From 'Blue Suede Shoes' to 'Blue Christmas' and Beyond! The Top 20 Best Elvis Songs Ever

Author:
Annie Zaleski
Jun 26, 2022

As demonstrated by this list of top 20 Elvis songs, the iconic musician has earned the title King of Rock 'n' Roll. He's reportedly sold an eye-popping 1 billion records and amassed dozens of chart-topping hits during a music career that started in earnest in 1954 and continued up until his 1977 death. The Tupelo, Mississippi, native turned heads with a sound indebted to country, gospel, the blues and R&B. Presley understood well before many artists that rock 'n' roll could draw on many influences for its fire and rebellion.

Over the course of his recording career, Presley has released dozens of albums. With the release of Baz Luhrmann's look at Presley's life, Elvis, it's a good opportunity to revisit the icon's catalog and examine why he's one of the most revered artists of all time. With a swivel of the hip and a curl of the lip, here are the Top 20 Elvis Presley songs.

Top 20 Elvis Songs

20. "That's All Right"

Presley's 1954 debut single, which is sometimes referred to as "That's All Right Mama," didn't set the charts aflame. However, the Sun Records 45 did provide a strong foundation for his future career: Flanked by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley imbues the Arthur Crudup-written song with a brisk tempo and yearning vibe.

19. "Too Much"

Presley was coming off a blockbuster 1956 (and a No. 1 single, "Love Me Tender") when he released "Too Much." This swinging song too topped the charts in 1957, driven by doo wop-style backing vocals, a prickly guitar solo and Presley's hiccuping vocals.

18. "Good Rockin' Tonight"

When you see Baz Luhrmann's Elvis (spoiler alert!) you'll hear this 1954 song during a formative sequence where Presley is just trying to get his career launched. Its use is true to real life: First recorded by the song's writer, Roy Brown, in 1947, "Good Rockin' Tonight" is Presley's second Sun Records single and is an exemplary instance of his early rockabilly days.

17. "Blue Christmas"

Presley released multiple Christmas albums, but over time, the song that's endured to thrill modern audiences is "Blue Christmas." Taken from 1957's Elvis' Christmas Album, the single barely landed in the top 40 when it was released in 1964, but has since become a seasonal staple. That's due to Presley's lovelorn vocal performance—as implied by the title, the song's about being lonely around the holidays—and brilliant backing from vocal group the Jordanaires.

16. "Hard Headed Woman"

Presley's movie and music careers were tightly intertwined, so much so that his films and albums shared titles. Such was the case with 1958's King Creole, a Presley starring vehicle paired with an LP also named King Creole. The album spawned a No. 1 hit, the bluesy, lively "Hard Headed Woman," which Claude Demetrius specifically wrote for the film. The song also notably earned one of the first three Gold records issued by the RIAA.

15. "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear"

"(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" is another song with a movie tie-in—this time with 1957's Loving You—the cheeky, heart-on-sleeve tune topped the pop, R&B and country charts, driven by lush harmonies and sensitive lyrics that hint at a rougher side: "I don't wanna be a tiger/Because tigers play too rough/I don't wanna be a lion/'Cause lions ain't the kind you love enough."

14. "Heartbreak Hotel"

We wouldn't be here talking about Elvis Presley today without "Heartbreak Hotel." Released in 1956 as the first single on RCA Victor, the languid song boasts an emotive vocal delivery from Presley, emphasizing both lyrical despair and impeccable musicianship. Presley recorded the song with Scotty Moore and Bill Black, as well as guitarist Chet Atkins and pianist Floyd Cramer; the latter contributes jaunty ivory-tickling throughout. The song topped the Billboard pop charts for seven weeks and was also a massive country hit, sitting at No. 1 for 17 weeks.

13. "Only the Strong Survive"

Pop stardom doesn't last forever—and, sure enough, as musical trends changed and fans moved on to the Beatles, Motown and other styles, Presley fell out of style. However, his late 1968 comeback special rekindled interest in his career, leading to 1969's From Elvis In Memphis. Critically acclaimed, the lavish LP found Presley using rich horns and lovely backing vocals throughout, including on "Only the Strong Survive," co-written by Jerry Butler, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff.

12. "Are You Lonesome Tonight?"

Released in 1960 right after Presley left the U.S. Army, the stripped-down No. 1 song is one of the King's finest ballads. Full of longing and driven by sparse instrumentation, "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" shows off a more sophisticated and grown-up sound informed by life's ups and downs.

11. "Mystery Train"

Believe it or not, "Mystery Train" was originally released as the b-side to 1955's "I Forgot to Remember to Forget." Co-written by Junior Parker and Sam Phillips, it has rightfully become one of Presley's most famous and beloved songs, a quintessential rockabilly number that finds the musician using lovely vocal restraint to get the song's message across.

10. "Return to Sender"

A later-era Presley hit, "Return to Sender" was tied to his 1962 movie Girls! Girls! Girls! The single was co-written by Otis Blackwell and Winfield Scott; the former also penned King hits such as "Don't Be Cruel" and "All Shook Up." "Return to Sender" is notable for Boots Randolph's prominent saxophone, which gives the song spice.

9. "Jailhouse Rock"

Based on real-life unsavory characters and recorded for the film of the same name, 1957's "Jailhouse Rock" was co-written by the legendary songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The song is more lighthearted than the title implies, with stair-step rhythms from long-time drummer D.J. Fontana and effervescent piano from Dudley Brooks. As with other Presley songs, it topped multiple charts across multiple genres, a sign of his ongoing popularity.

8. "A Little Less Conversation"

Released in 1968 and co-written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange, "A Little Less Conversation" wasn't the biggest hit for Presley originally, despite being an upbeat, kicky tune in line with the music of the day. In 2002, however, an uptempo remix of the song by Junkie XL introduced Presley to a younger generation of fans, particularly in the U.K., where the song hit No. 1.

7. "Blue Suede Shoes"

Presley wasn't the first notable musician to record "Blue Suede Shoes"-that honor went to rockabilly legend Carl Perkins, who had a hit with the song in 1955. However, Elvis made the song his own, adding a raucous edge to his vocals that gave the song some welcome attitude.

6. "Love Me Tender"

One of Presley's finest ballads, "Love Me Tender" has roots nearly a century before: It updates the melody of a Civil War-era song "Aura Lee," with modern lyrics. Presley displays his most vulnerable croon on the lullaby-like song.

5. "Suspicious Minds"

Presley's last chart-topping single in the U.S. ended up being one of his best songs. Recorded in January 1969 and written by Mark James (who also co-penned "Always on My Mind"), "Suspicious Minds" built on the style of From Elvis in Memphis by employing horns and strings, as well as a strong Presley vocal performance that implored a significant other to have trust and faith in him.