Elvis Presley had barely been out of the Army for three weeks when he stepped onto a television stage with Frank Sinatra.
That would have been enough to attract attention. But the two singers had something more interesting prepared.
They were going to sing each other’s songs.
For the “Welcome Home Elvis” special, Elvis took on “Witchcraft,” while Frank Sinatra performed “Love Me Tender.”
The arrangement brought the two songs into one short duet, giving viewers a chance to hear two very familiar voices tackle material associated with the other man.
A big return to television
Elvis was discharged from active military duty on March 5, 1960, after two years in the U.S. Army.
His return to television came through The Frank Sinatra Timex Show, with a special taped on March 26 at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. ABC broadcast it on May 12.
Elvis received $125,000 for the appearance, a record fee for a variety show appearance at the time. Consider that it was a major television event, with a price tag to match.
The guest list also included Nancy Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford.
There was plenty of entertainment on the program, though the chance to see Elvis beside Frank Sinatra was a particular attraction.
Watch Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra sing together
Two hits, with the singers switched
Rather than present two separate performances, the arrangement combined “Love Me Tender” and “Witchcraft” in a single number.
It gave them both a part, and it let the audience hear how each approached the other’s material.
There is a practical reason the clip is so interesting to music fans. A familiar song makes differences between singers easier to notice.
The phrasing, the rhythm, the delivery of a line: listeners already know the tune, so their attention goes straight to the voice.
It is also a useful clip for anyone whose picture of Elvis comes mostly from his rock ’n’ roll performances.
Elvis brought his new music, too
The duet was not Elvis’s only musical contribution. He also performed “Stuck on You” and “Fame and Fortune,” the two sides of his first single after his Army service.
That gave the appearance a clear purpose beyond the welcome-home celebration. Elvis could present his new recordings as well as join the host for a special performance.
The show was a substantial audience success. Graceland’s official timeline records a 41.5 percent share of the national television audience for the broadcast.