Introduction
“I Don’t Wanna Be Tied” is a lively rock and roll track performed by Elvis Presley, featured in his 1962 film Girls! Girls! Girls!. The song was composed by the prolific songwriting trio Bill Giant, Bernie Baum, and Florence Kaye, who were responsible for several of Elvis’s hits during that era.
Recorded on March 28, 1962, at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, the track showcases Elvis’s energetic vocal delivery. The recording session brought together a talented group of musicians, including guitarists Scotty Moore, Tiny Timbrell, and Barney Kessel; bassist Ray Siegel; drummers D.J. Fontana, Hal Blaine, and Bernie Mattinson; pianist Dudley Brooks; saxophonist Boots Randolph; and backing vocalists The Jordanaires.
In the film, Elvis’s character, Ross Chandler, performs this song, reflecting a playful and free-spirited attitude toward love and commitment. The lyrics convey a desire for romantic freedom, with lines like “I want my share of love, it might as well be known, But I ain’t thinking of one girl to love alone.”
While Girls! Girls! Girls! received mixed reviews, the soundtrack achieved commercial success, reaching number three on the Billboard charts. “I Don’t Wanna Be Tied” stands out as a fun and catchy tune, exemplifying Elvis’s ability to blend rock and roll with a touch of rhythm and blues. The song remains a testament to his versatility as an artist during the early 1960s.