‘Old Shep (The Dog’s Side)’ – Bobby George (1953)
‘You’re a Dirty Hound Dog’ – Mickey Katz (1956)
‘Hound Dawg’ – Homer and Jethro (1956)
‘Oh, How I Miss You Tonight’ – Jeanne Black (US No.63, 1961), Jim Reeves (1960) It was written as the original answer version to ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’ in the 1920s but Jeanne Black clearly intended it as a response to Elvis)
‘Yes I’m Lonesome Tonight’ – Thelma Carpenter (US No.55, 1961), Dodie Stevens (US No.60, 1961), Linda Lee, JoAnne Perry)
‘Hey Memphis (Little Sister)’ – LaVern Baker (1961)
‘Don’t Want to be Another Good Luck Charm’ – Jo (1962)
‘Just Tell Her Jane Said Hello’ – Gerri Granger (1962)
‘Don’t Want Your Letters (Return to Sender)’ – Gerri Granger (1962)
‘The Flying Saucer’ – Buchanan and Goodman (US No.3, 1956) The first record to sample Elvis. Asked what he would do if he saw a flying saucer, he replies, ‘Just take a walk down lonely street’. Presley appears on their follow-ups, ‘Buchanan and Goodman on Trial’, ‘Santa and the Satellites’ and ‘The Flying Saucer No.2’: in that last one, Elvis saves the world. How does he feel about it? ‘I’m a little mixed up but I’m feeling fine.’
‘Dear Elvis’ – Audrey (US No.87, 1956) Another cut-in record
‘Outer Space Looters’ – Mad Martians (1957) Elvis is taking on the aliens who stole his teddy bear.
‘Swing the Mood’ – Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers (US No.11, UK No.1 for 5 weeks, 1989) Elvis back on top with snatches of ‘Hound Dog’, ‘All Shook Up’ and ‘Jailhouse Rock’.
‘Elvis on the Radio, Steel Guitar in My Soul’ – KLF (1990) Eerie soundscape with samples from In the Ghetto. Strangely haunting.
‘In The Ghetto’ – Three 6 Mafia (2008) Samples Elvis’ ‘In the Ghetto’ with their own song.
‘Heartbreak Hotel’ – Stan Freberg (US No.79, 1956)
‘I Want Elvis for Christmas’ – Holly Twins (1956) A heartbreak Noël with Eddie Cochran as Elvis and written by Bobby Darin.
‘I Wanna Spend Xmas with Elvis’ – Little Lambsie Penn (1956) The same Bobby Darin song with a different arrangement.
‘Elvis Presley for President’ – Lou Monte (1956) …and why not? There’s been worse.
‘My Boy Elvis’ – Janis Martin (1956) There is a complete compilation album The Female Elvis, on Bear Family, released in 1987.
‘The Elvis Blues’ – Otto Bash (1956) Otto’s girl sees Elvis and doesn’t want Otto anymore. As well as several novelty songs, Cy Coben wrote ‘Nobody’s Child’. The single was on RCA and so this must have shown to Elvis and the Colonel before release.
‘Elvis and Me’ – The Kids (1957)
‘Hey Mr. Presley’ – Pete De Bree and the Wanderers (1957) Telling Elvis’ story via his song titles and sounding like him too.
‘New Angel Tonight’ – Red River Dave (Dave McEnery) (1958) A tribute to Gladys.
‘(I Wanna Be) Elvis Presley’s Sergeant’ – Bobolinks (1958)
‘All American Boy’ – Bill Parsons (actually, Bobby Bare)(US No.2, 1959, UK No.22, 1959) A year later Bare released ‘I’m Hangin’ Up My Rifle’. UK versions from Marty Wilde and Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.
‘Gonna Get Even with Elvis Presley’s Sergeant’ – Janie Davids (1958)
‘Don’t Knock Elvis’ – Felton Jarvis (1959) A gushing testimonial from his future producer.
‘My Baby’s Crazy ’Bout Elvis’ – Billy Boyle, Mike Sarne (both 1962)
‘Tupelo Mississippi Flash’ – Jerry Reed (1967), Tom Jones (1970). T.J. Thorpe of the Rubettes says, ‘It’s a great comic song and I’m dumb-stuck at the rhythm that Jerry Reed kicks up on a nylon string guitar.’
