Login
Login

Always on My Mind#Elvis Presley version

{{Short description|Popular ballad written by Wayne Carson, Mark James, and Johnny Christopher}}

{{Other|Always on My Mind (disambiguation)}}

{{Use American English|date=June 2022}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox song

| name = You Were Always on My Mind

| type = single

| artist = Gwen McCrae

| A-side = He's Not You

| released = March 28, 1972

| genre =

| label = Columbia

| writer =

| producer = Steve Alaimo

| misc = {{External music video|header= Audio|type=single|{{YouTube|hj90zb8CAJQ|"Gwen McCrae - You Were Always On My Mind"}}}}

}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Always on My Mind

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Brenda Lee

| album = Brenda

| B-side = That Ain't Right

| released = June 1972

| recorded =

| studio = American (Memphis, Tennessee)

| genre = Country

| length = 2:50

| label = Decca

| writer =

| producer = Owen Bradley

| prev_title = Misty Memories

| prev_year = 1971

| next_title = Nobody Wins

| next_year = 1973

| misc = {{External music video|header= Audio|type=single|{{YouTube|rhnWnie8WN8|"Brenda Lee - You Were Always On My Mind"}}}}

}}

"Always on My Mind" is a ballad written by Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James, first recorded by Brenda Lee and first released by Gwen McCrae (as "You Were Always on My Mind") in March 1972. Lee's version was released three months later in June 1972. The song has been a crossover hit, charting in both the country and western and pop categories. Elvis Presley's recording was the first commercially successful version of the song.

AllMusic lists more than 300 recorded releases of the song in versions by dozens of performers.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/search/all/Always%20on%20My%20Mind|title="Always on My Mind" – search results|website=AllMusic|access-date=March 30, 2014}} While Lee's version reached no. 45 on the US country chart in 1972, other performers reached the Top 20 on the country and/or pop charts in the United States and elsewhere with their own versions: Elvis Presley (1972, US country; UK pop Top Ten); John Wesley Ryles (1979, US country) and Willie Nelson's Grammy Award-winning version (1982, US/Canada country number one; US/Canada pop Top Ten); and the Pet Shop Boys' 1987 hi-NRG/synth-pop interpretation (UK number one; US Top Ten).

Background and composition

"Always on My Mind" was not completed until late 1971. Songwriter-guitarist Wayne Carson had about two verses done with the working title "You Were Always on My Mind".{{Citation |last=Jones |first=Roben |title=Memphis Goes On |date=February 19, 2010 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.14325/mississippi/9781604734010.003.0013 |work=Memphis Boys |pages=145–157 |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |doi=10.14325/mississippi/9781604734010.003.0013 |isbn=978-1-60473-401-0 |access-date=October 19, 2020|url-access=subscription }} He had been occupied in Memphis on a project that required him to stay ten days longer, and he phoned his wife in Springfield, Missouri, to apologize for the delay. She was angry, and he replied: "Well, I know I’ve been gone a lot, but I’ve been thinking about you all the time." This idea struck him as potential song material, and he quickly ended the call so he could capture it on paper. He brought the song back to the recording studio of Chips Moman and worked on it for a few days, but it did not gel. Carson asked for help from his colleague Johnny Christopher (the two had already written the hit song "No Love at All" in 1970) and they composed more of it in Moman's office. Feeling stuck, they appealed for assistance from songwriter Mark James who was walking through the studio. James was exhausted from non-stop music projects, but he ran through the song with Carson and Christopher. By the fourth run-through, the song was finished.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-24-ca-2418-story.html |last=Hilburn |first=Robert |authorlink=Robert Hilburn |date=April 24, 1988 |title=The Surprising Saga of 'Always on My Mind' |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=August 21, 2021}}

Music critic Robert Hilburn said that it was commonly thought in Nashville and Memphis that Elvis Presley's marital troubles were the inspiration of the song, and that it was tailored to fit his musical style. Fueling this conjecture was the fact that James had already written a hit song "Suspicious Minds" for Presley. Carson responded that the song was not written for Presley but for every man. He said that it "was one long apology. It’s sort of like all guys who screw up and would love nothing better than to pick up the phone and call their wives and say, 'Listen, honey, I could have done better, but I want you to know that you were always on my mind.{{'"}}

