Calling Elvis Explained

Calling Elvis
Cover:	Callingelvis.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Dire Straits
Album:	On Every Street
B-Side:	"Iron Hand" "Millionaire Blues"
Released:	^[1]
Length:	6:25 (album version) 4:37 (single version)
Label:	Vertigo Warner Bros.
Producer:	Mark Knopfler
Prev Title:	Your Latest Trick
Prev Year:	1986
Next Title:	Heavy Fuel
Next Year:	1991

"Calling Elvis" is a song written by Mark Knopfler and performed by British rock band Dire Straits. It first appeared on the final studio album by the band, On Every Street (1991). It was released in August 1991 by Vertigo and Warner Bros. as the first single from that album, peaking at number 21 in the United Kingdom, and reaching the top 10 in numerous other countries. It was included on the 2005 compilation The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations. A live version of the song also appears on the 1993 live album On the Night.

Content

The song is about an Elvis fan who believes Elvis Presley is still alive, making references to many of his songs, including "Heartbreak Hotel", "Love Me Tender", "Love Me (Treat Me Like a Fool)", "Don't Be Cruel" and "Return to Sender", as well as the expression "Elvis has left the building". Mark Knopfler has been quoted as saying the idea came to him one day when he left his phone off the hook and his brother-in-law tried repeatedly to get hold of him. Upon finally doing so, the brother-in-law remarked Mark was harder to get hold of than Elvis.

Music video

The music video for "Calling Elvis" was jointly directed by Gerry Anderson of Thunderbirds fame and Steve Barron. It includes several members of the band represented in marionette form, as well as various Thunderbirds characters and a woman.

Track listings

• 7-inch and cassette single^{[2] [3]}

A. "Calling Elvis"

B. "Iron Hand"

• 12-inch and CD single^{[4] [5]}

1. "Calling Elvis"
2. "Iron Hand"
3. "Millionaire Blues"

• US 7-inch single and Japanese mini-CD single^{[6] [7]}

A. "Calling Elvis" – 6:25

B. "Millionaire Blues" – 4:23

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Denmark (IFPI)^[8]	2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[9]	2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[10]	4
Italy (Musica e dischi)^[11]	1
Portugal (AFP)^[12]	2
Spain (AFYVE)	3

Year-end charts

Chart (1991)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[13]	35
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[14]	38
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[15]	28
Europe (European Hit Radio)^[16]	16
Germany (Official German Charts)^[17]	78
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[18]	41
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[19]	39

See also

• List of European number-one airplay songs of the 1990s

Notes and References

1. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 19. 17 August 1991.
2. Calling Elvis . . 1991 . UK 7-inch single sleeve . . DSTR 16, 868 756-7.
3. Calling Elvis . Dire Straits . 1991 . UK cassette single sleeve . Vertigo Records . DSMC 16, 868 756-4.
4. Calling Elvis . Dire Straits . 1991 . UK 12-inch single sleeve . Vertigo Records . DSTR16 12, 868 757-1.
5. Calling Elvis . Dire Straits . 1991 . UK CD single liner notes . Vertigo Records . DS CD 16, 868 757-2.
6. Calling Elvis . Dire Straits . 1991 . US 7-inch single vinyl disc . . 7-19199.
7. Calling Elvis . Dire Straits . 1991 . Japanese mini-CD single liner notes . Vertigo Records . PHDR-33.
8. Top 10 Sales in Europe . . 14 September 1991 . 8 . 37 . 34 . 16 December 2018 .
9. Hits of the World . . 12 October 1991 . 73 . 103 . 41 . 0006-2510.
10. Book: Pennanen, Timo . 2006 . Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 . 1st . Tammi . Helsinki . 978-951-1-21053-5 . fi.
11. Top 10 Sales in Europe . . 8 . 45 . 36 . 9 November 1991 . 23 November 2019 .
12. Top 10 Sales in Europe . . 8 . 40 . 21 . 5 October 1992 . 30 October 2020 .
13. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1991 . Ultratop. Hung Medien . 25 July 2014 . nl.
14. RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991 . . 55 . 3 . 21 December 1991 . 13 May 2016.
15. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles: 1991 . . 8 . 51–52 . 21 . 21 December 1991 . 17 January 2020 .
16. EHR Year-End Top 100. Music & Media. 8. 51–52. 20. 21 December 1991. 16 February 2024.
17. Web site: Jahrescharts – 1991 . Offiziellecharts.de . GfK Entertainment Charts . 9 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150509002244/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1991 . de.
18. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1991 . . 25 July 2014 . nl.
19. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1991 . . 25 July 2014 . nl.