Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Hymie
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #72 is "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" from 1956. The song was written and originally done by Lloyd Price in 1952. It was the number one R&B single of that year, topping the Billboard R&B chart for 7 weeks in a 26 week run on what then was just a top 10-15 list every week.


Lloyd was barely 19 years old when he recorded the song, which features Fats Domino on piano. Price's song has also been identified as "one of the first rhythm and blues records to attract the attention of white Southern teenagers, among them Elvis Presley, who cut his own version four years later" and "becom[ing] a repertoire staple of local country bands".

Elvis' version is done at a faster tempo than the original by Price. It was recorded Feb 3, 1956, and features Elvis, Bill, Scotty, and D.J. along with Shorty Long on piano. It was released as a single which did not make the charts, and in 1959 it was included on the album "For LP Fans Only."

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Next up is song #71. It's another 1950s B side, except this time it's an uptempo song that was on the flip side of a huge hit ballad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwPkh62NBVg
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #71 is "I Beg Of You" from very late 1957. It was on the flip side of "Don't," which was a number one single in 1958. "I Beg Of You" reached #8 on the Billboard Top 100. The song was written by Rose Marie McCoy and Kelly Owens. McCoy was an accomplished songwriter who wrote such hits as "Don't Be Angry," "Trying To Get To You" and "It's Gonna Work Out Fine." She also wrote, and is the second voice on Big Maybelle's hit "Gabbin' Blues." She was also a beautiful woman, as you can see below.

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Elvis recorded this song in February of 1957, with his usual group of guys, and Dudley Brooks on piano.

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RANK-BALLOTS-POINTS-TITLE-YEAR
071 - 08-210 - I Beg of You - 1957
072 - 05-205 - Lawdy Miss Clawdy - 1956
073 - 05-202 - That's When Your Heartaches Begin - 1957
074 - 04-198 - Anyway You Want Me - 1956
075 - 07-197 - Such A Night - 1960
076 - 07-195 - Reconsider Baby - 1960
077 - 04-183 - Fame And Fortune - 1960
078 - 06-180 - Guitar Man - 1967
079 - 05-178 - Suspicion - 1962
080 - 05-173 - Promised Land - 1974
081 - 05-172 - Mean Woman Blues - 1957
082 - 04-172 - Indescribably Blue - 1967
083 - 05-170 - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) - 1956
084 - 03-168 - Harbor Lights - 1954
085 - 05-159 - Playing For Keeps - 1957
086 - 06-158 - I Got A Woman - 1956
087 - 09-156 - Wear My Ring Around Your Neck - 1958
088 - 04-154 - You'll Think of Me - 1969
089 - 08-153 - I Got Stung - 1958
090 - 06-153 - Loving You - 1957
091 - 04-152 - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - 1970
092 - 04-148 - Wooden Heart - 1960
093 - 05-147 - Moody Blue - 1976
094 - 03-135 - Rubberneckin'- 1969
095 - 04-133 - Tomorrow Is A Long Time - 1966
096 - 04-127 - Like A Baby - 1960
097 - 03-124 - I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’) - 1956
098 - 03-123 - I Just Can't Help Believin'- 1970
099 - 03-120 - Long Black Limousine - 1969
100 - 03-119 - Inherit the Wind - 1969
101 - 03-119 - Follow That Dream - 1962
102 - 02-119 - It Hurts Me - 1964
103 - 04-116 - Wearin' That Loved On Look - 1969
104 - 04-115 - She's Not You - 1962
105 - 03-114 - One Night (of Sin) - 1957
106 - 03-106 - Any Day Now - 1969
107 - 03-105 - Big Boss Man - 1967
108 - 03-102 - I'll Be Home For Christmas - 1957
109 - 02-101 - We Can Make the Morning - 1972
====================================================


Song #70 is up, as Elvis does his 1956 version of another monster hit from a few years prior.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-4KROtI1yM
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #70 is "Money Honey," from the "Elvis Presley" album in 1956. It also charted on the singles chart as an EP and later was issued as a single. The original version of the song was of course from Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters in 1953, one of the biggest R&B chart hits of the decade. This studio version of "Money Honey" by Elvis isn't bad, but I much prefer the live version he did on the Dorsey Brothers Stage Show in early 1956.


The song was written by Jesse Stone aka Charles Calhoun. Floyd Cramer (piano) and Chet Atkins (guitar) joined Elvis' regular crew on the session in January 1956.

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Next up at #69 is the first of the 10 songs that were released on the Sun label to make the countdown. Ironically this one was the biggest national hit that Elvis had on the Sun label, yet it is the lowest ranked of those 10 songs on this countdown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqnEeS7bBRU
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Song #69 is "I Forgot To Remember To Forget" from 1955. This record was a huge country chart hit. It was number one for 5 weeks and was on the chart for 9 months, although the flip side "Mystery Train," has become the much better known record over the years. The song was written by Stan Kesler and Charlie Feathers. The Elvis version was recorded at the Sun Studios in Memphis on July 11, 1955, and was released August 20, 1955. The people on the record were Elvis, Scotty Moore, Bill Black, and Johnny Bernero on drums.

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Song #68 is next, and we jump to 1977 with the record that was Elvis's current hit on the charts at the time of his death:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy16VUmzj-g
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #68 is "Way Down" from 1977. Pretty sure that the last time I heard this was 40+ years ago when it was current. The single reached #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was also on the "Moody Blue" album. The song was written by Layng Martine, Jr. and was later done by Status Quo and Cliffhanger. Presley recorded the song at his home studio in Graceland on 29 October 1976.

"Way Down" reached No. 1 on the American Country chart the week he died. Overseas, the song hit the number one in the UK Singles Chart week ending 3 September for five weeks, just over seven years after his previous 16th UK number one single, "The Wonder of You", in August 1970. The recording also featured J.D. Sumner singing the words "way on down" at the end of each chorus down to the note low C (C2). At the end of the song, this phrase is octaved, reaching a double low C (C1, three octaves below middle C).

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Song #67 is up now. The song was written by Jack Sallee:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht5y1IuZIY8
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #67 is "You're A Heartbreaker," which was the flip side of "Milkcow Blues Boogie," the third single issued by Sun. Released in 1955, it was the poorest selling of the 5 Sun singles, and consequently, the hardest to find an original copy of. It was recorded in either November or December of 1954, and features just Elvis, Scotty and Bill. There are no drums.

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Song #66 is next, and once again Elvis reached back and recorded a song that was a hit during the days before he was yet famous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eZdk4-V32k
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Song #66 is "I Feel So Bad" from 1961. The song was written by Chuck Willis, who had a hit single with it in the summer of 1954. In fact, when Elvis was recording his first Sun single in early July 1954 the Chuck Willis single would enter the Billboard National R&B chart later in that same week. The Elvis version is a very faithful remake of the Chuck Willis record.


Elvis' version reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. It did not appear on an album until "Elvis Golden Records Vol. 3" in 1963.

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Song #65 is next. It's first track to appear on the countdown from EP's second album "Elvis" in 1956.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR8auJHdex8
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #65 is "Paralyzed from the "Elvis" album in 1956. The song was popular enough to make the Billboard Singles chart from an EP, as it was not issued on a single in the USA. The song was written by Otis Blackwell, with Elvis receiving partial song-writing credit. In the UK, "Paralyzed" reached no. 8 after its release in August, 1957 in a 10-week chart run as an HMV single, 45-POP 378, backed with "When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again."

