"The Wonder of You" is a song written by Baker Knight. In 1959, Ray Peterson released it as a single. The song became a Top 40 hit for him on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #25. That same year it was recorded by Ronnie Hilton in the United Kingdom, his version reaching #22 on the UK Singles Chart. The Ray Peterson record briefly re-entered the Hot 100 in 1964. In the early 1960s, the Platters also recorded this song, which appeared on a 1970s compilation "The Platters--30 Golden Hits". In 1969, The Sandpipers recorded an album of the same name including the song. An album of instrumentals of the same name by Nelson Riddle was also released in 2000.
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Elvis Presley released it as a single on April 20, 1970. Its b-side song was "Mama Liked the Roses". In the United States, both songs charted at #9 together in the spring of 1970, though "The Wonder of You" was one of his most successful records in the UK ever, topping the UK Singles Chart for six weeks in the summer of that year. This was the 59th Top 40 hit of his career. "The Wonder of You" was one of about thirty five songs he would play live in concert, never recording it in a studio. Presley's version also reached number 37 on the US Country Singles chart, and number one on the easy listening chart.[1]
It was the first of three singles during his lifetime that were recorded live in concert in Las Vegas, Nevada in February 1970.
Peterson himself relates a telling tale: "He [Elvis] asked me if I would mind if he recorded 'The Wonder of You.' I said, 'You don't have to ask permission; you're Elvis Presley.' He said, 'Yes, I do. You're Ray Peterson.'"[2]
The song has been adopted by English Football team Port Vale who run out to the song at the start of their home matches, the supporters also periodically chant altered lyrics to the song.[3] The song is also sung by the club's fans throughout their matches. Arsenal also adopted the song as their club anthem and played it at the beginning of every home match.
Uruguayan punkabilly band Rudos Wild recorded the song for their album "Psychos With Wax!" in 2007.
| Preceded by "Daughter of Darkness" by Tom Jones |
Billboard Easy Listening Singles number-one single (Elvis Presley version) June 20, 1970 |
Succeeded by "A Song of Joy" by Miguel Ríos |
| Preceded by "In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry |
UK number one single (Elvis Presley version) August 1, 1970 for six weeks |
Succeeded by "The Tears of a Clown" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles |
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