Are You Lonesome Tonight? Elvis Presley Written by Lou Handman and Roy Turk in 1926 "Are You Lonesome To-night?" was recorded by a number of artists in 1927, including the writer and his sister. Al Jolson recorded a version of it in 1950 and in 1959 American songstress Jaye P. Morgan had a Billbboard recording that hit #65 on the MGM label. Elvis probably heard it while serving in the Army in Europe. He finally recorded it in April, 1960, and it became one of his wife's favorite songs. His version was based on the Blue Barron Orchestra version of it from 1950. Elvis, occasionally during live performances, would randomly change lyrics to give them humorous connotations. One popular instance was recorded at the International Hotel in Vegas on August 26, 1969. During the performance, instead of singing: "Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there", he sings "Do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair".