In 1962, Elvis sought to reclaim his rock and roll crown after a string of lackluster singles. The solution came in the energetic "Return to Sender," a tale of unrequited love penned by Otis Blackwell, one of Elvis' most trusted songwriters. Blackwell had given Elvis some of his biggest hits, including "Don't Be Cruel" and "All Shook Up." This winning collaboration produced yet another smash that let the world know The King was back.
The origins of "Return to Sender" came from an unlikely source - a piece of returned mail. As Blackwell tells it, he was trying to brainstorm song titles and inspiration struck when he saw an envelope stamped "Return to Sender." The phrase captured his imagination and he built a lyrical story around it of a scorned man writing fruitless love letters. Blackwell brought the song to Elvis' manager Colonel Tom Parker, who shrewdly recognized its potential despite it not fitting the prescribed movie theme. Parker reputedly told Blackwell, "Don't worry. That will go into the movie. I can tell you that 'cause it's a great song."
The film in question was 1962's Girls! Girls! Girls!, which called for Elvis to warble a series of frothy pop confections. "Return to Sender" was hardly lightweight fluff, but its infectious energy aligned nicely with the movie's breezy tone. Elvis sailed through the recording session, nailing it in just two takes. His band members could instantly tell this was a career-redefining record.
Elvis attacks "Return to Sender" with gusto, his voice brimming with heartache and frustration as his increasingly desperate letters are spurned by their intended recipient. Meanwhile, Boots Randolph's bluesy saxophone provides memorable punctuation. The rich vocal harmonies of The Jordanaires are also pushed to the forefront, at times nearly drowning out Elvis in a way rarely permitted by his infamous manager. But the unorthodox balance of voices perfectly matched the song's cheeky attitude.
Released in October 1962, "Return to Sender" surged up the charts to a peak position of #2, kept out of the top slot by The Four Seasons' concurrent smash "Big Girls Don't Cry." But Elvis could content himself with the #1 spot on the Cashbox charts, as well as a reign atop the UK pop charts - his sixth British chart-topper. The rousing performances Elvis subsequently gave on television shows like The Ed Sullivan Show also demonstrated he was still a dynamic force.
Otis Blackwell proudly regarded "Return to Sender" as one of his most creative compositions, calling it "innovative" compared to his other hits. The song's whimsical use of then-current postal terminology like "zone" placed the lyrics firmly in 1962, giving it a timestamp that enhances its charm. The following year, zip codes replaced zones, rendering that lyric quaintly dated. But Elvis' recording remains timeless.
"Return to Sender" became so iconic that the U.S. Postal Service even paid homage to it and Elvis in 1993 with a commemorative stamp issued on what would have been his 58th birthday. The stamp was voted on by the public, who chose a young, vibrant Elvis over a mature 1970s image. Many mischievous fans bought sheets of these Elvis stamps and pasted them on envelopes with fake addresses just to get them back marked "Return to Sender." For fans and collectors, it was a fun way to honor one of Elvis' most enduring hits three decades later.