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Song #64 is next. It's another 1950s album track. This one was #8 on my ballot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDOLq6L_Q9g
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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At #64 we heard "Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do" from the "Loving You" soundtrack album in 1957. It was not on a single in the USA so it did not make the charts, but it was available on a popular EP that also had "Mean Woman Blues" on it. In the UK it was on a single with "Party" on the flip side. "Party" was a huge hit, reaching #2, but "Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do" charted at #17 in its own right.

The song was written by Aaron Schroeder and Ben Weisman. The latter, a songwriter from New York, came (according to the book Elvis Day by Day, „presumably in hopes of seeing that his song, "Got a Lot O' Livin' to Do," [would] be included in the soundtrack“) to the recording studio in Hollywood where Presley was working on the songs for the movie. Elvis Presley later recalled:

I looked at him, smiled, asked his name, and why he was in the studio. He said he was Ben Weisman, and he had composed the song "Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do". I hollered at the guys to come out and we started playing the song. After that day, Ben and I became really good friends and he would wind up writing fifty-seven songs for me. Funny how chance meetings end up! No other songwriter wrote as many songs for Presley as Ben Weisman did.

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Song #63 is next. Elvis sings about a place that became his second home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4svP_r34F0
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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The #63 song on the countdown is the movie song "Viva Las Vegas" from 1964. The single seemed like a bigger hit than it actually was, as it only reached #29 on the Billboard Hot 100. The B side "What'd I Say" was a bigger hit, peaking at #21. The song was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman.

In the years since its first release, the song has become one of Presley's most recognized numbers. In the 1990s and 2000s, the song appeared in countless movies and TV sitcoms, either as a reference to the city of Las Vegas, or simply as an expression of joy or bewilderment in related comedic situations.

In 2002, the city of Las Vegas requested Elvis Presley Enterprises, the company that handles a portion of Elvis's legacy and all Elvis-related music rights, to allow it to be the official song of the city. Negotiations stalled over the price requested by EPE, notwithstanding that EPE had not controlled the copyright to the song since 1993, at which time it became the property of the families of the songwriters Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. Since EPE no longer owns the copyright to the song, it essentially means that EPE does not have the authority or right to negotiate the use of the song "Viva Las Vegas" within the United States, its territories and possessions, although EPE may be able to negotiate the use of the actual Elvis recording of the song.

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Coming up now is song #62, and again it's the B side of a big hit single from the 1950s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0WV3eQgfQ0
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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The #62 song is "I Need Your Love Tonight" from 1959. It was on the B side of (Now And Then There's) A Fool Such As I, but was almost as big of a national hit. It reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the A side reached #2. The first time that "I Need Your Love Tonight" was on an album was on "50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong - Elvis' Gold Records Vol. 2" in 1960. The song was written by Sid Wayne and Bix Reichner. It was published by Elvis Presley's company Gladys Music, Inc.

Elvis Presley recorded the song on June 10, 1958, in RCA Studios, Nashville, Tennessee. It was the second of several single releases recorded at a final session conducted just prior to Presley leaving the US for Germany to serve in the United States Army. He would not return to a recording studio until the spring of 1960.

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Song #61 is next, and we stay in the 1950s for another Leiber-Stoller movie song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62op8Vd_YDU
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #61 is "Trouble" from the "King Creole" soundtrack album in 1958. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The song uses the same "stop-time" riff as Muddy Waters' 1954 song "Hoochie Coochie Man" written by Willie Dixon. This particular riff is one of the most recognizable lick in blues, and is also heard in Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man" (1955) and Muddy Waters' "Mannish Boy" (1955). Indeed, the key feature of the song is the use of stop time, or pauses in the music, during the first half of the progression. This musical device is commonly heard in New Orleans jazz, when the instrumentation briefly stops, allowing for a short instrumental solo before resuming.

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RANK-BALLOTS-POINTS-TITLE-YEAR
061 - 07-286 - Trouble - 1958
062 - 10-280 - I Need Your Love Tonight - 1959
063 - 06-276 - Viva Las Vegas - 1964
064 - 09-268 - Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do - 1957
065 - 09-266 - Paralyzed - 1956
066 - 10-259 - I Feel So Bad - 1961
067 - 06-230 - You're A Heartbreaker - 1955
068 - 06-225 - Way Down - 1977
069 - 06-216 - I Forgot To Remember To Forget - 1955
070 - 06-213 - Money Honey - 1956
071 - 08-210 - I Beg of You - 1957
072 - 05-205 - Lawdy Miss Clawdy - 1956
073 - 05-202 - That's When Your Heartaches Begin - 1957
074 - 04-198 - Anyway You Want Me - 1956
075 - 07-197 - Such A Night - 1960
076 - 07-195 - Reconsider Baby - 1960
077 - 04-183 - Fame And Fortune - 1960
078 - 06-180 - Guitar Man - 1967
079 - 05-178 - Suspicion - 1962
080 - 05-173 - Promised Land - 1974
081 - 05-172 - Mean Woman Blues - 1957
082 - 04-172 - Indescribably Blue - 1967
083 - 05-170 - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) - 1956
084 - 03-168 - Harbor Lights - 1954
085 - 05-159 - Playing For Keeps - 1957
086 - 06-158 - I Got A Woman - 1956
087 - 09-156 - Wear My Ring Around Your Neck - 1958
088 - 04-154 - You'll Think of Me - 1969
089 - 08-153 - I Got Stung - 1958
090 - 06-153 - Loving You - 1957
091 - 04-152 - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - 1970
092 - 04-148 - Wooden Heart - 1960
093 - 05-147 - Moody Blue - 1976
094 - 03-135 - Rubberneckin'- 1969
095 - 04-133 - Tomorrow Is A Long Time - 1966
096 - 04-127 - Like A Baby - 1960
097 - 03-124 - I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’) - 1956
098 - 03-123 - I Just Can't Help Believin'- 1970
099 - 03-120 - Long Black Limousine - 1969
100 - 03-119 - Inherit the Wind - 1969
101 - 03-119 - Follow That Dream - 1962
102 - 02-119 - It Hurts Me - 1964
103 - 04-116 - Wearin' That Loved On Look - 1969
104 - 04-115 - She's Not You - 1962
105 - 03-114 - One Night (of Sin) - 1957
106 - 03-106 - Any Day Now - 1969
107 - 03-105 - Big Boss Man - 1967
108 - 03-102 - I'll Be Home For Christmas - 1957
109 - 02-101 - We Can Make the Morning - 1972
====================================================


Song #60 is next. It's the only one of Elvis' many gospel songs to make the list:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMD8d7oUjxw
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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The #60 song on the countdown is "(There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me)" from 1957. Incredibly this song reached #25 on the Billboard Top 100 Singles chart while not being available as a single. It was the title track of an EP. The usual crew (Scotty, Bill, DJ and the Jordanaires) backed Elvis on this one when it was recorded in January 1957. No piano player was hired for the session, so Gordon Stoker of the Jordanaires ended up playing piano on the record.

The song was written by Thomas A. Dorsey, originally for Mahalia Jackson. The song became a hit in 1951 for Red Foley and the Sunshine Boys, reaching number seven on the Country & Western Best Seller chart. It was among the first gospel recordings to sell one million copies. Foley's version was a 2006 entry into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry.


