"Suspicious Minds"
Single byMark James
B-side	"A Taste of Heaven"
Released	1968
Recorded	1968
Genre	Rock
Length	2:47
Label	Scepter
Songwriter	Mark James
Producer	Chips Moman

"Suspicious Minds" is a 1968 song written and first recorded by the American songwriterMark James. After this recording failed commercially, it was recorded byElvis Presley with the producerChips Moman. Presley's version reached No.1 on the USBillboard Hot 100, his 14th and final no. 1 single on the Billboard pop chart. In 1999, Presley'sRCA Victor Records version was inducted into theGrammy Hall of Fame.^[1]

The song is about a mistrusting and dysfunctional relationship, and the need of the characters to overcome their issues in order to maintain it.^[2] Written in 1968 byMark James,^[3] who was also the co-writer of "Always on My Mind" (whichElvis Presley would later record), the song was first recorded and released by James onScepter Records in 1968.Chips Moman had asked James to come toMemphis to write songs forAmerican Sound Studio. At the time, James was residing inHouston. He had written three songs that became No.1 hits in theSouthern United States. American Sound Studio was gaining a reputation in the industry, as theBox Tops had just recorded "The Letter" there, so James relocated to Memphis.

James said that late one night, he was fooling around on hisFender guitar and using his Hammond organ pedals for a bass line and came up with what he thought was a catchy melody. At the time, he was married to his first wife Shirley Yates but still had feelings for his childhood sweetheart, who was married back in Houston. James's wife had suspicions about his feelings. He felt it was a confusing time for him and that all three were "caught in this trap that they could not walk out of". At the recording session, James sang the lead vocals and the studio band backed him; Moman produced. The horns, strings, and vocals of the Holladay Sisters were later overdubbed. After the tape was mixed, James and Moman flew to New York, where James's manager had contacts with Scepter Records. The label loved the song and put it out, but Scepter did not have the money to promote new artists and the song did not make the charts.

Later that year, Don Crews, Moman's partner, told James that Presley had booked their studio to record what would become theFrom Elvis in Memphis album. Crews kept asking James if he had any songs that would be right for Presley. James felt Presley needed a maturerock 'n' roll song to bring him back, asTom Jones was a popular artist at the time. Crews and James thought of "Suspicious Minds" and James began urging others to get Presley to hear it.^[4] Though James's recording had not been commercially successful, upon reviewing the song, Presley decided he could turn it into a hit.^[5][6]

"Suspicious Minds"
Single byElvis Presley
B-side	"You'll Think of Me"
Released	August 26, 1969
Recorded	January 22, 1969
Studio	American Sound,Memphis
Genre	Rock[7] country rock[8] soul[9] pop[4]
Length	4:22
Label	RCA Victor
Songwriter	Mark James
Producers	Chips Moman andFelton Jarvis
Elvis Presley singles chronology
"Clean Up Your Own Backyard" (1969) "Suspicious Minds" / "You'll Think of Me" (1969) "Don't Cry Daddy" (1969)
Music video
"Suspicious Minds" (audio) onYouTube

Presley had not recorded in Memphis since 1955.^[10] Presley's 1969 recordings at American Sound Studio were a direct consequence of the'68 Comeback Special, that interested Chips Moman in producing recordings in Presley's new style; he was making his comeback to the Memphis musical scene by recordingrock,gospel,country,rhythm & blues, andsoul. Marty Lacker, a close friend of Elvis, suggested the record at the studio. These sessions produced the albumFrom Elvis in Memphis.^[4]

"Suspicious Minds" was a product of a session that took place between 4 and 7 a.m. on Thursday, January 23, 1969.^[11] James was in Memphis, but he was not at the recording session. A few days earlier, he had walked into the recording studio during a session and sensed that Presley was uncomfortable with his presence. James did not want to jinx the song, so he stayed away. When he heard the track the day after it was recorded, he initially thought it sounded too slow. When he later heard the embellished version, he said he was blown away. In later years, whenever Presley saw James, he would cross the room to say hello.^[4]

Production of the song was nearly scuttled over a copyright dispute. Presley's business peopleHill & Range said they wanted half of Moman's publishing rights. Moman accused them of stealing and threatened to halt the recording session. Harry Jenkins ofRCA agreed with Moman because he sensed that "the song would be a big hit and there would be plenty to go around".^[4]The songs "I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)", "Without Love (There Is Nothing)", and "I'll Be There" were recorded in the same session. On August 7, "Suspicious Minds" was again overdubbed tostereo andmono inLas Vegas, where the final master was produced byBill Porter.^[12] The song's time signature changes in the bridge section, from 4/4 to the slower 6/8, then back again to the faster 4/4 rhythm. The instrumental arrangement uses an electric guitar, bass guitar, organ, strings, trumpets, trombones, and drums. AsParade magazine wrote in a survey of some of Presley's biggest hits, the recording "boasts one of the most innovative arrangements in Elvis' career ... two time-signature changes, a jangling electric guitar, spiraling strings, pumping horns and a barreling backup choir".^[10]

