A couple of days ago I presented my editor with the brilliant idea of ranking Elvis Presley‘s songs to honor his birthday on January 8. Being a Mississippi girl, and having spent almost 30 years of that time living in the town of his birth, I am aware of his huge catalogue of hits, but picking just 25 out of such a variety proved to be more challenging than I anticipated. It has also been a reminder of the enormous impact that this boy from a small town made across three entertainment mediums and across several genres of music.
Born January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, MS, Presley spent his first 13 years there, with his interest in music sparking from a guitar gifted to him, church hymns and local hillbilly singer Mississippi Slim. After the family moved to Memphis, TN, in 1948, Presley was surrounded by many different styles of music, including country, hillbilly, gospel and blues, and was strongly influenced by African-American musicians. Although he never received any formal training, Presley knew what he liked and was able to play by ear, and incorporate all these different styles into one sound. In 1954, an impromptu recording of “That’s All Right” caused a sensation, and Presley’s career skyrocketed soon after.
Over 23 years passed from the time “That’s All Right” hit the airwaves to the last time Presley performed live, finishing his last concert in June of 1977 with “Can’t Help Falling in Love” He tragically died on August 16, 1977. It’s amazing to realize how much he packed into a relatively short career. In 1956, he had his first major hit with “Heartbreak Hotel” and caused controversy with a performance of “Hound Dog” on “The Milton Berle Show,” with his gyrating hips leading many adults to believe that rock and roll music would be the downfall of mankind. Despite the objections to his style, Presley became a national sensational and a strong influencer in the genre that would soon take over the music industry.
Over the next 20 years, Presley would not only have Number One singles on the Pop charts, but he also had crossover hits on the Country, R&B and Adult Contemporary charts, even achieving the rare accomplishment of having a gospel song land on the Hot 100. His music can perhaps be divided into three different phases: early rock and roll, post-Army and the comeback years. Between the success of “Heartbreak Hotel” and his first movie in 1956 and his Army deployment in 1958, Presley had a string of number one records as well as four commercially successful films, including “Jailhouse Rock” and “Love Me Tender.” Following his return from the Army in 1960, Presley’s style matured a bit, and he found success with ballads and softer rock tunes, such as “Are You Lonely Tonight?” and “It’s Now or Never.” He also made 27 of his 31 films between 1960 and 1969. Whereas there were a few successful singles during this time, many feel that the formulaic films hurt his music, but Presley found his way back, this time on television.
In 1968, Presley returned to the small screen in a televised concert for a special called “Elvis,” now known as the “’68 Comeback Special.” For his first live performance in seven years, Presley participated in two intimate sit-down concerts and two stand-up concerts that were edited together, and it was clear that Presley was back to doing what he loved best. Clad in black leather, Presley pounded out several hits old and new, as well covers such as Jimmy Reed‘s “Baby What You Want Me to Do,” which is one of his most passion-filled performances and a joy to watch. The special was a success, and for the last nine years of his life, Presley enjoyed concert tours and Las Vegas performances, as well as another successful TV special in 1973, “Aloha from Hawaii.”
With studio albums, soundtracks and live albums, Presley released about four dozen albums in his lifetime, and fans vary on who their favorite “Elvis” is. Some favor the young boy from Memphis, with greased-back hair and hips a-swiveling, who exploded onto the music scene with a new sound and a new look. Others prefer the handsome young man in his films, winning the girl over with a smirk and a catchy tune. And then there’s the older Elvis, who went from leather-clad hunk to karate-chopping “king” in outlandish jumpsuits who could belt out a spine-tingling ballad like no other. The trait that is common in all of these is likely what set Presley aside from the rest: his ability to perform a piece of music. Many talented people can sing, but only a few have the ability to perform the song and make it come alive. Despite no formal training, Presley had the gift of taking a piece of music and making it uniquely his.
With a treasure trove to pick from, I have selected for this photo gallery the 25 best songs that include his most iconic and best-selling hits as well as songs that have become lasting favorites with fans, with a variety of genres mixed in. A big thanks to my brother-in-law and Elvis fan Kevan for helping me narrow down my choices.
