<p id=”par-1_74″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/elvis-presley-passed-two-1970s-hits-chart-topping-classics.html/?swcfpc=1″>The 1970s</a> were a time of musical experimentation and genre-crossing hits. Two iconic artists—<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/elvis-presley/”>Elvis Presley</a> and B.J. Thomas—each the same song and defined separate moments in pop history. “I Just Can’t Help Believin” is a ballad that resonated with audiences, but while both Elvis and B.J. Thomas recorded their versions, only one became a <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/elvis-presley-grieving-fans-swarmed-graceland-see-king-rock-roll-one-last-time-after-his-death.html/”>major chart-topping success</a>. Here’s a deeper look at this 1970s classic and its lasting impact on Presley and Thomas’s careers.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-i-just-can-t-help-believin”>‘I Just Can’t Help Believin’ </h2>
<p id=”par-2_39″>Written by legendary songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, “I Just Can’t Help Believin’” was initially recorded by B.J. Thomas and released in 1970. The song’s heartfelt lyrics and smooth melody made it an instant favorite among listeners. </p>
<p id=”par-3_49″>The tune struck a chord with audiences, becoming one of Thomas’s most iconic tracks. For Elvis Presley, who had always been known for his ability to transform any song into something uniquely his own, it wasn’t long before he put his spin on “I Just Can’t Help Believin.” </p>
<p id=”par-4_41″>Presley’s version was released in 1972 as part of his album <em>Elvis Now</em>. While Presley’s take on the track had all the qualities of a classic Elvis ballad, it was B.J. Thomas’s version that made the bigger impact on the charts.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-b-j-thomas-s-version-was-a-chart-topping-success-in-1970″>B.J. Thomas’s version was a chart-topping success in 1970</h2>
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<p id=”par-5_68″>B.J. Thomas’s original version of “I Just Can’t Help Believin’” was released as a single in 1970, and it quickly became a sensation. The song peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Its success was largely due to Thomas’s ability to deliver the song with sincerity and a soft, soulful voice that resonated with a wide audience.</p>
<p id=”par-6_57″>The track became one of Thomas’s signature hits, symbolizing the sound of the early 1970s with its mix of pop, soul, and soft rock elements. The song’s success also helped solidify his place in music history, showcasing Thomas’s ability to capture the emotional core of a song and deliver it in a way that connected with listeners.</p>
<p id=”par-7_70″>Several factors contributed to the greater commercial success of Thomas’s rendition of “I Just Can’t Help Believin’.” First and foremost, Thomas was riding a wave of popularity during the late 1960s and early 1970s. with “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” and “Hooked on a Feeling.” His vocal style, which blended soft rock and pop with touches of country and soul, was exactly what listeners were craving at the time.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-elvis-presley-s-soulful-rendition-dropped-in-72″>Elvis Presley’s soulful rendition dropped in ’72</h2>
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<p id=”par-8_40″>Elvis Presley’s version of “I Just Can’t Help Believin’” arrived in 1972, as part of his album <em>Elvis Now</em>. While Presley’s take on the ballad was undeniably heartfelt, his rendition didn’t achieve the same level of success as Thomas’s. </p>
<p id=”par-9_53″>It did well on the charts, but it was not as commercially successful, peaking at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 and performing better on the Adult Contemporary charts. Presley’s interpretation brought his signature vocal style and emotional depth to the track, which still made it a standout in his catalog. </p>
<p id=”par-10_49″>However, by the early 1970s, Presley’s music was starting to face competition from newer sounds and trends. Despite this, the King’s version of “I Just Can’t Help Believin’” remains a beloved part of his extensive body of work, but it didn’t reach the same heights as B.J. Thomas’s release.</p>
<p id=”par-11_72″>On the other hand, Presley was navigating a time when the music industry was undergoing significant changes. The early 1970s saw the rise of new artists and genres, and while Presley’s voice remained unmatched, his style was beginning to feel somewhat disconnected from the evolving musical landscape. This shift in musical preferences made it harder for Presley’s version of “I Just Can’t Help Believin’” to capture the same attention that Thomas’s did.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-elvis-presley-scored-a-second-hit-with-another-b-j-thomas-cover”>Elvis Presley scored a second hit with another B.J. Thomas cover</h2>
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<p id=”par-12_25″>In 1969, B.J. Thomas wrote and released the song “It’s Only Love.” It didn’t create the kind of chart-topping stir his other hits subsequently did.</p>
<p id=”par-13_57″>Subsequently, Elvis Presley recorded a cover of the song in 1971. His recording was a moderate success, peaking at # 45 on the Hot 100 chart and # 37 on the Easy-Listening chart. <a href=”https://genius.com/Elvis-presley-its-only-love-lyrics” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The song was released</a> again in 1980 to promote the ELVIS ARON PRESLEY boxed set and it reached No. 3 on the U.K. charts.</p>
<p id=”par-14_53″>Thomas would perform the song at <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/elvis-presley-grieving-fans-swarmed-graceland-see-king-rock-roll-one-last-time-after-his-death.html/”>Presley’s memorial service</a> in August 1977. Thomas later recorded “As Long as We Got Each Other”, the theme song for the television series <em>Growing Pains</em>. The first-season theme was a solo for Thomas and was re-recorded as a duet with Jennifer Warnes for the second and third seasons.</p>
<p id=”par-15_14″>B.J. Thomas died on May 29, 2021. His cause of death was lung cancer.</p>