Elvis Presley Greatest Hits

Elvis Presley Overview

Elvis Presley Pictured In A Colorful Green Shirt
Elvis Presley Pictured In A Colorful Green Shirt

Elvis Aaron Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935 and he died on August 16, 1977 at the age of 42. He moved to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family at age of 13. This is a review of Elvis Presley greatest hits. He is known as the “King of Rock and Roll” or just “the King”. When he was singing before groups his trademark was the moving his hips and legs to the beat of the music causing all kinds of reactions from fans and parents.

Music Career

In August 1953, Presley walked into the offices of Sun Records. His aim was to pay for a few minutes of studio time to record a two-sided acetate disc: “My Happiness“ and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin“. He would later claim that he intended the record as a gift for his mother, or that he was merely interested in what he “sounded like“, although there was a much cheaper, amateur record-making service at a nearby general store. Biographer Peter Guralnick argues that he chose Sun in the hope of being discovered. Asked by receptionist Marion Keisker what kind of singer he was, Presley responded, “I sing all kinds.” When she pressed him on who he sounded like, he repeatedly answered, “I don’t sound like nobody.” After he recorded, Sun boss Sam Phillips asked Keisker to note down the young man’s name, which she did along with her own commentary: “Good ballad singer. Hold.“

In January 1954, Presley cut a second acetate at Sun Records—”I’ll Never Stand In Your Way” and “It Wouldn’t Be the Same Without You“—but again nothing came of it. Not long after, he failed an audition for a local vocal quartet, the Songfellows. He explained to his father, “They told me I couldn’t sing.” Songfellow Jim Hamill later claimed that he was turned down because he did not demonstrate an ear for harmony at the time. In April, Presley began working for the Crown Electric company as a truck driver. His friend Ronnie Smith, after playing a few local gigs with him, suggested he contact Eddie Bond, leader of Smith’s professional band, which had an opening for a vocalist. Bond rejected him after a tryout, advising Presley to stick to truck driving “because you’re never going to make it as a singer”.

Phillips, meanwhile, was always on the lookout for someone who could bring to a broader audience the sound of the black musicians on whom Sun focused. As Keisker reported, “Over and over I remember Sam saying, ‘If I could find a white man who had the Negro sound and the Negro feel, I could make a billion dollars.'” In June, he acquired a demo recording of a ballad, “Without You“, that he thought might suit the teenage singer. Presley came by the studio, but was unable to do it justice. Despite this, Phillips asked Presley to sing as many numbers as he knew. He was sufficiently affected by what he heard to invite two local musicians, guitarist Winfield “Scotty” Moore and upright bass player Bill Black, to work something up with Presley for a recording session.

The session, held the evening of July 5, 1954, proved entirely unfruitful until late in the night. As they were about to give up and go home, Presley took his guitar and launched into a 1946 blues number, Arthur Crudup’s “That’s All Right“.  Moore recalled, “All of a sudden, Elvis just started singing this song, jumping around and acting the fool, and then Bill picked up his bass, and he started acting the fool, too, and I started playing with them. Sam, I think, had the door to the control booth open he stuck his head out and said, ‘What are you doing?’ And we said, ‘We don’t know.’ ‘Well, back up,’ he said, ‘try to find a place to start, and do it again.'” Phillips quickly began taping; this was the sound he had been looking for. Three days later, popular Memphis DJ Dewey Phillips played “That’s All Right” on his Red, Hot, and Blue show. Listeners began phoning in, eager to find out who the singer was. The interest was such that Phillips played the record repeatedly during the last two hours of his show. Interviewing Presley on-air, Phillips asked him what high school he attended in order to clarify his color for the many callers who had assumed he was black. During the next few days, the trio recorded a bluegrass number, Bill Monroe’s “Blue Moon of Kentucky“, again in a distinctive style and employing a jury-rigged echo effect that Sam Phillips dubbed “slapback”. A single was pressed with “That’s All Right” on the A side and “Blue Moon of Kentucky” on the reverse.

