This song, written by Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold, was recorded by Elvis on
October 15, 1961 at RCA Studio B in Nashville.
Musicians involved in this session were: Scotty Moore and Jerry Kennedy on
guitar; Bob Moore on bass; D.J. Fontana and Buddy Harman on drums; Floyd Cramer
on piano; and Boots Randolph on sax and clarinet. The Jordanaires and Millie
Kirkham provided the vocal backup.
On February 27, 1962, take number 4 was shipped as the single with "Anything
That's Part of You" as its B-side. On Billboard's pop singles chart "Good Luck
Charm" had a 13-week run, peaking at #1 for 2 weeks (his last #1 single on that
chart until "Suspicious Minds" in 1969.) When "Good Luck Charm" hit #1, it
knocked "Johnny Angel" by Shelley Fabares off the top spot. (Teen stardom as an
actress on TV's "The Donna Reed Show" had led to a brief recording career for
Fabares, whose credits would later include co-starring with Elvis in three of
his movies.) "Good Luck Charm" had a 17-week run on the British pop singles
chart with 5 of those weeks at #1.
Others who have recorded "Good Luck Charm" include The Kinks and Art Garfunkel.