The Wonder of You

This article is about the song. For the albums, see The Wonder of You (Nelson Riddle album) and The Wonder of You (The Sandpipers album).

"The Wonder of You" is a song written by Baker Knight. In 1959, Ray Peterson released it as a single. The song became a Top 40 hit for him on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #25, and also reached #23 in the UK. That same year it was recorded by Ronnie Hilton, his version was also a hit reaching #22 on the UK Singles Chart. The Ray Peterson record briefly re-entered the Hot 100 in 1964. In the early 1960s, the Platters also recorded this song, which appeared on a 1970s compilation The Platters – 30 Golden Hits. In 1969, The Sandpipers recorded an album of the same name including the song. An album of instrumentals of the same name by Nelson Riddle was also released in 2000.

Elvis Presley version

"The Wonder of You"
Single by Elvis Presley
from the album On Stage
B-side "Mama Liked the Roses"
Released April 20, 1970 (1970-04-20)
Recorded February 1970, International Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada
Label RCA
Writer(s) Baker Knight
Certification Gold (RIAA)

Elvis Presley recorded a live version of "The Wonder of You" in Las Vegas, Nevada in February 1970. The song was released as a single on April 20, 1970, backed by the song "Mama Liked the Roses". In the United States, both songs charted at #9 together in the spring of 1970. "The Wonder of You" was one of his most successful records in the UK ever, topping the UK Singles Chart for six weeks in the summer of that year. It also stayed at number one in the Irish Charts for three weeks that same year. This was the 59th Top 40 hit of his career. Presley's version also reached number 37 on the US Country Singles chart, and number one on the easy listening chart.[1]

"The Wonder of You" was one of about thirty five songs Elvis would regularly perform at concerts.

According to Peterson, "He [Elvis] asked me if I would mind if he recorded 'The Wonder of You.' I said, 'You don't have to ask permission; you're Elvis Presley.' He said, 'Yes, I do. You're Ray Peterson.'"[2]

Popularity in association football

The song has been adopted by English soccer club Port Vale, which runs out to the song at the start of its home matches, while the club's fans sing the song throughout their matches, periodically with altered lyrics.[3] The Arsenal club also adopted the song as their opening anthem until the 2012-13 season. Scottish club Ross County have also adopted the song as an anthem at the end of home matches.

See also

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 196.
  2. "David Neale - Elvis Presley The Originals".
  3. "The Wonder Of You Chant". fanchants.com. 30 Jul 2007. Retrieved 2009-02-06.

External links

Preceded by
"Daughter of Darkness" by Tom Jones
Billboard Easy Listening Singles number-one single (Elvis Presley version)
June 20, 1970
Succeeded by
"A Song of Joy" by Miguel Ríos
Preceded by
"In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry
UK number one single (Elvis Presley version)
August 1, 1970 for six weeks
Succeeded by
"The Tears of a Clown" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
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