Come on.

Out of the 100 million households there would have been a decent percentage (20% maybe) of people who were not even home, or were outside in the back yard, or whatever.

Guess what are Presley's two biggest songs on Last.FM?

Jailhouse Rock - 1,532,930
Hound Dog - 1,375,058

What's the significance of that?

It tells us that those are likely his two most listened to songs now in 2012, at least by the millions of people who use that site.

Jailhouse Rock just epitomizes everything that is great about rock & roll, much more so than Hound Dog imo.
The king's vocal approach on this song was significantly different than what had previously been the norm. When he adds that raw grit to his voice....there's just nobody else better. It's over with.

Fine, but that's mostly subjective. In terms of objective criteria, I think "Hound Dog" is the more important record.

Well it's not JUST about his voice, although that's definitely the main ingredient.
The solid pulsing rhythm of the song is also VERY rock & roll, whereas I think Hound Dog is kinda bouncy and 'poppy'.

But in terms of objective greatness/significance, they are both dangerously close and I dont see a landslide either way.

I just reeeeeally want Jailhouse to take that top spot.

Bouncy and poppy?

Are you sure you're not listening to "Sugartown" by Nancy Sinatra or something?

"Hound Dog" is much more raw and spontaneous. Not much production involved. Although I wish they hadn't added those fucking hand claps.

"Jailhouse Rock" is just a wee bit contrived and much more rehearsed. It was somewhat restrained so that it would fit correctly into the movie.

Here's how I ranked them on the "500 Greatest Popular Recordings" list:

12. Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley - 1957
17. Hound Dog - Elvis Presley - 1956
36. Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley - 1956
47. Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley - 1956

I'm not saying it's not rock & roll, but it's definitely a lot 'snappier' than Jailhouse Rock. I mean, you can snap your fingers along with the beat of the snare drum in the song. It's catchier, more of an 'ear-grabber'.
Jailhouse is just an explosive shit-hot rock & roll song.



More raw than Jailhouse Rock?? Gtfo....
That's 'tear-the-house-down' rock & roll at it's best.



Jeez, if THAT is restrained, then I shudder to think what it would be like if he really let loose...

No it's not.

His best raw rocker is "Good Rockin' Tonight."

But when it comes to raw rocking nothing by Elvis can compete with this:

The girls are screaming for Johnny Burnette, And it wasn't because he was handsome.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGYazw6n5e4[/youtube]

Johnny definitely looks like a handsome fucker to me.
No fag, just sayin'...

But at least we both agree on Jailhouse being highest for EP. I think Deany agreed to it as well.
I will always say that song defines the raw youthful spirit of Elvis (and rock in general) more than any other.

All Shook Up....not THAT is a poppy tune with no edge at all. Not that it matters, and I know it was popular, but above Baby Let's Play House? What Elvis did to those Arthur Crudup tunes was absolutely priceless. It's like he was updating them for a whole new generation.
I remember listening to Crudup's version of That's All Right, thinking it was gonna be pretty much in the same style. I was surprised to find it was actually a slow delta blues number. Elvis transformed it and breathed a whole new life into it.
Also, you dont think Milk Cow Blues could squeeze in there?

What would Milk Cow Blues be doing there? It never even hit the charts.. And BLPH ahead of ASU would simply be obscure.. A multi-platinum selling single below a song that didn't even make the hot 100?

You're right.

Let's get rid of "Time" by Pink Floyd. It was the flip side of a single (Us And Them) that only got to #101 on the Bubbling Under chart. "Time" never even bubbled under.