The singles discography of Elvis Presley began in 1954 with the release of his first commercial single, "That's All Right". Following his regional success with Sun Records, Presley was signed to RCA Victor on November 20, 1955. Presley's first single with RCA, "Heartbreak Hotel", was a worldwide hit, reaching the No. 1 position in four countries and the top 10 in many other countries. Other hit singles from the 1950s include "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You", "Don't Be Cruel", "Hound Dog", "Love Me Tender", "Too Much", "All Shook Up", "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear", "Jailhouse Rock", "Don't", "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck", "Hard Headed Woman", "I Got Stung", "One Night", "I Need Your Love Tonight", "(Now & Then There's) A Fool Such as I", and "A Big Hunk o' Love". On March 24, 1958, Presley entered the United States Army at Memphis, Tennessee, and was stationed in Germany. He left active duty on March 5, 1960.
Following his return to civilian life, Presley released his first new single, "Stuck on You", which was a No. 1 hit in the United States and reached the top 10 in ten other countries around the world. The follow-up single, "It's Now or Never", was another worldwide hit, peaking no lower than No. 2 in 13 countries. 1960 and 1961 saw the release of two more U.S. No. 1 hits, "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" and "Surrender". Beginning in late 1961 the majority of Presley's singles were released to promote his films and their associated soundtrack albums. Non-movie songs were regularly coupled with movie songs during this period. In one instance, the movie Tickle Me, all songs were actually from older non movie albums. Hit singles from this period include "Wooden Heart", "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame", "Little Sister", "Can't Help Falling in Love", "Good Luck Charm", "She's Not You", "Return to Sender", "(You're the) Devil in Disguise", and "Crying in the Chapel". As Presley's success with singles from his movie soundtracks began to diminish in the late 1960s, he released "If I Can Dream", from his 1968 NBC-TV special, Elvis. The success of the song and television special brought about a resurgence of interest in Presley and his recordings, bringing him two top 10 hits in 1969, "In the Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds".
In the 1970s, Presley's chart success began to diminish. He had only three U.S. Billboard top 10 singles during the decade, "Don't Cry Daddy", a live recording of "The Wonder of You" and "Burning Love". He did place multiple songs in the top 10 of the Easy Listening and Country Music charts, including several reaching number 1. Other top 40 hits from the 1970s include "Kentucky Rain", "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me", "Separate Ways", "Steamroller Blues", "My Boy", "Hurt", "Moody Blue" and "Way Down".
Following Presley's death on August 16, 1977, new posthumous singles have been released in addition to many of his original singles being reissued around the world. The first single to be issued following Presley's death was a live recording of "My Way", taken from the soundtrack of his final television special, Elvis in Concert. In 1978 another live recording was issued as a single, "Unchained Melody". In 2002, a remix of "A Little Less Conversation" by DJ Junkie XL was released to promote the compilation album ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits. It was a worldwide hit and returned Presley to the top 10 in many countries around the world. In 2003, a remix of "Rubberneckin' by DJ Paul Oakenfold was released to promote the compilation album ELVIS: 2nd to None. It reached the top 10 in a few countries but overall was not as successful as its predecessor.
Presley has 55 singles certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (28 Gold and 27 Platinum - 89 certifications in all) totaling 52 million in sales. In 2012, Presley was ranked second best selling singles artist in the United Kingdom with 21.6 million singles sold. Music historian Joel Whitburn ranked Presley as the #1 charting singles artist of all time in the US. He can also claim the most Top 100 (39), Top 40 (25), and Top 10 (5) double-sided hits of anybody.
