Elvis Presley, the undisputed King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, possessed a remarkable talent that extended far beyond his electrifying stage presence. His ability to deliver heartfelt ballads was a crucial element in his enduring popularity, providing a perfect counterpoint to his more upbeat rock anthems. This versatility allowed Elvis to seamlessly transition into the mainstream of pop music in the early 1960s. This article presents a countdown of Elvis’s ten most memorable ballads, a selection blending iconic recordings with personal favorites.
The Countdown Begins: Unveiling Elvis’s Ballad Mastery
10. “Tomorrow Night” (1954, 1965)
A personal favorite, “Tomorrow Night” captivated listeners from its initial release on the “Elvis for Everyone” LP in 1965. The mesmerizing recording, featuring Elvis’s deeply echoed voice, harked back to his early Sun Records days. It was later revealed that this 1965 version was an extensive remix of a Sun master recorded 11 years prior. Elvis laid down the original vocal track at Sun Studio around September 1954. The 1965 remix, however, featured added guitar, harmonica, and backing vocals, creating a distinct and memorable sound that, to many ears, remains as impactful as the original master.
9. “I Need Somebody to Lean On” (1963)
Described by Elvis session expert Ernst Jorgensen as a “portrait of late-night desolation” and “Sinatra-style balladry,” this Doc Pomus-Mort Shuman composition showcased Elvis’s ability to convey loneliness. Featured in the film Viva Las Vegas, the song’s melancholic sentiment, delivered from a dimly lit nightclub setting, highlighted Elvis’s prowess in handling a somber ballad. Although not chosen as the B-side for the “Viva Las Vegas” single, “I Need Somebody to Lean On” appeared on the film’s soundtrack extended play release.
8. “It’s Impossible” (1972)
Recorded live in Las Vegas at the Hilton on February 16, 1972, “It’s Impossible” is characterized by Jorgensen as a “grief-stricken ballad.” Elvis selected songs like this one as a way to “sing his way through his own pain and heartache,” stemming from the dissolution of his marriage. The raw emotion in Elvis’s interpretation that evening made it one of his most powerful live ballads. While never recorded in a studio, this rendition, originally a hit for Perry Como, became a standout track on the otherwise disappointing 1973 “Fool” album.
7. “Loving You” (1957)
Paramount Pictures followed the lead of 20th Century-Fox by naming Elvis’s second film after a ballad from its soundtrack. RCA initially considered the January recordings for the film’s title tune unsuitable for a single release. Consequently, Elvis re-recorded the song on February 24, 1957, at Radio Recorders studio in Hollywood for a single release. Unlike the more dynamic vocal approaches in some of his earlier ballads, Elvis delivered “Loving You” with traditional sentimentality. Despite being the B-side to the chart-topping #1 hit “Teddy Bear,” “Loving You” demonstrated remarkable staying power, remaining on the Billboard “Top 100” for 22 weeks.
6. “Sentimental Me” (1961)
During a recording session on March 12, 1961, that extended into the early morning, Elvis captured three exceptional ballads: “There’s Always Me,” “Starting Today,” and “Sentimental Me.” The latter, a cover of The Ames Brothers’ 1949 hit, was remarkably completed in just two takes. Alongside musicians Hank Garland, Bob Moore, Buddy Harman, Floyd Cramer, and Boots Randolph, with backing from Scotty, D.J., and the Jordanaires, Elvis delivered a slow, steady beat, resulting in one of his most beautiful ballad recordings, featured on the 1961 LP “Something for Everybody.”
5. “They Remind Me Too Much of You” (1962)
Songwriter Don Robertson nearly saw his composition, “They Remind Me Too Much of You,” removed from the It Happened At the World’s Fair soundtrack session due to concerns that its melody was too similar to “Chapel in the Moonlight.” Robertson’s quick thinking, improvising a piano phrase while Elvis was at the vocal microphone, saved the song. The resulting recording is one of Elvis’s most heartfelt ballads, a personal favorite since its release on the soundtrack LP in 1963.
4. “There’s Always Me” (1961)
Elvis expressed significant pride in recording “There’s Always Me” at RCA’s Studio B in Nashville on March 12, 1961. He particularly favored its powerful, extended ending, a departure from the fade-out endings common in his ballads. Six years later, RCA re-released the song as a single, where it charted on the “Hot 100” for six weeks, peaking at #56. In 2004, the song was notably included in the Elvis-themed Broadway musical, All Shook Up.
3. “Love Me Tender” (1956)
The recording of “Love Me Tender” for Elvis’s debut film on August 24, 1956, created a buzz, drawing curious onlookers to the closed set. Described as a soft, tender performance, Elvis’s rendition transformed the studio into a romantic 19th-century setting. The public’s response was overwhelmingly positive, with the single spending 14 weeks in the top 10 of Billboard’s singles chart, including three weeks at #1. This success definitively proved that Elvis’s ballads were as commercially viable as his rock ‘n’ roll hits.
2. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (1961)
Recorded at Radio Recorders in Hollywood on March 23, 1961, Elvis’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” was the result of meticulous effort, with twenty-nine takes documented. This dedication underscored Elvis’s seriousness in crafting what he seemed to know would be a classic. The song became a popular choice for weddings in the early sixties and enjoyed a successful run on Billboard’s “Hot 100,” peaking at #2. It remains one of Elvis’s most celebrated and commercially successful ballads.
1. “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” (1960)
While numerous versions of “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” existed prior to Elvis’s recording in 1960, his rendition quickly became the definitive performance. Recorded in the early morning hours of April 4, 1960, at RCA’s Nashville Studio B, Elvis infused the song with a theatrical, dramatic quality, including a spoken recitation that added a deeply personal touch. The ballad was a monumental success, topping the “Hot 100” for six weeks and earning two Grammy nominations.
“Are You Lonesome Tonight?” stands as Elvis Presley’s most iconic ballad, showcasing his profound ability to connect with audiences on an emotional level. Its enduring legacy is a testament to the timeless appeal of his vocal artistry.
References:
- Hanson, Alan. “Elvis Presley’s Best Ballads …A Top Ten Countdown.” Elvis History Blog. December 2011.