It was March 12, 1961. Nashville was quiet, but RCA Studio B was humming. Elvis Presley walked in, fresh off the massive success of Elvis Is Back!, ready to record what would become the Something for Everybody album. Most people think of Elvis and see the jumpsuits, the karate kicks, or the snarling rockabilly kid from Memphis. But if you really want to understand the man's vocal range and his emotional headspace during the early sixties, you have to listen to Elvis Presley There's Always Me.
Written by Don Robertson, this track isn't just another ballad. It's a powerhouse. It is a masterclass in dynamic control. Honestly, it’s one of those songs that separates the casual fans from the die-hards who actually get what he was doing with his voice.
The Night Nashville Froze for a Ballad
The session started late. That was the Elvis way. He didn’t just record; he lived in the studio. For Elvis Presley There's Always Me, the vibe had to be exactly right. You’ve got the Jordanaires providing that haunting, almost ghostly backing vocal. You’ve got Floyd Cramer on the piano, hitting those signature slip-notes that make the melody feel like it’s weeping.
It took twelve takes. That might sound like a lot, but Elvis was a perfectionist when it came to pitch and "feel." He wasn't just singing the lyrics; he was acting them out. The song is a plea. It’s a guy telling a girl that when her flashy romances fail, he’ll be there. It’s humble, but by the end, it’s soaring.
When he hits that final big note? Chills. Pure chills.
Most singers would have over-delivered early. Not Elvis. He starts almost in a whisper. He builds it. By the time he reaches the climax, his operatic training—which he mostly taught himself by listening to Mario Lanza records—comes front and center. It’s a transition from a croon to a cry.
Don Robertson: The Secret Weapon
Don Robertson wrote some of the King's most understated hits. He knew how to write for Elvis’s range. Robertson actually recorded his own demos, and Elvis would listen to them religiously to catch the phrasing. For Elvis Presley There's Always Me, Robertson captured a specific kind of yearning that Elvis excelled at.
Think about it. In 1961, Elvis was at a crossroads. He was the biggest star on the planet, but the movies were starting to get repetitive. The music was his only real outlet for genuine expression. Robertson gave him a gift with this song—a chance to prove he was more than a teen idol.
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The song actually sat on the shelf for a bit before being released on the Something for Everybody LP. Later, in 1967, it was released as a single with "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" on the B-side. It didn’t light up the charts like "Hound Dog," but that wasn't the point. It was a "singer’s song."
Why This Track Still Hits Different
If you play Elvis Presley There's Always Me next to a modern pop ballad, the difference in "soul" is staggering. There’s no Auto-Tune. No digital compression hiding the flaws. You can hear his breath. You can hear the slight rasp when he pushes his diaphragm.
It’s real.
The arrangement is deceptively simple.
- The opening piano tinkles like a rainy windowpane.
- The bass is steady but soft.
- The backing vocals stay in the shadows until the bridge.
- Then, everything swells.
Basically, it’s a blueprint for the "big ballad" era of the late sixties. It’s the DNA of what he would later do in Las Vegas with songs like "My Way" or "You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’." Without this 1961 recording, we might not have gotten the powerhouse Presley of the 1970s.
The Technical Brilliance of the "Big Note"
Let's talk about the ending. Most people forget that Elvis had a multi-octave range. On Elvis Presley There's Always Me, he moves from a low baritone comfort zone into a high, sustained tenor note that sounds effortless. It wasn't. He was working hard.
Musicologists often point to this track as evidence of his technical growth. He wasn't just "The Pelvis" anymore. He was a vocalist who could stand next to Sinatra or Bennett and hold his own. The control he shows on the word "me" at the very end—the way it tapers off—is just insane.
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It’s sort of heartbreaking, too. Elvis was a lonely guy despite the crowds. When he sings "If the one that you adore / Proves untrue to you," you kind of wonder if he was thinking about his own life. He spent his whole career surrounded by people, yet often felt like the "always me" guy in the background of his own circus.
Common Misconceptions About the 1961 Sessions
A lot of critics claim Elvis "went soft" after he came home from the Army. They say he lost his edge. But that’s a lazy take. While he was doing fewer rockers, he was mastering the art of the ballad.
Elvis Presley There's Always Me isn't "soft" music. It’s emotionally heavy music. It requires more guts to stand in front of a microphone and sing a naked, vulnerable lyric than it does to hide behind a distorted guitar.
People also think this song was a massive flop because it didn't hit #1. In reality, it was a steady seller and became a staple on adult contemporary radio for years. It’s a "sleeper hit." It’s the kind of song that finds you when you’ve had your heart broken. It doesn’t need a flashy music video or a TikTok dance.
Comparing the Studio Version to the Demos
If you ever get the chance to listen to the outtakes from the Something for Everybody sessions, do it. You’ll hear Elvis joking around between takes, then snapping into a state of total focus the second the "Record" light goes red.
He took Elvis Presley There's Always Me very seriously. He knew the song lived or died on his ability to sell the loneliness. In the early takes, he’s experimenting with the phrasing. He tries different ways to attack the bridge. The final version we all know is Take 12, which is widely considered the "perfect" capture.
Actionable Ways to Experience This Era of Elvis
If you're just getting into the King’s deeper cuts, don't just stop at the greatest hits. There is a whole world of 1960-1963 Elvis that is sophisticated, soulful, and vastly underrated.
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Listen to the "Something for Everybody" Album in Full Don't just cherry-pick the singles. Listen to the whole record. It’s split into a "Ballad Side" and a "Rhythm Side." It shows the duality of his talent. You’ll hear how Elvis Presley There's Always Me fits into the larger narrative of his post-Army sound.
Check out the 1967 Single Release Find the 45rpm version if you can. There is something about the analog warmth of the vinyl that makes the Jordanaires' harmonies sound three-dimensional. It changes the way you hear the song.
Compare it to "It's Now or Never" If you want to see how his voice evolved, play "It's Now or Never" (recorded in 1960) and then play Elvis Presley There's Always Me. You can hear him gaining confidence in his upper register. He’s becoming more adventurous with his dynamics.
Watch the 1968 Comeback Special Version (The Stand-up Show) While he didn't do a full version of "There's Always Me" in every show, the vocal style he uses in his 1968 ballads is a direct descendant of the work he did in 1961. It’s all connected.
Elvis wasn't just a performer; he was a curator of emotion. Elvis Presley There's Always Me remains a definitive example of his ability to take a simple song and turn it into a monumental moment of human connection. It’s not just a song on a playlist. It’s a glimpse into the soul of the 20th century’s biggest icon during a time when he was at his vocal peak. Turn the lights down, hit play, and actually listen to the lyrics. You’ll hear exactly what I mean.
To truly appreciate the depth of this track, compare the studio master to the 1961 alternate takes found on the "Essential 60s Masters" collection. Observing the subtle shifts in his vocal inflection across different takes reveals a craftsman at work, meticulously shaping the emotional arc of the song until it reached its final, haunting form.