In more ways than one these two greats came from a different place. Blue Hawaii (1961) The second-most commercially successful LP of the 60s (behind only the soundtrack to West Side Story) is this iconic soundtrack, which comes as close to having a unifying concept as Elvis ever got, Christmas and Christ excepted. [6], FTD (Follow That Dream), Sony Music's Official Elvis Presley Collectors label, was established in 1999 to serve the dedicated Elvis collector and to complement the commercial and artistic level of RCA's retail release schedule by issuing repertoire that is considered of interest to serious Elvis fans and collectors, material that is generally not part of mainstream RCA label releases to the public at large. That's about as many records as Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin have sold during their entire existence! Good Times (1974) Okay times. Youve got some Janning to do! To add some complexity, releases arent automatic on them, some albums were issued at BMG Music Club, others at Columbia House, some at both and some at none. Double Trouble (1967) Advertised as an adventure filled with dames, diamonds, discotheques, and danger, this movie featured a soundtrack for which the recording sessions once again got Elvis so mad that he stormed out of the studio. Elvis doesnt quite convince you to rock out with the explicit dance instructions on the title track (clap your hands real loud and turn your head to the left) but it starts the album off with vim, which is followed by Elviss pleasant request for heavenly kisses on Angel. The rocker Easy Come, Easy Go comes and goes easily, as does this whole album, which sustains a light tone, unlike the laborious country-oriented material on Elviss other LPs from this period. This was the first time rock-and-roll songs had been compiled into a hits-collection LP, in this case consisting of crisply remastered versions of the million-selling rockers and ballads released throughout 56 and 57 as singles, including the thrilling Hound Dog, the majestically lonesome Heartbreak Hotel, and the simply beautiful Love Me Tender. Despite being a Colonel Parker cash grab a designation that could be given to so much of Elviss ensuing work meant to tide over fans during the first stretch of Elviss two-year showbiz break, its a splendid summation of his pre-Army highlights, not arranged chronologically, but for listening pleasure. Guinness World Records recognizes him as the best-selling solo artist in the world, selling up to 1 billion records globally. The title song conjures mysterious Western astrology, and Night Life introduces some of the urbane shine of Viva Las Vegas. 24. However, once US exports to Canada are excluded, then it would seem that less than 4 million of those were actually sold to the home market. Is Elvis the Biggest Selling Recording Artist? 23. ** It is true that sales returns for many individual titles particularly between March 1973 and January 1976 and August 1977 and August 1978 are incomplete because of computer problems and changes - but RCA still have an audited record of the overall annual, albeit unallocated figures for that period. 47. According to Elvis records, more than one billion records have been sold around the world, making him the most popular artist ever. Another frustration is the absence of information about non-traditional releases. There is also the Movie Soundtrack Series, usually released as a single CD but again in deluxe 7" packaging with booklet.[45][46]. Please notice that these statistics do not include Follow That Dream releases they will be treated later on this same article. I would rate RCA Victors Elvis Christmas Album from 1957 and RCA Camdens Elvis Christmas Album from 1970 as two separate albums, because while 8 songs out of 10 were same on both albums, the 1970 release has If Every Day Was Like Christmas and Mama Liked the Roses songs which were not even recorded in 1957. 56. 29. How many gospel albums did Elvis Presley make? How many albums has Elvis Presley sold? - Answers You\'ll receive the next newsletter in your inbox. No part of any article on this site may be re-printed for public display without permission. Im Comin Home attempts a rock-and-roll revival at the top of the B side and just about achieves it. Guralnick, Peter and Jorgensen, Ernst (1999). The RIAA certify all sales of a disc including re-releases, whether or not there has been a change in the catalogue number, provided the inclusion of any additional tracks, does not bring the total to more than 17. 15. Required fields are marked *. 2. 