Elvis Presley version

{{Infobox song

| name = Always on My Mind

| cover = Always on My Mind Separate Ways by Elvis Presley picture sleeve.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Picture sleeve (reverse) for North American single with "Separate Ways" in smaller font, also used for some European and Australian releases

| type = single

| artist = Elvis Presley

| album = Separate Ways

| A-side = Separate Ways

| released = October 31, 1972

| recorded = March 29, 1972

| studio = RCA (Hollywood, California)

| genre = {{hlist|Country|soft rock}}

| length = 3:37

| label = RCA Victor

| writer = * Wayne Carson

  • Mark James
  • Johnny Christopher

| producer = Felton Jarvis{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=enukAzW27pIC&dq=%22elvis%22+%22always+on+my+mind%22+%22felton%22&pg=PA233 |title=Elvis: My Best Man: Radio Days, Rock 'n' Roll Nights, and My Lifelong ... |author1=George Klein |author2=Chuck Crisafulli |page=233 |date= January 5, 2010|publisher=Crown |isbn=9780307452764 |access-date=October 6, 2016}}

| prev_title = Burning Love

| prev_year = 1972

| next_title = Fool

| next_title2 = Steamroller Blues

| next_year = 1973

| misc = {{External music video|header=Audio|type=single|{{YouTube|ZotVMxuXBo0|"Elvis Presley - Always On My Mind"}}}}

}}

Elvis Presley recorded "Always on My Mind" on March 29, 1972, a few weeks after his February separation from his wife, Priscilla.{{cite book |last1=Guralnick |first1=Peter |last2=Jorgensen |first2=Ernst |year=1999 |title=Elvis: Day by Day |publisher=Ballantine Books |page=310 |isbn=0-345-42089-6}} The song was popular and critically appreciated and is considered one of Presley's standout songs of the 1970s. The song was released as the B-side of the "Separate Ways" single, which was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales in excess of one million units.{{cite certification|region=United States|artist=Elvis Presley|title=Separate Ways|type=single|date=March 27, 1992|access-date=March 8, 2020}} It was listed as a double A-side, reaching number 16 on Billboard{{'}}s Hot Country Singles chart in November 1972.{{cite web|url=http://www.elvis.com/elvisology/billboard/elvis_country_singles.asp |title=Top 20 Country Billboard Singles |access-date=December 2, 2007 |website=The Official Elvis Presley Website |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219003700/http://www.elvis.com/elvisology/billboard/elvis_country_singles.asp |archivedate=December 19, 2007 |url-status = dead}} In the United Kingdom, "Always on My Mind" (as the A-side) reached the Top Ten in January 1973. In 2013 the recording ranked number one in a poll conducted by ITV, "The Nation's Favourite Elvis Songs", just ahead of "Suspicious Minds" and "Can't Help Falling in Love".

=Charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 1972–1973 chart performance for "Always on My Mind"

! scope="col"| Chart (1972–1973)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Wallonia|10|artist=Elvis Presley|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}
{{single chart|Canadacountry|4|chartid=5299|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020|refname="CanadacountryElvis"}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|9|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|9|artist=Elvis Presley|artistid=13107|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}
{{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|16|artist=Elvis Presley|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}
scope="row"| US Country Singles (Cash Box){{cite web |url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives-c/70s_files/19730203C.html |title=The Cash Box Country Top 75 – Week ending February 3, 1973 |work=Cash Box |access-date=March 8, 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

| 30

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+ 1997 chart performance for "Always on My Mind"

! scope="col"| Chart (1997)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Flanders|49|artist=Elvis Presley|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}
{{single chart|Dutch40|15|artist=Elvis Presley|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|17|artist=Elvis Presley|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ 1999 chart performance for "Always on My Mind"

! scope="col"| Chart (1999)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|France|56|artist=Elvis Presley|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ 2007 chart performance for "Always on My Mind"

