This page focuses on the below compilations, which cover Elvis Presley’s career from 1953 to 1959. Check out the Elvis Presley Retrospective: 1954-1977 page for a full career overview. There are also links to other Elvis’ pages at the bottom of this page.
Compilations:
These compilations cover the studio albums listed below. Links connect to DMDB pages dedicated to those albums. The raised letter codes listed after songs indicate apperances on any of these compilations (see codes above). Appearing after song titles are the writers in italicized parentheses, the time of the song in brackets, and, when relevant, the date the song was released as a single and its peaks on various charts.
Click for codes to singles charts.
The Studio Albums:
Note: If a song is noted with a number and an “x” (such as 2x), that means the song is an added bonus track to the album upon its CD release.
The Sun Sessions (recorded 1954-55, released 1975):
- That’s All Right (Arthur Crudup) [1:55] (recorded 7/5/54, released 7/19/54, 3 UK, sales: 0.5 m) 1, 4, G1x, KR
- Blue Moon of Kentucky (Bill Monroe) [2:04] (recorded 7/7/54, released 7/19/54) 1, 7, KR
- I Love You Because (Leon Payne) [2:41] (recorded 7/5/54) 1, 2, KR
- Blue Moon (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) [2:40] (recorded 8/19/54, released 9/29/56, 55 US, 9 UK) 1, 2, KR
- I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine (Mack David) [2:28] (recorded 9/10/54, released 9/54, 74 US, 23 UK) 1, KR
- Good Rockin’ Tonight (Roy Brown) [2:14] (recorded 9/10/54, released 9/25/54) 1, 7, KR
- I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’) (Wakely) [2:22] (recorded 9/10/54) 1, 2, KR
- Just Because (Sydney Robin, Bob Shelton, Joe Shelton) [2:31] (recorded 9/10/54) 1, 2, KR
- Milk Cow Blues Boogie (Kokomo Arnold) [2:39] (recorded 11/12/54, released 12/28/54) 1, 7, KR
- You’re a Heartbreaker (Jack Sallee) [2:12] (recorded 11/12/54, released 12/28/54) 1, KR
- I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (Stan Kesler, William Taylor) [2:36] (recorded 3/5/55, released 4/10/55, 21 UK) 1, 4, KR
- Baby Let’s Play House (Arthur Gunter) [2:17] (recorded 2/5/55, released 4/10/55, 5 US) 1, 7, G1x, KR
- Mystery Train (Herman Parker Jr., Sam Phillips) [2:24] (recorded 7/11/55, released 8/6/55, 25 UK, 11 CW) 1, 4, G1x, KR
- I Forgot to Remember to Forget (Stan Kesler, Charlie Feathers) (recorded 7/21/55, released 9/17/55, 1 CW) 1, 7, KR
- Trying to Get to You (Rose Marie McCoy, Charles Singleton) [2:32] (recorded 7/21/55, 9/8/56, 16 UK) 1, 2, KR
Elvis Presley (1956):
- Heartbreak Hotel (Mae Axton, Tommy Durden, Elvis Presley) [2:08] (recorded 1/10/56, released 1/27/56, 1 US, 2 UK, 3 RB, 1 CW, sales: 2 million, airplay: 2 million) 2x, G1, KR
- I Got a Woman (Charles/ Richards) [2:23] (recorded 1/10/56) 2, KR
- Money Honey (Stone) [2:33] (recorded 1/10/56, 5/1/56, 76 US) 2, KR
- I Was the One (Hal Blair, Claude Demetrius, Bill Peppers, Aaron Schroeder) [2:34] (recorded 1/11/56, released 1/27/56, 19 US, 8 CW) 2x, 4, G1x, KR
