Elvis Presley Worldwide Sheet Music (1954 / 1955 / 1956)
By Chris Giles / Bob Pakes
The SHEET MUSIC that was published in conjunction with the many songs recorded by ELVIS PRESLEY has always been in high demand amongst collectors. A wide variety has been produced the world all over, and you can always find a bunch of them for sale at any given moment on the many online auction sites. Most sheets have a cool image of Elvis on the frontcover, their values/prices fit just about every wallet, and the sheets can be easily tucked away without taking up much space. Even though most sheet music collectors (like Elvis himself) are not able to read music, it still makes a lot of sense why Elvis Presley sheet music has always been a very popular collectible.
But how many of these sheets were produced and by which country, was there a sheet for each and every song, were the popular sheets ever re-printed, which are the more rarer ones, and probably the most asked question: what is actually out there in Elvis Presley Sheet Music land?
The answers to these questions cannot be foud in any book, and for many years I been thinking about taking a dive into this surprisingly unexplored territory. But where to start, what to include (and what not) and how to present the sheets in an attractive yet easy to navigate lay-out? And most of all I lacked good quality scans and the expertise to seriously contemplate such an ambitious project.
So what do you do? You ask CHRIS GILES, one of the world’s foremost experts on this subject (plus a big time Elvis Presley Sheet Music enthousiast himself), for help. About a week later I found over 250 (!!) high-resolution scans of sheet music in my mailbox, and the message that accompanied these sheets almost sounded like a threat to me: “For starters, here are the 1950’s sheets, the 60’s sheets will follow in due time”. Without the massive help of Chris, this article would not have existed.
This topic aims to offer the most complete “ELVIS PRESLEY SHEET MUSICOGRAPHY” available anywhere.
But a project of this magnitude can only grow with YOUR HELP!
So please take an active role in building the world’s largest collection by sharing (high quality) scans of any sheet that is still missing. Your help is highly appreciated.
Enjoy + Thank You!
HOW THIS ARTICLE IS BUILD UP:
– The song’s first official release date determines the chronological order in which the sheets are presented here.
– The empty boxes represent missing sheets that are known to exist. But there are more, especially with regard to the SUN songs.
– Sheets that were published in the 1950’s are the main focus of Part 1. Later publications (“The 50’s songs with 60’s frontcovers”) might come up in a future episode if enough interest and participation amongst Elvis sheet music enthousiasts has been established.
In the above photo we can see ten pieces of 1950’s sheet music on the wall. Notice that the only person in this image not wearing a suit and tie (and looking rather out of place with his 1956 funny hat) happens to be the man in full control of Elvis’ career. The gentleman third from the left is Elvis’ second manager Bob Neal.
July, 1954 | That’s All Right
October, 1954 | I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine
December, 1954 | You’re A Heartbreaker
May, 1955 | I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone
August, 1955 | Mystery Train
August, 1955 | I Forget To Remember To Forget
January, 1956 | Heartbreak Hotel
January, 1956 | I Was The One
March, 1956 | Blue Suede Shoes
March, 1956 | I’m Counting On You
March, 1956 | I Got A Woman
March, 1956 | One-Sided Love Affair
March, 1956 | I Love You Because
March, 1956 | Just Because
March, 1956 | Tutti Frutti
March, 1956 | Tryin’ To Get To You
March, 1956 | I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry
March, 1956 | I’ll Never Let You Go
March, 1956 | Blue Moon
March, 1956 | Money Honey
May, 1956 | I Want You, I Need You, I Love You
May, 1956 | My Baby Left Me
June, 1956 | Shake, Rattle And Roll
June, 1956 | Lawdy, Miss Clawdy
July, 1956 | Hound Dog
July, 1956 | Don’t Be Cruel
September, 1956 | Any Way You Want Me
September, 1956 | Love Me Tender
Here we have a photo from the rehearsals for Ed Sullivan on September 9, 1956.
We can see the Sheet Music to LOVE ME TENDER on the piano.
Below we have the Billboard Sheet Music chart (from December 29, 1956) that shows LOVE ME TENDER is at Nr. 1 (while LOVE ME is at Nr. 10).