RCA staff producerFelton Jarvis decided to add afade-out to the song starting at 3:36 and lasting for nearly 15 seconds before fading back in. The first verse then continues repeatedly until the song completely fades out at 4:22. In a 2012 interview withMarc Myers ofThe Wall Street Journal, Moman disclosed that Jarvis was never happy with Presley recording at American Sound Studio, saying "it was a control thing". He added: "So when Jarvis took the tape of 'Suspicious Minds', he added this crazy 15-second fade toward the end, like the song was ending, and brought it back by overdubbing to extend it. I have no idea why he did that, but he messed it up. It was like a scar. None of which mattered. Soon after the song was released, Elvis was back on top of the charts."^[13]

FutureGrateful Dead vocalistDonna Jean Godchaux sang backing vocals on the track.^[14]

"Suspicious Minds" was one of the singles that revived Presley's chart success in the US, following his'68 Comeback Special. It was his 14th and lastBillboard Hot 100No.1 single in the United States. In December 2003,Rolling Stone ranked it No. 91 on their list of the500 Greatest Songs of All Time.^[15] Session guitaristReggie Young played on both the James and Presley versions.

The song was later included on the legacy edition ofFrom Elvis in Memphis and the Follow That Dream reissue ofBack In Memphis.

Sourced from Keith Flynn.^{[16][17][18][19]}

• Elvis Presley – lead and harmony vocals; guitar (uncertain)
• Reggie Young – guitar
• Mike Leech – bass
• Bobby Wood – piano
• Bobby Emmons – organ
• Gene Chrisman – drums
• Art Vasquez, Norman Prentice,Bobby Shew – trumpets
• Archie LeCoque, Johnny Boice – trombones
• Kenneth Adkins – bass trombone
• Glen Spreen – string and horn arrangements
• Donna Thatcher,Mary "Jeannie" Greene, Ginger Holladay, Mary Holladay – backing vocals

Presley first performed the song at theLas Vegas International Hotel (later renamed the Hilton) on July 31, 1969, and the45 rpm single was released 26 days later. It reached No.1 on the USBillboard Hot 100 for the week of November 1 and stayed there for one week.^[20] It would be Presley's final No.1 single on theBillboard Hot 100, before his death ("Burning Love" in 1972 was a No.1 hit on theCashbox chart; "The Wonder Of You" in 1970, "Way Down" in 1977, andJunkie XL's remix of "A Little Less Conversation" in 2002 all hit No.1 on theUK Singles Chart, followed by re-issues of several previous chart-toppers in 2005).

"Suspicious Minds"
Single byFine Young Cannibals
from the albumFine Young Cannibals
B-side	"Prick Up Your Ears"
Released	January 2, 1986
Genre	Rock[48]
Length	3:58
Label	London,I.R.S.
Songwriter	Mark James
Producer	Robin Millar
Fine Young Cannibals singles chronology
"Blue" (1986) "Suspicious Minds" (1986) "Funny How Love Is" (1986)

In 1986, the bandFine Young Cannibals' cover version, which features backing vocals byJimmy Somerville, reached No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart. The video of the song was filmed in black and white and is mostly shown that way, onlycolorized following the bridge section. It pays homage to Elvis Presley in its monochromaticity (common during his early career) and the shiny spangled suits the band wears in the second half.

"Suspicious Minds"
Single byDwight Yoakam
from the albumHoneymoon in Vegas Soundtrack
Released	1992
Genre	Country
Length	3:51
Label	Epic
Songwriter	Mark James
Producer	Pete Anderson
Dwight Yoakam singles chronology
"Send a Message to My Heart" (1992) "Suspicious Minds" (1992) "Ain't That Lonely Yet" (1993)

In 1992, country singerDwight Yoakam recorded his version, for the soundtrack of the filmHoneymoon in Vegas, and also filmed an accompanying video.^[62] The track was later released on his 2004 compilation albumThe Very Best of Dwight Yoakam.

"Suspicious Minds"
Single byGareth Gates
from the albumWhat My Heart Wants to Say
A-side	"The Long and Winding Road"
Released	September 23, 2002 (2002-09-23)[66]
Recorded	2002
Genre	Pop
Length	3:52 19 S RCA BMG
Songwriter	Mark James
Producer	Steve Mac
Gareth Gates singles chronology
"Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake)" (2002) "The Long and Winding Road" / "Suspicious Minds" (2002) "What My Heart Wants to Say" (2002)
Music video
"Suspicious Minds" by Gareth Gates onYouTube

Gareth Gates, the runner-up ofthe first series of theITVtalent showPop Idol, released a cover version of "Suspicious Minds" onBMG-related record labels on September 23, 2002. The single is adouble-A side record containing a cover ofthe Beatles' "The Long and Winding Road" performed withPop Idol series one winnerWill Young. The single topped the UK Singles Chart, where it stayed for two consecutive weeks. The music video features Gates changing color, alternating between black and white in a white background, while clips from the 2002 filmLilo & Stitch are shown.

Dee Dee Warwick,Dionne Warwick's sister, covered "Suspicious Minds" in 1970. Warwick's version was a minor USpop hit, peaking at No. 80 in 1970. It reached No. 24 on theBillboardR&B chart for May 8, 1971.^[73]

Waylon Jennings andJessi Colter recorded the song for RCA in 1970. Their version reached No. 25 on theBillboardCountry chart in November of that year. The Jennings-Colter version was re-released by RCA in 1976, topping out at No. 2, and was included on the albumWanted! The Outlaws that same year. Their version was nominated for aGrammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the13th Annual Grammy Awards.

Candi Staton had a No. 31 UK hit with her revival in 1982.^[74]

• 1968 songs
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