Burning Love

Album: The Essential Elvis Presley (1972)
Charted: 7 2
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Songfacts®:

  • This was Elvis' biggest hit single Stateside since "Suspicious Minds" in 1969 and his last Top 10 hit in the American Hot 100 or pop charts.
  • This song about the breakdown of a relationship had already featured on the self-titled 1972 album by Country-Soul pioneer Arthur Alexander. Though it had obvious hit potential, Elvis had just separated from his wife, Priscilla, and was not in the mood for a Rock n Roll number, so he wasn't keen to record it. Elvis' producer Felton Jarvis had to persuade him that the song was worth trying, and after 6 attempts, the "King of Rock and Roll" came up with an inspired take.
  • In addition to making the original commercial recording of a song later covered by Elvis, Arthur Alexander has the claim of being the only songwriter in history to have his songs sung by The Beatles ("Anna (Go to Him))"), the Rolling Stones ("You'd Better Move On") and Bob Dylan ("Sally Sue Brown").
  • Dennis Linde, who wrote this song and also provided the guitar intro, was reclusive by nature and was at one time tagged "Nashville's best-kept songwriting secret." Apart from "Burning Love," most of the successful songs he wrote were for Country stars, including,Roger Miller ("Tom Green County Fair" - 1970), Garth Brooks ("Callin' Baton Rouge" - 1993) and The Dixie Chicks ("Goodbye Earl" - 1999.) In Britain, Welsh Rock and Roll revivalist Shakin' Stevens recorded a #10 hit with his version of Linde's "A Letter to You" in 1984.
  • In 2005, an Australian woman, who was evidently not a fan of this song, stabbed her partner in the back, thigh, and shoulder with a pair of scissors because "he played the song too many times."
  • As part of a series of re-releases of Elvis songs in the UK in 2007 this re-entered the UK chart at #13.

Comments: 19

  • Mckenziee from OhioMy favorite song when I was 8 years old and I still love it and I am 15
  • Barry from Sauquoit, Ny'I'm burning a hole where I lay'...
    On this day in 1972 {October 22nd} "Burning Love"* by Elvis peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart, the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "My Ding-A-Ling" by Chuck Berry...
    It also reached #2 {for 4 weeks} on the Canadian RPM Singles chart; and it was "My Ding-A-Ling" by Chuck Berry that was at #1 for the first two weeks "Burning Love" was at #2, then "Nights in White Satin" by the Moody Blues and "Garden Party" by Rick Nelson were at #1 on weeks three and four...
    The King had five other records peak at #2; "Love Me", "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck", "Return To Sender", "A Fool Such As I", and "Can't Help Falling In Love"...
    And let us not forget, he had eighteen records that made it to #1 on the Billboard Top 100 chart...
    May the King R.I.P. {1935 - 1977}...
    * And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, for the week that "Burning Love" peaked at #2 the Top 10 records were:
    #1. MY DING-A-LING by Chuck Berry
    #2. BURNING LOVE by Elvis
    #3. NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN by The Moody Blues
    #4. USE ME by Bill Withers
    #5. I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW by Johnny Nash
    #6. FREDDIE’S DEAD (Theme From 'Superfly') by Curtis Mayfield
    #7. GARDEN PARTY by Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band
    #8. BEN by Michael Jackson
    #9. EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL by The Main Ingredient
    #10. GOOD TIME CHARLIE’S GOT THE BLUES by Danny O’Keefe
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaInteresting fact you mentioned above about the guitar player Dennis Linde. it is a great intro, and always thought it was Scotty who played on this.
  • Moanin' Lisa from Chillicothe Mo.I still love Burning Love by Elvis. Everything about it seemed great - the singer, lyrics, the background singers, & the production quality. I'm an Elvis fan from way back. He's still the King of Rock and Roll.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyHere's some obscure Elvis trivia:
    On February 13th 1948, 13-year old Elvis received his first library card from the Tupelo Public Library, being under age his mother Gladys had to sign for him...
    Exactly twenty four and a half years later on August 13th, 1972 his "Burning Love" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #90; ten weeks later on October 22nd it would peak at #2 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the chart for 15 weeks.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 1st 1972, Elvis' thirty-third and final feature film, 'Elvis On Tour', opened in theaters across the U.S.A. and Canada...
    The movie won the Golden Globe Award for 'Best Documentary Film'...
    At the time his "Burning Love" was at #14 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; nine days earlier on October 22nd it had peaked at #2 {See next post below}...
    It also reached #2 {for 4 weeks} on the Canadian RPM Singles chart; and it was "My Ding-A-Ling" by Chuck Berry that was at #1 for the first two weeks "Burning Love" was at #2, then "Nights in White Satin" by the Moody Blues and "Garden Party" by Rick Nelson were at #1 on weeks three and four.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 13th 1972, "Burning Love" by Elvis Presley entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #90; and on October 22nd, 1972 it peaked at #2 {for 1 week} and spent 15 weeks on the Top 100...
    It also reached #2 on the Canadian RPM 100 Singles chart...
    And it took another Rock 'N Roll legend to kept him out of the #1 spot; Chuck Berry's "My Ding-A-Ling" was at #1 for its 2nd and last week.
  • Dave from Wheaton, IlDennis' song 'In a letter to you', was also covered by country singer Eddy Raven.
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, Sc@Craig:

    I was wondering the same thing. And on another note, since I've had Arthur Alexander on the brain today, I'll have to listen to his original version; I like his version of songs which were covered by the Beatles and Rolling Stones.
  • George from Belleville, NjBurning Love has hit song written all over it.Glad Elvis decided to record it.This is a great rocking song and captures that 70's sound really well for Elvis at this stage in his career.Another winner from Elvis' great catalog.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, Ny"Burning Love" was one of six Elvis songs that peaked at Number Two on Billboard {he had a total of 18 songs that reached Number One}!!!
  • Ron from Pittsburgh, PaAccording to many of his friends, Elvis did not like this song at first and had to be persuaded to record it. As it was climbing up the charts he mysteriously dropped it from his live performances until years later.
  • Rick from Belfast, MeJust like this song, Burning Love, Elvis burned up too fast. Everyone wanted a little piece of him, and he kept giving until he didnt have anything left to give.....and the drugs didnt help either.
  • Christian from San Pedro, CaThis doesn't sound like a breakup song at all. Anyways, this is my all-time favorite Elvis song; indeed, it's the song that made me an Elvis song in the first place!
  • David from Youngstown, OhElvis has so many great, great songs, but this is his best.
  • Alex from Port Franks, Onk w.e dumbass said this song is about a break up is probly the dumbest motherf--ker ever like saying the song "hot blooded" is about emos ..........stfu talkin about love for a girl u dumbass listen to the song and get some real damn facts before posting
  • Mike from Hastings, NeCountry singer Wynonna did a FANTASTIC cover of this song for the "Lilo and Stitch" soundtrack.
  • Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, Mithis song reminds me of Lane Smith[Perry White on Lois and Clark:The New Adventures of Superman]
  • Craig from Anaheim, CaBurnin Love is about a break up?
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