Little Sister (Elvis Presley song)

"Little Sister" is a rock and roll song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. It was originally released as a single in 1961 by American singer Elvis Presley, who enjoyed a No. 5 hit with it on the Billboard Hot 100. The single (as a double A-side with "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame") also reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart. Lead guitar was played by Hank Garland and the rhythm guitar was played by Scotty Moore with backing vocals by the Jordanaires featuring the distinctive bass voice of Ray Walker.

Presley performs it as part of a medley with "Get Back" in the 1970 rockumentary film Elvis: That's the Way It Is. "Little Sister" would later be covered by such artists as Dwight Yoakam, Robert Plant, The Nighthawks, and Pearl Jam. A version by Ry Cooder, from his album Bop Till You Drop, was a number-one hit in New Zealand.

An answer song to "Little Sister", with the same melody but different lyrics, was recorded and released under the title "Hey, Memphis" by LaVern Baker on Atlantic Records (Atlantic 2119-A) in September 1961.

Personnel

Original 1961 studio recording

Recorded in RCA Studio B, Nashville, Tennessee, June 25, 1961.

Elvis Presley - lead vocals
Scotty Moore – acoustic guitar
Hank Garland – electric lead guitar
Harold Bradley – six-string “tic-tac” bass guitar
Bob Moore – double bass
D. J. Fontana and Buddy Harman – drums
The Jordanaires (Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins, Neal Matthews Jr., Ray Walker) – backing vocals
Scotty Moore - rhythm guitar
DJ Fontana - drums

1970 live performance from That’s The Way It Is

Elvis Presley - vocals, electric rhythm guitar
James Burton - (electric) lead guitar
John Wilkinson - electric rhythm guitar
Charlie Hodge - acoustic rhythm guitar
Jerry Scheff - bass
Glen D. Hardin – piano
Ronnie Tutt - drums

Chart positions

Elvis Presley

Chart (1961–1962)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)	11
Netherlands (Single Top 100)	5
Norway (VG-lista)	6
US Billboard Hot 100	5
West Germany (Media Control)	25

Dwight Yoakam version

"Little Sister"

Single by Dwight Yoakam

from the album Hillbilly Deluxe

B-side

"This Drinkin' Will Kill Me"

Released

February 1987

Recorded

1987

Genre

Country

Length

3:01

Label

Reprise

Songwriter(s)

Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman

Producer(s)

Pete Anderson

Dwight Yoakam singles chronology

"It Won't Hurt"
(1986)

"Little Sister"
(1987)

"Little Ways"
(1987)

Music video

"Little Sister" on YouTube

Chart (1987)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)	7
Canadian RPM Country Tracks	3
RIANZ charts	35

Music video

The music video for Dwight Yoakam's 1987 version of "Little Sister" was directed by Sherman Halsey.

Other recorded versions

Ry Cooder as the opening track on his 1979 album Bop Till You Drop.
Rockpile with Robert Plant on the 1981 album Concerts for the People of Kampuchea.

References

^ Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 62. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
Emerson, Ken (2006). Always Magic in the Air: The Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era. Penguin. p. 168. ISBN 9781101156926.
"Elvis Presley Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 288. ISBN 0-452-26305-0.
http://www.keithflynn.com/recording-sessions/recordingsessions/60s.htm
Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 130–1. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
"Ry Cooder – Little Sister (song)". charts.nz. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
"Official Top 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. April 6, 1980. Archived from the original on August 30, 2021.
Jorgensen, Ernst, Elvis Presley: A Life in Music, The Complete Recording sessions, St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1998 pp157-159
^ "Elvis Presley – Little Sister". ultratop.be.
"Elvis Presley Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
"Dwight Yoakam Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
"New Zealand charts portal". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
"Bop till You Drop - Ry Cooder". AllMusic.
"Concerts for the People of Kampuchea - Various Artists". AllMusic.

Elvis Presley singles

1954	"That's All Right" / "Blue Moon of Kentucky" "Good Rockin' Tonight" / "I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine" "Milkcow Blues Boogie" / "You're a Heartbreaker"
1955	"I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" / "Baby Let's Play House" "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" / "Mystery Train"
1956	"Heartbreak Hotel" / "I Was the One" "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" / "My Baby Left Me" "Don't Be Cruel" / "Hound Dog" "Blue Suede Shoes" / "Tutti Frutti" "Money Honey" "I Got a Woman" "Tryin' to Get to You" "Blue Moon" "I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin')" / "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (over You)" "Shake, Rattle and Roll" / "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" "Love Me Tender" / "Any Way You Want Me"
1957	"Too Much" / "Playing for Keeps" "All Shook Up" / "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" "Peace in the Valley" "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" / "Loving You" "Paralyzed" (UK) "Jailhouse Rock" / "Treat Me Nice" "Party" / "Got a Lot o' Livin' to Do!" (UK)
1958	"Don't" / "I Beg of You" "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" / "Doncha' Think It's Time" "Hard Headed Woman" / "Don't Ask Me Why" "King Creole" (UK) "One Night" / "I Got Stung"
1959	"I Need Your Love Tonight" / "A Fool Such as I" "A Big Hunk o' Love" / "My Wish Came True"

