Gonna Leave Your Head About The Shape Of A Stamp

Released in February, 1968, U.S. Male helped usher in Elvis Presley's return as a performing musician from his movie career.

The song reached #28 on the U.S. charts and encouraged NBC to air a special television event called, "Elvis," which would become commonly known as "The '68 Comeback Special."

U.S. Male is a telling elaboration of one of Elvis' philosophies, "Never back down from a fight... a man has got to be a man."

Early in his career, before he surrounded himself with bodyguards, Elvis showed that he was able to take care of himself. He was once assailed by a gas station manager and an attendant who had asked him to leave because a crowd was gathering. Though both men outsized him, both came out of the fracas as losers.

Almost every Elvis movie featured at least one bout of fisticuffs, whether he was playing a boxer, a lover, a cowboy or a singer.

Elvis studied martial arts intensively and incorporated the movements into his live performances. He was eventually awarded an 8th degree black belt in Kenpo by Ed Parker.