Released June 17, 1969 Length 3:44 | Genre Rhythm and blues Label RCA Victor | |
Writer(s) Vern Stovall, Bobby George Producer(s) Chips Moman, Felton Jarvis | ||
Long Black Limousine is a song written by Vern Stovall and Bobby George; the best-known version is probably the one by Elvis Presley, who turned the original country tune into a soulful rhythm and blues song.
Stovall and George, country musicians based in southern California, probably wrote the song in 1958, when it was first recorded (but not released until many years later) by Wynn Stewart. The first released version was Stovall's, in 1961, followed by Glen Campbell's in 1962. The only charting single of the song (in 1968 it reached #73 on the US country charts) was Jody Miller's, her version was also on her 1968 album The Nashville Sound of Jody Miller. O. C. Smith's version was released as the B-side of his million-selling crossover hit "Little Green Apples" in 1968. Elvis Presley's version appeared on his classic 1969 From Elvis in Memphis album.
Many other artists have covered the song, including Bobby Bare (1964), Glen Campbell (1964), Merle Haggard (1967), Jeannie Seely (1968), Connie Smith (1969), The Grateful Dead (1969), Doug Jernigan (1970), Rattlesnake Annie (1981), and Barb Jungr (2005).