Here is Otis Blackwell singing his own All Shook Up - (and what a fine version it is!) released 1961.
The first artist to record it other than Otis Blackwell, was David Hess, a Shalimar Music artist known professionally as David Hill. He recorded the song in 1956.There's a bio with David Hill's version if you click back to the video on Youtube. In 1959 he had some success with the numbers "Two Brothers" and "Living Doll" (recorded in the UK by Cliff Richard for the film "Serious Charge"). David would also go on to write, along with Aaron Schroeder, the Elvis classic "I Got Stung", and sang demo versions of other songs written for Elvis, such as "It's Now or Never".He also wrote Speedy Gonzalez for Pat Boone and wrote other songs for Elvis throughout the 1950s and 1960s, including "Frankie and Johnny," "Come Along," "Make Me Know You're Mine" (first performed by Conway Twitty), "Sand Castles". The video claims Hill recorded this in 1957 though, not 1956. Here's the David Hill version -
Elvis - Recorded the song on January 12, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood
Released master is take 10. Elvis had loved "Don't Be Cruel", and certainly would've been on the lookout for another song from Otis Blackwell. Otis Blackwell wrote the song for Elvis in 1956. Elvis took the song, changed the lyrics and melody slightly, that's the true reason why Elvis got shared writing credits. According to a comment made on the Otis Blackwell You Tube above (click back to You tube to view it) " In 1957 a demo was made by Davis Hill, after the song was re-worked. After hearing the demo Elvis then recorded the song soon after in March of 1957." Whatever the sequence of events Elvis had his first No 1 in the uk with All Shook Up and it spent spent 30 weeks on the Hot 100 chart in the USA.w/ "That's When Your Heartaches Begin", 47-6870 (20-6870 for 78rpm), March 1957 (Million Seller).
Otis Blackwell
(February 16, 1932 – May 6, 2002) was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist whose work significantly influenced rock 'n' roll. His compositions include Little Willie John's "Fever", Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire" and "Breathless", Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel", "All Shook Up" and "Return to Sender" (with Winfield Scott), and Jimmy Jones' "Handy Man". He should not be confused with another songwriter and producer Robert "Bumps" Blackwell. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and died in Nashville, Tennessee. He learned piano as a child and grew up listening to both R&B and Country music.
He first became famous by winning a local talent contest ("Amateur Night") at the Apollo Theater, Harlem, New York in 1952, led to a recording contract with RCA and then with Jay-Dee. His first release was his own composition "Daddy Rolling Stone" which became a favorite in Jamaica where it was recorded by Derek Martin. The song later became part of The Who's Mod repertoire. Enjoying some early recording and performing success, he found his first love was songwriting and by 1955 had settled into the groove that he would ride for decades. His first successes came in 1956 when Little Willie John's R&B hit with the sultry "Fever" was an even bigger pop success for Peggy Lee. Then, "All Shook Up" (first recorded by David Hill on Aladdin) began a highly profitable association with Elvis Presley, who was credited as co-writer.
Blackwell was one of the leading African American figures of early rock 'n' roll, although he was not well known by the public. His own records never cracked the Top 40, yet he wrote million-selling songs for Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Dee Clark and others. He also recruited other songwriters to write for Presley such as Winfield Scott.
From the jacket liner notes of the Elvis' Golden Records (1958) Anne Fulchino from Radio Corporation of America wrote:
"While sipping coffee, Steve Sholes pulled out a demonstration record of "Don't Be Cruel" and told Elvis it was a new song written by Otis Blackwell, whom Elvis had long admired as a rhythm and blues artist. It took just a few bars to convince Presley that it was a perfect song for him, and he decided to cut it right away. Presley learned the song within minutes—he has an inherent musical sense—and in short order a great master was put on tape.
It isn't often that the title of a song will create a whole new expression in Americana. "All Shook Up" did exactly that. Youngsters and adults alike have made the phrase a common part of everyday usage. The background to the song itself is a rather interesting one. Since the huge success of "Don't Be Cruel", Elvis had been anxious to record another song from the pen of Otis Blackwell. Eventually, Blackwell came around with "All Shook Up." Presley wasn't completely satisfied with the song, and with Blackwell's consent re-wrote part of the lyrics. Thus, as co-writer as well as artist, Presley produced his ninth consecutive gold record, his first in the year 1957." Read more here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_Blackwell
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