38. Amazing Grace. The title track tries to explain how to get your best girl excited on the drag strip and, despite the occasional genuine revving sound, never fully turns over. The statistics show that in the UK market, for example, overall sales of records had climbed from 66 million units in 1959 to over 100 million by 1964. All told, there is less than 20% of his albums for which we do own that key sales indicator, and for most of them the number is outdated. how many albums did elvis sell - mettaphysicalreiki.com Over the course of Elvis' life, he achieved some of the highest accolades in music and film. They got this hit soundtrack out of the odd concept, and a bit of insulting fun out of the repurposed Coasters tune Little Egypt about a guy having his mind blown by an exotic dancer, which is the highlight. Elvis Presley is second in the U.S., with 135 million sold. . On the eccentric Im Yours, we have the rare experience of hearing Elvis close-harmonizing with himself over some weirdly isolated organ, providing a nicely unsettling hall-of-mirrors effect. The Polynesian furniture was cleared out of Graceland to make room for a recording setup to capture performances from the waning singer in between his obsessive viewings of Charles Bronson in Death Wish. 41. Elvis Presley recorded 18 albums from 1956 through 1977. He sold over 600 million records in his lifetime, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. Promised Land (1975) A 40th-birthday gift from E: the release of a second batch of songs from the same Stax sessions that wrought the middling Good Times, though Chuck Berrys title track opens this album with more energy than its predecessor (even if there are too many words for the singer to enunciate). Whereas Elvis' claim to musical prowess was based on the magnificent instrument that was his voice allied to the sheer scale of his vision and his extraordinary interpretative powers, that of the Beatles rests on their superb songwriting skills, craftsmanship and inventiveness. In the studio, he makes the most of Percy Mayfields alienation on Stranger in My Own Home Town and a soft wet kiss from Neil Diamond on And the Grass Wont Pay No Mind. The live set is more fiery, starting with breakneck versions of classics like Johnny B. Goode and Blue Suede Shoes interspersed with the Kings laughter and self-mocking banter: He calls himself bigger now (size-wise). "The Wonder of You" reached number 1 on the Billboard Classical Albums and the Billboard Classical Crossover Albums charts. In this scattered context of cutting-room scraps, even the most ridiculous stuff like Shes a Machine and Do the Vega contributes to an entertainingly cubist rendering of the King. The newly written title track, released as the single, is lyrically unique as a fairly detailed rundown of Elviss musical upbringing, but doesnt especially rock. By now, I suspect that most fans realize that Elvis Presley's sales figures have also not been immune to the odd spot of massaging over the years. Elvis Country (Im 10,000 Years Old) (1971), 15. How many albums did Elvis record? - Answers So whether RCA simply looked at the total sales figures up to that point, current sales, or probably both, the conclusions reached may have been the same. From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee, Elvis As Recorded at Madison Square Garden, Singer Presents Elvis Singing Flaming Star and Others, Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas, From Memphis to Vegas/From Vegas to Memphis, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Fun in Acapulco (1963) Presley plays another romantically persistent boat worker in this movie, and we get another soundtrack of Elvis exotica. It is estimated that more than one billion Elvis records have been sold worldwide, more than anyone in record industry history. Elvis (NBC-TV Special) (1968) These are the live performances from the TV comeback that got Elvis excited about performing again, with good reason after his long slew of soundtrack obligations. Spinout (1966) The older rock-and-roll tune Stop, Look and Listen that kicks off another Elvis race-car musical brings some heat that his last few soundtracks lacked, followed by an energetic but misogynistic song called Adam and Evil and a couple silken ballads like the self-doubting Am I Ready? that go down easy enough. ), to be consistent we need to treat these older releases the same way! On Scratch My Back, Elvis coaxes his lover to get rid of our itch together, and Queenie Wahines Papaya turns the soothing fruit into an aggravating tongue-twister. Raised on Rock / For Ol Times Sake (1973), Theres a Honky Tonk Angel (Wholl Take Me Back In), 23. Elvis Presley 23 Studio albums, 8 Live albums, 13 Compilation albums, 29 EPs, 18 Soundtrack albums, 30 Box sets, 115 Posthumous compilations, and 11 Remix albums. Hes an impatient lover for