25 essential songs for your Elvis Presley playlist

Let’s kick off our playlist with a guilty pleasure deep cut. As we’ll see, plenty of Elvis Presley’s biggest and most popular hits came from his movies. In the case of Roustabout, critics were hit-or-miss on the film, but “It’s Carnival Time” is schlocky, but harmless pop that’s made for a good time without thinking too much. Elvis playing a carnie in the film is also highly entertaining if not taken seriously.

Another somewhat of a deeper cut from Presley, which enjoyed more prominence roughly 30-plus years after its release. A quick-paced, kind of nefarious-sounding tune, it was included in Presley’s 1968 musical comedy Live a Little, Love a Little. Presley enjoyed some modest success with the track upon release, however, things took off for the song while included in the 2001 smash remake of Ocean’s Eleven. Dutch musician Tom Holkenborg remixed the track, which earned solid success around the world.

Written for the 1964 movie musical of the same name, it’s one of Presley’s most popular tracks with the masses. Now, maybe diehard fans of The King dismiss the tune as schlock and made for Hollywood — we totally understand. Still, of all Elvis’ movie songs, “Viva Las Vegas” is more than tolerable than most, and worthy of a spot on this list. It was a Top 40 hit, peaking at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Elvis Presley covering a Bob Dylan song. Talk about music royalty. Legend has it that Presley became a fan of Dylan’s original cut of “Tomorrow Is a Long Time,” released in live form in 1963. So much so that Presley took on the folksy, almost soothing track, which appeared as a bonus on song on 1966’s Spinout soundtrack album. As noted in Elvis Presley: A Life In Music – The Complete Recording Sessions, Dylan called the Elvis version of his song, “the one recording I treasure the most.”

Written by Walter Earl Brown, best known for his time with the jazz-pop outfit The Skylarks, and done so for Presley to record. Inspired by Martin Luther King’s 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech, it was released shortly after King’s assassination on July 4, 1968. A jazzy composition with gripping lyrics, “If I Can Dream” peaked at No. 12 in the Billboard Hot 100, but has long been considered one of Presley’s most important and unheralded tracks.

In the second half of the 1950s, Presley had already taken the pop, rock and country music worlds by storm and listeners could not get enough. So, it only made sense to record a Christmas-themed album. Presley’s Elvis’ Christmas Album (1957) is still the biggest-selling Christmas album of all time, with more than 20 million in sales around the globe. The highlight of the record, of course, is this famous version of the melancholy “Blue Christmas,” which was first recorded by the forgotten Doye O’Dell in the late 1940s.

Not the most successful of Presley’s hits (it didn’t even crack the Top 40 in the Billboard Hot 100), but he was mildly obsessed with covering this Jerry Reed song. So much so, that he brought Reed in himself to feature on the legendary guitar performance. Clocking in at under 2 1/2 minutes, “Guitar Man” is an underrated gem within The King’s catalog, and the song he opened his famed ‘68 Comeback Special. A re-recorded electric version of the song, with Presley’s same lyrics from ’61, was put out in 1981.

Though written and originally recorded by American bluesman Junior Parker in 1953, it was Presley’s version released two years later that became one of the first true country hits. In fact, Elvis’ take on this story song is considered one of the greatest country songs ever recorded, and opened the door for music fans to give a listen to this kid crooner. Of course, Presley’s all-encompassing sound is what helped him become a star, then an icon, then a legend.

Devoted Elvis fans are aware that this is the official debut single from Presley, recorded and released by Sun Records in July 1954. Originally written, recorded and released by 1940s blues musician Arthur Crudup, under the title “That’s All Right, Mama,” Presley was fond of the track and started playing around with the tempo and lyrics. His version is notably different from Crudup’s, but also highly influenced to the point that various music historians and critics consider Presley’s “That’s All Right” is the very first rock and roll single.

In 1957, Presley made his first starring film role in the musical drama Loving You, which featured this popular tune. The uptempo rock number — with a healthy dose of blues elements — was a major hit for Presley (topping the United States singles chart), along with the movie. To the ear of any Elvis fan, diehard or casual, “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” holds some noted resemblance to one of Presley’s greatest hits of all time from 1956 (more about that tune in a little bit).

Presley entered the 1970s trying to maintain his superstar status. “Kentucky Rain,” co-written by Eddie Rabbitt and featuring a young session piano player by name of Ronnie Milsap, was not a top-10 hit for Presley, but proved he could still be a showman. This story of a man chasing his love though the rainy state of Kentucky has been dubbed as soft rock, which isn’t necessarily where fans probably thought The King would be headed. However, it’s still one of his better efforts, even though it didn’t dominate the charts like other tunes on this list.

One of the better backstories to how Presley came about recording a song. Elvis’ famed manager Colonel Tom Parker suggested his star client cover this folksy love song, which has seen countless versions through the decades, because it was Parker’s wife Marie’s favorite song at the time. Obviously, that proved to be the right call, as “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” was another No. 1 hit for Presley and long a highlight of his live shows throughout the performer’s storied career.

Legendary American songwriter Otis Blackwell co-wrote three of Elvis Presley’s greatest songs. The first of those that we’ll highlight is “Return to Sender,” which has a pop tinge that made it one of The King’s favorites, a song about a love-torn fella who sends a letter to a girl he fancies, only for her to send it back without reading. The tune, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, was featured in Presley’s 1962 movie Girls! Girls! Girls!

