1. HOUND DOG
The intro explodes into your ears, and into the public consciousness, as only
A Hard Day's Night and Anarchy In The UK have since. So intense, two minutes
of sustained viciousness and sheer malicious glee.
2. SUSPICIOUS MINDS
As a mature and supremely confident Elvis harmonises with himself, you can
feel the shackles of Hollywood falling away. The shock of the middle eight ("let
our love survive") will make you catch your breath.
3. MYSTERY TRAIN
Singing high and free, even a runaway train can't take his gal away. Scotty
Moore and Bill Black never played better, but Elvis's whoop of delight at
the end takes the cake.
4. HEARTBREAK HOTEL
A freaky but inspired choice of first 45 for a major label. To enhance the
atmosphere of seedy desolation, Elvis chose to record the vocal at the end
of the studio corridor.
5. I JUST CAN'T HELP
BELIEVING
Encapsulates the live, second-coming - his band never sounded better. The
back-and-forths between Elvis and backing singers the Sweet Inspirations ("one
more time... yeah, one more!") are the highlight.
6. SUSPICION
A teenage pre-cursor to Suspicious Minds, and almost as good. Shadowed by
autoharp and a sinister bassline, the victim's pained politeness explodes
into paranoia at the end of the chorus: "Why torture me?"
7. GOOD ROCKING TONIGHT
No less than an invitation to come join the teenage revolution. "We're
gonna rock all our blues away" - the original slang usage of 'rock 'n'
roll' was never more explicit.
8. DOING THE BEST I CAN
From the GI Blues soundtrack, a Pomus and Shuman ballad of abject surrender.
The vocal gets under your skin, keening and helpless - no wonder girls
melted.
9. ONE NIGHT
This snarling menace to American moral fibre had to be toned down from "one
night of sin" to "one night with you," though the performance
is so loaded with sexual promise they needn't have bothered.
10. TOMORROW IS A LONG TIME
Cut in 1966 between some of his worst movie scores, the delicate, haunted take
on Bob Dylan's song hints at a parallel Elvis universe. Dylan has since
hailed it as his favourite cover version.
11. CAN'T HELP FALLING
IN LOVE
Irresistibly tender. The world's favourite wedding song.
12. LITTLE SISTER
Nasty and playful rocker with a burning guitar line.
13. DON'T BE CRUEL
The minimal, hand-clapping groove sent this to number one in '56 for eleven
weeks.
14. IT'S NOW OR NEVER
Inspired by Mario Lanza, adapted for a Cornetto ad, his biggest international
hit.
15. POLK SALAD ANNIE
Sweaty, southern-fried highlight of his Vegas era.
16. ALL SHOOK UP
Introduced the classic "uh-huh-huh" to the Presley repertoire.
17. PLEASE DON'T STOP
LOVING ME
Intense southern soul ballad buried on the b-side of Frankie And Johnny.
18. BLUE MOON
Eerie clip-clopping reading, with Elvis already sounding like his own ghost,
haunting America in 1956.
19. CRAWFISH
The deepest, most atmospheric song about fishing you'll ever hear.
20. A MESS OF BLUES
A whisky-soaked Elvis beats himself up: "Whoops, there goes a teardrop..."
21. THAT’S ALL RIGHT
A little hesitant, but this is where it all began.
22. LONG BLACK
LIMOUSINE
The tale of a poor southern singer gone too soon is delivered with unnerving
emotion.
23. GUITAR MAN
Jerry Reed’s song was autobiographical, but Presley made it his, and a
springboard for artistic renewal in ’68.
24. JAILHOUSE ROCK
DJ Fontana’s granite-breaking drums deserve co-star status.
25. LOVE ME TENDER
First suggestions of his Italianite leanings, this showed America the boy
wasn’t always a hoodlum.
26. THAT’S SOMEONE YOU’LL NEVER FORGET
A graveyard ballad, though death is never mentioned directly, that could have
been sung with his mum in mind.
27. ANY DAY NOW
True blue-eyed soul, a beautiful song from the ’69 Memphis sessions.
28. BURNING LOVE
If he wanted to, he could still take the dancefloor in the seventies.
