A Big Hunk o' Love

Last updated
"A Big Hunk o' Love"
Elvis A Big Hunk o Love.jpg
Single cover art work for A Big Hunk O' Love by Elvis Presley
Single by Elvis Presley
B-side "My Wish Came True"
ReleasedJune 23, 1959 (1959-06-23) [1]
RecordedJune 10, 1958
Studio RCA Studio B, Nashville [1]
Genre
Length2:12
Label RCA Victor
Songwriter(s) Aaron Schroeder, Sidney Wyche
Producer(s) Steve Sholes
Elvis Presley singles chronology
"I Need Your Love Tonight" / "A Fool Such as I"
(1959)
"A Big Hunk o' Love" / "My Wish Came True"
(1959)
"Stuck on You" / "Fame and Fortune"
(1960)
Music video
"A Big Hunk o' Love" (audio) on YouTube

"A Big Hunk o' Love" is a song originally recorded by Elvis Presley and released as a single on June 23, 1959 [1] by RCA Victor, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks. [3]

Contents

The song was revived by Presley in 1972 during his engagements at the Las Vegas Hilton in February 1972 and was used regularly in his live shows until mid-1973. It was performed live for the last time on January 26, 1974. The song is included in the 1972 documentary Elvis On Tour and his 1973 show broadcast via satellite, Aloha from Hawaii. During this time period, it was played by the Elvis' TCB Band, and featured Glen D. Hardin and James Burton.

The song was written by Aaron Schroeder and Sidney Wyche, under the name Sid Jaxon and published by Elvis Presley's company Gladys Music, Inc. Aaron Schroeder (along with Wally Gold), also wrote "It's Now or Never" and "Good Luck Charm", both of which, like "A Big Hunk o' Love", were originally recorded by American rock and roll icon Elvis Presley.

Syd Wyche is best known for writing the jazz standard "Alright, Okay, You Win", whereas Aaron Schroeder co-wrote many hits in the rock`n`roll area, from "Fools Hall of Fame" (Pat Boone) to "Because They're Young" (Duane Eddy). In an interview conducted by Jan-Erik Kjeseth, he also revealed that in fact he worked with his partner Wally Gold in order to improve a song submitted by another writer, and the result was "It's My Party", a big hit for Lesley Gore. Schroeder and Gold tossed a coin as to whose name should go on the record, and Gold "won".

The song appeared on the 1959 compilation 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong , the 2002 career retrospective ELV1S: 30#1 Hits and the 2016 compilation The Wonder Of You.

Recording

"A Big Hunk o' Love", a hard, driving rocker, was recorded at Elvis' first and only session during his two years of Army service. The session took place on June 10, 1958, in Nashville, Tennessee. It was the first session that did not include guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, who had both worked with Elvis since his first recordings for Sam Phillips at the Memphis Recording Service, which later became known as Sun Studios.

The recording featured Elvis' drummer D.J. Fontana and backing vocalists the Jordanaires, who would continue to work with Elvis until Elvis' appearance at the Hilton in Las Vegas. The rest of the musicians were noted Nashville session men, such as guitarist Hank Garland on a Gibson Byrdland guitar, Floyd Cramer on piano, Bob Moore on double bass, and Buddy Harman and D.J. Fontana on drums. The song was recorded in four takes, the released version is actually spliced from takes three and four. [1] [4]

Personnel

Release and chart performance

RCA Victor had paired "A Big Hunk o' Love" for release as a single with "My Wish Came True" as the B-side in both the United States and England. When the single was released on June 23, it was the third release to come from Elvis' army session after "I Got Stung" on October 21, 1958, and "I Need Your Love Tonight" b/w "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I" on March 10, 1959. [1] [4]

The A-side spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 while the B-side peaked at No. 12. [3] The single was less successful on the Cashbox Top 100 with the A-side peaking at No. 2 and the B-side at No. 23. [5] On the UK Singles Chart the A-side peaked at No. 4, while the B-side did not appear on the chart. [6] The A-side also peaked at No. 10 on Billboard magazine's R&B Singles chart. [7]

Presley's next single was another Aaron Schroeder co-composition, "Stuck on You". "A Big Hunk o' Love" was the first of four of Schroeder's songs that became No. 1 hits for Presley. [1]

"A Big Hunk o' Love" b/w "My Wish Came True" was Presley's last commercially released Canadian 78 RPM. [8] It was Elvis' first single to not receive a 78 RPM pressing in the United States. [9]

Single track listings

1959 7" 45 RPM
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."A Big Hunk o' Love" Aaron Schroeder, Sid Jaxon2:12
2."My Wish Came True" Ivory Joe Hunter 2:32
2007 7" 45 RPM
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."A Big Hunk o' Love"Schroeder, Sidney Wyche 
2."My Wish Came True"Hunter 
3."A Big Hunk o' Love – Alt. Take 1"Schroeder, Wyche 

