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", "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".
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.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) began to certify gold albums and singles in 1958,[33] and Elvis Presley's first RIAA award, a gold single for "Hard Headed Woman", was certified on August 11, 1958.[34] In August 1992, he was awarded with 110 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums and singles, the largest presentation of gold and platinum record awards in history.[35] According to reliable sources, Elvis Presley has sold up to 500 million records worldwide and is one of the best selling artists of all time. [36][37]
The RIAA does not certify sales of less than 500,000 units for albums and singles.[38] Elvis has had numerous albums and singles which have sold hundreds of thousands of units each but have not reached the 500,000 threshold. Taken together, these could add up to millions in total sales that are not recognized by the RIAA.
RIAA sales certifications are not automatic. The record company must pay a fee and request an audit from the RIAA in order to certify sales. During Elvis' life, RCA submitted few of Elvis' recordings for RIAA certification. Instead of paying for RIAA certification, RCA and other companies would simply award their own "Gold Record" to artists based on their internal sales figures. As a consequence, some of Elvis' early sales information has been lost. RCA and BMG have researched archives and old files in an effort to reconstruct Elvis' sales figures. This has led to Elvis receiving numerous RIAA certifications posthumously.[39]
"Love Me Tender" / "Any Way You Want Me (That's How I Will Be)"
3× Platinum
"Too Much"
1957
Platinum
March 27, 1992
"All Shook Up"
2× Platinum
"(Let Me Be You) Teddy Bear" / "Loving You"
July 15, 1999
"Jailhouse Rock"
March 27, 1992
"Don't"
1958
Platinum
"Wear My Ring Around Your Neck"
"Hard Headed Woman"
"I Got Stung"
"(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I"
1959
"A Big Hunk o' Love"
Gold
"Stuck on You"
1960
Platinum
"It's Now or Never"
"Are You Lonesome Tonight?"
2× Platinum
"Surrender"
1961
Platinum
"I Feel So Bad"
Gold
"(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame"
"Can't Help Falling in Love"
Platinum
"Good Luck Charm"
1962
Platinum
"She's Not You"
Gold
"Return to Sender"
Platinum
"One Broken Heart for Sale"
1963
Gold
"(You're the) Devil in Disguise"
"Bossa Nova Baby"
"Kissin' Cousins"
1964
"Viva Las Vegas"
"Ain't That Loving You, Baby?"
"Crying in the Chapel"
1965
Platinum
"I'm Yours"
Gold
"Puppet on a String"
"Blue Christmas" / "Santa Claus Is Back in Town"
Platinum
July 15, 1999
"Tell Me Why"
Gold
March 27, 1992
"Frankie and Johnny"
1966
"If I Can Dream"
1968
"In the Ghetto"
1969
Platinum
"Clean Up Your Own Backyard"
Gold
"Suspicious Minds"
Platinum
"Don't Cry, Daddy"
"Kentucky Rain"
1970
Gold
"The Wonder of You"
August 14, 1970
"I've Lost You"
March 27, 1992
"You Don't Have to Say You Love Me"
"I Really Don't Want to Know"
"Burning Love"
1972
Platinum
"Separate Ways"
Gold
"Way Down" / "Pledging My Love"
1977
Platinum
July 15, 1999
"My Way"
Gold
January 13, 1978
"A Little Less Conversation" (JXL Radio Edit Remix)
2002
Gold
March 31, 2006
Notes
^ abcdThe B-sides listed are for the US releases of the singles except where not applicable. Various other songs were released as B-sides to the main A-sides in other countries.
^"That's All Right" / "Blue Moon of Kentucky" single was re-released in 2004 and reached number 1 on the Billboard Singles Sales chart.[14]
^"That's All Right" reached 28 on the Music Vendor Country Singles chart; at this time, Billboard published a Top 15 Country Singles chart while Music Vendor published a top 50 chart.[15]
^"Blue Moon of Kentucky" reached 34 on the Music Vendor Country Singles chart.
^ ab"I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine" was released in the US in 1954 but did not chart until 1956. It was also not released in the UK until 1956.
^"I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" reached 33 on the Music Vendor Country Singles chart.[15]
^"I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" did not chart in the UK until 1958.
^"Mystery Train" did not chart in the UK until 1957.
^ abThe single stayed at number 1 on the Billboard Single Sales and Jukebox charts for a total of 11 weeks; for the first 5 weeks "Hound Dog" was listed as the A-side and the last 6 weeks "Don't Be Cruel" was listed as the A-side.[17]
^"Blue Suede Shoes" was listed at number 2 on the Music Vendor Country Singles chart.[15]
^"Just Because" reached number 53 on the Music Vendor singles chart.[18]
^"Just Because" reached number 54 on the Music Vendor Country Singles chart.[15]
^"Any Way You Want Me" reached 21 on the Music Vendor Country Singles chart.
^"Rip It Up" was not released as a single in the US, but was released in the UK and several other countries.
^"That's When Your Heartaches Begin" reached 19 on the Music Vendor Country Singles chart.
^"Paralyzed" was released on an EP in the US, and as a single in the UK.
^"When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again" reached number 51 on the Music Vendor Country singles chart.
^"Party" was not released as a single in the US, but was in the UK and several other European countries.
^"Santa Bring My Baby Back (to Me)" was not released as a single in the US, but was released in the UK and several other European countries.
^Due to airplay of the songs from the album, Music Vendor listed the "Elvis Christmas Album" at number 49 on their Singles Chart in December 1957.[18]
^"Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" reached number 1 on the Cashbox Country Singles charts.[19]
^"Doncha' Think It's Time" reached 25 on the Music Vendor Country Singles chart.
