Love Me Tender

Album: Elvis' 30 #1 Hits (1956)
Charted: 11 1
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Songfacts®:

  • This was the theme song to the first of 31 Elvis movies. The movie was titled The Reno Brothers before it was renamed to capitalize on the song.

    Originally, Elvis had just a small role in the movie, but during filming it became apparent that he was a really big deal, and his role was expanded to take advantage of his stardom. His character is killed at the end of the movie, but Elvis re-appears to reprise the song. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • Love Me Tender, the movie, is set during the Civil War, so the musical director, Ken Darby, sought out songs from that era to adapt for Elvis. He found one in "Aura Lee," a classical piece from 1861. Using that song's melody, he and Elvis developed the song on set. On August 24, 1956, Elvis recorded it on the soundstage with session musicians.
  • On September 9, 1956, Elvis sang this on The Ed Sullivan Show, his first appearance on the program. The song wasn't released yet, so after the performance, orders came flooding in. Elvis' label, RCA, took the opportunity to hype the release, claiming a million pre-orders came in and touting it as the first single ever to go Gold before it shipped (the RIAA didn't start certifying Gold records until 1958, so there was nothing to validate this claim). When it was released in early October, the song became a sensation. It rose to #1 on November 3, two weeks before the movie came out, and stayed on top for five weeks, becoming one of Elvis' best-known songs.
  • Running 2:42, this is the ultimate "tender" ballad. It's very simple, with each stanza starting with the line, "love me tender."

    Love me tender, love me sweet
    Love me tender, love me true
    Love me tender, love me long
    Love me tender, love me dear
  • Three other artists charted with "Love Me Tender" in America:

    Henri Rene - #44, 1956
    Richard Chamberlain - #21, 1962
    Percy Sledge - #40, 1967
  • Linda Ronstadt covered this in 1978. US Radio stations edited her version together with Elvis' original, creating a duet. This version became very popular, but was never released as a single or available for sale.
  • On November 11, 1956, this replaced "Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog" on the Billboard chart, making Elvis Presley the first artist to replace himself in the #1 position. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • This didn't appear on an album until March 1958, when it was included on Elvis' Golden Records. RCA Records found it more profitable to sell Elvis singles instead of pushing his albums.
  • George Poulton, who wrote the music to "Aura Lee," is credited as a writer on this song along with Elvis and Ken Darby, who used his wife's name, Vera Matson, for his credit.