‘Elvis’ – Steve Barlby (1970)
‘Went to See the Gypsy’ – Bob Dylan (1970) Is it about Presley? Did their meeting go like that? No one really knows. There has been talk of a lost Dylan / Presley session for years, akin to the one Dylan did with Johnny Cash. I haven’t given up hope.
‘The E.P. Express’ – Carl Perkins (1975)
‘The Day the Beat Stopped’ – Ral Donner (1977)
‘I Remember Elvis Presley’ – Danny Mirror (UK No.4, 1977) …but do we remember Danny Mirror? Eddie Ouwens (Danny Mirror) was behind ‘Ding A Dong’ by Teach-In.
‘The King is Gone’ – Ronnie McDowell (US No.13, 1977) On the Scorpion label, no less.
‘The Lonely King of Rock’n’Roll’ – Alan Meyer (1977)
‘The Gate’ – George Owens (1977) The gate (not the gatekeeper) at Graceland on his former boss.
‘He Ate Too Many Jelly Donuts’ – Rick Dee & his Cast of Idiots (1977) Too early to be releasing a record like this.
‘Loving You’ – Donna Fargo and The Jordanaires (1977) The standard Elvis song with a narration about Elvis, comparing him to J.F.K. and delivered at breakneck speed.
‘I Dreamed Elvis Sang My Song’ – Don Todd (1977) Talk of opportunism: Don Todd wants his songs recorded, so how about putting them onto a single and imagining that Elvis was singing them?
‘Welcome Home Elvis’ – Billy Joe Burnette (1977). To the melody of ‘Peace in the Valley’, Billy Joe as Jessie Garon welcomes his twin to Heaven. Billy Joe is the son of Dorsey Burnette and was in Fleetwood Mac for many a year but he slipped up here.
‘Hound Dog Man’s Gone Home’ – Arthur Alexander (1977)
‘Candy Bars for Elvis’ – Barry Tiffin (1977)
‘Elvis and Marilyn’ – Leon Russell (1978)
‘You Were the Music’ – Kathy Westmoreland (1978)
‘The Whole World Misses You’ – Carl Perkins (1978) Produced by Felton Jarvis.
‘To Elvis with Love’ – Brenda Joyce (1979) Elvis is now with the only king ‘who is greater than you are’.
‘King Rocker’ – Generation X (UK No 11, 1979) A song about Elvis’ influence on the Beatles. Elvis could mime a lot better than Billy Idol.
‘Hound Dog Man’ – Lenny LeBlanc (US No.58, 1977), Roy Orbison (1979), Glen Campbell (1980).
‘King’s Call’ – Phil Lynott (with Mark Knopfler on guitar) (UK No.35, 1980: remix,UK No.68, 1987) Getting drunk when Elvis died.
‘There’s a Guy Works Down the Chipshop Swears He’s Elvis’ – Kirsty MacColl (UK No.14, 1981)
‘Jesus Mentioned’ – Warren Zevon (1982) ‘Can’t you just imagine digging up the King, begging him to sing?’ Not really.
‘The King’s Last Concert’ – Red Sovine (1982) A trucker on speed imagines he is seeing Elvis perform, but Elvis has died and so has he.
‘I Know Why You Cried The Day Elvis Died’ – Boxcar Willie (1982) Boxcar felt the same way when Hank Williams died.
‘Elvis Presley Boulevard’ – Billy Joel (1982) The merchandise has got him: ‘They were selling plastic souvenirs of Elvis on the cross.’
‘Riding with the King’ – John Hiatt (1983)
‘You’re Messin’ with the King of Rock’n’Roll’ – Ian Hunter (1983, but not released until 2017) Hunter’s response to Albert Goldman.
‘Elvis Presley and America’ – U2 (1984)
‘Johnny Bye-Bye’ – Bruce Springsteen (1985) Rewritten Chuck Berry.
‘Graceland’ – Paul Simon (1986) About visiting Elvis’ home but more about Simon’s hang-ups.
‘The Birth of Rock’n’Roll’ – Carl Perkins (1986) You’ll have gathered by now that Carl was preoccupied with writing about Elvis.
‘A Country Boy Who Rolled the Rock Away’ – David Allan Coe (US Country No.44, 1986) Tribute to Hank Williams, Buddy Holly and Elvis.
‘Big Train from Memphis’ – John Fogerty (1987)
‘American Roulette’ – Robbie Robertson (1987) Tribute to James Dean, Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe.
