"Return To Sender"

[Juan Luis]

Two out of two ain't bad! "Are You Lonesome Tonight" and this title, are the only two songs I can remember reading about that had direct interference by Elvis Presley's manager to awesome effect! The former #1 on both US and UK charts, and the latter #2 US and #1 on the UK chart for three solid weeks!
Recorded in Hollywood at Radio Recorders Studio B on March 21, 1962. This recording falls under Steve Sholes, Chet Atkins tenure, with Elvis mostly doing the hands on producing. Thorne Nogar assisting as well as engineer. Standout instrument is Boots Randolph's saxophone with the now classic opening notes.
Great song, performance, in just two takes (has been compared to Jackie Wilson's style), that almost didn't come to be! Read below the songwriters recollections that are also used in Ernst Jorgensen's "A Life In Music".

“The first song that Winfield Scott and I (Otis Blackwell) wrote for Elvis Presley was ‘Return To Sender’ … they had given us a movie to do, and in that movie they gave us all these titles to write. And there was only one title that we wrote that came into the movie—‘Comin’ in Loaded’. We also wrote ‘Return to Sender’, but ‘Return to Sender’ was not one of the titles. Colonel Parker had come to New York, and they told me, and I went and met him. And he said that Elvis was going to do this movie, and he had some songs that he had to take back, and he asked me did we have any. So I told him that the only two songs were ‘Comin’ In Loaded’—we wrote that for the movie—but the other song was not a title they’d given us. He said, ‘Well, you gotta’ play it for me any way ’cause Elvis loves to hear your stuff.’ So I said, ‘We’ll play this for you … I really believe you should hear it. And if there’s any way it can go in the movie, that would be nice.’ And I played ‘Return To Sender’ for him, and he said, ‘Don’t worry. That will go into the movie. I can tell you that ’cause it’s a great song.’ Not too long after that they played us the record. You know, I’ve even forgotten what movie that was in.” Elvis: The Man and His Music interview. http://www.elvis-history-blog.com/return-to-sender.html

The key of this song becoming a classic hit was not being a written for the film Girls! Girls! Girls! A totally stress free creation by master writers.
RETURN TO SENDER!
..
A cover (LOL) by Otis Blackwell. A nice guitar driven version!
..

[drjohncarpenter]

Elvis' performance of the song in the Paramount film is a straight-up homage to Jackie Wilson. The arm and leg moves are all from watching Wilson.

It remains a great single. Sadly, the less said about the 1970s concert one-off, the better.





Elvis Presley "Return to Sender" (RCA 8100, October 13, 1962)
The single would reach Billboard "Hot 100" #2 on November 17.
It was kept out of the #1 slot for weeks on end by the 4 Seasons release, "Big Girls Don't Cry" (Vee Jay 465).
Image courtesy of the essential Elvis record research database, elvisrecords.com

[Domino]

Along with a few from the 50's and Blue Hawaii,this is another one of Elvis's classic cinema moments.Great topic .Thanks.

[Johnny2523]

Elvis' performance of the song in the Paramount film is a straight-up homage to Jackie Wilson. The arm and leg moves are all from watching Wilson.

It remains a great single. Sadly, the less said about the 1970s concert one-off, the better.





Elvis Presley "Return to Sender" (RCA 8100, October 13, 1962)
The single would reach Billboard "Hot 100" #2 on November 17.
It was kept out of the #1 slot for weeks on end by the 4 Seasons release, "Big Girls Don't Cry" (Vee Jay 465).
Image courtesy of the essential Elvis record research database, elvisrecords.com

U mean concerts?
Elvis performed it 3 times that are known july 24 1975, May 9 1976 and August 1 1976

[brian]

The song is awesome it's always been one of my favorites. It was the only great song from Girls! Girls! Girls!. It was like finding a diamond in a sea of crap.

[Juan Luis]

The song is awesome it's always been one of my favorites. It was the only great song from Girls! Girls! Girls!. It was like finding a diamond in a sea of crap.

A bit harsh but I get your point! There's a few I like from the film including title track (I posted thread about) with extremely great sax solo by Boots!

[Stvimpe]

Great Elvis 60s track! Thanks, JL, for the thread. Cheers.

[drjohncarpenter]

U mean concerts?
Elvis performed it 3 times that are known july 24 1975, May 9 1976 and August 1 1976

Three known one-offs, yup. The less said, the better.

[mike edwards66]

Two out of two ain't bad! "Are You Lonesome Tonight" and this title, are the only two songs I can remember reading about that had direct interference by Elvis Presley's manager to awesome effect! The former #1 on both US and UK charts, and the latter #2 US and #1 on the UK chart for three solid weeks!
Recorded in Hollywood at Radio Recorders Studio B on March 21, 1962. This recording falls under Steve Sholes, Chet Atkins tenure, with Elvis mostly doing the hands on producing. Thorne Nogar assisting as well as engineer. Standout instrument is Boots Randolph's saxophone with the now classic opening notes.
Great song, performance, in just two takes (has been compared to Jackie Wilson's style), that almost didn't come to be! Read below the songwriters recollections that are also used in Ernst Jorgensen's "A Life In Music".

