Love Me

[MikeFromHolland]

.

The song "Love Me" was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Conceived as a parody of country and western music, it was initially recorded by R&B duo Willy & Ruth in 1954 (Spark 105), garnering a review spotlight in Billboard on August 14. Willie Headen was the lead singer of a vocal group, the Honey Bears and Ruth was the wife of another group member.

The following clip shows more artists that recorded the song, while the sound is from the Willy & Ruth original recording:
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The original label:


Spark Records was a record label started by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in January 1954. Artists released on Spark Records included Willy & Ruth, The Sly Fox, Ervin "Big Boy" Groves, and The Robins. Leiber and Stoller eventually decided that while they wanted to write songs and make records, but did not want to deal with the mechanics of publishing records, so they sold the label to Atlantic Records.

For a good overview of songs recorded at Sparks Records, this Ace Records production is highly recommended:


http://www.acerecords.co.uk/the-spark-records-story


Shortly after its release, The Billy Williams Quartet released the song as well. In September 1954 on Coral 61264. In this quartet: Billy Williams, John Bell, Claude Riddick Jr. & Eugene Dixon:
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Billy Williams (December 28, 1910 – October 17, 1972) was an African-American singer. He had a successful cover recording of Fats Waller's "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter" in 1957. The record sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. His trademark hook for his songs was to shout "Oh, Yeah" at the end of lyrics. On April 5, 1959, the Billy Williams Quartet appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and performed a rousing version of Goodnight Irene.



Released in October 1954. A version by The Five DeMarco Sisters on BRUNSWICK 45-05349:
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The DeMarco Sisters were an American close harmony singing group of the big-band era who recorded popular music and performed in concerts and on the radio, television, and on film from the 1930s through the 1960s. They first achieved fame as weekly performers on The Fred Allen Show from 1946 to 1949, and were featured singers in the 1952 film Skirts Ahoy! with actress Esther Williams. The group was initially composed of five biological sisters.



Released in October 1954 as well. An early version of Love Me by Connie Russell on Capitol F2933:
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Connie Russell (May 9, 1923 – December 18, 1990) was an American singer and movie actress. Born in New York City, she appeared in seven films from the 1930s through the 1950s. She was far better known as a singer than as an actress, as her singing career was quite extensive.


It might be well possible that Elvis heard the song as sung by Jimmie Rodgers Snow. He released his version in January 1955 on RCA Victor 5986:
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Jimmie and Elvis on December 21, 1957:




Elvis recorded the song on September 1, 1956...

A Life In Music - Love Me.png

... For his second album, Elvis (RCA Victor, LPM-1382), issued on October 19.






It was also released on the EP, Elvis Vol. 1 (RCA Victor, EPA-992).



It climbed to the #2 position on the Billboard Top 100 in the United States, a first for a title not coming from single. "Love Me" also peaked at number seven on the R&B chart. "Love Me" was not released as a single to avoid confusion with Presley’s "Love Me Tender".

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Elvis sang "Love Me" on the October 28, 1956, Ed Sullivan Show as well.
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He included this song in the 1968 Comeback Special:
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And he often performed it in concerts in the seventies, including his last tour in June 1977.
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A few other versions:


Johnny Burnette, as released on July 1960 on his album "Dreamin'"
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The Polish singer Bogusław Wyrobek in 1960. For those who think Elvis had no influence in Eastern Europe
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Department Of Eagles, 2009:
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Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Me_(Leiber/Stoller_song)
https://secondhandsongs.com/work/31525/versions#nav-entity
http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/love_me.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark_Records
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_DeMarco_Sisters
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Williams_(singer)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Russell
https://www.megocollector.com/elvis-presley/rca-lpm-1382-elvis-elvis-presley-undocumented-variation-confirmed/

[Chucky99]

My favorite Elvis ballad from the 50s
Oh yeah....

[Davelee]

The more probable scenario is that Elvis got the song from Jimmie Rodgers Snow - according to Jorgensen in ABFT book Snow would perform this song quite regularly while touring with Elvis throughout 1955.

Elvis' 56 cut is one of the best ballads he did such a wonderful performance.

[jurasic1968]

Thanks, Mike. The interpretation of Elvis in October 1956 in the second Ed Sullivan Show was a masterpiece. Never ever Elvis bettered this one. Sad to see what a throwaway became in 1977.

[jeanno]

Elvis' best ballad EVER.

[colonel snow]

More recordings in 1954:

00-05-54 - Georgia Gibbs (Mercury 70743);
00-07-54 - The Four Escorts (RCA 20-5886);
00-07-54 - Woodside Sisters with The Harptones (X rec. 0049);
00-08-54 - Kay Brown (Crown 127).


colonel snow

[fn2drive]

Thanks, Mike. The interpretation of Elvis in October 1956 in the second Ed Sullivan Show was a masterpiece. Never ever Elvis bettered this one. Sad to see what a throwaway became in 1977.

The master was never bettered imo even by the Sullivan version you reference though the last 90 seconds are suberb. One of his best ballads and one that has grown on me over the years. Simply ear candy that gets sweeter with each listen.

Were there any 70s live versions that were really good? MSG seems less bad than most but he treated the song either as the parody it was intended to be or a joke. Sad because this song showcased his uniqueness in the early days.

