Hound Dog
Don't Be Cruel
HMV POP 249 (45 rpm)
Track Listing:
Side 1:
1. Hound Dog
Side 2:
1. Don't Be Cruel (to a heart that's true)
Released: September 1956:
Sound Format: mono
UK Single No: (05)
Elvis recorded "Hound Dog" the A-side of this single the day after he sang it on the Steve Allen Show. The song was originally written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller for "Big Mama" Thornton. Elvis heard Freddie Bell & The Bellboys perform it while he was vacationing in Las Vegas. It was this version that Elvis adopted in the studio. During 1956, Elvis constantly cited "Don't Be Cruel" as his favourite song that he recorded so far. It was written by Otis Blackwell with Elvis acknowledged as a co-writer.
NOTE: This single was issued using the matrix number 7XAV, part of the EMI system.
Side 1: 7XAV 1471 Side 2: 7XAV 1472
POP 249 (78rpm)
(Sleeve Variation 1 - Front)
Type 1: (March 1956 - August 1957)
This sleeve was a pale yellow colour with red printing,
The HMV logo, located at the top-centre of the sleeve, contained a picture of a dog, 'Nipper' listening to a gramophone with the words "His Master's Voice" underneath, Under the logo it read: The Hallmark of Quality. (Both Sides)
Boxed instructions Both Sides stated that:
THIS RECORD MUST BE PLAYED AT 45 REVS. PER MINUTE
(left-centre) and
The use of "EMITEX" cleaning material (available from record dealers) will preserve this record and keep it free from dust. (right-centre)
"HIS MASTER'S VOICE" (Bold Red Capitals - Under Centre Hole)
(Both Sides)
(Sleeve Variation 1 - Rear)
Under "HIS MASTER'S VOICE" at the bottom of the sleeve, the following information could be found:
Distributing Organisation for Great Britain
THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY LIMITED
RECORD DIVISION
8-11 GREAT CASTLE STREET, LONDON, W.1 (Left Side)
Export Distributing Organisation
E.M.I. INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
HAYES MIDDLESEX ENGLAND
Made and Printed in Great Britain (Right Side)
Note: Type 1:
This sleeve was a pale yellow colour with black printing, Not normally used for Elvis releases.
(Sleeve Variation 2 - Front)
Type 2: (March 1956 - August 1957)
This sleeve was a pale yellow colour with red printing,
This record has an optional centre. In its present form it can be played upon three speed record players or radiograms with a small centre spindle. (Top Left - Both Sides)
To play this 45 r.p.m. record on record players and radiograms with a large centre post remove the small centre disc of the record by pressing with the thumbs. (Top Right - Both Sides)
The HMV logo, located at the top-centre of the sleeve, contained a picture of a dog, 'Nipper' listening to a gramophone with the words "His Master's Voice" underneath, Under the logo it read: The Hallmark of Quality. (Both Sides)
Boxed instructions Both Sides stated that:
THIS RECORD MUST BE PLAYED AT 45 REVS. PER MINUTE
(left-centre) and
The use of "EMITEX" cleaning material (available from record dealers) will preserve this record and keep it free from dust. (right-centre)
"HIS MASTER'S VOICE" (Bold Red Capitals - Under Centre Hole)
(Both Sides)
(Sleeve Variation 2 - Rear)