Elvis performed the song live on the Ed Sullivan Show in January 1957. Before an audience estimated at 53 million viewers, Presley closed the show by dedicating the song to the 250,000 refugees fleeing Hungary after the 24 and 31 October 1956 double-invasion of that country by the Soviet Union. Because he also requested that immediate aid be sent to lessen their plight, the appeal in turn yielded contributions amounting to US$6 million, or the equivalent of US$49.5 million in today's dollars. Over the next 11 months, the International Red Cross in Geneva, with the help of the US Air Force, organized the distribution of both perishables and non-perishables purchased with the above-mentioned funds (Swiss Francs 26.2 million, at the then 4.31 CHFR-US$ exchange) to the refugees in both Austria and England where they settled for life. On October 15, 1957, Presley's first Christmas album, containing a master studio recording of the song, was released, topping the Billboard Charts for 4 weeks and selling in excess of three million copies, as certified by the RIAA on 15 July of 1999. Because of these extraordinary developments, István Tarlós, the Mayor of the city of Budapest, in 2011 and as a gesture of belated gratitude, named a park after him, as well as making him an honorary citizen.

The first recorded version of "Peace In The Valley" came from the Flying Clouds of Detroit in 1946.


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Song #59 is up now. It's from 1972.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfseABMnwTc
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Song #59 is "An American Trilogy" from 1972. This was a 3 song medley (Dixie / Battle Hymn of the Republic / All My Trials) that reached #66 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It came from the "Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden" album. This medley was arranged and originally recorded by country composer Mickey Newbury in 1971. Elvis heard Newbury's record and started to include the medley in his live shows in January of 1972.


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Up next as song #58 is ANOTHER 1950s Leiber and Stoller movie song!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOc8-crqh0g
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Song #58 is "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care" from 1957. This song is from "Jailhouse Rock" and was written by Leiber and Stoller. It was not issued on a single, but was on the "Jailhouse Rock" EP which was a HUGE seller. There was no "Jailhouse Rock" album, as there were only 5 songs in the movie so RCA just issued the EP with all 5 songs. The song did not make the pop chart, but it did get on the Billboard R&B Disc Jockey chart at #14 for one week in January 1958.

Billboard used to have an EP chart and the "Jailhouse Rock" EP was number one on their EP chart for 28 weeks, and on the chart for a total of 50 weeks. Believe it or not Elvis had another EP that was even bigger on the Billboard EP chart. We'll get to that one later on in the countdown.

The bass intro on "Baby I Don't Care" was played by Elvis himself on a Fender electric bass, which was a pretty new thing at that time. Bill Black was having trouble getting the hang of the new instrument when he tried to make the switch from the upright bass to the electric bass. Elvis grabbed the electric from Black and tried his hand and was able to play the intro.

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Song #57 is next. It was written by the guy in the picture below:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuhzAixFydo
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Song #57 is "Hard Headed Woman" from 1958. This was a number one single, and was also on the "KIng Creole" soundtrack album. It is an American 12-bar blues written by African American songwriter Claude Demetrius. Demetrius was born in Bath, Maine, United States. By his early twenties he was in New York City writing music for and/or with Louis Armstrong. Demetrius wrote the 1945 musical comedy short film Open the Door, Richard. During the 1940s, he was closely associated with Louis Jordan. He wrote songs with Jordan that included material for the 1946 Black musical film Beware in which Jordan had the starring role. Some of Demetrius' best-known compositions from that era were co-written with Jordan's wife, Fleecie Moore, including the song "Ain't That Just Like a Woman (They'll Do It Every Time)."

For two decades, Claude Demetrius made a reasonably good living but in 1956 his income would change dramatically after he began writing for Gladys Music, Inc.. Newly formed by Jean and Julian Aberbach, the company owned the exclusive publishing rights to the music of Elvis Presley. Working for Gladys Music, Demetrius co-wrote a song called "I Was The One" that was the B-side to Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel." In 1957 he composed "Mean Woman Blues" for Presley's 1957 motion picture soundtrack, Loving You that was released on the record album of the same name as well as on Side 2 of a four-song EP record.

The songs on "King Creole" were the first Elvis records that featured horns. There was a clarinet, a trumpet, a saxophone, a trombone, and even a tuba used on various songs from the movie.

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Song #56 is next. It's from 1957:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqVMfTz_HDU
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Lo and behold, Leiber and Stoller did it again! They wrote the #56 song, "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" which was on the "Elvis Christmas Album" in 1957. They don't seem to get much credit for providing so many quality songs for Elvis in these days.

"Santa Claus Is Back in Town" was paired with "Santa, Bring My Baby Back to Me" and was issued as a UK single concurrently with the album's release in 1957. The single reached #7 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1957. "Santa Claus Is Back in Town" backed with "Blue Christmas" was released by RCA Victor as a 45 single in 1965 in the US, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Christmas Singles chart.

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Song #55 is next. It is a standard shuffle in E major.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhTkiZOI2sE
Last edited by Hymie on Tue Aug 13, 2019 8:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Song #55 is "Ain't That Loving You Baby" from 1964. This one was recorded way back in 1958 but not released until 1964, which probably has a lot to do with why it's my favorite Elvis track from the 60s. It reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100, flip side of the very wimpy "Ask Me."

The song was written by Clyde Otis and Ivory Joe Hunter and was originally recorded by Eddie Riff in 1956. The Eddie Riff version came out on an obscure label called Dover.


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Song #54 is next. It's another track from the "Elvis" album in 1956.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTRD0gpXJ68
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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We just heard song #54, "When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again" from 1956. This one was listed on 10 ballots in the voting. It made the Billboard Singles chart from a very popular EP where 3 of the 4 songs on the EP were chart hits. It reached #27 on the Top 100 and got to #19 on the Disc Jockey chart.

The song was written by Wiley Walker and Gene Sullivan in 1940. They first recorded it in 1941.


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Up now is song #53. The song was written by Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0gx4kPDW0w
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Song #53 is "Good Luck Charm," a number one record from 1962. It's the first record to show up on the countdown that was listed on 12 of the ballots in the voting. The first LP appearance for the song was on the album "Elvis Golden Records, Volume 3," released in September, 1963.

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Song #52 is next. It's one of my favorite RCA tracks by Elvis, and it was #11 on my ballot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQvco4pFtDU
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Song #52 is "One Sided Love Affair" from the "Elvis Presley" album in 1956. Later it was issued as a single on the flip side of "Money Honey." The song was written by Bill Campbell. When Elvis came into the studio early in 1956 to record his first album, RCA A & R man Steve Sholes had picked out 6 songs for Elvis to potentially record for the album. "One Sided Love Affair" was the only one of the 6 that Elvis liked and recorded. In a March 24, 1956 interview the song was cited by Presley as his favorite from the album. Below is a scan of a 78 from Pakistan.

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Song #51 is next. It's also from the "Elvis Presley" album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULLG80Rup1g
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Song #51 is "Just Because," from the "Elvis Presley" album in 1956. It was later issued on a single backed with "Blue Moon." Elvis recorded this one in the Sun Studios in September 1954. For me it fits right in with the Sun stuff and it and it was #16 on my ballot.

The song was written by Joe Shelton, Sydney Robin and Bob Shelton and originally recorded by Nelstone's Hawaiians (Hubert Nelson and James D. Touchstone) in 1929 and later recorded by The Shelton Brothers in 1933. Some sources say that Sydney Robin wrote the song alone and the Sheltons added their name when they recorded it.


We are now halfway through the top 100. Next up is #50. Another one from the "Elvis" album in 1956.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oyY--ZL7Sg
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Song #50 is "So Glad You're Mine" from the "Elvis" album 1956. This was the third of 3 Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup songs that Elvis recorded. All 3 are excellent IMO, although this is the only one of the 3 where I like the Elvis version better than the original Crudup version. Here's the Crudup version, from 1946:


Shorty Long plays piano on the Elvis track, just as he did on "One Sided Love Affair."

