Introduction:
Elvis Presley’s “The Wonder of You” isn’t quite the song it seems. Though it became a signature tune for The King in 1970, it originated with songwriter Baker Knight a decade earlier.
Knight’s version hit the charts in 1959, reaching a respectable #25 on the Billboard Hot 100. While not a smash hit, it caught the attention of Presley, who loved the song’s message of devotion and wonder.
Presley’s chance to truly make the song his own came in 1970 during a Las Vegas residency. He’d been experimenting with incorporating live recordings into his studio albums, and “The Wonder of You” felt like a perfect fit. His energetic, theatrical performance re-imagined the song, transforming it from a pop ballad to a powerful declaration.
This live rendition became the official single released in April 1970. “The Wonder of You” became a double-edged sword of success. In the US, it reached #9, a respectable showing but not quite the chart-dominating hit Presley was used to. However, across the Atlantic, the song exploded. It topped the UK Singles Chart for a whopping six weeks, becoming one of Presley’s most successful releases ever in Britain.
“The Wonder of You” stands as a testament to Presley’s ability to breathe new life into existing songs. This 1970 version, born on the electrifying stage of Las Vegas, became synonymous with Presley himself, a powerful ballad that captured the enduring mystery and wonder of love.