Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight? b/w Beyond The Reef (1980) - single

This song was written in 1926 by Tin Pan Alley songwriters Roy Turk and Lou Handman. It was a hit in 1927 for a number of artists including Vaughan Deleath (A female despite the name), Henry Burr and Gene Austin. In 1950 it was revived by the bandleader Blue Barron with his vocalist Bobby Beers, and Al Jolson cut a version in 1953. Elvis' manager Colonel Parker asked him to try the song because it was a favorite of Parker's wife, Marie.
Elvis sings Are You Lonesome Tonight live at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. A very special version from August 26 1969. In this evening Elvis decidet to change the text from the song. "Do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair"and then cannot keep a straight face the rest of the song, so he had to start laugthing and his background singer woman Cissy Houston from the vocal.

A - Are You Lonesome Tonight? (Version Las Vegas)  (2:51)
Written-By – Lou Handman, Roy Turk / Producer – Joan Deary
B - Beyond The Reef  (3:06)
Written-By – Pitman / Producer – Joan Deary

Label:  RCA Records
Genre:  Easy Listening, Ballad
Catalog#  PB 9630

(P) 1980