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Always On My Mind

Words & Music by Wayne Thompson / Mark James / Johnny Christopher

Elvis Presley recorded 'Always on My Mind' on March 29, 1972, a few weeks after his February separation from his wife, Priscilla. The song was popular and critically appreciated and is considered one of Presley's standout songs of the 1970s. The song was released as the B-side of the 'Separate Ways' single, which was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales in excess of one million units. It was listed as a double A-side, reaching number 16 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart in November 1972. In the United Kingdom, 'Always on My Mind' (as the A-side) reached the Top Ten in January 1973. In 2013 the recording ranked number one in a poll conducted by ITV, 'The Nation's Favourite Elvis Songs', just ahead of 'Suspicious Minds' and 'Can't Help Falling in Love'.

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. Fueling this conjecture was the fact that James had already written a hit song 'Suspicious Minds' for Presley. Carson responded that the song was not written for Presley but for every man. He said that it 'was one long apology. 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'.

'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. Lee's version was released three months later in June 1972. The song has been a crossover hit, charting in both the country and western and pop categories. Elvis Presley's recording was the first commercially successful version of the song.

AllMusic lists more than 300 recorded releases of the song in versions by dozens of performers. While Lee's version reached no. 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); and the Pet Shop Boys' 1987 hi-NRG/synth-pop interpretation (UK number one; US Top Ten).

'Always on My Mind' saw no completion until late 1971. Songwriter-guitarist Wayne Carson had about two verses done with the working title 'You Were Always on My Mind'. 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. 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 brought the song back to the recording studio of Chips Moman and worked on it for a few days, but it did not gel. 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. Feeling stuck, they appealed for assistance from songwriter Mark James who was walking through the studio. James was exhausted from non-stop music projects, but he ran through the song with Carson and Christopher. By the fourth run-through, the song was finished.

Maybe I didn't treat you
Quite as good as I should have
Maybe I didn't love you
Quite as often as I could have
Little things I should have said and done
I just never took the time

You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind

Tell me, tell me that your sweet love hasn't died
Give me, give me one more chance
To keep you satisfied, satisfied

Maybe I didn't hold you
All those lonely, lonely times
And I guess I never told you
I'm so happy that you're mine
If I make you feel second best
Girl, I'm sorry I was blind

You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind

Tell me, tell me that your sweet love hasn't died
Give me, give me one more chance
To keep you satisfied, satisfied

Little things I should have said and done
I just never took the time
You were always on my mind
You are always on my mind
You are always on my mind

Recorded: 1972/03/29, first released on single

March 27, 1972 RCA Studio C - Hollywood, California

Separate Ways BPA3 1149-21
For The Good Times BPA3 1150-04
Where Do I Go from Here? BPA3 1151-08

March 22, after a good deal of effort, Felton Jarvis persuades Elvis to try the rocker -- Burning Love -- that he has gotten from his friend, Nashville publisher Bob Beckham. Both Felton and Beckham are convinced that songwriter Denis Linde's 'Burning Love' can be a big hit for Elvis.

The song reaches #2 on the Billboard and #1 on Cashbox charts.

March 28, 1972 RCA Studio C - Hollywood, California

Burning Love BPA3 1257-06
Fool BPA3 1258-02

March 29, 1972 RCA Studio C - Hollywood, California

Always On My Mind BPA3 1259-01
It's A Matter Of Time BPA3 1260-05

In April MGM films Elvis in a Hollywood recording studio, then films on and off stage during his 15-city concert tour, which is a big success. MGM will use the footage for another theatrically released documentary, Elvis on Tour a Golden Globe-winning American musical-documentary motion picture released by MGM in 1972. It was the thirty-third and final motion picture to star Elvis Presley, whose film career began in 1956.

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