura Lee," published in 1861. "Aura Lee" had music by George R. Poulton and words by W. W. Fosdick. It later became popular with college glee clubs and barbershop quartets. It was also sung at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.

The principal writer of the lyrics was Ken Darby, who also adapted Poulton's Civil War tune, which was in the public domain. The song was published by Elvis Presley Music.^[3] and credited to Presley and Darby's wife Vera Matson. Presley received co-songwriting credit due to his Hill & Range publishing deal which demanded songwriters concede 50 percent of the credit of their song if they wanted Presley to record it; Presley had songwriting input on only a very small number of the many songs he recorded.^[4]

As with nearly all his early RCA recordings, Presley took control in the studio despite not being credited as producer. He would regularly change arrangements and lyrics to the point that the original song was barely recognizable.^{[citation needed]} Ken Darby described Elvis Presley's role in the creation of the song:

He adjusted the music and the lyrics to his own particular presentation. Elvis has the most terrific ear of anyone I have ever met. He does not read music, but he does not need to. All I had to do was play the song for him once, and he made it his own! He has perfect judgment of what is right for him. He exercised that judgment when he chose 'Love Me Tender' as his theme song.^[5]

Elvis Presley performed "Love Me Tender" on The Ed Sullivan Show on September 9, 1956, shortly before the single's release and about a month before the movie, Love Me Tender, was released (for which the reworded song had been written). After that, RCA received more than a million advance orders, making it a gold record before it was even released. The studio, 20th Century Fox, originally wanted to call the movie The Reno Brothers, but instead re-titled it Love Me Tender to capitalize on the song's popularity.

Movie producer David Weisbart would not allow Presley's regular band (Scotty Moore, Bill Black, and D.J. Fontana) to play on the soundtrack.^{[citation needed]} Instead, The Ken Darby Trio provided the musical backing with Red Robinson on drums, Charles Prescott on bass, Vita Mumolo on guitar, and Jon Dodson on background vocals, with Presley providing only lead vocals.^{[citation needed]}

Elvis Presley recording[]

Ken Darby and Elvis Presley in the studio.

The single debuted at #2 on the "Best Sellers in Stores" pop singles chart, the first time a single made its first appearance at the #2 position.^[6]

The song hit #1 on the Billboard charts the week ending November 3, 1956, remaining in the position for 5 weeks and reached no. 11 on the charts in the UK. "Love Me Tender" also reached number three for three weeks on the R&B chart.^[7]

This version was ranked #437 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

In 1968, Presley recorded a 52-second track entitled "Violet (Flower of N.Y.U.)" for the soundtrack of the film The Trouble with Girls. Unreleased until after Presley's death, the song was Presley's second adaptation of "Aura Lee".

Although Presley never re-recorded "Love Me Tender" in a studio setting, two live recordings of the song were released on the albums: NBC-TV Special and Elvis: As Recorded at Madison Square Garden, with additional performances from concert and television appearances being released after Presley's death. The song was also performed in the Golden Globe-winning concert film Elvis on Tour (1972). As seen in that film, and in other filmed and recorded accounts, Presley generally performed only a portion of the song's lyrics live, instead usually using the song as a device to interact with (usually) female members of the audience.

"Love Me Tender" was also included in the four song extended play (EP) album Love Me Tender of the songs from the film. The reprise of the song was not included on the EP.

Versions[]

Love Me Tender - 2:41 - Recorded Aug 24, 1956
Love Me Tender (End title version) - 1:08 - Recorded Oct 01, 1956
Love Me Tender (Stereo version) - 2:42 - Recorded Aug 24, 1956

The 1997 compact disc reissue with bonus tracks of the Jailhouse Rock EP contains these three versions.

