Introduction:
“I Was the One” is a song by Elvis Presley, recorded on January 11, 1956, at RCA Studios in Nashville. The track was written by Aaron Schroeder, Bill Peppers, Claude Demetrius, and Hal Blair. It was released as the B-side to Presley’s iconic single “Heartbreak Hotel” on January 27, 1956, under RCA Victor label numbers 20-6420 (78 rpm) and 47-6420 (single).
Musically, “I Was the One” is characterized as a rockabilly song, a genre that blends elements of country and rhythm and blues, which was a significant part of Presley’s early sound. The recording session featured Elvis Presley on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Scotty Moore and Chet Atkins on guitar, Bill Black on double bass, D.J. Fontana on drums, and Floyd Cramer on piano. Backing vocals were provided by Gordon Stoker, Ben Speer, and Brock Speer.
While “Heartbreak Hotel” achieved monumental success, topping the Billboard Top 100 chart for seven weeks and becoming Elvis’s first million-seller, “I Was the One” also garnered attention as its B-side. The single “Heartbreak Hotel/I Was the One” was certified Platinum on March 27, 1992, and 2× Platinum on July 15, 1999, by the RIAA, indicating over two million units sold.
In terms of album inclusion, “I Was the One” was featured on the compilation album “For LP Fans Only,” released on January 23, 1959.
Over the years, “I Was the One” has been covered by various artists, including Swedish band Streaplers, who released their version on the LP “Speed” in 1978, and country musician Jimmie Dale Gilmore, who included it on his album “Spinning Around the Sun.”