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{{Other uses}}
{{About|the song by Elvis Presley|the album by Curtis Amy|Way Down (album)|the song "Way Down" by Modest Mouse|The Fruit That Ate Itself}}
{{Refimprove|date=March 2014}} {{Use American English|date=January 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox single <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Songs -->
{{Infobox song
| Name = Way Down
| Cover = | name = Way Down
| cover = Elvis Presley Way Down Single Cover.jpg
| Cover size =
| Caption = | alt =
| Artist = ] | type = single
| from Album = ] | artist = ]
| B-side = "]" | album = ]
| Recorded = October 29, 1976, ], ] | B-side = ]
| Released = June 6, 1977 | released = June 6, 1977
| recorded = October 29, 1976
| Format =]
| Genre = ] | studio = ], Memphis, Tennessee
| Length = 2:39 | genre = ]
| Label = ] | length = 2:39
| Writer = ] | label = ]
| Producer = ] | writer = ]
| producer = ]
| Certification = ] <small>(])</small>
| Last single = "]"<br />(1976) | prev_title = ]
|prev_title2 = ]
| This single = "'''Way Down'''"<br />(1977)
| prev_year = 1976
| Next single = "]"<br />(1977)
| next_title = ]
| Misc =
| next_year = 1977
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|weLSA2vekLA|"Way Down" (audio)}}}}
}} }}


"'''Way Down'''" is a song recorded by ]. Recorded in October 1976, it was his last ] released before his death on August 16, 1977. The song was written by ] and was later covered by ] and ]. Elvis recorded the song at his home studio in ] in late October, 1976. "'''Way Down'''" is a song recorded by ]. Recorded in October 1976, it was his last ] released before his death on August 16, 1977. The song was written by ] and recorded by Presley at his home studio in ] on 29 October 1976.


Released as a single (with "]" on the ]) on June 6, 1977, it was his single at the time of his death. It initially peaked at No. 31 on the ] 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.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006 |edition=2nd |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=273}}</ref> Overseas, the song hit the ] a few weeks later,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book Released as a single (with "]" on the ]) on June 6, 1977, it was his latest single at the time of his death. It initially peaked at No. 31 on the ] 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.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006 |edition=2nd |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=273}}</ref>

On the ], after having climbed only four places to number 42 the week before Presley's death,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/way-down/|title=way down &#124; full Official Chart History &#124; Official Charts Company|website=www.officialcharts.com|accessdate=April 7, 2023}}</ref> the track rose to number four the following week and then hit number one in the week ending 3 September and stayed there for five weeks,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book
| first= David | first= David
| last= Roberts | last= Roberts
Line 35: Line 39:
| location= London | location= London
| isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | isbn= 1-904994-10-5
| page= 343}}</ref> almost seven years after his previous UK number-one single, "The Wonder of You", in 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.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2">{{cite book | page= 343}}</ref> 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.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums 2">{{cite book
| first= David | first= David
| last= Roberts | last= Roberts
Line 46: Line 50:
| page= 436}}</ref> | page= 436}}</ref>


The recording also featured ] singing the words "way on down" at the end of each chorus, repeating the phrase at the end of the song while hitting a double low C note (three octaves below middle C).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Palmer |first1=Robert |last2=DeCurtis |first2=Anthony |title=Blues & Chaos: The Music Writing of Robert Palmer |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=hx0ZdtoJzc8C&pg=PA145 |accessdate=July 6, 2016 |date=September 6, 2011 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=978-1-4165-9975-3 |page=145}}</ref> According to the '']'' it is the lowest recorded note ever produced by the human voice, first accomplished by Sumner in a 1966 recording of the hymn "Blessed Assurance." The recording also featured ] 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).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Palmer |first1=Robert |last2=DeCurtis |first2=Anthony |title=Blues & Chaos: The Music Writing of Robert Palmer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hx0ZdtoJzc8C&pg=PA145 |access-date=July 6, 2016 |date=September 6, 2011 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=978-1-4165-9975-3 |page=145}}</ref> This note was first accomplished by Sumner in a 1966 recording of the hymn "Blessed Assurance".