! scope="col"| Chart (2007)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Switzerland|39|artist=Elvis Presley|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}

=Certifications=

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Always on My Mind"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Elvis Presley|title=Always on My Mind|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1972|certyear=2023|date=June 29, 2023|source=radioscope|access-date=December 27, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Elvis Presley|title=Always on My Mind|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2004|certyear=2022|date=September 16, 2022|id=458-2984-1|access-date=September 23, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

John Wesley Ryles version

{{Infobox song

| name = You Are Always on My Mind

| artist = John Wesley Ryles

| cover =

| B-side = My Angel Got Her Wings Today

| released = 1979

| type = single

| album = Let the Night Begin

| length = 3:40

| genre = Country

| label = MCA

| writer = {{hlist|Wayne Carson|Mark James|Johnny Christopher}}

| prev_title = Liberated Woman

| prev_year = 1979

| next_title = Perfect Strangers

| next_year = 1980

| producer = Bob Montgomery

}}

In 1979, John Wesley Ryles reached number 20 on the US Hot Country Songs chart with his rendition, retitled "You Are Always on My Mind", from the album Let the Night Begin.{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc|year=2008|page=367|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}} The rendition was produced by Bob Montgomery.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TCQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22john+wesley+ryles%22+%22always+on+my+mind%22+%22producer%22&pg=PT85 |title=Billboard |page=85 |date=October 6, 1979 |access-date=October 6, 2016}}

A review in Billboard praised the "brightly mixed vocals" and "powerful production".

=Charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Chart performance for "Always on My Mind"

! scope="col"| Chart (1979)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Canadacountry|24|chartid=6890a|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020|refname="CanadacountryRyles"}}
{{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|20|artist=John Wesley Ryles|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"| US Country Singles (Cash Box){{cite web |url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives-c/70s_files/19791215C.html |title=The Cash Box Top 100 Country – Week ending December 15, 1979 |work=Cash Box |access-date=March 8, 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

| 17

Willie Nelson version

{{Infobox song

| name = Always on My Mind

| cover = Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson US vinyl.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Side-A label of the US 7-inch vinyl

| type = single

| artist = Willie Nelson

| album = Always on My Mind

| B-side = The Party's Over

| released = February 1982

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = Country pop{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2020/11/garth-brooks-rebooted-country-in-the-90s-dominating-the-charts|title=Friends in Low Places Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=Slate|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=November 5, 2020|access-date= January 18, 2024}}

| length = 3:33

| label = Columbia

| writer =

  • Johnny Christopher
  • Wayne Carson Thompson
  • Mark James

| producer = Chips Moman

| prev_title = Heartaches of a Fool

| prev_year = 1981

| next_title = Let It Be Me

| next_year = 1982

| misc = {{Audio sample

| type = single

| file = Always On My Mind sample.ogg

| description = "Always on My Mind"

}}

}}

Willie Nelson recorded and released the song in early 1982. It raced to number one on Billboard{{'}}s Hot Country Singles chart that May, spending two weeks on top and a total of 21 weeks on the chart. The song also fared well on Top 40 radio, reaching number five on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and staying on that chart for 23 weeks. It was the best-performing single on the Hot Country Singles year-end chart of 1982. This version also charted in a number of other countries. The single was certified platinum by the RIAA on October 7, 1991.

Nelson's version resulted in three wins at the 25th Grammy Awards in February 1983: songwriters Christopher, James, and Carson won Song of the Year and Best Country Song; in addition, Nelson won for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. This version also won Country Music Association Awards in two consecutive years: 1982 Song of the Year and 1983 Song of the Year for songwriters Christopher, James and Carson; 1982 Single of the Year for Nelson; and contributed to Nelson winning 1982 Album of the Year for the album Always on My Mind.

Nelson performed the song with Johnny Cash on the 1998 release of VH1 Storytellers: Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson. The song was also featured in a December 2009 ASPCA commercial. In 2008, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

In 2013, Nelson's version was also featured in its entirety in a season two episode of the HBO series The Newsroom.

