In the Ghetto
{{short description|1969 single by Elvis Presley}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox song
| name = In the Ghetto
| cover = In_the_Ghetto.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Elvis Presley
| album = From Elvis in Memphis
| B-side = Any Day Now
| released = April 14, 1969
| recorded = January 20, 1969
| studio = American Sound, Memphis
| genre = {{hlist|Country rock{{cite book|title=Country Music - A Biographical Dictionary|first=Richard|last=Carlin|date=2014|publisher=Taylor & Francis|page=316}}|folkFrom Elvis In Memphis, Eric Wolfson, page 137|pop{{cite web|url=http://archive.commercialappeal.com/entertainment/music/the-50-best-elvis-songs-50-46-in-the-ghetto-stuck-on-you-and-more-ep-1206735534-324102111.html|title=The 50 Best Elvis Songs, 50-46: "In the Ghetto," "Stuck on You" and more|author=Herrington, Chris|newspaper=USA Today|date=August 6, 2015|access-date=September 4, 2019}}|gospel[https://www.allmusic.com/song/in-the-ghetto-mt0052397891 In the Ghetto - Elvis Presley] on AllMusic; " A hauntingly lovely, dirge-like ballad rooted in gospel, "In the Ghetto" ..."}}
| length = 2:47
| label = RCA Victor
| writer = Mac Davis
| producer = Chips Moman
| prev_title = How Great Thou Art
| prev_year = 1969
| next_title = Clean Up Your Own Backyard
| next_year = 1969
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|FJ-r0bilzhU|"In the Ghetto" (audio)}}}}
}}
"In the Ghetto" (originally titled "The Vicious Circle") is a 1969 song written by Mac Davis and recorded by Elvis Presley.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Song info|url=https://www.elvisthemusic.com/music/in-the-ghetto/|access-date=|website=}} It was a major hit released in 1969 as a part of Presley's comeback album, From Elvis in Memphis, and was also released as a single, with "Any Day Now" as its B-side.
Background
The lyrics to the song were written by country music singer-songwriter Mac Davis. The version recorded by Elvis Presley is played in the key of B flat. "In the Ghetto" was recorded during Presley's session for his From Elvis in Memphis album at the American Sound Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. It was Presley's first creative recording session after his 1968 comeback special Elvis. Other hits recorded at this session were "Suspicious Minds", "Kentucky Rain", and the Davis-written "Don't Cry Daddy".
The song was published by Gladys Music, Inc., Elvis Presley's publishing company, and was Presley's first Top 10 hit in the United States in four years, peaking at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 2 in Canada. It was his first UK Top 10 hit in three years, also peaking at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart. It hit No. 1 on Cashbox and No. 8 Easy Listening.{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=192}} It was a number-one hit in West Germany, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and on the Irish Singles Chart.
Lyrical content
A boy is born to a mother who already has more children than she can support in a Chicago ghetto. The boy grows up deprived, and turns to a life of delinquency through adolescence. Eventually in adulthood, the man purchases a gun and steals a car to begin a crime spree, but he is killed shortly after. The song ends with another child being born the same day in the ghetto, implying that the newborn could meet the same fate, continuing the cycle of poverty and violence.
Charts
Certifications and sales
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Ireland|nocert=true|salesamount=4,200|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qSkEAAAAMBAJ&dq=The+Beatles&pg=RA1-PA73|magazine=Billboard|title=Single Slump Hits Ireland|page=73|date=August 16, 1969|accessdate=August 8, 2023|first=Ken|last=Stewart}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Elvis Presley|title=In the Ghetto|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=14664-2984-1|access-date=February 17, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Elvis Presley|title=In the Ghetto|award=Platinum|relyear=1969|certyear=1992|access-date=March 19, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}
Cover versions
After Elvis Presley, the song has been performed by many other artists. Songwriter Mac Davis recorded his own version of the song for his 1970 album Song Painter. In 1991, Norman Cook issued a dance version with his Beats International collective, which reached number 44 on the UK chart.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/26166/beats-international/|title=BEATS INTERNATIONAL | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=22 April 2021}} In 1996, the 'Fugees-esque' hip-hop trio Ghetto People had a top ten hit on the German charts with a version recorded with local singer {{ill|Detlef Malinkewitz|de}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.detlef-malinkewitz.de/english/about.html|title=Detlef Malinkewitz - about|website=Detlef-malinkewitz.de|access-date=22 April 2021}} As Malinkewitz was recording under the pseudonym L-Viz at the time, some broadcasters in the UK credited the record to El Vez by mistake.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qpg3 |title=BBC Two - TOTP2, Elvis Special |website=www.bbc.co.uk |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225050603/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qpg3 |archive-date=25 December 2020 |url-status=dead}}
Gospel recording artist Reverend James Cleveland recorded a gospel version of the song, and won his first Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance at the 17th Annual Grammy Awards in 1975 with the Southern California Community Choir for his 1974 album release, In the Ghetto.{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/james-cleveland/1515|title=James Cleveland - 17th Annual GRAMMY Awards|publisher=Grammy Awards|website=www.grammy.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250208073315/https://www.grammy.com/artists/james-cleveland/1515|archive-date=8 February 2025|url-status=live}}
Following the death of Mac Davis, Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker recorded a duet version of the song to honor him. It was released on November 11, 2020, immediately following a live performance at the 54th Annual Country Music Association Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/kelsea-ballerini-among-country-music-stars-to-perform-at-2020-cma-awards-155570|title=Kelsea Ballerini Among Country Music Stars to Perform at CMA Awards|website=Entertainment Tonight|date=11 November 2020 |access-date=22 April 2021}}
= Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds version =
{{Infobox song
| name = In the Ghetto
| cover =
| alt =
| caption =
| type = single
| artist = Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
| album = From Her to Eternity
| released = June 18, 1984
| recorded = March 1984
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length =
| label = Mute
| writer = Mac Davis
| producer = Flood
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Tupelo
| next_year = 1985
}}
"In the Ghetto" was covered by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds as their debut single. It was recorded at Trident Studios in London and released as a 7-inch single on June 18, 1984, with the B-side "The Moon Is in the Gutter".{{cite web|url=http://www.fromthearchives.com/nc/discography1.html |title=Nick Cave Discography on "From The Archives" |access-date=2008-06-09 |publisher=From The Archives}} It reached No. 84 on the UK Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.everyhit.com |title=Everyhit.com |access-date=2008-06-10 |publisher=everyhit.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217183242/http://www.everyhit.com/ |archive-date=2007-02-17 }} and No. 1 on the UK Independent Singles Chart. While originally not present on any album, it was later included on the CD reissue of the band's first album, From Her to Eternity.
= Charts =
| class="wikitable" |
| scope="col" | Chart (1984)
! scope="col" | Peak |
|---|
| UK Indie Chart{{cite book|first=Barry |last=Lazell |url=http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/c.htm |title=Indie Hits 1980-1989 |publisher=Cherry Red Books |date=1997 |access-date=September 5, 2014 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605132906/http://www.cherryred.co.uk/books/indiehits/c.htm |archive-date=June 5, 2011 }}
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.spinner.com/2007/08/16/video-premiere-elvis-and-lisa-marie-presleys-in-the-ghetto/ Elvis and Lisa Marie Presley: "In the Ghetto"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623013454/http://www.spinner.com/2007/08/16/video-premiere-elvis-and-lisa-marie-presleys-in-the-ghetto/ |date=2007-06-23 }} (music video) at Spinner.com
- {{YouTube|WGSnTfRJlCY|Story Behind the Song: 'In the Ghetto' by Elvis Presley}}
{{Elvis Presley singles}}
{{Lisa Marie Presley}}
{{Barry White}}
{{Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:UK Independent Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:Number-one singles in Australia
Category:Number-one singles in Germany
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:Number-one singles in Norway
Category:Song recordings produced by Chips Moman
Category:Song recordings produced by Flood (producer)