"Burning Love" is a 1972 song by Elvis Presley, written by Dennis Linde, originally released by Arthur Alexander earlier in 1972. Presley found major success with the song, it becoming his final Top 10 hit in the American Hot 100 or pop charts, peaking at number 2 (it was kept out of the top spot by Chuck Berry's "My Ding-a-Ling").

"Burning Love"
Single by Elvis Presley
B-side"It's a Matter of Time"
ReleasedAugust 1, 1972
RecordedMarch 28, 1972
StudioRCA, Hollywood, California
Genre
Length2:50
LabelRCA Victor
Songwriter(s)Dennis Linde
Producer(s)Felton Jarvis
Elvis Presley singles chronology
"An American Trilogy"
(1972)
"Burning Love" / "It's a Matter of Time"
(1972)
"Separate Ways" / "Always on My Mind"
(1972)
Music video
"Burning Love" on YouTube

Elvis Presley version edit

Elvis Presley's version was released as a single on August 1, 1972, with the B-side "It's a Matter of Time", and it reached number 36 in the country charts. Elvis had recorded it at RCA's Hollywood studios on March 28, 1972. It was his last big hit.[3] The electric guitar opening and riffs were overdubbed and played by Dennis Linde himself.

For the week of October 28, 1972, "Burning Love" rose to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4][5] It reached number 1 on Cashbox's Top 40 Charts for the week of November 11. The song was Elvis's 40th and final Top Ten hit on the Billboard US charts.

He performed it in at least two high-profile productions: the concert film Elvis on Tour (during which he had to use a lyric sheet as the song was still new to him), and the later Aloha from Hawaii concert. Despite its popularity among his fans, he rarely performed the song live, the exception being in 1975 when it was included in his setlist during the majority of the year’s performances, both in Las Vegas and on the road.

The song was also released on an album titled Burning Love and Hits from His Movies, Volume 2 on November 1, 1972. Despite this album's subtitle, the only actual hit on the album was the title song.[3]

A new backing track for the song was recorded in 1980, intended for the Guitar Man album. It went unreleased until 2000. In 2015, a new orchestral arrangement for the song was recorded accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and was released on album If I Can Dream.

Personnel edit

1980 version edit

  • Elvis Presley – lead vocals
  • Jerry Shook – guitar
  • Larry Byrom – electric guitar
  • Mike Leech – bass
  • Larrie Londin – drums
  • David Briggs – piano

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[13] Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[14] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Uses edit

  • The song was recorded for the 1979 film, Elvis The Movie, starring Kurt Russell and Ronnie McDowell as the singing voice of Elvis. The song was not released for a soundtrack.
  • A remix was made for the Cirque du Soleil show Viva Elvis, which began in 2010, and found on its soundtrack. During the live show, it is played during a montage of Elvis's best love scenes on the rear-projection screen, while the band has a spotlight. This remix puts more emphasis on drums and guitars, with a sound similar to The Who.
  • The song was used in the 2011 video game Homefront in the mission "Night Raid" where members of the American Resistance launch white phosphorus on soldiers of the Korean People's Army.
  • "Burning Love" was used as a wake-up song on the space shuttle mission STS-123.

References edit

  1. ^ "THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG: «Burning Love» by Elvis Presley". 22 April 2021.
  2. ^ Breihan, Tom (March 12, 2019). "The Number Ones: Chuck Berry's "My Ding-A-Ling"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 17, 2023. ...Elvis Presley was at #2 with the unapologetically hammy country-soul workout "Burning Love".
  3. ^ a b "Burning Love - Elvis Presley". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  4. ^ "Burning Love" by Elvis Presley (Hot 100 chart history) – Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2017
  5. ^ The Hot 100, Week of October 28, 1972 – Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2017
  6. ^ "Elvis Presley Recording Sessions".
  7. ^ "Go-Set Australian Charts". Go-Set.
  8. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Burning Love". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  9. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Songs (A-B)".
  10. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 192.
  11. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, November 11, 1972". Archived from the original on May 11, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  12. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 30, 1972". Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
  13. ^ "British single certifications – Elvis Presley – Burning Love". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  14. ^ "American single certifications – Elvis Presley – Burning Love". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 6, 2020.