“(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” is a popular song first recorded by Elvis Presley in 1957 for the soundtrack of his second motion picture, Loving You, during which Presley performs the song on screen. It was written by Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe and published in 1957 by Gladys Music.
Presley single
The song was a US No. 1 hit during the summer of 1957, staying at No. 1 on the Billboard charts for seven weeks, the third of the four number-one singles Presley had that year. “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” would also hit No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Best Sellers List, becoming his fourth No. 1 on that chart.[2] The song also reached No. 1 on Billboard’s country charts for one week.[3] In Canada, it was also No. 1 for 7 weeks.[4]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” | Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe | 1:47 |
| 2. | “Loving You“ | Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller | 2:14 |
Personnel
Credits from Keith Flynn and Ernst Jorgensen’s examination of session tapes and RCA and AFM/union paperwork.[1]
- Elvis Presley – lead vocals, percussion
- Scotty Moore – lead guitar
- Bill Black – double bass
- D.J. Fontana – drums
Additional musicians
- The Jordanaires (Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins, Neal Matthews, Hugh Jarrett) – backing vocals
- Tiny Timbrell – rhythm guitar
- undetermined (either Dudley Brooks, Hoyt Hawkins, or Gordon Stoker) – piano
- Production staff
- Walter Scharf – producer
- Phil Kahgan – engineer
Cover versions
- Shorty Mitchell With The Ken Jones Rock ‘n’ Rollers “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” and “All Shook Up” (Embassy single, 1957, UK, available on The Birth of British Rock, Frémeaux & Associés)
- Barry Frank “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” and “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter” on Bell Records (1957)
- Peter Kraus released a version in German titled “Teddybär” (1957)
- Johnny Hallyday recorded a home demo version in French titled “Ton Petit Ours En Peluche” (1959)
- Jerry Kennedy on his LP “Dancing Guitars Rock The Hits Of The King” (1962)
- Pat Boone on his LP Pat Boone Sings Guess Who? (1963)
- Laurel Aitken on his LP Scandal in a Brixton Market (1969)
- Barbara Ruskin recorded her version of the song. It was released as “(I Wanna Be Your) Teddy Bear” on the A side of her single that was released on President PT 350 in 1971.[5][6]
- Jimmy Osmond (credited to Little Jimmy Osmond) on his LP “Killer Joe” (1972) [7]
- Glen Campbell on his album Live at the Royal Festival Hall (1977)
- Paul McCartney and Wings covered the song during one of their final recording sessions in November 1980. The track remains unreleased.[8]
- Angelyne on her album Angelyne (1982)
- Mud on their album Les Grays Mud (1982)
- Cliff Richard on his limited release album Rock ‘n’ Roll Silver (1983).
- Tanya Tucker on the compilation It’s Now or Never: The Tribute to Elvis (1994)
- ZZ Top on their album XXX (1999)
- Donna Loren on her EP Donna Does Elvis in Hawaii (2010)[9]
- The Residents on their album The King & Eye (1989)
- João Penca e Seus Miquinhos Amestrados performs a Portuguese adaptation of the song, entitled “O Ursinho”, in their album Os Maiores Sucessos de João Penca e Seus Miquinhos Amestrados (1983)
- Take That with Mark Owen on lead vocal as a live performance (part of the “Rock ‘N’ Roll Medley”) during their Everything Changes Tour (1993–1994)
The song was used in Full House and in the Disney special D-TV Romancin’.
References
- ^ a b c d e “Elvis Presley Recording Sessions: January 16, 1957”. Keithflynn.com. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 467.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 272.
- ^ “CHUM Hit Parade – July 1, 1957”.
- ^ 45Cat – Barbara Ruskin – Discography, UK, A: (I Wanna Be Your) Teddy Bear
- ^ Spectropop – Spectropop presents BARBARA RUSKIN, An Illustrated U.K. Discography
- ^ “Little Jimmy Osmond – Killer Joe”. Discogs. 1972.
- ^ “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear (song)”. The-paulmccartney-project.com. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ “Donna Loren Official Website”. Donnaloren.com. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