=Charts=

==Weekly charts==

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (1982–1984)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australia (Kent Music Report){{sfn|Kent|1993|p=214}}

| 39

{{single chart|Flanders|31|artist=Willie Nelson|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}
{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|10|chartid=4361|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}
{{single chart|Canadaadultcontemporary|4|chartid=6537|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}
{{single chart|Canadacountry|1|chartid=6534|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020|refname="CanadacountryWillie"}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|8|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}
{{single chart|Dutch40|17|artist=Willie Nelson|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|19|artist=Willie Nelson|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|49|artist=Willie Nelson|artistid=19683|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|5|artist=Willie Nelson|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|2|artist=Willie Nelson|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Billboardcountrysongs|1|artist=Willie Nelson|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"| US Cash Box Top 100 Singles{{cite web |url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19820703.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending July 3, 1982 |work=Cash Box |access-date=March 8, 2020 |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218213047/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19820703.html |url-status=dead }}

| 4

scope="row"| US Country Singles (Cash Box){{cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives-c/80s_files/19820515C.html |title=The CASH BOX Top 100 Country Singles – Week ending May 15, 1982 |work=Cash Box |access-date=March 8, 2020 |archive-date=July 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728125749/https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives-c/80s_files/19820515C.html |url-status=dead }}

| 1

==Year-end charts==

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (1982)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6167&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6167.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6167 |title=Top 100 Singles of 82 |magazine=RPM |volume=37 |issue=19 |date=December 25, 1982 |page=17 |issn=0315-5994 |via=Library and Archives Canada}}

| 70

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1982/hot-100-songs |title=Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 1982 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406173933/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1982/hot-100-songs |archive-date=April 6, 2020}}

| 22

scope="row"| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1982/adult-contemporary-songs |title=Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 1982 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001051751/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1982/adult-contemporary-songs |archive-date=October 1, 2020}}

| 8

scope="row"| US Hot Country Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1982/hot-country-songs |title=Hot Country Singles – Year-End 1982 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=March 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001042334/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1982/hot-country-songs |archive-date=October 1, 2020}}

| 1

scope="row"| US Cash Box Top 100 Singles{{cite web |url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1982YESP.html |title=The Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1982 – Top 100 Pop Singles |work=Cash Box |date=December 25, 1982 |access-date=March 8, 2020 |archive-date=August 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812073122/https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1982YESP.html |url-status=dead }}

| 31

=Certifications=

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Always on My Mind"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Willie Nelson|title=Always on My Mind|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1982|certyear=2024|date=October 10, 2024|source=radioscope|access-date=December 27, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Willie Nelson|title=Always on My Mind|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1982|certyear=1991|date=October 7, 1991|access-date=March 8, 2020|refname="RIAA"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

Pet Shop Boys version

{{Infobox song

| name = Always on My Mind

| cover = AlwaysOnMyMind.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Standard artwork for commercial releases in most territories

| type = single

| artist = Pet Shop Boys

| album = It Couldn't Happen Here

| B-side = Do I Have To?

| released = {{start date|1987|11|30}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre =

| length = 3:56

| label = Parlophone

| writer =

  • Wayne Carson
  • Johnny Christopher
  • Mark James

| producer =

| prev_title = Rent

| prev_year = 1987

| next_title = Heart

| next_year = 1988

| misc = {{External music video|header=Music video|type=single|{{YouTube|bDMCwSP5nf0|"Always on My Mind"}}}}

{{Audio sample

| type = single

| file = PSB Always On My Mind.mp3

}}}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Always on My Mind / In My House

| artist = Pet Shop Boys

| album = Introspective

| released = October 10, 1988

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = {{hlist|Synth-pop|acid house}}

| length = 9:05

| label = Parlophone

| writer =

| producer =

}}

In 1987, the Pet Shop Boys performed a synth-pop{{cite web|first1= Luke|last1= Edwards|first2= Mark|last2= Elliott|title= Best Pet Shop Boys Songs: 30 Synth-Pop Hits Always On Our Mind|website= Dig! |date= June 16, 2023|url= https://www.thisisdig.com/feature/best-pet-shop-boys-songs/|accessdate= January 4, 2025}} version of "Always on My Mind" in Love Me Tender, a television special produced by Central Independent Television for ITV in the United Kingdom. Commemorating the tenth anniversary of Presley's death, the programme featured various popular acts of the time performing cover versions of his songs. The Pet Shop Boys' performance was so well-received that the duo decided to record the song and release it as a single.{{cite news |title=The Story of... 'Always on My Mind' by Elvis Presley |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/features/always-on-my-mind-lyrics-elvis-presley-meaning/ |access-date=November 27, 2021 |agency=Smooth Radio}}

