The story behind the song
Eddie Miller and Johnny Lantz wrote After Loving You. Country singer Eddy Arnold first made it a hit in 1962, and Elvis Presley later recorded his well-known soulful version in 1969. Elvis recorded the song during his celebrated comeback sessions at American Sound Studio in Memphis. It appeared on his landmark album From Elvis in Memphis.
Country singer Eddy Arnold first recorded the song in 1962. His country version reached number seven on the US Hot Country Songs chart. In 1965, Della Reese released a pop version, which rose to number 21 on the US Adult Contemporary chart and also entered the Billboard Hot 100.
After his ’68 Special, Elvis returned to his hometown of Memphis in early 1969 to record with producer Chips Moman and the studio’s house band, the Memphis Boys. On February 18, 1969, late at night, Elvis recorded After Loving You during the second part of the Memphis sessions, following his recovery from a January cold. He picked the song because it was one of his favorite cover tunes.
During the early takes, Elvis briefly tried playing piano before asking session pianist Bobby Wood to take over. He recorded the master vocal on the fourth take, which was later strengthened with brass and backing-vocal overdubs.
RCA Victor released Elvis’s version on June 17, 1969, as a standout track on From Elvis in Memphis. Although it was never released as a single, it became a fan favorite and highlighted Elvis’s renewed, mature vocal power.
After Elvis died, longtime producer Felton Jarvis removed the original 1969 backing track and recorded new country-rock instrumentals around Elvis’s original vocals. This overdubbed version was included on the posthumous 1981 album Guitar Man.
AT A GLANCE