Record #0691: Love Me Tender (EP) – ELVIS PRESLEY

 

A1 “Love Me Tender”, A2 “Let Me”, B1 “Poor Boy”, B2 “We’re Gonna Move”

RCA EPA-4006 (original) USA, 1. November 1956
Words & Music by:  A1 – Elvis Presley, Vera Matson; A2 – Presley, Matson; B1 – Presley, Matson; B2 – Presley, Matson
Musicians: Elvis Presley (vocals), Vito Mumolo (lead guitar), Michael “Myer” Rubin (bass), Richard Cornell (drums), Luther “Red” Roundtree (rhythm guitar, banjo), Dominic Frontieri, Carl Fortina (accordion), the Ken Darby Trio: Rad Robinson, Jon Dodson, Charles Prescott (b-vocals)
Recording sessions: Produced by Lionel Newman at 20^th Century Fox Stage 1, Hollywood, CA, on 24. August, 4. September and 1. October 1956
Highest chart positions:  US EP #9, US Billboard Hot 100 #35, Australia #27

All songs of the soundtrack for the movie “Love Me Tender” were recorded in these three sessions. Instead of an album, this EP was the soundtrack – just these four tracks.

All songs are credited for Elvis Presley (music) and Vera Matson (lyrics). In reality, “Love Me Tender” was written by George R. Poulton (music) and Ken Darby (lyrics). Darby also wrote “Let Me”, “Poor Boy” and “We’re Gonna Move”.

The melody of “Love Me Tender” was adapted from George Poulton’s song “Aura Lea”, which was written way back in 1861.

Elvis had none of his usual musicians (Scotty, Bill and D.J.) playing on any of these songs.

List price:  Very Good+ is $25, Near Mint is $50; Black label, dog on left VG+ $15, NM $30; Orange label VG+ $40, NM $80; Picture sleeve with song titles on front cover VG+ $25, NM $50, w/o song titles on front cover (1965 re-issue) VG+ $15, NM $30

Record #0690: Can I Steal a Little Love / Your Love for Me– FRANK SINATRA

 

Capitol F3608 (original) USA, January 1957
Words & Music by:  Side A – Phil Tuminello; Side B – Barry Parker
Musicians: Frank Sinatra (lead vocals), Jerome Kasper, Jules Kinsler, Harry Klee, Wilbur Schwartz, James Williamson (reeds), Harry "Sweets" Edison, Conrad Gozzo, Vito "Mickey" Mangano, Clarence "Shorty" Sherock (trumpet), Murray McEachern, Dick Noel, Juan Tizol (trombone), George Roberts (bass trombone), Nick Bonney (guitar), Joe Comfort (bass), Irving Cottler (drums), Bill Miller (piano), Kathryn Julye (harp), Victor Arno, Victor Bay, Alex Beller, Harold Dicterow, Jacques Gasselin, Henry Hill, Erno Neufeld, Nathan Ross, Eudice Shapiro, Marshall Sosson (violin), Maxine Johnson & Paul Robyn (viola), Stan Harris, Maxine Johnson, Dave Sterkin (vocals), orchestra conducted by Nelson Riddle
Recording sessions:  Los Angeles, CA, 3. December 1956
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #15, US Cashbox #20; Side B – US #60, US Cashbox #43

These were the only songs recorded in Sinatra’s last session of 1956.

List price:  Very Good+ is $7,50, Near Mint is $15

Record #0689: Jailhouse Rock / Treat Me Nice – ELVIS PRESLEY

RCA Victor 47-7035 (original, German pressing) Germany, 25. September 1957
Words & Music by:  Side A – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller; Side B – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Musicians: Elvis Presley (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Scotty Moore (lead guitar), Bill Black (upright bass, bass guitar on side A), D.J. Fontana (drums), Dudley Brooks (piano), The Jordanaires (backing vocals), Millie Kirkham (backing vocals on side B)
Recording sessions: Produced by Steve Sholes at Radio Recorders Studio 1, Hollywood, CA; Side A – 30. April 1957; Side B – 5. September 1957
Highest chart positions:  No info on the chart success in Germany. Side A - US #1, US R&B #1, US Country #1, UK #1, Finland #7; Side B - US #27, US R&B #7, US Country #11, Canada #13

The single was released in Germany just one day after it came out in the States.

Both Jailhouse Rock and Treat Me Nice appeared in Elvis’ 1957 movie “Jailhouse Rock”. The movie versions of the songs were recorded on 31. July and 3. May correspondingly.

“Jailhouse Rock” topped the UK Singles chart again in 2005.

List price:  German release, not in the catalog. In 45cat’s price guide this is 5 euros.