‘Hound Dog’ — Elvis Presley
Willie Mae’s “Big Mama” Thornton had already had a hit with this song before Elvis Presley covered it. The King of Rock and Roll version, on the other hand, made it to number 19 on the Rolling Stone top 500. After hearing Freddie Bell and the Bellboys sing it in Las Vegas, he included it in his 1956 setlist. Later that year, on the Steve Allen Show, Presley famously serenaded a dog dressed in a top hat. He revealed, “It was a ridiculous appearance I ever did, and I regret ever doing it.” At any rate, “Hound Dog” became his best-selling single. It is now one of the best-selling singles in history.
‘Hound Dog’ — Elvis Presley
‘Rock Around The Clock’ — Bill Haley And The Comets
While this is a rock ‘n’ roll classic, Bill Haley’s version and the Comets are the most popular and well-known. The band released it to great acclaim in 1954. It came out on top in both the U.K. and the U.S., as well as charts from the United States. This is partly due to the fact that it was featured in the opening credits of The Blackboard Jungle. The song was dubbed “the world’s first rock anthem” by The Guardian, and it sparked riots in cinemas and schools. It could even be said to have paved the way for pop music as we know it today.
‘Rock Around The Clock’ — Bill Haley And The Comets