Hard Headed Woman

{{short description|1958 single by Elvis Presley}}

{{for|the 1970 song of the same name by Cat Stevens|Tea for the Tillerman{{!}}Tea for the Tillerman}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Hard Headed Woman

| cover = Elvis_Presley_Hard_Headed_Woman_Single_Cover.jpeg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Elvis Presley

| album = King Creole

| B-side = Don't Ask Me Why

| released = June 10, 1958

| recorded = January 15, 1958

| studio = Radio Recorders, Hollywood

| venue =

| genre = Rock and roll

| length = 1:54

| label = RCA Victor

| writer = Claude Demetrius

| producer =

| prev_title = Wear My Ring Around Your Neck

| prev_year = 1958

| next_title = One Night

| next_year = 1958

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|SuhzAixFydo|"Hard Headed Woman" (audio)}}}}

}}

"Hard Headed Woman" is a rock and roll song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music,{{Cite web |title=Hard Headed Woman / Don't Ask Me Why – elvisrecords.com |url=https://www.elvisrecords.com/hard-headed-woman-dont-ask-me-why/ |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=www.elvisrecords.com}}{{Cite web |title=Hard Headed Woman |url=https://www.elvisthemusic.com/es/track/hard-headed-woman-8/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Elvis Presley Official Site |language=es-ES}} Presley's publishing company, in 1958. It is an American 12-bar blues written by African American songwriter Claude Demetrius. It was most notably recorded as a rock and roll song by Presley as part of the soundtrack for his 1958 motion picture King Creole, and was included on the record album of the same name. The song was also released as a single in both 78 RPM {{cite web|url=http://www.45worlds.com/78rpm/record/207280|title=78 Record: Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires - Hard Headed Woman (1958)|publisher=45 Worlds}} and 45 RPM formats. In 1958, it went to No. 1 July 21st on the Billboard charts and went to No. 2 for two weeks on the R&B chart.{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=468}} Notably, it became the first rock and roll single to earn the RIAA designation of Gold Record.{{Cite web |title=Lot Detail - RIAA Gold Record Award for Elvis Presley's 1958 Single "Hard Headed Woman" - ELVIS' FIRST CERTIFIED GOLD RECORD! |url=https://rockhurstauctions.com/RIAA_Gold_Record_Award_for_Elvis_Presley_s_1958_Si-LOT5800.aspx |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=rockhurstauctions.com}}

When the song went to number one, Elvis was in Fort Hood Texas, doing basic training.

It was later recorded by Wanda Jackson on the album Live at Town Hall Party 1958. "Hard Headed Woman" was also released as a 45 rpm and received substantial airplay in the late 1950s.[https://www.discogs.com/release/2456497-Wanda-Jackson-Live-At-Town-Hall-Party-1958|Wanda Jackson – Live At Town Hall Party 1958], last access 11/30/2022 The singing on the Jackson version incorporates an extreme use of vocal fry, making it difficult to tell if the singer is male or female.