That's Someone You Never Forget
Encyclopedia
"That's Someone You Never Forget" is a song co-written by Elvis Presley
in 1961 and published by Elvis Presley Music, which appeared as the closing track on his 1962 album, Pot Luck
. It was written by Elvis Presley with his bodyguard Red West
and based upon an idea and title by Presley himself. Red West recalled the songwriting collaboration with Elvis: '"That's Someone You Never Forget" was a title that came from Elvis. He said, "How about coming up with a song with the title of "That's Someone You Never Forget"?' West agreed to give Elvis a co-writing credit to the song because of Elvis' contributions to the creation of the song. It is believed that Elvis wrote the song about his mother Gladys Love Presley, who had died in 1958. Elvis Presley gave his recording a Gospel-influenced arrangement, which added to the spiritual feel of the song.
Elvis also co-wrote the song "You'll Be Gone
" with Red West and Charlie Hodge in 1961. These two songs were Elvis' rare song compositions. At the time, Elvis was trying his hand at songwriting. His input was mostly in providing ideas about creating new songs and choosing how they should sound. "You'll Be Gone" was a 1965 B side single and appeared on the 2005 Elvis By the Presleys soundtrack. "That's Someone You Never Forget" was a 1967 B side single and appeared on the 1999 Artist of the Century career retrospective. In his landmark, best-selling biography of Elvis, Elvis: A Biography (1971), Jerry Hopkins discussed this songwriting period in Elvis' career.
The song was recorded on Sunday, June 25, 1961 at RCA Studios in Nashville and was released as the B-Side to the 1967 single, "Long Legged Girl (With the Short Dress On)", issued as RCA 47-9115, reaching number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100
. The song has appeared on several of Elvis Presley's compilations including the Artist of the Century career retrospective collection in 1999. The song is notable because it was co-written by Elvis Presley.
album in 1999:
"The 1999 remastering benefits from superior sound and a 17-song lineup, reaching back to March 1961 for its songs, including ... the haunting, gospel-like "That's Someone You Never Forget," which was co-authored by Presley and is one of his best non-hit songs of this era". --- Bruce Eder & Neal Umphred for Allmusic.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
in 1961 and published by Elvis Presley Music, which appeared as the closing track on his 1962 album, Pot Luck
Pot Luck (album)
Pot Luck with Elvis is the fifteenth album by Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2523, in June 1962. Recording sessions took place on March 22, 1961, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, and on June 25 and October 15, 1961, and March 18 and March 19, 1962, at RCA Studio B...
. It was written by Elvis Presley with his bodyguard Red West
Red West
Red West is an American actor, film stuntman and songwriter.West was born Robert Gene West in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of Lois and Newton Thomas West. He was a close high school friend of rock and roll singer Elvis Presley. An excellent athlete and former U.S...
and based upon an idea and title by Presley himself. Red West recalled the songwriting collaboration with Elvis: '"That's Someone You Never Forget" was a title that came from Elvis. He said, "How about coming up with a song with the title of "That's Someone You Never Forget"?' West agreed to give Elvis a co-writing credit to the song because of Elvis' contributions to the creation of the song. It is believed that Elvis wrote the song about his mother Gladys Love Presley, who had died in 1958. Elvis Presley gave his recording a Gospel-influenced arrangement, which added to the spiritual feel of the song.
Elvis also co-wrote the song "You'll Be Gone
You'll Be Gone
You'll Be Gone is a song co-written by Elvis Presley and published by Elvis Presley Music and released in 1965 as a single and on the Girl Happy soundtrack album...
" with Red West and Charlie Hodge in 1961. These two songs were Elvis' rare song compositions. At the time, Elvis was trying his hand at songwriting. His input was mostly in providing ideas about creating new songs and choosing how they should sound. "You'll Be Gone" was a 1965 B side single and appeared on the 2005 Elvis By the Presleys soundtrack. "That's Someone You Never Forget" was a 1967 B side single and appeared on the 1999 Artist of the Century career retrospective. In his landmark, best-selling biography of Elvis, Elvis: A Biography (1971), Jerry Hopkins discussed this songwriting period in Elvis' career.