‘Why Can’t They Leave Him Alone’ – Mark Haley (1987)
‘Elvis Has Left the Building’ – Frank Zappa (1988)
‘Personal Jesus’ – Depeche Mode (US No.28, UK No.13, 1989) Written after reading Priscilla Presley’s memoir. Covered by Johnny Cash (2002) and Marilyn Manson (2004).
‘Eternal Flame’ – Bangles (US No.1, UK No.1, 1989) Cover by Atomic Kitten (UK No.1, 2005) Written about the eternal flame at Elvis Presley’s graveside.
‘The King is Gone’ – George Jones (1989) Graceland meets Bedrock: ‘Yabba-dabbado, the king is gone and so are you.’ Most poignant line, ‘Elvis said, ‘Find them young’.’
‘I Saw Elvis in a U.F.O.’ – Steven Bays (1989)
‘Elvis’ Rolls Royce’ – Leonard Cohen with Was Not Was (1990)
‘Elvis is Dead’ – Living Colour (1990) A song about Elvis sightings with a guest appearance from Little Richard: ‘To all you pimps making money off of his name, How do you sleep, don’t you feel ashamed?’
‘Black Velvet’ – Alannah Myles (US No.1, UK No.2, 1990) Myles’ boyfriend saw fans going to a candlelight vigil in Memphis and wrote the song. Original version was by Robin Lee (US Country No.12, 1990)
‘Fight the Power’ – Public Enemy (1990) ‘Elvis was a hero to most, but he never meant shit to me.’
‘Mission Drive’ – The Wonder Stuff (1991) ‘I’ve never loved Elvis and I’ve never sung the blues.’
‘Calling Elvis’ – Dire Straits (UK No.21, 1991)
‘Godfather of Rock’n’Roll’ – Carl Perkins (1991) Still at it.
‘Walking in Memphis’ – Marc Cohn (US No.13, UK No.22, 1991) ‘There’s a pretty little thing, Waiting for the King, Right down in the Jungle Room.’
‘The Letter’ – Wayne Newton (1992) Written about the note Elvis wrote in his suite in Vegas a few months before he died – see text.
‘Elvis on Velvet’ – Stray Cats (1992) ‘Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, thy records will be re-released.’
‘Irish Elvis Presley’ – Brendan Shine (1992)
‘Elvis and Me’ – Jimmy Webb (1993)
‘Elvis Impersonator’ – Manic Street Preachers (1996) Mocking the Blackpool impersonators: ‘American trilogy in Lancashire pottery’.
‘I’m Turnin’ Into Elvis’ – Bruce Springsteen (live in Memphis, 1996)
‘From Galway to Graceland’ – Richard Thompson (1996) Sensitive song about an obsessive fan.
‘Elvis Has Left the Building’ – Old Dogs (1998) Lead vocalist, Jerry Reed, on a Shel Silverstein song.
‘Porcelain Monkey’ – Warren Zevon (2000) Warren Zevon on a visit to Graceland is attracted to Elvis’ bric-a-brac.
‘Flying Elvis’ – Leilani (UK No.73, 2000) ‘I hope you don’t think I’m being selfish, I don’t marry a flying Elvis.’ Flying Elvis are skydivers who appear in Honeymoon in Vegas (1992). A flying Elvis was killed in a skydiving accident in 2011.
‘Lights Out’ – Lisa Marie Presley (UK No.16, 2003) Lisa Marie notes the space for her in the family plot.
‘Real Good Looking Boy’ – The Who (2004) Roger Daltrey wants to grow up like Elvis. Melody includes a snatch of ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’.
‘Advertising Space’ – Robbie Williams (UK No.8, 2005) Robbie Williams has called this his ‘Candle in the Wind’. He wrote it after watching Christian Slater in True Romance speak to the spirit of Elvis. Brilliant video with Robbie in an Elvis quiff shot in Blackpool – in the final sequence, he goes through some Graceland gates and performs at a bingo hall.
‘Elvis at the Wheel’ – Al Stewart (2005) Elvis meets Stalin in the Arizona desert.
‘King of the Mountain’ – Kate Bush (UK No.4, 2005) Linking Elvis’ death to Rosebud in Citizen Kane.
