Most People Forget These 3 Elvis Presley Hits Were Actually Covers

Elvis Presley’s well-known recordings of “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Crying in the Chapel” and “Rags to Riches” were all covers, first recorded by other artists. The examples show how songs could become closely associated with Presley even when earlier versions existed, while also highlighting the range of material in his catalogue.

Carl Perkins wrote and first released “Blue Suede Shoes” in 1956; his version topped country radio, while Presley’s recording that year reached only the Top 20. Darrell Glenn first recorded “Crying in the Chapel” in 1953, before Presley’s version became a No. 1 single in 1960. Tony Bennett’s 1953 “Rags to Riches”, written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, spent eight weeks at No. 1; Presley later had a Top 20 hit with it in 1971.