Monday, May 16, 2016

SWEET 16: ELVIS and THE BEATLES

It's the age-old question ... Elvis or The Beatles?  (Hey, I love them both ... but rock music purists always seem to want you to choose.  Uma Thurman even asks John Travolta that question in a scene cut from Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction"!)  Why can't it be Elvis AND The Beatles???

According to Billboard Magazine, Elvis had eighteen #1 Hits and The Beatles had twenty ... this makes The Beatles the chart champions, right?

Or does it?

The Beatles' #1 Records spent a total of 59 weeks on top of the charts ... while Elvis' eighteen chart-toppers stayed there for a total of 80 weeks ... so NOW who wins the battle?

For this special edition of SWEET 16 we rank their Biggest #1 Hits side by side.  (By the way, Elvis and The Beatles also scored the most two-sided hits ... for a complete listing as to how THESE records rank, be sure to visit our other Forgotten Hits web page ...
http://forgottenhits.com/the_top_200_two-sided_hits_of_all-time 

And now (he says in his best Casey Kasem voice), ON WITH THE COUNTDOWN!!!   

#16 - LET IT BE - The Beatles  (1970) 



#15 - DON'T - Elvis Presley  (1958)  



#14 - STUCK ON YOU - Elvis Presley  (1960) 



#13 - CAN'T BUY ME LOVE - The Beatles  (1964) 



#12 - GET BACK - The Beatles  (1969) 



#11 - IT'S NOW OR NEVER - Elvis Presley  (1960) 



#10 - JAILHOUSE ROCK - Elvis Presley  (1957)  



# 9 - TEDDY BEAR - Elvis Presley  (1957) 



# 8 - ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT - Elvis Presley  (1960) 



# 7 - LOVE ME TENDER - Elvis Presley  (1956)  



# 6 - HOUND DOG - Elvis Presley  (1956)



# 5 - I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND - The Beatles  (1964) 



# 4 - HEARTBREAK HOTEL - Elvis Presley  (1956) 



# 3 - ALL SHOOK UP - Elvis Presley  (1957) 



# 2 - HEY JUDE - The Beatles  (1968) 



# 1 - DON'T BE CRUEL - Elvis Presley  (1956) 



Hands-down winner:  Elvis Presley, with 11 of the Top 16 #1 Hits.  And just look at what's missing!!!

"Yesterday" ... "She Loves You" ... "Help!" ... "Suspicious Minds" ... "Something" ... "Return To Sender" ... "In The Ghetto" ... you won't find a stronger one-two punch in rock and roll, 1956 - 1970.