Classic Pop Icons

Elvis Presley’s rock ‘n’ roll classic “My Baby Left Me” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons. “My Baby Left Me” was released in May 1956 on the B-side of the single “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You.” The rhythm and blues original had been recorded by Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup in the late 1940s.

“My Baby Left Me” is a great example of how Elvis’ style evolved as he moved from Sun Records to RCA Victor. While the tune is very similar in parts to Elvis’ first Sun track, “That’s All Right” (another Crudup cover), the execution here is much edgier. This is due in part to the addition of D.J. Fontana on drums, but there is also more attack in Elvis’ vocal and Scotty Moore’s guitar. Bill Black’s throbbing bass work is also an essential element of what is one of Elvis’ finest early recordings.

Elvis was a commercial powerhouse in mid-1956 in the US. On May 12, 1956, a Billboard magazine article titled “E.P. Is V.I.P. For Victor” reported a record-breaking 300,000 advance orders for the “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You”/”My Baby Left Me” single. The following week’s issue carried an ad (see left) which boasted that advance orders had since risen to more than 650,000. The single would go on to become Elvis’ second million seller.

Elvis Presley – “My Baby Left Me”

A live recording of “My Baby Left Me” appears on the 1974 album “Elvis – Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis,” but it is no match for the 1956 recording.

Here’s Arthur Crudup’s original:

Arthur Crudup – “My Baby Left Me”

Authorship

“My Baby Left Me” was written by Arthur Crudup. Elvis also covered Crudup’s “That’s All Right” in 1954 and “So Glad You’re Mine” in 1956.

Recording date/location

“My Baby Left Me”” was recorded on 30 January, 1956 at RCA Studio 1, New York City. Elvis and the band were on fire this day, recording three other great rock ‘n’ roll masters – “Blue Suede Shoes,” “One Sided Love Affair” and “So Glad You’re Mine.”

Musicians

The following musicians featured on “My Baby Left Me”:

• Elvis Presley – lead vocals, guitar
• Scotty Moore – guitar
• Bill Black – bass
• D.J. Fontana – drums.

Chart performance

The “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You”/”My Baby Left Me” single peaked at number one on both the Billboard Top Sellers in Stores chart and Country Music chart. “My Baby Left Me” also reached number 31 on the Billboard Top 100, which was a list of most popular sides based on DJ and Juke Box operator stats.

The single reached number 14 in the UK.

“My Baby Left Me” was also the first independent Elvis single to hit number one on the UK Indy Charts when released by the Memphis Recording Service (MRS) in collaboration with HMV in 2007. This MRS single also reached number 19 on the main UK singles chart.

Covers

Creedence Clearwater Revival – “My Baby Left Me”

Creedence Clearwater Revival featured a cover of “My Baby Left Me” on their fifth album, “Cosmo’s Factory,” which was released in July 1970. This is a pretty straight copy of the Elvis arrangement from a band that had clearly been inspired by the early rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll greats. In the case of Elvis, there was mutual admiration, as “Proud Mary” became a regular part of Elvis’ live show in the early 1970s.

Dave Berry – “My Baby Left Me”

Dave Berry had a UK top 40 hit in 1964 with his cover of “My Baby Left Me,” backed with “Hoochie Coochie Man.” His version evokes both the rock ‘n’ roll of Elvis’ cut and the song’s R&B origins. Berry’s vocal doesn’t ever really excite, but the recording is noteworthy for featuring a pre-Yardbirds Jimmy Page on lead guitar.

Imelda May – “My Baby Left Me”

Irish rockabilly artist Imelda May features “My Baby Left Me” in her stage show, sometimes as a single song and sometimes as a medley with other tracks, including “That’s All Right.” Imelda’s cover is also quite faithful to the Elvis version. Here she is performing the song at the “Elvis Forever” tribute concert which took place in Hyde Park, London last year. The guitarist is her husband, Darrel Higham, who also borrows some of Scotty Moore’s “Milk Cow Blues” guitar licks for good measure.

There will be a new Song of the Week on June 20.

Elvis Presley’s “My Baby Left Me” is available on the expanded edition of the album “Elvis Presley” and on many compilations, including the excellent four-CD box set “Elvis 75-Good Rockin’ Tonight.”

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