Elvis – (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care
Description
“(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care” is a 1957 song recorded by Elvis Presley and performed in the MGM film Jailhouse Rock. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller for the film. Presley plays electric bass on the song.
Background
Elvis Presley’s version, one of the few songs in which he plays the electric bass, was recorded on May 3, with the vocal track added on May 9, 1957, and released on his Jailhouse Rock EP. It reached number fourteen on the R&B charts. It later become a minor pop standard, with notable versions being performed by Buddy Holly, who included the song on his eponymous second album, and his version made the British singles chart in 1961, reaching no. 12. A 1983 re-release of the Elvis Presley version reached no. 61 on the UK singles chart.
The song’s narrator addresses the object of their affection, and points out all the ways that the addressee is square, how they are out of touch with modern trends in music and romance. Then the narrator tells the subject of the song that they love them in spite of, and maybe because of this.
Recordings
Other artists besides Presley who have recorded or played the song include:
- Buddy Holly
- The Beatles played impromptu versions during the White Album sessions, in 1968 (with Paul McCartney doing lead vocals and rhythm guitar with John Lennon doing Bass Guitars) and the Get Back Sessions on January 7, 1969 (with George Harrison on guitars, and again, John Lennon on lead vocals (and guitars), who also recorded a version as a home demo which appeared on The Complete Lost Lennon Tapes, and jammed another impromptu version during the sessions of Plastic Ono Band in 1970).
- Carl Mann
- Lobby Loyde and The Coloured Balls, on album Heavy Metal Kid (1974) (Released as The coloured balls)
- Cliff Richard
- Led Zeppelin (during live medleys)
- Joni Mitchell included a cover of it on her album Wild Things Run Fast. This version went to #47 on the US Hot 100.
- Bobby Fuller
- Don McLean
- Scotty Moore
- The Professionals
- Queen, recorded live during their Magic Tour
- Hüsker Dü, played live during the Spin Radio show, 28 August 1985
- Brian Setzer
- Ray Condo
- Bobby Vee
- Bryan Ferry
- The Primitives
- Billy Swan
- Johnny Hallyday, French version, recorded 1961 titled “Sentimentale”
- Eddy Mitchell, French version, recorded 1963 titled “Sentimental”
- Beccy Cole recorded a version in 2010 for her album, Preloved.
- Cee Lo Green, on the 2011 compilation Rave On Buddy Holly
- Sam Hui, Cantonese version, recorded 1978, titled “咪當我老襯”
- Glitter Band
- Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, recorded at the Jive Hive in 1960
- Phil Seymour
- Jerry Only (Misfits bassist), on his solo album Anti-Hero released in 2022
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