70 Years Ago Today: Legendary Singer Recorded Two Future No. 1 Hit Songs

Thursday is the milestone 70th anniversary of a music icon recording two of his signature songs that would top the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.

After graduating from high school in 1953, an 18-year-old Elvis Presley paid a visit to the Memphis Recording Service (now Sun Studio) in Memphis, Tennessee. On July 18, Presley recorded “My Happiness” and “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” at the studio.

It wasn’t until 1956, however, that Presley burst onto the national music scene. His first album, Elvis Presley, was released on March 23, 1956. The album included hit songs such as covers of Carl Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes” and Ray Charles’ “I Got a Woman.”

More exposure on top national television programs like The Milton Berle Show and The Stage Show helped Elvis grow his name and brand. Having already established himself as the next big thing on the rock and roll scene, it was time for a 21-year-old Presley to take it to another level.

On July 2, 1956, Elvis walked into RCA Studios in New York City and recorded three future hit songs: “Any Way You Want Me,” “Don’t Be Cruel” and a cover of Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog.” The latter two were released just 11 days after the recordings.

Seventy years later, “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Hound Dog” hold special legacies as two of Presley’s most iconic and recognizable hits.

‘Don’t Be Cruel’ and ‘Hound Dog’ Both Reached No. 1 on the ‘Billboard’ Hot 100

As noted by the American Songwriter magazine, both “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Hound Dog” reached No. 1 on the Billboard’s The Top 100 (now Billboard Hot 100). In their 2004 rankings of the 500 greatest songs of all time, Rolling Stone placed “Don’t Be Cruel” and Presley’s version of “Hound Dog” at No. 200 and No. 19 on the list, respectively.

The King of Rock and Roll would perform both songs during his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on Sept. 9, 1956.