Puppet on a String (Elvis Presley song)

"Puppet on a String" is a 1965 song originally recorded by Elvis Presley. It was written by Roy C. Bennett and Sid Tepper and recorded by Elvis Presley for the MGM film Girl Happy,^[1] which was released on April 14, 1965.^[4][5]

"Puppet on a String"
Single by Elvis Presley
from the album Girl Happy
B-side	"Wooden Heart"
Released	October 20, 1965
Recorded	June 10, 1964
Studio	Radio Recorders, Hollywood
Genre	Rock and roll, pop
Length	2:39
Label	RCA Victor
Songwriter(s)	Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper[1][2][3]
Elvis Presley singles chronology
"I'm Yours" / "(It's a) Long Lonely Highway" (1965) "Puppet on a String" / "Wooden Heart" (1965) "Santa Claus Is Back in Town" (1966)

Background

Elvis Presley recorded the vocals for "Puppet on a String" along with other tracks on June 16, 1964 (over a backing track that was recorded earlier) during a recording session at Radio Recorders in Culver City outside of Los Angeles.^[1] The song was published by Elvis Presley's publishing company Gladys Music, Inc.

Released in the United States in 1965 as a single with the 1960 recording from the film G.I. Blues, "Wooden Heart", on the B-side, "Puppet on a String" reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of December 25, 1965, where it would stay for two weeks.^[6][2][4] (The other single from the same movie, "Do the Clam", was released earlier in the same year and reached number 21.)^[4]

On December 4, 1965 the song entered to many lists of Billboard Top Sellers in Top Markets.^[7] Some days later, the song reached the position # 5 on the Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening staying in that list during 8 weeks. ^[8]

In Canada, the single reached number 3 in a 10-week chart run, entering the chart in November, 1965.^[9] The single was certified Gold in the U.S. by the RIAA in March 1992.

Musical style and lyrics

"Puppet on a String" is an easy listening love song^[1] or a ballad.

Charts

Chart (1965)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100[10]	14

References

1. "Puppet On A String by Elvis Presley Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Songfacts, LLC. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
2. David F. Lonergan (2005). Hit Records, 1950-1975. Scarecrow Press. pp. 146–. ISBN 978-0-8108-5129-0.
3. Staff (November 13, 1965). "Today's Tunes Filled With Goodies: Tepper–Bennett". Billboard. p. 4. ISSN 0006-2510.
4. James L. Neibaur (4 April 2014). The Elvis Movies. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 163–. ISBN 978-1-4422-3074-3.
5. Thomas Lisanti (24 August 2012). Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959-1969. McFarland. pp. 193–. ISBN 978-0-7864-7297-0.
6. Billboard, December 25, 1965.
7. Billboard - December 4, 1965 - Pages 14/15
8. Billboard - December 1, 1966 - Pag. 10
9. Song artist 2 - Elvis Presley.tsort.
10. "Elvis Presley Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 201.