Wayne Newton's "The (Elvis) Letter"

[TCB Band]

Hello all,

Briefly popping back in here to ask a question about this. When I tried to use the Google site-search on this song (on the forum), I couldn't find anything. However, I have a feeling this has probably been discussed at least once.

Wayne Newton's song "The Letter" (also known as "The (Elvis) Letter") is supposedly based on a piece of paper written by Elvis in Vegas in 1976. The song has become somewhat ironic for topping Cashbox's pop and country charts in 1992 without even charting at all on either of Billboard's respective charts.

How many have heard this song? I think it's an okay song, but there's no way it legitimately peaked on either Cashbox chart without some payola involved. Has the letter that the spoken bridge (and the whole song overall) been authenticated as actually being written by Elvis? If so, is it enough that Elvis should technically receive a co-writing credit for this song?

I look forward to reading everyone's thoughts.

[brian]

I don't know if it was ever authenticated. Wayne Newton reportedly bought the letter at a Sotheby's auction in 1991 and I believe most auction houses authenticate items before selling them. In this case I don't know if anyone was sure that the letter was really from Elvis or not. If the song about the letter contained enough actual words from Elvis I would think he could've been credited as a songwriter. If the song was just based off the letter but none of what Elvis actually wrote is included in the song then no. My understanding was that the song was just based off the letter so Elvis wouldn't deserve a songwriter credit. It's a myth that the song was a big hit on Cashbox. It wasn't a #1 hit on Cashbox. It wasn't a hit on the Cashbox pop charts or country charts. I had never heard the song until I went to youtube today to listen to it. I don't like the song. It's not great. It's not one of the better tribute songs about Elvis.

[srlogicom]

The recitation in the middle of the song is taken directly from the letter purported to have been written by E. It used to be displayed in Wayne's museum.

[Jokerlola]

I don't know if it was ever authenticated. Wayne Newton reportedly bought the letter at a Sotheby's auction in 1991 and I believe most auction houses authenticate items before selling them. In this case I don't know if anyone was sure that the letter was really from Elvis or not. If the song about the letter contained enough actual words from Elvis I would think he could've been credited as a songwriter. If the song was just based off the letter but none of what Elvis actually wrote is included in the song then no. My understanding was that the song was just based off the letter so Elvis wouldn't deserve a songwriter credit. It's a myth that the song was a big hit on Cashbox. It wasn't a #1 hit on Cashbox. It wasn't a hit on the Cashbox pop charts or country charts. I had never heard the song until I went to youtube today to listen to it. I don't like the song. It's not great. It's not one of the better tribute songs about Elvis.

Wikipedia says the song was a number 1 song on Cashbox. Can we find the Cashbox charts at that time to confirm or deny it? Wayne Newton got a lot of mileage with the song at the time whether it was a hit or not. He definitely got a good return on his investment whether the letter is real or not.

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[Greystoke]

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[jurasic1968]

Thanks a lot, Greystoke.

[brian]

Wikipedia says the song was a number 1 song on Cashbox. Can we find the Cashbox charts at that time to confirm or deny it? Wayne Newton got a lot of mileage with the song at the time whether it was a hit or not. He definitely got a good return on his investment whether the letter is real or not

Okay. The song was actually a #1 hit on Cashbox. The Letter by Wayne Newton was the most popular Elvis tribute song of all time. I thought that was an urban legend. TCB Band was right. I hope he forgives me. Sorry for saying it wasn't.