Always on My Mind

Popular ballad written by Wayne Carson, Mark James, and Johnny Christopher From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Always on My Mind" is a ballad written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James, first recorded by Brenda Lee and first released by Gwen McCrae (as "You Were Always on My Mind") in March 1972. Lee's version was released three months later in June 1972. The song has been a crossover hit, charting in both the country and western and pop categories. Elvis Presley's recording was the first commercially successful version of the song.

Quick Facts "You Were Always on My Mind", Single by Gwen McCrae ...
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Quick Facts Single by Brenda Lee, from the album Brenda ...
"Always on My Mind"
Single by Brenda Lee
from the album Brenda
B-side"That Ain't Right"
ReleasedJune 1972
StudioAmerican (Memphis, Tennessee)
GenreCountry
Length2:50
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Owen Bradley
Brenda Lee singles chronology
"Misty Memories"
(1971)
"Always on My Mind"
(1972)
"Nobody Wins"
(1973)
Audio
"Brenda Lee - You Were Always On My Mind" on YouTube
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AllMusic lists more than 300 recorded releases of the song in versions by dozens of performers.[1] While Lee's version reached no. 45 on the US country chart in 1972, other performers reached the Top 20 on the country and/or pop charts in the United States and elsewhere with their own versions: Elvis Presley (1972, US country; UK pop Top Ten); John Wesley Ryles (1979, US country) and Willie Nelson's Grammy Award-winning version (1982, US/Canada country number one; US/Canada pop Top Ten); and the Pet Shop Boys' 1987 hi-NRG/synth-pop interpretation (UK number one; US Top Ten).

Background and composition

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"Always on My Mind" was not completed until late 1971. Songwriter-guitarist Wayne Carson had about two verses done with the working title "You Were Always on My Mind".[2] He had been occupied in Memphis on a project that required him to stay ten days longer, and he phoned his wife in Springfield, Missouri, to apologize for the delay. She was angry, and he replied: "Well, I know I’ve been gone a lot, but I’ve been thinking about you all the time." This idea struck him as potential song material, and he quickly ended the call so he could capture it on paper. He brought the song back to the recording studio of Chips Moman and worked on it for a few days, but it did not gel. Carson asked for help from his colleague Johnny Christopher (the two had already written the hit song "No Love at All" in 1970) and they composed more of it in Moman's office. Feeling stuck, they appealed for assistance from songwriter Mark James who was walking through the studio. James was exhausted from non-stop music projects, but he ran through the song with Carson and Christopher. By the fourth run-through, the song was finished.[3]

Music critic Robert Hilburn said that it was commonly thought in Nashville and Memphis that Elvis Presley's marital troubles were the inspiration of the song, and that it was tailored to fit his musical style. Fueling this conjecture was the fact that James had already written a hit song "Suspicious Minds" for Presley. Carson responded that the song was not written for Presley but for every man. He said that it "was one long apology. It’s sort of like all guys who screw up and would love nothing better than to pick up the phone and call their wives and say, 'Listen, honey, I could have done better, but I want you to know that you were always on my mind.'"[3]

Elvis Presley version

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Quick Facts Single by Elvis Presley, from the album Separate Ways ...
"Always on My Mind"
Thumb
Picture sleeve (reverse) for North American single with "Separate Ways" in smaller font, also used for some European and Australian releases
Single by Elvis Presley
from the album Separate Ways
A-side"Separate Ways"
ReleasedOctober 31, 1972
RecordedMarch 29, 1972
StudioRCA (Hollywood, California)
Genre
Length3:37
LabelRCA Victor
Songwriter(s)
  • Wayne Carson
  • Mark James
  • Johnny Christopher
Producer(s)Felton Jarvis[4]
Elvis Presley singles chronology
"Burning Love"
(1972)
"Always on My Mind"
(1972)
"Fool" / "Steamroller Blues"
(1973)
Audio
"Elvis Presley - Always On My Mind" on YouTube
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Elvis Presley recorded "Always on My Mind" on March 29, 1972, a few weeks after his February separation from his wife, Priscilla.[5] The song was popular and critically appreciated and is considered one of Presley's standout songs of the 1970s. The song was released as the B-side of the "Separate Ways" single, which was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales in excess of one million units.[6] It was listed as a double A-side, reaching number 16 on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart in November 1972.[7] In the United Kingdom, "Always on My Mind" (as the A-side) reached the Top Ten in January 1973. In 2013 the recording ranked number one in a poll conducted by ITV, "The Nation's Favourite Elvis Songs", just ahead of "Suspicious Minds" and "Can't Help Falling in Love".

