Don't Be Cruel

"Don't Be Cruel" is a song that was written by Otis Blackwell, recorded by Elvis Presley, and released by RCA Victor in 1956. One of Presley's best songs, it sold 4 million copies alongside "Hound Dog," and has been listed as the 22nd best song of the 1950s, and the 229th best song of all time by Acclaimed Music.

## Elvis Presley

### Recording & Release

During a recording session at RCA studios on July 2, 1956, in New York City, Freddy Bienstock, a song representative hired by Elvis Presley's publishers, Hill & Range, presented "a selection of acetate demos." Out of all of them, Presley chose "Don't Be Cruel," a song written by Otis Blackwell. Initially, the song was offered to another RCA recording artist, Frankie Valli, but was given to Elvis instead. Blackwell said that giving the song to Elvis "was the best deal he ever made." "Don't Be Cruel" was released alongside "Hound Dog" on July 13, 1956, and it became a success. The Elvis History Blog says that "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog" was "Elvis' Biggest Double-Sided Hit."

### Legacy

"Don't Be Cruel" has since become one of Elvis Presley's best songs, with his 1957 performance of the song on *The Ed Sullivan Show* reaching approximately 10 million views on YouTube, as well as about 120,000 likes. "Don't Be Cruel" became a main feature of Presley's live sets, including the *'68 Comeback Special*, until he passed away in 1977, and was usually performed alongside "Jailhouse Rock" or "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear." In 2002, "Don't Be Cruel" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

### Personnel

* Elvis Presley - lead vocals, percussion
* Scotty Moore - lead guitar
* D. J. Fontana - drums
* Shorty Long - piano
* Bill Black - double bass
* The Jordanaires (Gordon Stoker, Neal Matthews, Hoyt Hawkins, Hugh Jarrett) - backing vocals

## Other versions

Other song artists such as Barbara Lynn, *Looney Tunes* character Daffy Duck, Devo, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr have recorded the song. Jackie Wilson, former member of The Dominoes, an R&B vocal group that Elvis admired, performed "Don't Be Cruel" in 1956. Presley enjoyed Wilson's performance of "Don't Be Cruel" so much that he incorporated several elements of Wilson's performance in his 1957 performance on *The* *Ed Sullivan Show*. Some time before, Presley had performed Wilson's version of the song for Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis, which has been archived alongside other versions of "Don't Be Cruel" and other songs as the Million Dollar Quartet.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Elvis: The Music. "Don't Be Cruel." https://www.elvisthemusic.com/music/dont-be-cruel/
2. ↑ Acclaimed Music. "Top Songs of the 1950s." http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/year/1950-59s.htm
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Keith Flynn's Elvis Presley Pages. "July 2 1956." https://www.keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/560702.html
4. ↑ Portable Press. 2015. "Uncle John's Factastic Bathroom Reader." pg. 97.
5. ↑ moneymusic.com. "Mighty" John Marshall. "January 18, 2022 Record of the Day." https://moneymusic.com/?p=29443
6. ↑ Elvis History Blog. Hanson, Alan. ""Hound Dog" & "Don't Be Cruel": Elvis' Biggest Double-Sided Hit." http://www.elvis-history-blog.com/hound-dog.html
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 YouTube. The Ed Sullivan Show. October 7, 2020. "Elvis Presley "Don't Be Cruel" (January 6, 1957) on The Ed Sullivan Show." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpKyFTYvhpU
8. ↑ YouTube. Elvis Presley. October 29, 2018. "Elvis Presley - Don't Be Cruel ('68 Comeback Special)." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe\_ikmZq33M
9. ↑ YouTube. Home of the King. December 12, 2010. "Jailhouse Rock, Don't Be Cruel Live." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VAvaOC8fiE
10. ↑ YouTube. Elvis Presley. August 8, 2019. "Medley: Jailhouse Rock / Don't Be Cruel (Live at The International Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - ..." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_L9v9eoroQw
11. ↑ YouTube. Elvis Presley. January 25, 2017. "[Let Me Be Your] Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel (Live)." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWcit7-bNgs
12. ↑ YouTube. December 2, 2022. "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / Don't Be Cruel (Live at Richmond Coliseum - Official Audio)." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6TjSIS4sqY
13. ↑ YouTube. Tom Baumruk. May 17, 2018. "Elvis Presley - (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear/Don't Be Cruel - 1977." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTJqAMqStyk
14. ↑ Songfacts. "Don't Be Cruel." https://www.songfacts.com/facts/elvis-presley/dont-be-cruel
15. ↑ Music VF. "*Don't Be Cruel* (song by Barbara Lynn)." https://musicvf.com/song.php?id=3741
16. ↑ All Music. "Bugs & Friends Sing Elvis." https://www.allmusic.com/album/bugs-amp-friends-sing-elvis-mw0000053205
17. ↑ YouTube. UPG Music. June 24, 2020. "Devo / Total Devo / Don't Be Cruel (Audio)." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5a--Blc4SA
18. ↑ YouTube. The Soundtrack Of My Life. August 7, 2020. "DON'T BE CRUEL - JOHN LENNON." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRL1qWc-nCI
19. ↑ YouTube. gdosic. April 16, 2011. "RINGO STARR - "Don't Be Cruel"." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFsiblsr-y8
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Wordpress. Jackie Wilson Lovers. "JW and EP and “Don’t Be Cruel”." https://jackiewilsonlover.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/jackie-and-elvis-and-dont-be-cruel/
21. ↑ YouTube. Elvis Presley. January 18, 2017. "Don't Be Cruel (Version 2)." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT-u9VYHoQo

## Footnotes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 This information was taken as of the time of writing; July 14, 2023.
2. ↑ During this recording session, Elvis Presley also recorded "Hound Dog" and "Any Way You Want Me."
3. ↑ Later on, Frankie Valli would record his song "Grease," a song that became part of the soundtrack for the movie of the same name. Coincidentally, on the very day the song "Look At Me I'm Sandra Dee" was recorded on set, Elvis Presley died. Before his death, Presley turned down a role on *Grease*, which was based on him.