This hi-NRG,{{cite news|first= Simon |last= Price |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/pet-shop-boys-tower-of-london-londonbrbr-pharrell-williams-hyde-park-london-1150928.html |title= Pet Shop Boys, Tower of London, London / Pharrell Williams, Hyde Park, London |newspaper= The Independent |date= July 2, 2006 |access-date= June 6, 2022}}Hunt, Dennis (May 29, 1988). {{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-05-29-ca-5681-story.html|title=Pet Shop Boys Try to Keep a Low Profile|access-date=June 6, 2022|website=Los Angeles Times|date=May 29, 1988 }} dance-pop,{{cite web|url=https://vanyaland.com/2014/10/27/kings-men-always-mind-pet-shop-boys-named-greatest-cover-time/|website= Vanyaland|title=The King's Men: 'Always On My Mind' by the Pet Shop Boys named the greatest cover of all time|last=Marotta|first=Michael|date=October 27, 2014|access-date=June 8, 2022}} and disco{{cite web|website=The New York Times|title=The Pet Shop Boys Make a Science Of Ambiguity|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/18/arts/recordings-the-pet-shop-boys-make-a-science-of-ambiguity.html|author=John Leland|date=18 December 1988}} version became the UK's Christmas number-one single that year – edging out "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues – spending four weeks atop the chart. It also reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the duo's fifth and final top-10 hit on that chart.

One of Pet Shop Boys' most beloved releases by the public,{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/pet-shop-boys-official-most-streamed-songs-in-the-uk/ |title=Pet Shop Boys' Official most-streamed songs in the UK | author=Griffiths, George |date=2 May 2024 |publisher=Official Charts Company }} as of May 2024, it is the second-most streamed Pet Shop Boys song in the UK with 53 million streams.

=Composition=

The Pet Shop Boys version introduces a harmonic variation not present in the original version. In the original, the ending phrase "always on my mind" is sung to a IV-V7-I cadence (C-D7-G). The Pet Shop Boys extend this cadence by adding two further chords: C-D7-Gm7/B{{music|flat}}-C-G (i.e., a progression of IV-V7-IIIb-IV-I).

=Critical reception=

In November 2004, The Daily Telegraph placed the version at number two in a list of the 50 best cover versions of all time.{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/the-50-best-covers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809040955/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/the-50-best-covers/ |archive-date=August 9, 2015 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=They did it their way | date=November 20, 2004 | access-date=June 2, 2012}} In October 2014, a public poll compiled by the BBC saw the song voted the all-time best cover version.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-29791820|title=Pet Shop Boys' Always On My Mind tops cover version vote|work=BBC News|date=October 27, 2014|access-date=October 27, 2014}}

=Music video=

In the video for Pet Shop Boys' version of "Always on My Mind" (an excerpt from their surreal music film It Couldn't Happen Here) (1988), Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe are seated in the front of a taxi cab, when an eccentric passenger gets in, played by British actor Joss Ackland (1928-2023). At the end of the song, he gets out of the car and drives away. Standing alone, he mutters: "You went away. It should make me feel better. But I don't know how I'm going to get through", which is part of the lyric for another Pet Shop Boys song, "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", released earlier in the year.

