Though it had obvious hit potential, Elvis had just separated from his wife, Priscilla, and was not in the mood for a Rock n Roll number, so he wasn’t keen to record it. Elvis’ producer Felton Jarvis had to persuade him that the song was worth trying, and after 6 attempts, the “King of Rock and Roll” came up with an inspired take.
– Songfacts
This is one of my favourite Elvis songs and was his biggest hit single in the United States since “Suspicious Minds” in 1969. Burning Love was written by Nashville songwriter Dennis Linde, and originally released by country soul artist Arthur Alexander earlier in 1972 on his self titled album, 4 months prior to the Elvis version. It was Elvis’s 40th and final Top Ten hit reaching No.2 in the American Hot 100 (it was kept out of the top spot by Chuck Berry’s “My Ding-a-Ling“). The electric guitar opening and riffs were overdubbed and played by Dennis Linde himself.
[Verse 1]
Lord Almighty
I feel my temperature rising
Higher higher
It’s burning through to my soul
Girl, girl, girl, girl
You’re gonna set me on fire
My brain is flaming
I don’t know which way to go
[Chorus]
Your kisses lift me higher
Like a sweet song of a choir
You light my morning sky
With burning love
[Verse 2]
Ooh, ooh, ooh
I feel my temperature rising
Help me, I’m flaming
I must be a hundred and nine
Burning, burning, burning
And nothing can cool me
I just might turn into smoke
But I feel fine
The song was originally released on the B-side of the single It’s a Matter of Time and later on the album Burning Love and Hits from his Movies: Volume 2.
More interesting trivia from Songfacts:
In addition to making the original commercial recording of a song later covered by Elvis, Arthur Alexander has the claim of being the only songwriter in history to have his songs sung by The Beatles (“Anna (Go to Him)”), the Rolling Stones (“You’d Better Move On”) and Bob Dylan (“Sally Sue Brown”).
Dennis Linde, who wrote this song and also provided the guitar intro, was reclusive by nature and was at one time tagged “Nashville’s best-kept songwriting secret.” Apart from “Burning Love,” most of the successful songs he wrote were for Country stars, including,Roger Miller (“Tom Green County Fair” – 1970), Garth Brooks (“Callin’ Baton Rouge” – 1993) and The Dixie Chicks (“Goodbye Earl” – 1999.) In Britain, Welsh Rock and Roll revivalist Shakin’ Stevens recorded a #10 hit with his version of Linde’s “A Letter to You” in 1984.
In 2005, an Australian woman, who was evidently not a fan of this song, stabbed her partner in the back, thigh, and shoulder with a pair of scissors because “he played the song too many times.”
References:
1. Burning Love – Wikipedia
2. Songfacts – Burning Love
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Oh yeah, burning love…..
I’m not a huge fan of Elvis, but this one, Suspicious Minds & in the Ghetto really do it for me.
I’m about the same, but the three songs you mention are my favorites by far….
That’s uncanny we share the same Elvis favourites! Nice.
He was big my first few years, then the Beatles went on Sullivan and I kinda forgot about Elvis….
You could be forgiven for that Tom. lol
Thanks Matt! Haha 😄
Elvis was my childhood idol. As an 8 to 10-year old, I pretty much loved each and everything he did. While I no longer idolize Elvis or anyone else for that matter, I still enjoy a good deal of his music. “Burning In Love” also happens to be among my favorites. I also love “Suspicious Minds” and his early rock & roll and rockabilly songs.
That’s interesting you were so engrossed with his music as a youngen. I think I liked his earlier music more as a kid. Unlike your good self, I hardly listen to Elvis now. I think I have just the following 3 songs of his in my collection: Burning Love, In the Ghetto, and Suspicious Minds. I don’t get sick of them.
I don’t listen much to Elvis either these days. I also like “In the Ghetto”.
Not an Elvis fan but I enjoy music blogs and yours looks like a good one.
That’s so kind of you to say. I was thinking the same of your blog. I look forward to reading your posts. Thanks so much for following and commenting.
A pleasure. Keep the music alive!
~ Nancy
[…] Burning Love (1972) – Elvis Presley […]
Thanks for the link there. Very kind of you.
I love this song, I loved it the first time I heard it & I was 12 at the time.
Yes, it’s wonderful. Thanks for commenting.
I watched parts of ‘Elvis’ on a road trip to the north of the country. I normally enjoy Baz Luhrmann movies, but not so much here. Mind you I might to see it again with less distractions.