SHORTY LONG (by Colin Kilgour)

Born Emidio Vagnoni 31 October 1923, Reading , Pennsylvania
Died 25 October 1991, Reading , Pennsylvania (aged 67)

Country musician, songwriter, Broadway performer. His varied career spanned more than 50 years. Who plays the fabulous piano on Elvis' "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" and "One-Sided Love Affair"? Shorty Long that's who ………… (not to be confused with the Motown artist of the same name). Shorty played a lengthy but single stint on Broadway as Herman in the original production of Frank Loesser’s musical The Most Happy Fella (1956). Long was mainly known as a multi talented singer-instrumentalist who specialised in hillbilly music and featured on the recordings of several artists

Elvis Presley's second RCA studio session was the first held in New York City , across January 30/31 + Feb. 3, 1956. Hoping to get a fuller sound, RCA Producer Steve Sholes knew and hired boogie-woogie piano player Long.

Of the Presley songs on which Shorty is listed as 'piano' for the above sessions, his input varied from prominent to barely noticeable. He is audible to great effect on the first several of this batch and less so as the list descends.

One-Sided Love Affair
Lawdy Miss Clawdy
So Glad You're mine
I'm Gonna sit Right Down And Cry (Over You)
Shake, Rattle and Roll (Shorty's solo was cut out)
Any Way You Want Me
Don't Be Cruel
Blue Suede Shoes
My Baby Left Me
Tutti Frutti

As well as on the Elvis sessions, Shorty played piano on Janis Martin’s 1956 rockabilly hit “My Boy Elvis” + on her "Barefoot Baby". He was also a songwriter, most often with Bickley (Bix) Reichner. Their best-known collaboration for rock followers is surely The Crickets' "Rock Me My Baby"

By the way, does anybody know what that strange squealing sound is that is on the Elvis record "So Glad You're Mine" at 1:09? It sounds like a single trumpet note, but there were no horns on that session.

RESULTS SO FAR

RANK-BALLOTS-POINTS-TITLE-YEAR
050 - 10-407 - So Glad You're Mine - 1956
051 - 10-405 - Just Because - 1956
052 - 09-373 - One Sided Love Affair - 1956
053 - 12-370 - Good Luck Charm - 1962
054 - 10-368 - When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again - 1956
055 - 09-352 - Ain't That Loving You Baby - 1964
056 - 09-346 - Santa Claus is Back in Town - 1957
057 - 11-339 - Hard Headed Woman - 1958
058 - 11-332 - (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care - 1957
059 - 10-330 - An American Trilogy - 1972
060 - 09-307 - (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me) - 1957
061 - 07-286 - Trouble - 1958
062 - 10-280 - I Need Your Love Tonight - 1959
063 - 06-276 - Viva Las Vegas - 1964
064 - 09-268 - Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do - 1957
065 - 09-266 - Paralyzed - 1956
066 - 10-259 - I Feel So Bad - 1961
067 - 06-230 - You're A Heartbreaker - 1955
068 - 06-225 - Way Down - 1977
069 - 06-216 - I Forgot To Remember To Forget - 1955
070 - 06-213 - Money Honey - 1956
071 - 08-210 - I Beg of You - 1957
072 - 05-205 - Lawdy Miss Clawdy - 1956
073 - 05-202 - That's When Your Heartaches Begin - 1957
074 - 04-198 - Anyway You Want Me - 1956
075 - 07-197 - Such A Night - 1960
076 - 07-195 - Reconsider Baby - 1960
077 - 04-183 - Fame And Fortune - 1960
078 - 06-180 - Guitar Man - 1967
079 - 05-178 - Suspicion - 1962
080 - 05-173 - Promised Land - 1974
081 - 05-172 - Mean Woman Blues - 1957
082 - 04-172 - Indescribably Blue - 1967
083 - 05-170 - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) - 1956
084 - 03-168 - Harbor Lights - 1954
085 - 05-159 - Playing For Keeps - 1957
086 - 06-158 - I Got A Woman - 1956
087 - 09-156 - Wear My Ring Around Your Neck - 1958
088 - 04-154 - You'll Think of Me - 1969
089 - 08-153 - I Got Stung - 1958
090 - 06-153 - Loving You - 1957
091 - 04-152 - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - 1970
092 - 04-148 - Wooden Heart - 1960
093 - 05-147 - Moody Blue - 1976
094 - 03-135 - Rubberneckin'- 1969
095 - 04-133 - Tomorrow Is A Long Time - 1966
096 - 04-127 - Like A Baby - 1960
097 - 03-124 - I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’) - 1956
098 - 03-123 - I Just Can't Help Believin'- 1970
099 - 03-120 - Long Black Limousine - 1969
100 - 03-119 - Inherit the Wind - 1969
101 - 03-119 - Follow That Dream - 1962
102 - 02-119 - It Hurts Me - 1964
103 - 04-116 - Wearin' That Loved On Look - 1969
104 - 04-115 - She's Not You - 1962
105 - 03-114 - One Night (of Sin) - 1957
106 - 03-106 - Any Day Now - 1969
107 - 03-105 - Big Boss Man - 1967
108 - 03-102 - I'll Be Home For Christmas - 1957
109 - 02-101 - We Can Make the Morning - 1972
====================================================


Song #49 is next. This one was #3 on my ballot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGaXbRqZOAs
Hymie
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #49 is "I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine" from 1954. It was the flip side of "Good Rockin' Tonight," the second release from Elvis on the Sun label. It also made the Billboard pop chart in 1956 when it was reissued on RCA. The song was written by Mack David, who was the older brother of Hal David. Believe it or not the original version of the song was done by Tony Martin in 1949.


Elvis, Scotty and Bill took a traditional pop song and made it into something entirely different.

Image


Next up is song #48.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3Bj9fQkvGo
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Song #48 is "Surrender" from 1961. It was a #1 record in the USA and a monster worldwide hit with sales of over 5 million copies. It was not available on an album until appeared on "Elvis Golden Records Volume 3" in 1963. The song is an adaptation by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman of the music of a 1902 Neapolitan ballad by Giambattista and Ernesto de Curtis entitled "Torna a Surriento" ("Come Back to Sorrento"). Below is Caruso's version:


Personnel on Presley's record:

Elvis Presley - vocals
The Jordanaires - backing vocals
Scotty Moore - electric guitar
Hank Garland - acoustic guitar
Bob Moore - double bass
D.J. Fontana - drums
Buddy Harman - percussion
Floyd Cramer - piano
Boots Randolph - saxophone

Image


Song #47 is next. It was the B side of another huge hit single:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJgQF_Xaxhk
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Hymie wrote: Thu Aug 15, 2019 1:01 pm Below is Caruso's version:

Apparently it's not Caruso.

Unfortunately Caruso never recorded Torna a Surriento. This is Beniamino Gigli singing quite beautifully.
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

We just heard song #47, "A Mess of Blues" from 1960. The song was written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman. This was the flip side of "It's Now Or Never" on a single. It reached #32 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK it was issued as a single a few months before "It's Now Or Never," backed with "The Girl of My Best Friend," and that two-sider reached #2 on the British charts. It was not issued on an album until it was included on "Elvis Golden Records Volume 4" in 1968. "A Mess of Blues" was named on 12 ballots in the voting.