Under "HIS MASTER'S VOICE" at the bottom of the sleeve, the following information could be found:
Distributing Organisation for Great Britain
THE GRAMOPHONE COMPANY LIMITED
RECORD DIVISION
8-11 GREAT CASTLE STREET, LONDON, W.1 (Left Side)
Export Distributing Organisation
E.M.I. INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
HAYES MIDDLESEX ENGLAND
Made and Printed in Great Britain (Right Side)
(Thanks to Paul Alner For The Information)
(Test Pressing/Factory Sample/Demo/Promo)
(Factory Sample - Side 1)
(Factory Sample - Side 2)
(Purple Label, HMV Logo, Gold Lettering, Knockout Centre)
(Variation 1 - Side 1)
(Purple Label)
HIS MASTER'S VOICE (Gold Lettering)
(Knockout Centre)
(1956 Pressing)
(Mono)
(Variation 1 - Side 2)
(Serrated Edge)
ABERBACH
MECOLICO
NCB
(Between Lines On Left - Both Sides)
(Thanks to Andy Honeywell for the images)
(Purple Label, HMV Logo, Gold Lettering, Knockout Centre)
(Variation 2 - Side 1)
(Purple Label)
HIS MASTER'S VOICE (Gold Lettering)
(Knockout Centre)
(1956 Pressing)
(Mono)
E. H. MORRIS
(Between Lines On Left)
(Variation 2 - Side 2)
(Serrated Edge)
ABERBACH
MECOLICO
NCB
(Between Lines On Left)
(Thanks to Andy Honeywell for the images)
(Variation 3 - Side 1)
(Purple Label)
HIS MASTER'S VOICE (Gold Lettering)
(Knockout Centre)
(1956 Pressing)
(Mono)
BIEM
E. H. MORRIS
(Between Lines On Left)
(Variation 3 - Side 2)
(Serrated Edge)
ABERBACH
MECOLICO
NCB
(Between Lines On Left)
(Thanks to Andy Honeywell for the images)
(Variation 4 - Side 1)
(Purple Label)
HIS MASTER'S VOICE (Gold Lettering)
(Knockout Centre)
(1956 Pressing)
(Mono)
E. H. MORRIS
BIEM
(Between Lines On Left)
(Variation 4 - Side 2)
(Serrated Edge)
ABERBACH
MECOLICO
NCB
(Between Lines On Left)
(Thanks to Andy Honeywell for the images)
(Purple Label, HMV Logo, Gold Lettering, Jigsaw Centre)
(Variation 5 - Side 1)
(Purple Label)
HIS MASTER'S VOICE (Gold Lettering)
(Jigsaw Centre)
(1956 Pressing)
(Mono)
(Variation 5 - Side 2)
(Serrated Edge)
ABERBACH
MECOLICO
NCB
(Between Lines On Left - Both Sides)
(Thanks to Andy Honeywell for the images)
(Purple Label, HMV Logo, Silver Lettering, Knockout Centre)
(Variation 6 - Side 1)
(Purple Label)
HIS MASTER'S VOICE (Silver Lettering)
(Knockout Centre)
(1957/58 Pressing)
(Mono)
E. H. MORRIS
B.I.E.M.
(Between Lines On Left)
(Variation 6 - Side 2)
(Serrated Edge)
ABERBACH
MECOLICO
NCB
(Between Lines On Left)
(Thanks to Andy Honeywell for the images)
UK Chart Information:
This single entered the UK charts on September 27, 1956, peaking at no. 2.
Chart Run: (23 Weeks)
27/09/1956 - 13
04/10/1956 - 05
11/10/1956 - 04
18/10/1956 - 03
25/10/1956 - 03
01/11/1956 - 02
08/11/1956 - 02
15/11/1956 - 02
22/11/1956 - 03
29/11/1956 - 03
06/12/1956 - 06
13/12/1956 - 05
20/12/1956 - 09
27/12/1956 - 11
03/01/1957 - 16
10/01/1957 - 08
17/01/1956 - 08
24/01/1957 - 10
31/01/1957 - 10
07/02/1957 - 11
14/02/1957 - 10
21/02/1957 - 16
28/02/1957 - 22
Information: www.officialcharts.com
Recording Information:
Hound Dog
(July 2, 1956: RCA Studios, New York)
Don't Be Cruel
(July 2, 1956: RCA Studios, New York)
Elvis UK HMV Single Promo Ad
used by kind permission: (Thanks to Paul Alner)
Elvis UK HMV Single Promo Ad
used by kind permission: (Thanks to Paul Alner)