Singles 1950s The US chart positions prior to "One Night"/"I Got Stung" are pre-Billboard Hot 100, although they used the previous existing Billboard singles chart that got discontinued for the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958. Title Year Peak chart positionsCertifications A-side first album release US USCtry. USR&B AUS BEL(FLA) CANCanadian singles chart. Prior to June 1964, peaks are on the CHUM Chart. Peaks afterwards are on the RPM chart: For CHUM Chart peaks see: For RPM chart peaks see: GER IRE NL NOR UK "That's All Right""Blue Moon of Kentucky" 1954 —— —— —— 31— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— RIAA: Gold For LP Fans Only "Good Rockin' Tonight""I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine" —74 —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —23 RIAA: Gold A Date with Elvis "Milkcow Blues Boogie""You're a Heartbreaker" 1955 —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— "Baby, Let's Play House""I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" —— 5— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —21 A Date with ElvisFor LP Fans Only "I Forgot to Remember to Forget""Mystery Train" —— 111 —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —25 A Date with Elvis "Heartbreak Hotel""I Was the One" 1956 119 18 3— 340 —— —— 12— —— 51— —— 2— RIAA: 2× Platinum BPI: Silver Elvis' Golden Records "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You""My Baby Left Me" 131 113 3— 19— —— —— —— —— —— —— 14— RIAA: Platinum "Don't Be Cruel""Hound Dog" 11 11 11 1217 —13 —— 12— —— —21 —— —2 RIAA: 4× Platinum BPI: Platinum/Gold RMNZ: Gold "Blue Suede Shoes""Tutti Frutti" 20— —— —— 18 —— —— —9 —— —— —— 9— RIAA: Gold BPI: Silver RMNZ: Gold Elvis Presley "I Got a Woman""I'm Counting on You" —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— "I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin')""I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (over You)" —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— "Tryin' to Get to You""I Love You Because" —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— 16— "Just Because""Blue Moon" —55 —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —9 "Money Honey""One Sided Love Affair" 76— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— "Shake, Rattle and Roll""Lawdy Miss Clawdy" —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —15 For LP Fans Only "Love Me Tender""Any Way You Want Me (That's How I'll Be)" 127 3— 312 6— —— —— 16— —— 57— —— 11— RIAA: 3× Platinum BPI: Silver Elvis' Golden Records "Too Much""Playing for Keeps" 1957 121 38 3— 14— —— —— —— —— —— —— 6— RIAA: Platinum "Rip It Up""Baby, Let's Play House"————————————————————27—Elvis A Date with Elvis "All Shook Up""That's When Your Heartaches Begin" 158 1— 1— 5— 12— 1— 16— —— 8— —— 1— RIAA: 2× Platinum BPI: Silver RMNZ: Gold Elvis' Golden Records "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear""Loving You" 120 115 1— 822 12— 115 —— —— 14— —— 324 RIAA: 2× Platinum Loving You (soundtrack) "Paralyzed""When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again"5919——————————————————8—Elvis "Party""Got a Lot o' Livin' to Do" —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— 46— —— 217 Loving You (soundtrack) "Jailhouse Rock""Treat Me Nice" 127 111 17 344 8— 1`13 10— —— 4— —— 1— RIAA: 2× Platinum BPI: Platinum BVMI: Gold RMNZ: Platinum Elvis' Golden Records "Santa Bring My Baby Back (to Me)""Santa Claus Is Back in Town" —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— 7— RIAA: Platinum Elvis' Christmas Album "Don't""I Beg of You" 1958 18 24 45 934 —— 1 17— —— 59— —— 2— RIAA: Platinum 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong:Elvis' Gold Records, Vol. 2 "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck""Doncha' Think It's Time" 215 3— 110 4— —— 110 —— —— —— —— 3— RIAA: Platinum "Hard Headed Woman""Don't Ask Me Why" 125 2— 29 2— 17— 14 —— —— 78— —— 2— RIAA: Platinum King Creole (soundtrack) "King Creole""Dixieland Rock" —— —— —— —— 7— 15— —— —— 75— 3— 2— "One Night""I Got Stung" 48 24— 10— 3310 9— 1 —— 1 8 —2 1 RIAA Platinum 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong:Elvis' Gold Records, Vol. 2 "(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I""I Need Your Love Tonight" 1959 24 —— 16— 118 13— 1 —15 23 55 52 1 RIAA Platinum "A Big Hunk o' Love""My Wish Came True" 112 —— 1015 237 8— 1 23— 5— 19— 2— 4— RIAA: Gold "—" denotes singles which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
1960s Title Year Peak chart positionsCertifications A-side first album release US USAC USCtry. USR&B AUS AUT BEL(FLA) CAN GER IRE NL NOR UK "Stuck on You""Fame and Fortune" 1960 117 —— 27— 6— 1 —— 4— 1 23— 3— 8— 2— 3— RIAA: Platinum Elvis' Golden Records, Vol. 3 "It's Now or Never""A Mess of Blues" 132 —— —— 7— 111 —— 1— 1 2— 11 1— 14 12 RIAA: Platinum BPI: Silver "Are You Lonesome Tonight?""I Gotta Know" 120 —— 22— 3— 1 —— 1— 1 4— 1— 5— 3— 1— RIAA: 2× Platinum BPI: Silver "Surrender""Lonely Man" 1961 132 —— —— —— 1— —— 1— 1 6— 1— 3— 2— 1— RIAA: Platinum "Wooden Heart""Tonight Is So Right for Love" —— —— —— —— 1— —— 1— 2— 2— 1— 1— 3— 1— G.I. Blues (soundtrack) "I Feel So Bad""Wild in the Country" 526 —— —— 15— 27 —— 4— 6 1924 —1 4— —— 4 RIAA: Gold Elvis' Golden Records, Vol. 3 "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame""Little Sister" 45 2— —— —— 2 —— —1 1 3525 1— 205 46 1 RIAA: Gold BPI: Silver "Can't Help Falling in Love""Rock-A-Hula Baby" 223 1— —— —— 1 —— —9 4 2226 —1 —7 —6 1 RIAA: Platinum ARIA: 2× Platinum BPI: 3× Platinum BVMI: Gold RMNZ: 3× Platinum Blue Hawaii (soundtrack) "No More""Blue Hawaii" 1962 —— —— —— —— 7— —— —— 12— —— —— —— —— "Good Luck Charm""Anything That's Part of You" 131 —6 —— —— 1 —— 3— 1 6— 1— 1— 1— 1— RIAA: Platinum Elvis' Golden Records, Vol. 3 "She's Not You""Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello" 555 214 —— 13— 5 —— 3— 3 15— 1— 4— 1— 1— RIAA: Gold "King of the Whole Wide World""Home Is Where the Heart Is" 30— —— —— —— —— —— 15— 5— 26— —— —— 1— —— C'mon Everybody "Return to Sender""Where Do You Come From" 299 —— —— 5— 1— —— 2— 1— 15— —— 4— 1— 1— RIAA: Platinum BPI: Gold RMNZ: Gold Girls! Girls! Girls! (soundtrack) "One Broken Heart for Sale""They Remind Me Too Much of You" 1963 1153 —— —— 21— 9— —— 9— 10 23— 5— —— 2— 12— RIAA: Gold It Happened at the World's Fair (soundtrack) "(You're the) Devil in Disguise""Please Don't Drag That String Around" 3— —— —— 9— 2— —— 1— 1— 2— 1— 1— 1— 1— RIAA: Gold BPI: Gold RMNZ: Gold Elvis' Gold Records, Vol. 4 "Bossa Nova Baby""Witchcraft" 832 —— —— 20— 4 —— 2— 21 12— —— 8— 2— 13— RIAA: Gold Fun in Acapulco (soundtrack) "Mexico""You Can't Say No in Acapulco" 1964 —— —— —— —— —— —— 7— —— 23— —— 9— 7— —— "Fun in Acapulco""I Think I Am Gonna Like It Here" —— —— —— —— 28— —— —— —— —— —— —— —— ——"Kissin' Cousins""It Hurts Me" 1229 —— —— —— 7 —— 12— 15 27— 6— —— 6— 10— RIAA: Gold Kissin' Cousins (soundtrack)"Kiss Me Quick""Suspicion" 34103 —— —— —— —— —— 26 3— 3— —— 99 39 14— Pot Luck with Elvis "Viva Las Vegas""What'd I Say" 2921 —— —— —— 4 —— 12— 29— 21— 8— 56— 6— 17— RIAA: Gold BPI: Silver Elvis' Gold Records, Vol. 4 "Such a Night""Never Ending" 16111 —— —— —— 3— 7— 2— 1421 40— 9— —— 4— 13— Elvis Is Back! "Ask Me""Ain't That Loving You Baby" 1216 —— —— —— 1 —— —5 —1 —— —5 —— —4 —15 RIAA: Gold Elvis' Gold Records, Vol. 4 "Blue Christmas""Wooden Heart" 18107 —— 55— —— 42— —— —— —— 92— —— 26— —— 11— RIAA: Platinum ARIA: Gold BPI: Platinum