“The first song that Winfield Scott and I (Otis Blackwell) wrote for Elvis Presley was ‘Return To Sender’ … they had given us a movie to do, and in that movie they gave us all these titles to write. And there was only one title that we wrote that came into the movie—‘Comin’ in Loaded’. We also wrote ‘Return to Sender’, but ‘Return to Sender’ was not one of the titles. Colonel Parker had come to New York, and they told me, and I went and met him. And he said that Elvis was going to do this movie, and he had some songs that he had to take back, and he asked me did we have any. So I told him that the only two songs were ‘Comin’ In Loaded’—we wrote that for the movie—but the other song was not a title they’d given us. He said, ‘Well, you gotta’ play it for me any way ’cause Elvis loves to hear your stuff.’ So I said, ‘We’ll play this for you … I really believe you should hear it. And if there’s any way it can go in the movie, that would be nice.’ And I played ‘Return To Sender’ for him, and he said, ‘Don’t worry. That will go into the movie. I can tell you that ’cause it’s a great song.’ Not too long after that they played us the record. You know, I’ve even forgotten what movie that was in.” Elvis: The Man and His Music interview. http://www.elvis-history-blog.com/return-to-sender.html

The key of this song becoming a classic hit was not being a written for the film Girls! Girls! Girls! A totally stress free creation by master writers.
RETURN TO SENDER!
..
A cover (LOL) by Otis Blackwell. A nice guitar driven version!
..

Excellent, Juan. the catchiest song the King ever recorded.

[skatterbrane]

The song is awesome it's always been one of my favorites. It was the only great song from Girls! Girls! Girls!. It was like finding a diamond in a sea of crap.

Hey now! GGG also has Song Of The Shrimp, or did you forget?

[YDKM]

U mean concerts?
Elvis performed it 3 times that are known july 24 1975, May 9 1976 and August 1 1976

Three known one-offs, yup. The less said, the better.

yes each time he performed it 'live' the worse he was performing- still could have sounded 'great' if he'd sung it when younger on stage..certainly it was requested and popular...
the last time was because of the 'RETURN TO SENDER' fan club request for it in Hampton Roads!~

[Eggrert]

Never knew the story of Parker pushing for the song...very interesting! I remember, as a teenager, completely HATING this song. It just irked me in every possible way. Now, though, I quite like it!

As a side note, my wife used to think that the lyric was "Return, Lucinda"! An interesting alternate take on the song.

[Rtn 2 Sndr]

Obviously one of my favorites!

[Dan_T]

Elvis' performance of the song in the Paramount film is a straight-up homage to Jackie Wilson. The arm and leg moves are all from watching Wilson.

It remains a great single. Sadly, the less said about the 1970s concert one-off, the better.





Elvis Presley "Return to Sender" (RCA 8100, October 13, 1962)
The single would reach Billboard "Hot 100" #2 on November 17.
It was kept out of the #1 slot for weeks on end by the 4 Seasons release, "Big Girls Don't Cry" (Vee Jay 465).
Image courtesy of the essential Elvis record research database, elvisrecords.com

According to who, Priscilla Presley ? I've never bought in to that theory. Especially when there's a quote from Jackie that most black solo performers stole Elvis's stage movements.

[Rtn 2 Sndr]

Decide for yourself. Here is Jackie WIlson performing in 1962:

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[Domino]

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[Davelee]

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Thanks. A good cinamatic moment this performance, probably his best one as far as his 60s movies go.

Great catchy little song, always enjoy it!

[jurasic1968]

Great song. But unfortunately after this, Elvis' decline began in 1963 with the mediocre One Broken Heart for Sale.

[chop983]

The best 60s movie song anyone?

[TJ]

There's also a touch of Bobby Darin in Elvis' performance, particularly with the double clicks. He went to see both performers, so no great surprise.

[jeanno]

The best 60s movie song anyone?

The contenders for best 60's movie songs could be:

1- CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE
2- RETURN TO SENDER
3- FOLLOW THAT DREAM
4- VIVA LAS VEGAS
5- KING OF THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD

[MikeFromHolland]

.

Again a great topic


Don't forget that Elvis saw Jackie Wilson several times live in Vegas. Don't think he got this dancing style from the Lonely Teardrops clip only.

And the twist was hot at the time. There's a bit of Chubby Checker there too.


Also nice:

While Elvis' version of Return To Sender was released in October 1962, the now obscure Ray Pilgrim released his version in November that year. He sounded more like Elvis than Elvis did

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A version in French: Retour Au Porteur by Henri Salvador (1963)
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And a version in German: Zurück an Johnny by Ted Herold (1963)
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[Scarre]

Elvis sings it beautifully but it´s not one of my fav. A bit boring...

[Chucky99]

The perfect pop song
I am curious about the fact that It did not make it to number 1 on the billboard charts
I understand that the 4 seasons song kept it from reaching number 1,but I still think Elvis'song is much better.

[Juan Luis]

The perfect pop song
I am curious about the fact that It did not make it to number 1 on the billboard charts
I understand that the 4 seasons song kept it from reaching number 1,but I still think Elvis'song is much better.

I can live with that. I find it harder with the #1 My Ding Dong Ding A Ling by Chuck Berry over #2 Burning Love! At least Cashbox got Elvis the #1!