U.S. Male

{{Short description|1967 song by Jerry Reed}} "'''U.S. Male'''" is a country song written and first recorded by country musician Jerry Reed in 1966, which was included on his 1967 debut album ''The Unbelievable Guitar and Voice of Jerry Reed''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Jerry-Reed-The-Unbelievable-Guitar-Voice-Of/release/3403103|title = Jerry Reed – the Unbelievable Guitar & Voice of (1967, Vinyl)|website = Discogs| year=1967 }}</ref> Elvis Presley covered the song in 1968. Presley's cover remains better known and recognized than Reed's original.

==Elvis Presley cover== {{Infobox song | name = U.S Male | cover = Elvis_Presley_US_Male_Picture_Sleeve.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Elvis Presley | album = | B-side = Stay Away | released = February 27, 1968 | recorded = January 16, 1968 | studio = RCA Studio B, Nashville | genre = Country | length = | label = RCA Victor | writer = Jerry Reed Hubbard | producer = Felton Jarvis | prev_title = Guitar Man | title2 = Stay Away | prev_year = 1968 | next_title = We Call on Him | next_title2 = You'll Never Walk Alone | next_year = 1968 }}

Jerry Reed recorded and released "''U.S. Male''" in late 1966 and Elvis Presley recorded his cover of the song in January 1968 for the B-movie ''Stay Away, Joe''. It reached number 28 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 during the spring of 1968.<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990'' - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref> In that same recording session, Presley also recorded a relatively unique jazzy blues-rock version of "Big Boss Man" by Jimmy Reed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/elvis-presley-mn0000180228|title = Elvis Presley Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website = AllMusic}}</ref> Presley recorded these three songs accompanied by Reed on lead guitar. It paved the way for Presley's famous '''68 Comeback Special'', filmed in June 1968 and broadcast on NBC on December 3, 1968.

==Accolades== Dave Marsh included the song in his collection, ''The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made''<ref>{{cite book|author=Marsh, Dave|title=The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made|publisher=Da Capo Press|date=1999|isbn=9780306809019|oclc=40200194}}</ref> as song #655.

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Elvis Presley songs Category:Songs written by Jerry Reed Category:1968 singles Category:1968 songs