Elvis Presley LyricsA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X W Y Z

No More

Words & Music by Don Robertson / Hal Blair

Don Robertson: In January of 1961 I had received a letter from Freddy Bienstock at Elvis Presley Music in New York regarding material for Elvis to perform in one of the scenes in the movie, Blue Hawaii. Because of the great success of It's Now Or Never (adapted from O Solo Mio), he said they would like to have another adaptation of an old Italian or French (Public Domain) folk song with new English lyrics for Elvis to record. I remembered one of my childhood favorites, La Paloma. I enlisted Hal Blair's aid and we began work on it.

I didn't have a copy of the music, so I worked it out from memory. This was probably a blessing in disguise, because it took on a unique quality, different from the song I had learned as a child. Hal and I spent most of a day in my office in Hollywood. I sat at the piano and he pulled up a chair next to me and we followed our usual procedure, both of us coming up with lyric phrases and trying them out as I worked on the arrangement and sang in Elvis' style. The lyric and the arrangement gradually evolved until we had a song we thought would fit Elvis and that we felt he might like. I set up a demo session at RCA on Sunset Blvd, just down the street from my office. I've forgotten who the engineer was, most likely either Al Schmidt (later on a Grammy winner) or Jim Malloy. I liked working with either of them. Both top of the line, plus the positive and encouraging attitudes so essential to counteracting the insecurity I invariably felt when presenting a new piece of work. I had recently helped my friend and colleague Bonnie Guitar with one of her projects so I asked her to play some guitar rhythm for me (besides her exceptional vocal artistry, Bonnie plays great rhythm guitar). I showed her what I had in mind for the guitar rhythm while I played the B3 organ).Then I overdubbed the vocal and, despite the small orchestra, we came out with what seemed to be a pretty effective expression of the song. I made a lead sheet and sent it, along with the demo, to Freddy. The fact that the arrangement on Elvis' recording follows my demo almost note for note - including my vocal phrasing - was a rewarding validation of the effectiveness of the demo as well as telling Hal and me that we hit the bull's eye with the song.

February 25, 1961 - Elvis appears in Memphis at a luncheon in his honor, and numerous recent awards Elvis has received are shown to the press and others attending. A press conference follows'. Elvis Presley Day' is proclaimed by Tennessee Governor Buford Ellington. Every year after this, Elvis donates money to a list of Memphis-area charities, eventually reaching fifty or more, usually around Christmas time. Within a few years, to show their appreciation the city gives him a massive plaque listing fifty charities

Something For Everybody LP 1961

Then, Elvis performs two shows at Ellis Auditorium .

On March 8, 1961, Elvis addresses the Tennessee State Legislature, Nashville, Tennessee and accepts the title of 'Honorary Colonel'.

March 12, 1961 RCA Studio B - Nashville, Tennessee

I'm Coming Home M2WW 0567-07
Gently M2WW 0568-05
In Your Arms M2WW 0569-02
Give Me The Right M2WW 0570-04
I Feel So Bad M2WW 0571-02
It's A Sin M2WW 0572-04
I Want You With Me M2WW 0573-02
There's Always Me M2WW 0574-10

March 13, 1961 RCA Studio B - Nashville, Tennessee

Starting Today M2WW 0575-03
Sentimental Me M2WW 0576-02
Judy M2WW 0577-08
Put The Blame On Me M2WW 0578-05

Elvis Presley and Blue Hawaii

Blue Hawaii LP 1961

On March 14, 1961, Elvis and assorted friends, assistants, and bodyguards flew to Los Angeles so he could begin production on his next film, Blue Hawaii. Upon his arrival, he spent a few fun-filled days with friends Juliet Prowse, Joan Blackman, and Pat Fackethal, a real-life stewardess selected to play a bit part as a stewardess in the film. Afterward, he buckled down to record the songs that would comprise the soundtrack. Elvis recorded the tunes for the modestly budgeted musical comedy in Hollywood as opposed to Nashville, where much of his non soundtrack music was produced.

Blue Hawaii became Elvis' biggest-selling movie soundtrack.

It topped the Billboard albums chart two months after its October 1961 release. It was the No. 1 album in the country for 20 weeks, which set a record for a rock performer or group that lasted until 1977 when Fleetwood Mac's Rumors broke it. Blue Hawaii remained on the albums chart for 79 weeks and was awarded double platinum status by the RIAA in March 1992.

March 21, 1961 Radio Recorders - Hollywood, California

Hawaiian Sunset M2PB 2994-SP
Aloha Oe (Section 2) ____-SP
Ku-U-I-Po M2PB 2991-09
No More M2PB 2987-SP
Slicin' Sand M2PB 2993-19

March 22, 1961 Radio Recorders - Hollywood, California

Blue Hawaii M2PB 2984-07
Ito Eats M2PB 2992-09
Hawaiian Wedding Song M2PB 3015-02
Island Of Love M2PB 3000-13
Steppin' Out Of Line M2PB 3038-17
Steppin' Out Of Line (Movie Version) WPA5 2549-SP
Almost Always True M2PB 2985-08

1961: Elvis at the Coco Palms Resort

March 23, 1961 Radio Recorders - Hollywood, California

Aloha Oe (Composite) M2PB 2986-SP
Can't Help Falling In Love (Movie Version) WPA5 2550-23
Can't Help Falling In Love M2PB 2988-29
Beach Boy Blues M2PB 2995-02
Beach Boy Blues (Movie Version) WPA5 2585-03
Rock A Hula Baby M2PB 2989-05

March 28, 1961 Paramount Scoring Stage - Hollywood, California

Moonlight Swim M2PB 2990

No More

No more do I see the starlight caress your hair
No more feel the tender kisses we used to share
I close my eyes and clearly my heart remembers
A thousand good-byes could never put out the embers

Darling I love you so and my heart forever
Will belong to the memory of the love that we knew before
Please come back to my arms, we belong together
Come to me let's be sweethearts again and then let us part no more.

No more do I feel the touch of your hand on mine
No more see the lovelight making your dark eyes shine
Oh how I wish I never had caused you sorrow
But don't ever say for us there is no tomorrow

Darling I love you so and my heart forever
Will belong to the memory of the love that we knew before
Please come back to my arms, we belong together
Come to me let's be sweethearts again and then let us part no more.

Recorded: 1961/03/21, first released on Blue Hawaii

From the movie Blue Hawaii