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Have I Told You Lately that I Love You

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(Wiseman)

Information:
Songwriter Scott Wiseman was lying in Wesley Memorial Hospital in Chicago in 1944 when his wife, Lulubell, came to visit him. Just before leaving, she bent over and whispered, “Have I told you lately that I love you?” The line inspired Wiseman to write the song. He and his wife, as Lulubell and Scotty, introduced Have I Told You Lately That I Love You in their nightclub act. Gene Autry became the first to record the song in 1945 (Columbia 20075). Foy Willing and The Riders of the Purple Sage also recorded it in that year (Majestic 6000). Other early versions include those by Bing Crosby and The Andrew Sisters (Decca 24821) in 1950 and Tex Ritter (Capitol 2174) in 1952. In 1957 Ricky Nelson had a #29 hit on the Top 100 chart with his version (Imperial 5463). (It was the flips side of Be Bop Baby). Nelson’s recording copied Elvis’s very closely, even to the extent of using the Jordanaires as vocal backup. A Decca release by Kitty Wells and Red Foley (Decca 32427) reached the country chart. 

Elvis recorded Have I Told You Lately That I Love You on January 19, 1957, at Radio Recorders. Take #15 was chosen by RCA for release.

Lyrics:

Have I told you lately that I love you?
Could I tell you once again somehow?
Have I told with all my heart and soul how I adore you?
Well, darling, I’m telling you now

Have I told you lately when I’m sleeping
Every dream I dream is you somehow?
Have I told you with whom I'd like to share my life forever?
Well, darling, I’m telling you now

1. My heart would break in two if I should lose you
I’m no good without you anyhow
Have I told you lately that I love you
Well, darling, I’m telling you now

1. (repeat)

Where it was released:

Released for the first time on the album Loving You »

Singles:

- Have I Told You Lately That I Love You / Mean Woman Blues (RCA 47-70661) October 1957. Disc jockey “record prevue”.

EPs:

- Just For You (1957) »

LPs/CDs:

- Loving You (1957) »

- The Elvis Presley Story (1977) »
- Elvis in Demand (1977) »

– From Elvis With Love (1978) »

- Elvis! His Greatest Hits (1979) »
- Country Classics (1980) »

– It's Now Or Never (1981) - Camden »

- Essential Elvis, Volume 2 – Stereo ’57 (1989)

- The King of Rock’n’Roll – The Complete 50’s Masters (1992)

- Forever In Love (1997)

- Country Collection (2001) – Time Life

- Junichiro Koizumi Presents My Favourite Elvis Songs (2001)

- Close Up (2003)

- Flashback (2004) - FTD »

- Loving You (2005)

- Loving You (2006) – FTD »

- Something for the Girls (2014) - FTD »

- Elvis' Golden Records (2015) - FTD »

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