The film was originally intended to be a straight acting role for Presley,[2] but due to the popularity of the single "Love Me Tender" and Colonel Tom Parker's desire to promote Presley's films with a soundtrack and vice versa,[2] four songs were added to the film. Parker would very seldom deviate from this formula for the remainder of Presley's film career.
Instead of a full long-playing album soundtrack, for Love Me Tender the four songs appearing in the film were released as an extended-play or E.P. seven-inch 45 RPM record on RCA Victor, Love Me Tender, catalog EPA 4006, during November 1956.[2]
Content
The four EP soundtrack songs were recorded at Fox's Stage One in Hollywood, at three sessions on August 24, September 4, and October 1, 1956. The title song was released as a single on September 14, 1956, and went to No. 1 on the singles chart.
The music was based on the Civil Warballad "Aura Lee," with new lyrics by Ken Darby.[2] Darby, in fact, wrote all of the soundtrack songs, but credited them to his wife, Vera Matson, while Parker cut his publishing company, Hill and Range, in on the royalties by further crediting the writing to Presley as well.[2] A reprise of "Love Me Tender" was recorded on October 1 and is heard at the end of the film; this short track was not released until after Presley's death.[2] The sessions for these songs were the only time in the decade that Presley recorded with musicians outside his regular coterie.[2]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Ken Darby but credited to Elvis Presley and Vera Matson
