Did You Know #1 Hit in 1961 – Surrender
Elvis recorded “Surrender” on the evening of October 30, 1960, during an extended recording session for his gospel LP titled “His Hand in Mind.” This recording closely followed Pomus’s demonstration of the song. According to Halberstadt, Doc’s lyrics were adorned with a sophisticated sentimentality that found its way onto the record. The Jordanaires, providing backing vocals, encouraged Presley to reach extraordinary vocal heights. Doc was astonished that Stuart Hamblen’s performance of “Known Only to Him,” which carried a profound sense of religious revelation, was recorded on the same night as the glitzy “Surrender.”
Initially, Doc regarded “Surrender” as just another assignment, but Elvis’s rendition of the song amazed him, as noted by Halberstadt. Presley infused “Surrender” with clever humor and an almost fanatical passion, transforming it into a dramatic showcase for his genuinely remarkable talent. Doc had to acknowledge that Elvis was a songwriter’s dream; he could elevate a mediocre song to distinction, turn a good one into greatness, and etch a great one into memory. His vocal prowess allowed him to excel in singing a wide range of genres, from spirituals to novelty pop, always capturing the precise emotional nuances.
In February 1961, RCA distributed Elvis’s single “Surrender” to retailers. On the flip side, listeners could enjoy the ballad “Lonely Man,” which had been recorded for the soundtrack of Presley’s upcoming film, “Wild in the Country.”
The single climbed to number one on both the US and UK charts in 1961, eventually becoming one of his best-selling singles. Prior to 1966, when The Beatles surpassed his record, Presley held the title for the most consecutive number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Lyrics
Let’s sing along with the lyrics!
When we kiss my heart’s on fire
Burning with a strange desire
And I know, each time I kiss you
That your heart’s on fire tooSo, my darling, please surrender
All your love so warm and tender
Let me hold you in my arms, dear
While the moon shines bright aboveAll the stars will tell the story
Of our love and all its glory
Let us take this night of magic
And make it a night of loveWon’t you please surrender to me
Your lips, your arms, your heart, dear
Be mine forever
Be mine tonight