"Way Down" is a song recorded by

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

. Recorded in October 1976, it was his last

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released before his death on August 16, 1977. The song was written by Layng Martine Jr. and was later recorded by Presley at his home studio in

Graceland Graceland is a mansion on a estate in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, which was once owned by rock and roll icon Elvis Presley. His daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, inherited Graceland after his death in 1977. Graceland is located at 3764 Elv ...

on 29 October 1976. Released as a single (with "

Pledging My Love "Pledging My Love" is a blues ballad. It was written by Ferdinand Washington and Don Robey and published in 1954. Background The song's theme is captured in the title and the opening lines: :Forever my darling, my love will be true, :Always an ...

" on the

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) on June 6, 1977, it was his latest single at the time of his death. It initially peaked at No. 31 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart dated August 6, 1977 and had fallen to No. 53 on the chart for the week ending August 27, 1977. Thereafter, it reversed direction and reached an even higher peak at No. 18 on 24 September – 1 October 1977. "Way Down" reached No. 1 on the American Country chart the week he died. The single was certified Platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA in 1999. In the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

, after having climbed only four places to number 42 the week before Presley's death, the track rose to number four the following week and then hit the number one in week ending 3 September and stayed there for five weeks. just over seven years after his previous 16th UK number one single, "The Wonder of You", in August 1970. His previous single, "Moody Blue", had been a number one hit on the US Country Charts earlier in 1977. "Way Down" was reissued in April 2005 and reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. The recording also featured

J.D. Sumner John Daniel Sumner (November 19, 1924 – November 16, 1998) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, and music promoter noted for his bass voice, and his innovation in the Christian and Gospel music fields. Sumner sang in five quartets and wa ...

singing the words "way on down" at the end of each chorus down to the note low C (C2). At the end of the song, this phrase is octaved, reaching a double low C (C1, three octaves below middle C). This note was first accomplished by Sumner in a 1966 recording of the hymn "Blessed Assurance."

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

1977 songs Elvis Presley songs 1977 singles European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles Irish Singles Chart number-one singles RCA Records singles Song recordings produced by Felton Jarvis Songs written by Layng Martine Jr. UK Singles Chart number-one singles {{1970s-single-stub

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

See also

References