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suspicious Minds</span> 1968 single by Mark James

"Suspicious Minds" is a 1968 song written and first recorded by the American songwriter Mark James. After this recording failed commercially, it was recorded by Elvis Presley with the producer Chips Moman. Presley's version reached No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kentucky Rain</span> 1970 single by Elvis Presley

"Kentucky Rain" is a 1970 song written by Eddie Rabbitt and Dick Heard and recorded by Elvis Presley. It was recorded at American Sound Studio and features then session pianist Ronnie Milsap. Other musicians on the record include Bobby Wood on piano, Bobby Emmons on organ, Reggie Young on guitar, Tommy Cogbill on bass and Gene Chrisman on drums. The song and session was produced by Felton Jarvis and Chips Moman. It was certified Gold by the RIAA, signifying United States sales of more than a million copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That's All Right</span> 1946 song by Arthur Crudup

"That's All Right" is a song written and originally performed by the American blues singer Arthur Crudup and recorded in 1946. It was rereleased in early March 1949 by RCA Victor under the title "That's All Right, Mama", which was issued as RCA's first rhythm and blues record on its new 45 rpm single format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Be Cruel</span> 1956 single by Elvis Presley

"Don't Be Cruel" is a song that was recorded by Elvis Presley and written by Otis Blackwell in 1956. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2004, it was listed #197 in Rolling Stone's list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Are You Lonesome Tonight?</span> Song written and composed by Lou Handman and Roy Turk; first recorded by Charles Hart

"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" is a song written by Roy Turk and Lou Handman in 1926. It was recorded several times in 1927—first by Charles Hart, with successful versions by Vaughn De Leath, Henry Burr, and the duet of Jerry Macy and John Ryan. In 1950, the Blue Barron Orchestra version reached the top twenty on the Billboard's Pop Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuck on You (Elvis Presley song)</span> 1960 single by Elvis Presley

"Stuck on You" was Elvis Presley's first hit single after his two-year stint in the US Army, reaching number one in 1960 in the US.

<i>Elvis</i> (1956 album) 1956 studio album by Elvis Presley

Elvis is the second studio album by American rock and roll singer Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor on October 19, 1956 in mono. Recording sessions took place on September 1, September 2, and September 3 at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, with one track left over from the sessions for Presley's debut album at the RCA Victor recording studios on January 30 in New York. It spent four weeks at #1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart that year, making Presley the first recording artist to have both albums go straight to number one in the same year. It would go on to spend 5 weeks at #1 in total. It was certified Gold on February 17, 1960, and Platinum on August 10, 2011, by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<i>Elvis Golden Records Volume 3</i> 1963 greatest hits album by Elvis Presley

Elvis' Golden Records Volume 3 is a greatest hits album by American rock and roll singer Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor as LPM/LSP-2765 on August 12, 1963. The album was the third volume of an eventual five volume collection, and his eighteenth altogether. It is a compilation of hit singles released in 1960, 1961, and 1962.

"One Night" is a song written by Dave Bartholomew, Pearl King, and Anita Steiman. It originally was an R&B hit for Smiley Lewis in 1956, before being recorded with greater commercial success by Elvis Presley in 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Luck Charm</span> 1962 single by Elvis Presley

"Good Luck Charm" is a song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company, that reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list in the week ending April 21, 1962. It remained at the top of the list for two weeks. It was also no. 1 on the Cash Box chart in the U.S. It reached number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in the week ending 24 May 1962 and stayed there for five weeks.

"(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I" is a popular song written by Bill Trader and published in 1952. Recorded as a single by Hank Snow it peaked at number four on the US country charts early in 1953.

<i>The King of Rock n Roll: The Complete 50s Masters</i> 1992 box set by Elvis Presley

The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters is a five-disc box set compilation of the complete known studio master recordings by American singer and musician Elvis Presley during the decade of the 1950s. Issued in 1992 by RCA Records, catalog number 66050-2, it was soon followed by similar box sets covering Presley's musical output in the 1960s and 1970s. This set's initial long-box release included a set of collectible stamps duplicating the record jackets from every Presley LP on RCA Victor, every single that had a picture sleeve, and most of his EP releases. The set includes a booklet with an extensive session list and discography, and a lengthy essay by Peter Guralnick. It peaked at #159 on the album chart and was certified a gold record on August 7, 1992, by the RIAA. Further certifications were for platinum on November 20, 1992, and for double platinum on July 30, 2002.