^"Don't Ask Me Why" reached 29 on the Cash Box Country and 24 on the Music Vendor Country Singles charts.
^"King Creole" was released as an extended play (EP) in the US, and as a single in the UK and several other European countries.
^"King Creole" reached number 20 on Cash Box and 14 on Music Vendor singles charts,[18] and number 1 on the Gavin airplay chart.[20]
^"King Creole" reached number 12 on the Music Vendor Country Singles charts.[15]
^"I Got Stung" reached 13 on the Cash Box Country and 12 on the Music Vendor Country Singles charts.
^"(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I" reached number 1 on the Music Vendor Singles chart.[18]
^"(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I" reached number 5 on the Cash Box and number 2 on the Music Vendor Country Singles charts.[21][15]
^"I Need Your Love Tonight" reached 23 on the Cash Box Country and 4 on the Music Vendor Country Singles charts.
^"A Big Hunk o' Love" reached number 36 on the Cash Box and number 6 on the Music Vendor Country Singles charts.[21][15]
^"My Wish Came True" reached 43 on the Cash Box Country and 11 on the Music Vendor Country Singles charts.
^"It's Now or Never" reached 21 on the Music Vendor Country Singles chart.[15]
^"Surrender" reached 23 on the Music Vendor Country Singles chart.[15]
^"Wooden Heart" was not released as a single in the US and did not chart there until 1964 when it was released as the B-side for "Blue Christmas". However, it was first released as a single in 1961 in numerous other countries.
^"No More" was not released as a single in the US, but was released in various other countries.
^"Return to Sender" reached number 1 on the Cashbox and Music Vendor singles charts.[18]
^"Mexico" was not released as a single in the US, but was released in several European countries and elsewhere.
^"Fun in Alcapulco" was not released as a single in the US, but was released in certain countries including Australia and Japan.
^"Blue Christmas" reached number 18 on the Gavin airplay chart in 1964 and 1 on the Billboard Rock Streaming Songs chart in 2018 and first reached the Billboard top 40 in 2019, peaking in 2024 at number 18.[24][25]
^"Blue Christmas" reached number 1 on the Billboard Christmas Singles Chart in 1964 and 1973.[26]
^"Blue Christmas" reached number 55 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart in 1998.
^"If Every Day Was Like Christmas" reached number 99 on the Record World singles chart,[18] and 39 on the Gavin airplay chart.[20]
^"If Every Day Was Like Christmas" reached number 2 on the Billboard Christmas Singles Chart in 1966.[26]
^"You Gotta Stop" was not released as a single in the US, but was released in the UK.
^"Hi-Heel Sneakers" reached 69 on the Cash Box and 78 on the Record World singles charts.
^"You'll Never Walk Alone" reached number 73 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart in 1982.
^"In the Ghetto" reached number 1 on the Cashbox and Record World singles charts.[18]
^"I Just Can't Help Believin'" was not released as a single in the US, but was released in the UK and various other countries.
^"Burning Love" reached number 1 on the Cashbox singles chart.[18]
^"Burning Love" reached number 23 on the Cash Box Country singles chart.
^"Separate Ways" reached number 30 on the Cash Box and 19 on the Record World Country singles charts.
^"Polk Salad Annie" was not released as a single in the US, but was released in the UK and various other European countries.
^"Take Good Care of Her" reached number 8 on the Record World Country singles chart.
^"Green Green Grass of Home" was not released as a single in the US, but was released in the UK and several others countries.
^"My Way" reached number 1 on the Cashbox Country Singles chart.[28]
^"Softy, as I Leave You" reached number 6 on the Record World Country singles chart.
^"It Won't Seem Like Christmas (Without You)" was not released as a single in the US, but was released in other countries.
^This live version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" was not released as a single in the US, but was released in the UK and various other countries.
^"Baby, I Don't Care" was not released as a single in the US, but was released in the UK.
^"I Can Help" was not released as a single in the US, but was released in the UK and several other countries.
^This version of "Mean Woman Blues" was not released in the US, but was released in the UK and several other countries.
^"A Little Less Conversation" reached 26 on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart[22] and number 1 on the Single Sales chart.[29]
^"Rubbernekin" reached number 1 on the Single Sales and Hot Dance Single Sales charts.[30]
^"Pocketful of Rainbows" was not released as a single in the US, but was released in the Netherlands in 2011.
^"Peace in the Valley" reached number 33 on the Music Vendor Country singles chart.
^"Lover Doll" was not released as a single in the US but reached number 2 on the Gavin airplay chart.[20]
^"Trouble" was not released as a single in the US but reached number 4 on the Gavin airplay chart.[20]
^"Crawfish" was not released as a single in the US but reached number 5 on the Gavin airplay chart.[20]
^"Young Dreams" was not released as a single in the US but reached number 9 on the Gavin airplay chart.[20]
^"Fever" was not released as a single in the US but reached number 28 on the Gavin airplay chart.[20]
^"Such a Night" was not released as a single in the US but reached number 24 on the Gavin airplay chart.[20]
^"G.I. Blues" was not released as a single in the US but reached number 5 on the Gavin airplay chart.[20]
Guralnick, Peter and Jorgensen, Ernst (1999). Elvis: Day By Day – The Definitive Record of His Life and Music. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN0-345-42089-6
Jorgensen, Ernst (1998). Elvis Presley: A Life In Music – The Complete Recording Sessions. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN0-312-18572-3