29. VIVA LAS VEGAS
A minor hit at the time, a standard now.
30. AN AMERICAN TRILOGY
Elvis probably never knew Micky Newbury's patriotic showstopper was ironic.
31. TRYING TO GET YOU
Both the Sun original and the bellowing ’68 comeback version are impossible to
resist.
32. A FOOL SUCH AS I
Messing about with his own myth in fine style.
33. RECONSIDER BABY
The dirtiest, truest blues he ever recorded. Boots Randolph’s sax break is
filthy.
34. TROUBLE
Ludicrous lyric with an insanely aggressive delivery over a drunken, Tom and
Jerry-esque Dixieland backing.
35. I’M LEAVIN’
“Tried so hard, so hard...” His most intense break-up song, this should be
better known.
36. ARE YOU LONESOME
TONIGHT
Country ham (it was Colonel Parker’s favourite song) handled with real
emotion. That voice had an incredible arsenal.
37. IN THE GHETTO
Simplistic but affecting, this 1969 number one turned his career around.
38. RETURN TO SENDER
The Presley entry point for five-year olds.
39. SHE’S NOT YOU
Elvis’s best performances of the early sixties usually involved a love
triangle lyric – this slow-dance special was the strongest.
40. THE GIRL OF MY
BEST FRIEND
Compelling and heart-breakingly sharp teen romance.
41. I’VE LOST YOU
Elvis, King of Pain, reflects on the imminent collapse of his marriage.
42. BABY LET’S PLAY
HOUSE
Sam Phillips’ echoed production and Elvis’s hiccoughs invent rockabilly in two
minutes.
43. ALWAYS ON MY MIND
Regrets, he had more than a few.
44. I NEED SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON
The perfect lounge jazz-blues for 3 am, from Viva Las Vegas.
45. HIS LATEST FLAME
Bo Diddley beat with Latin touches, The Smiths built half their catalogue
around it.
46. IT HURTS ME
A soulful roar from ’64, revisited to great effect in the Comeback Special.
47. WAY DOWN
He bowed out sounding pretty darn contemporary, though JD Sumner’s low, low
bass notes take the limelight.
48. LOVE ME
Written by Leiber and Stoller as a self-parody; the reading is so sincere,
you'd never know.
49. TOO MUCH
Constantly on the edge of falling apart but hard as nails, the archetypal
tough rocker.
50. YOU’LL NEVER WALK
ALONE
No matter how many times you’ve heard this song before, the intensity and
belief of Elvis’s interpretation will floor you.
I listen to the Elvis channel on satelite radio in my car. One of many favorites "Kentucky Rain".
Tom, Burnsville,
To me Elvis has aways been the king of any song that he has sung. There will only ever one, He has been my idol ever since he started out and comtinues still. A one off that's for sure. Some of my favourites are HURT, How the Web was Woven, Twenty Days abd Twenty Nights, My Way but to name a few. Music has not been the same since his passing.
Odette Mayer, Penarth Cardiff, Wales
i love elvis he is sooo cute.
gabrielle, boca, fl
i have been an elvis fan forever but i cannot really pick a best song . the balleds the love songs the rock country the gospel songs the early tunes they are all great today just as they were when he recorded them .i think elvis was adored by so many because he had a song for anyone that would listen. i saw elvis 2 times in concert in charlotte his voice was unbeliveable.he could sing a song like no other .he was truely blessed and he shared it with the world.
bill, charlotte, nc
Great to hear him sing ; even better to see him sing. He is the GREATEST!!!
Charles Oh, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
`Teddy bear' should be on there -- Elvis can even do silly and sound sexy! For the same reason -- I bet no-one else will agree with this one -- `Wooden heart'.
Katherine Morris, Woodstock, UK
In the early years, Elvis said that I Was the One was his favorite, it is mine too. Others are, Solitaire, Hurt, How Great Thou Art, You Were Always on My Mind, Peace in the Valley. I don't know if I could get through life without hearing Elvis' music.
Barbara, SanDiego, CA, USA
Two that no-one has mentioned but which I have always loved are Judy and Lonely Man, both of which would figure in my top 50 songs recorded by Elvis.
