Introduction:
“Wild in the Country” is a song performed by Elvis Presley, released in 1961 as part of the soundtrack for the film of the same name. The song was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George Weiss, who were prominent songwriters working with Presley during this period. It was included as the B-side of the single “I Feel So Bad,” which achieved notable chart success.
The film Wild in the Country focused more on Elvis’s acting, making it one of his last dramatic roles before he became more entrenched in musical comedies. Given the nature of the film, the soundtrack was not heavily promoted with a full album release, as was the case for his other projects. Instead, RCA released a few singles from the sessions. The song “Wild in the Country” itself peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, proving that even a B-side could stand out on its own due to Elvis’s popularity.
Recording sessions for the film took place in Hollywood in 1960, and although the film only featured a few songs, “Wild in the Country” became memorable for capturing a different, more subdued side of Presley’s musical repertoire compared to his rock hits. The film, though not as commercially successful as some of his later musicals, is seen as one of the last instances where Elvis explored more serious, dramatic roles.