Elvis Presley - It Hurts Me - From First Take to the Master

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Scattered throughout Elvis' back catalogue there are literally dozens of hidden gems which are mainly known only within Elvis' own fan base. In many cases these songs are generally better than the hits which are constantly recycled on endless "hits" albums and that these more obscure songs are still largely unknown is possibly something which RCA/Sony would be better focusing their time and effort on rather than the seemingly endless production of Royal Philharmonic Orchestra titles.
One prime example of these hidden gems is "It Hurts Me" which is also one of the finest recordings that Elvis ever made and the tale as to why it became a largely unknown outside the "Elvis world" is a travesty but symptomatic of the way that Elvis' material has been treated by corporate decisions, a practice which continues to this day although perhaps not quite in the same way.
Elvis recorded "It Hurts Me" in Nashville on 12 January 1964 and was the last of just three songs recorded at this mini session and was also the only new song at the session. The other two songs "Memphis, Tennessee" and "Ask Me" were remakes of songs he had attempted at a recording session the previous May. All three songs were amongst the best he had recorded since 1960 but the best was left to last. Elvis always seemed to be at his best when telling a story and as the protagonist in this case by the end of the song you are pulled in an sympathetic to the narrators plight.
Recorded in just five takes, three of which were false starts, Elvis changes from his normal voice, at times almost at a whisper to one more more powerful at just the right moments highlighting both the anger and frustration felt by the protagonist.
In his book "Reconsider Baby" Shane Brown tells us :
"Sung over a triple beat, Elvis also manages to incorporate a soul element into his singing. Almost ten years to the day, he had been cutting his second disc of private recordings at Sun Studios in a rather stiff, plaintiff voice that seemed to be lacking in commercial potential. Now that voice could be a wondrous instrument as this recording shows but for the most part it was being wasted on second or third rate (or worse) material."
This would be the final recording session for two years which would produce anything but movie soundtracks but this mini session showed that given the right material and if Elvis was in creative mood songs ;like this would emanate from the studio with ease. It is therefore a pity that album of this quality was not produced at this session. Instead and in accordance with baffling corporate decisions which would blight Elvis' recording career "It Hurts Me" ended up being the 'B' side to "Kissin' Cousins".
On that decision Ernst Jorgenson laid the blame solely at Elvis' door by writing:
"Unfortunately, "It Hurts Me" lost it's potential almost immediately. Elvis relegated the marvellous performance of “It Hurts Me” to the B side of “Kissin’ Cousins,” and although the A-side managed to climb into the top twenty at number twelve, selling a respectable 750,000 records, its flip never attained the classic stature promised by the song and the performance."
the song was then a surprise inclusion in the production sequence in the second half of Elvis' 1968 TV Special and recorded the version in two parts, one either side of a karate fight with "Big Boss Man". For inclusion on the soundtrack album Elvis recorded a full version in the Burbank Studios of Western Recorders and the final master was a a splice of takes seven and eleven. This version suffers from the typical ;late 60's TV musical arrangement and robs the song of the emotion experienced in the original.
The original recording seemed to tick every box required for a re-recording with the RPO and it was fortunate that that particular temptation was resisted. However it would be desirable if the powers at be find some other way of bringing this long neglected recording into the public's consciousness!

[@bc9295]

I'm 61 and have been a huge Elvis fan since I was 11. I have over 70 of his vinyl albums and lots of magazines from the 70s, tons of Elvis memorabilia. I listen to Elvis every sing day. So, tens of thousands of times over the last 50 years. Yet, every single time I listen to him, it still amazes me how his voice was just so magnificent. God Almighty in Heaven above literally reached down and touched Elvis. His voice was perfect.

[@jolantakaczorek5087]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@patgrimes298]

This is one of my favorites of Elvis' recordings. I can listen to this one over and over too. That singing voice of his, it was meant just for him. When he told the lady at Sun Records he did not sound like anyone else, he sure was right! ❤From A Nashville Girl❤

[@Travelmaster64]

Aber Marian Keisker bei Sun war skeptisch und glaubte es nicht. Aber jeder in der Welt hört es. Ein singender Engel. It Hurts Me, Suspicion, Cant Help....., jedes Lied unfassbar schön.