Other recordings[]

Richard Chamberlain reached no. 21 on the Billboard Pop singles chart with his version when it was released as a single in 1962 on MGM, no. 15 in the UK, and no. 31 in Canada.^[8]
Percy Sledge had a Top 40 hit with a cover version in 1967, going to no. 40 on the US Billboard Pop chart, no. 35 on the R&B chart, and no. 35 on the Canadian chart.
B.B. King recorded the song on his 1982 MCA album Love Me Tender.
Albert King on his 1970 album King, Does the King's Things.
Nat King Cole performed it on his 1950s TV show.
Brian Hyland on his 1961 album Let Me Belong to You.
Cliff Richard performed it on TV as part of the Danish 2000 Contest and recorded it on his Wanted album.
Chuck Jackson on his 1966 Wand album Dedicated to the King!!
Johnny Hallyday recorded a French version of it in 1967, titled "Amour d'été".^[9]
Julie Andrews and Johnny Cash recorded the song in 1982.^[10]
Connie Francis recorded the song for the 1961 movie-song album Connie Francis sings "Never on Sunday"; she also recorded the original Aura Lee for the album Connie Francis sings Folk Song Favorites of the same year.
Della Reese recorded the song in 1983 for the album Sure Like Lovin' You.
Johnny Nash on the 1970 album Folk Soul and as a 1969 45 A side single on Major Minor.
Marty Robbins in 1970.
The Lawrence Welk Show, twice in 1957, with Lawrence Welk playing organ and with The Lennon Sisters on vocals.
Bert Kaempfert on the 1973 LP album Fabulous Fifties, MCA-3.
Nana Mouskouri on her 1986 album Why Worry.
Muslim Magomaev recorded it in 2007.
Ricky Nelson performed the song on an episode of the TV series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
The Platters released the song in 1965 as a Mercury Records 45 single.
Gene Summers included the song on his 2008 album Reminisce Cafe.
B.J. Thomas released the song on the compilation album Best of B.J. Thomas.
Freddy Fender recorded the song on the LP Love Me Tender, Crazy Cajun 1011.
Barry Manilow in 2010 on the album The Greatest Love Songs of All-Time.
Linda Ronstadt recorded the song in 1978 on the Living in the USA album.
Engelbert Humperdinck recorded the song on his #1 Love Songs of All-Time album.
Norah Jones and Adam Levy recorded a version of it for The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (soundtrack)^[11]
James Brown released his version as an A side single in 1978, b/w "Have A Happy Day", Polydor 14460, and as a B side b/w "The Spank" as Polydor 14487, as a tribute.
Tony Bennett recorded a version on the 1994 Mercury album It's Now or Never: The Tribute to Elvis Presley.
Frank Sinatra performed the song in 1960 as a duet with Elvis Presley for a television special (in a medley with Presley singing Sinatra's hit, "Witchcraft"), and later recorded it for his Trilogy collection in 1980.
Guitarist Duane Eddy recorded the song in 1962.
Willie Nelson recorded the song in 1985.
Johnny Mathis recorded the song in 2010 on his Let It Be Me album.
Cerys Matthews performed the song for BBC Radio 2, the cover was released in 2010 as part of the album Dermot O'Leary Presents The Saturday Sessions.
Pat Boone released the song in 1963 on his album Pat Boone Sings Guess Who?
Thalía recorded the song in 2010 on the album "Viva Elvis".
Mick Ronson covered the song on his 1974 album Slaughter on 10th Avenue.
Vytautas Juozapaitis, a soloist of Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, recorded a Lithuanian version entitled "Mylek Mane Svelniai" on his debut album Negaliu Nemyleti (Can't Help Falling In Love) released in 2004.
Annette Peacock covered the song on her 1972 album I'm the One.
Scatman John covered the song before his death in December 1999 in his greatest hits compilation, The Best of Scatman John, which was released on October 7, 2002 (Japan only).
Deana Martin recorded “Love Me Tender” in 2009. The song was released on her album, Volare.
Katie Waissel recorded a version, which has been leaked to the internet.
Mina recorded and released the song on her album 12 (American Song Book) in 2012. (A previous and different version was recorded and released on her 1991 album Caterpillar.)
Jim Morrison recorded a version in his "Rock is Dead" sessions.
Andrea Bocelli recorded the song on his 2013 album Passione.
Petula Clark recorded the song on her 2013 album Lost In You.
Barbra Streisand recorded the song as a duet with Presley, for her 2014 album Partners. Due to Presley's death in 1977, Streisand had to sample the original 1956 Presley recording for the album. Coincidentally, Presley's label RCA Records became a sister label to Streisand's Columbia Records, first in 2004 when BMG merged with Sony Music, and again in 2008 when Sony officially absorbed BMG.^[12] Both recordings are now in the Sony Archives.
Jessica Simpson's version appeared in the Lilo & Stitch: Island Favorites compilation album.
Nicolas Cage performed a version for the film over the credits of Wild at Heart, as his character Sailor is a big Elvis fan.
Amy Grant recorded the song for the 1992 film Honeymoon in Vegas and its soundtrack album.
Demis Roussos covered the song on his 1984 album Reflections.^[13] His cover was also released as a single (in the same year).^[14]

