Elvis Presley – That’s When Your Heartaches Begin
About the song
If you are a fan of Elvis Presley, you probably know some of his most famous songs, such as “Hound Dog”, “Jailhouse Rock” or “All Shook Up”. But do you know the story behind one of his earliest recordings, “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin”? In this blog post, we will explore the history of this song and how it influenced Elvis’ career.
“That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” is a 1937 song by Fred Fisher, William Raskin and Billy Hill. It was first recorded and released by Shep Fields Rippling Rhythm, a popular orchestra of the time. The song became a hit for The Ink Spots, a vocal group that blended jazz and pop, in 1941. The Ink Spots’ version featured their signature style of a spoken introduction followed by a harmonized chorus.
Elvis Presley was a fan of The Ink Spots and their influence can be heard in some of his later songs, such as “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and “It’s Now or Never”. Elvis recorded “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” on at least three occasions during the 1950s. The first time was on July 18, 1953, when he paid $3.98 (equivalent to $43.53 in 2022) for studio time at the Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. He recorded a double-sided acetate demo single, with “My Happiness” on the A-side and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” on the B-side. He was not yet signed to the Sun Records label and he made the recording as a gift for his mother’s birthday.
The second time was on December 4, 1956, during the famous Million Dollar Quartet session. This was an impromptu jam session that involved Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash at the Sun Studio. They played a variety of songs, including gospel, country and rock and roll. Elvis sang “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” along with Lewis on piano.
The third time was on January 13, 1957, when he recorded and released it as a B-side to “All Shook Up”, his second single for RCA Victor. This version was more polished and featured backing vocals by The Jordanaires, a vocal quartet that accompanied Elvis on many of his recordings. The song reached number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 45 on the Cash Box chart.
“That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” is a song that showcases Elvis’ versatility and range as a singer. It also reflects his musical influences and tastes, from the crooning style of The Ink Spots to the rockabilly sound of Sun Records. It is a song that captures the essence of Elvis’ early years and his transition from an unknown teenager to a superstar.
Watch the song video :
Here are the lyrics of the song: “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin”
In the arms of a friend
That’s when your heartaches begin
When dreams of a lifetime
Must come to an end
That’s when your heartaches beginLove is a thing
You never can share
When you bring a friend
Into your love affair
That’s the end of your sweetheart
That’s the end of your friend
That’s when your heartaches beginIf you find your sweetheart
In the arms of your best friend
Brother, that’s, that’s when your heartaches begin
And you know, when all of your dreams
When all of your dreams of a lifetime, must all come to an end
Well, that’s, that’s when your heartaches beginYou see love is a thing that
That you never can share
And when you bring a friend
When you bring a friend into your love affair
That’s the end of your sweetheart
That’s the end of your friend
That’s the when your heartaches begin