==Chart performance== ==Chart performance==
{{col-begin}} {{col-begin|width=71%}}
{{col-2}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly singles charts=== ===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable sortable" {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!Chart (1977) !Chart (1977)
!Peak<br />position !Peak<br />position
|- |-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles !scope="row"|Canadian ''RPM'' Country Tracks
|align="center"|1 |align="center"|1
|- |-
⚫ !scope="row"|Canadian ''RPM'' Top Singles
|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100
|align="center"|18 |align="center"|15
|- |-
|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks !scope="row"|Canadian ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary Tracks
|align="center"|14 |align="center"|23
|- |-
⚫ !scope="row"|Irish Singles Chart
|Canadian ''RPM'' Country Tracks
|align="center"|1 |align="center"|1
|- |-
⚫ !scope="row"|UK Singles Chart<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>
⚫ |Canadian ''RPM'' Top Singles
|align="center"|15 |align="center"|1
|- |-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|18|artist=Elvis Presley|rowheader=true|access-date=August 3, 2021}}
|Canadian ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary Tracks
|align="center"|23
|- |-
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|14|artist=Elvis Presley|rowheader=true|access-date=August 3, 2021}}
⚫ |Irish Singles Chart
|align="center"|1
|- |-
{{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|1|artist=Elvis Presley|rowheader=true|access-date=August 3, 2021}}
⚫ |UK Singles Chart<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/>
|align="center"|1
|} |}
{{col-2}} {{col-2}}


===Year-end charts=== ===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|- |-
!align="left"|Chart (1977) ! scope="col"| Chart (1977)
! scope="col"| Position
⚫ ! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|- |-
|Canada <ref>{{cite journal|url= http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.5502b&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5502b.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5502b |title=Top 200 Singles of '77 |volume=28 |number=11 |date=December 31, 1977 |journal=] |publisher=] |accessdate=June 25, 2016}}</ref> !scope="row"|Canada<ref>{{cite journal|url= http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.5502b&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5502b.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5502b |title=Top 200 Singles of '77 |volume=28 |number=11 |date=December 31, 1977 |journal=] |publisher=] |access-date=June 25, 2016}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|134 | style="text-align:center;"|134
|- |-
!scope="row"|US Hot Country Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1977/hot-country-songs|title=Hot Country Songs – Year-End 1977|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 3, 2021}}</ref>
⚫ |U.S. (]'s ''Pop Annual'') <ref>{{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |date=1999 |title=Pop Annual |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |publisher=Record Research Inc. |page= |isbn=0-89820-142-X}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|121 | style="text-align:center;"|9
|- |-
⚫ !scope="row"|US (]'s ''Pop Annual'')<ref>{{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |date=1999 |title=Pop Annual |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |publisher=Record Research Inc. |isbn=0-89820-142-X}}</ref>
⚫ | style="text-align:center;"|121
|} |}
{{col-end}} {{col-end}}
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==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{MetroLyrics song|elvis-presley|way-down}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef | rows=2 | before= "]"<br />by ]}}
{{s-ttl | title= '']'' ]<br />number-one single
| years=August 20, 1977}}
{{s-aft | rows=2 | after= "]"<br />by ]}}
{{s-ttl | title='']'' Country Tracks<br />number-one single
| years=September 10-September 17, 1977}}
{{succession box
| before = "]" by ]
| title = ]
| years = September 3-October 1, 1977
| after = "]" by ]
}}
{{s-end}}


{{Elvis Presley singles}} {{Elvis Presley singles}}
{{Authority control}}


]
⚫ ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
] ]
⚫ ]
] ]
] ]
] ]




Latest revision as of 01:22, 13 September 2024

For other uses, see Way Down (disambiguation).

1977 single by Elvis Presley
"Way Down"
Single by Elvis Presley
from the album Moody Blue
B-side"Pledging My Love"
ReleasedJune 6, 1977
RecordedOctober 29, 1976
StudioGraceland, Memphis, Tennessee
GenreRock
Length2:39
LabelRCA Records
Songwriter(s)Layng Martine Jr.
Producer(s)Felton Jarvis
Elvis Presley singles chronology
"Moody Blue" / "She Thinks I Still Care"
(1976) 		"Way Down"
(1977) 		"My Way"
(1977)
Music video
"Way Down" (audio) on YouTube

"Way Down" is a song recorded by Elvis Presley. Recorded in October 1976, it was his last single released before his death on August 16, 1977. The song was written by Layng Martine Jr. and recorded by Presley at his home studio in Graceland on 29 October 1976.

Released as a single (with "Pledging My Love" on the B-side) 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.

On the UK Singles Chart, 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 number one in the 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 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

Chart (1977) Peak
position
Canadian RPM Country Tracks 1
Canadian RPM Top Singles 15
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks 23
Irish Singles Chart 1
UK Singles Chart 1
US Billboard Hot 100 18
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 14
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard) 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1977) Position
Canada 134
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard) 9
US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual) 121

See also

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006 (2nd ed.). Record Research. p. 273.
  2. "way down | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 343. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 436. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. Palmer, Robert; DeCurtis, Anthony (September 6, 2011). Blues & Chaos: The Music Writing of Robert Palmer. Simon & Schuster. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-4165-9975-3. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
  6. "Elvis Presley Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  7. "Elvis Presley Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  8. "Elvis Presley Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  9. "Top 200 Singles of '77". RPM. 28 (11). Library and Archives Canada. December 31, 1977. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  10. "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 1977". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  11. Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
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