A crossover smash covered by everyone from Willie Nelson to the Pet Shop Boys, ‘Always On My Mind’ is widely regarded as one of Elvis Presley’s finest moments from the 1970s, and potentially one of his greatest songs ever.
But do you know who actually wrote (and originally recorded) this poignant song before the King of Rock and Roll made it globally famous? Or about the personal turmoil, specifically involving Elvis Always On My Mind Priscilla, that likely fueled his deeply emotional vocal performance? As a source for Shock Naue Entertainment News, we delve into the making of this masterpiece.
Here is everything you need to know about the history and impact of this million-selling classic.
The Origin and Songwriting Credits
It’s a well-known fact that Elvis Presley, despite his legendary status as a performer, was not primarily a songwriter. His manager, Colonel Tom Parker, famously arranged for Elvis to receive undeserved songwriting credits and royalties on many of his early hits, often summarized by the phrase “Change a word, get a third.” This practice even contributed to the end of fruitful collaborations, such as the one with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
However, this issue wasn’t a factor with ‘Always On My Mind’, as the song was written, recorded, and released by other artists before Elvis ever stepped into the studio to perform it. The songwriting credits are shared by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James, all accomplished writers in their own right. Carson, known for hits like ‘The Letter’ and ‘Soul Deep’, reportedly wrote the majority of the song in a mere ten minutes while sitting at his kitchen table in Missouri. When producer Chips Moman felt the song needed a bridge during a studio session, Christopher and James contributed the crucial “tell me…” section.
The Journey to Elvis: Earlier Recordings
While Elvis’s rendition is the version most people recognize instantly, it was not the first recording. The song was initially offered to producer Fred Foster, who famously turned it down.
The very first recording was made by B.J. Thomas in 1970. However, this version remained unreleased for over two decades, finally surfacing on his Collector’s Edition compilation in 1996. The song’s public debut came with Gwen McCrae’s version, titled ‘You Were Always on My Mind’, released on March 28, 1972.
Gwen McCrae You Were Always on My Mind YouTube thumbnail
Just a few months later, Brenda Lee released her version in June 1972. While her take did appear on the charts, it only managed to scrape into the Top 50 on the Country charts, leaving the door open for a definitive version to emerge.
This set the stage for Elvis Aaron Presley. He recorded his iconic version on March 29, 1972, at RCA Studios in Hollywood, California. His recording was released to the public on October 31, 1972, as the B-side to the single ‘Separate Ways’.
Unpacking the Meaning and the Personal Connection
Lyrically, ‘Always On My Mind’ is a straightforward, heartfelt lament. The narrator expresses regret for not having treated his partner as well as he should have (“maybe I didn’t treat you quite as good as I should have”). Despite these shortcomings, he reassures her that she was constantly in his thoughts (“you were always on my mind”). He then pleads for forgiveness and another opportunity to make amends (“give me one more chance to keep you satisfied”).
Despite the fact that the song was written years before Elvis recorded it, the timing of his recording aligned uncannily with a tumultuous period in his personal life, making his rendition particularly poignant. He recorded the song just weeks after separating from his wife, Priscilla Presley, on February 23, 1972.
This personal heartbreak and the impending divorce undoubtedly fueled his deeply emotional and passionate vocal performance on ‘Always On My Mind’. When songwriter Wayne Carson was asked by interviewer Gary James about the common belief that Elvis was singing the song specifically about Priscilla, Carson simply replied, “Well, he was.” The couple had experienced difficulties, including Elvis’s affair with Joyce Bova in 1971 and Priscilla’s later affair with karate instructor Mike Stone. Elvis and Priscilla filed for divorce on August 18, 1971, which was finalized on October 9, 1973. The intense emotional context of their separation lends profound weight to Elvis’s delivery of the song’s lyrics. For fans exploring his extensive catalogue, ‘Always On My Mind’ stands out among elvis famous songs list precisely because of this connection.
Chart Performance and Enduring Legacy
In the United States, ‘Separate Ways’ and ‘Always On My Mind’ were promoted as a double A-side single, though ‘Separate Ways’ was considered the primary side. [elvis separate ways](https://shocknaue.com/elvis-separate-ways/) went Gold with sales exceeding a million copies, reaching number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 16 on the Hot Country Songs Chart, and number 3 on the Adult Contemporary Chart.
Across the Atlantic in the UK, ‘Always On My Mind’ was correctly identified as the stronger track and was promoted as the lead A-side. It achieved significant success, peaking at number nine on the UK Singles Chart. The song also performed well throughout Europe and other parts of the world. Today, it is widely considered one of Elvis’s best recordings from the 1970s and is often cited as potentially his last truly great single release during his lifetime. The song experienced renewed popularity with re-releases, reaching number 13 in 1997 thanks to a BT television advert and number 17 in 2007 for the 30th anniversary of his passing.
Iconic Covers That Followed
Following Elvis’s definitive version, ‘Always On My Mind’ became a popular choice for other artists to cover, both in live performances and studio recordings. Country artist John Wesley Ryles achieved a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot Country chart with his rendition.
Willie Nelson delivered an even more successful cover. His take topped the Country chart in May 1982 and impressively crossed over to reach number five on the Billboard Hot 100. Nelson’s version eventually went platinum and earned numerous prestigious awards, including Best Country Song, Best Male Country Vocal Performance, and the coveted Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards. It also received Song of the Year and Single of the Year honors at the Country Music Association awards. Nelson’s cover was later featured in full in the HBO series The Newsroom and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008. He even recorded a memorable duet version with Johnny Cash for the VH1 Storytellers series in 1998. Exploring Elvis’s impact, many fans seek out his greatest hits, often finding ‘Always On My Mind’ high on [elvis presley top 20 songs](https://shocknaue.com/elvis-presley-top-20-songs/) lists.
Perhaps the most unexpected and striking cover came from the British synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys. In 1987, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe performed their unique synth-laden version for the ITV special Love Me Tender, which marked the tenth anniversary of Elvis’s death.
Pet Shop Boys performing their cover of Always On My Mind
The performance was so well-received that they decided to record and release it as a single. Their version became a massive international hit, spending four weeks at number one in the UK and reaching number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. It is now widely regarded as one of the greatest cover songs of all time and famously beat The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl’s ‘Fairytale of New York’ to the coveted UK Christmas number one spot in 1987. A remixed version combined with their track ‘In My House’ later appeared on their third studio album, Introspective. The song’s enduring popularity even led to orchestrated versions, such as those featured on albums like [royal philharmonic orchestra always on my mind](https://shocknaue.com/royal-philharmonic-orchestra-always-on-my-mind/), showcasing its adaptability across genres.
A Timeless Expression of Regret
‘Always On My Mind’ remains a powerful and resonant song, cherished by fans of Elvis Presley and music lovers worldwide. Its ability to connect with listeners stems not only from its beautiful melody and poignant lyrics but also from the raw emotion Elvis poured into his performance, inextricably linked to the personal circumstances involving his separation from Priscilla. As Shock Naue Entertainment News, we recognize its place as a timeless classic that continues to touch hearts decades after its release.