- I’m Counting on You (Robertson) [2:22] (recorded 1/11/56) 2, KR
- Blue Suede Shoes (Perkins) [1:59] (recorded 1/30/56, released 4/7/56, 20 US, 39 UK, sales: ½ million) 2, KR
- One-Sided Love Affair (Campbell) [2:10] (recorded 1/30/56) 2, KR
- My Baby Left Me (Arthur Crudup) [2:11] (recorded 1/30/56, released 5/4/56, 31 US, 19 UK, 13 CW) 2x, 4, G1x, KR
- Tutti Frutti (LaBostrie/ Little Richard) [1:57] (recorded 1/31/56) 2, KR
- I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry Over You (Biggs/ Thomas) [2:01] (recorded 1/31/56) 2, KR
- Lawdy Miss Clawdy (Lloyd Price) [2:08] (recorded 2/3/56, released 11/8/57, 15 UK) 2x, 4, KR
- Shake, Rattle and Roll (Charles Calhoun) [2:37] (recorded 2/3/56) 2x, 4, KR
- I Want You, I Need You, I Love You (Kosloff/ Mysels) [2:40] (recorded 4/14/56, released 5/12/56, 1 US, 14 UK, 3 RB, 1 CW, sales: 1 million) 2x, G1, KR
Elvis (1956):
- So Glad You’re Mine (Arthur Crudup) [2:18] (recorded 1/30/56) 3, KR
- Hound Dog (Leiber/ Stoller) [2:15] (recorded 7/2/56, released 7/13/56, 1 US, 2 UK, 1 RB, sales: 4 million) 3x, G1, KR
- Don’t Be Cruel (Blackwell/ Presley) [2:03] (recorded 7/2/56, released 7/13/56, 1 US, 24 UK, 1 RB, 1 CW, sales: 4 million, airplay: 4 million) 3x, G1, KR
- Any Way You Want Me That’s How I Will Be (Cliff Owens, Aaron Schroeder) [2:16] (recorded 7/2/56, released 9/28/56, 20 US, 12 RB) 3x, G1, KR
- Love Me Tender (Maston/ Presley) [2:42] (recorded 8/24/56, released 9/28/56, 1 US, 11 UK, 3 RB, 3 CW, sales: 3 million, airplay: 3 million) 3x, G1, KR
- Playing for Keeps (Stan Kesler) [2:50] (recorded 9/1/56, released 1/26/57, 21 US, 8 CW) 3x, 4, G2x, KR
- Love Me (Leiber/ Stoller) [2:44] (recorded 9/1/56, released 10/19/56, 2 US, 7 RB, 10 CW) 3, G1, KR
- How Do You Think I Feel (Webb Pierce, Wiley Walker) [2:10] (recorded 9/1/56) 3, KR
- How’s the World Treating You (Chet Atkins, Boudleaux Bryant) [2:23] (recorded 9/1/56) 3, KR
- Paralyzed (Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley) [2:24] (recorded 9/2/56, released 10/19/56, 59 US, 8 UK) 3, G2x, KR
- When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again [2:18] (recorded 9/2/56, released 10/19/56, 19 US) 3, KR
- Long Tall Sally (Robert Blackwell, Enotris Johnson, Richard Penniman) [1:51] (recorded 9/2/56) 3, KR
- Old Shep (Red Foley, Arthur Williams) [4:10] (recorded 9/2/56, released 12/56, 47 US) 3, KR
- Too Much (Lee Rosenberg, Bernard Weinman) [2:32] (recorded 9/2/56, released 1/4/57, 1 US, 6 UK, 3 RB, 3 CW, sales: 1 million) 3x, G1, KR
- Anyplace is Paradise (Joe Thomas) [2:26] (recorded 9/2/56) 3, KR
- Ready Teddy (Robert Blackwell, John Marascalco) [1:55] (recorded 9/3/56) 3, KR
- Rip It Up (Robert Blackwell, John Maraascalo) [1:50] (recorded 9/3/56, 10/56, 27 UK) 3, KR
- First in Line (Aaron Schroeder, Ben Weisman) [3:21] (recorded 9/3/56) 3, KR
For LP Fans Only (archives: 1954-57, released 1959):
- Poor Boy (Vera Matson, Presley) [2:13] (recorded 8/24/56) 4, KR
Loving You (soundtrack, 1957):
The CD reissue also included alternate versions of “Party,” “Loving You,” and “Got a Lot O’ Lovin’ to Do.”