Charts[]

Weekly charts[]

Chart (1956)	Peak position
Australia	6
Austria	10
Canada	1
UK^[15]	11
US Billboard Hot 100	1
US Billboard Best Sellers in Stores	1
US Billboard Most Played by Jockeys	1
US Billboard Most Played in Jukeboxes	1
US Billboard Country	3
US Billboard R&B^[7]	3
US Cash Box Top 100^[16]	1

Year-end charts[]

Chart (1956)	Rank
US Cash Box ^[17]	27

Certifications[]


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[18]	Silver	200,000
United States (RIAA)^[19]	3× Platinum	3,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Douglas Brode; Shea T. Brode; Cynthia J. Miller (5 October 2017). The American Civil War on Film and TV: Blue and Gray in Black and White and Color. Lexington Books. p. 221. ISBN 978-1-4985-6689-6.
^ Joe Stuessy (1990). Rock and Roll: Its History and Stylistic Development. Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0-13-782426-7.
^ Roger Lee Hall, Free As The Breeze: Confestions of a Struggling Songwriter, PineTree Press, 2007, p.98.
^ According to Peter Guralnick, Presley never wrote any of his own songs (Peter Guralnick, Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley, Little, Brown & Company, 1995), though he did co-write "You'll Be Gone" and "That's Someone You Never Forget".
^ MANUEL (2014-08-07). "BLOGINROLL: Love Me Tender 1". Bloginroll.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
^ "Billboard: 20 Oct 1956". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1956-10-20. Retrieved 2013-02-20. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 467.
^ "Song title 938 - Love Me Tender". Tsort.info. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
^ [1]^{[dead link]}
^ "Original versions of Love Me Tender by Julie Andrews & Johnny Cash". SecondHandSongs.com. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
^ "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
^ Nakashima, Ryan (October 14, 2008). "Sony BMG split-up gives Sony more options". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
^ "Demis Roussos - Reflection". Spanishcharts.com. Retrieved 2017-10-29.
^ "Demis Roussos - Love Me Tender". Spanishcharts.com. Retrieved 2017-10-29.
^ "love me tender | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
^ "Cash Box Top Singles 11/24/56". Cashboxmagazine.com. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1956". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
^ "British single certifications – Elvis Presley – Love Me Tender". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
^ "American single certifications – Elvis Presley – Love Me Tender/Any Way You Want Me". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 13, 2021.

External links[]

[BrodeBrode2017-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b Douglas Brode; Shea T. Brode; Cynthia J. Miller (5 October 2017). The American Civil War on Film and TV: Blue and Gray in Black and White and Color. Lexington Books. p. 221. ISBN 978-1-4985-6689-6.

[Stuessy1990-2] Joe Stuessy (1990). Rock and Roll: Its History and Stylistic Development. Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0-13-782426-7.

[3] Roger Lee Hall, Free As The Breeze: Confestions of a Struggling Songwriter, PineTree Press, 2007, p.98.

[4] According to Peter Guralnick, Presley never wrote any of his own songs (Peter Guralnick, Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley, Little, Brown & Company, 1995), though he did co-write "You'll Be Gone" and "That's Someone You Never Forget".

