The Story and Sessions Behind Elvis Presley’s Iconic ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight?’

One of the biggest selling singles of 1960 for Elvis Presley, “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” holds a unique place in his vast catalog. This enduring ballad, originally written by Roy Turk and Lou Handman in 1926, underwent a significant transformation before reaching the King of Rock and Roll. A spoken part, drawing inspiration from Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’ (Act II Scene VII), was introduced in 1950. This addition contributed to a later recording landing on the Billboard Pop Chart, staying there for eight weeks.

Elvis Presley’s rendition famously includes the distinctive spoken words. His performances of the song, particularly live, sometimes featured lighthearted, impromptu changes to the lyrics. Instead of the original line, “Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there,” he might humorously substitute, “Do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair.”

Robert Matthew-Walker, in his 1979 book Elvis Presley – A Study In Music, commented on the song’s impact: “Are You Lonesome Tonight?’ marks a startling change of direction: it is a slow-moving ballad, gentle, caring, beautifully sung, with the kind of voice Presley had already shown on ‘Silent Night’ – natural, unforced, dead in tune, and totally distinctive. This classic song is enhanced by the extended ‘talking’ section in the middle – a difficult procedure to bring off, but here, surrounded by echo, it succeeds.”

The full lyrics to this classic track capture the melancholic mood:

Are you lonesome tonight, do you miss me tonight?
Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Does your memory stray to a brighter sunny day
When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?
Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare?
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?

I wonder if you’re lonesome tonight
You know someone said that the world’s a stage
And each must play a part.
Fate had me playing in love you as my sweet heart.
Act one was when we met, I loved you at first glance
You read your line so cleverly and never missed a cue
Then came act two, you seemed to change and you acted strange
And why I’ll never know.
Honey, you lied when you said you loved me
And I had no cause to doubt you.
But I’d rather go on hearing your lies
Than go on living without you.
Now the stage is bare and I’m standing there
With emptiness all around
And if you won’t come back to me
Then make them bring the curtain down.

Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?

“Are You Lonesome Tonight?” was officially recorded by Elvis on April 4, 1960, and was first released as a single. This recording took place during a pivotal moment in Elvis’s career: his return to music after serving in the army.

The Post-Army Recording Sessions of 1960

Elvis wasted no time getting back into the studio after his military discharge. On March 20, 1960, just days after returning to civilian life, Elvis and his entourage, including musicians Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana (though notably not Bill Black, who would not play with Elvis again), traveled to Nashville. They headed to RCA’s Studio B, which had been upgraded with a three-track machine. The session also brought back musicians from the June 1958 sessions, the Jordanaires, Colonel Parker, and RCA’s new chief studio engineer, Bill Porter.

This session on March 20 marked the first time Elvis recorded in true stereo. He recorded six songs, including “Stuck On You” and “Fame And Fortune,” which were quickly released as a much-needed single within two days. Other tracks from this session would be included on his forthcoming album, with more sessions planned for April.

March 20, 1960 RCA – Studio B – Nashville, Tennessee

• Make Me Know It (L2WB 0081-19)
• Soldier Boy (L2WB 0082-15)

March 21, 1960 RCA Studio B – Nashville, Tennessee

• elvis is back songs (L2WB 0083-03)
• Fame & Fortune (L2WB 0084-sp)
• A Mess Of Blues (L2WB 0085-05)
• It Feels So Right (L2WB 0086-05)

Welcome Home Elvis: The Sinatra Special

On March 26, just after these initial recording sessions, Elvis taped “The Frank Sinatra-Timex Special,” also known as “Welcome Home Elvis.” The show was recorded at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami and aired on May 12, 1960. Colonel Parker had arranged this appearance months in advance, aiming to present Elvis to a broader audience of adults and pop music fans, moving beyond his established teenage and country-western base. To ensure a strong reception, Parker filled the studio audience with 400 members from one of Elvis’s largest fan clubs.

Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley together on the 1960 TV special

The special, featuring the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, included performances of:

• Fame And Fortune
• Stuck On You
• Love Me Tender / Witchcraft (a duet between Elvis and Sinatra)

Return to the Studio and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”

Just two weeks after the first post-army session, Elvis was back in Nashville. On April 3, 1960, he boarded a chartered bus to return to RCA Studio B. The same core group of musicians was joined this time by saxophonist Boots Randolph, adding new instrumental textures to the recordings.

April 3, 1960 RCA Studio B – Nashville, Tennessee

• Fever (L2WB 0098-04)
• Like A Baby (L2WB 0099-06)
• It’s Now Or Never (L2WB 0100-sp)

The following day, April 4, proved particularly significant for fans of Elvis’s ballads.

April 4, 1960 RCA Studio B – Nashville, Tennessee

• The Girl Of My Best Friend (L2WB 0101-10)
• Dirty Dirty Feeling (L2WB 0102-04)
• Thrill Of Your Love (L2WB 0103-03)
• I Gotta Know (L2WB 0104-02)
• Such A Night (L2WB 0105-05)
• Are You Lonesome Tonight? (L2WB 0106-05)
• Are You Lonesome Tonight? (work Part) (____-02)
• Are You Lonesome Tonight? (composite) (L2WB 0106-sp)
• The Girl Next Door Went A’ Walking (L2WB 0107-04)
• I Will Be Home Again (L2WB 0108-04)
• Reconsider Baby (L2WB 0109-02)

The sessions continued on April 5 with an overdub for “It’s Now Or Never.”

April 5, 1960 RCA Studio B – Nashville, Tennessee

• It’s Now Or Never (overdub) (L2WB 0100)

The “Elvis Is Back” LP

RCA swiftly processed the session tapes. Just four days after the April 4th session, on April 8, 1960, the LP “Elvis Is Back” was shipped. The album’s gatefold cover, featuring army snapshots, had been printed beforehand, with the titles of the recently recorded songs added via a sticker on the front cover.

Cover art for the Elvis Is Back LP 1960

“Elvis Is Back” represented a peak in Elvis’s artistic control and focus. Like his earlier work, the album showcased an eclectic mix of genres, from the sentimental “I Will Be Home Again,” a duet with Charlie Hodge, to the raw blues of “Reconsider Baby” featuring Boots Randolph’s sax solo. This blend of styles resulted in an innovative and successful album, reaching number 2 on the charts. However, not all the songs recorded during these prolific Nashville sessions were included on the LP. RCA strategically held back several acclaimed ballads, specifically “It’s Now or Never” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?,” along with the future single “Surrender,” for later release. The selection of a melancholy tune like “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” for a single marked a distinct stylistic shift compared to much of the music Elvis released before his military service.

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Discover Rare Footage: Tupelo’s Own Elvis Presley DVD

For fans wanting to experience Elvis’s early energy, the “Tupelo’s Own Elvis Presley DVD” offers a unique look back. Never before had concert footage of Elvis from the 1950s been available with sound until this release. The DVD features newly discovered, unreleased film of Elvis performing six songs live in Tupelo, Mississippi, in 1956, including hits like “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Don’t Be Cruel.” It also contains the first-ever public viewing of his performance of the elusive “Long Tall Sally.” A bonus DVD audio track is included.

Tupelos Own Elvis Presley DVD cover or promotional image

This release is highly recommended for any fan. The included parade footage provides valuable historical context in both color and black & white. The interviews with Elvis’s parents are also considered well worth hearing. The footage of the afternoon show, capturing Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling before a crowd of 11,000, is described as wonderful and electrifying. The “Tupelo’s Own Elvis Presley DVD” offers rare video with sound, providing an invaluable glimpse into the early days of the King’s live performances.

In conclusion, Elvis Presley’s recording of “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” stands as a testament to his versatility as an artist. Recorded during his prolific return to music in 1960, the song’s historical depth, unique structure featuring the spoken word, and the detailed context of its recording sessions contribute to its status as one of his most beloved and enduring hits.