<i>From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential 60s Masters</i> 1993 box set by Elvis Presley

From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters is a five-disc box set compilation of studio master recordings by American singer and musician Elvis Presley during the decade of the 1960s; it was released in 1993 on RCA Records, catalogue number 66160-2. In its initial long-box release, it included a set of collectable stamps duplicating the record jackets of every Presley LP on RCA Victor, and those of the singles pertinent to this box set. The set also includes a booklet with an extensive session list and discography, as well as a lengthy essay by Peter Guralnick. It was certified Gold by the RIAA on November 30, 1993, and Platinum on January 6, 2004. This set followed an exhaustive box set of Presley's 1950s output and was followed by a more selective box set of his work in the 1970s.

<i>Jailhouse Rock</i> (EP) 1957 EP (soundtrack) by Elvis Presley

Jailhouse Rock is an EP by American singer Elvis Presley, featuring songs from the movie of the same name. It was released by RCA Victor, with catalogue EPA 4114, on October 30, 1957. Recording sessions took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood on April 30 and May 3, 1957, with an additional session at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Soundstage in Hollywood on May 9 for "Don't Leave Me Now". It peaked at #1 on the newly inaugurated Billboard EP chart where it remained at #1 for 28 weeks. The EP album was the best selling EP album of 1958 according to Billboard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(You're the) Devil in Disguise</span> 1963 song by Elvis Presley

"(You're the) Devil in Disguise" is a 1963 single by Elvis Presley. It was written by Bill Giant, Bernie Baum and Florence Kaye and was published by Elvis Presley Music in June 1963. The song peaked at No. 3 in the US on the Billboard singles chart on August 10, 1963, and No. 9 on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues singles chart, becoming his last top ten single on those charts. The single was certified "Gold" by the RIAA for sales in excess of 500,000 units in the US. The song also topped Japan's Utamatic record chart in the fall of 1963. In June 1963, when the song was debuted to a British audience on the BBC television show Juke Box Jury, celebrity guest John Lennon, leader of The Beatles, voted the song "a miss" stating on the new song that Elvis Presley was "like Bing Crosby now". The song went on to reach No. 1 in the UK for a single week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Now or Never (song)</span> English-language song

"It's Now or Never" is a song recorded by Elvis Presley and released as a single in 1960. The song is one of the best-selling singles by Presley, and one of the best-selling physical singles of all time. It was recorded by Bill Porter at RCA Studio B in Nashville. It is written in E major and has a tempo of 80 BPM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That's Someone You Never Forget</span> 1967 single by Elvis Presley

"That's Someone You Never Forget" is a song co-written by Elvis Presley in 1961 and published by Elvis Presley Music, which appeared as the closing track on his 1962 album Pot Luck and was released as a single in 1967.

"Guitar Man" is a 1967 song written and originally recorded by Jerry Reed, who took his version of it to number 53 on the Billboard country music charts in 1967. Soon after Reed's single appeared, Elvis Presley recorded the song with Reed playing the guitar part, and it became a minor country and pop hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Need Your Love Tonight</span> 1959 single by Elvis Presley

"I Need Your Love Tonight" is a song recorded by Elvis Presley and released as a single written by Sid Wayne and Bix Reichner. It was published by Elvis Presley's company Gladys Music, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elvis Presley singles discography</span>

The singles discography of Elvis Presley began in 1954 with the release of his first commercial single, "That's All Right". Following his regional success with Sun Records, Presley was signed to RCA Victor on November 20, 1955. Presley's first single with RCA, "Heartbreak Hotel", was a worldwide hit, reaching the No. 1 position in four countries and the top 10 in many other countries. Other hit singles from the 1950s include "Don't Be Cruel", "Hound Dog", "Love Me Tender", "Too Much", "All Shook Up", "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear", "Jailhouse Rock", "Don't", "Hard Headed Woman" and "A Big Hunk o' Love". On March 24, 1958, Presley entered the United States Army at Memphis, Tennessee, and was stationed in Germany. He left active duty on March 5, 1960.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits (CD liner). Elvis Presley. RCA Records. 2002. pp. 11, 18. 68079-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. 1 2 Breihan, Tom (February 7, 2018). "The Number Ones: Elvis Presley's "A Big Hunk O' Love"". Stereogum . Retrieved June 5, 2023. It's a pretty standard rockabilly number..."A Big Hunk O' Love" isn't one of Presley's better rockers.
  3. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2010). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (9th ed.). Billboard Books. p. 520. ISBN   978-0-8230-8554-5.
  4. 1 2 Jorgensen, Ernst Mikael (1998). Elvis Presley: A Life in Music – The Complete Recording Sessions. New York City: St. Martin's Press. ISBN   0-312-18572-3.
  5. "The Cash Box Top 100 Singles: Week Ending August 29, 1959". Cash Box Magazine . Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  6. "Featured Artists: Elvis Presley". The Official Charts Company . Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  7. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 468.
  8. "Elvis Presley 78 RPM Canadian Discography | elvisrecords.com". Elvisrecords.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  9. "Elvis Presley 78 RPM - Discography - USA - 78 RPM". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.