The song “No More” holds a unique place in the vast discography of Elvis Presley. While perhaps not as immediately recognized globally as hits like “Jailhouse Rock” or “Love Me Tender”, this beautiful adaptation played a significant role in the success of one of his most popular movie soundtracks, Blue Hawaii. The origin story of this particular No More Song By Elvis offers fascinating insight into the creative process behind his film music during a prolific period in his career. Commissioned specifically for a scene in the movie, “No More” is an English adaptation of the classic Spanish folk song “La Paloma”, tailored to fit Elvis’s distinctive style and the film’s Hawaiian setting.
The Genesis of “No More”: From Spanish Folk Song to Elvis Hit
The journey of “No More” began with a specific request from Freddy Bienstock at Elvis Presley Music in January 1961. Following the immense success of “It’s Now Or Never” (an adaptation of “O Sole Mio”), the call was for another adaptation of a public domain Italian or French folk song, complete with new English lyrics, for Elvis’s upcoming film, Blue Hawaii. Songwriter Don Robertson remembered “La Paloma” from his childhood and, enlisting the help of Hal Blair, set about creating the new version.
Working from memory without a copy of the original music, Robertson felt this was a fortunate constraint, allowing the adaptation to develop a unique character distinct from the version he knew. Robertson and Blair dedicated a day in Robertson’s Hollywood office, collaboratively crafting lyric phrases while Robertson worked on the musical arrangement at the piano, singing in Elvis’s style. This iterative process led to a song they felt was a strong fit for Elvis and the movie. A demo session was arranged at RCA on Sunset Blvd. Robertson, playing the B3 organ, brought in friend and colleague Bonnie Guitar to provide rhythm guitar. After laying down the instrumental tracks, Robertson overdubbed the vocal. Despite the small setup, the demo effectively captured the song’s intended feel. Robertson created a lead sheet and sent it along with the demo to Freddy Bienstock. The fact that Elvis’s final recording closely mirrored Robertson’s demo, even down to the vocal phrasing, served as a strong validation of their work, confirming they had successfully captured the desired sound and mood for what would become an enduring elvis presley song my way of telling a story through music.
A Productive Year: Elvis Presley’s Early 1961 Activities
Before heading to Hollywood for Blue Hawaii, Elvis Presley had a busy start to 1961. On February 25th, he appeared in Memphis at a luncheon held in his honor, where recent awards were showcased, and a press conference followed. Tennessee Governor Buford Ellington proclaimed that day “Elvis Presley Day,” a tradition Elvis honored annually by donating to numerous Memphis-area charities, particularly around Christmas. This commitment would eventually grow to support fifty or more organizations, earning him a large plaque from the city acknowledging his generosity.
Elvis also performed two charity shows at Ellis Auditorium in Memphis on February 25th. Following these public appearances and charitable contributions, Elvis moved on to record non-soundtrack material. The sessions on March 12th and 13th, 1961, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, yielded tracks for his album Something For Everybody, including songs like “I’m Coming Home,” “Gently,” “In Your Arms,” “Give Me The Right,” “I Feel So Bad,” “It’s A Sin,” “I Want You With Me,” and “There’s Always Me” from the first day, and “Starting Today,” “Sentimental Me,” “Judy,” and “Put The Blame On Me” from the second. These sessions demonstrated Elvis’s versatility across different musical styles, hinting at the breadth that would characterize some of his most well-known releases and solidifying his place among [elvis presley songs top 10] discussions for years to come.
Album cover for Elvis Presley’s Something For Everybody LP from 1961
Recording the Blue Hawaii Soundtrack
With the non-soundtrack recordings complete, Elvis and his entourage flew to Los Angeles on March 14, 1961, to begin production on Blue Hawaii. After a few initial days spent with friends, Elvis focused on recording the soundtrack. Unlike much of his other music from the period, the Blue Hawaii sessions took place in Hollywood rather than Nashville, at Radio Recorders studios.
