| Little Sister | |
| Cover: | Elvis - Little Sister.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Elvis Presley |
| Released: | August 8, 1961 |
| Recorded: | June 26, 1961 |
| Studio: | RCA Studio B, Nashville, Tennessee |
| Genre: | Rock and roll,[1] rock[2] |
| Length: | 2:33 |
| Label: | RCA Victor |
| Producer: | Steve Sholes[3] |
| Prev Title: | Wild in the Country |
| Prev Title2: | I Feel So Bad |
| Prev Year: | 1961 |
| (Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame | |
| Title2: | Little Sister |
| Next Title: | Rock-A-Hula Baby |
| Next Title2: | Can't Help Falling in Love |
| Next Year: | 1961 |
"Little Sister" is a rock and roll song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. It was originally released as a single in 1961 by American singer Elvis Presley, who enjoyed a No. 5 hit with it on the Billboard Hot 100. The single (as a double A-side with "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame") also reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart.[4] Lead guitar was played by Hank Garland and the rhythm guitar was played by Scotty Moore with backing vocals by the Jordanaires featuring the distinctive bass voice of Ray Walker.
Presley performs it as part of a medley with "Get Back" in the 1970 rockumentary film . "Little Sister" would later be covered by such artists as Dwight Yoakam, Robert Plant, The Nighthawks, and Pearl Jam. A version by Ry Cooder, from his album Bop Till You Drop, was a number-one hit in New Zealand.[5] [6]
The lyric makes mention of "Jim Dandy" which was the title of a 1956 tune "Jim Dandy" by LaVern Baker. An answer song to "Little Sister", with the same melody but different lyrics, was recorded and released under the title "Hey, Memphis" by Baker on Atlantic Records (Atlantic 2119-A) in September 1961.
Recorded in RCA Studio B, Nashville, Tennessee, June 25, 1961.[7]
| Chart (1961–1962) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] | 1 | |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) | 11 | |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 5 | |
| Norway (VG-lista) | 6 | |
| West Germany (Media Control) | 25 |
| Little Sister | |
| Cover: | Dwight Yoakam - Little Sister.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Dwight Yoakam |
| Album: | Hillbilly Deluxe |
| B-Side: | This Drinkin' Will Kill Me |
| Released: | February 1987 |
| Recorded: | 1987 |
| Genre: | Country |
| Length: | 3:01 |
| Label: | Reprise |
| Producer: | Pete Anderson |
| Prev Title: | It Won't Hurt |
| Prev Year: | 1986 |
| Next Title: | Little Ways |
| Next Year: | 1987 |
| Chart (1987) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 3 | |
| RIANZ charts | 35[9] |
The music video for Dwight Yoakam's 1987 version of "Little Sister" was directed by Sherman Halsey.