This song was written by Stanley Kesler and
Charlie Feathers in 1955. Stan Kesler was a steel guitarist who eventually
became a recording engineer working with artists like the group Sam the Sham &
The Pharoahs, and later he became a member of the 1986 Sun Rhythm Section band.
Charlie Feathers was a Sun Rercords artist who often worked with Mr. Kesler on
his demos. Elvis recorded the "I Forgot to Remember to Forget" on July 11, 1955
at Sun Studio. Elvis and Scotty Moore played guitar. Bill Black played the bass.
Johnny Bernero, whose regular job was working for Memphis Light Gas and Water,
played the drums. It was Mr. Bernero's drum work that helped to convince Elvis
to record this song, one that he hadn't had much interest in before. It was
released as a single with "Mystery Train" as the flip side in August of 1955. It
became Elvis's first national #1 hit, spending a total of 39 weeks on
"Billboard" magazine's country chart with 5 of those weeks at the #1 position.
Among the other artists to have recorded it are: Toni Arden, Charlie Feathers,
Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis, Barbara Pittman, B.J. Thomas, Johnny
Rivers and the Beatles.