Elvis Presley’s 1962 hit, “Return to Sender,” remains one of his most recognizable and beloved songs. Released during a period of incredible chart dominance for the King of Rock and Roll, the track captured the catchy, upbeat sound of the era and became an instant classic. Exploring the story behind Elvis Singing Return To Sender reveals insights into its creation, its prominent feature in a popular film, its impressive chart run, and its place as a pivotal moment marking the end of an unprecedented streak of success for Presley.
The Story Behind the Song: From Title to Elvis
The song boasts a distinguished origin, co-written by the legendary Hall of Fame songwriter Otis Blackwell. Blackwell was already renowned for penning Presley classics like “Don’t Be Cruel” and “All Shook Up,” alongside other compositions Elvis recorded, including “Paralyzed,” “Fever,” “Make Me Know It,” and “(Such an) Easy Question.”
Blackwell often started with a unique title. In a 1971 radio documentary, he explained his process: “I try to get titles that I haven’t heard before… Usually, I try to come up with a title first, and then write the story around it.” “Return to Sender” emerged from this method as a title he felt was strong enough to send specifically for Elvis.
Interestingly, according to a 1991 interview with Blackwell, it was Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’s manager—often criticized for blocking potential hits—who ensured “Return to Sender” reached Presley. Blackwell recalled meeting Parker in New York:
“The first song that Winfield Scott and I wrote for Elvis Presley was ‘Return To Sender’ … they had given us a movie to do… We also wrote ‘Return to Sender’, but ‘Return to Sender’ was not one of the titles [they requested]… Colonel Parker had come to New York… and he asked me did we have any [songs]. So I told him… the other song was not a title they’d given us. He said, ‘Well, you gotta’ play it for me any way ’cause Elvis loves to hear your stuff.’ … I played ‘Return To Sender’ for him, and he said, ‘Don’t worry. That will go into the movie. I can tell you that ’cause it’s a great song.’”
Recording “Return to Sender”: The Hollywood Sessions
Elvis recorded “Return to Sender” on March 27, 1962, at the famed Radio Recorders studio in Hollywood. The session included Presley regulars like guitarist Scotty Moore and drummer D. J. Fontana, along with pianist Dudley Brooks and a larger-than-usual group of musicians assembled for the diverse soundtrack of Girls! Girls! Girls! A key element was Boots Randolph’s instantly recognizable baritone saxophone riff that opens the track.
The Jordanaires provided extensive backing vocals, which were notably prominent in the final mix. This is somewhat ironic, given Colonel Parker’s frequent insistence that the Jordanaires’ vocals be pushed further back on recordings to emphasize Elvis’s lead. On “Return to Sender,” however, their contribution is powerful, arguably sharing the spotlight with Presley’s vocal and at times nearly overshadowing it.
Elvis Singing Return to Sender in Girls! Girls! Girls!
The song was prominently featured in Elvis’s 1962 film, Girls! Girls! Girls! For many fans at the time, this movie and its soundtrack were their introduction to Presley’s work. In the film, audiences could watch Elvis Singing Return To Sender during a lively nightclub scene. Reflecting the popular dance craze of the early sixties, Elvis incorporates “Twist” movements into his performance, a sight that might seem slightly unusual today but was perfectly fitting for the era. This visual performance undoubtedly helped propel the song’s popularity.
Elvis Presley candid photo on the set of the 1962 movie Girls! Girls! Girls! where he performed Return to Sender
Chart Performance: A Near Miss for Number One
“Return to Sender” enjoyed a significant 16-week run on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. It debuted at #68 on October 20, 1962, and quickly climbed into the top 10 just two weeks later, where it remained for an impressive 10 weeks. Despite its massive popularity, it famously peaked at #2, holding that position for five consecutive weeks starting November 17. The song had the misfortune of competing against The Four Seasons’ mega-hit “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” which occupied the #1 spot during that entire period. While “Return to Sender” did reach #1 for one week on the Cashbox Top 100 Singles chart, the Billboard Hot 100 is traditionally considered the industry standard, meaning the song is often excluded from lists of Elvis’s official #1 hits.
Original picture sleeve for the Elvis Presley 45 RPM single Return to Sender released in 1962
The End of an Era: Chart Dominance and Decline
At the time of “Return to Sender’s” release in 1962, Elvis Presley seemed invincible on the charts. It was his 24th major RCA single release since “Heartbreak Hotel” in 1956. In an astonishing run, both sides of nearly all these singles had charted on Billboard’s Top/Hot 100, and at least one side of all 24 had reached the top 5. Thirteen had hit #1, and “Return to Sender” came incredibly close to being the fourteenth.
However, subtle cracks were beginning to appear in this armor of chart dominance. The B-side of “Return to Sender,” “Where Do You Come From,” barely scraped onto the Hot 100 at #99 for a single week, narrowly avoiding the distinction of being the first Presley RCA single side to miss the chart entirely. That unwelcome milestone occurred the following summer when “Please Don’t Drag That String Around” failed to chart. From that point on, many Elvis B-sides would not make the Hot 100.
Furthermore, after “Return to Sender” exited the chart in early 1963, the performance of Elvis’s A-sides also began to falter. His next single, “One Broken Heart for Sale,” peaked at #11, becoming his first lead single since his RCA debut not to crack the top 10. This was followed by a string of relatively disappointing chart positions in 1964, including “Kissin’ Cousins” (#12), “Kiss Me Quick” (#34), “Viva Las Vegas” (#29), and “Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby” (#16). While the “British Invasion” led by The Beatles played a significant role in shifting musical tastes, the departure of key songwriters like Aaron Schroeder and, eventually, Otis Blackwell also impacted the quality of material available to Elvis, leading to a reliance on soundtrack songs and less compelling material for several years.
Lasting Legacy
“Return to Sender,” therefore, stands as the final single in an unparalleled streak of 24 consecutive major top 5 hits for Elvis Presley on the Billboard chart. Although it marked the end of that specific golden era, the song itself has endured. Decades after Elvis’s death, the phrase “Return to Sender” remains instantly associated with him in popular culture, much like “All Shook Up.” This connection was highlighted when the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative Elvis stamp on January 8, 1993. Reports noted that many fans mailed letters with this stamp to fictitious addresses, hoping to receive them back marked “return to sender,” a testament to the song’s cultural imprint.
1993 US Postal Service commemorative stamp featuring Elvis Presley, often mailed with requests for ‘return to sender’ markings
Ultimately, “Return to Sender” represents more than just another hit record. It captures Elvis Presley at a peak moment, showcases the collaborative genius behind his music, and serves as a significant marker in his legendary career trajectory—a song that continues to resonate with listeners worldwide.
