Always on My Mind
"Always on My Mind" is a song originally recorded by Brenda Lee and released on June 12, 1972, with music and lyrics by Johnny Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Carson Thompson.
Elvis Presley version
Elvis Presley's version reached number 16 on Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles chart in early 1973. Brenda Lee's version had stalled at #45 on the country charts in 1972.
Willie Nelson version
The song was also recorded by Willie Nelson. Released in the spring of 1982, the song raced to number one on Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles chart that May, spending two weeks atop the chart. The song also did very well on Top 40 radio, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Apart from a Grammy Award for Song of the Year, "Always on My Mind" earned numerous other awards, including the 1982 and 1983 Country Music Association's "Song of the Year" honors (to songwriters Christopher, James and Thompson); and the 1982 CMA Single of the Year (to Nelson). "Always on My Mind" was named Billboard's number one country song for 1982.
Pet Shop Boys version
In 1987, the Pet Shop Boys performed a version on Love Me Tender, an ITV network television special commemorating the tenth anniversary of Presley's death, in which various popular contemporary acts performed cover versions of his hits. Their performance of "Always on My Mind" was so well-received that the group decided to record and release a version as a single. This version became the U.K.'s Christmas number one single that year, beating "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues, topping the charts for four weeks in total. It also reached number one in Germany in 1988, and made the top ten in the United States on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year, becoming the duo's fifth and last Top Ten hit there.
In November 2004, The Daily Telegraph newspaper placed the version at number two in a list of the fifty greatest cover versions of all time [1].
In December 2006, West End Girls, the Pet Shop Boys' Swedish tribute synthpop band did their own version of this song and released it on Christmas compilation album The Best Kids Christmas Album in the World Ever Ever Ever!!!.[2]
Other covers
- In 2002, Jade Villalon of Sweetbox sung her own version of the song, in a calm, acoustic feel, and added it as a bonus track on her album Jade.
- In 2002, this song was performed by Shakira in the concert of Divas Las Vegas, in an Elvis tribute alongside with singers Celine Dion, Cher, The Dixie Chicks, Whitney Houston and Anastacia.
- In 2002, DJ Quicksilver president Base Unique presented a remake of "Always on My Mind", a vocal-trance that includes the vocals by singer Diana Maria.
- A punk rock version of the song was performed by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on their Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah.
- Norweigan act Erlend Øye recorded part of the song in a medley on his album that was part of the DJ-Kicks series.
- In 2003, B.B. King covered the song on his album Reflections.
- In 2004, Season 3 American Idol Winner Fantasia Barrino covered the song on her album Free Yourself.
- In 2005, American singer songwriter Ryan Adams covered the song which features as a bonus tracks on the vinyl edition, and U.K. CD version of his album Jacksonville City Nights.
- In 2007, Canadian Grammy nominated singer songwriter Michael Bublé covered the song on his third studio album Call Me Irresponsible.
External links
- Lyrics of this song, referred to the Elvis's version
- Second Hand Songs Link (Shows list of those who have covered this song)