The session on March 21, 1961, specifically saw the recording of “No More.” This session also included other key tracks for the film’s soundtrack such as “Hawaiian Sunset,” “Aloha Oe” (Section 2), “Ku-U-I-Po,” and “Slicin’ Sand.” The following days at Radio Recorders (March 22nd and 23rd) and a final session at Paramount Scoring Stage (March 28th) completed the soundtrack recordings, adding memorable songs like the title track “Blue Hawaii,” “Ito Eats,” “Hawaiian Wedding Song,” “Island Of Love,” “Steppin’ Out Of Line,” “Almost Always True,” “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” “Beach Boy Blues,” and “Rock A Hula Baby.” The recording of this diverse set of songs in a focused period highlights Elvis’s commitment to his film projects and expanded his repertoire significantly. The impact of these songs would contribute to the ongoing debate among fans about [elvis presley top 5 songs] or even his top 10 hits.
Original LP cover for Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaii soundtrack album
The Phenomenal Success of the Blue Hawaii Album
Released in October 1961, the Blue Hawaii soundtrack album proved to be a massive commercial success, becoming Elvis Presley’s biggest-selling movie soundtrack. It quickly climbed to the top of the Billboard albums chart, holding the No. 1 position for an impressive 20 weeks. This achievement set a longevity record for a rock performer or group on the album chart, a record that remained unbroken until Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours surpassed it in 1977. The album spent a total of 79 weeks on the chart and was eventually awarded double platinum status by the RIAA in March 1992, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of Elvis’s career and showcasing the enduring appeal of the songs created during these Hollywood sessions, including the No More Song By Elvis.
Elvis Presley at the Coco Palms Resort in 1961 during the filming of Blue Hawaii
Related Historical Performances
While the focus of early 1960s saw Elvis concentrating on movies and soundtracks like Blue Hawaii, his powerful live performances from the previous decade remain legendary. Recently discovered and unreleased film footage offers a glimpse into Elvis’s raw energy on stage in the 1950s. This footage captures six live performances from Tupelo, Mississippi, in 1956, featuring early hits such as “Heartbreak Hotel” and “Don’t Be Cruel,” along with a rare performance of “Long Tall Sally.” These historical records provide a fascinating contrast between the energetic rock and roll of his early career and the more polished, diverse sound he cultivated for his film projects, including iconic moments like the [elvis an american trilogy show] from a later era. This period also highlights his evolution from those raw beginnings to becoming a global superstar known for his chart-topping hits and memorable cinematic appearances, encompassing everything from romantic ballads featured in movies like “No More” to powerful spirituals like [elvis presley glory glory hallelujah].
DVD cover featuring Elvis Presley performing live in Tupelo, Mississippi in the 1950s
“No More” Lyrics
No more do I see the starlight caress your hair
No more feel the tender kisses we used to share
I close my eyes and clearly my heart remembers
A thousand good-byes could never put out the embers
Darling I love you so and my heart forever
Will belong to the memory of the love that we knew before
Please come back to my arms, we belong together
Come to me let’s be sweethearts again and then let us part no more.
No more do I feel the touch of your hand on mine
No more see the lovelight making your dark eyes shine
Oh how I wish I never had caused you sorrow
But don’t ever say for us there is no tomorrow
Darling I love you so and my heart forever
Will belong to the memory of the love that we knew before
Please come back to my arms, we belong together
Come to me let’s be sweethearts again and then let us part no more.
Recorded: 1961/03/21, first released on Blue Hawaii
From the movie Blue Hawaii
Conclusion
The no more song by elvis stands as a testament to the creativity and collaboration involved in crafting the successful Blue Hawaii soundtrack. Its origin as an adaptation of “La Paloma,” thoughtfully reworked by Don Robertson and Hal Blair, and seamlessly integrated into the film, demonstrates the tailored approach taken for Elvis’s movie projects. Recorded amidst a busy period of recordings and public appearances in early 1961, “No More” contributed to an album that achieved remarkable and lasting commercial success. It remains a beautiful example of Elvis Presley’s ability to inhabit various musical styles and deliver memorable performances, whether in a studio for a soundtrack or on stage.
