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
|