1960	"Stuck on You" / "Fame and Fortune" "It's Now or Never" / "A Mess of Blues" "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" / "I Gotta Know"
1961	"Surrender" / "Lonely Man" "I Feel So Bad" / "Wild in the Country" "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" / "Little Sister" "Can't Help Falling in Love" / "Rock-A-Hula Baby"
1962	"Good Luck Charm" / "Anything That's Part of You" "She's Not You" / "Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello" "King of the Whole Wide World" "Return to Sender" / "Where Do You Come From"
1963	"One Broken Heart for Sale" / "They Remind Me Too Much of You" "(You're the) Devil in Disguise" "Bossa Nova Baby" / "Witchcraft"
1964	"Kissin' Cousins" / "It Hurts Me" "Kiss Me Quick" / "Suspicion" "Viva Las Vegas" / "What'd I Say" "Such a Night" / "Never Ending" "Ask Me" / "Ain't That Loving You Baby" "Blue Christmas"
1965	"Do the Clam" / "You'll Be Gone" "Crying in the Chapel "(Such an) Easy Question" / "It Feels So Right" "I'm Yours" / "(It's a) Long Lonely Highway" "Puppet on a String" / "Wooden Heart"
1966	"Tell Me Why" / "Blue River" "Frankie and Johnny" / "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" "Love Letters" "Spinout" / "All That I Am" "If Every Day Was Like Christmas"
1967	"Indescribably Blue" / "Fools Fall in Love" "You Gotta Stop" / "The Love Machine" (UK) "Long Legged Girl (with the Short Dress On)" / "That's Someone You Never Forget" "There's Always Me" / "Judy" "Big Boss Man" / "You Don't Know Me"
1968	"Guitar Man" "U.S. Male" / "Stay Away" "We Call on Him" / "You'll Never Walk Alone" "Your Time Hasn't Come Yet, Baby" / "Let Yourself Go" "Almost in Love" / "A Little Less Conversation" "If I Can Dream" / "Edge of Reality"
1969	"Memories" / "Charro" "How Great Thou Art" "In the Ghetto" / "Any Day Now" "Clean Up Your Own Backyard" "Suspicious Minds" / "You'll Think of Me" "Don't Cry Daddy" "Rubberneckin'"

1970	"Kentucky Rain" "The Wonder of You" / "Mama Liked the Roses" "I've Lost You" / "The Next Step Is Love" "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" / "Patch It Up" "I Really Don't Want to Know" / "There Goes My Everything"
1971	"Rags to Riches" "Life" / "Only Believe" "I'm Leavin'" "It's Only Love" / "The Sound of Your Cry" "Merry Christmas Baby" / "O Come All Ye Faithful"
1972	"Until It's Time for You to Go" / "We Can Make the Morning" "He Touched Me" / "Bosom of Abraham" "An American Trilogy" / "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" "Burning Love" / "It's a Matter of Time" "Separate Ways" / "Always on My Mind"
1973	"Steamroller Blues" / "Fool" "Raised on Rock" / "For Ol' Times Sake"
1974	"Take Good Care of Her" / "I've Got a Thing About You, Baby" "If You Talk in Your Sleep" / "Help Me" "Promised Land" / "It's Midnight"
1975	"My Boy" / "Thinking About You" "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" "Bringing It Back" / "Pieces of My Life"
1976	"For the Heart" / "Hurt" "Moody Blue" / "She Thinks I Still Care"
1977	"Way Down" / "Pledging My Love" "My Way" / "America the Beautiful"
1978	"Unchained Melody" / "Softly as I Leave You"

Posthumous
singles

"Puppet on a String" / "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" (1978)
"Are You Sincere" / "Solitaire"
"There's a Honky Tonk Angel (Who'll Take Me Back In)" / "I Got a Feelin' in My Body"
"Guitar Man"
"Loving Arms" / You Asked Me To"
"You'll Never Walk Alone / "There Goes My Everything" (1982)
"The Elvis Medley"
"I Was the One" / "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" (1983)
"Heartbreak Hotel" (1996)
"Blue Christmas" (1998)
"A Little Less Conversation" (JXL remix)
"Rubberneckin'" (Paul Oakenfold Remix)
"In the Ghetto" (with Lisa Marie Presley)
"Baby Let's Play House" (Spankox Re:Version)
"I'll Be Home for Christmas" (with Carrie Underwood) (2008)
"Blue Christmas" (with Martina McBride) (2008)
"Pocketful of Rainbows" (Spankox Remix)
"I Love You Because" (with Lisa Marie Presley)
"O Come, All Ye Faithful" (with Susan Boyle)
"I Got a Feelin' in My Body" (Tommie Sunshine & Wuki Remix)

Category

v t e Dwight Yoakam singles
Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.	"Honky-Tonk Man" "Guitars, Cadillacs" "It Won't Hurt"
Hillbilly Deluxe	"Little Sister" "Little Ways" "Please, Please Baby" "Always Late with Your Kisses"
Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room	"Streets of Bakersfield" (With Buck Owens) "I Sang Dixie" "I Got You"
If There Was a Way	"Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose" "You're the One" "Nothing's Changed Here" "It Only Hurts When I Cry" "The Heart That You Own"
This Time	"Ain't That Lonely Yet" "A Thousand Miles from Nowhere" "Fast as You" "Try Not to Look So Pretty" "Pocket of a Clown"
Gone	"Nothing"
A Long Way Home	"Things Change"
Last Chance for a Thousand Years: Dwight Yoakam's Greatest Hits from the 90's	"Crazy Little Thing Called Love"
Tomorrow's Sounds Today	"What Do You Know About Love" "I Want You to Want Me"
Other	"Suspicious Minds" "Who'll Stop the Rain"

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