Image


Song #46 is up. Elvis revives a song from a couple of years earlier that had been a stiff by the original act who recorded it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTMm4NEQc1Q
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #46 is "Love Me" from the "Elvis" album in 1956. "Love Me" was not released as a single to avoid confusion with Presley’s "Love Me Tender,' but was so popular as the lead song on an EP that it became the only song ever to make the top 10 on the Billboard Singles chart from an EP. It reached #6 on the Top 100, and got to #2 on the DJ chart. The song was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and was originally recorded by Willie & Ruth for Leiber and Stoller's Spark label.


Willie Headen was the lead singer of a vocal group, the Honey Bears, and Ruth was the wife of another group member. That record was quickly followed the same year with cover versions by Georgia Gibbs, Connie Russell, Billy Eckstine, Kay Brown, the Four Escorts, the Billy Williams Quartet, the Woodside Sisters and the DeMarco Sisters, and in January 1955 by Jimmie Rodgers Snow. Most of these records were well reviewed in the trades, but none was a hit.

As you can hear, the original version is not even in the same galaxy as the Presley hit. From the notes in "The Complete 50s Masters:"

For this session Sholes had expressly solicited two new songs, one by Leiber and Stoller one by Leiber and Stoller to follow up on the success of "Hound Dog," and the other by Otis Blackwell (Paralyzed). Leiber and Stoller did not take their assignment all that seriously--they merely provided and old song that they characterized at one time as "a spoof almost of country and western style--what Homer and Jethro might have done to a legitimate lyric." But Elvis took "Love Me" very seriously, and Jerry and Mike would later describe "Love Me" as one of their favorite Elvis recordings.

Image


The Billboard EP chart did not start until October 1957, almost a year after this EP was released, but it was so popular that it still made #1 on that chart and was on the chart for 30 weeks. I would think that it must have been the best selling EP of all time.

Next up is song #45, and we head back to the Sun Studios for this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NitMDZCq0mQ
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Song #45 is "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" from 1955. This was released on a Sun single as the flip side of "Baby, Let's Play House." Two great sides, but I prefer this one. In fact, this was my favorite Elvis record for about 20 years and it was #2 on my ballot. The song was written by Stan Kesler & William Taylor. This was recorded on March 5, 1955, and was the first Elvis recording that had drums on it. The drums were played by Jimmie Lott, who I don't think ever recorded with Elvis after this. An earlier take on the song that day was done at a much slower pace and without the drums.


Here's a very early picture of Elvis, Scotty and Bill in the Sun Studios:

Image


Song #44 is next. It's 1970 and Elvis reaches back 10 years or so to revive a long forgotten hit and make it his own song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVzueXIXy3I
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #44 is "The Wonder of You" from 1970. The single reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it got to #1 in the UK. It was a live track from the "On Stage - February 1970" album. The song was written by Baker Knight and it was a top 25 hit in the USA by Ray Peterson in 1959. His version is very lame IMO.


Supposedly the original version of the song was recorded by Vince Everett in 1958, but has never been released. There was a brutal British cover done by Ronnie Hilton. Baker Knight also wrote "Lonesome Town" for Ricky Nelson.

Image


Song #43 is next, and once again Elvis revives a hit record from the past. This one was listed on 17 ballots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-unOfZiTM_0
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

We just heard song #43 (Now And Then There's) A Fool Such As I" from 1959. The single reached #2 in the USA and #1 in the UK. The song was written by Bill Trader. It was originally done by Hank Snow in 1952 and was a big country chart hit. Many other acts did versions of the song back then, including the Robins who were involved then with Leiber and Stoller. Here's the Hank Snow hit:


Elvis recorded his version in June 1958 while on leave from the army. Other than the songs done for the "Love Me Tender" soundtrack this was his first session without the familiar backup men Scotty Moore and Bill Black, and it was also his last session of the 1950s. Chet Atkins, Bob Moore, Floyd Cramer and Hank Garland were among the musicians who played on the session. DJ Fontana WAS there on the drums and the Jordanaires were there too.

Image


Song #42 is next, and this one also came from a monster hit EP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA_zS6-dO7Q
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Okay, song #42 is "King Creole," from the movie of the same name. The song is based on King Creole, a Cajun guitar player from New Orleans who is proficient in all different styles of rock and roll. This was another Leiber-Stoller song. Elvis really took to those guys when they met. They were just like 2 years older than him, and they, like Elvis, were very hip to R&B music. For a couple of years he insisted on having them there when he had a recording session. At times they were like associate producers on his records.

Image


"King Creole" was a #2 single in the UK, but here at home it was not on a single. Instead it was the lead track on the "King Creole Vol 1" EP, which was #1 on the Billboard EP charts for an astounding 30 weeks during a 55 week run on that chart.

Image


Song #41 is up, and it's another Sun recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTXSa6geGHY
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

The #41 song is "Trying To Get To You" from the "Elvis Presley" album in 1956. This was recorded in the July 11, 1955 session at the Sun Studios. The same session that produced both sides of EP's final Sun single. The song was written by Rose Marie McCoy and Charles Singleton, and was originally recorded by an R&B vocal group called the Eagles in 1954.


Elvis did a fabulous live version of this song on his 1969 TV special, and he actually could play the guitar pretty damn well as you can see here.


RANK-BALLOTS-POINTS-TITLE-YEAR
041 - 11-470 - Trying To Get To You - 1956
042 - 14-468 - King Creole - 1958
043 - 17-460 - (Now And Then There's) A Fool Such As I - 1959
044 - 10-444 - The Wonder Of You - 1970
045 - 09-440 - I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone - 1955
046 - 10-438 - Love Me - 1956
047 - 12-431 - A Mess of Blues - 1960
048 - 11-421 - Surrender - 1961
049 - 08-411 - I Don't Care if The Sun Don't Shine - 1954
050 - 10-407 - So Glad You're Mine - 1956
051 - 10-405 - Just Because - 1956
052 - 09-373 - One Sided Love Affair - 1956
053 - 12-370 - Good Luck Charm - 1962
054 - 10-368 - When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again - 1956
055 - 09-352 - Ain't That Loving You Baby - 1964
056 - 09-346 - Santa Claus is Back in Town - 1957
057 - 11-339 - Hard Headed Woman - 1958
058 - 11-332 - (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care - 1957
059 - 10-330 - An American Trilogy - 1972
060 - 09-307 - (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me) - 1957
061 - 07-286 - Trouble - 1958
062 - 10-280 - I Need Your Love Tonight - 1959
063 - 06-276 - Viva Las Vegas - 1964
064 - 09-268 - Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do - 1957
065 - 09-266 - Paralyzed - 1956
066 - 10-259 - I Feel So Bad - 1961
067 - 06-230 - You're A Heartbreaker - 1955
068 - 06-225 - Way Down - 1977
069 - 06-216 - I Forgot To Remember To Forget - 1955
070 - 06-213 - Money Honey - 1956
071 - 08-210 - I Beg of You - 1957
072 - 05-205 - Lawdy Miss Clawdy - 1956
073 - 05-202 - That's When Your Heartaches Begin - 1957
074 - 04-198 - Anyway You Want Me - 1956
075 - 07-197 - Such A Night - 1960
076 - 07-195 - Reconsider Baby - 1960
077 - 04-183 - Fame And Fortune - 1960
078 - 06-180 - Guitar Man - 1967
079 - 05-178 - Suspicion - 1962
080 - 05-173 - Promised Land - 1974
081 - 05-172 - Mean Woman Blues - 1957
082 - 04-172 - Indescribably Blue - 1967
083 - 05-170 - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) - 1956
084 - 03-168 - Harbor Lights - 1954
085 - 05-159 - Playing For Keeps - 1957
086 - 06-158 - I Got A Woman - 1956
087 - 09-156 - Wear My Ring Around Your Neck - 1958
088 - 04-154 - You'll Think of Me - 1969
089 - 08-153 - I Got Stung - 1958
090 - 06-153 - Loving You - 1957
091 - 04-152 - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - 1970
092 - 04-148 - Wooden Heart - 1960
093 - 05-147 - Moody Blue - 1976
094 - 03-135 - Rubberneckin'- 1969
095 - 04-133 - Tomorrow Is A Long Time - 1966
096 - 04-127 - Like A Baby - 1960
097 - 03-124 - I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’) - 1956
098 - 03-123 - I Just Can't Help Believin'- 1970
099 - 03-120 - Long Black Limousine - 1969
100 - 03-119 - Inherit the Wind - 1969
101 - 03-119 - Follow That Dream - 1962
102 - 02-119 - It Hurts Me - 1964
103 - 04-116 - Wearin' That Loved On Look - 1969
104 - 04-115 - She's Not You - 1962
105 - 03-114 - One Night (of Sin) - 1957
106 - 03-106 - Any Day Now - 1969
107 - 03-105 - Big Boss Man - 1967
108 - 03-102 - I'll Be Home For Christmas - 1957
109 - 02-101 - We Can Make the Morning - 1972
====================================================