the umpteenth time on Do Not Disturb, and chastises The Meanest Girl in Town on the closest this album gets to rock and roll. All 57 Elvis Presley Albums Ranked, From Worst to Best - Vulture Elvis released his first album in 1956, and continued to put out records until his death in 1977. The closing track, Thats Someone You Never Forget, credited to Elvis and his high-school buddy Red West and which may or may not be about the passing of Elviss beloved mother, Gladys, is haunting, though tonally far out of step with the rest of the record. var cx = 'partner-pub-3868619518247857:4666236348'; 57. Love Letters From Elvis (1971) Why not get three albums for the price of two? Further Sony/RCA have released more than 250 uncertified albums in the USA alone (including Record Club only issues) over the years, some of which may only have sold as little as 50,000 copies apiece but they all add up. This year, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the release of Presleys first record, his widow, Priscilla, and RCA have put together a massive box set presenting the Kings original recording career, pretty much unabridged. Copyright 2022 by www.elvis.com.au & www.elvispresley.com.au, https://www.elvis.com.au/presley/one-billion-record-sales.shtml. Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound. If you subtract 260 million from 500-600 million, that suggests Elvis Presley has sold anywhere from 240 to 360 million records after he was dead. Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis (1974) At this point, Elvis hadnt played his hometown in 13 years, so why not make a major commercial enterprise of the last show of a big tour? David Bowie's handwritten lyrics set to sell for 70,000 at auction. Elvis Presley's songs are unforgettable - they have stood the test of time, especially his singles of the 1950s, a decade in which he had a song at No. Beginning in 1954, he recorded at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who aimed to popularize African-American music. It has sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Such a requirement can obviously be that much more, if any third parties with little or no interest in the subject are involved in the process. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Offscreen, he was one himself. Something for Everybody (1961) Elviss third post-Army record (he served, mostly in Germany, from 1958 to 1960) opens with the moody and introspective Don Robertson crooner Theres Always Me, but ditches the midnight mood thereafter, instead continuing with well-sung country-pop. How To Find Elvis Presley Albums | Ben Vaughn King Creole (1958) Elviss favorite movie role was as the new star of the King Creole nightclub, and the accompanying soundtrack album was also something strong. For LP Fans Only (1959) A thoroughly enjoyable mixture of early RCA singles plus a couple of his first Sun singles newly issued on LP, this was designed to keep Elvis fans satiated with new product during his Army stint, and Elvis had terrific stuff in his back pocket. Elvis Presley was one of the most popular musicians of the 20th century. s.parentNode.insertBefore(gcse, s); 49. I dont see anywhere in the Elvis articles where its noted that RIAA certification of 1 million is units not copies shipped. I Got Lucky (1971) These are the rest of the songs from the four 60s Elvis movies without soundtrack LPs that had been previously compiled on Cmon Everybody. As a reminder, Soundscan is the process which scans every sale at retailers since the start of 1991. All Rights Reserved. + $4.35 shipping. Did he really sell one billion records as has been frequently claimed? Elvis and his original band distill r&b, country, blues, and rockabilly into primal pop music. Its a rare Elvis album from the 60s that was recorded with the intention of forming a distinct record i.e., it wasnt yet another soundtrack. Elvis Sings The Wonderful World of Christmas (1971) Elviss second Christmas album isnt as rock and roll as his 50s go at a holiday recording, but its infused with his later-period showmanship (check the extravagant flourishes of Winter Wonderland) and deploys his bigger-band sound and powerhouse vocals to bolster a selection of overly familiar chestnuts. Elvis is the leading sales artist for both Solo Artist or Group. In 1959 RCA put total sales at 50 million; in 1960/1 75 million; in 1964/5- 125 million; in 1970 - 250 million, in 1976 - 400 million and at death a bit over 450 million, which the media rounded up to 500 million. Listen to that yearning, playful, courting voice cut through gorgeously on songs like Tryin to Get to You and youll understand what John Lennon meant when he said Elvis was bigger than religion in my life ..