The biggest music star in history built an entire kingdom by taking secret songs from other artists. Elvis Presley had wild dance moves and a charming smile that made the whole world fall in love instantly. But his real journey to the top started by grabbing hidden tracks and turning them into pure magic leaving behind at least five massive hits you probably never knew were actually covers.
Elvis got his very first big break in 1954 with a fast track called That’s Alright. This famous debut was actually written by a blues singer named Arthur Big Boy Crudup years before. Elvis did the exact same thing with a huge hit called Hound Dog just two years later. This catchy track was originally recorded by a famous singer named Big Mama Thornton in 1953.
The King also knew how to take old sweet melodies and turn them into huge movie hits. Elvis needed a really good song for his very first western film and found the perfect inspiration in the past. He completely rewrote an old Civil War tune called Aura Lee to create his famous love song Love Me Tender.
Even his later music included borrowed words that perfectly matched his own sad life events. Elvis released a very famous track called Always On My Mind in 1972 after a bad breakup. This beautiful song debuted as a tune by Gwen McCrae and Brenda Lee before he ever sang it.
Elvis Presley – That’s All Right (Official Audio)
In early 1956, Elvis recorded the fifth and most famous cover track about a pair of colorful shoes. The song Blue Suede Shoes has a bright and happy energy that makes you want to get up and dance right away. You can easily hear the pure joy and excitement in his voice when you listen to the official audio today.
This bouncy track was a perfect mix of country and rhythm and blues music. Rockabilly pioneer Carl Perkins actually wrote this fun shoe song first after a funny chat with Johnny Cash. Even though his friend released it first, Elvis took the tune and made it a massive global sensation.
Elvis Presley – Blue Suede Shoes (Official Audio)
Taking someone else’s hard work and turning it into pure gold became his special trick. Elvis Presley changed the music industry forever and left behind a musical legacy that will never fade away. Even today, his voice is the only one we think of when these classic hits play on the radio.