October, 1956 | Rip It Up
October, 1956 | Love Me
October, 1956 | When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
October, 1956 | Long Tall Sally
October, 1956 | First In Line
October, 1956 | Paralyzed
October, 1956 | So Glad You’re Mine
October, 1956 | Old Shep
October, 1956 | Ready Teddy
October, 1956 | Any Place Is Paradise
October, 1956 | How’s The World Treating You
October, 1956 | How Do You Think I Feel
November, 1956 | Let Me
November, 1956 | Poor Boy
November, 1956 | We’re Gonna Move
November, 1956 | Love Me Tender Song Folio With Pictures
January, 1957 | Too Much
COMING SOON!
CREDITS:
The photo at the top of this page is the uncropped version of the most frequently used image on Elvis Sheet Music in the USA. It was taken by WILLIAM SPEER in July 1955.
Another Speer photograph from the same shoot was also used quite often, but this time in the UK and Australia. This photo can be seen here to the right, and once again in a completely uncropped original state.
THANKS:
– My sincere thanks to CHRIS GILES for taking the time to scan the hundreds of pieces of Sheet Music that will eventually be on display in this article.
– As always, many thanks to GER RIJFF for his help and motivation.
– Also a big thank you to JUAN LUIS for scanning/sharing some missing titles.
For a large selection of Sheet Music, plus just about everything else on your Elvis-Wantlist, please visit:
THE ELVIS SHOP LONDON
Looking good!
Do you have any idea when the sheet music for “Heartbreak Hotel” was first issued?
Around the time of the record release woud make sense, or do I not fully understand
your question, Tony?
Brilliant piece of work – a gem.
Well done guys.
Well done Bob, a superb layout.
I am forever on the search for Sheet Music I haven’t got (over 1,000 Worldwide pieces last time I checked) and this is really only the tip of the Iceberg. There are many Sheets from strange places.
So come on people, let’s see what you can add!
I will be sending in any ‘new’ Sheet that comes my way…..
Great work Bob! And Chris of course.
I’m very curious about the rest.
Greetz
I’ve no UK to add, but what a fantastic spread of early sheets, well done Bob and Chris.
KOOL! Thanks Bob and Chris! I am sure Part 2 will be a blast as well!
Some superb designs I’ve not seen before! Besides that, the uncropped Speer photos
are breathtaking. Where do they come from…an uncut contact sheet?! Va-va-voom !
Gents, dare I suggest to break away from the standard lay-out of 3 sheets, shoulder to shoulder, once in a while by doing a real gem larger in size just to keep the attention going. No matter the beauty of many of them, one will overlook some highlights when all are presented in the same size. It’s just an idea to play around with. Especially on the rarely seen Aussie sheets. Thank you guys.
Thank u.
Love the sheet music collection. I have many USA sheets. Always looking to add more!
Nice collection to see.
The photo with Elvis on the piano with sheet music for Love Me Tender is strange because Elvis couldn’t read musical notes. For recording he used demo versions and type written lyrics.
Fantastic, I love Elvis Sheet Music.
Next to collecting Elvis vintage vinyl, collecting his Sheet Music is just as much fun.
Thanks Bob.
Great topic. Some great pictures and some kool designs.
Look forward to the next batch.
Thank you Bob and Chris.
This is a great topic. I collect Elvis sheet musics ( I have over 100 so far), and I had an idea of making a photo book/price guide. I have over 360 scanned images of different sheet musics (the majority US versions) and am always looking for more scans. I added the ones you have on this page. I hope you will add more soon!
I you are looking for a specific image of one, I may have it. I have the scanned images of ‘Heartbreak hotel’ from France and ‘I want you, I need you, I love you’ from Belgium if you want them to add to this article. Just send me an E-mail to my address.
TCB
I have about 25 Elvis sheet music. Some early 50s. 1953, “I really don’t want to know,” is one of them.
When will you be updating this page?
Hi,
I see that you do not have a scan for ‘First in line’ but I have one. So let me know if you want me to send you the scan in order to update you site.
Best wishes.
Hello, I would like to inform of someone can tell me what the value is of sheet music from Elvis Presley. My father who passed away was a real collector and had nearly 60 of them. Collectors might like to have this but I don’t know what it is worth.
Greetings M
Marcelle, would need to know the titles & country of origin.
Chris
Would love to learn Elvis’s music to see just how good I can perform Elvis songs. But I need the sheet music with the words on it.
Nice array of illustrated sheet music for Elvis. Have you already, or are you currently putting together a “Price Guide” for the Elvis sheet music? I have been looking for such a dedicated guide like they have for records, but haven’t seen anything.