‘Did You Know Elvis’ – Jimmy Velvet and David Allen Coe (2007)
‘Singing with Angels’ – Suzi Quatro with James Burton and the Jordanaires (2011) (Suzi Quatro; ‘The Jordanaires told me that they were often asked to sing on tribute records, but Ray Walker said that it was the best Elvis tribute he’d heard. You can make tributes too sentimental but I think I got it about right.’)
‘Elvis and the Disagreeable Backing Singers’ – Neil Innes (2013)
‘I Can See Elvis’ – The Waterboys (2014)… about to murder the Colonel.
‘Elvis Presley Blues’ – Tom Jones (2015)
Pat Boone Sings…Guess Who (1964)
The Guitar that Changed the World – Scotty Moore (1964)
Blues for Elvis – King Does the King’s Things – Albert King (1970)
Rockabilly Jive – Jerry Foster with Scotty and D.J. (1970)
Vince Eager Pays Tribute to Elvis (1971)
My Farewell to Elvis – Merle Haggard (1977)
Elvis’ Favourite Gospel Songs (Sung at His Funeral) – J.D. Sumner and the Stamps (1977)
Tony Crane Sings Elvis Presley (1978) A live recording by the lead singer of the Merseybeats
I’ve Been Away for a While Now – Ral Donner (1980) Includes speech from Donner and eulogy from Ray Walker of the Jordanaires.
Sounds like Elvis – Ral Donner (1986)
Class of ’55 – Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash (1986) The Class of ’55 pay tribute to Sun Records, Elvis and of course themselves on this oddball album. Paul Kennerley writes about Elvis in ‘We Remember the King’, but he could be writing about Jesus.
The King and Eye – The Residents (1989) Experimental rock with a storyline linking the various covers.
The Last Temptation of Elvis (NME 2CD set for Nordoff-Robbins, 1990) Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, Dion and many more sing Elvis.
Our Tribute to Elvis – Terry Dene and the Runaways (1992)
It’s Now or Never (All-star, country-based tribute produced by Don Was, 1994)
Blue Suede Sneakers (1995) Suzy Bogguss, Rodney Crowell, Ronnie Milsap and Brian Setzer perform Elvis songs for kids.
All The King’s Men – Scotty Moore, D.J. Fontana and friends (1997)
Elvis – Still Alive Volume 1 (1997) and Volume 2 (2000). Mostly UK contemporary rock’n’roll acts singing Elvis, including DiMaggio Brothers and Darrel Higham. The country singalong of ‘I Love You Because’ by Rick Hollow is engaging and inventive.
Honeymoon in Vegas (1999) Billy Joel, Willie Nelson and others perform Elvis songs for a Hollywood soundtrack.
Like Elvis Used to Do Billy Swan (recorded at Sun, 1999)
Peter and Ted singen Elvis – Peter Kraus and Ted Herold (2000). Two German hit-makers at the forefront for recording local versions of Elvis’ hits. The album features 20 Elvis hits in German.
In the Ghetto – The Songs of Elvis (Castle, 2CD, 2002) All the Elvis covers to hand in the Pye catalogue, several of them very dodgy.
The Gregorian Chants of Elvis Presley – Brotherhood of St Gregory (2003) Should monks be singing about good luck charms?
The Elvis Connection – Elvis Connection (2005) Ronnie McDowell, The Jordanaires, Scotty Moore, D.J. Fontana and Millie Kirkham. The package includes a bonus CD of the backing tracks, so you too can be Elvis.
My Happiness – Amanda Lear (2014)
All About Elvis (3CD, 2015) Nearly 100 examples of tribute records, covers and singers who want to be Elvis, all pre-1963.
‘Lewis Boogie’ – Jerry Lee Lewis (1958) ‘Cruise on down to ol’ Memphis town, That’s where that Presley boy sang, ‘You ain’t nothin’ but a hound’.’
‘The Old Payola Roll Blues’ – Stan Freberg (US No.99, 1960) Clyde Ankle acts humble in front of the press: ‘Oooh, I’ll never replace Elvis. He’s the King all right.’
‘You’re the Top’ – Edd Byrnes (1960) ‘You’re the top, You’re a Presley sideburn.’
‘It Won’t Happen With Me’ – Jerry Lee Lewis (1961) ‘If you loved Elvis Presley, it wouldn’t last very very long, You’d get sick and tired of seeing him wiggling past your door.’
‘1977’ – The Clash (1977) The punk credo: ‘No Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones’.
