This release compiles all of Elvis Presley’s top 20 Billboard Hits during the years of 1956-1958, beginning with his first across-the-board chart hit “Heartbreak Hotel”. These small band recordings are widely regarded as the finest work of the King’s career and among the greatest recordings in rock and roll history! After graduating from L.C. Humes high school in Memphis in 1953, Elvis visited the studios of the Memphis Recording Service (the home of Sam Phillips’ Sun Records) to record two tracks as a gift to his mom. Phillips was drawn to the emotional quality of Elvis’ voice and looking for a white singer with a black feel, he teamed Elvis up with guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black. Elvis’ Sun recordings established the basic language of rock and marked the birth of rockabilly, which fused country with R&B. After that, His contract was then sold to RCA Records, where his career quickly took off. His last singles for Sun and first for RCA, “I Forgot to Remember to Forget”, rose all the way to #1 on the country charts. Elvis first across-the-board hit was “Heartbreak Hotel”, which remained the number one Billboard pop single for eight weeks; hit the number one spot in the country charts, and even rose to number 5 on the R&B charts. From this point forward Elvis would become a regular figure atop the Billboard charts. The Billboard charts are music sales and airplay reports divided over several genres that are distributed to the general public by Billboard magazine. Billboard is considered the foremost international authority with respect to the rankings of song sales and airplay dating back to the magazine’s January 4, 1936 edition that contained its first “hit parade”. 1. Heartbreak Hotel 2. I Was the One 3. Blue Suede Shoes 4. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You 5. Dont Be Cruel 6. Hound Dog 7. Anyway You Want Me (Thats How I Will Be) 8. Love Me Tender 9. Love Me 10. When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again 11. Too Much 12. All Shook Up 13. (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear 14. I Beg of You 15. One Night 16. Loving You 17. Jailhouse Rock 18. Treat Me Nice 19. Dont 20. Wear My Ring Around Your Neck 21. Doncha Think Its Time 22. Hard Headed Woman 23. I Got Stung
