This is Part 5 of an endless countdown of Elvis Presley’s 711 master recordings from worst to best.

Read Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

We continue our list with songs in the Above Average/Worth Listening category. This is one fan’s opinion.

#300 Are You Lonesome Tonight (Live-1968)
A Legendary Performer, Volume 1

#299 Almost In Love (1968)
Almost In Love

#298 It Is No Secret (1957)
Elvis’ Christmas Album

#297 Fool (1972)
Elvis (Fool)

#296 Charro (1968)
Almost In Love

#295 Life (1970)
Love Letters From Elvis

#294 Are You Sincere (1973)
Raised On Rock

#293 You Gave Me A Mountain (Live-1973)
Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite

#292 Blue Hawaii (1961)
Blue Hawaii

#291 Fountain Of Love (1962)
Pot Luck With Elvis

#290 Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall (1976)
From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee

#289 He Knows Just What I Need (1960)
His Hand In Mine

#288 Love Coming Down (1976)
From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee

#287 Johnny B. Goode (Live-1973)
Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite

#286 Lawdy, Miss Clawdy (Live-1974)
Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis

#285 An American Trilogy: Dixie/Battle Hymn Of The Republic/All My Trials (Live-1974)
Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis

#284 It’s Your Baby, You Rock It (1970)
Elvis Country: I’m 10,000 Years Old

#283 King Of The Whole Wide World (1961)
C’mon Everybody

#282 Shake, Rattle & Roll (1956)
For LP Fans Only

#281 Trouble/Guitar Man (1968)
ELVIS-TV Special

#280 An American Trilogy: Dixie/Battle Hymn Of The Republic/All My Trials (Live-1972)
As Recorded At Madison Square Garden

#279 What Now My Love (Live-1973)
Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite

#278 Memories (1968)
Memories (Single)

#277 It’s Now Or Never (1960)
Elvis’ Golden Records, Volume 3

#276 The Last Farewell (1976)
From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee

#275 Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)
That’s The Way It Is
Comment: Elvis’ studio version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” released during his lifetime suffered from an extremely poor mix as well as having applause overdubbed to simulate a live recording. RCA finally rectified this 25 years later with an improved mix that also had no applause overdubs on Heart & Soul. That version would rank much higher than #275, but, alas, this placement is based only on the original release.

#274 Don’t (1957)
50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong: Elvis’ Gold Records – Volume 2

#273 Green, Green Grass Of Home (1975)
Today

#272 And I Love You So (1975)
Today

#271 An Evening Prayer (1971)
He Touched Me

#270 It Won’t Seem Like Christmas (1971)
Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas

#269 Patch It Up (Live-1970)
That’s The Way It Is

#268 Bosom Of Abraham (1971)
He Touched Me

#267 Why Me, Lord (Live-1974)
with J.D. Sumner
Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis

#266 You’ll Think Of Me (1969)
From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis

#265 The Fair Is Moving On (1969)
From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis

#264 It’s Only Love (1971)
It’s Only Love (Single)

#263 Paralyzed (1956)
Elvis

#262 Pieces Of My Life (1975)
Today

#261 Words (Live-1969)
From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis

#260 Proud Mary (Live-1972)
As Recorded At Madison Square Garden

#259 I’m Movin’ On (1969)
From Elvis In Memphis

#258 Hey Jude (1969)
Elvis Now

#257 Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1965)
Paradise, Hawaiian Style

#256 Heart Of Rome (1970)
Love Letters From Elvis

#255 My Boy (1973)
Good Times

#254 Proud Mary (Live-1970)
On Stage: February 1970

#253 Suppose (1967)
Speedway

#252 Release Me (Live-1970)
On Stage: February 1970

#251 Singing Tree (1967)
Clambake

#250 Sylvia (1970)
Elvis Now
Comment: With #250 and lower on our list, we move into the Great/Must Hear category.

#249 Never Say Yes (1966)
Spinout

#248 Solitaire (1976)
From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee

#247 Speedway (1967)
Speedway

#246 That’s When Your Heartaches Begin (1957)
Elvis’ Golden Records

#245 All That I Am (1966)
Spinout

#244 This Is My Heaven (1965)
Paradise, Hawaiian Style

#243 Today, Tomorrow And Forever (1963)
C’mon Everybody

#242 I Beg Of You (1957)
50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong: Elvis’ Gold Records – Volume 2

#241 I Want You, I Need You, I Love You (1956)
Elvis’ Golden Records

#240 Any Way You Want Me (1956)
Elvis’ Golden Records

#239 A Big Hunk O’ Love (1958)
50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong: Elvis’ Gold Records – Volume 2

#238 Where Did They Go, Lord (1970)
Rags To Riches (Single)

#237 The Sound Of Your Cry (1970)
It’s Only Love (Single)

#236 Mine (1967)
Speedway

#235 Help Me (1973)
Promised Land

#234 I Need Somebody To Lean On (1963)
I Got Lucky

#233 If We Never Meet Again (1960)
His Hand In Mine

#232 Mansion Over The Hilltop (1960)
His Hand In Mine

#231 Do You Know Who I Am (1969)
From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis

