| Kissin' Cousins | |
| Cover: | Kissin%27_Cousins_Picture_Sleeve.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Elvis Presley and The Jordanaires |
| Album: | Kissin' Cousins soundtrack |
| Released: | February 10, 1964 |
| Recorded: | 1963 |
| Genre: | Rock and roll, pop |
| Length: | 2:14 |
| Label: | RCA Victor |
| Producer: | Chet Atkins |
| Chronology: | Elvis Presley and The Jordanaires |
| Prev Title: | Bossa Nova Baby |
| Prev Title2: | Witchcraft |
| Prev Year: | 1963 |
| Title2: | It Hurts Me' |
| Next Title: | Viva Las Vegas |
| Next Title2: | What'd I Say |
| Next Year: | 1964 |
"Kissin' Cousins" is a song first recorded by Elvis Presley as the title track for the soundtrack of the 1964 motion picture Kissin' Cousins. The movie also featured a completely different song, titled "Kissin' Cousins (No. 2)", written by Bill Giant, Bernie Baum and Florence Kaye.
The song was written by Fred Wise and Randy Starr.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] The song was published by Elvis Presley's company Gladys Music, Inc. Elvis Presley recorded his vocals for the song over an earlier-recorded backing track on October 10 (or possibly in the early morning of October 11), 1963.[8] [9]
The single was first released as a single on February 10, 1964, with "It Hurts Me", a non-movie song, on the opposite side as RCA Victor 47–8307."Kissin' Cousins" peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.[10] ("It Hurts Me" also charted, peaking at number 29.)
The song's first LP release was in March 1964 on the Kissing Cousins soundtrack LP (LPM-2894 in mono and LSP-2894 in stereo).[11] On March 27, 1992, the single "Kissin' Cousins / It Hurts Me" was certified Gold by the RIAA for selling over 500,000 copies.[12]
Reviewing the single "Kissin' Cousings / It Hurts Me" in its February 15, 1964 issue, Billboard called the two songs "[t]wo more contenders for chart honors from Elvis."
| Chart (1964) | Peak position | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| "Kissin' Cousins" | |||
| Germany[13] | 27 | ||
| UK (Official Charts Company)[14] | 10 | ||
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[15] | 12 | ||
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100[16] | 10 | ||
| "Kissin' Cousins / It Hurts Me" | |||
| Australia (retrospect Kent Music Report)[17] | 7< | --29-Aug-64, 7, RCA 47-8307--> | |