Elvis Presley is widely known as the King of Rock and Roll. His voice, style, and influence changed music forever. Over the years, Elvis recorded many songs that became massive hits and are still loved today. What many people forget, however, is that a large number of Elvis’s most famous songs were actually cover versions. Songs like “Hound Dog,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Suspicious Minds,” and “Always on My Mind” were all first recorded by other artists before Elvis made them famous.
Because of Elvis’s popularity, his versions often became more successful than the originals. This helped bring rock and blues music to a wider audience, but it also meant that the original artists were sometimes forgotten. Still, Elvis had a special talent for taking a song and making it his own. His voice, confidence, and stage presence turned simple tracks into classics.
This idea of covers being just as powerful — or even better — than the originals is important when looking at Tom Petty’s surprising opinion about Elvis.
Tom Petty’s Love for Elvis
Tom Petty grew up listening to Elvis Presley. Like many musicians of his generation, Elvis was one of his earliest musical heroes. Petty didn’t just admire Elvis as a performer; he admired the feeling in his music. Elvis represented freedom, emotion, and the raw energy of early rock and roll.
Years later, while recording with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the band casually played Elvis’s song “Wooden Heart.” The song was originally recorded by Elvis in 1960 for the movie G.I. Blues. It was a soft, sweet song inspired by a German folk tune. Petty and his band didn’t plan the cover carefully or rehearse it many times. Instead, they played it once, live in the studio, and that was it.
That one take ended up being released later on Petty’s compilation album Playback, which included rare tracks and B-sides.
“We Did It Better Than Elvis”
What surprised many fans was Tom Petty’s honest comment about the song. He said that he believed his version of “Wooden Heart” was better than Elvis’s original. This was a bold thing to say, especially about such a legendary artist.
However, Petty wasn’t saying that he was a better singer than Elvis. He wasn’t trying to compete with Elvis’s fame, voice, or image. Instead, Petty was talking about feeling.
For Petty, music was always about honesty and emotion. That one-take recording captured a real moment — no pressure, no overthinking, just musicians playing from the heart. To him, that made the song feel more natural and personal.
Respect, Not Competition
Petty’s comment wasn’t meant to insult Elvis. In fact, it showed deep respect. He was a fan who had grown up listening to Elvis records and learning from them. Playing “Wooden Heart” reminded him of being young and falling in love with music.
The Heartbreakers’ version sounds looser and less theatrical than Elvis’s. It doesn’t try to copy the original. Instead, it feels like a band enjoying a song they love. That’s what made it special to Petty.
In the end, this story isn’t really about who did the song better. It’s about how music travels through generations. Elvis covered songs he loved, and years later, Tom Petty did the same. That cycle is what keeps rock and roll alive — artists honoring the past while making something honest in the present.