For someone who had been residing in Europe for about a year-and-a-half, it cannot be a coincidence that Elvis' recorded output took on a more Continental feel once he had returned to civilian life. It probably didn't hurt that his manager was the Dutch-born Andreas Cornelis van Kujik who had spent the bulk of his adult life trying, largely successfully, to pass himself off as an American southerner named Tom Parker. Perhaps most importantly, his post-army material (at least initially) had been intended to be much more adult than the teenage anthems he'd been pounding out during his mid-fifties' peak.
Like "It's Now or Never", "Surrender" had its roots in Italy, specifically within the Neapolitan tradition. The title had originally been "Torna a Surriento" which translates to "Come Back to Sorrento" but it's notable the name of a picturesque Italian town would evolve into a song called "Surrender". (Something was lost in the translation) Rather than being a plea for a couple to find their way back to each other, it is now a lustful song. The tune is a fine example of early sixties' exoticism to groove along with and it ought to be a great display of Elvis' vocal chops except he does not seem to know when to lay off. The usual Presley vocalisms have been replaced by a whole new set of styles and it's as if he's trying them all out at once to see which ones fit. Yet, it clocks in at just under two minutes so it's not as if he grates for long.
Nice as "Surrender" is, "Lonley Man" is the stronger of the two. While I don't quite agree with Tom Ewing's assessment that "Surrender" is the first Elvis single in which "he doesn't really sound like he's trying" — if anything, I'd say he's trying way too hard - there is something a little off about it while its flip side sounds much more natural. An accordion accompanies it to give the song yet more European flavour — which, incidentally, contributes to the two meshing very well together, making it Presley's most consistent single release in years — but this time in service of a gentle country and western hymn. The pace is relaxed which may have prompted Elvis to give the appropriately laid back reading.
"Surrender" / "Lonely Man" marks the place where Elvis was continuing to have major hits but without expanding his audience. Elvis fans would snap up his latest releases but it's doubtful that many neutrals, agnostics and kids venturing out to buy their first 45 single at the drug store or the local Woolworths were interested in what a suddenly much older King was up to. My parents were eight and nine years old at the time and neither of them had any desire to own the latest Elvis single — though they were both still keen to watch his movies. As such, it didn't have the lifespan of many of his earlier hits. It is now largely forgotten which is a bit of a shame since it's a mid-range Presley work: by no means one of his best but far from one of his duds. Though maybe that's just me and my low expectations talking.
Score: 6
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