In 1956, Elvis recorded his first single “Heartbreak Hotel” with RCA Victor and it became his first #1 hit. It topped the charts for eight weeks. Also, in the same year, he recorded “Hound Dog” and “Don’t Be Cruel”. These were his second and third #1 hit’s and topped the charts for 11 weeks, which was a record for 36 years until a song by Whitney Houston “I Will Always Love You” that topped the charts for 14 weeks, in 1992. He was now well on his way of recording 665 singles in his career and multiple albums.

Hound Dog 45 RPM Record on RCA Victor Label
Hound Dog 45 RPM Record on RCA Victor Label

His recording of “Hound Dog” on the “A” side and the “B” side was “Don’t Be Cruel” was his most successful single as both sides went to #1 on the pop charts. This single was the first to have both sides hit number 1. It spent a total of 11 weeks in the top spot. On September 29, 1956, both songs were number 1 on the Pop, R & B and Country & Western charts a total of 7 of ten possible charts.

Elvis had a total of 153 singles to make the Hot 100 chart. He also charted 85 Country Hits, 53 Adult Contemporary Hits, and 35 R & B Hits. He also had #1 singles in all four formats. Pop, Country, R&B, and Adult Contemporary. He also had five singles to chart on three of the four charts at the same time.

Ed Sullivan Show Appearance

On September 9, 1956, Elvis Presley appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and they only showed him only from the waist up. However, 60 million TV viewers tuned in or 82.6 percent of the television audience to see his performance and it’s a record still to this day. During this time his first four albums that he released went to number 1. His next album peaked at #2, and his next three albums went to #1.

Out of The Army

Essential Elvis Album Cover
Essential Elvis Album Cover

In 1960, when he came out of the army, is first album “Elvis Is Back” peaked at #2. His next three albums all went to number 1. On the U.S. Pop Chart he had 10 albums to hit #1. On the Country Chart he had 7 albums go to #1. In the United Kingdom he had 10 albums go to #1. His last album in the United States that went to #1 is “Elvis: 30 No. 1 Hits”, released in 2002. In the UK, “Elvis Is King” went to #1 in 2007. This album was not released in the U.S.  Elvis had a total of 20 albums go to #1 on all formats.

In 1956, he appeared in the film “Love Me Tender” his first of many films that many of us would go to the theater to see and hear him sing his songs. He went on to make 31 films in his career, with his last being in 1969, “Change Of Habit”.

Billboard has ranked Elvis as the #1 artist from 1950-1959, the #2 artist from 1960-1969, and the overall #1 artist of all-time from 1955-2010. He also was ranked the top male artist of the year nine times from 1956-1969, a record. In 1986, he was voted into “The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame“.

All-Time Top Ten Selling Songs

Below is a list of Elvis’ top ten all-time best selling records as complied by The Official Charts Company in the UK in June, 2015.

  1. It’s Now Or Never
  2. Jailhouse Rock
  3. Are You Lonesome Tonight?
  4. The Wonder of You
  5. A Little Less Conversation
  6. Way Down
  7. Wooden Heart
  8. Surrender
  9. All Shook Up
  10. Rock A Hula Baby / Can’t Help Falling In Love

Elvis’ Number Ones & Top Ten Hits All Charts

The list of Elvis Presley’s number one songs will be in chronological order first in the United States, then the list of singles in the United Kingdom, and the Adult Contemporary chart. Each will have the title and date the single peaked at the #1 position and number of weeks holding the #1 position. Elvis Presley was the first to have a doubled sided hit “Hound Dog” & “Don’t Be Cruel” to become a #1 hit. Elvis Presley’s 18 number one songs spent a total of 81 weeks in the #1 spot, the most of any artist.