[@nenaerdeljan7421]

❤❤❤ on,on je pevač supermen❤❤⚡⚡⚡🙏🙏😇😇👌👌🌟🌟🌟🤫🤫👍👍 jako dobro oseća,zna šta želi kao pravi 👑👑👑👑 da sa lakoćom izvuče iz svog predivnog glasa i nama podari deo sebe❤❤❤

[@nenaerdeljan7421]

Nemam reči samo fantastično!!👑👑👑👑👑👑👑💘🔥🔥🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@Jacqualinsmith]

I listen to Elvis everyday and this is one of his best. So soft then so powerful!! A voice kissed by God, love Elvis forever!❤️👑❤️👑❤️👑

[@joannemcclure3546]

I listen to him every day too and all through the night.

[@ClaudiaJuarez-nb8hr]

​@@joannemcclure3546me too😊❤

[@michaelcostanzo8469]

I do as well This shows how his voice matured through the years Love it at the start and even more at the end

[@jvmvesterby552]

Me too. From Danmark

[@nathancoleman871]

This is my favorite non-70s Elvis recording (I include 69 in the 70s). His voice is silk wrapped in velvet, and full of the longing and pining that only Elvis can convey in song. I love the 68 version, but the original is the best. I do wish the arrangement of the 68 version was better because his deeper voice on the recording gives the song a different type of feel - a frustration over the situation rather than a pining. What Elvis could do with his voice was preternatural.

[@heisseswasser1]

Elvis bringt uns Licht und Liebe ins Herz ❤❤❤❤❤

[@kangavalma7399]

ETERNAL ELVIS 🇦🇺 🇺🇸 👑 IT NEVER HURTS TO LISTEN TO OUR MAGICAL ELVIS. THANK YOU 🇦🇺🌟💫☝️👑💥

[@marciachaves8129]

I love the Comeback special version. Very beautiful.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@user-qz8bp7td9h]

Same but this version is not bad.

[@user-dc1dw2np1w]

1964 original version is a winner 🏆❤

[@ledamarialastrico7033]

THE GREATEST OF ALL TIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@DuaneCook-cm7ew]

No one is better than Elvis

[@jehanneinglis9672]

Yes, this is so very TRUE. He Always Was and Will Always Be... 😘 ❤ ❤

[@janetgoldstaub7663]

I have never heard this song before ,I love it the way his voice can go from singing so soft and beautiful and then he sings with such power …..I can honestly say I’m happy to listen to Elvis all day ❤ xxx

[@joannemcclure3546]

Elvis had a voice like no other, he was an artist like no other, he was a music genius like no other.

[@marlenebergkotte3257]

fan for 66 years ! never get enough of this amazing talented man🌟🤩🌟this amazing voice💛this amazing beauty🤩💛🌟💛🤩

[@halinapolak7839]

Wszystkie piosenki wykonywał perfekcyjnie !!?, absolutnie doskonały !!!! Największy artysta wszechczasów ! Trudno do tej pory znaleźć kogoś takiego jak Elvis Presley❤❤❤❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ pamięć o nim będzie wieczna ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️aylaviu greting from Poland ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@user-jt5ik9xr8n]

❤ unforgettable elvis he had it all looks voice his music timeless ❤

[@claudiaj4258]

Elvis es el hombre de las mil voces y billón de voces! Cada canción tiene un toqué y tono totalmente diferente! Q hombre perfecto😍💝

[@helenmurray3845]

Both versions are fantastic, but for me in the Comeback version, Elvis's voice really has matured and full of emotion and depth. Beautiful x

[@lenadzubuk5815]

Элвиса Пресли можно слушать бесконечно! Его голос прекрасен и неповторим!

[@ronnibertoli1907]

My Voice too 😏

[@ClaudiaJuarez-nb8hr]

Every day! 💝😊

[@LT1HILLINGHOE]

One of his absolute best songs ever.

[@timperleyboxing9355]

Masterclass

[@javitcb]

Love the From First Take to the Master serie, fantastic job! ⚡

[@marciachaves8129]

Divine versions !!!? Fantastic Elvis Presley 💝

[@helenludlow2331]

Gorgeous song - perfectly sung by Elvis 💕

[@jariheikkila4782]

Comeback version is awsome. What a voice. The King 🎤

[@Ivan-bk2sd]

Magnífica voz

[@BjManberries]

Written by thee Charlie Daniel's. This song, like "Tomorrow Never Comes", never got the recognition. His voice is like glass here. Smooth and clean.

