"Always On My Mind"

[Juan Luis]

One of my all time favorite ballads as performed by Elvis Presley. Composed by Johnny Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Carson.
First released by Brenda Lee and Gwen McCrae in 1972. According to David Neale, BJ Thomas could have recorded it first in 1969/70, but remained unreleased until many years later in a compilation.

Recorded by Elvis in Hollywood at RCA Studio C on March 29, 1972. Produced by Felton Jarvis with Al Pachucki behind the desk. Elvis re-recorded an excellent version and arguably better (outstanding Ron Tutt drumming) for the "Elvis On Tour" mock session, the very next day. The B-Side to "Separate Ways" (Reached #20 Hot 100). "Always On My Mind" reached #9 UK.

Willie Nelson (1982) and Pet shop Boys (1987) released very successful versions.
Elvis all the way for me though. I love it!





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[Rob]

It's my wife's favorite Elvis song. She cried, as a young girl of 18 years when we saw "This Is Elvis" in the theater back in 1981 as he sang this song and they showed all of the flashbacks between Elvis and Priscilla.

I've not heard a better version than Elvis'.

[timothy_sideburns]

Elvis re-recorded an excellent version and arguably better (outstanding Ron Tutt drumming) for the "Elvis On Tour" mock session, the very next day.

Anyone know where I can find this second version?

[Juan Luis]

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[TINML]

Brilliant song, I prefer the mix from This Is Elvis SDTK to the originally released version.

[jetblack]

A stunning Elvis record.

Here's a previous post of mine which belongs right here:-

Cheers Juan.

In the UK, AOMM spent 22 weeks on the chart in it's initial run from December 1972 reaching Number #9



In 1985 it reached Number #59



12" Version


The 1997 re-issue taken from the album of the same name reached Number #13. The album was a huge success peaking at Number #3 in it's 36 week chart run.




Album


in 2007 it reached #17



Andy

[Juan Luis]

Thanks for the images jetblack!

[Ciscoking]

I love it...belongs to my all time top 5..love the orchestra version with strings from the album with the same title...brilliant..

[brian]

I really like the song probably his best ballad of the seventies. I thought Elvis and RCA blew it by not seeing the hit potential the song had. Should have been an A-side in the U.S. in 1972. Willie Nelson proved the songs commercial potential. I do think Elvis' version needed more work though it was a little too fast and overproduced a bit. I thought they should have slowed down the tempo a little bit and then completely ended the song at the end. Instead of doing that start to fade out/fade back in thing. That certainly was a trademark and signature production of the great Felton Jarvis. Unfortunately I didn't think it quite worked with Always on my mind.

[Hard Rocker]

It's a Presley all-time classic: the vocal, the production, the delivery... all top drawer on one of The King's landmark signature recordings.

[midnightx]

The 1972 master is overproduced with a somewhat jarring lead guitar track, but the version from the March 30 "mock" session for "On Tour" with the "This Is Elvis" overdubs is outstanding.

[norrie]

Great song from Elvis.Love the Willie Nelson version too,I'll call it a draw.Pity Elvis didn't perform it on stage .

norrie

[elvisjock]

The 1972 master is overproduced with a somewhat jarring lead guitar track, but the version from the March 30 "mock" session for "On Tour" with the "This Is Elvis" overdubs is outstanding.

Agreed. I love the gesture he makes to the Stamps in the video, and his smile after they get the message. This was one of the rare cases where a faster tempo (mock session faster than the record session) works better.

[Fabbe]

Great song, great performance from Elvis




Inviato dal mio iPhone utilizzando Tapatalk

[Juan Luis]

I really like the song probably his best ballad of the seventies. I thought Elvis and RCA blew it by not seeing the hit potential the song had. Should have been an A-side in the U.S. in 1972. Willie Nelson proved the songs commercial potential. I do think Elvis' version needed more work though it was a little too fast and overproduced a bit. I thought they should have slowed down the tempo a little bit and then completely ended the song at the end. Instead of doing that start to fade out/fade back in thing. That certainly was a trademark and signature production of the great Felton Jarvis. Unfortunately I didn't think it quite worked with Always on my mind.

Only long fadeout. No fade back in there.

[DJL]

Definitely one of his bests. Here's the version from TIE with orchestra.
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[Will]

I love it...belongs to my all time top 5..love the orchestra version with strings from the album with the same title...brilliant..

I'm with you!

[stevelecher]

The mock version, as recorded in the studio, without overdubbed orchestra, is my absolute favorite version of the song. Elvis and band just nail it and RCA should have had the option of using this for the record over the takes recorded earlier. Best place to hear this is the CD The Great Performances and the FTD, Elvis On Tour, The Rehearsals.

[Juan Luis]

I like the mock version over the single. The single doesn't have an overdubbed orchestra, BTW. Just cellos at the right place, which sound powerful and beautiful as well. Great to have both plus the "This Is Elvis" and "Always On My Mind" 1980's album orchestra version.

[Juan Luis]

It's a Presley all-time classic: the vocal, the production, the delivery... all top drawer on one of The King's landmark signature recordings.

+1!

[r&b]

Elvis sang it the best, but Willie had the better record because of the better arrangement and production, fully realizing the song's potential. Another record ruined by Jarvis' heavy hand. A way over the top arrangement and production, and too many voices. so its Willie for me. But I do agree it should have been the A side, as Separate Ways is nothing but a snooze and a 2-sided ballad following up Burning Love was a HUGE mistake

[Juan Luis]

Elvis sang it the best, but Willie had the better record because of the better arrangement and production, fully realizing the song's potential.

Another record ruined by Jarvis' heavy hand

. A way over the top arrangement and production, and too many voices. so its Willie for me. But I do agree it should have been the A side, as Separate Ways is nothing but a snooze. Sorry Red.

BS! There's isn't any heavy hand whatsoever in the original released single. And ruined is an over-the-top exaggeration from you. The waters were pretty calm. Let's now get funtodrive to join in. And it's on you, BTW.

[jeanno]

The version from the mock-sessions is simply stunning.

[DEH]

The average person listening to it in 1972 would not have been thinking "Damn, another overproduced Felton Jarvis job". I think it would have done well on the charts. Really good song and u could hear it in Elvis' voice just like on Separate Ways that he was feeling it for obvious reasons. one of the problems back then was the choice of singles for Elvis. kept him from having more hits.

[midnightx]

Elvis sang it the best, but Willie had the better record because of the better arrangement and production, fully realizing the song's potential.

Another record ruined by Jarvis' heavy hand

. A way over the top arrangement and production, and too many voices. so its Willie for me. But I do agree it should have been the A side, as Separate Ways is nothing but a snooze. Sorry Red.

BS! There's isn't any heavy hand whatsoever in the original released single. And ruined is an over-the-top exaggeration from you. The waters were pretty calm. Let's now get funtodrive to join in. And it's on you, BTW.

The production is definitely heavy-handed. This song needed a minimalist approach with a tasteful arrangement; not an out of place lead guitar track and semi-bombastic cello arrangement.