[Recording-5] MANUEL (2014-08-07). "BLOGINROLL: Love Me Tender 1". Bloginroll.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2016-07-27.

[6] "Billboard: 20 Oct 1956". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1956-10-20. Retrieved 2013-02-20. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

[auto-7] Jump up to: ^a ^b Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 467.

[8] "Song title 938 - Love Me Tender". Tsort.info. Retrieved 2016-07-27.

[9] [1]^{[dead link]}

[10] "Original versions of Love Me Tender by Julie Andrews & Johnny Cash". SecondHandSongs.com. Retrieved 2016-07-27.

[11] "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-07-27.

[12] Nakashima, Ryan (October 14, 2008). "Sony BMG split-up gives Sony more options". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-07-31.

[13] "Demis Roussos - Reflection". Spanishcharts.com. Retrieved 2017-10-29.

[14] "Demis Roussos - Love Me Tender". Spanishcharts.com. Retrieved 2017-10-29.

[15] "love me tender | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved April 25, 2021.

[16] "Cash Box Top Singles 11/24/56". Cashboxmagazine.com. Retrieved April 25, 2021.

[17] "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1956". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved April 25, 2021.

[United_KingdomElvis_PresleyLove_Me_TendersingleCertRef-18] "British single certifications – Elvis Presley – Love Me Tender". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 13, 2021.

[United_StatesElvis_PresleyLove_Me_Tender/Any_Way_You_Want_MesingleCertRef-19] "American single certifications – Elvis Presley – Love Me Tender/Any Way You Want Me". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 13, 2021.

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show v t Elvis Presley
Albums Singles Songs Films and television Personal relationships Cultural depictions Cultural impact
Studio albums	Elvis Presley Elvis (1956 album) Elvis' Christmas Album Elvis Is Back! His Hand in Mine Something for Everybody Pot Luck Elvis for Everyone! How Great Thou Art From Elvis in Memphis From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis That's the Way It Is Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old) Love Letters from Elvis Elvis sings The Wonderful World of Christmas Elvis Now He Touched Me Elvis (1973 album) Raised on Rock / For Ol' Times Sake Good Times Promised Land Today From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee Moody Blue
Soundtrack albums	Loving You King Creole G.I. Blues Blue Hawaii Girls! Girls! Girls! It Happened at the World's Fair Fun in Acapulco Kissin' Cousins Roustabout Girl Happy Harum Scarum Frankie and Johnny Paradise Hawaiian Style Spinout Double Trouble Clambake Speedway Viva Elvis Elvis Presley: The Searcher
EPs	Love Me Tender Peace in the Valley Jailhouse Rock Flaming Star Follow That Dream Kid Galahad Viva Las Vegas Tickle Me Easy Come, Easy Go
Live albums	Elvis (1968 album) From Memphis to Vegas / From Vegas to Memphis On Stage As Recorded at Madison Square Garden Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis Having Fun with Elvis on Stage Elvis in Concert An Afternoon in the Garden
Compilation albums	Elvis' Golden Records For LP Fans Only A Date with Elvis 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong Elvis' Golden Records Volume 3 Elvis' Gold Records Volume 4 Elvis Sings Flaming Star Let's Be Friends Almost in Love C'mon Everybody I Got Lucky Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 1 Elvis' 40 Greatest Pure Gold Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 2 The Sun Sessions Welcome to My World Mahalo from Elvis Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 3 Greatest Hits Volume 1 Elvis' Gold Records Volume 5 Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances Command Performances: The Essential 60s Masters II Elvis 56 Tiger Man Memories: The '68 Comeback Special Sunrise Suspicious Minds: The Memphis 1969 Anthology The 50 Greatest Hits ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits 2nd to None Elvis at Sun Hitstory Elvis Inspirational Elvis Rock Elvis Christmas The Essential Elvis Presley Christmas Duets If I Can Dream Way Down in the Jungle Room The Wonder of You Where No One Stands Alone
Box sets	Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits Vol. 1 The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters Walk a Mile in My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters Peace in the Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings Live in Las Vegas Today, Tomorrow, and Forever Elvis the King The Complete '68 Comeback Special The Complete Elvis Presley Masters
Biographical films	Elvis (1979 film) Elvis (1990 series) Elvis Meets Nixon Elvis (2005 miniseries) Elvis & Nixon Elvis (2022 film)
Documentaries	The Pied Piper of Cleveland Elvis: That's the Way It Is Elvis on Tour This Is Elvis The New Gladiators Elvis Presley: The Searcher
TV specials	The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis Elvis ('68 Comeback Special) Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite Elvis in Concert
Stage shows	Cooking with Elvis All Shook Up Elvis. The Musical Elvis: The Concert Viva Elvis The Elvis Dead
Related people	Lisa Marie Presley (daughter) Priscilla Presley (ex-wife) Sam Phillips The Blue Moon Boys The Jordanaires The Imperials The Sweet Inspirations TCB Band J. D. Sumner Stephen H. Sholes June Juanico Memphis Mafia Colonel Tom Parker George C. Nichopoulos Judy Spreckels Linda Thompson Ginger Alden Larry Geller
Related articles	Graceland Audubon Street House Impersonators Elvis and Gladys Elvis and Me Elvis: What Happened? Elvis-A-Rama Museum Sun recordings Million Dollar Quartet Cultural depictions of Elvis Presley Songs about Elvis Elvis Presley Enterprises Elvis Presley Lake "Elvis has left the building" Elvis Radio FBI files on Elvis Presley Army career Eight Elvises Triple Elvis Elvis Presley's Pink Cadillac Elvis Presley's guitars Elvis Presley Forever stamp Elvis sightings Elvis sandwich Fool's Gold Loaf Elvis' Greatest Shit
Category