Charts

More information Chart (1972–1973), Peak position ...
1972–1973 chart performance for "Always on My Mind"
Chart (1972–1973) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[8]10
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[9]4
Ireland (IRMA)[10]9
UK Singles (OCC)[11]9
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[12]16
US Country Singles (Cash Box)[13] 30
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More information Chart (1997), Peak position ...
1997 chart performance for "Always on My Mind"
Chart (1997) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14]49
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15]15
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16]17
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More information Chart (1999), Peak position ...
1999 chart performance for "Always on My Mind"
Chart (1999) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[17]56
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More information Chart (2007), Peak position ...
2007 chart performance for "Always on My Mind"
Chart (2007) Peak
position
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[18]39
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Certifications

More information Region, Certification ...
Certifications for "Always on My Mind"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[19] Gold 15,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Gold 400,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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John Wesley Ryles version

Quick Facts "You Are Always on My Mind", Single by John Wesley Ryles ...
"You Are Always on My Mind"
Single by John Wesley Ryles
from the album Let the Night Begin
B-side"My Angel Got Her Wings Today"
Released1979
GenreCountry
Length3:40
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)
  • Wayne Carson
  • Mark James
  • Johnny Christopher
Producer(s)Bob Montgomery
John Wesley Ryles singles chronology
"Liberated Woman"
(1979)
"You Are Always on My Mind"
(1979)
"Perfect Strangers"
(1980)
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In 1979, John Wesley Ryles reached number 20 on the US Hot Country Songs chart with his rendition, retitled "You Are Always on My Mind", from the album Let the Night Begin.[21] The rendition was produced by Bob Montgomery.[22]

A review in Billboard praised the "brightly mixed vocals" and "powerful production".[22]

Charts

More information Chart (1979), Peak position ...
Chart performance for "Always on My Mind"
Chart (1979) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[23]24
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[24]20
US Country Singles (Cash Box)[25] 17
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Willie Nelson version

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Quick Facts Single by Willie Nelson, from the album ...
"Always on My Mind"
Thumb
Side-A label of the US 7-inch vinyl
Single by Willie Nelson
from the album Always on My Mind
B-side"The Party's Over"
ReleasedFebruary 1982
GenreCountry pop[26]
Length3:33
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
  • Johnny Christopher
  • Wayne Carson Thompson
  • Mark James
Producer(s)Chips Moman
Willie Nelson singles chronology
"Heartaches of a Fool"
(1981)
"Always on My Mind"
(1982)
"Let It Be Me"
(1982)
Audio sample
"Always on My Mind"
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Willie Nelson recorded and released the song in early 1982. It raced to number one on Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart that May, spending two weeks on top and a total of 21 weeks on the chart. The song also fared well on Top 40 radio, reaching number five on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and staying on that chart for 23 weeks. It was the best-performing single on the Hot Country Singles year-end chart of 1982. This version also charted in a number of other countries. The single was certified platinum by the RIAA on October 7, 1991.[27]

Nelson's version resulted in three wins at the 25th Grammy Awards in February 1983: songwriters Christopher, James, and Carson won Song of the Year and Best Country Song; in addition, Nelson won for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. This version also won Country Music Association Awards in two consecutive years: 1982 Song of the Year and 1983 Song of the Year for songwriters Christopher, James and Carson; 1982 Single of the Year for Nelson; and contributed to Nelson winning 1982 Album of the Year for the album Always on My Mind.

Nelson performed the song with Johnny Cash on the 1998 release of VH1 Storytellers: Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson. The song was also featured in a December 2009 ASPCA commercial. In 2008, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

In 2013, Nelson's version was also featured in its entirety in a season two episode of the HBO series The Newsroom.

Charts

Weekly charts

More information Chart (1982–1984), Peak position ...
Chart (1982–1984) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[28] 39
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[29]31
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[30]10
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[31]4
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[32]1
Ireland (IRMA)[10]8
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[33]17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34]19
UK Singles (OCC)[35]49
US Billboard Hot 100[36]5
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[37]2
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[38]1
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[39] 4
US Country Singles (Cash Box)[40] 1
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Year-end charts

More information Chart (1982), Position ...
Chart (1982) Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[41] 70
US Billboard Hot 100[42] 22
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[43] 8
US Hot Country Singles (Billboard)[44] 1
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[45] 31
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Certifications

More information Region, Certification ...
Certifications for "Always on My Mind"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[46] Gold 15,000
United States (RIAA)[27] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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Pet Shop Boys version