United States #1’s & Top 10’s

Hot 100 Chart

Number one songs will be in bold with number of weeks at #1, #2, #3 in ()

  1. Heartbreak Hotel – April 21, 1956 #1 (8)
  2. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You – July 28, 1956 #1 (1)
  3. Don’t Be Cruel – August 18, 1956 #1 (11)
  4. Hound Dog – August 18, 1956 #1 (11)
  5. Love Me Tender – November 3, 1956 #1 (5)
  6. Love Me – November 17, 1956 #2 (2)
  7. Too Much – February 9, 1957 #1 (3)
  8. All Shook Up – April 13, 1957 #1 (9)
  9. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear – July 8, 1957 #1 (7)
  10. Jailhouse Rock – October 21, 1957 #1 (7)
  11. I Beg Of You – January 27, 1958 #8
  12. Don’t – February 10, 1958 #1 (5)
  13. Wear My Ring Around Your Neck – April 21, 1958 #2 (1)
  14. Hard Headed Woman – July 21, 1958 #1 (2)
  15. I Got Stung – November 3, 1958 #8
  16. One Night – November 10, 1958 #4
  17. A Fool Such As I – March 23, 1959 #2 (1)
  18. I Need Your Love Tonight – March 30, 1959 #4
  19. A Big Hunk O’ Love – August 10, 1959 #1 (2)
  20. Stuck On You – April 25, 1960 #1 (5)
  21. It’s Now Or Never – August 15, 1960 #1 (5)
  22. Are You Lonesome Tonight? – November 28, 1960 #1 (6)
  23. Surrender – March 20, 1961 #1 (2)
  24. I Feel So Bad – May 15, 1961 #5
  25. Little Sister – August 21, 1961 #5
  26. (Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame – August 28, 1961 #4
  27. Can’t Help Falling In Love – December 4, 1961 #2 (1)
  28. Good Luck Charm – April 21, 1962 #1 (2)
  29. She’s Not You – August 4, 1962 #5
  30. Return To Sender – October 20, 1962 #2 (5)
  31. (You’re The) Devil In Disguise – June 29, 1963 #3 (2)
  32. Bossa Nova Baby – October 19, 1963 #8
  33. Crying In The Chapel – April 24, 1965 #3 (1)
  34. In The Ghetto – May 3, 1969 #3 (1)
  35. Suspicious Minds – November 1, 1969 #1 (1)
  36. Don’t Cry Daddy – November 29, 1969 #6
  37. The Wonder Of You – May 16, 1970 #9
  38. Burning Love – August 19, 1972 #2 (1)

The above total 81 weeks in the number one spot on Billboard’s Pop charts which is more than the Beatles who had 59 weeks and Mariah Carey who has 79.

United Kingdom #1’s

We can only provide the title and year that the song reached #1. Some of the songs that were number one in the U.S., were also #1 in the UK. Songs with an * after it are the ones that did not make #1 on the U.S. charts. The number in () is the highest position the song reached on the U.S. charts.

  1. All Shook Up – 1957
  2. Jailhouse Rock – 1957
  3. *One Night / I Got Stung – 1959 (#4/#8)
  4. *A Fool Such As I / I Need Your Love Tonight – 1959 (#2/#4)
  5. It’s Now Or Never – 1960
  6. Are You Lonesome Tonight? – 1960
  7. *Wooden Heart – 1961 (Not released in the U.S.)
  8. Surrender – 1961
  9. *(Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame / Little Sister – 1961 (#4/#5)
  10. *Can’t Help Falling In Love / Rock-A-Hula Baby – 1962 (#2/#23)
  11. Good Luck Charm – 1962
  12. *She’s Not You – 1962 (#5)
  13. *Return To Sender – 1962 (#2)
  14. *(You’re The) Devil In Disguise – 1963 (#3)
  15. *Crying In The Chapel – 1965 (#3)
  16. *The Wonder Of You – 1970 (#9)
  17. *Way Down – 1977 (#18)
  18. *A Little Less Conversation – 2002 (#50)
  19. Jailhouse Rock (Reissue) – 2005
  20. One Night/ I Got Stung (Reissue) – 2005
  21. It’s Now Or Never (Reissue) 2005

Adult Contemporary #1’s & Top 10’s

Number one songs are in bold and weeks at #1 and #2 in ()

