Ranking Elvis Presley's best songs: Our picks vs. ChatGPT's
In 2017, on the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, The Commercial Appeal published a list of the singer’s 40 best hits. Compiled and written by senior reporters Bob Mehr, John Beifuss and former editors David Williams and Chris Herrington, the list tried in some small way to shift the focus from Elvis’ image to his artistry.
Rather than rest upon on the legend of Elvis as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, The CA song selection — especially its top 10 tracks — instead seized on Presley as a revolutionary artist, a “sing all kinds” boundary smasher and versatile vocalist.
Now, in 2023, with artificial intelligence all the rage (or something to rage against), we thought it would be interesting to query ChatGPT and see what it would assess as the “10 best Elvis Tracks” as compared to The CA list.
Elvis' best songs: The Commercial Appeal's picks
The CA’s 2017 Elvis songs offered a mix of both iconic and lesser-known tracks, leaning heavily on his two most important eras recording music in Memphis — the mid-‘50s at Sun and late-‘60s at American Studios — as well as a smattering of early RCA era hits. The CA’s 10 best Elvis tracks included the following:
“That’s All Right” (1954): Elvis’ first single, recorded at Sun Studio on July 5, 1954. It clocks in at under 2 minutes and sounds so simple, so inevitable now. But its grace still startles.
“Mystery Train” (1955): Originally recorded in 1953 by bluesman Junior Parker and the Blue Flames and produced by Sam Phillips for Sun Records. Elvis reinvented it in the same room two years later for his final Sun single. Elvis’ rendition — faster and somehow more haunting than Parker’s original — augured big changes.
“Hound Dog” (1956): First recorded by Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, it was a No. 1 rhythm & blues hit in 1953. But the song is synonymous with Elvis who, acting as his own producer, swapped out words, souped up the tempo and created, as cultural critic Greil Marcus wrote, “a sound for which no one was prepared.”
“Don’t Be Cruel” (1956): An Otis Blackwell-penned song that was the flipside of “Hound Dog,” the track features Bill Black and D.J. Fontana popping from the jump and the Jordanaires having perhaps their finest backup vocal moment. “Don’t Be Cruel” positively swings before Elvis really gets ahold of it. But when he does, it’s as easeful a vocal as he ever recorded.
“Heartbreak Hotel” (1956): “Heartbreak Hotel” is utterly distinctive, not at all a harbinger of Hound Dogs and Teddy Bears; instead, it’s a noirish environmental portrait inspired by a real-life suicide, an evocation of “gloom” populated by “broken-hearted lovers,” a crying bellhop, a dress clerk “dressed in black” — people so lonely “they could die,” including the singer himself.
“Suspicious Minds” (1969): Elvis built his legend fusing country, blues and gospel — you know, helping create rock 'n' roll — but this tempest of longing and recrimination (first line: “We’re caught in a trap”) is a grown-up soul music all his own.
“Good Rockin’ Tonight” (1954): Elvis’ second Sun single, done originally by Roy Brown and later Wynonie Harris. But they both sound like guys getting ready for a good time they’ve had plenty of times before. Only 19, Elvis sings it with more shock, and more delight, testifying like the town crier of the rock 'n' roll revolution.
“Blue Moon of Kentucky” (1954) Originally recorded as a waltz in 1947 by bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe, the song was a familiar hit in the South. Seven years later, Elvis would cut it himself, tarting up the tune with a hiccupy blues-pop reading during his famed July 1954 session at Sun (the same one that yielded “That’s All Right”), thus earning his sobriquet as the “Hillbilly Cat.”
“Blue Moon” (1956): Here, Elvis’ singing is the most ethereal of his career and, though it’s a ballad, a standard even, maybe the wildest. He sings like a spirit. Here’s the ghost of Elvis, more than 20 years before his actual death.
“Stranger in My Own Hometown” (1969): Though it was passed over for inclusion on his comeback LP, “From Elvis in Memphis,” this song captures the essential meaning of that session — and of that moment in Elvis’ career. Percy Mayfield’s original version is a fine record, but Elvis, finally unleashed, blows it away, with power, desperation and, crucially, a self-aware black humor culled from his own artistic exile to Hollywood and transformative return to a city whose music scene had evolved just fine in his absence.
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Elvis' best songs: ChatGPT's picks
When we logged on to ChatGPT and asked it “What are Elvis Presley’s ten best songs?”, the responses generally included many of his most famous songs, making for a slightly more predictable list. Interestingly, ChatGPT seemed to favor, almost exclusively, Presley's early RCA sides from the 1950s. A couple American Studios tracks from the late '60s and one movie musical choice round out the list.
Here are ChatGPT’s top Elvis tracks and what it said about each:
"Hound Dog" (1956): This bluesy rock and roll anthem became one of Elvis's signature songs.
"Jailhouse Rock" (1957): A high-energy rock and roll track, featured in the movie of the same name.
"Can't Help Falling in Love" (1961): A beautiful and timeless ballad that has become one of his most enduring love songs.
"Suspicious Minds" (1969): One of Elvis's late-career hits, this song showcases his vocal prowess and emotional depth.
"Love Me Tender" (1956): Originally a Civil War ballad, Elvis made it his own and turned it into a romantic classic.
"Heartbreak Hotel" (1956): One of his early hits, this song is a haunting portrayal of heartache and loneliness.
"Blue Suede Shoes" (1956): An energetic and influential rockabilly track that has become synonymous with Elvis's style.
"Don't Be Cruel" (1956): A catchy and upbeat song that topped the charts and became a rock and roll standard.
"All Shook Up" (1957): A lively and infectious tune that became one of his biggest hits.
"In the Ghetto" (1969): This powerful song addresses social issues and remains one of Elvis's most poignant works.
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The ChatGPT list did conclude with a qualifier, noting that “this list is subjective, and different fans may have their own personal favorites.”
The site also added a sentiment we can agree with: “Elvis Presley's discography is vast and diverse, so there are many other fantastic songs worth exploring beyond these ten.”
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What are Elvis' best songs? Here's what AI said
