Why this album mattered

Elvis Presley is the debut studio album by American singer Elvis Presley, released by RCA Victor on March 23, 1956. Elvis Presley was also one of three Presley albums to receive accolades in the reference book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In the 1950s, general practice dictated tracks having greater commercial potential to be released as singles, with tracks of lesser appeal placed on albums; as such, RCA Victor neither took all eleven tracks and simply made an album, nor placed the already released and briskly selling "Heartbreak Hotel" on it. It reached #65 and charted for 18 weeks. Major singles from the album include "U S Male".