Don't Be Cruel
Song by Elvis Presley and Otis BlackwellWikipedia
23
MENTIONS
15
EPISODES
14
PODCASTS
Search complete. 23 mentions across 15 episodes found for "Don't Be Cruel".
Sep 15, 2026
Gerald WW LynnHOST
Elvis Presley made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, which was being hosted that day by Charles Laughton, an actor, as Ed was recovering from a car accident Yet, the 21-year-old Elvis Presley's appearance and performance on the show drew 60 million viewers.
Gerald WW LynnHOST
Or to put it another way, 82.6% of TV viewers at that time tuned in to see Elvis perform Don't Be Cruel, Love Me Tender, and Ready Teddy.
Gerald WW LynnHOST
The show became the most watched TV broadcast of the 1950s.
Gerald WW LynnHOST
Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.
Ed CraneHOST
September 15th, 1965, that's when that hit the charts.
Ed CraneHOST
Elvis receiving a gold record for his hit single Don't Be Cruel.
Ed CraneHOST
Record number one on the Billboard chart, number one on country charts, number one on the R&B charts.
Ed CraneHOST
That is what we call a crossover hit.
speaker_2SOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
But if you can't come around, at least please telephone.
speaker_2SOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
Don't be cruel.
speaker_2SOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
Baby if I made you mad For something I might have said Please let's forget the past The future looks bright ahead Don't be cruel To a heart that's true Oh, baby, it's still you I'm in love Baby, love Don't stop thinking of me Don't make me feel this way Come on over here and love me You know what I want you to say Don't be cruel I really love you, baby girl.
speaker_2SOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
Let's walk up to the bridge.
speaker_2SOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
And let's say I do.
Mod MykeHOST
We started our first set off with little Johnny Taylor doing Help Yourself.
Mod MykeHOST
This was put out on the Galaxy label in 1965.
Mod MykeHOST
After that, from 1963 on the Jamie label, we had Barbara Lynn covering Elvis' Don't Be Cruel.
CharliePANELIST
I, I, I hear this song on the radio, like, at our classic station.
CharliePANELIST
The other, uh, Cheap Trick song, I like The Flame, and my, one of my other favorites is their remake of Elvis Presley's Don't Be Cruel.
CharliePANELIST
I thought it was really cool.
RoverHOST
Cody the Beekeeper-
James GoldenHOST
That was a big deal.
James GoldenHOST
Don't Be Cruel and Love Me Tender were among the songs he performed.
James GoldenHOST
He also did Ready Teddy.
James GoldenHOST
On this day...
Elvis PresleySOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
Uh, there's not much I can say except it really makes you feel good, and we want to thank you from the bottom of our heart.
Elvis PresleySOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
And now, Don't Be Cruel.
Elvis PresleySOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
[upbeat music] [screaming] You know I can be found sitting home doing nothing-
Mitch MelnickHOST
So 70 years ago tonight, not the first time he was on TV, but the first time that Elvis was on The Ed Sullivan Show.
Elvis PresleySOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
Please let's forget the past.
Elvis PresleySOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
The future looks bright ahead.
Elvis PresleySOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true.
Elvis PresleySOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
I don't want no other love.
David BazzelHOST
Uh, did you see how many people, I didn't realize this, when Elvis was on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time, Justin, he was 21.
David BazzelHOST
He sang Don't Be Cruel, Ready Teddy, and I think that maybe, maybe Love Me Tender.
David BazzelHOST
Did you see how many people, uh, viewed that?
Justin MooreHOST
Mm-mm.
Bob CordaroHOST
In front of about 60 million viewers, that's about the size of a Super Bowl audience, which gave the program an 82.6 rating.
Bob CordaroHOST
Elvis sang Don't Be Cruel, Love Me Tender, Hound Dog, and Ready Teddy.
Bob CordaroHOST
Murph picked Don't Be Cruel for today And then of course, the, uh, Second Cono-Congress- Continental Congress through Thomas Jefferson in 1776.
Bob CordaroHOST
They made the term United States official, replacing United Colonies.
Bob CordaroHOST
That's a big deal, too, isn't it? Bob Kudorow back with you on the program.
Len HowserHOST
It's about 60 million viewers at that time.
Len HowserHOST
Elvis performed Don't Be Cruel, Love Me Tender, and Hound Dog.
Len HowserHOST
Here's another interesting tidbit.
Len HowserHOST
Love Me Tender hadn't even been released yet.
Wayne BledsoeHOST
I imitated Elvis as a small child very well.
Wayne BledsoeHOST
A six-year-old who could sing, you know, Hound Dog and Don't Be Cruel.
Wayne BledsoeHOST
I was pretty good
Chuck CampbellHOST
at
5 more episodes mention Don't Be Cruel.
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