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25. A Little Less Conversation (1968)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Presley originally performed this upbeat tune for his film “Live a Little, Love a Little,” but it was only a small hit at the time. A later recording by Presley was remixed in 2002 by Dutch musician Junkie XL, and became an international hit. The song is ingrained in popular culture, having been used in TV ads and programs, movies and political campaigns.
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24. Always on My Mind (1972)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Presley recorded this version of the popular ballad shortly after his separation from wife Priscilla, and it became a crossover success, charting on “Billboard’s” Hot 100, Adult Contemporary and Country charts. Presley’s moving rendition is now considered one of his best songs from that era.
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23. Memories (1969)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Mac Davis and Billy Strange were tasked with writing a song about “looking back over the years” for Presley’s 1968 comeback TV special, and they came up with this gem in one night. Released as a single the following year, this melancholy tune is a highlight of Presley’s post-comeback career.
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22. Are You Lonesome Tonight? (1960)
Image Credit: STARSTOCK/Photoshot/Newscom/The Mega Agency This ballad was over 30 years old with several versions already released, but, as it was a favorite his wife’s, Presley’s manager Colonel Tom Parker recommended it for the singer’s first album after his return from the Army. After some debate about releasing it as a single, it hit the radios in November 1960 and became an immediate success, topping the Pop charts and making it to Number 3 on the R&B charts. It became one of the highlights of his live shows, and, despite the earlier versions and some later versions, the ballad is most closely linked to the King.
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21. Return to Sender (1962)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures This catchy tune was written for Presley’s film “Girls! Girls! Girls!” The song didn’t fit the original script, but movie producer Hal B. Wallis liked it so much the script was rewritten to include it, and the song made it to Number Two on “Billboard’s” Pop chart and Number Five on the R&B charts.
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20. Crying in the Chapel (1965)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image One of Presley’s few big hits from the mid-1960s, “Crying in the Chapel” is a rare case of a gospel recording landing on the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart, spending seven weeks there and peaking at number three.
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19. An American Trilogy (1972)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Although composer Mickey Newbury’s version did better on the charts, Presley’s powerful performances of the song in the documentary “Elvis on Tour” and the telecast “Aloha from Hawaii” likely added to its success. The blended melody of “Dixie,” “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “All My Trials” became a highlight of Presley’s live shows.
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18. Burning Love (1972)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Released in 1972, “Burning Love” was Presley’s 40th hit on Billboard’s Top Ten, making it to number two, and would be his last on that chart. It was also his last true rock song, as most of his later releases were ballads.
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17. In the Ghetto (1969)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures Filled with social commentary, “In the Ghetto” became one of Presley’s biggest hits in his later career. The international success was his first Top Ten record in four years, peaking at number three in the U.S.
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16. Blue Christmas (1964)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures Although there had been several versions before Presley’s, his version backed by the Jordanaires contains a few adjustments that resulted in “blue notes” that distinguishes his rendition. The melancholy ballad has become a holiday staple, with streaming catapulting Presley’s rendition to number 40 on the “Billboard” charts in 2019, 42 years after his death.
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15. Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures Carl Perkins wrote and recorded the original version of this song, earning a gold record as the single became the first to land on the Country, R&B and Pop charts simultaneously. Although Presley’s version didn’t chart quite as well, it eventually became one of his signature songs.
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14. Little Sister (1961)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures This B-side single was as successful as its A-side tune “(Marie’s the Name) His Latest Flame,” with the former reaching Number Five on the “Billboard’s” Top 100, and the later reaching Number Four. “Little Sister,” however, has endured better over the years, and has been covered by a variety of artists, including Dwight Yoakam and Pearl Jam.
Courtesy of Paramount Pictures -
13. That’s All Right (1954)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer On Presley’s fifth visit to Sun Studios in Memphis, he, Scotty Moore and Bill Black played around with this song written eight years earlier, changing the tempo to a more upbeat one. Producer Sam Phillips impulsively recorded their improvised version, a local disc jockey played the song the next day and a legend was born. Although the record never charted, it launched Presley’s career, and it’s been argued that this was the first rock ‘n’ roll record ever made.
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12. (Let Me Be) Your Teddy Bear (1957)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Presley performs this catchy tune in his second film, “Loving You,” and it became his third Number One pop hit in 1957. One of his most commercially successful singles, it remained at Number One for seven weeks, and also topped the R&B Best Sellers List and the country charts.
