Charro (song)

"Charro" is a song first recorded by Elvis Presley as part of the soundtrack for his 1969 motion picture Charro!, a western directed by Charles Marquis Warren.^[1] It is the film's title song and the only song featured,^[2][3][4] as Charro! was Presley's first film in which he didn't sing in character.^[5]

"Charro"
Single by Elvis Presley
from the album Almost in Love
Released	February 25, 1969
Recorded	October 15, 1968
Studio	Samuel Goldwyn Studio, Hollywood
Genre	Western, Baroque pop
Length	2:42
Label	RCA Records
Songwriter(s)	Billy Strange Mac Davis
Elvis Presley singles chronology
"If I Can Dream" / "Edge of Reality" (1968) "Charro" / "Memories'" (1969) "His Hand in Mine" (1969)

Writing and recording

The song was written by Billy Strange and Mac Davis specially for the movie Charro!.^{[2][3][6][7][8] [9]}

The recordings took place at the Samuel Goldwyn Studio in Hollywood in October–November 1968. Presley probably overdubbed his vocals on October 15. Takes 5 and 9 were spliced together to form the vocal master.^[2][10]

Release

The song was first released on a single (in March 1969) with "Memories", a song from Elvis' 1968 NBC TV comeback special, on the opposite side.^{[4][6][1][11][12][13][14][15][16]} "Charro!" didn't chart on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Memories" charted, peaking at number 35.

"Charro"'s first LP release was on the album Almost in Love in late 1970.^[4][1]

On December 1, 1970, the single was re-released as part of RCA Victor's Gold Standard Series (together with 9 other Presley's singles).^[17]

Musical style and lyrics

It is a western-style song.^[18]

Track listing

7" single RCA 47-9731 (March 1969)^[19]

1. "Memories"
2. "Charro"