"Return To Sender"

[Johnny2523]

The live versions of return to sender. Great topic juan!

July 24 1975:
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May 9 1976:
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August 1 1976:
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[drjohncarpenter]

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!~

If he'd bothered to rehearse the number, it could have been a concert highlight. Not happening in 1976.

[Pete Dube]

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.

Chucky, the Four Seasons record (Big Girls Don't Cry) was an enormous hit, so we shouldn't be bothered by Return To Sender coming in at #2.

[Pete Dube]

Big Girls Don't Cry is such a great song, too, and it seems to have been a race to the top between this song and Return to Sender. With both singles having been on Billboard`s Hot 100 for five weeks before peaking for the week ending November 17th, 1962.

Big Girls Don't Cry stayed ahead of Return to Sender most of the way, moving from No. 17 to No. 6, No. 2 and then No. 1, knocking The Crystals` He's a Rebel off the top-spot. Return to Sender followed at No. 20, 10 and 4, before peaking at No. 2.

Big Girls Don't Cry is a great record. It features a new sound: Doo wop vocals married to a strident, crisp rhythm section. I never really got into the Four Seasons until a couple years ago when I saw the film Jersey Boys. After seeing the film I got a Four Seasons hits collection and thoroughly enjoy it.

[FredAistair]

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.

Ahh but did it make NO1 in Cashbox and did it outsell the 4 seasons?

[King Volcano]

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.

It's fabulous and should have been a #1, but his really perfect pop song for me is Don't Be Cruel. I can't put into words how perfect and beautiful in its genius of "simplicity" and delivery I think that is

[janti]

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.

I like all the songs from Girls! Girls! Girls! Return To Sender being the only exeption.

Jan

[drjohncarpenter]

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.

It's fabulous and should have been a #1, but his really perfect pop song for me is Don't Be Cruel. I can't put into words how perfect and beautiful in its genius of "simplicity" and delivery I think that is

No argument there.

My wife always heard the chorus of "Return to Sender" as "Return ... December!"

[King Volcano]

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.

It's fabulous and should have been a #1, but his really perfect pop song for me is Don't Be Cruel. I can't put into words how perfect and beautiful in its genius of "simplicity" and delivery I think that is

No argument there.

My wife always heard the chorus of "Return to Sender" as "Return ... December!"

Maybe an honorary Christmas song for her then!

[drjohncarpenter]

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.

Ahh but did it make NO1 in Cashbox and did it outsell the 4 seasons?

"Return To Sender" hit #1 on the Cash Box "Top 100" on 12-15-1962, after sitting at #2 for the previous four weeks. The 4 Seasons single dropped to #5. No idea on sales between the two releases.

Thus, when 17 year-old Priscilla Beaulieu came to visit, "Return To Sender" was the song all over the radio.

[elvisalisellers]

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.

It's fabulous and should have been a #1, but his really perfect pop song for me is Don't Be Cruel. I can't put into words how perfect and beautiful in its genius of "simplicity" and delivery I think that is

No argument there.

My wife always heard the chorus of "Return to Sender" as "Return ... December!"

Maybe an honorary Christmas song for her then!

Coincidentally, it turned out to be the only Christmas number one single Elvis had in the UK.

[jurasic1968]

Doc, it's a mistake in Priscilla's book. She sad she was 16 when she visited Elvis in June 1962. But in fact she was 17 because she is born on May 24 1945. So she was 17 when she visited Elvis in LA in June 1962 (when she went to Vegas with him) and of course the same age when she was with Elvis on Christmas December 1962 at Graceland.

[jetblack]

Coincidentally, it turned out to be the only Christmas number one single Elvis had in the UK.

Correct. Christmas 1962 saw 'Return To Sender' at the Number 1 spot in the UK for 3 weeks thus also becoming the first Number 1 of 1963. It remained on the chart for 14 weeks.

It was also the first Christmas Number 1 in Ireland whose charts were formed in October 1962.

The answer record (also released in 1962) 'Dont' Want Your Letters' by Gerri Granger is a lot of fun too.

..

Andy

[Fish]

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.

It's fabulous and should have been a #1, but his really perfect pop song for me is Don't Be Cruel. I can't put into words how perfect and beautiful in its genius of "simplicity" and delivery I think that is

No argument there.

My wife always heard the chorus of "Return to Sender" as "Return ... December!"

My ex wife told me she used to hear Return...Lucinda!

[drjohncarpenter]

Doc, it's a mistake in Priscilla's book. She sad she was 16 when she visited Elvis in June 1962. But in fact she was 17 because she is born on May 24 1945. So she was 17 when she visited Elvis in LA in June 1962 (when she went to Vegas with him) and of course the same age when she was with Elvis on Christmas December 1962 at Graceland.

Yeah, I meant to type 17 in that post. Thanks!

It's pretty neat, though, to imagine that time frame. "Return To Sender" was all over the radio when she visited in December 1962.

[jurasic1968]

Right, Doc. The next visit of her-when she finally settled down to America- came in March 1963 and Elvis recent single (One Broken Heart for Sale) was a big step back, unfortunately.

[seaward]

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

I was always fond of Viva Las Vegas. Wonder where that would fit in the list? Probably in the top ten somewhere along with Little Egypt.

[Mike Windgren]

Hi there!! .

Fantastic song! .

Visually Return To Sender, C´mon Everybody & Bossa Nova Baby are probably the greatest visually Elvis musical performances from the 60´s! . Bye for now .

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[TINML]

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.

I like all the songs from Girls! Girls! Girls! Return To Sender being the only exeption.

Jan

That's your right but reading your post made me think WTF?

But as I always say you like what you like