Mean Woman Blues by Elvis Presley

Album: Loving You (1957)

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Songfacts®:

This song was written by African American songwriter Claude DeMetrius and recorded by Presley as part of the soundtrack for his 1957 movie Loving You.
The lyrics are about a woman who is so mean, she bruises her lover when she kisses him and can even scare a black cat. All this drives the singer wild.
In 1963 the song was recorded as a single on the B-side of "Blue Bayou" by Roy Orbison and charted at #5. >>
Suggestion credit:
Bob - Comox, B.C., Canada, for above 3

Comments: 7

G from SwedenI'm surprised to find John Lee Hooker credited as writer. That seems very unlikely, as he never recorded it himself and I have never heard of him writing song for other artists. Wikipedia states it was Claude Demetrius who wrote it.
Babbling Babette from Tulsa OkThanks to Songfacts for the history on Mean Woman Blues. I never heard any other version, except the Roy Orbison version from '63. Since then, I've heard Elvis's version & it is a bouncy rocker. I prefer Orbison's hit because it's a "full tilt" rock & roll powerhouse.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 23rd 1957, Elvis' second motion picture, "Loving You", had its United Kingdom premiere in London, England...
One month earlier on July 9th, 1957 it had its world premiere in the U.S.A.
"Mean Woman Blues" was never released as a single, but two other songs featured in the movie made the Top 100; "Teddy Bear" {peaked at #1 for seven weeks & stayed on the Top 100 for almost a half-year, 25 weeks} and "Loving You" {it reached #20}...
Roy Orbison's covered version peaked at #5 {for 2 weeks} on October 27th, 1963...
R.I.P. to The King {1935 - 1977} and to 'The Big O' {1936 - 1988}...
Both left us way too soon!
Rotunda from Tulsa, OkI'm familiar with many versions of "Mean Woman Blues." My uncle owned a big record store for 35 years here & I heard these versions of "Mean Woman Blues." Uncle Hornie doesn't have his record store now, but I still remember many of his rare records. I even recall the Cliff Richard version very well. Still - I gotta say that I seriously think the best version is by Roy Orbison. It was released in 1963 (summertime, b/w "Blue Bayou") and was a huge hit for the BIG O. That guitar break in Orbison's version is a real killer! Ya gotta check it out. Orbison did a live version of the song on his "Black and White Night" live concert on VHS back in the 90s. Great version by great star.
Randy from Fayettevile, ArYep - I've checked out all the other versions. Indeed, Elvis does rock on his version. However, I consider the best version is by The Big O - Roy Orbison! What a voice & what an arrangement!! The Big O really blows the roof off in his version!
Mark from Dublin, Irelandcheck out cliff richard and the shadows version on cliffs second album "cliff sings"...its a great rocking version equal if not better than roy orbison and jerry lees version
George from Belleville, NjThis song seems to capture the essence of the rocking sound that Elvis was famous for during that era of the fifties.i would say it's a blend of blues,r&b,rock and pop all rolled into one.it captures sort of a rebellious style that was projected in that time in his career.

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