‘A Rock’n’Roll Fantasy’ – Kinks (US No.30, 1978)
‘I Will Rock and Roll With You’ – Johnny Cash (1978)
‘My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)’ and ‘Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)’ – Neil Young (1979)
‘Elvis Should Play Ska’ – Graduate (1980) Graduate became Tears For Fears.
‘Child of the Fifties’ – Statler Brothers (1982)
‘Tupelo’ – Nick Cave (1985)…and your point is?
‘Bloc Bloc Bloc’ –OMD (1985)
‘Christmas in Dixie’ – Alabama (1985) Praise for Graceland’s lights.
‘Free Fallin’’ – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (1989)
‘Fight the Power’ – Public Enemy (UK No.29, 1989) ‘How can you say Elvis is the King when Little Richard and all those other guys put it down before him?’
‘(Don’t Step in) My Blue Suede Shoes’ – Clive Gregson and Christine Collister (1989)
‘57 Channels’ – Bruce Springsteen (UK No.32, 1992) Bruce has a gun and ‘in the blessed name of Elvis, I just let it blast.’
‘Man on the Moon’ – R.E.M. (US No.30, UK No.18, 1992) A tribute to comedian Andy Kaufman that asks, ‘Hey Andy, are you goofing on Elvis?’
‘You and Your Heroes’ – Da Lench Mob (US, 1992) Black rappers’ view of American history: ‘Take it from Da Lench Mob, Elvis is dead as a door knob, Never been caught for all the songs he stole, And you put James Brown on parole?’
‘Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody’ – John Prine (1995) ‘You can fool some of the people part of the time, But 50,000,000 million Elvis Presley fans can’t be all wrong.’
‘Baby’s Got a Thing about Pat Boone’ – Rhythmaires (2001)
‘Singing Elvis’ – The Men They Couldn’t Hang (2003)
‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’ – Scouting for Girls (UK No.8, 2007)
‘I Made a Mistake’ – Willie Nelson (2017) ‘I feel a little like Elvis when he was alone.’
The leader of the Troggs, Reg Ball, became Reg Presley in 1965.
Aladdin Sane – David Bowie (1973). The cover shows Bowie with the TCB logo. He considered arranging some Presley songs for Iggy Pop but it never happened.
Keith Moon wore a gold lamé suit in Stardust (1974). It was purchased by Sid Vicious.
Gunfight at Carnegie Hall – Phil Ochs (1970, released 1975) Rebel folk-singer in gold lamé. Discussed in text.
Evel Knievel’s costumes were inspired by Elvis.
Declan Patrick MacManus became Elvis Costello in 1976.
London’s Calling – The Clash (1979) No direct Elvis references but look at the lettering and style of the cover – it was their first album and it copied Elvis’ first album.
A Date with Elvis – The Cramps (1986) No Elvis songs at all and the album is dedicated to Ricky Nelson. In the psychobilly band’s rewriting of history, the young Elvis was a drug dealer who hung around the Sun Studios selling speed to musicians.
‘Shoplifters of the World Unite’ – The Smiths (UK No.12, 1987) Elvis cover pic on sleeve.
Bono wore a gold lamé suit on U2’s Zooropa tour in 1993.
Dead Elvis – Death in Vegas (UK LP chart, No.52, 1997)
100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can’t Be Wrong – Jon Bon Jovi (4CD and DVD box set, 2004)…but they might be. Jon Bon Jovi in a gold lamé suit for the cover.
Reintarnation – k.d. lang (2006) Compilation again using the 1956 album cover.
50,000 Fall Fans Can’t Be Wrong – The Fall (2008) Double-album of minor successes with Mark E. Smith parodying the Elvis cover.
Lilo and Stitch (2012). Animated film with Kauai Lilo, an Elvis fan and Stitch, an alien.
At the UK general election in 2014, David Bishop stood for the Bus-Pass Elvis Presley Party in Kettering, which was said to be part of the Church of the Militant Elvis. Whatever, the candidate received more votes than the Liberal Democrats.
The Eagles – ‘Tryin’ to Get to You’ (1954) Things working in reverse here as Elvis followed this demo by a Washington DC group, except for the sax break.
Johnny Burnette – ‘Oh Baby Babe’ (1956) Copies Elvis himself; Scotty, Bill and D.J;and the song too.
Gene Vincent – ‘Be-bop-a-Lula’ (1956) Nowadays we would say that Gene Vincent himself sounds totally unique but he was trying to sound like Heartbreak Hotel.