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11. Don’t Be Cruel (1956)
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Paired with “Hound Dog,” this 45 record had the longest stay at Number One on the Pop charts, a record that held until 1992. “Don’t Be Cruel” also rose to Number One on the Country and R&B charts. One of his most popular and recognizable songs, it became a staple of his live shows until his death.
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10. All Shook Up (1957)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer One of his most recognizable songs, it was a hit on all the major charts, topping the R&B and Country charts, and spending 15 weeks in the Top Ten on “Billboard’s” Hot 100, eight of which it spent at Number One. It was named Billboard’s Number One song for the year 1957, and has become a popular cover for musicians across all genres of music.
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9. Kentucky Rain (1970)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Released in January of 1970, “Kentucky Rain” was one of Presley’s first hits of that decade, peaking at number 16 on the Pop charts. He performed it live several times, and the soft rock ballad about a sad man walking and driving through the “cold Kentucky rain” in search of his missing lover is a fan favorite.
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8. How Great Thou Art (1967)
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Although he’s known as “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” and one of the best-selling artists in that genre as well as pop, Presley received few Grammy nominations in those categories and no wins. However, he never lost his love of gospel, and his rendition of this beloved hymn won him two Grammys, one in 1967 for Best Sacred Performance and one in 1974 for Best Inspirational Performance (Non Classical).
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7. It’s Now or Never (1960)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer During his stint in the Army, Presley reportedly heard Tony Martin’s “There’s No Tomorrow,” based on the Italian song “O Sole mio,” and was inspired to have his own version of the beautiful melody. New lyrics were written to the tune, and “It’s Now or Never” was included on his first album after his stint in the Army. This Number One hit became his best-selling single worldwide, and is currently one of the best-selling singles of all time.
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6. Love Me Tender (1956)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Allied Artists Pictures Adapted from the sentimental Civil War ballad “Aura Lee,” this Number One hit was written for Presley’s first film. He performed the song on “The Ed Sullivan Show” shortly before the release of both the single and the movie, and a million copies were preordered, making it a gold record before its actual release, prompting movie studio 20th Century Fox to re-title the movie to “Love Me Tender” (it was originally “The Reno Brothers”).
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5. Heartbreak Hotel (1956)
Image Credit: Courtesy of United Artists Presley’s first major hit, this record was the second single in history to land on all three major Billboard charts, making the top five on the R&B, and reaching Number One on the Country and Pop charts. The single spent 27 weeks on the Top 100, earning Presley his first gold record and becoming the best-selling single of 1956. Many musicians, including John Lennon, George Harrison and Keith Richards, have cited this song as having one of the biggest influences on them.
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4. Can’t Help Falling in Love (1961)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image Originally written for and featured in Presley’s film “Blue Hawaii,” this romantic ballad only made it to Number Two on the Pop charts, but eventually became a sentimental favorite of many Presley fans. He used it as the finale to his live shows from the late 1960s on, and it was the last song he performed live, at his concert in Indianapolis in June of 1977.
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3. Jailhouse Rock (1957)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Meant to be tongue-in-cheek, Presley sang the silly lyrics as straight rock ‘n’ roll, and created a Number One hit on the Pop, Country and R&B charts. The choreographed dance scene from the film of the same name became one of his most iconic images, and cemented a place for him in film history as well as music history.
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2. Suspicious Minds (1969)
Image Credit: Courtesy Image In 1968, Mark James wrote and recorded this song about mistrust in a relationship, but it failed to do well commercially. Presley, perhaps in the midst of marital woes himself, felt he could do it justice, and it became one of the songs that revitalized his career. It had been seven years since his last number one hit, and “Suspicious Minds” would be the last during his lifetime, becoming a popular part of his live show and one many fans claim as their favorite.
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1. Hound Dog (1956)
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS Controversial in its day, “Hound Dog” is now considered one of the biggest influences on the rock ‘n’ roll genre, and was Presley’s biggest selling single, spending a recording-setting 11 weeks at number one in 1956 – a record which stood for 36 years. His now-iconic hip-gyrating performance on “The Milton Berle Show” caused a fury among those opposed to this new brand of music and a frenzy among a generation that embraced it. The frenzy won, and his recording of “Hound Dog” eventually would be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1988, and be listed as one of “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll” by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
