Memphis Tennessee was written and recorded by Chuck Berry in 1959 as the flip side to Back in the U.S.A. (Chess 1729). He sang it later that year in the movie, Go, Johnny, Go! Bo Didley played rhythm guitar on Berry's recording, which did not chart. Berry's 1964 follow-up to Memphis Tennessee, called Little Marie (Chess 1912), did chart, reaching #54 on the Hot 100 chart. Several artists have recorded Memphis Tennessee, including Lonnie Mack (Fraternity 906) in 1963, Johnny Rivers (Imperial 66032) in 1964, and Buck Owens (Capitol 5446) in 1965. All three used the title Memphis. The biggest hit was Johnny Rivers's recording, which reached #2 on the Hot 100 chart and became a million-seller. Memphis Tennessee was a 1963 hit in England for Dave Berry and the Cruisers. (Berry's real name was David Grundy. He changed his last name to that of his idol, Chuck Berry).

Elvis first recorded Memphis Tennessee on May 27, 1963, at RCA's Nashville Studios, but that version has not been released. The version that appears on record was recorded on January 12, 1964.