Eddie Cochran – ‘Twenty Flight Rock’ (1956) It was presented in The Girl Can’t Help It as a parody, but it was the real thing.
John Hampton – ‘Honey Hush’ (1957) Vocal so incoherent that it sounds like a Stan Freberg parody. Great fun.
Charlie Gracie – ‘Fabulous’ (1957) (US No.16, UK No.8, 1957)
Conway Twitty – ‘It’s Only Make Believe’ (US No.1, UK No.1, 1958), ‘Make Me Know You’re Mine’ (originally submitted to Elvis but he didn’t record it), ‘Lonely Blue Boy’ (originally ‘Danny’ for Elvis) (US No.6, 1960)
Sonny Lowery – ‘Goodbye Baby Goodbye’ (1958)
Johnny Rivers – ‘Baby Come Back’ (1958) Outrageous! Johnny Rivers takes the Christmas content out of ‘Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me’ and copies Elvis note for note. The listed songwriter, Johnny Ramistella, is Johnny himself: he was only 16 and it’s a brilliant copy, if that isn’t an oxymoron.
Johnny Powers – ‘Be Mine, All Mine’ (1959) Sun Records too.
Vince Taylor – ‘Brand New Cadillac’ (1959) An American based in Hounslow and promoted by Jack Good as the local Elvis. He found success in France and David Bowie sang his praises.
Bruce Channel – ‘Run Romance Run’ (1959) Bruce soon had a style of his own.
Chubby Checker – ‘The Class’ (US No.38, 1959) Chubby impersonates Elvis singing ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’.
Johnny Restivo – ‘The Shape I’m In’ (US No.80, 1959) Paul Simon on guitar.
Ben Hewitt – ‘I Ain’t Givin’ Up Nothin’’ (1959) Hewitt did the demo of ‘Dontcha Think It’s Time for Elvis’.
Wanda Jackson – ‘Let’s Have a Party’ (US No.37, 1960, UK No.32, 1960) Okay, she’s a girl, but her version is as exciting and as raucous as Elvis’. Other Elvis girls are Janis Martin and Alis Lesley.
Jett Powers (P.J. Proby) – ‘Loud Perfume’ (1960) Great title!
Danny Rivers – ‘Hawk’ (1960) A UK Top Rank single ripping off ‘Fever’ but spooky and fun.
Ral Donner – ‘The Girl of My Best Friend’ (US No.19, 1961), ‘You Don’t Know What You’ve Got’ (UK No.25, US No.4, 1961), ‘Please Don’t Go’ (US No.39, 1961) and many more. The best of Elvis impersonator and his best copycat performance is ‘Rip It Up’ (1979).
Davy Kaye – ‘In My Way’ (1965) If Joe Meek had produced Elvis. Spoken intro to celebrate ten years of Elvis.
David Bowie – ‘Friday on My Mind’ (1973) The Easybeats’ hit as if done by Elvis.
Viv Stanshall in the Bonzo Dog Band – ‘Canyons of Your Mind’ (1968). Viv loved impersonating Elvis and he revived ‘Suspicion’ (1970).
Les Gray in Mud – ‘Lonely This Christmas’ (UK No.1, 1974)
Freddie Starr – ‘White Christmas’ (UK No.41, 1975) Starr’s Elvis is excellent and his Hitler is good too. His best straight Elvis is ‘I Love How You Love Me’ (1989) but Elvis wouldn’t have had such a tacky production.
Robert Plant in Led Zeppelin – ‘Candy Store Rock’ (1976)
Robert Gordon with Link Wray – ‘I Want To Be Free’ (1978)
Elvis Presley (Michael Conley) – ‘Tell Me Pretty Baby’ (1978) This was promoted as an early track recorded by Elvis in Phoenix in 1954. When it went to court, Conley admitted that he had made the record at the suggestion of his manager.
Orion – ‘Ebony Eyes’ (1978), ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ (1981) In 1978 when the world was swamped with Elvis imitators, Orion tried to distance himself with ‘I’m Not Trying to Be Like Elvis’, but no none believed him. In the final verse, he wonders if Elvis is now trying to sound like him. Orion is fun when he sings others’ hits as Elvis might have done them. He was shot by two no-marks who thought he was a cop. He was later murdered in his pawnshop. Queen’s original was inspired by Elvis anyway.
