Top 20 Elvis Songs of All-Time
The top 10 Elvis songs are all number ones. Elvis debuted in 1956 and took Rock N’ Roll by storm. Had 5 #1 Hits that year alone and staying at #1 for 20 weeks. Over his career he became “The King of Rock and Roll”.
In total, Elvis had 165 singles to make Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart. He also had 38 singles to reach the top 10, 115 songs in the top 40, and 18 number one hits. His last #1 hit was “Suspicious Minds” in 1969, and his last top 10 hit was “Burning Love” at #2 in 1972. His last top 40 hit was “My Way” at # 22 in 1977.
Elvis Presley had number one hits in each year beginning in 1956 and ending in 1962. The number one hits during these years was 17.
So far, Elvis has sold over 500 million to 1 billion records world-wide according to Guinness World Records and is by far the best-selling solo artist of all-time. He holds the record for the most songs charting in the top 40 on Billboard with 115.
Ranking Elvis’s Top 20 Songs
Since I grew up in the era of Elvis, I could have a bias in ranking his top 20 songs of all-time. But, I won’t do that here. We will let the popularity of the songs rank his top 20 hits of all-time.
The ranking system uses is very simple. The songs that ranked at #1 will rank higher than those that ranked at #2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart. So, that is what was used.
However there are 18 number one singles and how do we determine which one is more popular than the others? I will explain.
First, the singles will receive a point total for the number of weeks the song was charted on Billboard. The Hot 100 Chart came out in 1958, prior to that Billboard used Air Play, Most Popular in Juke Boxes, and Record Sales. Each record achieved a point total based on its highest position reached on all the charts and charted weeks.
Second, after each song was awarded a point total, then we ranked them according to the highest position reached on the charts. Ties were broken by how many weeks the song stayed at the peak position from all the charts.
Third, if ties still remained, we used the weeks the song stayed in the top 10.
Fourth, if ties still remained, we used the weeks the song stayed in the top 40.
Fifth, if any ties still remained we used the total weeks the song stayed on the charts.
Sixth, if ties still remained, we used the point system each song achieved from the highest total from all the charts.
Using the above system to me is a fair way to determine which song is the most popular and can rank the top 20 hits by Elvis for all-time.
For the other two positions, we used the same system as described above for his #2 hits.
Top 20 Elvis Presley Songs of All-Time
We are now ready to present to you Elvis’ top 20 hit songs of all-time.
Rank / Title/ Peak Position / Peek Weeks () / Year
1. Don’t Be Cruel / #1 (11) 1956
2. Hound Dog / #1 (11) 1956
3. All Shook Up / #1 (9) 1957
4. Heartbreak Hotel / #1 (8) 1956
5. Jailhouse Rock / #1 (7) 1957
6. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear / #1 (7) 1957
7. Are You Lonesome Tonight? / #1 (6) 1960
8. Love Me Tender / #1 (5) 1956
9. It’s Now Or Never / #1 (5) 1960
10. Don’t / #1 (5) 1958
11. Stuck On You / #1 (4) 1960
12. Too Much / #1 (3) 1957
13. Surrender / #1 (2) 1961
14. Good Luck Charm / #1 (2) 1962
15. A Big Hunk O’ Love / #1 (2) 1959
16. Hard Headed Woman #1 (2) 1958
17. I Want You, I Need, I Love You / #1 (1) 1956
18. Suspicious Minds / #1 (1) 1969
19. Return To Sender / #2 (5) 1962
20. Love Me / #2 (2) 1956
Shop Elvis’s Top 20 Hits
You can shop for Elvis Presley’s top 20 hits by clicking on any image below. You will be taken to Amazon where you can place the order.
As an Amazon associate I earn from qualified purchases.