show v t Percy Sledge
Albums	Take Time to Know Her (1968)
Songs	"When a Man Loves a Woman" "Love Me Tender" "What Am I Living For" "Take Time to Know Her" "True Love Travels on a Gravel Road" "Many Rivers to Cross"

show v t Richard Chamberlain
Albums	Richard Chamberlain Sings (1962)
Singles	"Theme from Dr. Kildare (Three Stars Will Shine Tonight)" "Love Me Tender" "All I Have to Do Is Dream" "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo" "True Love" "I Will Love You" "Blue Guitar" "(They Long to Be) Close to You"

show v t Demis Roussos
Discography
Studio albums	On the Greek Side of My Mind (a.k.a. Fire and Ice) Forever and Ever My Only Fascination Auf Wiedersehn Souvenirs Happy to Be... Die Nacht und der Wein The Roussos Phenomenon (EP) Kyrila – Insel der Träume The Demis Roussos Magic Demis Roussos Man of the World Attitudes Reflection The Story of Demis Roussos Time
Compilations	Greatest Hits Golden Hits Life & Love Insel der Zärtlichkeit – Demis Roussos und seine 20 Welterfolge The Phenomenon 1968–1998 (a.k.a. Forever and Ever – 40 Greatest Hits) Forever and Ever – Definitive Collection Collected
Singles	"We Shall Dance" "My Reason" "Goodbye, My Love, Goodbye" "Forever and Ever" "Velvet Mornings" "My Friend the Wind" "Schönes Mädchen aus Arcadia" "Someday Somewhere" "My Only Fascination" "Auf Wiedersehn" "With You" "Manuela" "Schön wie Mona Lisa (Wenn ich ein Maler wär')" "From Souvenirs to Souvenirs" "Perdoname" "Vagabund der Liebe" "Happy to Be on an Island in the Sun" "Die Bouzouki, die Nacht und der Wein" "Can't Say How Much I Love You" "When Forever Has Gone" "Because" "Kyrila" "Ainsi soit-il" "That Once in a Lifetime" "L.O.V.E. Got a Hold of Me" "Lost in Love" "Follow Me" "Love Me Tender" "Summerwine" "Quand je t'aime" "Rain and Tears" "It's Five O'Clock" "On écrit sur les murs"
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