1961 Best-Selling Classic Became a No. 1 Hit 65 Years Ago

While the ’60s were full of defining artists like The Beatles,James Brown, The Supremes, and Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley continued his chart-topping streak with a 1961 hit track. The rock n’ roll icon released a best-selling single that was originally created as an Italian ballad.

Published through Elvis Presley Music, “Surrender” became Presley’s fifth chart-topping hit that started a two-week run on March 20, according to ThisDayinMusic. It was released on February 7 of that year, with the track “Lonely Man” serving as the B-side single. The popular song was created by songwriters Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, who made it into an adaptation of the 1902 Neapolitan ballad “Torna a Surriento” (“Come Back to Sorrento”).

According to details behind the ballad, it was composed in 1984 by Italian musician Ernesto De Curtis, with lyrics done by his brother, poet and painter Giambattista De Curtis. The original ballad has been sung by various artists over the years, like Frank Sinatra, Meat Loaf, Luciano Pavarotti, and many more.

Presley was one of the few who releases re-arranged version of the song, alongside Dean Martin, who released an adapted version by Joseph J. Lilley titled “Take Me In Your Arms” on his album Dino: Italian Love Songs.

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“Surrender” peaked on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts for two straight weeks and became certified Platinum by the RIAA. It had Presley on vocals and vocal quartet The Jordanaires as backing vocals alongside Millie Kirkham. Scorry Moore, who formed Presley’s Blue Moon Boys, served as the lead electric guitarist with Hank Garland on acoustic. Bob Moore played the double bass with D.J. Fontana on drums, Buddy Harman on percussion, Floyd Cramer on paino and Boots Randolph on Saxaphon.

The release of the song continued Presley’s streak of chart-topping hits until The Beatles took over the title with six consecutive No. 1’s between 1965 and 1966.