Released 16 August 1991 Genre Roots rock | Format CD Label Vertigo
Warner Bros. | |
B-side "Iron Hand"
"Millionaire Blues" Length 4:24
6:26 (Album version) | ||
"Calling Elvis" is a song written by Mark Knopfler and performed by Dire Straits. It first appeared on the final studio album by the band, On Every Street (1991). It was released as the first single from that album, peaking at number 21 in the United Kingdom, and was included on the 2005 compilation The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations. A live version of the song also appears on the 1993 live album On the Night.
Contents
Content
The song is about an Elvis fan who believes Elvis Presley still to be alive, making references to many of his songs, including "Heartbreak Hotel", "Love Me Tender", "Don't Be Cruel" and "Return to Sender", as well as the expression "Elvis has left the building". Mark Knopfler has been quoted as saying the idea came to him one day when he left his phone off the hook and his brother-in-law tried repeatedly to get hold of him. Upon finally doing so, the brother-in-law remarked Mark was harder to get hold of than Elvis.
Music videos
The music video was directed by Gerry Anderson of Thunderbirds fame and includes several members of the band represented in marionette form, as well as various Thunderbirds characters and a woman.
The music video for the 25th anniversary of the song's release will be directed by David Scott and Theo Baynton of Thunderbirds Are Go and will include several members of the band represented in CGI form, as well as various Thunderbirds Are Go characters.
Track listing
- "Calling Elvis"
- "Iron Hand"
- "Millionaire Blues"