Waylon Jennings – ‘Nobody Knows I’m Elvis’ (1994) Waylon with the perfect disguise.
Elvis McPresley – ‘My Christmas Days / Scottish Trilogy’ (1996) “Technical advisor to Elvis Presley – Colonel Tom McParker”
The King – Gravelands (1999) and Return to Splendour (2000). Can you imagine Elvis singing ‘Whiskey in the Jar’, ‘Voodoo Chile’, ‘No Woman, No Cry’ or ‘Twentieth Century Boy’? Belfast-born postman Jim Brown is The King singing hits from other dead rockers on two albums. I’m tempted to write ‘Return to Sender’, but he’s good.
‘All Shook Up’ – Ry Cooder, Humble Pie, Billy Joel (UK No.27, 1992), Paul McCartney, Cliff Richard, Suzi Quatro
‘Always On My Mind’ – Willie Nelson, Brenda Lee
‘Anything that’s Part of You’ – Billy J Kramer, Charlie Landsborough
‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’ – Bryan Ferry, Brian Hyland, Eden Kane, Barry Manilow, Mavericks, Anne Murray, Helen Shapiro, Frank Sinatra, Tiny Tim
‘Baby I Don’t Care’ – Buddy Holly (UK No.12, 1961), Don McLean, Joni Mitchell, Queen
‘Baby Let’s Play House’ – Buddy Holly, Sleepy LaBeef, Don McLean, Joni Mitchell, John Prine, Queen, Cliff Richard, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes
‘Blue Moon’ – Cowboy Junkies (combined with an original song as ‘Blue Moon Revisited’, 1988), Bob Dylan
‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’ – Ronnie Hawkins, Tom Petty
‘Blue Suede Shoes’ – Johnny Hallyday, Carl Perkins
‘Burning Love’ – Arthur Alexander (original), Melissa Etheridge. Travis Tritt
‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’ – Andrea Bocelli, Bono, Perry Como, Bob Dylan, Hall and Oates, Stylistics (UK No.4, 1976), Corey Heart (US No.24, 1987), Lick the Tins (lively folk version, UK No.42, 1986), UB 40 (US No.1 for 7 weeks, UK No.1 for 2 weeks, 1993), Andy Williams (UK No.3, 1970), Russell Watson (UK No.69, 2006)
‘Crawfish’ – Marianne Faithfull
‘Danny’ – Conway Twitty (song recorded as ‘Lonely Blue Boy’) (US No.6, 1960), Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde
‘Devil in Disguise’ – Trisha Yearwood
‘Didja Ever’ – Michael Barrymore
‘Don’t Be Cruel’ – Bill Black’s Combo (US No.11, 1960), Cheap Trick, Neil Diamond, José Feliciano, Bryan Ferry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Barbara Lynn (US No.93, 1963), Billy Swan (UK No.42, 1975)
‘Down in the Alley’ – Ronnie Hawkins, Jeff Healey
‘Follow that Dream’ – Blow Monkeys, Bruce Springsteen
‘A Fool Such As I’ – Petula Clark (as ‘Prends Mon Coeur’), Bob Dylan, Davy Kaye (Richie Blackmore lead guitar, great solo), Hank Snow
‘Girl Next Door (Went A’Walkin’)’ – Thomas Wayne
‘The Girl of My Best Friend’ – Bryan Ferry
‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ – Joe Brown, Coasters (original), Fourmost
‘Got a Lot o’ Livin’ to Do’ – Pogues (fast Irish cajun)
‘Guitar Man’ – Jesus and Mary Chain, Jerry Reed (original)
‘Hard Headed Woman’ – Wanda Jackson, Suzi Quatro
‘Have I Told You Lately That I Love You’ – Eddie Cochran
‘Heartbreak Hotel’ – Dread Zeppelin, Stan Freberg (US No.79, 1956), Frijid Pink (US No.72, 1970), Homer and Jethro (as Hart Brake Motel, 1956), George Jones (as Thumper Jones), Roger Miller (US No.84, 1966)
