{"id":1083654,"date":"2026-07-12T00:29:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T00:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1083654\/"},"modified":"2026-07-12T00:29:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T00:29:21","slug":"who-played-guitar-on-the-elvis-presley-classic-hound-dog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1083654\/","title":{"rendered":"Who played guitar on the Elvis Presley classic ‘Hound Dog’?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Elvis<\/p>\n

Credit: Far Out \/ Paramount Pictures<\/p>\n

Sat 11 July 2026 23:00, UK <\/p>\n

Of all the closing numbers Elvis Presley<\/a> could have chosen for those seminal moments in his career, few come close to capturing the raucous energy and everlasting endurance of The King as \u2018Hound Dog\u2019. Written by teenagers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, the song is one of the biggest hallmarks of rock \u2018n\u2019 roll culture, a heart-thumping anthem that emerged from one of the most defining moments in Presley\u2019s career.<\/p>\n

Although it may not seem like it now, Presley wasn\u2019t as popular in the beginning as he was in his peak years, and his stage presence and artistry were often misunderstood by audience members who didn\u2019t quite understand his talent or musical style. <\/p>\n

The first time he heard \u2018Hound Dog\u2019 was during a performance by Freddie Bell and the Bellboys, who\u2019d delivered a faster, rockier version of Big Mama Thornton\u2019s iconic number, changing some of the lyrics and effectively spoofing the entire message of the original<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Presley enjoyed the humour in Bell\u2019s version and began incorporating it into his own sets, though one strange moment on Steve Allen\u2019s Tonight Show unexpectedly changed everything. In an experience Presley later claimed to be the most embarrassing of his entire career, Presley appeared in formal attire to sing \u2018Hound Dog\u2019 to a basset hound. For that one appearance, he ditched the iconic dance moves and rocker attitude for something that was, well, not him at all.<\/p>\n

And so, in an effort to channel the frustration and disgust he\u2019d felt at such a humiliating experience, Presley took to the studio the following day and recorded \u2018Hound Dog\u2019 with more fervour, injecting Thornton\u2019s bluesy original with something far more upbeat and commanding. In fact, when Stoller first heard Presley\u2019s version, he wasn\u2019t very impressed, even though Presley had scored them a hit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard the record, and I was disappointed,\u201d he later admitted. \u201cIt just sounded terribly nervous, too fast, too white. But you know, after it sold seven or eight million records, it started to sound better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Who played guitar on Elvis Presley\u2019s \u2018Hound Dog\u2019?<\/p>\n

The song\u2019s energy stems partially from Presley\u2019s guitarist, Scotty Moore, who played a P-90-equipped Gibson L-5 plugged into a Ray Butts amp on the track. At the start of Moore\u2019s second solo, he achieved a sound other rock stars have been unable to replicate since, with some, like Keith Richards<\/a>, saying that it even sounded like he randomly \u201cdropped it on the floor and got the perfect sound\u201d. <\/p>\n

Further reading: From The Vault<\/strong><\/p>\n

Funnily enough, though, Moore could never actually remember what he\u2019d done to achieve such a unique sound, effectively pinning the whole thing down to an unexpected stroke of genius. Or, rather accurately, a culmination of complete and utter frustration after what seemed like a million takes in the studio.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just\u2026 Sometimes in the studio, you do it too many times, and you go past that peak,\u201d he later reflected. \u201cLike three takes before was really the one you should use. That was it. We had done the thing. I think it was printed somewhere that we did it about 40 or 60.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cBut if someone was counting it off, just a couple notes and we stop, that\u2019s a take. But I was frustrated for some reason, and in the second solo, I just went, BLAH.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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