Levi Smith, London, England
How about Lawdy Miss Clawdy? The unmistakable piano intro and that raw bluesy voice are unforgettable. The only downside is that it is only 2 minutes long.
Valerie, Birmingham, England
Very good knowledgeable top 50. Other greats are So Glad You're Mine, Playing For Keeps and One-Sided Love Affair.
Elvis gave us an incredible wealth of brilliant songs - you could easily pick another 50 (and more) just as good.
Gerry Cairns, Wakefield, UK
How about " I need you so ", " It feels so right " "First in line " " Like a baby " " Rip it up" " Old shep " " And the grass won't pay no mind " " Love letters " " We can make the morning " " Kentucky rain " ? just to name a few...
Michael Brass, Los Angeles, CA
Not a bad list, given the impossible task; but I would find spots for Pocketful of Rainbows, They Remind Me Too Much of You and Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello; in truth, the entire ELVIS IS BACK disc deserves to be there. And It Hurts Me should be higher...An impossible task, the more I think of it.
Kevin Harvey, Worcester, MA
Well written list there, obviously from someone who really knows Elvis' whole catalogue. However... how could you miss out my fav's:
And I Love You So - the version on the Platinum box set without all the overdubs is simply suberb, its just so rich with emotion of love found, after years of loneliness.
What Now My Love - when Elvis sang this on the Aloha special Elvis' voice, the fantastic intonation, the dramatic buildup and the full use of orchestra make this explosive.
Pieces of My Life and For Old Times Sake - Both these songs are soaked in heart wrenching pain, which only Elvis can make you believe every word he's sings. You can't help being moved and absorbed by their intensity.
andrew rollason, London, UK
And to all of you How about Crying in the Chapel???? Except for the film demos all the rest were gems you just cant pick
dev, Fresno,
Kevin Miller is spot on - "His Latest Flame" is by far the best song Elvis ever recorded.
Pete, Bristol,
Elvis could sing every type of song, & so brilliantly, that it's really down to the mood you're in when you listen to him singing. Most of what he recorded, except perhaps the trivia in some of his films, was so, so wonderful...he really was....'THE KING', & no entertainer will ever come close to hs supremacy!
mac rutherford, cambridge,
I have to say to see so many tunes represented from the Memphis sessions surprised me and yet didn't. I love those songs and that era. I realize the die-hards that are probably responding to this may disagree but the novices out there that have yet to experience these songs, should. I love Kentucky Rain too even though it is not on this list.
Andrew, Minneapolis, US
"Jailhouse Rock" only makes #24?! No way that any of Elvis's later material is better than that song. It's very good, but better than "Jailhouse Rock"?
And where is "Paralyzed"? Really one of his best songs.
Joe , Hackettstown, NJ
Elvis has many great songs to his name but he did not do 44 songs that were better than 'His latest flame'! That's my favourite Elvis song and it must surely be a top ten contender at least!
Kevin Miller, Tonbridge,
Baby I don't care, I want to be free,Don't, Treat me nice, Doncha think it's time, Flip flop and fly, I forgot to remember to forget, I'm left you're right she's gone, Mean woman blues, Lonesome cowboy, As long as I have you, Flaming star, Where do you come from, Margaurita.
Just a few of the classic numbers that most of the "Johnny come lately fans" know nothing about. The sophisticated Elvis of the late sixties and right up to his death would never have been, if it were not for these songs that made him the King of Rock and Roll
John Brown, Greenock, Scotland
"If I can dream" deserves a special place and I agree
Marcela Leal Olmedo, Villahermosa, Tabasco/México
I think you have done a marvelous job. However, it seems that leaving out ‘If I can dream†is definitely a great disappointment to a whole lot of people who love this song. The lyrics and the tune are so good that I personally think it should deserve a place in the 50 greatest songs. I truly hope the song-‘If I can dream’ would finally be included in this list if possible.
Donald Hung, Hong Kong ,
Where's - IS IT SO STRANGE ? and what's the fascination with Polk Salad Annie ?