The song was recorded on Sunday, June 25, 1961 at RCA Studios in Nashville and was released as the B-Side to the 1967 single, "Long Legged Girl (With the Short Dress On)", issued as RCA 47-9115, reaching number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The song has appeared on several of Elvis Presley's compilations including the Artist of the Century career retrospective collection in 1999. The song is notable because it was co-written by Elvis Presley.
Critical reception
Review of the RCA CD reissue of the expanded Pot LuckPot Luck (album)
Pot Luck with Elvis is the fifteenth album by Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 2523, in June 1962. Recording sessions took place on March 22, 1961, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, and on June 25 and October 15, 1961, and March 18 and March 19, 1962, at RCA Studio B...
album in 1999:
"The 1999 remastering benefits from superior sound and a 17-song lineup, reaching back to March 1961 for its songs, including ... the haunting, gospel-like "That's Someone You Never Forget," which was co-authored by Presley and is one of his best non-hit songs of this era". --- Bruce Eder & Neal Umphred for Allmusic.
Single Release
- (1967) "Long Legged Girl (With the Short Dress On)"/"That's Someone You Never Forget", RCA 47-9115, #92, Billboard Hot 100. RCA Victor also released the song on an EP picture sleeve 45 in 1967, 86574, containing the following songs: "Double Trouble"/"I Love Only One Girl"/"Long-Legged Girl"/"That's Someone You Never Forget."
Personnel
- Elvis Presley - vocals, guitar
- Scotty MooreScotty MooreWinfield Scott "Scotty" Moore III is an American guitarist. He is best known for his backing of Elvis Presley in the first part of his career, between 1954 and the beginning of Elvis' Hollywood years...
- guitar - Hank GarlandHank GarlandWalter Louis Garland , better known as Hank Garland, was a Nashville studio musician who performed with Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison and many others.-Biography:...
- guitar - Neal Mathews - guitar
- Floyd CramerFloyd CramerFloyd Cramer was an American Hall of Fame pianist who was one of the architects of the "Nashville sound." He popularized the "slip note" piano style where an out-of-tune note slides effortlessly into the correct note...
- piano, organ - Gordon Stroker - piano
- Bob Moore - bass
- D.J. Fontana - drums
- Murrey "Buddy" Harman - drums
- Homer "Boots" Randolph - claves
- The JordanairesThe JordanairesThe Jordanaires are an American vocal quartet, which formed as a gospel group in 1948. They are best known for providing vocal background for Elvis Presley, in live appearances and recordings from 1956 to 1972...
- background vocals
Appearances on Albums and Compilations
- Pot Luck (1962, reached #4 on Billboard Album Chart)
- Pot Luck (RCA CD Reissue, 1999)
- Artist of the Century (1999)
- Blue Suede Shoes Collection
- Elvis: Close Up
- From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential 60's Masters (Released version and alternate take)
- Hit Collection
- Love Songs
- Elvis Presley Collection: Love Songs
- Studio B
- Pot Luck with Elvis, 2 CD FTD Special Edition (2007)
- Nashville Outtakes: 1961-1964 (2010) on FTD/BMG, Take 5
Sources
- Bogdanov, Vladimir, Chris Woodstra, Stephen Thomas Erlewine. All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul. Backbeat Books, 2002: "'That's Someone You Never Forget' which was co-authored by Presley."
- Jorgensen, Ernst. Elvis Presley, A Life In Music. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998; ISBN 0-312-18572-3
- Jorgensen, Ernst. Elvis by the Presleys. Liner Notes. BMG Heritage, 2005. Online link: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:aIrq2zIsEWYJ:shop.elvis.com.au/prod1256.htm+you'll+be+gone+elvis+by+the+presleys&cd=11&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
- Presley, Priscilla. Elvis by the Presleys. Liner Notes. BMG Heritage, 2005.
- Hopkins, Jerry. Elvis: A Biography. NY: Simon and Schuster, 1971.
- Victor, Adam. The Elvis Encyclopedia. Overlook Hardcover, 2008