(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame
"(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" is a song recorded in a hit version by Elvis Presley and published by Elvis Presley Music in 1961. It was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and first recorded by Del Shannon on the album "Runaway With Del Shannon", which was released in June 1961. Elvis Presley recording. The more successful and well-known recording by Elvis Presley was released in August 1961. The relatively intense tune, featuring a Bo Diddley beat, performed well on both pop and easy listening stations, reaching No. 4  on the "Billboard" Hot 100, and No. 2 on the Easy Listening chart, based (at the time) on the Top 100. However, the single's Hot 100 chart run was atypical of a Top Ten hit. In the autumn of 1961 it shot from 22 to 4, then dropped to 10, then 26, all within the space of four weeks. The single (a double A-side with "Little Sister", as in the States) spent four weeks at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart — one of Presley's nine UK chart-toppers between 1960 and 1962. Personnel. Recorded in RCA  Studio B, Nashville, Tennessee, June 26, 1961 Cover versions. Several cover versions of this song have been recorded. These include a version by alternative-rock band The Smiths (as part of a live medley with their song - already heavily derivative of Presley's original - "Rusholme Ruffians", which can be found on the album "Rank"), punk band Misfits, the heavy-metal band Scorpions and Italian alternative-rock band Verdena, as well as Brian May. El Vez released a single, changing the name slightly to "Maria's the Name (of His Latest Flame)". The riff is also quoted in "Don't Play  Your Rock'n'Roll to Me" by Smokie. It was also covered by home-recording artist R. Stevie Moore on his 1984 album "Everything". In 1987 Marco T released a Spanish rendition in Colombia. Also covered by underground L.A. band "easter", featuring members of the early punk scene with Danny Dean and Mike Ness on guitar, Chad Carrier on bass and Korky on drums, and featured on their "Greatest Hits" CD released in 2008, but changing the song title to "Latest Flame". Country/Americana artist JD Myers recorded it featuring James Burton on guitar, in 1997, on the Asylum Records album "Like  A Train". The album never was officially released, but the song appears on the compilation album "JD Myers", available on the artist's website. DJ and promo copies of the original album featuring Burton can also be found on that website. The closest cover to Elvis' version of this song was recorded in England on the Embassy Records label in November 1961 by singer Ray Pilgrim, who recorded under the name Bobby Stevens for the label.