| "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Charles Hart | |
| B-side | "Sweet Marie" |
| Released | 1927 |
| Recorded | May 9, 1927 |
| Genre | Traditional pop |
| Length | 3:10 |
| Label | Harmony Records |
| Songwriters | Lou Handman,Roy Turk |
"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" (sometimes stylized asAre You Lonesome To-night?) is a song written byRoy Turk andLou Handman in 1926. It was recorded several times in 1927, first by Charles Hart, but also with successful versions byVaughn De Leath,Henry Burr, and the duet of Jerry Macy and John Ryan. In 1950, theBlue Barron Orchestra version reached the top twenty onBillboard'sPop Singles chart.
In April 1960, afterElvis Presley'stwo-year service in theUnited States Army, he recorded the song at the suggestion of his managerColonel Tom Parker; "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" was Parker's wife, Marie Mott's, favorite song. Its release was delayed byRCA Victor executives, who thought the song did not fit Presley's new (and publicized) style. When "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" was released in November 1960, it was an immediate success in the U.S., toppingBillboard's Pop Singles chart and reaching number three on theR&B chart. A month after the song's release, it topped theUK Singles Chart. Presley's version was certified by theRecording Industry Association of America for a Gold Record Award for 1,000,000 copies sold in theUnited States in 1983. It was upgraded by the RIAA to a 2× Platinum Record Award for 2,000,000 sales in 1992. "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" was later recorded by several other artists, with versions byDonny Osmond andMerle Haggard becoming top-twenty hits on the pop andcountry charts, respectively.Billboard ranked "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" number 81 on its "Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs" list in 2008.
The song was written in 1926 byvaudevilliansLou Handman andRoy Turk, with music likely derived fromFermo Dante Marchetti's "Fascination". It has three verses, followed by a spokenbridge. They based the bridge on a line inRuggero Leoncavallo'sPagliacci,[1] and "You know someone said that the world's a stage. And each must play a part" refers to "All the world's a stage" fromWilliam Shakespeare'sAs You Like It.[2] This recitation is printed on the inside back cover of the original 1927 sheet music and is sung onStanley Kirkby's recording in 1928,Al Jolson's recording in 1949[3] andBlue Barron's recording in 1950 (US top 20 hit).Billboard reported in 1960 that it was written by songwriter and vaudeville pianistDave Dreyer.[4]
Several versions of "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" were recorded in 1927. The first, by Charles Hart, was recorded on May 9 and released onHarmony Records (431-H)[5] as theB-side of "Sweet Marie".[6] On June 13,Vaughn De Leath recorded the song as the B-side of "It's a Million to One You're in Love" forEdison Records (Ed-52044).[7] De Leath had the first hit version of the song, which peaked at number four in November.[6] On July 10, 1927, the Newport Society Orchestra recorded the song withIrving Kaufman as the vocalist; it was released on Harmony Records (511-H) with "I'm Walkin' On Air".[8] A version by the duet of Jerry Macy and John Ryan was released onOkeh Records (Ok-40866) as the B-side of "Carolina Mine".[9]Henry Burr's version peaked at number ten,[10] andLittle Jack Little had a hit with the song forColumbia Records.[11] AlthoughGene Austin included the song in his shows during the 1930s, he never recorded it.[1]
In March 1950, the Blue Barron Orchestra released "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" with "Penny Wise and Love Foolish" on the B-side, and it peaked at number nineteen onBillboard's Top Pop Singles chart. In April,Don Cornell released a version without the narrative bridge as the B-side of hisRCA Victor single, "Stay With the Happy People".[12]Billboard called it a: "dreamy waltz ... (that) gets effective treatment (on the recording)." Based on votes sent toBillboard, the song received 78 points fromdisc jockeys, 78 from record dealers, 79 fromjukebox operators, and 78 points overall; on the magazine's 100-point scale, it was rated "Good."[13] Al Jolson recorded a version with the spoken bridge on April 28, 1950, inLos Angeles;Gordon Jenkins conducted the orchestra.[14] With "No Sad Songs For Me" on the B-side, it was released byDecca Records in June. According toBillboard, although the version was "revived" by Jolson's "schmaltz style" his recitation of the bridge was "hamboned". Based on votes sent to the magazine, the song received 71 points from disc jockeys, 71 from record dealers, and 71 from jukebox operators; with an overall score of 71, it was rated "Good."[15] In 1958, Jim Flaherty's Western Caravan recorded the song on the Frankie Records label, with B-side "My Foolish Heart" sung by Maury Dubois.[16] This version, with vocals byHowie Stange, gained quite a following in New England, mainly due to Jim Flaherty's tireless promotion. At the November 1959 DJ Convention held in Nashville, Jim Flaherty handedChet Atkins a copy of the song with the encouragement of getting "that kid down south (Elvis Presley) who is shaking things up" to record it.[17] In 1959,Jaye P. Morgan released the song onMGM Records, with "Miss You" on the B-side,[18] and her version peaked at number 65 onBillboard's Pop Singles chart.[19]
| "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) US single sleeve | ||||
| Single byElvis Presley | ||||
| B-side | "I Gotta Know" | |||
| Released | November 1, 1960 | |||
| Recorded | April 4, 1960 | |||
| Studio | RCA Studio B,Nashville | |||
| Genre | Pop,[20][21][22]country[23] | |||
| Length | 3:07 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Songwriters | Lou Handman,Roy Turk | |||
| Producers | Steve Sholes,Chet Atkins | |||
| Elvis Presley singles chronology | ||||
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| Elvis Presley UK singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" (audio) onYouTube | ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
In the final months ofhis service in theUnited States Army, Elvis Presley began experimenting with new material in anticipation of his return to recording.[24] His first recording session was scheduled for March 20, 1960,[25] and RCA'sStudio B had recently been equipped with a newthree-track recorder.[26] To improve the recording of Presley's voice, engineerBill Porter had Telefunken U-47 microphones installed.[27] A follow-up session was scheduled for April.[28]
