Almanac Music: How Low Can You Go? ‘Way Down’ – Elvis Presley’s Last Single
Elvis Presley’s last studio album, Moody Blue, 1977. [Wikimedia Commons.]
Almanac Music: How Low Can You Go? ‘Way Down’ – Elvis Presley’s Last Single
The last Elvis Presley single released when he was alive was the rocking ‘Way Down’. It was written by Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Layng Martine Jr., and came out on June 6, 1977, only a couple of months before Elvis’s death aged 42 on August 16. The song became a hit around the world, doing particularly well in the UK, where it reached Number 1 on the charts in the wake of Presley’s passing. Many whose music listening harks back to that era would remember ‘Way Down’. I certainly do, being a fifteen year-old at the time – it made a strong impression, probably because of its close proximity to the time of great man’s untimely end. The song also appeared on Elvis’s final studio album Moody Blue, released on July 19, 1977.
‘Way Down’ has a couple of other distinctions, too. It was one of the last songs Presley recorded (excluding some live recordings), on October 29 and 30, 1976 – in a studio assembled by RCA in the ‘Jungle Room’ at his home, Graceland, in Memphis, Tennessee. Furthermore, ‘Way Down’ contained – up to that time, according to Rolling Stone – the lowest note ever sung on a Top Forty record. This note was sung by the renowned Southern bass singer J D Sumner, who had known Elvis since the latter was a teenager. Sumner’s Stamps Quartet also contributed vocals to the recording.
In ‘Way Down’, Sumner’s ‘Way on down’ refrain hits low C on the scale throughout the song, then drops to an incredible double low C, three octaves below middle C, at the tune’s end. These final few notes have to be heard to be believed, sounding close to non-musical, a bit like a rumble from the bowels of the Earth.
As for the recording of the song in overall terms, it is not classic Presley, I’d argue. While the tune itself is a good, well-constructed rocker, Elvis’s delivery lacks the punch and energy of so much of his previous work. Recorded less than a year before his death, one figures that Presley’s various health issues contributed to the lacklustre way he delivered his final single. That said, the song is still enjoyable and professional in all respects, and a significant addition to his body of work.
‘Way Down’ also suggests a question for Almanackers to ponder: what songs of the rock ‘n’ roll era have a bass singer’s contribution as an important component?
(Note: Wikipedia has been particularly useful in terms of checking various details in this piece.)
For more from Kevin, click HERE.
To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au home page click HERE
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE
About
Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His sixth book-length poetry collection, Isle Full of Noises, was published in early 2026 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
Get A Job qualifies for the second week in a row
Thanks, Swish – yes, it certainly does.
I’ll throw in another ‘rock ‘n’ roll era’ song with a distinctive bass voice: ‘Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe’ (1974), written, produced and performed by the great Barry White.
Thanks for this Kevin. I like the description – “Low C to double low C rumble from the bowels”.
I don’t know how far down the C scale these get but here are a couple of songs with significant bass input.
Mr Bass Man Johnny Cymbal
Come a Little Bit Closer Delltones
Blue Moon Marcels
Who Put The Bomp Barry Mann
Pretty Little Angel Eyes Curtis Lee
I had the Curtis Lee 45 (Pretty Little Angel Eyes/Under The Moon of Love) so did some digging to see if I could find who sang the bass part on Pretty Little Angel Eyes.
Discovered that it was a group called The Halos and that the bass singer was the aptly named Arthur Crier. They were uncredited on the release.
They also sang backing vocals on Who Put The Bomp and were part of Phil Spector’s wall on Gene Pitney’s Every Little Breath I Take where the dip dip doo wup bup of the backing singers and the aah ooh of the bass voice complement Pitney’s soaring falsetto.
Thank you, Peter, for your fine contribution here! I really liked the detail.
I’m just reminded of another well-known hit with important bass voice input – the Oak Ridge Boys’ version of ‘Elvira’ (1981), a song originally written and recorded by Dallas Frazier in 1966.
Pretty much anything by The Delltones.
Yes, thanks Daryl. Ian ‘Peewee’ Wilson sang bass vocals in this band, as you might remember.