19

ElvisPresley,'HoundDog'

Writers:JerryLeiber,MikeStoller
Producer:SteveSholes
Released:July'56,RCA
28weeks;No.1
"HoundDog"wasahitbeforeElvisPresleysangit,andhewasfamousforsingingitbeforeherecorded
it.Writtenin1952bywhiteteenagersJerryLeiberandMikeStollerforR&BsingerWillieMae"Big
Mama"Thornton,itwasasmashforher,andwasimmediatelycoveredbyahandfulofcountryacts.(The
chorus,Leibernotedin1987,wascodefor"Youain'tnothin'butamotherfucker.")Presley,alwaysonthe
lookoutforhillbilly/R&Bcrossoverpossibilities,addedthesongtohisstageactinthespringof1956,
afterhearingFreddieBellandtheBellboyssingitinLasVegas.OnJune5thofthatyear,hiship
swivelingperformanceof"HoundDog"onTheMiltonBerleShowbecameaninstantsensation
notoriousenoughthatonhisnextTVappearance,hecroonedthesongtoatophattedbassethound.The
nextmorning,Presleyandhisbandgotdeadlyseriousabout"HoundDog,"perfectingitover31takesat
NewYork'sRCAStudios.Withsnarlingvocalauthority,D.J.Fontana'stommygundrumrollsand
slashingguitarbyScottyMoore,Presleytransformedthesong'sblueschangesandputdownrhymesinto
adeclarationofindependencefromhisgeneration'scold,rigidelders."HoundDog"wastheflipsideof
"Don'tBeCruel,"Presley'sthirdRCAsingle.Itwasalsothesonginwhichhetoldtheworld:Likeitor
not,rock&rollisheretostay.
Appearson:Elvis30#1Hits(RCA)
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