Elvis Presley – Heartbreak Hotel 56 vs 68

About The Song

Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” has two notable versions, released in 1956 and 1968. Here’s a comparison:

Year:

• 1956: Original version, recorded at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee.
• 1968: Re-recorded version for his album “Elvis for Everybody.”

Style:

• 1956: Upbeat rock and roll with a bluesy influence, featuring iconic elements like Presley’s energetic vocals and Scotty Moore’s electric guitar solo.
• 1968: Slower tempo and more polished sound, with fuller instrumentation including piano, horns, and backing vocals.

Vocals:

• 1956: Rauwer and more youthful vocals, brimming with raw emotion and characteristic charisma.
• 1968: More mature and polished vocals, showcasing a wider range and smoother delivery.

Overall feel:

• 1956: Captures the raw energy and excitement of early rock and roll, considered a groundbreaking and influential recording.
• 1968: Offers a more mature and sophisticated take on the song, reflecting Presley’s artistic evolution.

Ultimately, both versions are significant in Presley’s career. The 1956 original is considered a rock and roll classic, while the 1968 version showcases his artistic growth and versatility. Choosing the “better” version depends on individual preference for the original’s rawness or the later version’s polish.

Video

Elvis Presley – Heartbreak Hotel 56

Elvis Presley – Heartbreak Hotel 68

Lyric

🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤

Well, since my baby left me
Well, I found a new place to dwell
Well, it’s down at the end of Lonely Street
At Heartbreak Hotel

Where I’ll be, I’ll be so lonely baby
Well, I’m so lonely
I’ll be so lonely, I could die

Although it’s always crowded
You still can find some room
For broken-hearted lovers
To cry there in their gloom

They’ll be so, they’ll be so lonely baby
They get so lonely
They’re so lonely, they could die

Now, the bell hop’s tears keep flowin’
And the desk clerk’s dressed in black
Well, they’ve been so long on Lonely Street
They’ll never, never look back

And they get so, they get so lonely baby
Well they are so lonely
They’re so lonely, they could die

Well, now, if your baby leaves you
And you got a tale to tell
Well, just take a walk down Lonely Street
To Heartbreak Hotel

Where you will be, you will be so lonely baby
Well you will be lonely
You’ll be so lonely, you could die

Although it’s always crowded
But you still can find some room
For broken-hearted lovers to cry there in their gloom

Where they get so, they get so lonely baby
Well they’re so lonely
They’ll be so lonely, they could die