The Elvis Covers

Ever wonder how you would feel if you were an artist during Elvis' heyday and you found out he was going to cover a song you had recorded? Even to this day, there are some diehard Elvis fans who will swear that ANY song Elvis sang was the ultimate version of that song. Then there are folks who only like the first version of a song they heard and can't get with another one.

Then there are song fans, like me, who just like songs and really dig listening to the same song by different singers before deciding which one they like the best. Youtube is a great place to indulge in this particular pastime and one thing you can't help noticing is that Elvis was not only covered a lot, he had a ton of covers himself. So let's take a look at some of them and see which ones I like best, although my opinions aren't set in stone and I'm always willing to listen to another version.

Most people already know that "Blue Suede Shoes" was written by Carl Perkins and was actually Sun Records' first million selling hit record, and, most people already know that Big Mama Thornton had a No. 1 hit on the R&B charts with "Hound Dog" in 1953, a few years before Elvis covered a rewrite of it. I don't have a favorite of any of these versions. I like them all.

Country singer and native Kentuckian, Bill Monroe wrote "Blue Moon of Kentucky" in 1947 and made it popular. Elvis covered it on the Grand Ole Opry and it was the B-side of his first hit, "That's All Right (Mama)". Elvis did apologize to Bill Monroe for changing the arrangement. In l989, "Blue Moon of Kentucky" was designated Kentucky's official state song.

My Verdict: I don't like it by either Bill or Elvis much really. I like it by Patsy Cline.

County singer, Rex Allen, known as The Arizona Cowboy had a hit with "Crying In The Chapel" on Decca in 1952. The following year, the Maryland doo wop group, The Orioles, had a hit with it. Elvis recorded it in 1960. I've also listened to Mahalia Jackson sing this one.

My Verdict: As we know, Mahalia is in a class all her own, so from the rest, I really like Rex Allen's version. Interestingly enough, Rex's middle name was Elvie.

"Wooden Heart" is based on a German folksong called "Muss I Denn". Elvis sang it in his 1960 army movie, "GI Blues", in a little puppet show he was putting on for the kinder. Joe Dowell recorded it that same year and his version was released in the States in 1961, where it shot to No. 1. Elvis's version was not released as a single until 1964. Bobby Vinton also recorded this song in 1975 where he sings the German part in Polish because he is the Polish Prince.

My Verdict: Honestly, I liked Elvis' the least. While always sort of partial to Bobby Vinton's version (it's sort of like polka music when he does it), hands down, Joe Dowell's version is the best to me.

The French standard, "Comme D'Habitude," was written up in English by the very talented Paul Anka and called "My Way". Like the French song "La Mer" and "Beyond the Sea," the English lyrics aren't related in any way to the original song in French. Paul Anka says he actually wrote this song specifically for Frank Sinatra and it did become Frank's signature song. It's been covered countless times. You can check out many of these on youtube, including Sid Vicious's wild version, complete and uncut.

My Verdict: Call me weird, but I do like Elvis' version the best on this one.

"Suspicion." Now here's one that Elvis put out first in 1962 on his Pot Luck album. It was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman (who wrote many 60s hits for many artists, and also wrote my favorite Elvis song "(Marie's the Name of) His Latest Flame"). Elvis' version of "Suspicion" was never released as a single. Shuman played it for singer, Kenny Dino in 1963 and he really wanted to record it, but his label wouldn't let him. The following year, Terry Stafford recorded it and knocked the Beatles off the charts.

My Verdict: Terry Stafford. I don't think he sounds like Elvis myself. I don't even want to hear this song without the oo-oooh background either. There's a cute video on youtube with Terry backed up by the Mogollon band, where the boys are trying to do the oo-oooh parts with a straight face. You gotta love it.