Episode 38: “Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
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Heartbreak Hotel: Part 8
Heartbreak Hotel was the work of Tommy Durden, a country singer and songwriter. Elvis found it easier to record a song when he'd heard someone else doing it in an approximation of his style. In the case of Heartbreak Hotel, Elvis is not copying Glenn Reeves' phrasing at all. The two are similar, but that's just because Reeves is imitating Elvis in the first place.
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