- Tell Me Why (Titus Turner) [2:05] (recorded 1/12/57) 5x, KR
- Got a Lot O’ Livin’ to Do (Schroeder/ Weisman) [2:33] (recorded 1/12/57, charted 7/1/57, 17 UK) 5, G2x, KR
- Mean Woman Blues (Claude Demetrius) [2:11] (recorded 1/13/57) 5, G2x, KR
- Blueberry Hill (Vincent Rose, Al Lewis, Larry Stock) [2:39] (recorded 1/19/57, released 4/57) 5, KR
- Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? Scotty Greene Wisemen [2:32] (recorded 1/19/57, released 4/57) 5, KR
- Is It So Strange (Faron Young) [2:28] (recorded 1/19/57, released 4/57) 5x, 7, KR
- Party (Jessie Mae Robinson) [1:28] (recorded 1/21/57, released 4/57) 5, KR
- Lonesome Cowboy (Sid Tepper, Roy C. Bennett) [3:02] (recorded 1/15/57) 5, KR
- Hot Dog Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) [1:17] (recorded 1/18/57) 5, KR
- One Night of Sin (Dave Bartholomew, Pearl King, Anita Steiman) [2:35] (recorded 1/24/57) 5x, KR
- Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear (Bernie Lowe, Kal Mann) [1:47] (recorded 1/24/57, released 6/11/57, 1 US, 3 UK, 1 CW, 1 RB, sales: 5 million) 5, G1, KR
- Don’t Leave Me Now (Aaron Schroeder, Ben Weisman) [1:58] (recorded 2/23/57, released 7/1/57) 5, KR
- I Beg of You (Rose Marie McCoy, Kelly Owens) [1:50] (recorded 2/23/57, released 1/7/58) 5x, KR
- True Love (Cole Porter) [2:08] (recorded 2/23/57) 5, KR
- I Need You So (Ivory Joe Hunter) [2:40] (recorded 2/23/57, released 4/57) 5, KR
- Loving You (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) [2:15] (recorded 2/24/57, released 6/11/57, 20 US, 24 UK, 15 CW) 5, G1, KR
- When It Rains, It Really Pours (William Emerson) [1:47] (recorded 2/24/57, released 8/10/65) 5x, KR
Christmas Album (1957):
- I Believe (Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl, Al Stillman) [2:05] (recorded 1/12/57) 6, KR
- There’ll Be Peace in the Valley for Me (Thomas A. Dorsey) (recorded 1/13/57, released 4/1/57, 25 US) 6, KR
- Take My Hand Precious Lord (Thomas A. Dorsey) [3:16] (recorded 1/13/57, released 4/57) 6, KR
- It Is No Secret What God Can Do (Stuart Hamblen) [3:53] (recorded 1/19/57, released 4/57) 6, KR
- Blue Christmas (Bill Hayes, Jay Johnson) (recorded 9/5/57, 12/3/64, 11 UK, 55 CW, sales: 1 million) 6, KR
- White Christmas (Irving Berlin) [2:23] (recorded 9/6/57) 6, KR
- Here Comes Santa Claus (Gene Autry, Oakley Halderman) [1:54] (recorded 9/6/57) 6, KR
- Silent Night (Joseph Mohr, Franz Gruber) [2:23] (recorded 9/6/57) 6, KR
- O Little Town of Bethlehem (Phillips Brooks, Lewis H. Redner) [2:35] (recorded 9/7/57) 6, KR
- Santa, Bring My Baby Back to Me (Aaron Schroeder, Claude Demetrius) [1:54] (recorded 9/7/57, released 10/15/57, 7 UK) 6, G2x, KR
- Santa Claus Is Back in Town (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) [2:22] (recorded 9/7/57, released 10/15/57, 41 UK) 6, G2x, KR
- I’ll Be Home for Christmas (Buck Ram, Kim Gannon, Walter Kent) [1:53] (recorded 9/7/57) 6, KR
A Date with Elvis (archives: 1954-57, released 1959):
- We’re Gonna Move (Vera Matson, Elvis Presley) [2:28] (recorded 8/24/56) 7, KR
- Young and Beautiful (Aaron Schroeder, Abner Silver) [2:02] (recorded 4/30/57, released 10/57) 7, KR
- You’re So Square Baby I Don’t Care (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) [1:51] (recorded 4/30/57, released 10/57) 7, KR
- I Want to Be Free (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) [2:12] (recorded 4/30/57, released 10/57) 7, KR
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