[@zepkaswar]

This song has always been my Elvis go to song when I am in need of gut wrenching from the heart emotion that he has never been popularly given credit for displaying except in very rare cases such as If I can Dream, Any Day Now, Love Travels on a Gravel Road and to a lesser extent In the Ghetto. I first heard It Hurts Me on the '68 Special and assumed the song was written for the show because it fit in so well. Then after he died I found it on a greatest hits compilation and was surprised to discover he'd recorded it more or less right out of the army. In the original I hear traces of what his voice would one day routinely come to be once the filtering effect of the soundtracks was finally dead and gone, and he found his true voice, or alternatively, the true voice that was always there but for the corporate suites (not to mention Parker) and their nonsensical decisions that were always too quick to stifle his talent and appeal. Thanks Leon for directing me to your take on It Hurts Me , one of his best and one of my favorites.

[@jennymohler84]

❤️ only he can do this..goosebumps!!

[@Lamb716]

Remarkable reply. One of my favorites also! Thank you⚡️

[@tanyaandelvis2698]

He recorded it hunts me in jan 1964 well after the army days. By 68 he had found that Memphis voice, the rawness,the emotion, both versions are great and show how his voice matured. The King…TCB as he always did

[@joannemcclure3546]

Another beautiful song relatively unknown is, Is It So Strange.

[@tanyaandelvis2698]

Everyone is truly great ,,the king, the best along with his friend Roy Orbison.

[@krystynagorazdowska3746]

Co za glos , co za interpretacja, cos pieknego,tak tylko Elvis ❤❤❤❤

[@rosemaryplanque3944]

Quelle puissance dans la voix!!!! Incroyable 😘

[@user-bj6ny2wn6q]

❤❤❤my favourite song ❤❤❤

[@jehanneinglis9672]

@user-bj6ny2wn6q. My favouritte song too. ❤❤❤😘

[@user-fc8zk5bh3b]

Beautiful song and a beautiful man 🤩

[@concepciongallo229]

Hermoso ELVIS BELLEZA ÚNICO 💕 ♥️ ❤️ 💖 💜 😘 💕 ♥️ ❤️ 💖 2024 22 1

[@rosemeireaparecidadasilva832]

Tenho 46 anos, conheci Elvis com 5 anos e foi amor a primeira vista, fiquei muito triste quando perguntei sobre ele e minha irmã me disse que ele tinha morrido. Meu Deus que tristeza dede então estou aqui ouvindo Elvis.

[@mrsongman]

Absolute gem of a song and a reminder of what Elvis could have been doing in the sixties. You could argue his voice was at its best at this point. The word velvet springs to mind.

[@carolynhayman3493]

I could listen to thos song all day ,beautiful and has words that are true

[@krystynagorazdowska3746]

Cudo glos, piosenka i wykonanie , to spiewa KING wszechczasow !!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@marymcgivney9041]

Iove this song ❤best one 😊

[@bbo1779]

Elvis' voice was absolutely mint on the 64 version; the Special has more "balls", though. I can listen to either one.

[@bbo1779]

If I could only listen to one version, it would be the one from 1964!

[@yvetteheller1083]

Wow! I love listening to these rehearsals and different takes! I can hear the differences, but at the same time, every single note is so beautiful!!!❤❤❤ Why is he so incredible and handsome?! ❤❤❤

[@koreanelvis]

Thank you Leon for that description to this song. I was wondering why this song wasn’t such a success. It should’ve been. Elvis’ emotional connection as he sings this is very underrated. I sang this at a funeral once (at the widow’s behest) and the crowd was in tears. Thank you Leon for this amazing upload. Aloha.

[@concepciongallo229]

Hhermosa cada canción la voz de ELVIS el coro la musica 🎶 pura belleza ELVIS Presley ❤❤❤❤

[@user-pf4wl3st6n]

My God, you are telling incredibly interesting stories. For me, a very young (not in age, but in the time of worship😊) Elvis fan, this is amazing information. Thank you very much🙏🙏🙏. And I singled out this song for myself a long time ago, it didn't pass me by❤️❤️❤️ And I agree with you that the performance of the 68th year loses to the original version. But Elvis in general in this program sounded completely different, as if he wanted to renounce the old one and be reborn as a new artist

[@KimberleeLuebke-vd3ng]

My goodness I just love him!!!

