Elvis Presley spent 15 weeks on the charts in 1972 with “
Burning Love”. It reached #2 the weeks of October 21 and 28 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was his biggest hit in the U.S. since the 1969 single “Suspicious Minds.”
“Burning Love” was first recorded and released four months earlier by country soul singer Arthur Alexander.
Elvis was persuaded to record the song by his producer, Felton Jarvis. Presley had recently separated from Pricilla, his wife, and wasn’t interested in rockin’ out. Jarvis eventually prevailed and after six takes, Elvis came up with his spirited version.
Presley’s recording quickly overshadowed the Alexander’s. The song was written by singer-songwriter Dennis Linde. Linde overdubbed the opening riffs on electric guitar for the Elvis’ recording.
Linde said the song was written for his wife at the time, Pam Beckham. He was a newlywed and “‘Burning Love’ was a great newlywed title”. The song took Linde only 20 minutes to write.
I’m just a hunka hunka burning love
Just a hunka hunka burnin’ love
Just a hunka hunka burnin’ love
A hunka hunka burnin’ love
A hunka hunka burnin’ love
I’m just a hunka hunka burnin’ love
A hunka hunka burnin’ love
I’m just a hunka hunka burnin’ love
Linde performed his song in 1973, the following year, on a self-titled album.
“Burning Love” is one of the last of the Elvis’ true rock songs in the final years of his career and his final Top 10 hit during his life time. Presley limited live performances of the song, because he would have difficulty with the lyrics. Linde said Elvis first loved the song, but later on he didn’t.
Arguably, Elvis’ most famous live performance of “Burning Love” was on his television broadcast “Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii via Satellite” on January 14, 1973. Elvis was the first entertainer to do a satellite broadcast and he was incredibly nervous about it at first. More than 1 billion people, according to Elvis Presley Enterprises, watched the show. The song was second on the set list.
For the Hawaiian shows, Elvis commissioned costumer designer Bill Belew to be make the now famous white “American Eagle” jumpsuit for the show. The jumpsuit is on display at Graceland.
Thank you very much.