
The song was popular and critically appreciated and is considered one of Presley's standout songs of the 1970s. '" Elvis Presley version "Always on My Mind"Įlvis Presley recorded "Always on My Mind" on March 29, 1972, a few weeks after his February separation from his wife, Priscilla. It’s sort of like all guys who screw up and would love nothing better than to pick up the phone and call their wives and say, 'Listen, honey, I could have done better, but I want you to know that you were always on my mind. Carson responded that the song was not written for Presley but for every man. Fueling this conjecture was the fact that James had already written a hit song " Suspicious Minds" for Presley. Music critic Robert Hilburn said that it was commonly thought in Nashville and Memphis that Elvis Presley's marital troubles were the inspiration of the song, and that it was tailored to fit his musical style. By the fourth run-through, the song was finished. James was exhausted from non-stop music projects but he ran through the song with Carson and Christopher. Feeling stuck, they appealed for assistance from songwriter Mark James who was walking through the studio. Carson asked for help from his colleague Johnny Christopher (the two had already written the hit song " No Love at All" in 1970) and they composed more of it in Moman's office. He brought the song back to the recording studio of Chips Moman and worked on it for a few days, but it did not jell. She was angry, and he replied: "Well, I know I’ve been gone a lot, but I’ve been thinking about you all the time." This idea struck him as potential song material, and he quickly ended the call so he could capture it on paper. He had been occupied in Memphis on a project that required him to stay ten days longer, and he phoned his wife in Springfield, Missouri, to apologize for the delay. Songwriter-guitarist Wayne Carson had about two verses done, with the working title "You Were Always on My Mind". "Always on My Mind" did not see completion until late 1971.
#WHO WROTE ALWAYS ON MY MIND PLUS#
Plus the Pet Shop Boys' 1987 hi-NRG/ synth-pop interpretation (UK number one US Top Ten). 45 on the US country chart in 1972, other performers reached the Top 20 on the country and/or pop charts in the United States and elsewhere with their own versions: Elvis Presley (1972, US country UK pop Top Ten) John Wesley Ryles (1979, US country) and Willie Nelson's Grammy Award-winning version (1982, US/Canada country number one US/Canada pop Top Ten). Elvis Presley's recording was the first hit version of the song.ĪllMusic lists more than 300 recorded releases of the song in versions by dozens of performers. The song has been a crossover hit, charting in both the country and western and pop categories. Lee's version was released three months later in June 1972. " Always on My Mind" is a ballad written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James, first recorded by Brenda Lee, and first released by Gwen McCrae (as "You Were Always on My Mind") in March 1972. Popular ballad written by Wayne Carson, Mark James, and Johnny Christopher "You Were Always on My Mind"
