Saturday, April 11, 2015

Elvis Presley's Billboard rankings in his lifetime

Billboard, as a magazine and institution, came into being in the mid 1950's just as Elvis became the most sensational entertainer the world had ever seen.

Back then Billboard, like many in the press/media, did not categorize Elvis' music into one genre and instead put his songs into various categories such as Country, Western, Rock, etc.

In the 1950's the United States population was a fraction of what it is today (i.e. approximately 60 million versus 350 million). Besides the radio the only other national outlet to hear Elvis' music, other than his TV appearances and/or concerts, was to go to the record store and buy his singles (i.e. 45 record with one song on the front and one on the back) or albums (i.e. 33 rpm and sometimes 78). There was no downloading, YouTube, Napster, Apple, streaming, etc. It took effort, and some money, to hear Elvis sing.

From Billboard here are the rankings of Elvis' songs during his lifetime:

Heartbreak Hotel
1
1956
I Was the One
19
1956
Blue Suede Shoes
20
1956
I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
1
1956
Don't Be Cruel
1
1956
Hound Dog
1
1956
Love Me Tender
1
1956
Anyway You Want Me (That's How I Will Be)
20
1956
When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again
19
1956
Love Me
2
1957
Too Much
1
1957
All Shook Up
1
1957
(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear
1
1957
Loving You
20
1957
Jailhouse Rock
1
1957
Treat Me Nice
18
1957
Don't
1
1957
I Beg of You
8
1957
Wear My Ring Around Your Neck
2
1958
Doncha' Think It's Time
15
1958
Hard Headed Woman
1
1958
One Night
4
1958
I Got Stung
8
1958
(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such As I
2
1959
I Need Your Love Tonight
4
1959
A Big Hunk O' Love
1
1959
My Wish Came True
12
1959
Stuck On You
1
1960
Fame and Fortune
17
1960
It's Now or Never
1
1960
Are You Lonesome Tonight?
1
1960
I Gotta Know
20
1960
Surrender
1
1961
Flaming Star
14
1961
I Feel So Bad
5
1961
Little Sister
5
1961
(Marie's the Name of) His Latest Flame
4
1961
Can't Help Falling in Love
2
1961
Good Luck Charm
1
1962
Follow That Dream
15
1962
She's Not You
5
1962
Return to Sender
2
1962
One Broken Heart for Sale
11
1963
(You're the) Devil in Disguise
3
1963
Boss Nova Baby
8
1963
Kissin' Cousins
12
1964
Such a Night
16
1964
Ask Me
12
1964
Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby
16
1964
Crying in the Chapel
3
1965
(Such an) Easy Question
11
1965
I'm Yours
11
1965
Puppet on a String
14
1965
Love Letters
19
1966
If I Can Dream
12
1968
In the Ghetto
3
1969
Suspicious Minds
1
1969
Don't Cry, Daddy/Rubberneckin'
6
1969
Kentucky Rain
16
1970
The Wonder of You/Mama Liked the Roses
9
1970
You Don't Have to Say You Love Me/Patch It Up
11
1970
Burning Love
2
1972
Separate Ways
20
1972
Streamroller Blues/Fool
17
1973
If You Talk in Your Sleep
17
1973
Promised Land
14
1974
My Boy
20
1975
Way Down
18
1977




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