Comments: 22

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 31st 1956, Elvis appeared on the Memphis TV station WHBQ's 'Teenage Dance Party', which was hosted by Wink Martindale...
    And on that very same day Billboard Magazine announced that during 1956 Elvis had seventeen songs make the Top 100 chart; with five reaching #1*, his "Love Me" just missed being his sixth #1, it peaked at #2...
    Exactly sixteen years later on December 31st, 1972 he performed a New Year's Eve concert at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan; attendance was 60,000 fans and the King earned $800,000 {at the time a world's record for a show by a solo artist}...
    * "Love Me Tender" was his fifth #1 record for the year of 1956.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 15th 1956, Elvis appeared for the 50th and final time on the 'Louisiana Hayride' live radio program...
    The show originated in Shreveport, Louisiana on radio station KWKH; and at the end of Elvis' final appearance, the show's creator Horance Logan spoke his now legendary phrase for the first time: 'Elvis has left the building'...
    At the time Elvis had ten songs on Billboard's Top 100 chart {See next post below}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 13th 1956, Elvis' "Paralyzed"* entered Billboard's Top 100 chart at #78, it stayed on the chart for only one week...
    But this being 1956 the King also had other records on the Top 100 at the time, in fact he had nine other records on the chart:
    #2. Love Me Tender
    #7. Love Me
    #26. Don't Be Cruel
    #38. When My Blue Moon, Turns to Gold Again
    #47. Old Shep
    #54. his Poor Boy and Hound Dog were tied at that position
    #70. Any Way You Want Me
    #93. Blue Moon
    * "Paralyzed" was not released as a single; it was track six of side one on his second studio album, which was simply titled 'Elvis'.
  • David from Shorewood, IlStephen of West Carrolton...Love Me Tender was not a part of Aloha From Hawaii, at least not on any released version which I heard or seen. But this song was always half-sung because it was frequently used while he passed out scarves. He would sing,miss, pass out a scarf, repeat, delete words, add words, make up words...he just had fun with it.
  • David from Shorewood, IlClaim of Edinburgh, Scotland...that last verse is sung by Elvis after he dies at the burial scene...they superimpose him on the screen while his family walks away from the grave and he sings THAT verse. It was not recorded on the record.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 28th 1961, the 60-minute medical drama series 'Dr. Kildare' premiered on the NBC-TV network...
    The series ran for five seasons with a grand total of 190 original episodes...
    One year and two days later on September 30th, 1962 Richard Chamberlain's, who played Dr. Kildare, covered version of "Love Me Tender" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #92; and on November 11th, 1962 it peaked at #21 {for 1 week} and spent 9 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #15 on the United Kingdom's Singles chart...
    His next release was also a covered record, the Everly Brothers' "All I Have to Do Is Dream"; it reached #14 on the Top 100...
    Mr. Chamberlain celebrated his 80th birthday six months ago on March 31st {2014}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 25th 1956, RCA Victor records announced that they have received one million advanced orders for "Love Me Tender"...
    Nine days later on October 4th, 1956 the record was released and immediately debut at #2 on the Billboard's Best Sellers in Stores chart...
    The record that was at #1 on the Best Sellers chart was "Don't Be Cruel" b/w "Hound Dog"; and at #3 was "Green Door" by Jim Lowe...
    R.I.P. to The King {1935 - 1977} and Mr. Lowe will celebrate his 88th birthday this coming May 7th {2015}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn June 11th 1967, Percy Sledge's covered version of "Love Me Tender" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #84; and on July 16th it peaked at #40 (for 1 week) and spent 6 weeks on the Top 100...
    The week it did peak at #40 was also its last week on the Top 100...
    It reached #35 on both the Billboard R&B Singles chart and in the United Kingdom...
    The record's B-side, "What Am I Living For", also charted on the Top 100, for 2 weeks, peaking at #91 (the original version by Chuck Willis reached #1 on the R&B chart in 1958).
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 6th, 1957, Elvis Presley performed "Love Me Tender" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
    Two months earlier on October 14th , 1956 it entered Billboard's Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked at #1 (for 5 weeks) and spent 23 weeks on the Top 100...
    The movie had its world premier on November 15th, 1956 at the Paramount Theater in New York City (and there was private screening of the film for the Presley family & friends on November 20th at Loew's State Theater in Memphis, TN)...
    This appearance on Sullivan was the famous 'shot above the waist' show...
    R.I.P. Mr. Sullivan (1901 - 1974) and to The King (1935 - 1977).
  • Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, CaThe original 45 of this song dosent get my vote for the best recording...the guitar was out of tune...it is kind of a wretched production....YET....his sincerity came through...and that's all that mattered...people loved it!
  • Chomper from Franjkin County, PaWhen this song was played on the night he died , it was like Elvis's epitaph ; as if he's telling his fans that he'll always love them until the end of time itself. He wanted the fans to know he cares about them ; and appreciated all the applause , the gifts and the fun times he had performing and playing his music. There will never be another like him . ..R.I.P. Elvis , until we see you again .
  • Mike from Franklin County, PaOn the night that we heard about Elvis's death back in 1977 , we were watching the T.V. set in my parent's bedroom. It was about 12:00AM , and my mom wanted me to go to bed because it was getting late , when they mentioned it ; and they were playing the song "Love Me Tender" in the background while displaying his name , date of birth and date of death. ..It was pretty spooky standing there, watching and hearing the song played , minutes before going to bed.
  • Ora Lee from Kansas City, KsWhen I was a little girl I saw the movie "Love Me Tender" and Elvis sang "Aura Lee" at the very beginning. I've talked to a couple of other people who remember it also. Why is it not mentioned and not available. It's important to me.
  • Paul from Farmville, NcThe music is played through out the 1936 movie "Come and get it" staring Edward Arnold. It is also sung in the movie with the original lyrics "Aura Lee" from 1861.
  • Maha from Auckland, New ZealandGod, I cried so hard when I saw this movie. At the end, with that big image of him singing in the sky... I just lost it lol. I love this song, Elvis knew how to sing it the only way its' meant to be sung. Norah Jones' version is OK but I wouldn't go looking for it on any give day.
  • Steven from West Carrollton, OhDid any of you know that on the "Aloha From Hawaii" album he forgot the lyrics while singing this song?
  • Asef from Silkeborg, DenmarkElvis´s Mom did not like the movie "Love me tender" because He dies in the movie.
  • Michelle from Anaheim, CaNorah Jones sang this song, but minus a few verses/lines.
  • Björn from St. Augustin, GermanyThe verse you talk about, Calum, is the so called "End title version". You can hear it at the end of the movie (Elvis sings ist as a ghost) and on some records (first released on "Essential Elvis" in 1986).
  • Suzi from Charleston , Scelvis preferred to sing songs such as this one, rather than rock n roll, which is ironic for his rep as "king of rock n roll"
  • Calum from Edinburgh, ScotlandIn a book I have of Elvis songs, it has another verse at the end:

    When at last my dreams come true
    Darling this I know
    Happiness will follow you
    Everywhere you go

    Anyone heard anyone sing this?
  • Leslie from Hooks, TxI can think of a real good song to find out about. It's the song i dedicate to my big old sweet honey.......(Let me be your)Teddy Bear.
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