One Song: 300 Versions

~ beetleypete

Always On My Mind.

You could be forgiven for thinking this song is much older than it is, I know I did. But it was written as recently as 1969, which I suppose for many of you, is old enough. 🙂

The first recording of this song was by B.J. Thomas, the singer who sang ‘Raindrops Keep Falling On Your Head’, on the film soundtrack to ‘Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid. But it had to wait until Elvis Presley recorded his version, in 1972, to become a huge worldwide hit. I confess that I was never a fan of Elvis. However, I did like his version of this song, (and also his recording of ‘Suspicious Minds’) as the big ballad with a theme of lost love suited Presley well, and he really nailed it.

Cover versions continued to pour in, with this simple love song becoming one of the most covered songs in the history of music. In 1982, Country singer Willie Nelson had a big hit with it, considered by many to be the best version. Five years later, British pop duo The Pet Shop Boys took the song into the electronic age, with their fast-paced version reaching number one in the UK. It is still being recorded and covered in live performances, to this day. Fifty years after it was written.

Here are four versions for you to enjoy. You may well already have your own favourite.

B.J. Thomas.

Elvis.

Willie.

Pet Shop Boys. (This looks blank, but does work)

49 thoughts on “One Song: 300 Versions”

    1. I don’t even know who that is. Off to look it up, hang on. 🙂
      I’m back, after watching him sing it on You Tube.
      OK, fluffy-haired, fuzzy beard boy. He sings it really well, but I am still stuck on the Elvis ‘power version’.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  15. Great song to highlight. I remember it being the song that broke my father when my mother passed away. For me, Willie and Elvis have the spotlight on this one although the feature of Elvis’ version in the movie Practical Magic gave it a different twist.

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  17. This is a song that I wanted to do for my Music Monday: Who Does it Better? But, there are SO MANY VERSIONS that it’s hard to choose!! People just end up writing in their own favourites and then there is just 1 vote for everything.
    Another song like that is “I Love how you Love me”. It was my parents wedding song and there was a night that we literally listened to it all night… But, never the same version. The 2 top versions were still Bobby Vinton or the Paris Sisters for that one.

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