‘Hound Dog’ – Bryan Adams, Jeff Beck, Chubby Checker (with twist lyrics), Everly Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, Homer and Jethro (as ‘Houn’ Dawg’), Beverley Knight (with Jools Holland), John Lennon, Robert Palmer, Little Richard, Sex Presleys, Status Quo,James Taylor, Big Mama Thornton (original), Robin Trower, Dickie Valentine (faster than Elvis plus ‘Hound Dog’ as performed by Mr. Magoo and Edward G. Robinson)
‘I Don’t Care If the Sun Don’t Shine’ – John Leyton
‘I Forgot To Remember To Forget’ – Johnny Cash
‘I Got Stung’ – Paul McCartney
‘In the Ghetto’ – Lena Martell, Candi Staton
‘It’s Now or Never’ – Paul McCartney, Wet Wet Wet
‘Jailhouse Rock’ – Dion, Frankie Lymon, Mötley Crüe, Queen, Patti Smith, Alvin Stardust, ZZ Top
‘Lawdy Miss Clawdy’ – Lloyd Price (original), Travis Tritt, Steve Young
‘Let’s Have a Party’ – Wanda Jackson (US No.37, UK No.32, 1960), Robert Plant (an arrangement full of surprises), Rivieras (US No.99, 1964)
‘Little Sister’ – LaVern Baker (as ‘Hey Memphis’), Ry Cooder, Marty Wilde, Dwight Yoakam
‘Love Me’ – Nicolas Cage (film, Wild at Heart), Mavericks (slow burning Raul Malo vocal), Wild Angels
‘Love Me Tender’ – Kenny Ball & his Jazzmen, Tony Bennett (‘A lot of folk don’t know this song was written by Elvis Presley’ says Tony Bennett: well, they don’t know it because it isn’t true.), Richard Chamberlain (US No.21, UK No.15, 1962), Shawn Colvin (who calls the song ‘a lullaby’), Amy Grant, Holly Johnson, Linda Ronstadt,Percy Sledge (US No.40, 1967), Link Wray ‘Mean Woman Blues’ – Dion, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison (US No.5, UK No.3, 1963)
‘A Mess of Blues’ – Tom Jones
‘Milkcow Blues Boogie’ – Eddie Cochran, Flamin’ Groovies, Steve Marriott’s All Stars,Ricky Nelson, Jody Reynolds
‘Mystery Train’ – Jeff Beck & Chrissie Hynde
‘No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car’ – Viv Stanshall (‘I mucked around with it and wrote new verses but the song is absolute trash. I wonder what persuaded him to do that.’)
‘Old Shep’ – Clinton Ford (UK No.27, 1959), Mike Reid (Eastenders actor doing it Cockney-style), Freddie Starr (‘When I was a boy and old Shep was a frog’)
‘One Night’ – Billy Joe Burnette, Joe Cocker (as ‘One Night of Sin’)
‘Paralyzed’ – Terry Dene, Emile Ford
‘Return To Sender’ – Dave Kelly
‘Shoppin’ Around’ – Danny Boy et ses Pénitents (as ‘Je ne veux plus être un dragueur’)
‘Song of the Shrimp’ – Townes Van Zandt
‘Steadfast, Loyal and True’ – Aaron Neville
‘Stuck on You’ – Suzy Bogguss
‘Surrender’ – Lesley Garrett
‘Suspicion’ – Bonzo Dog Band (with narration), Steve Forbert, Terry Stafford (US No.3, UK No.31, 1964), Dwight Yoakam. ‘It’s a paranoid version of ‘Save the Last Dance for Me’,’ says Steve Forbert.
‘Suspicious Minds’ – Candi Staton (wonderfully sultry), Dee Dee Warwick (US No.80, 1971)
‘That’s All Right, Mama’ – Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan (with Carl Perkins on guitar, unissued at time, 1969), Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney
‘Trouble’ – Emile Ford
‘T-R-O-U-B-L-E’ – Travis Tritt
‘Tryin’ To Get To You’ – Animals, Ricky Nelson, Roy Orbison (as part of the Teen Kings)
‘Viva Las Vegas’ – Dead Kennedys, Dale Watson, Bruce Springsteen, ZZ Top (UK No.10, 1992)
‘Wear My Ring Around Your Neck’ – Ricky Van Shelton
‘Wooden Heart’ – Kenny Ball & his Jazzmen, Gus Backus, Chordettes, Joe Dowell (US No.1, 1961), Nanci Griffith, John Holt, Bobby Vinton (US No.58, 1975)
‘Young and Beautiful’ – Aaron Neville (beautiful five-minute jazz version)
…and that’s it. Spencer has left the building.