| A Mess of Blues | |
| Cover: | A Mess of Blues 1960 45 RCA Elvis Presley.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Elvis Presley |
| A-Side: | "It's Now or Never" (US) |
| B-Side: | "The Girl of My Best Friend" (international) |
| Released: | July 5, 1960 |
| Recorded: | March 20, 1960 |
| Genre: | Blues[1] |
| Length: | 2:40 |
| Label: | RCA Victor |
| Prev Title: | Stuck on You |
| Prev Title2: | Fame and Fortune |
| Prev Year: | 1960 |
| It's Now or Never | |
| Title2: | A Mess of Blues |
| Next Title: | Are You Lonesome Tonight? |
| Next Title2: | I Gotta Know |
| Next Year: | 1960 |
"A Mess of Blues" is a song originally recorded by Elvis Presley for RCA Records in 1960, and written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. Although released as the B-side to "It's Now or Never", "A Mess of Blues" reached number 32 in the U.S. It reached number 2 in the UK as an A-side.
The song was published by Elvis Presley Music, Inc.
The recording appeared on the 1968 RCA Victor compilation Elvis' Gold Records Volume 4.
Sourced from Keith Flynn.[2]
The Blue Moon Boys
| A Mess of Blues | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Status Quo |
| Album: | Back to Back |
| Released: | [3] |
| Genre: | Boogie rock |
| Length: | 3:22 |
| Label: | Vertigo |
| Producer: | Status Quo |
| Prev Title: | Ol' Rag Blues |
| Prev Year: | 1983 |
| Next Title: | Marguerita Time |
| Next Year: | 1983 |
"A Mess of Blues" was covered by British rock band Status Quo in 1983. It was included on the album Back to Back[4] from which it was the second UK single, reaching a peak position of No. 15.
Due to a printing error, several hundred copies of the picture sleeve for this release were printed with the front and rear photographs inter-changed.
The song has been recorded by Tom Jones and Jools Holland, Peter and Gordon, John Hiatt, Jeff Healey, Alexis Korner, Delbert McClinton, Lee Curtis and the All-Stars, Henry McCullough Blues Band, Scotty Moore and Paul Ansell, Robert Gordon and Chris Spedding with The Jordanaires, P.J. Proby, Chris Wilson, and Led Zeppelin as part of a medley.[5]
| Chart (1960) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia | 11 |
| Belgium | 20 |
| New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[6] | 6 |
| Norway | 4 |
| UK | 2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[7] | 32 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 84 |