#230 Inherit The Wind (1969)
From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis

#229 Sweet Caroline (Live-1970)
On Stage: February 1970

#228 I’ve Got A Thing About You, Baby (1973)
Good Times

#227 Somebody Bigger Than You And I (1966)
How Great Thou Art

#226 Runaway (Live-1969)
On Stage: February 1970

#225 A Big Hunk O’ Love (Live-1973)
Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite

#224 Patch It Up (1970)
Worldwide Gold Award Hits, Volume 2

#223 Where No One Stands Alone (1966)
How Great Thou Art

#222 We Call On Him (1967)
You’ll Never Walk Alone

#221 All I Needed Was The Rain (1967)
Singer Presents Elvis Singing Flaming Star And Others

#220 Love Song Of The Year (1973)
Promised Land

#219 If You Talk In Your Sleep (1973)
Promised Land

#218 You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me (1970)
That’s The Way It Is

#217 Mary In The Morning (1970)
That’s The Way It Is

#216 Shake A Hand (1975)
Today

#215 I’ll Remember You (Live-1973)
Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite

#214 Let Yourself Go (1967)
Speedway

#213 Tomorrow Is A Long Time (1966)
Spinout

#212 Tiger Man (Live-1968)
Singer Presents Elvis Singing Flaming Star And Others

#211 Johnny B. Goode (Live-1969)
From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis

#210 The Next Step Is Love (1970)
That’s The Way It Is

#209 Yesterday (Live-1970)
On Stage: February 1970

#208 An American Trilogy: Dixie/Battle Hymn Of The Republic/All My Trials (Live-1973)
Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite

#207 I’ve Lost You (Live-1970)
That’s The Way It Is

#206 Milky White Way (1960)
His Hand In Mine

#205 Let Us Pray (1969)
You’ll Never Walk Alone

#204 Twenty Days And Twenty Nights (1970)
That’s The Way It Is

#203 An American Trilogy: Dixie/Battle Hymn Of The Republic/All My Trials (Live-1972)
An American Trilogy (Single)

#202 I’ll Remember You (1966)
Spinout

#201 There Goes My Everything (1970)
I Really Don’t Want To Know (Single)

#200 Pocketful Of Rainbows (1960)
G.I. Blues

#199 Stand By Me (1966)
How Great Thou Art

#198 Separate Ways (1972)
Separate Ways

#197 Santa Bring My Baby Back (1957)
Elvis’ Christmas Album

#196 Blue Christmas (1957)
Elvis’ Christmas Album

#195 Little Cabin Home On The Hill (1970)
Elvis Country: I’m 10,000 Years Old

#194 I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water (1970)
Elvis Country: I’m 10,000 Years Old

#193 The Fool (1970)
Elvis Country: I’m 10,000 Years Old

#192 Without Him (1966)
How Great Thou Art

#191 Wonderful World (1968)
Singer Presents Elvis Singing Flaming Star And Others

#190 Only Believe (1970)
Love Letters From Elvis

#189 He’ll Have To Go (1976)
Moody Blue
Comment: “He’ll Have To Go” was the last song Elvis recorded in a studio setting. His last two sessions were held in his den at Graceland, which RCA converted into a temporary, makeshift studio, and they produced the albums From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee and Moody Blue.

#188 By And By (1966)
How Great Thou Art

#187 King Creole (1958)
King Creole

#186 Change Of Habit (1969)
Let’s Be Friends

#185 I’m Leavin’ (1971)
I’m Leavin’ (Single)

#184 Only The Strong Survive (1969)
From Elvis In Memphis

#183 If The Lord Wasn’t Walking By My Side (1966)
How Great Thou Art

#182 I’ve Got Confidence (1971)
He Touched Me
Comment: The inspirational “I’ve Got Confidence” is not to be confused with the abysmal “Confidence,” the worst Elvis song released in his lifetime.

#181 Farther Along (1966)
How Great Thou Art

#180 In The Garden (1966)
How Great Thou Art

#179 Where Do You Come From (1962)
Girls! Girls! Girls!

#178 So High (1966)
How Great Thou Art

#177 Swing Down, Sweet Chariot (1960)
His Hand In Mine

#176 Trouble (1958)
King Creole

#175 City By Night (1966)
Double Trouble

#174 Anyone (1963)
Kissin’ Cousins

#173 High Heel Sneakers (1967)
Guitar Man (Single)

#172 It’s Midnight (1973)
Promised Land

#171 We Can Make The Morning (1971)
Elvis Now

#170 You Asked Me To (1973)
Promised Land

#169 For Ol’ Times Sake (1973)
Raised On Rock

#168 Thinking About You (1973)
Promised Land

#167 Hawaiian Wedding Song (1961)
Blue Hawaii

#166 Money Honey (1956)
Elvis Presley

#165 Ku-u-i-po (1961)
Blue Hawaii

#164 You’ll Be Gone (1962)
Girl Happy

#163 Long Lonely Highway (1963)
Kissin’ Cousins

#162 Night Rider (1961)
Pot Luck With Elvis

#161 Suspicion (1962)
Pot Luck With Elvis

#160 Your Love’s Been A Long Time Coming (1973)
Promised Land

#159 How Great Thou Art (Live-1974)
Recorded Live On Stage In Memphis
Comment: This live version of “How Great Thou Art” earned Elvis his third and final Grammy Award.