Okay, let's break into the top 40 Elvis songs, as we voted them. Here is #40:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqyVe8tfLm0
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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We just heard song #40, "A Big Hunk O' Love" from 1959. This was EP's final #1 song of the 1950s, topping the Billboard chart for 2 weeks exactly 60 years ago from today. The song was written by Aaron Schroeder and Sidney Wyche, under the name Sid Jaxon and published by Elvis Presley's company Gladys Music, Inc. Aaron Schroeder (along with Wally Gold), also wrote "It's Now or Never" and "Good Luck Charm", both of which, like "A Big Hunk o' Love", were originally recorded by American rock and roll icon Elvis Presley. Syd Wyche is best known for writing the jazz standard "Alright, Okay, You Win", whereas Aaron Schroeder co-wrote many hits in the rock`n`roll area, from "Fools Hall of Fame" (Pat Boone) to "Because They're Young" (Duane Eddy). In an interview conducted by Jan-Erik Kjeseth, he also revealed that in fact he worked with his partner Wally Gold in order to improve a song submitted by another writer, and the end result was "It's My Party", a big hit for Lesley Gore.

Personnel

Elvis Presley – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Chet Atkins – rhythm guitar
Hank Garland – lead guitar
Bob Moore – double bass
D.J. Fontana, Buddy Harman – drums
Floyd Cramer – piano
Steve Sholes – producer
Bob Ferris – engineer

Image


Now that we are in the top 40 I am gonna start posting just 3 slots a day for awhile rather than the 4 per day I had been doing. Song #39 is next. We go from the last #1 song from from Elvis in the 1950s to the first #1 song from Elvis in the 1960s:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVqR2PwX428
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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We last heard the #39 song on the countdown, "Stuck On You" from 1960. It was a number one single and was later included on the album "Elvis Golden Records Volume 3" in 1963. The song was written by Aaron Schroeder and J. Leslie McFarland and published by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company.

The single had a special picture sleeve with the RCA Victor logo and catalog number on the top right corner and included, in large letters, "ELVIS" in red on the top right. On the bottom left appeared the statement: "Elvis' 1st new recording for his 50,000,000 fans all over the world." The U.S. picture sleeve had photos of Elvis on the left top corner and the lower right corner.

Image


Song #38 is next.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tlbG2nlceo
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Song #38 is "Milkcow Blues Boogie" from 1955. This was Elvis' third Sun single, the flip side of "You're A Heartbreaker" which was #67 on the countdown. The song was written and originally recorded by Kokomo Arnold in September 1934. In 1935 and 1936, he recorded four sequels designated "Milk Cow Blues No. 2" through No. 5. The song made Arnold a star, and was widely adapted by artists in the blues, Western swing and rock idioms.


The Blue Moon Boys (Elvis, Scotty & Bill) changed the title to "Milkcow Blues Boogie" when they recorded the song in December 1954. Their arrangement was closer to the version by Johnnie Lee Wills from 1941.


Song #37 is up next. It's probably the closest Elvis ever came to making a Doo Wop record.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA6spod8ph8
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #37 is "I Was The One" from early 1956. The nsong was written by Aaron Schroeder, Bill Peppers, Claude Demetrius and Hal Blair. This one did not get the recognition that it deserved early on as it kind of got lost being on the flip side of "Heartbreak Hotel." It did reach #23 on the Billboard Top 100 in its own right, and #19 on their DJ chart. But I never heard it played on oldies stations in the 70s and 80s. It did not make it on to "Elvis Golden Records Volume 1" and was first issued on an album in 1959 on "For LP Fans Only." Below is a scan of a bootleg picture sleeve for the record.

Image


Song #36 is next. Back again with a Leiber and Stoller song that was the flip side of another monster hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeqW6uBctw4
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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We heard song #36, "Treat Me Nice" from 1957. This was the flip side of "Jailhouse Rock" as a single and was also on the "Jailhouse Rock" EP. "Treat Me Nice" reached #27 on the Billboard Top 100 and got to #18 on the Disc Jockey chart. The song was listed on 15 ballots in our voting. It was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The version that was in the movie "Jailhouse Rock" was very different from the one we heard that was issued on a record. It's much more raw sounding. Check it out, in stereo!


Image


After 8 straight songs from 1960 and earlier we now go to 1968 for song #35.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-pP_dCenJA
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Song #35 is "If I Can Dream" from 1968. It was written by Walter Earl Brown and notable for its direct quotations of Martin Luther King, Jr.. Brown was asked to write a song to replace "I'll Be Home for Christmas" as the grand finale on NBC's "Elvis." He wrote "If I Can Dream", and when Presley heard it he proclaimed "I'm never going to sing another song I don't believe in. I'm never going to make another picture I don't believe in." It was recorded by Presley in June 1968, two months after King's assassination.

When Colonel Tom Parker heard the song demonstrated by Earl Brown, he said: "This ain't Elvis' kind of song." Elvis was also there, unbeknownst to him, and he said: "I'd like to try it, man." Earl Brown said that when Elvis recorded the song, Brown saw tears rolling down the cheeks of the three back up singers. One of them whispered to him: "Elvis has never sung with so much emotion before. He means every word."

Image


Song #34 is next, and we're right back in the fifties again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jbLez_LQyI
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #34 is "Don't," another Leiber - Stoller song that was released in the last few days of 1957. It was a big number one hit early in 1958. The song came about because during the filming of "Jailhouse Rock" Elvis had asked Mike Stoller if he and Jerry could come up with a pretty ballad for the next recording session. Over the next weekend they had not only written the song, but had recorded a demo with "Young Jessie" on the lead vocal. Elvis loved the song right off the bat, but Col. Parker was very upset because the song had not been submitted through proper channels. He did not want to let anybody, especially a songwriter, get to Elvis and perhaps influence him about which songs to record. Here are Elvis and the Colonel:

Image


Image


Song #33 is next. This one surprises me by being this high on the list.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFWGQnEtB_M
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Fred »

Should be real fun to put together an 80 minutes disc with personal favorites from these results! (and links!)
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

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Song #33 is "(You're The) Devil In Disguise" from 1963. Good record, but I am really surprised at it ranking above things like "A Big Hunk O' Love" and "A Fool Such As I" as well as many others that have come up already. The song was written by Bill Giant, Bernie Baum and Florence Kaye. It was published by Elvis Presley Music in June 1963. This was the first of the regular RCA singles where the B side (Please Don't Drag That String Around) did not make the charts in it's own right. "Devil In Disguise" though reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1963, when the song was debuted to a British audience on the BBC television show Juke Box Jury, the celebrity guest John Lennon voted the song "a miss" stating on the new song that Elvis Presley was "like Bing Crosby now." The song went on to reach number 1 in the UK for a single week.