Back from the military and perhaps looking to move on from his made-for-Hollywood music, Presley delivered one of the great albums of all time with 1969’s From Elvis in Memphis. With a hint of gospel, “In the Ghetto” was the undisputed highlight of that record, and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Co-written by Mac Davis, it’s perhaps Elvis’ most depressing tracks, about a boy born in a Chicago ghetto, forgotten at home and turning to a life of crime before meeting his own demise. Presley wasn’t much for message songs, but touching on topics like, neglect, poverty and violence were quite interesting for a maturing Elvis.

With Parker behind the scenes, a 20-year-old Presley had a deal with RCA Victor in November 1955, as Phillips received $40,000 for the rights to his Sun Records contract. “Heartbreak Hotel” (his first No. 1 pop hit) was released, and Presley made his first national TV appearance on CBS. The rest, as they say, was history, and Elvis was on his way to becoming music royalty. Though originally co-written by Mae Boren Axton and Tommy Durden, Presley gets a writing credit as well for this iconic hit that spent seven weeks atop Billboard‘s singles chart.

In terms of musical arrangement and overall sound, this was one of Presley’s more creative singles. Keep in mind, Elvis didn’t write many of his biggest hits, but tended to have the last word when it came to the recording and arrangement of those songs. A poignant ballad, “It’s Now or Never” takes the melody from an Italian favorite of Presley’s, “O Sole Mio,” and proved to be his most successful international single, with more than 20 million copies sold around the globe.

9. “Burning Love” (1972)

Arguably the best tune from the 1970s’ Elvis catalog. An upbeat, yet soulful, hit for Presley, who was still a prominent figure thanks to efforts and performances like this. In fact, “Burning Love” proved to be Presley’s final top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 2. Dennis Linde, who wrote the song, also played the guitar intro. According to Songfacts, it wasn’t an easy song for Presley to record, considering he’d recently separated from wife Priscilla.

Certified twice platinum, “All Shook Up” is one Elvis track where fans can probably feel his emotional pain. He’s so hung up on a woman that he just can’t seem to do anything but think of her. Who hasn’t felt the same way about someone else? Another monster hit for Presley, filled with R&B zest, “All Shook Up,” another Otis Blackwell-penned gem, resided at the top of the Billboard singles chart for eight weeks.

7. “Don’t Be Cruel” (1956)

Of all the legendary music Presley released in 1956, the rockabilly favorite “Don’t Be Cruel” proved to be his best-selling single of they amazingly special year. Five years later, the song, also co-written by Otis Blackwell, had sold more than six million copies. It was also a longtime live favorite for concertgoers and Presley, himself, who made it a staple of his sets all the way until his death in 1977. Like other tunes on this list, “Don’t Be Cruel” simultaneously topped the Billboard pop, country and R&B charts. One year later, Presley released the similar-sounding “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear.”

When it comes the moments of true iconography in Presley’s music, look no further than “Jailhouse Rock.” Sure, it’s a rather silly, and even controversial, tune (take a good listen to the campy prison-related lyrics), but the title number from his third motion picture is one of those instances that’s helped define Elvis to the masses. From the opening bars of Dudley Brooks’ legendary piano and D.J. Fontana’s drums to Scotty Moore’s screeching guitar solo, “Jailhouse Rock” further solidified that rock and roll was here to stay.

Serving as a modern-day adaptation of the Civil War song “Aura Lea,” ‘Love Me Tender” (1956) was an instant hit for Presley, who performed it on The Ed Sullivan Show on Sept. 9, 1956, prior to its official release. The song was also featured in Presley’s 1956 musical western film of the same name. As Elvis lore goes, he completely reworked the arrangement and structure of the song in order to fit his style, and his approach to how he built his music best did the beauty of the piece proper justice.

Presley’s self-titled debut album was highlighted by a cover of this influential Carl Perkins rockabilly number. However, Presley’s version offered a bluesy tone not heard from a white singer and showcased the guitar as the main instrument while fueling a rock ‘n’ roll sound. If there was any doubt that Elvis was going to set the world on fire with his music, look and stage presence, that was quashed via his rendition of “Blue Suede Shoes,” 

Originally recorded by blues and R&B star Big Mama Thornton in 1952, “Hound Dog” enjoyed its biggest success via Presley’s version, which he did in July 1956. Toe-tapping, heart-pounding and filled with Elvis’ modestly rebellious attitude, his take on “Hound Dog” was iconic the moment it touched ears. Presley’s version sold more than 10 million copies around the world — making it his best-selling track of all time. It also sat atop the pop, country and R&B charts at the same during the 1956 calendar year.

We can go back and forth as which Elvis love song or ballad should take the cake, but really, the brilliance and beauty of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is tough to beat. Sure, the aforementioned “Love Me Tender” is iconic, but “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” from the 1961 Presley favorite Blue Hawaii, has transcended time and spanned generations of music lovers to remain one of the most popular songs of all time. Not to mention, it’s been covered time and time again — though we fancy UB40’s 1993 take the best of the non-Elvis turns.

Sure, we saved the best (in our opinion) for last. This Presley version of the unsuccessful original by Mark James was The King’s final No. 1 pop single on the Billboard chart. This tale of relationship mistrust proved that Presley still seem to have the focus and talent to regain his place as a musical icon. However, as time went on, that would not be the case. But, in the annals of Presley’s vast and legendary musical catalog, “Suspicious Minds” is as good and impactful as any of his game-changing early hits.