Love Me Tender (EP)

Love Me Tender is an EP by Elvis Presley, containing the four songs from the motion picture of the same name. It was released by RCA in November 1956. The EP peaked at #9 on Top Pop Albums chart with sales of over 600,000,[1] as well as making it to #35 on the singles chart. It was simultaneously certified Gold and Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on March 27, 1992.[2]

Love Me Tender
EP (soundtrack) by
Elvis Presley
ReleasedNovember 1956
RecordedAugust–September 1956
GenreCountry, rockabilly
Length9:31
LabelRCA Victor
ProducerLionel Newman
Elvis Presley chronology
Elvis
(1956)		 Love Me Tender
(1956)		 Peace in the Valley
(1957)
Singles from Love Me Tender
  1. "Love Me Tender"
    Released: September 28, 1956

Background

The film was originally intended to be a straight acting role for Presley,[1] but due to the popularity of the single "Love Me Tender" and Colonel Tom Parker's desire to promote Presley's films with a soundtrack and vice versa,[1] four songs were added to the film. Parker would very seldom deviate from this formula for the remainder of Presley's film career.

Instead of a full long-playing album soundtrack, for Love Me Tender the four songs appearing in the film were released as an extended-play or E.P. seven-inch 45 RPM record on RCA Victor, Love Me Tender, catalog EPA 4006, during November 1956.[1]

Content

The four EP soundtrack songs were recorded at Fox's Stage One in Hollywood, at three sessions on August 24, September 4, and October 1, 1956. The title song was released as a single on September 28, 1956, and went to #1 on the singles chart. The music was based on the Civil War ballad "Aura Lee," with new lyrics by Ken Darby.[1] Darby, in fact, wrote all of the soundtrack songs, but credited them to his wife, Vera Matson, while Parker cut his publishing company, Hill and Range, in on the royalties by further crediting the writing to Presley as well.[1] A reprise of "Love Me Tender" was recorded on October 1 and is heard at the end of the film; this short track was not released until after Presley's death.[1] The sessions for these songs were the only time in the decade that Presley recorded with musicians outside his regular coterie.[1]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Ken Darby but credited to Elvis Presley and Vera Matson. Titles are followed by their long-play album debuts.

Side one
No.TitleRecording dateLength
1."Love Me Tender" (Elvis' Golden Records, 1958)August 24, 19562:41
2."Let Me" (The Other Sides - Elvis Worldwide Gold Award Hits Volume 2, 1971)September 4, 19562:08
Side two
No.TitleRecording dateLength
1."Poor Boy" (For LP Fans Only, 1959)August 24, 19562:13
2."We're Gonna Move" (A Date With Elvis, 1959)August 24, 19562:30

Personnel

Charts
Chart (1957) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200[3] 22
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References
  1. Victor, The Elvis Encyclopedia, pages 314/315
  2. "Gold & Platinum – RIAA (Search)". RIAA. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  3. "Elvis Presley – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2016-03-08. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
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