=Remixes=

In 1988, the duo remixed the song for their third studio album, Introspective, combining it with the acid house{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/articles/where-it-all-started-pet-shop-boys-reissued|website=The Line of Best Fit|title= Chart-topping hits and unusual hats: Pet Shop Boys reissued|author=Geoff Cowart|date=April 29, 2018|access-date=October 24, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.factmag.com/2018/10/11/pet-shop-boys-introspective-30-anniversary/|website=Fact|title=He reads about a new device: On Pet Shop Boys' Introspective, 30 years on|author=Ryan Diduck|date=October 11, 2018|access-date=October 24, 2022}} track "In My House". Two further remixes by longtime Pet Shop Boys remixer Shep Pettibone were released on the US promotional triple vinyl version of the album—Shep's Holiday mix and Shep's House mix. Neither have appeared in any other format since.

=Charts=

==Weekly charts==

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (1987–1988)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Australia (Australian Music Report){{sfn|Kent|1993|p=232}}

| 10

{{single chart|Austria|2|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Flanders|2|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"| Canada (The Record){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1988/1988-06-04-Billboard-Page-0095.pdf |title=Hits of the World |magazine=Billboard |volume=100 |issue=23 |date=June 4, 1988 |page=59 |issn=0006-2510 |via=World Radio History}}

| 1

{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|1|chartid=8664|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020|refname="CanadaPSB"}}
scope="row"| Denmark (Tracklisten){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/88/M&M-1988-03-05-OCR-Page-0010.pdf |title=Top 3 in Europe |magazine=Music & Media |volume=5 |issue=10 |date=March 5, 1988 |page=18 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}

| 2

scope="row"| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/88/M&M-1988-01-21-OCR-Page-0011.pdf |title=European Hot 100 Singles |magazine=Music & Media |volume=5 |issue=4 |date=January 23, 1988 |page=20 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}

| 1

scope="row"| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book |last=Pennanen |first=Timo |title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |language=fi |edition=1st |location=Helsinki |publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava |year=2006 |page=233 |isbn=978-951-1-21053-5}}

| 1

{{single chart|France|22|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 10){{cite news |url=https://timarit.is/page/2539779#page/n27/mode/2up |title=Íslenski Listinn Topp 10 |newspaper=DV |language=is |page=40 |date=February 5, 1988 |via=Timarit.is}}

| 2

{{single chart|Ireland2|2|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}
scope="row"| Italy (Musica e dischi){{cite web |url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php |title=Classifiche |work=Musica e dischi |language=it |access-date=May 30, 2022}} Select "Singoli" in the "Tipo" field, type "Pet Shop Boys" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".

| 8

{{single chart|Dutch40|3|artist=Pet Shop Boys|rowheader=true|access-date=March 8, 2020}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|5|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|8|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Norway|3|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"| South Africa (Springbok Radio){{cite web |url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(P).html |title=SA Charts 1965–1989 (As presented on Springbok Radio/Radio Orion) – Acts P |website=The South African Rock Encyclopedia |access-date=June 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505211137/http://rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(P).html |archive-date=May 5, 2018}}

| 3

scope="row"| Spain (AFYVE)

| 1

{{single chart|Sweden|1|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|1|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|1|artist=Pet Shop Boys|artistid=26802|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2018|refname="UK Chart"}}
scope="row"|UK Dance (Music Week){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1987/Music-Week-1987-12-26.pdf |title=Top Dance Singles |magazine=Music Week |date=December 26, 1987 |page=25 |via=World Radio History |access-date=September 11, 2023}}

|align="center"|1

{{single chart|Billboardhot100|4|artist=Pet Shop Boys|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2018|refname="bbhot100"}}
{{single chart|Billboarddanceclubplay|8|artist=Pet Shop Boys|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2018}}
{{single chart|Billboarddancesales|12|artist=Pet Shop Boys|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2020}}
scope="row"| US Cash Box Top 100 Singles{{cite web |url=https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19880521.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending May 21, 1988 |work=Cash Box |access-date=June 1, 2022 |archive-date=June 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602000438/https://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19880521.html |url-status=dead }}

| 7

{{single chart|West Germany|1|songid=1723|artist=Pet Shop Boys|song=Always on My Mind|rowheader=true|access-date=February 18, 2019}}