Personnel

Elvis Presley – vocals
The Jordanaires – backing vocals
Millie Kirkham - backing vocals
Scotty Moore – rhythm guitar
Grady Martin - lead guitar
Harold Bradley - "tic-tac" bass
Floyd Cramer – piano
Bob Moore – double bass
D. J. Fontana – drums
Buddy Harman - drums
Boots Randolph - shakers

Image


Song #32 is next. This one was produced by Walter Scharf, who used to arrange for Al Jolson and Bing Crosby in the early 1930s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkDbk-egHH4
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

We just heard song #32 "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" from 1957. The song was written by Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe. It wasn't originally intended to be a movie song, but when Hal Willis heard the song he insisted on it being in his production of "Loving You." The single was number one in the US for 7 weeks.

Image


Song #31 is up now. In my opinion this is the most R&B sounding record that Elvis ever made:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPc8XNtlDk4
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #31 is "Too Much" from early 1957. It was written by Bernard Weinman and Lee Rosenberg. The first recording of the song was by Bernard Hardison on Republic Records in 1955.


Another case of Elvis taking an older song and vastly improving upon the prior version of it. Presley's record peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top 100, and was #1 on their sales chart. By the way, the record has no bridge.

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RESULTS SO FAR - This time I have included the songs below the countdown. Every song that was mentioned on 2 or more ballots is listed.

RANK-BALLOTS-POINTS-TITLE-YEAR
031 - 16-579 - Too Much - 1957
032 - 14-564 - (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear - 1957
033 - 16-558 - (You're The) Devil In Disguise - 1963
034 - 15-553 - Don't - 1957
035 - 15-552 - If I Can Dream - 1968
036 - 15-541 - Treat Me Nice - 1957
037 - 12-535 - I Was The One - 1956
038 - 12-503 - Milkcow Blues Boogie - 1955
039 - 13-497 - Stuck On You - 1960
040 - 16-489 - A Big Hunk O' Love - 1959
041 - 11-470 - Trying To Get To You - 1956
042 - 14-468 - King Creole - 1958
043 - 17-460 - (Now And Then There's) A Fool Such As I - 1959
044 - 10-444 - The Wonder Of You - 1970
045 - 09-440 - I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone - 1955
046 - 10-438 - Love Me - 1956
047 - 12-431 - A Mess of Blues - 1960
048 - 11-421 - Surrender - 1961
049 - 08-411 - I Don't Care if The Sun Don't Shine - 1954
050 - 10-407 - So Glad You're Mine - 1956
051 - 10-405 - Just Because - 1956
052 - 09-373 - One Sided Love Affair - 1956
053 - 12-370 - Good Luck Charm - 1962
054 - 10-368 - When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again - 1956
055 - 09-352 - Ain't That Loving You Baby - 1964
056 - 09-346 - Santa Claus is Back in Town - 1957
057 - 11-339 - Hard Headed Woman - 1958
058 - 11-332 - (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care - 1957
059 - 10-330 - An American Trilogy - 1972
060 - 09-307 - (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me) - 1957
061 - 07-286 - Trouble - 1958
062 - 10-280 - I Need Your Love Tonight - 1959
063 - 06-276 - Viva Las Vegas - 1964
064 - 09-268 - Got A Lot O' Livin' To Do - 1957
065 - 09-266 - Paralyzed - 1956
066 - 10-259 - I Feel So Bad - 1961
067 - 06-230 - You're A Heartbreaker - 1955
068 - 06-225 - Way Down - 1977
069 - 06-216 - I Forgot To Remember To Forget - 1955
070 - 06-213 - Money Honey - 1956
071 - 08-210 - I Beg of You - 1957
072 - 05-205 - Lawdy Miss Clawdy - 1956
073 - 05-202 - That's When Your Heartaches Begin - 1957
074 - 04-198 - Anyway You Want Me - 1956
075 - 07-197 - Such A Night - 1960
076 - 07-195 - Reconsider Baby - 1960
077 - 04-183 - Fame And Fortune - 1960
078 - 06-180 - Guitar Man - 1967
079 - 05-178 - Suspicion - 1962
080 - 05-173 - Promised Land - 1974
081 - 05-172 - Mean Woman Blues - 1957
082 - 04-172 - Indescribably Blue - 1967
083 - 05-170 - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) - 1956
084 - 03-168 - Harbor Lights - 1954
085 - 05-159 - Playing For Keeps - 1957
086 - 06-158 - I Got A Woman - 1956
087 - 09-156 - Wear My Ring Around Your Neck - 1958
088 - 04-154 - You'll Think of Me - 1969
089 - 08-153 - I Got Stung - 1958
090 - 06-153 - Loving You - 1957
091 - 04-152 - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - 1970
092 - 04-148 - Wooden Heart - 1960
093 - 05-147 - Moody Blue - 1976
094 - 03-135 - Rubberneckin'- 1969
095 - 04-133 - Tomorrow Is A Long Time - 1966
096 - 04-127 - Like A Baby - 1960
097 - 03-124 - I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’) - 1956
098 - 03-123 - I Just Can't Help Believin'- 1970
099 - 03-120 - Long Black Limousine - 1969
100 - 03-119 - Inherit the Wind - 1969
101 - 03-119 - Follow That Dream - 1962
102 - 02-119 - It Hurts Me - 1964
103 - 04-116 - Wearin' That Loved On Look - 1969
104 - 04-115 - She's Not You - 1962
105 - 03-114 - One Night (of Sin) - 1957
106 - 03-106 - Any Day Now - 1969
107 - 03-105 - Big Boss Man - 1967
108 - 03-102 - I'll Be Home For Christmas - 1957
109 - 02-101 - We Can Make the Morning - 1972
====================================================
110 - 02-98 - Anything That's Part of You
111 - 03-97 - Here Comes Santa Claus
112 - 02-95 - Mama Liked the Roses
113 - 02-92 - Fever
114 - 03-91 - I Want To Be Free
115 - 03-89 - It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'
116 - 03-87 - Hurt
117 - 02-87 - Amazing Grace
118 - 02-85 - Bossa Nova Baby
119 - 02-85 - Crawfish
120 - 02-82 - Rock-A-Hula Baby
121 - 02-81 - We're Gonna Move
122 - 02-79 - I Love You Because
122 - 02-79 - The Girl of My Best Friend
124 - 03-78 - Tomorrow Night
125 - 02-78 - Tiger Man
126 - 02-78 - First In Line
127 - 03-77 - Don't Cry Daddy
128 - 02-76 - Young And Beautiful
129 - 02-76 - I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water
130 - 02-75 - That's Someone You Never Forget
131 - 02-75 - I Will Be Home Again
132 - 02-72 - I'll Hold You in My Heart
133 - 02-71 - Loving Arms
134 - 02-71 - Trying To Get To You (live)
135 - 03-69 - Shake, Rattle And Roll
136 - 02-69 - Shake, Rattle And Roll / Flip, Flop And Fly (Live)
137 - 02-68 - Take My Hand Precious Lord
138 - 02-63 - Memories
139 - 02-59 - Pocketful of Rainbows
140 - 03-58 - Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)
141 - 02-58 - Merry Christmas, Baby
142 - 02-55 - When It Rains It Really Pours
143 - 02-55 - Ready Teddy
144 - 02-52 - I Need You So
145 - 03-50 - It’s Your Baby You Rock It
146 - 02-50 - Girls! Girls! Girls!
147 - 02-49 - U.S. Male
148 - 02-46 - I Gotta Know
149 - 02-45 - Doncha' Think It's Time
150 - 02-41 - The Fool
151 - 02-39 - Only The strong Survive
152 - 02-36 - Power of My Love
153 - 02-35 - I Got a Feelin' in My Body
================================================================


Song #30 is up now. Once again Elvis finds gold in reviving an old hit song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYOUcV7nlN8
Hymie
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #30 is "Crying In The Chapel" from 1965. The song was written by Artie Glenn for his son Darrell, who recorded the original version in 1953.


