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7" 45 RPM record w/sleeve
photo by Styrous®
On January 10, 1956, Elvis Presley recorded Heartbreak Hotel. This was his first recording for the RCA Records label. The song was released as a single on January 27, 1956. Presley performed the song for the first time in Swifton, Arkansas on December 9, 1955, and declared to the audience that it would be his first hit; he was right. As they say, the rest is history.
A newspaper article about the suicide of a lonely man who jumped from a
hotel window inspired the lyrics of the song. It was written by Tommy Durden and Mae Boren Axton, with credit being given also to Presley; Durden and Axton give differing versions of how the story originated (link below). Axton presented the song to Presley in
November of 1955 at a country music convention in Nashville. Presley agreed to record it, and did so in 1956 at 1525 McGavock Street in Nashville in a session with his band, The Blue Moon Boys; the guitarist was Chet Atkins and the pianist was Floyd Cramer.
Heartbreak Hotel lyrics
Well, since my baby left me
Well, I found a new place to dwell
Well, it's down at the end of Lonely Street
At Heartbreak Hotel
Where I'll be, I'll be so lonely baby
Well, I'm so lonely
I'll be so lonely, I could die
Although it's always crowded
You still can find some room
For broken-hearted lovers
To cry there in their gloom
They'll be so, they'll be so lonely baby
They get so lonely
They're so lonely, they could die
Now, the bell hop's tears keep flowin'
And the desk clerk's dressed in black
Well, they've been so long on Lonely Street
They'll never, never look back
And they get so, they get so lonely baby
Well they are so lonely
They're so lonely, they could die
Well, now, if your baby leaves you
And you got a tale to tell
Well, just take a walk down Lonely Street
To Heartbreak Hotel
Where you will be, you will be so lonely baby
Well you will be lonely
You'll be so lonely, you could die
Although it's always crowded
But you still can find some room
For broken-hearted lovers to cry there in their gloom
Where they get so, they get so lonely baby
Well they're so lonely
They'll be so lonely, they could die
There are videos of Presley performing from 1956 to 1972 on YouTube; it is interesting to see how he changes physically over that period (links below).
The single topped the Billboard Top 100 chart for seven weeks, the Cashbox
pop singles chart for six weeks, was No. 1 on the Country and Western
chart for seventeen weeks and reached No. 3 on the R&B chart,
becoming Presley's first million-seller, and one of the best-selling
singles of 1956. Heartbreak Hotel achieved unheard feats as it reached
the top 5 of Country and Western, pop, and Rhythm 'n' Blues charts
simultaneously. It would eventually be certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
In 1995 Heartbreak Hotel was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 2004 Rolling Stone magazine named it one of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". That year it was also included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll".
Heartbreak Hotel has been covered by many rock and pop artists, including Willie Nelson and Leon Russell, who recorded a duet version that topped the Country charts in 1979; it's more upbeat and faster.
Johnny Cash did a parody of Elvis singing the song (links below).
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A - Heartbreak Hotel, written by Presley*, Axton*, Durden* - 2:06
Side 2:
B - I Was The One, written by Schroeder*, Peppers*, DeMetris*, Blair* - 2:30
Companies, etc.
Side 1:
A - Heartbreak Hotel, written by Presley*, Axton*, Durden* - 2:06
Side 2:
B - I Was The One, written by Schroeder*, Peppers*, DeMetris*, Blair* - 2:30
Companies, etc.
Manufactured By – RCA Victor Company, Ltd.
Notes:
No time duration on labels.
Black label RCA w/ Dog
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout (A-Side label): G2WW-0209
Matrix / Runout (B-Side label): G2WW-0218
Matrix / Runout (A-Side stamped runout): G2WW-0209
Matrix / Runout (B-Side stamped runout): G2WW-0218
Matrix / Runout (B-Side label): G2WW-0218
Matrix / Runout (A-Side stamped runout): G2WW-0209
Matrix / Runout (B-Side stamped runout): G2WW-0218
Label: RCA Victor – 47 6420
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single
Country: Canada
Released: Jan 1956
Genre: Rock
Style: Rock & Roll
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single
Country: Canada
Released: Jan 1956
Genre: Rock
Style: Rock & Roll
Viewfinder links:
YouTube links:
Johnny Cash does Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel (Live)
Willie Nelson ~ Heartbreak Hotel
Willie Nelson & Leon Russell ~ Heartbreak Hotel (Live)
Elvis Presley ~
Heartbreak Hotel (Live) (1956)
Heartbreak Hotel (Ed Sullivan) (1957)
Heartbreak Hotel (Ed Sullivan) (Stereo) (1957)
Heartbreak Hotel (Live) (1968)
Heartbreak Hotel (Las Vegas) (1970)
I'll be so lonely, I could die!
Styrous® ~ Sunday, January 10, 2021
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