“Burning Love,” today’s classic song of the day, is a now-iconic tune by Elvis Presley. Released in August of 1972, “Burning Love” went all the way to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Cash Box Top 100. It was his final top ten hit on the U.S. charts.
“Burning Love” was written by Dennis Linde, a Nashville-based musician and songwriter. He wrote a ton of hits for country artists, including “Long Long Texas Road” for Roy Drusky (1970), “The Love She Found in Me” for Gary Morris (1983), “Walkin’ a Broken Heart” and “Then It’s Love” for Don Williams (1985 and 1986), “I’m Gonna Get You” and “In a Letter to You” for Eddy Raven (1988 and 1989), “Bubba Shot the Jukebox” and “It Sure Is Monday” for Mark Chesnutt (1992 and 1993), “Callin’ Baton Rouge” for Garth Brooks (1993), “John Deere Green” for Joe Diffie (1993), and “Goodbye Earl” for The Chicks (2000).
Elvis originally didn’t want to record “Burning Love,” but was talked into it by members of his band, the TCB Band. (That’s TCB as in “Taking Care of Business.”) They recorded the initial tracks at RCA Studio C in Hollywood on March 28, 1972. Members of the TCB Band on that session included Glen Hardin on piano; James Burton, John Wilkinson and Charlie Hodge on guitars; Emory Gordy on bass; and the legendary Ronnie Tutt on drums. Elvis sang live in the studio along with the band and, on April 27, the song’s writer, David Linde, overdubbed the opening guitar riff.
“Burning Love” became a staple of Elvis’ live act in his later years. For today’s daily bonus video of the day, here’s an early performance of “Burning Love” at the San Antonio Convention Center Arena on April 18, 1972. He’s just a hunk a hunk a burning love!
