“Don’t Be Cruel / Hound Dog” – Doyle’s Space: Music Hall of Fame – SOS Award

The single “Don’t Be Cruel” / “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor on July 13, 1956, is widely considered one of the most important double A-side records in rock and roll history. Both tracks became massive hits and showcased Presley’s unique ability to blend rhythm and blues, country, and pop,

helping to bring rock and roll into the American mainstream. It was issued as a 45 rpm single with catalog number 47-6604, and both songs were recorded on July 2, 1956, at RCA’s Studio 1 in New York. “Don’t Be Cruel”, the A-side, was written by Otis Blackwell, with Elvis Presley receiving co-writing credit (a common practice at the time,

often in exchange for recording the song, though Presley reportedly did make minor changes). The song features a gently swinging beat, a catchy melody, and expressive vocals, supported by The Jordanaires’ gospel-influenced harmonies. Lyrically, the song is a plea from a lover asking his partner not to be heartless, framed in simple but direct language. “Don’t Be Cruel” was an immediate success,

eventually reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Top 100 chart and holding the top spot for 11 weeks, a record at the time. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002 and remains a staple of Presley’s recorded legacy.

The B-side, “Hound Dog,” was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and had originally been recorded in 1952 by blues singer Big Mama Thornton, whose version was rawer and more menacing. Presley’s version, in contrast, was faster, with a rockabilly feel and prominent use of slap-back echo and percussive guitar riffs by Scotty Moore.

His energetic, sexually suggestive performance of the song—particularly during television appearances like The Milton Berle Show—provoked both fan hysteria and widespread controversy, fueling his reputation as a cultural revolutionary. Though technically the B-side, “Hound Dog” also reached No. 1, and both songs shared the top spot for several weeks. The single sold over 4 million copies in the U.S.

and remains one of Elvis’s best-selling releases. Both songs were re-recorded in live settings multiple times throughout Elvis’s career. “Don’t Be Cruel” was a concert staple during the 1970s, often paired with “Teddy Bear,” while “Hound Dog”

became one of his signature numbers, frequently used to close shows. The dual success of the single also contributed to changing how Billboard tracked chart performance, showing that B-sides could perform as strongly—or even more strongly—than the designated A-side.

Among the many accolades, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame listed both tracks in its “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll”, and Rolling Stone included them in various iterations of their “Greatest Songs of All Time” lists. The record was a major reason Presley became the first artist to simultaneously top all three major Billboard charts: pop, R&B, and country. Trivia: The July 2 recording session where both songs were laid down

was the same one where “Any Way You Want Me” was also cut, making it one of the most productive in pop music history. Remarkably, RCA executives were initially skeptical about releasing “Hound Dog” at all, fearing it was too raw for mainstream audiences. The single’s success proved otherwise. In 1958, the record became one of the first to be certified gold by the RIAA.