[r&b]

Haunting vocal, perfect execution, I love Elvis' 50's ballad voice for the effortless way it floats with the lyrics. Try and listen beneath the Jords if you can on so many of his wonderful ballads. The vocals are amazing. I tend to go against the curve here, but I think Elvis was a better ballad singer in the 50's than 70's. The emotion & soulfulness were real, not forced vibrato. He was at his ballad peak 1960-62. His voice changed so much its a shame. The 1956 master is pure perfection. I can never compare live cuts with studio masters, because they are one shot performances, it doesnt seems fair, but he did the song justice on the Sullivan show and again in 1968. Forget the 70's. Another throwaway,

[Scarre]

Really like this one. While the later live versions comes nowhere near they weren't as bad treated as many of his 50's songs. Very enjoyable song and performance indeed.

[Pete Dube]

The original '56 master is one of Elvis' all-time greatest recordings. I remain mystified and miffed that it wasn't included on The Essential Elvis set. I Was The One made the cut but Love Me didn't? Major blunder!

[TJ]

It's superb from beginning to end. The improvement on previous versions is remarkable. Elvis knew how to make something special out of the song and nailed it. The Sullivan version is good, but hampered by low-fi audio. The '68 versions are very cool and as good as the original in places, but not overall. It really did become a pointless inclusion in his set as the years progressed, but he was still taking some care with it in 1970.

[Scarre]

The original '56 master is one of Elvis' all-time greatest recordings. I remain mystified and miffed that it wasn't included on The Essential Elvis set. I Was The One made the cut but Love Me didn't? Major blunder!

Nooo...nooo...don't make me choose. They are both stellar songs&performances.

[Pete Dube]

The original '56 master is one of Elvis' all-time greatest recordings. I remain mystified and miffed that it wasn't included on The Essential Elvis set. I Was The One made the cut but Love Me didn't? Major blunder!

Nooo...nooo...don't make me choose. They are both stellar songs&performances.

Scarre, don't get me wrong, I think I Was The One is a fine performance. But is it a classic, essential recording? To me it isn't, whereas Love Me is one of Elvis' classic 50's recordings, arguably his finest 50's ballad which makes it essential to the canon.

[Davelee]

The original '56 master is one of Elvis' all-time greatest recordings. I remain mystified and miffed that it wasn't included on The Essential Elvis set. I Was The One made the cut but Love Me didn't? Major blunder!

Nooo...nooo...don't make me choose. They are both stellar songs&performances.

Scarre, don't get me wrong, I think I Was The One is a fine performance. But is it a classic, essential recording? To me it isn't, whereas Love Me is one of Elvis' classic 50's recordings, arguably his finest 50's ballad which makes it essential to the canon.

I agree, I Was The One is weak compared to Love Me - i like the former but i think its not on the par with the latter. Love Me is one of Elvis' well - known songs, its always been identified with him. As for I Was The One its not known outside of Elvis fans.

A classic cover version that he made his own.

[Scarre]

The original '56 master is one of Elvis' all-time greatest recordings. I remain mystified and miffed that it wasn't included on The Essential Elvis set. I Was The One made the cut but Love Me didn't? Major blunder!

Nooo...nooo...don't make me choose. They are both stellar songs&performances.

Scarre, don't get me wrong, I think I Was The One is a fine performance. But is it a classic, essential recording? To me it isn't, whereas Love Me is one of Elvis' classic 50's recordings, arguably his finest 50's ballad which makes it essential to the canon.

I agree. It's not a classic...but I like them both. Elvis at his best...

[Rtn 2 Sndr]

This is one of my favorite Elvis ballads from the 50s.

[norrie]

Love Me is one of the gems,sung and backed perfectly.The 70's versions while not a patch on the original were still pretty good Elvis must have loved this song a lot.


norrie

[Pete Dube]

Love Me is one of the gems,sung and backed perfectly.The 70's versions while not a patch on the original were still pretty good Elvis must have loved this song a lot. norrie

The live versions from 1970 are pretty good as the tempo is good, the passion is still there and Elvis belts the high notes. But beginning sometime in 1971 Elvis started to talk-sing the high notes (tear it all apart; crying over you; all I ask is please) in a kind of rattled off manner. Once he started doing that the performances lost something and the number became a toss-off. He also took to doing it too up-tempo 73-75.

[Juan Luis]

I love it! He didn't do such a good version in 1968 sitdown shows. Too high a key for him with frog in throat. The best and great performances were in 1956.

[MikeFromHolland]

I love it! He didn't do such a good version in 1968 sitdown shows. Too high a key for him with frog in throat. The best and great performances were in 1956.

Remarkable. It was this version I fell in love with, when I heard it for the very first time on A Legendary Performer Volume 1 in 1974. This must have been my third or fourth album, so I didn't know the original yet. It was my favorite together with Trying To Get To You from the same album. I always kept a soft spot for them.






But it's true, the originals are a class in themselves. Almost not comparable.

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[janti]

Thank you! A song I've never liked personally, though.

[Erhan]

How do you thing about Nora jones versions?




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[Juan Luis]

How do you thing about Nora jones versions?




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Thanks! She got it with some blues in her country interpretation. Real nice!