Chips Moman had asked James to come to Memphis to write songs for American Sound Studio.

American Sound Studio was gaining a reputation in the industry, as the Box Tops had just recorded "The Letter" there, so James relocated to Memphis.

James said that late one night, he was fooling around on his Fender guitar and using his Hammond organ pedals for a bass line and came up with what he thought was a catchy melody.

At the recording session, James sang the lead vocals and the studio band backed him; Moman produced.

Later that year, Don Crews, Moman's partner, told James that Presley had booked their studio to record what would become the From Elvis in Memphis album.

James felt Presley needed a mature rock 'n' roll song to bring him back, as Tom Jones was a popular artist at the time.

A few days earlier, he had walked into the recording studio during a session and sensed that Presley was uncomfortable with his presence.

On August 7, "Suspicious Minds" was again overdubbed to stereo and mono in Las Vegas, where the final master was produced.

As Parade magazine wrote in a survey of some of Presley's biggest hits, the recording "boasts one of the most innovative arrangements in Elvis' career ... two time-signature changes, a jangling electric guitar, spiraling strings, pumping horns and a barreling backup choir".

[10] RCA staff producer Felton Jarvis decided to add a fade-out to the song starting at 3:36 and lasting for nearly 15 seconds before fading back in.

In a 2012 interview with Marc Myers of The Wall Street Journal, Moman disclosed that Jarvis was never happy with Presley recording at American Sound Studio, saying "it was a control thing".

"[13] Future Grateful Dead vocalist Donna Jean Godchaux sang backing vocals on the track.

[14] "Suspicious Minds" was one of the singles that revived Presley's chart success in the U.S., following his '68 Comeback Special.

[16][17][18][19] Presley first performed the song at the Las Vegas International Hotel (later renamed the Hilton) on July 31, 1969, and the 45 rpm single was released 26 days later.

In 1986, the band Fine Young Cannibals' cover version, which features backing vocals by Jimmy Somerville, reached No.

It pays homage to Elvis Presley in its monochromaticity (common during his early career) and the shiny spangled suits the band wears in the second half.

Gareth Gates, the runner-up of the first series of the ITV talent show Pop Idol, released a cover version of "Suspicious Minds" on BMG-related record labels on September 23, 2002.

The single is a double-A side record containing a cover of the Beatles' "The Long and Winding Road" performed with Pop Idol series one winner Will Young.