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If Elvis Presley had managed to lose weight and get healthy, there would be no reason why he couldn’t still swing his hips on stage. Unfortunately, his life has not developed that way. But he is still the king of rock ‘n’ roll. Here in the ranking: The 10 best songs by Elvis Presley.
10. “Mystery Train”
Just a few months before Sam Phillips and Colonel Tom Parker Presley’s contract sold to RCA for $ 40,000, Elvis returned to Sun Studios. And recorded this cover version of a Junior Parker song from 1953. With the support of guitarist Scotty Moore, bassist Bill Black and drummer Johnny Bernero, Presley Park revived original blues version. The new recording reached 11th place on the country charts The billboard. But a few months later, RCA released “Heartbreak Hotel”. And put everything in the shade that Presley had previously published. Nevertheless, “Mystery Train” is still one of the most popular songs by Elvis.
9. “Kentucky Rain”
Elvis began the 1970s on a very strong basis when he published Eddie Rabbits and Dick Heard’s sad “Kentucky Rain” as a single in January 1970. The song reached 16th place Billboard Hot 100. And sold more than a million times, although he could only be heard on his live show for a few weeks.
8. “To American Trilogy”
The civil war was over 100 years ago when Elvis began to sing “to American Trilogy” in 1972. But the scars were still deep throughout America. The song was the work of the Nashville professional Mickey Newbury. He tried to unite the two sides of the country by combining “Dixie”, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “All My Trials” into a great patriotic medley.
Somehow he made it in just four and a half minutes. And the resulting song became a highlight of Presley’s concerts in the last five years of his life.
7. “Heartbreak Hotel”
Many Americans learned for the first time from Elvis Presley when “Heartbreak Hotel” ran on their radios in early 1956. Presley’s previous success was mainly regionally, but with the help of his new label RCA, he recorded a song that was to stay at the top of the Hot 100 for seven weeks. He was even invited to television. Which triggered a nationwide Elvis hysteria that has not yet subsided in many ways.
6. “Love Me Tender”
Few entertainers ever had one year like Elvis Presley in 1956. One single after the other stormed the charts. Huge crowds of screaming girls followed him at every turn. Parents were convinced that he spoiled the youth. His last number one of the year was “Love Me Tender”. A ballad written by Ken Darby. He played the song in The Ed Sullivan Showshortly before a film with the same name came into cinemas.
5. “Can’t Help Falling in Love”
Fans of the last Elvis concerts knew that the first grades of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” meant that it was time to set off. The dreamy song for his film Blue Hawaii from 1961 was written, each of his shows ended after his comeback.
The sweet ode to true love was the perfect end to the evening. Since then it has been covered by everyone, by Bob Dylan to U2. To UB40 that made it a huge hit in 1993.
4. “Jailhouse Rock”
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller wrote “Jailhouse Rock” especially for Elvis Presley’s film from 1957. It is unclear whether Elvis understood exactly what they meant with lines like “You’re the Cutest Jailbird I ever did see/I surgere would be delighted with your company”. But the hint of a romance between prisoners also passed most of the listeners. The song finally displaced “Wake Up Little Susie” from the top of the charts.
3. “In the Ghetto”
Elvis spent a large part of the 1960s producing kitschy B-movies and lifeless soundtracks, while new acts such as the Beatles and Bob Dylan made him appear like a relic.
His brilliant comeback special from 1968 brought him back to the top. He took his newly won energy to the studio to record “in the ghetto”. It is a song about the vicious circle of poverty and despair in the city centers of America, which finally came in third place. And the fact that Elvis was back.
2. “If i can dream”
Just two months after Martin Luther King Jr.’s murder, Elvis Presley entered the studio of Western Recorders and presented this moving homage to the civil rights activist.
It was the stirring climax of his comeback special from 1968. He sang it with incredible passion. The song rose in 12th place in Hot 100. And today is seen by many as one of the greatest vocal performances of his career.
1. “Suspicious Minds”
Elvis had just been married to Priscilla for two years when he recorded “Suspicious Minds”. But marriage was already on the brink. It is obvious that he incorporated part of this disappointment, especially through his own mistakes as a husband.
The song written by Mark James was his first number one hit in seven years. And a regular highlight of his live show.