Duncan, ROMFORD, UK
Hound dog
Polk Salad Annie
Are you lonesome tonight
always on my mind
Teddy bear
edge of reality
big boss man
guitar man
I´m leavin´
The firs time I saw your face
I love all Elvis songs. For me all are the first !!! ;)
Marcela Leal Olmedo, Villahermosa/Tabasco, Mexico
Awww come on, gotta have "Puppet On A String" on any top 50 of Elvis. And what about "Teddy Bear"? "Good Time Charlie"? "FairyTale"? But I guess My favorite would be "Amazing Grace". What a gift this man was and still is.
Barbara Bishop, Xenia, Ohio
I would have to included 'Bridge over troubled water', 'just pretend','mary in the morning' and possibly 'Memories'.
Emotional clasics.
He will still be remembered hundreds of years from now.
Leslie, cheshire, u.k.
'If I Can Dream' does it for me! He sang it with such passion and beleif. Good selection though. I fell in love with Elvis when I was 13 and that is 32 years ago now. Always On My Mind!
Vanessa, Dunstable, UK
the great memphis tennessee from 63
edge of reality from 1968
big boss man from 67
you dont have to say you love me from 1970
my baby left me from 1956
money honey fom 56
tony, cork, ireland
Elvis Presley had the most extraordinary and versatile voice in popular music ever.
Elvis's Christmas Album of 1957 will enthrall discerning listeners with it's eclectic mix of Rock 'n' Roll, ballads, hymns, carols, and even convert quite a few with his beautiful rendition of gospel songs.
No wonder there has been a seismic shift in media coverage of his meteoric career recently. Even here in Irelandtoo.
Maurice Colgan, Swords, Dublin, Ireland
Elvis' version of bridge over troubled water blends gospel with theatre. Marvellous. Without love must be among the best vocal he ever sung. I like your chioces all the same
kean, london, england
What about
how great thou art
next step is love
cant help falling in love
hurt
you gave me a mountain !
colin, newcastle, england
I'm amazed to se ethat 'The Wonder Of You' doesn't feature in this list at all. I'd put it at the top.
john, sheffield,
I know it is extremely difficult to choose from so many, but surely how can you leave out IF I CAN DREAM. This captures Elvis's raw natural power and the song builds upto the greatest crescendo you can imagine. This was the last song that Elvis sang on his return performance live on television in 1968 dressed impeccably in a white suit.
Check it out and it will become one of your favourites, if not THE favourite.
Arshad Ahmedi, stevenage, Herts, UK
I would've included at least one of the powerhouse rocker singles from 1958-59, all top 4 hits - 'A Big Hunk O' Love', Wear My Ring Around Your Neck', 'Hard Headed Woman', 'I Got Stung', I Need Your Love Tonight'.
R Martin, Bromley, Kent
Elvis' best song was <Don't>. He said so himself.
Fred Taylor, Oxford, England
I love all music performed by Mr. Elvis Aaron Presley. I read your songs and is so great.
Marcela Leal Olmedo, Villahermosa/Tabasco, México
the man just did so much good stuff its hard to pick the best, still sorely missed
trisha, northants,
This is a fantastic site - you've done a remarkable job putting the focus firmly back on the music.
A great "top 50" tracks - I agreed with almost all of them. Nice to see so much care being taken.
michael wild, Northumberland, UK
Greatest is a song by Earle Brown based on I have a Dream speech by Martin luher King.....If I Can Dream.
How great Thou number 2
Memories. number 3.
helen macdonald, St.Sauveur desMonts, Quebec Canada
"The Smiths built half their catalogue around it". A bit keen Bob and I think you know it ;o)
Christophe Gregoire, London, England
Elvis was unique. He could sing anything and make you believe it. His talent, charisma, and performing skills are legend. There will never be another like him.
The list of songs is a good one but I could produce an equally good one made up of totally different tracks.
Of course, his looks were something to die for and this was the icing on the cake. Elvis had it all.
R.I.P. Elvis.
Brian Quinn, Caddington (Luton), United Kingdom
How lucky we were, Elvis and Roy came along just when we needed them. After all these years Elvis' 'Solitaire' still gets to me. Surely his voice at its best..
Pat Hodgson, coventry, England
Just look at these songs! One could choose countless others just as good.
What a star that still shines so strongly, towering above any artist before or since.
Chris Fox-Geen, Reading, UK