Is ‘Little Sister’ Elvis Presley’s Heaviest Rock Song?

Elvis Presley‘s songs revolutionized rock ‘n’ roll but he wasn’t really a hard-rock musician. There are exceptions to every rule. For example, Elvis put out a song in the early 1960s that was a lot heavier than his usual style. The tune typified a great genre that barely exists anymore.

1 Elvis Presley song proved he could still be hip years into his career

Fans of the “Hound Dog” singer know that he started out as a rock ‘n’ roll performer before making a transition into pop music in 1960. For the next few years, his output was dominated by pop songs such as “Are You Lonesome Tonight?,” “Return to Sender,” and “It’s Now or Never.” Elvis’ critics (and outright haters) often claim that the singer was behind the times for most of the 1960s.

However, Elvis released a song in 1961 that was very current: “Little Sister.” During the early 1960s, surf music was all the rage. “Little Sister” has a sweet surf-rock riff that propels the song. The tune could have been about anything and that riff would make it an enjoyable listen. There’s a lot more power behind the guitar of “Little Sister” than the openings of “Blue Suede Shoes” or “(You’re the) Devil in Disguise.”

The song also works because Elvis sings it with a certain verve and humor. While he stopped putting his all into his music as his movie soundtracks got worse and worse, you can hear the passion in his voice on “Little Sister.” Perhaps he felt energized singing something that was very hip at the time.

‘Little Sister’ might work for rock fans who aren’t Elvis Presley fans

There’s a duality to Elvis’ place in our culture. On one level, everyone recognizes that he was instrumental in popularizing rock music. However, some rock fans aren’t interested in listening to his music. For someone raised on heavy metal or grunge, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll can seem quaint.

“Little Sister” might be a good place for those listeners to start. It’s a little heavier, sexier, and worldlier than some of Elvis’ other songs. It also proves that his early 1960s output wasn’t devoid of rock.

The song was part of a pair of hits released at the same time

“Little Sister” was released as the B-side of another lively Elvis song: “(Marie’s the Name) His Latest Flame.” “(Marie’s the Name) His Latest Flame” peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained on the chart for 11 weeks.  Meanwhile, “Little Sister” reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 10 and stayed on the chart for 13 weeks. It’s interesting that the A-side and the B-side were roughly as popular as one another.

“(Marie’s the Name) His Latest Flame” appeared on the compilation album Elvis: 30 #1 Hits, which introduced many members of Generation Z to the King of Rock’ n’ Roll. The record topped the Billboard 200 for three of its 211 weeks on the chart. “Little Sister” was part of the sequel to Elvis: 30 #1 Hits: Elvis: 2nd to None. The sequel record reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for 16 weeks.

“Little Sister” is a great song and you should play it for your friend who likes rock but not early rock ‘n’ roll.