Puppet On A String by Elvis Presley

Album: Girl Happy (1964)

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Written by Roy C. Bennett and Sid Tepper, this easy-listening love song was recorded by Elvis Presley for the vehicle film Girl Happy. The King laid down the vocals on this and other previously recorded tracks on June 16, 1964 at Radio Recorders, Culver City for MGM.
According to Elvisologist David Neale, the song is actually based on the melody of the lullaby "Hush Little Baby." To anyone familiar with the earlier song, this is not at all obvious, but many composers borrow phrases from other songs; Al Stewart based "Palace Of Versailles" on "The Earl Of Salisbury," Donald Swann based "The Gasman Cometh" on "Dashing Away With A Smoothing Iron", and perhaps most controversially Ritchie Blackmore based "Mandrake Root" on the Bill Parkinson instrumental "Lost Soul."

Whatever its origin, "Puppet On A String" is a fairly run of the mill song, performed by an artist who was anything but. It is not to be confused with the Sandie Shaw Eurovision winner of the same name. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments: 4

James Miller from Falkirk. ScotlandListening to Elvis singing Puppet on a String which I think is a lovely song and as usual he makes it his own and I love it. Can you clarify if the piano is being played by another favourite of mine Floyd Cramer?
Jennifur Sun from RamonaThanks Roy. have felt like this about a few people. For I'm just a puppet on a string/you can do most anything with me.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: http://www.oldiesmusic.com/news.htm
Songwriter Roy Bennett (born Israel Brodsky), best-known for "The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane" (#3-1954 for the Ames Brothers), "Kiss Of Fire" (#1-1952 for Georgia Gibbs) and "Red Roses For A Blue Lady" (#10-1965 for Vic Dana), usually with Sid Tepper, died July 2nd, 2015 at his home in Queens, New York...
The Brooklyn native was 97...
He wrote 45 tunes for Elvis Presley, including "G.I. Blues," "Puppet On A String" and "The Lady Loves Me"...
Sid Teppper died in April at age 96...
May they both R.I.P.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyPer: http://www.oldiesmusic.com/news.htm
Songwriter Sid Tepper, best-known for "The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane" (#3-1954 for the Ames Brothers), "Kiss Of Fire" (#1-1952 for Georgia Gibbs) and "Red Roses For A Blue Lady" (#10-1965 for Vic Dana)-- usually with Roy Bennett-- died Friday (April 24th, 2015) at his home near Miami Beach, Florida. The Brooklyn native was 96. He wrote 45 tunes for Elvis Presley, including "G.I. Blues," "Puppet On A String" and "The Lady Loves Me"...
May he R.I.P.

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