Darrell Glenn had a big hit with his version in 1953, and there were several other hit versions then too. One from the Orioles, one from Rex Allen, and the biggest pop chart hit version came from June Valli. Even Ella Fitzgerald hit #15 on the pop charts with her version.

On October 31, 1960, Elvis Presley cut a version of the song with plans to put it on his RCA gospel album, His Hand in Mine. Three takes were recorded, but neither Elvis nor The Jordanaires, who provided background vocals, were satisfied. Eventually it was decided to shelve the recordings and move on. On April 6, 1965, "Crying In the Chapel" was issued on RCA's "Gold Standard Series." It became his greatest chart success over a six-year span. The single hit number three on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and topped the Easy Listening chart for seven weeks. It was later included as a bonus track on Presley's 1967 gospel album, "How Great Thou Art." Presley's version also was a huge hit in Great Britain where it spent two non-consecutive weeks at number one.

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Next up is song #29. This one became a much bigger hit many years after its initial release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVopDink4uQ
Hymie
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #29 is "A Little Less Conversation" from 1968. This was written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange and published by Gladys Music, Inc., originally performed in the 1968 film Live a Little, Love a Little. Back then it was essentially a failure, only reaching #69 on the Billboard Hot 100. But a 2002 remix by Junkie XL of a later re-recording of the song by Presley became a worldwide hit, topping the singles charts in nine countries.

The song was not released on an LP until November 1970, when it was included on the RCA Camden budget label LP Almost in Love. There are several different takes that were made of the song in the session on 7 March. The single version used take 16, which was also used for the soundtrack of the film. The version released on the Almost In Love album is take 10, which is 1 second longer in duration.

The musicians on the 7 March recording session included Hal Blaine, drums; Al Casey, guitar; Larry Knechtel, bass; and Don Randi, piano.The vocalists on the 7 March recording session and alternate version were BJ Baker (Betty Jane Baker), Sally Stevens, Bob Tebo, and John Bahler. Many think that The Blossoms sang background vocals on this song but that was listed on the liner notes by mistake. There was one session where alternate versions were recorded using the same vocalists.

Following the song's use in the 2001 film Ocean's Eleven, "A Little Less Conversation" was remixed by Dutch musician Tom Holkenborg, better known as Junkie XL (alternatively JXL). The electronic remix featured Elvis with a lower voice, and added emphasis to the 1968 guitars, horns, and a funk drum beat. Holkenborg is the first artist outside the Presley organization to receive authorization from the Elvis Presley estate to remix an Elvis Presley song (in the 1980s, Elvis' longtime producer Felton Jarvis had overseen remixes of a number of Elvis recordings that saw new backing added to Presley's original vocals, the first of which were released as the album Guitar Man in 1981). The electronic version of the song became a number-one hit in the UK in 2002. The song also became a top 10 hit in upwards of 17 other countries, reaching number-one in 13 of them.

In 2002, the TV special version of "A Little Less Conversation" remixed by Junkie XL was used for Nike's 2002 FIFA World Cup advertising campaign, titled "Secret Tournament". A single, credited to "Elvis vs. JXL", was issued and went on to become a number-one hit in over 20 countries.

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Song #28 is next. I knew this would be on the list, but I am surprised that it finished so high:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGdo-Hpl-NQ
Hymie
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

The #28 song is "Kentucky Rain" from 1970. The song was written by Eddie Rabbitt and Dick Heard, and Ronnie Milsap plays piano on the record. The song was not included on an album until the compilation package "Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits Vol. 1" later in 1970.

I don't remember hearing this one at all despite it getting to #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970 when I was always listening to the radio. I checked the WABC surveys and sure enough, it was hardly played in the NY area. It was only on their survey for 2 weeks. The week of March 3 it was #26. The following week it was #47, and that was it. I'm sure it was a huge top 5 hit in most of the south and midwest, but when I first got a copy of Joel Whitburn's chart book and saw that one, I had no idea what it was. But 16 of our voters had it on their list and it did very well in the voting.

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Song #27 is next. LOOK OUT!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeXnFx7aPOE
Hymie
Running Up That Hill
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

Song #27 is "Blue Suede Shoes" from 1956. The song was of course written by Carl Perkins, who had a huge hit record with his version at the exact same time as Elvis was hitting with "Heartbreak Hotel." The Elvis version really is different than the Perkins version. If you listen to some early live versions of "Blue Suede Shoes" by Elvis he was usually doing the song the same way that Perkins did it, but when he recorded his version he did it his own way. Not quite as great as the Perkins version in my opinion, but still great in its own right. It's certainly much better than any of the 4 records that Elvis did of Little Richard songs, none of which made this countdown.

The "Blue Suede Shoes" 45 did not come with a picture sleeve, but shown below is a bootleg picture sleeve that was made.

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Song #26 is next, and it's one of the biggest shockers on this list:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9sRJ-eOHnc
Hymie
Running Up That Hill
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

At #26 is "Always On My Mind" from 1972. This was a non charting B side to "Separate Ways" in the USA, but apparently it is an all time favorite in the UK, where it reached #9 on their chart as the front side of the single.

The song was written by Johnny Christopher, Mark James, and Wayne Carson, and the best known version is the Willie Nelson hit, although the Pet Shop Boys had a huge hit with their version in 1988. It was thought through the years that Brenda Lee did the original version, but recently it came to light that the first recording of the song came from B.J. Thomas in 1970. That version has now been released.


Elvis Presley recorded "Always on My Mind" on March 29, 1972, a few weeks after his February separation from his wife, Priscilla. The song received immense fame and critical appreciation and is considered one of the standout songs of the '70s for Elvis. The song was released as the B-side of the "Separate Ways" single, which reached gold status in the U.S (sales of over a million copies). It was listed as a double-sided hit reaching number 16 on Billboard magazine's Hot Country Singles chart in November 1972. In the UK, "Always on My Mind" was the hit song while "Separate Ways" was the B-side. It was voted the number one song of Presley's recording career in a poll conducted by ITV in 2013.

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Okay, we have arrived at the top 25 Elvis songs, as we voted them. Song #25 is a smoker!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR8sxX0GoFo
Hymie
Running Up That Hill
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Re: Best Elvis Presley Songs - RESULTS

Post by Hymie »

The #25 song is "My Baby Left Me" from 1956. It was the flip side of "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" and was a hit in its own right, reaching #31 on the Billboard Top 100 chart. Like song #50 (So Glad You're Mine) this was written by and done originally by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup. As great as the Elvis version is, I prefer the Crudup version, which he did in 1951:


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Moving on down now to song #24, and all we have to do is flip over song #25.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbFz5EzhSjM
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