About The Song
“Suspicious Minds,” “Hound Dog,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” and numerous other Elvis songs were first recorded by other artists. “Such a Night” is no exception. The original 1953 tune came from the R&B group The Drifters. Today, The Drifters are most known for their hits “Save the Last Dance for Me” and “Under the Boardwalk.” “Stand by Me” singer Ben E. King was once a member of The Drifters.
“Such a Night” includes lyrics like “Oh, that night ooh what a night / It was, it really was such a night / When we kissed, I had to fall in love” and “Came the dawn, dawn, dawn, and my love was gone.” “Such a Night” seems to chronicle a midnight stand. According to the book American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today, the Detroit radio station WXYZ banned The Drifters’ “Such a Night” for being too risque.
Elvis was known for his racy style during his golden years, so it only makes sense he’d release his own version of “Such a Night.” His rendition stays true to The Drifters’, at least on a compositional level. However, rock ‘n’ roll is the devil’s music, and the devil is in the details.
The Drifters’ “Such a Night” is pretty lo-fi. Clyde McPhatter’s distinct high-pitched vocals are sincere, even if they’re unorthodox. The song might be about a one-night stand, but McPhatter’s voice paints it as a meaningful one-night stand, one he might remember for years to come.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Elvis performs “Such a Night” with a wink and a smile. It feels less sexual than the original because he performs it like he’s singing a novelty track like “Do the Clam” or “Rock-A-Hula Baby,” not like he’s baring his soul. The Jordanaires perform backup like they’re in on the joke. The production is the sort of slick pop that Elvis embraced in the early 1960s. The two versions of “Such a Night” feel like they’re from different planets.
Elvis’ “Such a Night” was a modest hit in the United States. The track climbed to No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for eight weeks. “Such a Night” wasn’t a flop single, but it wasn’t a commercial bullseye either. The tune appeared on the album Elvis Is Back! That record reached No. 199 on the Billboard 200 for a single week in 2011.
Video
Lyric
Let’s sing along with the lyrics!
It was a night oo-oo what a night
It was it really was such a night
The moon was bright oh how so bright
It was it really was such a night
The night was alight with stars above
Oo-oo when she kissed me
I had to fall in loveOh it was a kiss oo-oo what a kiss
It was it really was such a kiss
Oh how she could kiss oh what a kiss
It was it really was such a kiss
Just the thought of her lips
Sets me afire
I reminisce and I’m filled with desire
But I’d gave my heart to her in sweet surrender
How well I remember, I’ll always rememberOh, what a night oo-oo what a night
It was it really was such a night
Came the dawn and my heart and her love
And the night was gone
But I’ll never forget the kiss
The kiss in the moonlight
Oo-oo such a kiss, such a nightIt was a night oo-oo what a night
It was it really was such a night
Came the dawn and my heart and her love
And the night was gone
But I’ll never forget the kiss
The kiss in the moonlight
How well I remember, I’ll always rememberThat night oo-oo what a night
It was it really was such a night
When we kissed I had to fall in love
But I’d gave my heart to her in sweet surrender
How well I remember, I’ll always rememberOh that night oo-oo what a night
It was it really was such a night
When we kissed I had to fall in love
Well she’s gone, gone, gone
Yes she’s gone, gone, gone
Came the dawn, dawn, dawn
And my love was gone
But before that dawn
Yes before that dawn and before that dawn
Oo-oo, oo-oo, oo-oo, oo-oo, oo-oo
Such a night