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A Big Hunk O'Love - 2007 Single Re-issue

By ElvisNews.com / Kees, October 06, 2007 | Music
Single #10 in the 2007 single re-issue series from BMG U.K.

Design

The picture shows Elvis stationed in Germany; the place Elvis was during the original release of the single. The numbered CD comes as a ‘mini-vinyl’ replica card sleeves with an outer and inner bag. The outer bag features the original U.S. picture sleeve artwork, while the inner bag replicates a generic U.K. RCA single from the time of the original U.K. release. Rather than have the standard silver finish on the ‘playing’ side of the disc, each CD rear comes with a black finish, again to replicate a miniaturized version and the look of the original vinyl release.

Content

After recording "I Need Your Love Tonight" Elvis taped the even steamier "A Big Hunk O'Love" with lyrics like "I ain't greedy baby, all I want is all you've got". From the first notes of the song this song catches you with the little offbeat drum, wild piano and interaction between Elvis and the band. The first take which is added as the bonus track shows clearly in which direction the final master would develop; a wilder version. In between these two versions of the steamy "A Big Hunk O'Love" the sacred sounding "My Whish Came True" is a bad choice for the flip side, or was it chosen to make up for the sexy sounding A side.

Additional information from Wikipedia:

"A Big Hunk o' Love", a song sung by Elvis Presley, was recorded on June 10, 1958 in RCA's Nashville, Tennessee studio, while Presley was on leave from the U.S. Army. It was released as a single A-side on June 23, 1959. Its B-side was "My Wish Came True". It was Presley's twelfth number-one hit, and it reached number four in the United Kingdom. The song was recorded in four takes; the released version is actually spliced from takes three and four.

The song was added to the "50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong: Elvis' Gold Records - Volume 2" compilation. The ninth album by Elvis Presley, issued on RCA Records, LPM 2075, in November of 1959. From two recording sessions in June, 1958 at RCA Studios in Nashville, and three at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, it is a compilation of hit singles released in 1958 and 1959 by Presley. It peaked at #31 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, and is considered to be one of the most successful and influential compilation albums of all time.

The song was revived by Presley in 1972 during his engagements at the Las Vegas Hilton in February 1972 and was used in his live shows until mid 1973. It was performed live for the last time on January 26, 1974. The song is included in the 1972 documentary Elvis On Tour and his 1973 show broadcast via satellite, Aloha from Hawaii. During this time period, the Elvis’ TCB Band, and featured Glen D. Hardin and James Burton played it.

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Jumpin Jehosaphat wrote on October 06, 2007
Really love A big hunk o love, truly one of the great ones, and the aloha version is truly a super live version....Elvis saying good by to the 1950's and then revived in the 1970, glen hardin on piano is great,