==Year-end charts==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (1987)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| UK Singles (Gallup){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/88/Record-Mirror-1988-01-23-OCR.pdf |title=Gallup Year End Charts 1987 – Singles |magazine=Record Mirror |date=January 23, 1988 |page=36 |issn=0144-5804 |via=World Radio History}}

| 14

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

! scope="col"| Chart (1988)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Australia (ARIA){{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/1988/singles-chart |title=ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1988 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |access-date=June 1, 2022}}

| 35

scope="row"| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40){{cite web |url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=1988 |title=Jahreshitparade Singles 1988 |website=austriancharts.at |language=de |access-date=May 1, 2020}}

| 13

scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders){{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1988&cat=s |title=Jaaroverzichten 1988 – Singles |language=nl |publisher=Ultratop |access-date=March 8, 2020}}

| 29

scope="row"| Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RPM-IDX/IDX/80s/RPM-1988-12-24-OCR-Page-0009.pdf |title=Top 100 Singles of '88 |magazine=RPM |volume=49 |issue=10 |date=December 24, 1988 |page=9 |issn=0315-5994 |via=World Radio History}}

| 15

scope="row"| Europe (European Hot 100 Singles){{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/80s/89/M&M-1989-01-01-OCR-Page-0017.pdf |title=1988 Year End Eurocharts – Hot 100 Singles |magazine=Music & Media |volume=6 |issue=52/1 |date=January 1, 1989 |page=31 |oclc=29800226 |via=World Radio History}}

| 12

scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web |url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1988 |title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1988 |language=nl |publisher=Dutch Top 40 |access-date=March 8, 2020}}

| 62

scope="row"| Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1988&cat=s |title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1988 |language=nl |publisher=Dutch Charts |access-date=March 8, 2020}}

| 88

scope="row"| South Africa (Springbok Radio){{cite web |url=http://rock.co.za/files/sahits_1988.html |title=Top 20 Hit Singles of 1988 |website=The South African Rock Encyclopedia |access-date=March 8, 2020}}

| 11

scope="row"| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web |url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/1988 |title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1988 |website=hitparade.ch |language=de |access-date=March 8, 2020}}

| 15

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1988/1988-12-24-Billboard-Page-0080.pdf |title=1988 The Year in Music & Video – Top Pop Singles |magazine=Billboard |volume=100 |issue=52 |date=December 24, 1988 |page=Y-20 |issn=0006-2510 |via=World Radio History}}

| 80

scope="row"| West Germany (Media Control){{cite web |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1988 |title=Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1988 |language=de |publisher=GfK Entertainment |access-date=March 8, 2020}}

| 4

=Certifications=

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Always on My Mind"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Always on My Mind|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1987|certyear=1988|access-date=January 28, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Always on My Mind|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1987|certyear=1988|access-date=August 7, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Always on My Mind|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1987|certyear=2023|source=radioscope|access-date=December 27, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Singapore|nocert=true|type=single|salesamount=20,000|salesref={{cite magazine |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Week-IDX/IDX/1988/Music-Week-1988-09-03-S-OCR-IDX-4.pdf |title=World Briefing – Singapore |magazine=Music Week |date=September 3, 1988 |page=4 |issn=0265-1548 |via=World Radio History}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Always on My Mind|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1987|certyear=2024|access-date=December 5, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Pet Shop Boys|title=Always on My Mind|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2005|certyear=2023|id=458-2148-1|access-date=June 7, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|nocert=true|type=single|salesamount=270,000|salesref={{cite magazine |last=Lichtman |first=Irv |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1988/1988-05-07-Billboard-Page-0106.pdf |title=Pet Shop Boys Single Hitches Ride On Album |magazine=Billboard |volume=100 |issue=19 |date=May 7, 1988 |page=88 |issn=0006-2510 |via=World Radio History}}}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

=Release history=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ Release dates and formats for "Always on My Mind"

! scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format(s)

! scope="col"| Label(s)

! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref(s).|Reference(s)}}

scope="row" rowspan="3"| United Kingdom

| November 30, 1987

| {{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl}}

| rowspan="3"| Parlophone

| align="center"| {{cite magazine |date=November 28, 1987 |title=Index |magazine=Record Mirror |page=3 |issn=0144-5804}}{{cite magazine |title=New Singles |magazine=Music Week |page=14 |date=November 28, 1987}}