#158 Known Only To Him (1960)
His Hand In Mine

#157 In My Father’s House (1960)
His Hand In Mine

#156 It’s Easy For You (1976)
Moody Blue

#155 Lead Me, Guide Me (1971)
He Touched Me

#154 Danny Boy (1976)
From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee

#153 Return To Sender (1962)
Girls! Girls! Girls!

#152 When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again (1956)
Elvis

#151 Mama Liked The Roses (1969)
Elvis’ Christmas Album (1970 Edition)

#150 Seeing Is Believing (1971)
He Touched Me

#149 Follow That Dream (1961)
C’mon Everybody

#148 Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain (1976)
From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee

#147 Never Again (1976)
From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee

#146 Indescribably Blue (1966)
Elvis’ Gold Records, Volume 4

#145 Silver Bells (1971)
Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas

#144 All Shook Up (Live-1969)
From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis

#143 If I Get Home On Christmas Day (1971)
Elvis Sings The Wonderful World Of Christmas

#142 A Fool Such As I (1958)
50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong: Elvis’ Gold Records – Volume 2

#141 Mean Woman Blues (1957)
Loving You

#140 Got A Lot O’ Livin’ To Do (1957)
Loving You

#139 I, John (1971)
He Touched Me

#138 Joshua Fit The Battle (1960)
His Hand In Mine

#137 Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues (1973)
Good Times

#136 Lovin’ Arms (1973)
Good Times

#135 In The Ghetto (Live-1969)
From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis

#134 I Can’t Stop Loving You (Live-1972)
As Recorded At Madison Square Garden

#133 Opening Riff/Blue Suede Shoes (Live-1969)
From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis

#132 Rock-A-Hula Baby (1961)
Blue Hawaii

#131 Bossa Nova Baby (1963)
Fun In Acapulco

#130 Hard Headed Woman (1958)
King Creole

#129 Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Elvis Presley

#128 Stay Away (1968)
Almost In Love
Comment: Unfortunately, there are no known recordings of Elvis singing “What Child Is This.” However, we at least have “Stay Away,” which is based on the same tune (“Greensleeves”), to give us an idea of how it might have sounded.

#127 I Want You With Me (1961)
Something For Everybody

#126 Also Sprach Zarathustra/Opening Riff/See See Rider (Live-1973)
Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite

#125 Burning Love (Live-1973)
Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite

#124 She Thinks I Still Care (1976)
Moody Blue

#123 As Long As I Have You (1958)
King Creole

#122 Treat Me Nice (1957)
Elvis’ Golden Records

#121 Hurt (1976)
From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee

#120 You Don’t Know Me (1967)
Clambake
Comment: I first heard “You Don’t Know Me” by Ray Charles in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day. At the time, I didn’t know it was actually an older song, and I wished Elvis had recorded it. Several months later, I bought the new boxed set ELVIS: From Nashville To Memphis – The Essential 60s Masters I and was shocked to discover that Elvis had indeed recorded it! I don’t think I’ve ever had a retroactive wish granted so swiftly. It’s Groundhog Day! I first heard “You Don’t Know Me” by Ray Charles in the 1993 movie Groundhog Day. At the time, I didn’t know it was actually an older song, and I wished Elvis had recorded it. . . .

#119 Just Because (1954)
Elvis Presley

#118 Way Down (1976)
with J.D. Sumner
Moody Blue

#117 Hound Dog (Live-1969)
From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis

#116 Too Much (1956)
Elvis’ Golden Records

#115 Blue Christmas (Live-1968)
ELVIS-TV Special

#114 Make Me Know It (1960)
Elvis Is Back!

#113 His Latest Flame (1961)
Elvis’ Golden Records, Volume 3

#112 Viva Las Vegas (1963)
Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits, Volume 1

#111 My Babe (Live-1969)
From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis

#110 Baby, I Don’t Care (1957)
A Date With Elvis

#109 Suspicious Minds (Live-1973)
Aloha From Hawaii via Satellite

#108 Polk Salad Annie (Live-1972)
As Recorded At Madison Square Garden

#107 Suspicious Minds (Live-1972)
As Recorded At Madison Square Garden

#106 Suspicious Minds (Live-1969)
From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis
Comment: A number of other live versions of “Suspicious Minds” captured during this same 1969 Vegas engagement were stronger than this one from the August 26 Dinner Show and would have placed much higher on my list had they been released in his lifetime. This is one of the more frustrating aspects of being confined to the master recordings.

#105 I’m Comin’ Home (1961)
Something For Everybody

#104 Bringing It Back (1975)
Today

#103 I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (1954)
For LP Fans Only

#102 Milkcow Blues Boogie (1954)
A Date With Elvis

#101 Edge Of Reality (1968)
Almost In Love

To Be Continued . . .

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“So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.”
Joshua 6:20