The history of oldies music is often written by the victors—the massive hits that defined generations and stayed on the radio for decades. When people discuss the King of Rock and Roll, “Heartbreak Hotel” is almost universally cited as the spark that ignited his legendary career. However, for music historians and fans of early American roots music, the transition from Sun Records to RCA Victor holds a fascinating secret. While “Heartbreak Hotel” was undoubtedly the song that conquered the pop world, it wasn’t actually the first track to grant Elvis the coveted #1 spot on a Billboard chart. That honor belongs to a sentimental country-tinged track titled “I Forgot to Remember to Forget.”
Understanding the trajectory of Elvis Presley requires a look back at the mid-1950s, a pivotal era when the boundaries between country, rhythm and blues, and pop were beginning to blur. To settle the debate of which song truly came first, we must dive into the archival charts and the complex business dealings of 1955.
Understanding the Billboard Charts of the 1950s
To modern listeners, a “Number 1” hit seems like a simple metric. However, in the 1950s, Billboard magazine—the industry standard for measuring musical success—maintained a complex web of charts. There wasn’t just one list; there were several, categorized by genre and how the music was consumed.
For the Country & Western (C&W) field, Billboard provided three distinct rankings: “Best Sellers in Stores,” “Most Played in Juke Boxes,” and “Most Played by Jockeys.” Similarly, the Pop sector featured the “Honor Roll of Hits” and “The Nation’s Top Tunes.” Because of this fragmentation, a song could be a massive hit in rural dance halls (Juke Boxes) while failing to crack the radio airwaves (Jockeys). This distinction is crucial in identifying which record truly gave Elvis his first taste of the top spot.
The Transition from Sun to RCA Victor
“I Forgot to Remember to Forget,” backed with the legendary “Mystery Train,” was the fifth and final single Elvis released under Sam Phillips at Sun Records in Memphis. Released in September 1955, the song showed immediate promise. Billboard highlighted it as a “Spotlight” pick, noting that Presley was “coming more and more quickly to the forefront.”
By mid-September, the Sun release began climbing the C&W charts. However, a massive shift occurred on November 21, 1955. RCA Victor purchased Elvis’s contract from Sun Records for the then-unheard-of sum of $35,000. Along with the artist, RCA acquired the rights to his previous recordings. They wasted no time re-releasing “I Forgot to Remember to Forget” on the RCA label. It was this version—the RCA re-release—that eventually pushed through the glass ceiling of the music industry.
The Race to the Top: February 1956
The early weeks of 1956 were a whirlwind for Elvis. He was appearing on national television programs like the Dorsey Brothers’ “Stage Show,” which gave him the exposure needed to transition from a regional sensation to a national phenomenon. Paradoxically, the buzz generated by his performance of “Heartbreak Hotel” actually boosted the sales of his existing catalog.
On February 25, 1956, “I Forgot to Remember to Forget” officially hit #1 on the Billboard C&W “Best Sellers in Stores” chart. It was an RCA release at that point, but it was the first time an Elvis Presley record sat at the pinnacle of any Billboard list. It would eventually spend five weeks at #1 on the Juke Box charts, proving its immense popularity in the heartland of America.
Heartbreak Hotel and the Pop Revolution
While “I Forgot to Remember to Forget” was holding down the fort in the country scene, “Heartbreak Hotel” was preparing for a different kind of conquest. It entered the charts on March 3, 1956, and only two weeks later, it displaced “I Forgot to Remember to Forget” at the #1 spot on the C&W charts.
The reason “Heartbreak Hotel” is more famous is due to its crossover success. On May 5, 1956, it reached #1 on the Top 100 Pop chart, staying there for seven weeks. It became a cultural milestone, selling a million copies and becoming Elvis’s first gold record. It even set a record by being #1 on eight different Billboard charts simultaneously in May 1956.
The Final Verdict on Elvis’s First Hit
So, which was the first? The answer depends entirely on how you define the question:
- Elvis’s first-ever #1 on a Billboard chart: “I Forgot to Remember to Forget” (February 25, 1956).
- Elvis’s first #1 on the Pop Top 100: “Heartbreak Hotel” (May 5, 1956).
While “Heartbreak Hotel” remains the “Big Daddy” of his early hits, the melancholic country sounds of “I Forgot to Remember to Forget” paved the way. It proved that Elvis wasn’t just a flash in the pan but a powerhouse capable of dominating the charts for 40 consecutive weeks. For fans of oldies music, both songs represent a pivotal moment when the sound of the world changed forever.
Explore more of these timeless melodies and the stories behind the legends of the golden era. There is always more to discover in the rich history of 20th-century music.