DON'T BE CRUEL

:''For the Bobby Brown album, see Don't Be Cruel (album).''
"'Don't Be Cruel'" is a song by Otis Blackwell, which was recorded by Elvis Presley in 1956. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2004 it was listed number 197 in ''Rolling Stone'' magazine's list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
"Don't Be Cruel" was originally the A side of RCA single 47-6604, with "Hound Dog" on the b-side, although both sides became chart-toppers, RCA reissuing the single in later decades as double A-sided. The single was the first to top all three extant Billboard charts: pop, rhythm & blues, and country & western.
The song was recorded for RCA Victor by Elvis' regular band of Scotty Moore on lead guitar (with Elvis usually providing rhythm guitar), Bill Black on bass, D.J. Fontana on drums and backing vocals from the Jordanaires. Presley recorded this song on July 2, 1956 at RCA's New York City studio. The producing credit was given to RCA's Steve Sholes, however the the studio recordings reveal that Elvis produced the songs in this session (as well as many others) himself, which is verified by the band members. Presley selected the song, reworked the arrangement himself on piano, and recorded eight takes of the song with the band (number 7 being the take released on the record) during one recording session following the thirty takes of "Hound Dog" (number 28 being released on the record) recorded that day. "Any Way You Want Me" was also recorded in that same session following "Don't Be Cruel". "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog" were released on July 13, 1956.
Elvis Presley's reworking of the Otis Blackwell demo, his changes to the music and the lyrics, arguably justifies his receiving a co-songwriting credit, although obviously Blackwell was the principal writer of the song.
Elvis, Scotty, Bill, DJ, and the Jordanaires performed the song during an appearance on the Ed Sullivan show on January 6th, 1957 where Elvis was only shown from the waist up. This was reported to be due to Sullivan's concern about the controversy of Elvis' gyrations while performing. The controversy had exploded a few months earlier during Elvis' June 5th, 1956 appearance on The Milton Berle Show while performing "Hound Dog". Although Sullivan joined in the criticism of Elvis at the time, and despite filming this performance from the waist up, Sullivan unexpectedly made the statement that Presley was a "decent, fine boy" and the he had "never had a 'pleasanter' experience on our show" to his viewers following Presley's performance of "Don't Be Cruel".
The song, listed as "Don't Be Cruel/Hound Dog" at the time of its release, hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week ending August 18, 1956, and remained in the pole position for 11 consecutive weeks, tying it with the 1950 Anton Karas hit The Third Man Theme and the 1951/52 Johnnie Ray hit Cry for the longest stay at number one by a single record until 1992's smash "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men.

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Covers

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Covers

★ Crossover pop/country artist Jody Miller recorded a version of the song on her successful 1971 "He's So Fine" album.

★ Cheap Trick did a cover version of "Don't Be Cruel" in 1988, which was a #4 hit in the United States.

★ The Residents did a cover of "Don't Be Cruel" as well in 1989. It was included on their album ''The King and Eye'', and was released as a CD single in the United States and a 7-inch single in The Netherlands.

★ Ringo Starr released a version of "Don't Be Cruel" in the 1990s.

★ Keith Richards recorded the song in the 1970s.

★ John Lennon recorded a version released on The Lost Lennon Tapes syndicated radio program.

★ Jerry Lee Lewis recorded a cover on his 1958 first Sun album.

★ Foster Sylvers of the Sylvers recorded the song in the late 1970s.

★ Jackie Wilson performed the song in Las Vegas in 1956 as part of Billy Ward's Dominoes with Elvis in the audience.

★ Neil Diamond recorded a cover version.

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