[@user-uc1yl3tc3v]

Awesome perfect 👌 ❤❤

[@pilartena4648]

♥️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🙏🎵🎸ELVIS

[@luciaweber3047]

Nossa, uma de minhas favoritas...co.o a voz de Elvis eh versatil, ele fsz o quer com ela, e sempre faz bem...toda vez q ouco It husts me me arrepio com a su voz limpisima e cada silaba de cada palavra ele coloca toda a emicao q a mudica requer...simplesmente genial, smo essa musica e acho q essa gravacao eh espetacular , o tom q ele canta nessa voz de tenor, o vibrato poe a forca na hor q precisa e consegue ser doce qusndo o sentimento requer...nao entendo co.o essa csncao nao foi sucesso e tb pq ele nunca cantou em benhum show ao vivo...Elvis eh u ico, su voz eh unica Elvis etsrno

[@nicolasklein6909]

❤

[@brendamitchell2387]

My past.

[@andreasschade3481]

Großartige Stimme, ich werde Elvis immer Lieben ❤❤❤

[@ildikonyilas4870]

Fenomenal canción, texto y melodia con hermoso interpretación. Me encanta. Perfecto fotos.✌👑👼❤🌹

[@gracielagomezchirico5768]

ES UN REGALO DEL UNIVERSO .ES TAN PERFECTO QUE PARECE SER PRODUCTO DE LA IMAGINACIÓN DE UN ESCRITOR. TANTO TALENTO TANTA BELLEZA GRAN SER HUMANO NO PARECE SER REAL!!! 🇺🇾💔🙏😪🇺🇾💔🙏😪

[@jounisyrjanen2226]

Beautiful, perfect, one of my all time favorites!

[@Lamb716]

One of my absolute FAVORITE songs! I love this and the excellent write up you did. Great information that I did not know. Thank you so much. (Awesome photos also)⚡️🕺🥰

[@vasilescarpet7665]

Beautiful!

[@mchd36]

Y la versión del Come Back del 68 es absolutamente maravillosa

[@MaaikevanBroekhovenIBCLC]

Really beautiful he really sang with the feeling.

[@mchd36]

Su balada roquera más hermosa.

[@daniellegirard3043]

🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋... ... .

[@veronicaezquiaga392]

♥️👑🇺🇾

[@realfunny7]

great song but not enough play time

[@user-jx2xi9km4i]

Благодарю за вашу коллекцию,за работу,очень много удовольствия для нас вы даете благодаря этим уникальным записями его присутствия на земле ,я подозреваю, что он посланец чего-то светлого и доброго для воспитания нас

[@aintnothingliketheoldskool]

❤️❤️❤️❤️⭐⭐⭐⭐.

[@noraboudjerima]

😭

[@fabricehelip1455]

IL A TOUJOURS ÉTÉ MON IDOLE,JE L'AI DÉCOUVERT A SA MORT ET DEPUIS JE VIS ET MEURT AVEC LUI,SA GÉNÉROSITÉ, L AMOUR POUR SES PARENTS ,SES AMIS ET 1 DESTIN BRISÉ DES DECENDANTS,ET OUI COMME DISAIT JHONNY MON IDOLE AUSSI A LA VIE A LA MORT

[@user-zk7kq6ho9s]

Müssen die so lange Arbeiten bis das Lied gut ist ja

[@gracielagomezchirico5768]

ASI LO QUERIA NUESTRO MARAVILLOSO ELVIS 😪🙏💔🇺🇾😪🙏💔🇺🇾

[@renzoruggeri1818]

E adesso andate ad ascoltare un rapper. Questa è musica!!😜😜

[@josephpastor9321]

Written by Charlie Daniels!

[@brendamitchell2387]

What good is a ring if it is sitting on the dresser not his hand. He was sleeping on the couch and not talking. So g. Having trouble trusting.

[@michaeltaylor6171]

i much prefer the original single version in his pure voice this versions a complete travesty compared to that original in my honest opinion!!!