Love Me Tender
Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender" topped the Billboard Chart continuously for 5 weeks (October - November 1956), but could only hit #5 on the charts in UK.
It was also an achievement as "Love Me Tender" succeeded another Presley single, "Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog" at #1. This occurrence marked an important event in Billboard history as Elvis held the record then as the longest consecutive stay (16 weeks) at #1 by a single artist.
"Love Me Tender" is adapted from an 1861 tune of "Aura Lee" (or "Aura Lea"), a sentimental Civil War ballad with music by George R. Poulton and words by W.W. Fosdick. Even though Elvis never wrote his own song but he often changed the arrangment and lyrics of the original song to the point that it was hardly recognisable. The song is credited to Elvis and Vera Matson, although the principal writer of the new lyrics was Ken Darby (Matson's husband).
Elvis first introduced this song on the The Ed Sullivan Show in September 1956, shortly before the single's release and about a month before Elvis' debut movie, Love Me Tender, was released. On the following days after the show, RCA was beseiged with 1 million advance orders for the song, making it a gold record before the disc was on sale.
This popular song was coved by many famous artistes; some of them who did were: Richard Chamberlain (1962), The Platters, Connie Francis, Engelbert Humperdinck, Paul Anka, The Lettermen (1962), Percy Sledge (1967), Linda Ronstadt (1978), Kenny Rogers (1996), etc.
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