  1. (Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame – August 28, 1961 #2 (2)
  2. Can’t Help Falling In Love – January 13, 1962 #1 (6)
  3. Anything That’s Part Of You – March 17, 1962 #6
  4. Follow That Dream – May 12, 1962 #5
  5. She’s Not You – August 4, 1962 #2 (2)
  6. Crying In The Chapel – May 22, 1965 #1 (7)
  7. (Such An) Easy Question – July 24, 1965 #1 (2)
  8. I’m Yours – October 9, 1965 #1 (3)
  9. Puppet On A String – November 13, 1965 #3
  10. Frankie And Johnny – March 26, 1966 #3
  11. All That I Am – October 8, 1966 #9
  12. Memories – March 22, 1969 #7
  13. In The Ghetto – May 17, 1969 #8
  14. Suspicious Minds – October 4, 1969 #4
  15. Don’t Cry Daddy – December 6, 1969 #3
  16. Kentucky Rain – February 21, 1970 #3
  17. The Wonder Of You – June 20, 1970 #1 (1)
  18. I’ve Lost You – August 1, 1970 #5
  19. You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me – November 28, 1970 #1 (1)
  20. I Really Don’t Want To Know – January 2, 1971 #2 (2)
  21. Life – May 15, 1971 #8
  22. I’m Leavin’ – July 17, 1971 #2 (1)
  23. Until It’s Time For You To Go – February 12, 1972 #9
  24. It’s A Matter Of Time – August 26, 1972 #9
  25. Separate Ways – December 2, 1972 #3
  26. If You Talk In Your Sleep – July 8, 1974 #6
  27. It’s Midnight – October 26, 1974 #8
  28. My Boy – April 5, 1975 #1 (1)
  29. Hurt – April 10, 1976 #7
  30. Moody Blue – January 8, 1977 #2 (2)
  31. My Way – July 2, 1977 #6

R&B Top Ten and Number Ones

Below is a complete listing of all of Elvis’ top ten and number one songs on the R&B Chart. Songs will in order according to debut date and number one songs on the date song first hit #1. The #1, #2, & #3 song peak weeks will be in (). Number one songs will be in bold.

  1. Heartbreak Hotel – March 31, 1956 #3 (1)
  2. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You – June 2, 1956 #3 (2)
  3. Hound Dog – September 15, 1956 #1 (6)
  4. Don’t Be Cruel – September 15, 1956 #1 (6)
  5. Love Me Tender – October 20, 1956 #3 (3)
  6. Love Me – December 1, 1956 #7
  7. Too Much – February 2, 1957 #3 (1)
  8. All Shook Up – April 29, 1957 #1 (4)
  9. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear – September 2, 1957 #1 (1)
  10. Treat Me Nice – October 14, 1957 #7
  11. Jailhouse Rock – October 21, 1957 #1 (5)
  12. Don’t – February 3, 1958 #4
  13. I Beg Of You – February 3, 1958 #5
  14. Wear My Ring Round Your Neck – May 5, 1958 #1 (3)
  15. Doncha’ Think It’s Time – May 12, 1958 #10
  16. Hard Headed Woman – June 30, 1958 #2 (2)
  17. Don’t Ask Me Why – July 7, 1958 #9
  18. One Night – November 17, 1958 #10
  19. A Big Hunk O’ Love – July 27, 1959 #10
  20. Stuck On You – May 2, 1960 #6
  21. It’s Now Or Never – August 8, 1960 #7
  22. Are You Lonesome Tonight? – November 28, 1960 #3 (1)
  23. Return To Sender – November 10, 1962 #5
  24. (You-re The) Devil In Disguise – July 27, 1963 #9

Country Charts

Below is a complete list of Elvis’ top ten and number one songs on the Country charts. Peak position weeks #1, #2, #3 are in (). Number one songs are in bold. Dates are debut for non-#1 songs, and date song first hit #1.

  1. Baby Let’s Play House – July 16, 1955 #5
  2. Mystery Train – September 17, 1955 #10
  3. I Forgot To Remember To Forget – February 25, 1956 #1 (5)
  4. Heartbreak Hotel – March 17, 1956 #1 (17)
  5. I Was The One – March 31, 1956 #8
  6. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You – July 14, 1956 #1 (2)
  7. Don’t Be Cruel – September 15, 1956 #1 (10)
  8. Hound Dog – September 15, 1956 #1 (10)
  9. Love Me Tender – October 20, 1956 #3 (2)
  10. Love Me – December 29, 1956 #10
  11. Too Much – February 2, 1957 #3 (2)
  12. Playing For Keeps – March 2, 1957 #8
  13. All Shook Up – May 13, 1957 #1 (1)
  14. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear – August 5, 1957 #1 (1)
  15. Jailhouse Rock – December 2, 1957 #1 (1)
  16. Don’t – February 3, 1958 #2 (5)
  17. I Beg Of You – February 3, 1958 #4
  18. Wear My Ring Around Your Neck – April 21, 1958 #3 (4)
  19. Hard Headed Woman – June 30, 1958 #2 (2)
  20. There Goes My Everything – January 9, 1971 #9
  21. I’ve Got A Thing About You Baby – February 16, 1974 #4
  22. Help Me – June 8, 1974 #6
  23. It’s Midnight – October 26, 1974 #9
  24. Hurt – April 10, 1976 #6
  25. Moody Blue – February 19, 1977 #1 (1)
  26. Way Down – August 20, 1977 #1 (1)
  27. My Way – November 19, 1977 #2 (1)
  28. Unchained Melody – March 25, 1978 #6
  29. Are You Sincere – April 21, 1979 #10
  30. There’s A Honky Tonk Angel – August 11, 1979 #6
  31. Guitar Man – March 14, 1981 #1 (1)

A total, of 21 singles made #1 on the UK charts for Elvis Presley. Twelve of which did not make #1 in the United States. Coupled with his 18 U.S. single #1’s you get 30 #1 hits.

All told, Elvis had 18 #1’s, 38 T10, 68 T20, 104 T40, and 165 singles to chart on Billboard’s Pop Chart. He had 27 top ten albums. Elvis is ranked the #1 artist from 1955-1959, the #2 artist of 1960-1969, the #11 artist from 1970-1979, and the #1 artist of all-time from 1955-2010.

On the Adult Contemporary Chart Elvis had 7 #1’s, 31 T10, 37 T20, and 44 T40 hits. Elvis is ranked the #5 artist of all-time from 1961-2001.

On the Country Chart, Elvis had 11 #1’s, 31 T10, 39 T20, 51 T40 hits. Elvis is ranked as the #8 artist of the 50’s, the #34 artist from 1970-1979, and the #38 artist of all-time from 1944-2012.

On the R&B Charts, Elvis had 6 #1’s, 24 T10, 31 T20, and 33 T40 hits. Elvis is ranked as the #2 artist from 1950-1959, and the #46 artist of all-time from 1942-2010.

Awards

Elvis earned 3 Grammy awards two for best gospel album, one in 1967, and his second in 1972 and one lifetime achievement award in 1971. He was elected to the R&R Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Country & Western Hall of Fame in 1998. He had a total of 46 gold records.

Films

Elvis starred in 34 films and many were musicals. His favorite roll was in Jailhouse Rock in 1957. His top grossing film was “Viva Las Vegas” and earned $39,176,206, in 1964. The film also stared Ann Margaret.

Don’t Be Cruel Original Recording #1 (11 weeks)

Hound Dog Original Recording #1 (11 weeks)

Heartbreak Hotel #1 (17 Weeks) on Country Chart 1956

Shop Elvis Presley Greatest Hits

If you are an Elvis fan, there is a CD package that is available for sale which has all of Elvis’ #1’s from the U.S. & UK all in one sweet deal and they are all original recordings. Now you can own all of these wonderful and timeless Elvis 30 #1 HitsElvis 30 #1 Hits. Here is another CD and MP3 album I recommend: Essential Elvis PresleyEssential Elvis Presley.

You can shop Elvis Presley Greatest Hits by clicking on the link. You will be taken to Amazon Try Prime Digital Music section where you can download any of Elvis’ hits that might be missing from your collection.

As an Amazon associate I earn from qualified purchases.




Go back to the top 100 songs home page.

Back to Top