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