Way Down
 


This song was written by Layng Martine, Jr.. Elvis recorded it in his den at Graceland Mansion in Memphis on October 29, 1976.
James Burton, John Wilkinson, Chip Young and Charlie Hodge played guitar. Jerry Scheff played bass. Ronnie Tutt was on drums. Tony Brown played piano and David Briggs played the electric piano. Myrna Smith, Kathy Westmoreland, Sherrill Nielsen and J.D. Sumner and the Stamps provided the vocal backup. Later, percussion from Randy Cullers and other overdubbing with the band was done.

Take number 2 was chosen for the single and was shipped out on July 6, 1977 with another song from this session, "Pledging My Love", as the B-side. This turned out to be Elvis's last single released during his lifetime. It peaked at #18 in its 21-week run on the Billboard pop singles chart and peaked at #1 in its 17-week run on the country chart. It peaked at #1 for five weeks in its 13-week run on the British pop singles chart.