Burning Love - Elvis Presley (1972) 1/14/21

Fact: Elvis Presley rarely wrote, recorded or performed original material.

(Note: Yes, the King received writing credit on some of his songs because his manager, Colonel Parker, demanded it in return for Elvis recording them---sort of like musical blackmail.) :-(

Some of Elvis' biggest hits were based on classic old songs. For example, “It's Now or Never” was based on the Italian song, “O Sole Mio,” and “Love Me Tender” was based on the old folk song, “Aura Lee.”

Many others were covers of songs that Elvis heard elsewhere and really liked. To his credit, Elvis had a VERY good ear, and several of the songs he chose to cover became big hits, like today's “Great Song of the '70s!”

Arthur Alexander was an obscure, but seminal pioneer of country soul music, and was a major influence on The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner and many others. Elvis was a fan as well, and in 1972, he heard Arthur's version of “Burning Love,” and KNEW he had to record it.

So he did...and it became the King's LAST Top 10 hit on the Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. To be specific, the song reached #2 on the Hot 100/Top 40 in the US and Canada, and #9 on Billboard's AC chart. It was also a Top 10 hit in 5 other countries, including #2 in Australia, and #7 in the UK and South Africa.

Trivia #1: In the US, it was denied the #1 slot on the Hot 100 by Chuck Berry's ridiculous “My Ding-A-Ling.”

Trivia #2: Elvis had several hits after “Burning Love,” but none of them cracked the Top 10, except for a few on the Country chart.

“Burning Love” was also one of Elvis' last big Rock & Roll songs...and it proved that almost 20 years after he became a sensation—and after several personal, health, and professional problems--he could still “Burn” it up!

From 1972:

Elvis:

Arthur Alexander: