Elvis Presley – Make Me Know It: A Statement of Renewal and Artistic Intent
Make Me Know It emerges from one of the most important transitional moments in Elvis Presley’s career: his return to recording after military service. The song was recorded during the landmark sessions that followed his appearance on Frank Sinatra’s Welcome Home, Elvis television special a broadcast that proved to be a decisive public and artistic triumph. Separated by a two-week gap, the recording sessions resulted in eighteen tracks captured across two intense periods, including a second all-night session that added twelve titles to the six already completed.
These recordings would form the album Elvis Is Back!, one of the most ambitious and stylistically diverse projects Elvis had ever undertaken. Make Me Know It reflects this renewed artistic focus, standing alongside blues, R&B, country, pop, and gospel performances that together function as a tribute to the American vernacular tradition. Far from a collection of disposable tracks, the album was carefully conceived during Elvis’s time in Germany, where he actively worked to expand both his vocal range and musical vocabulary.
In preparation for the sessions, Elvis studied breath control and vocal technique with fellow G.I. Charlie Hodge, an experienced singer and entertainer. With Hodge and longtime Memphis friend Red West, he rehearsed extensively using a portable tape recorder, exploring material that ranged from raw rhythm and blues to classical-inspired melodies. His ambition extended even to adapting O Sole Mio into English an idea that would soon bear fruit.
Vocally, Make Me Know It showcases a more controlled, expressive Elvis, capable of delicate phrasing as well as emotionally charged delivery. The performance suggests an artist newly aware of his capabilities and determined to move beyond youthful immediacy toward greater depth and nuance.
Although Elvis Is Back! sold approximately 300,000 copies comparable to his earlier albums it marked a significant artistic evolution. Without the support of additional EP releases, the album relied on its coherence and musical breadth. Make Me Know It stands today as part of a defining moment when Elvis Presley reasserted himself not just as a popular entertainer, but as a serious and versatile recording artist.