During the selection of material for the sessions, Presley's manager,Colonel Tom Parker, suggested "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" The favorite song of Parker's wife, Marie Mott (who knew the song from Gene Austin's act, since he was also managed at the time by her husband),[29] it was the only time he intervened in Presley's choice of repertoire. Presley returned to the studio with his band, consisting ofScotty Moore andHank Garland on guitar,D. J. Fontana on drums,Floyd Cramer on piano,Bob Moore on bass,Buddy Harman on percussion, andthe Jordanaires on background vocals, recorded on April 3.[30]
After the eight songs Parker needed forElvis Is Back! were recorded, Presley moved on to his manager Parker's request. At 4 a.m. on April 4, the singer began recording "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", accompanied by acoustic guitar, drums, bass, and the backup group. He asked everyone else in the studio to leave the session, toldChet Atkins to turn the lights out, and performed the song with the spoken bridge. After the secondtake, Presley said to producerSteve Sholes, "Throw that tune out; I can't do it justice." Sholes told engineerBill Porter to ignore Presley's order and asked the singer to do a new take, explaining that the Jordanaires had bumped into their microphone stand while recording in the dark. As a result, Presley performed the song once more, and that take became themaster for the single.[31]
"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" was not released for several months while RCA executives decided if the ballad reflected Presley's new style, but they and Parker ultimately decided to release it. The song was released as a single on November 1, 1960, with "I Gotta Know" on the B-side, and pressing was assigned to plants inNew Jersey,Indianapolis, andLos Angeles. Copies (with a sleeve featuring a smiling Presley in achartreuse shirt against a blue background) were sent to 5,000 disc jockeys. Orders for the single began at 900,000 copies the first week and climbed to 1,200,000 during the second.[32]
The song debuted onBillboard'sTop 40 at number 35 on November 14, moved a week later to number two, and topped theBillboard Hot 100 chart by November 28 (replacingMaurice Williams and the Zodiacs' "Stay"). Presley's 15th chart-topping single,[33] it held the top position until January 9, 1961.[34] "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" peaked at number three on theR&B chart, remaining on it for ten weeks.[35] The song topped theCash Box singles chart[36] and reached number 45 on theCash Box country singles chart.[37] A month after its UK release, it topped theUK Singles Chart.[38] Three months after its release, the single had sales of two million copies worldwide; that year, theRecording Industry Association of America certified it gold.[32]
A November 7, 1960,Billboard review called Presley's rendition a "warm and touching performance".[39] In a 2013 review,AllMusic praised Presley's vocal range, calling "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" a "tender ... sugary ballad ... full of soul and intense and intimate power" defining "one of Presley's darkest moments."[40]
The success of "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" made the song one of Presley's live staples. He performed it live for the first time on March 25, 1961, at aBloch Arena benefit inHonolulu for theUSSArizona Memorial, one of Presley's four live performances between his return from the Army and his shift in career focus to acting.[41]
Returning to music in 1968, Presley included the song on his playlist for theNBC specialElvis and performed it live the following year during his firstLas Vegas engagement.[42] A version of the song, recorded on August 26, 1969, and documenting Presley altering the words of the narration after seeing a man in the audience slip and lose his toupe' ("Do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair") and laughing through the rest of the bridge, was released in 1980 as part of theElvis Aron Presley box set.[43] Thesoprano backing is byCissy Houston. In 1982, this "laughing version" was a radio hit in theUnited Kingdom and reached number 25 on the British Singles Chart.[38]
A very emotional version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" was performed and filmed in 1972 atHampton Roads. This show was filmed for the documentaryElvis On Tour; however, the song was not included in that film but was released with other outtakes in 1992 on the home video releaseElvis – The Lost Performances.
A version filmed at Presley's last tour was included in the 1977CBS specialElvis in Concert, broadcast after Presley's death.
On March 27, 1992, theRIAA certified "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" double platinum.[44] In 2008 (the 50th anniversary ofBillboard's Hot 100), the song was number 81 on the magazine's "Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs" list.[45]
In September 2024,Herb Alpert included an instrumental version on his 50th released album,50.[46]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
All-time charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | — | 45,000[67] |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[68] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[69] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
| Summaries | ||
| Worldwide | — | 9,000,000[70] |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Year | Artist | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | Vaughn De Leath | Top selling records | 4 |
| Henry Burr | Top selling records | 10 | |
| 1950 | Blue Barron Orchestra | Billboard Pop Singles | 19 |
| 1959 | Jaye P. Morgan | Billboard Pop Singles | 65 |
| 1960 | Elvis Presley | Billboard Pop Singles | 1 |
| Billboard R&B singles | 3 | ||
| Cash Box Singles | 1 | ||
| Cash Box Country Singles | 45 | ||
| UK Singles Chart | 1 | ||
| 1974 | Donny Osmond | Billboard Pop Singles | 14 |
| 1977 | Merle Haggard | Billboard Hot Country Singles | 12 |
| 1982 | Elvis Presley | UK Singles Chart | 25 |
| 1983 | John Schneider | Billboard Hot Country Singles | 53 |
| 2005 | Elvis Presley | UK Singles Chart | 2 |
The global sale was four million
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