Joy Byers is credited with writing or co-writing the following songs that Elvis Presley recorded. However in recent years, her [We would have to assume now ex husband!!!] Bob Johnston has claimed that songs still credited to his wife Joy Byers were actually co-written, or solely written by himself. He has cited old 'contractual reasons' for this situation. The songs in question include Timi Yuro's 1962 hit 'What's A Matter Baby', plus at least 16 songs for Elvis Presley's films between 1964 and 1968, including 'It Hurts Me', 'Let Yourself Go' and 'Stop, Look and Listen'. Two songs credited to Byers, the aforementioned 'Stop, Look and Listen' and 'Yeah, She's Evil!' were recorded by Bill Haley & His Comets before being used by Elvis (the latter song was retitled 'The Meanest Girl in Town' when Presley recorded it). Elvis Presley recorded 'The Meanest Girl in Town' on June 10, 1964, while Bill Haley recorded his version a week later, on June 16, 1964.
Joy stated in an interview featured in the book, Writing For The King, 'It's a thrill to have had a bunch of Songs recorded by Elvis. Can you imagine lucking into something like that? I was a Fifties Housewife, living in a lower, Middle Class Neighbourhood, and next thing you know I'm writing Songs for Elvis Presley. I was thrilled, just thrilled'.
Baby If You'll Give Me All Your Love
C'mon Everybody
Goin' Home
Hard Knocks
Hey, Hey, Hey
I've Got To Find My Baby
Please Don't Stop Loving Me
She's A Machine
So Close, Yet So Far (From Paradise)
Stop, Look And Listen
The Meanest Girl In Town
There's A Brand New Day On The Horizon
There Ain't Nothing Like A Song
It Hurts Me [Although Joy does say that Charlie Daniels wrote nearly all of it]
Let Yourself Go