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Quick Facts Single by Pet Shop Boys, from the album It Couldn't Happen Here ...
"Always on My Mind"
Thumb
Standard artwork for commercial releases in most territories
Single by Pet Shop Boys
from the album It Couldn't Happen Here
B-side"Do I Have To?"
ReleasedNovember 30, 1987 (1987-11-30)
Genre
Length3:56
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)
  • Wayne Carson
  • Johnny Christopher
  • Mark James
Producer(s)
Pet Shop Boys singles chronology
"Rent"
(1987)
"Always on My Mind"
(1987)
"Heart"
(1988)
Music video
"Always on My Mind" on YouTube
Audio sample
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Quick Facts Song by Pet Shop Boys, from the album Introspective ...
"Always on My Mind / In My House"
Song by Pet Shop Boys
from the album Introspective
ReleasedOctober 10, 1988
Genre
Length9:05
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
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In 1987, the Pet Shop Boys performed a synth-pop[47] version of "Always on My Mind" on Love Me Tender, a television special on ITV in the United Kingdom. Commemorating the tenth anniversary of Presley's death, the programme featured various popular acts of the time performing cover versions of his songs. The Pet Shop Boys' performance was so well-received that the duo decided to record the song and release it as a single.[48]

This hi-NRG,[49][50] dance-pop,[51] and disco[52] version became the UK's Christmas number-one single that year – edging out "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues – spending four weeks atop the chart.[53] It also reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the duo's fifth and final top-10 hit on that chart.[54]

One of Pet Shop Boys' most beloved releases by the public,[55] as of May 2024 it is the second-most streamed Pet Shop Boys song in the UK with 53 million streams.[55]

Composition

The Pet Shop Boys version introduces a harmonic variation not present in the original version. In the original, the ending phrase "always on my mind" is sung to a IV-V7-I cadence (C-D7-G). The Pet Shop Boys extend this cadence by adding two further chords: C-D7-Gm7/B-C-G (i.e. a progression of IV-V7-IIIb-IV-I).

Critical reception

In November 2004, The Daily Telegraph placed the version at number two in a list of the 50 best cover versions of all time.[56] In October 2014, a public poll compiled by the BBC saw the song voted the all-time best cover version.[57]

Music video

In the video for Pet Shop Boys' version of "Always on My Mind" (an excerpt from their surreal music film It Couldn't Happen Here) (1988), Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe are seated in the front of a taxi cab, when an eccentric passenger gets in, played by British actor Joss Ackland (1928-2023). At the end of the song, he gets out of the car, which drives away. Standing alone, he mutters: "You went away. It should make me feel better. But I don't know how I'm going to get through", which is part of the lyric for another Pet Shop Boys song, "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", released earlier in the year.

Remixes

In 1988, the duo remixed the song for their third studio album, Introspective, combining it with the acid house[58][59] track "In My House". Two further remixes by longtime Pet Shop Boys remixer, Shep Pettibone, were released on the US promotional triple vinyl version of the album—Shep's Holiday mix and Shep's House mix. Neither have appeared on any other format since.

Charts

Weekly charts

More information Chart (1987–1988), Peak position ...
Chart (1987–1988) Peak
position
Australia (Australian Music Report)[60] 10
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[61]2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[62]2
Canada (The Record)[63] 1
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[64]1
Denmark (Tracklisten)[65] 2
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[66] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[67] 1
France (SNEP)[68]22
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 10)[69] 2
Ireland (IRMA)[10]2
Italy (Musica e dischi)[70] 8
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[71]3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[72]5
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[73]8
Norway (VG-lista)[74]3
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[75] 3
Spain (AFYVE)[65] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[76]1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[77]1
UK Singles (OCC)[53]1
UK Dance (Music Week)[78] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[54]4
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[79]8
US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[80]12
US Cash Box Top 100 Singles[81] 7
West Germany (GfK)[82]1
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Year-end charts

More information Chart (1987), Position ...
Chart (1987) Position
UK Singles (Gallup)[83] 14
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More information Chart (1988), Position ...
Chart (1988) Position
Australia (ARIA)[84] 35
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[85] 13
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[86] 29
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[87] 15
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[88] 12
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[89] 62
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[90] 88
South Africa (Springbok Radio)[91] 11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[92] 15
US Billboard Hot 100[93] 80
West Germany (Official German Charts)[94] 4
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Certifications

More information Region, Certification ...
Certifications for "Always on My Mind"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[95] Gold 50,000^
Germany (BVMI)[96] Gold 250,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[97] Gold 15,000
Singapore 20,000[98]
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[99] Platinum 60,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[100] Platinum 600,000
United States 270,000[101]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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Release history

More information Region, Date ...
Release dates and formats for "Always on My Mind"
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United Kingdom November 30, 1987
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
Parlophone [102][103]
December 7, 1987
  • CD
  • cassette
[104]
December 21, 1987 12-inch remix vinyl [105]
Japan April 24, 1988 Mini-CD EMI [106]
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In 2017, Burberry released its holiday campaign, as directed by Alasdair McLellan, which features Cara Delevingne and actor Matt Smith. It opens with Delevingne singing "Always on My Mind" before segueing into the Pet Shop Boys cover of the song.[107] The song is also included in the films All of Us Strangers,[108] The Apprentice and Matthias & Maxime[109]

References

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