December 7, 1987

| {{hlist|CD|cassette}}

| align="center"| {{cite magazine |title=New Singles |magazine=Music Week |page=10 |date=December 5, 1987}}

December 21, 1987

| 12-inch remix vinyl

| align="center"| {{cite magazine |title=New Singles |magazine=Music Week |page=28 |date=December 19, 1987}}

scope="row"| Japan

| April 24, 1988

| Mini-CD

| EMI

| align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/152447/products/312243/1/ |title=オールウェイズ・オン・マイ・マインド {{!}} ペット・ショップ・ボーイズ |trans-title=Always on My Mind {{!}} Pet Shop Boys |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=January 22, 2024}}

=In popular culture=

In 2017, Burberry released its holiday campaign, as directed by Alasdair McLellan, which features Cara Delevingne and actor Matt Smith. It opens with Delevingne singing "Always on My Mind" before segueing into the Pet Shop Boys cover of the song.{{Cite news|url=https://fashionista.com/2017/11/burberry-holiday-2017-cara-delevingne-matt-smith|title=Cara Delevingne and Matt Smith Star in Burberry's Very '80s Holiday Campaign|work=Fashionista|access-date=November 9, 2017}}

The song is also included in the films Matthias & Maxime, {{cite magazine|last1=Scateni|first1=Ren|date=2020-08-28|title= Always on My Mind: Close-Up on Xavier Dolan's "Matthias & Maxime" |url= https://mubi.com/en/notebook/posts/always-on-my-mind-close-up-on-xavier-dolan-s-matthias-maxime/|magazine=mubi Notebook|access-date=2025-01-28}} All of Us Strangers,{{cite magazine|last1=Sayce|first1=Rebecca|last2=Rowan|first2=Iona|date=2024-01-25|title=Why 'Always on My Mind' was chosen for All of Us Strangers|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a46530032/all-of-us-strangers-song-choices-explained/|magazine=Digital Spy|access-date=2024-10-22}} and The Apprentice.

References

{{Reflist}}

=Bibliography=

{{Refbegin}}

  • {{cite book |last=Kent |first=David |author-link=David Kent (historian) |title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 |edition=illustrated |location=St Ives, N.S.W. |publisher=Australian Chart Book |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6}}

{{Refend}}

{{Elvis Presley singles}}

{{Brenda Lee}}

{{Willie Nelson singles|state=collapsed}}

{{Pet Shop Boys}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for "Always on My Mind"

|titlestyle = background: lightblue

|list =

{{Grammy Award for Song of the Year}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Country Song}}

}}

{{Billboard Year-End Hot Country Singles number one single of the year}}

{{UK Christmas No. 1s in the 1980s|song}}

Category:1971 songs

Category:1972 singles

Category:1973 singles

Category:1982 singles

Category:1987 singles

Category:Amanda Lear songs

Category:Billboard Hot Country Songs number-one singles of the year

Category:Brenda Lee songs

Category:Christmas number-one singles in the United Kingdom

Category:Columbia Records singles

Category:Country ballads

Category:Decca Records singles

Category:Elvis Presley songs

Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles

Category:Grammy Award for Song of the Year

Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients

Category:John Wesley Ryles songs

Category:MCA Records singles

Category:Number-one singles in Finland

Category:Number-one singles in Germany

Category:Number-one singles in Spain

Category:Number-one singles in Sweden

Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland

Category:Parlophone singles

Category:Pet Shop Boys songs

Category:RCA Victor singles

Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Bob Montgomery (songwriter)

Category:Song recordings produced by Chips Moman

Category:Song recordings produced by Felton Jarvis

Category:Song recordings produced by Julian Mendelsohn

Category:Song recordings produced by Owen Bradley

Category:Songs about nostalgia

Category:Songs written by Mark James (songwriter)

Category:Songs written by Wayne Carson

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles

Category:Willie Nelson songs

Category:1970s ballads

Category:Breakup songs