Tell Me Why (1956 song)

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"Tell Me Why"
Tell Me Why 45 Knight.jpg
Single by Marie Knight
B-side "As Long As I Love"
Released1956
Recorded1955
Genre Rhythm and blues
Length2:09
Label Wing
Songwriter(s) Titus Turner
"Tell Me Why"
Elvis Presley Tell Me Why Picture Sleeve.jpeg
Single by Elvis Presley
B-side "Blue River"
ReleasedDecember 14, 1965
RecordedJanuary 12, 1957
Studio Radio Recorders, Hollywood
Genre Rock and roll, pop
Label RCA Victor
Songwriter(s) Titus Turner
Elvis Presley singles chronology
"Santa Claus Is Back in Town""Tell Me Why""Joshua Fit The Battle (Elvis Presley song)"

"Tell Me Why" is a popular song, written by Titus Turner in 1956. [1] It is a slow, strong rhythm and blues ballad, and has a melody reminiscent of "Just a Closer Walk with Thee".[ citation needed ] The first hit version was by Marie Knight, a black R&B singer, on the Mercury's subsidiary label, Wing. [1] It was a local hit in New Orleans and Texas.

Contents

1956 recordings

When the song attracted attention, it went on to become a moderate hit for Gale Storm [2] and The Crew-Cuts in 1956 [3]

Elvis Presley recording

In 1966, "Tell Me Why" was a hit for Elvis Presley. Presley recorded the track in 1957, but it was not released at that time. It was issued in late 1965 during a period in which his label, RCA Victor, was issuing previously unreleased archival recordings, [4] to make up for the fact Presley was, at the time, recording exclusively film soundtracks (see the 1965 album, Elvis for Everyone! which includes another 1957 outtake and one track dating back to 1954). It reached number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a gold record.

Billboard described Presley's version as a "slow blues rocker [that] is revived and released in the U.S. with top of the chart action anticipated," after being a "proven hit" in England. [5] The track reached number 15 on the UK Singles Chart in December 1965. [6]

Chart performance

Chart (1965-66)Peak
position
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)15
US Billboard Hot 100 [7] 33

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References

  1. 1 2 "78 Record: Marie Knight - Tell Me Why (1956)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  2. "78 Record: Gale Storm - Tell Me Why (1956)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  3. "78 Record: The Crew-Cuts - Tell Me Why (1956)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  4. "Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires - Tell Me Why". 45cat.com. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  5. "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. December 25, 1965. p. 16. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  6. "tell me why | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  7. Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 672.