"How's The World Treating You"

[Juan Luis]

Recorded by Elvis Presley and included on his second RCA Long Playing album titled simply "ELVIS", on September 1,1956 at Radio Recorders Studio 1, Hollywood. Steve Sholes producer, with Thorne Nogar behind the console and Bones Howe assisting the production. This Chet Atkins and Boudleaux Bryant song was originally recorded by The Beaver Valley Sweethearts ("Colleen & Donna Wilson") in May 1952, and released in January 1953.
Elvis does a great job with this number and conveys well the sadness in this country weeper. He had a definite affinity to sad songs. I like this number. A lot!

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Covered in recent times (2010) by Allison Krauss and James Taylor
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Edit later. See https://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=93561

[r&b]

Now we're talking. In my top 10 Elvis ballads of all time. Its just beautiful, simple, and I enjoy it more than anything after 1969. That voice was so unique.

[drjohncarpenter]

Now we're talking. In my top 10 Elvis ballads of all time. Its just beautiful, simple, and I enjoy it more than anything after 1969. That voice was so unique.

Lots of interesting recordings of the song have been done, including:

Eddy Arnold
Louvin Brothers
Connie Francis
Don Gibson
Jim Reeves
Rosemary Clooney
Sarah Vaughan
Osborne Brothers

One assumes it was the country hit by Eddy Arnold version that caught Presley's ear. Another nice rendition was done years later, by Alison Krauss and James Taylor.

More good discussions of the ballad here:
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=22815
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1334

[Tony C]

I think it's beautiful, a perfect way to come to the end to a great album. As well as being the second album Elvis released, it was my second Elvis album which I got in about 1970. Something I never tire of, I can listen anytime regardless of my mood.

[Eggrert]

This is quite possibly Elvis' most haunting recording. It's perfect in every way.

[Tony C]

Now we're talking. In my top 10 Elvis ballads of all time. Its just beautiful, simple, and I enjoy it more than anything after 1969. That voice was so unique.

Lots of interesting recordings of the song have been done, including:

Eddy Arnold
Louvin Brothers
Connie Francis
Don Gibson
Jim Reeves
Rosemary Clooney
Sarah Vaughan
Osborne Brothers

One assumes it was the country hit by Eddy Arnold version that caught Presley's ear. Another nice rendition was done years later, by Alison Krauss and James Taylor.

More good discussions of the ballad here:
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=22815
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1334

I heard an interview many years ago with Chet Atkins and he said that he considered Elvis recording one of his songs for that album as a sort of tip, to give him a bit of extra money.

[Davelee]

Now we're talking. In my top 10 Elvis ballads of all time. Its just beautiful, simple, and I enjoy it more than anything after 1969. That voice was so unique.

Same here. A 21 year old at a time when he was fully committed to his art. He sings with such affection and delicacy. Never tire of this one, just beautiful.

[Davelee]

Now we're talking. In my top 10 Elvis ballads of all time. Its just beautiful, simple, and I enjoy it more than anything after 1969. That voice was so unique.

Lots of interesting recordings of the song have been done, including:

Eddy Arnold
Louvin Brothers
Connie Francis
Don Gibson
Jim Reeves
Rosemary Clooney
Sarah Vaughan
Osborne Brothers

One assumes it was the country hit by Eddy Arnold version that caught Presley's ear. Another nice rendition was done years later, by Alison Krauss and James Taylor.

More good discussions of the ballad here:
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=22815
http://www.elvis-collectors.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1334

Not familiar with any cover versions of this song, apart from Eddy Arnold's version which I've heard, I'll have to check the others out.

Thanks for the list.

[YDKM]

yes its certainly ALL QUALITY isn't it!~

[Domino]

Bet the older non Elvis fan folks in the 50's were getting a bit confused.Here's this guy doing all this hip shaking to Blue Suede Shoes ,Heartbreak Hotel & Hound Dog and then he tosses in a Country tear jerker just to make things interesting.I really believe those folks back then didn't really understand what they were being a part of.Elvis really had it in him to do anything.It's just too bad the "anything" didn't happen often enough.Elvis was right on the money with this song.

[Deleted User 1099]

When I was a kid, "How's the World Treating You" and "How Do You Think I Feel" were two of my favorite Elvis songs. That has not changed.

[Scarre]

Beautiful song and performance.

[Rebel Yell]

Mr Dan Penn, one of the Worlds best songwriter did a version as well that is very good. He wanted to be a singer but that career never took of the way he wanted.

[dennyelvis]

This could be the kind of song worthy of an RPO upgrade? Always loved it and it should feature on a Elvis Ballads album all day long!

[jetblack]

Fantastic recording by 21 year old Elvis.

Chris Isaak also does a very nice version on his 'Beyond The Sun' (2011) album which contains a lot of Presley material.

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Andy

[Ciscoking]

Love this song...its a real treat.

[r&b]

I love Elvis' 2nd album and love all the ballads on that album. Even Old Shep, if for just historical purposes. I am probably in the minority here but I prefer Elvis' 50's ballads to any other period. They were simple, and he just sang them so effortlessly and sincere, with that young natural voice.. There is total honesty in each one. I wish First In Line had less echo though. There is a great vocal under all that echo.

[drjohncarpenter]

I love Elvis' 2nd album and love all the ballads on that album. Even Old Shep, if for just historical purposes. I am probably in the minority here but I prefer Elvis' 50's ballads to any other period. They were simple, and he just sang them so effortlessly and sincere, with that young natural voice.. There is total honesty in each one. I wish First In Line had less echo though. There is a great vocal under all that echo.

Most of his ballad work from 1954-1963 is astonishingly good, but there is an honesty in those 1950s tracks that still gets to you.

[Pete Dube]

I think Elvis' ballad style really began to gel at the sessions for his second album. How's The World Treating You is one of my favorite tracks from the album. Chet Atkins wrote a real pretty tear-jerker tune. It's kind of a forerunner of the early 60's Don Robertson-penned ballads Elvis did so wonderfully.

[Juan Luis]

I think Elvis' ballad style really began to gel at the sessions for his second album. How's The World Treating You is one of my favorite tracks from the album. Chet Atkins wrote a real pretty tear-jerker tune. It's kind of a forerunner of the early 60's Don Robertson-penned ballads Elvis did so wonderfully.

Boudleaux Bryant couple ,would be the most credit, in my opinion.

[Rebel Yell]

The perfection of ballads done at SUN when he nailed Blue Moon, I can't think of another tune he recorded with that honesty you can feel the pain and emotion he put in those Words.

[Juan Luis]

Elvis getting much better technically, lost some of the perceived emotion of his raw or rawer 1950's voice. I think it was during the CHFIL sessions he commented he couldn't hold a note or words to that effect. He was working hard on his technical voice, as well as the phrasing and last but certainly not least, the emotion that went along with it. Very demanding to say the least and almost pure perfection on "Can't Help Falling In Love". In contrast, the 1950's was more take it or leave it, in my opinion. Perhaps in that sense, his reading was more honest in the early years. It had to be.

[Mike Windgren]

Hi there!! .

I have a very soft spot for this beautiful sad ballad . I still remember buying my original Elvis LPM-1382 lp and listening to this song along with "First In Line" dozen of times, while reading the cool story on the back of the sleeve! . Bye for now .





Source: https://www.elvisrecords.com/lpm-1382-elvis/