SELLING ELVIS PRESLEY was never that difficult. Even during his low periods, each new record generally sold hundreds of thousands of units (although few were number ones) while his back catalog sold millions. Because of that, RCA took Presley for granted and failed to issue quality compilations and properly promote the ones they did release.
Most of the less-than-inspired-or-inspiring Presley compilations were albums but there have been a few singles sets that didn’t set too many fan’s hearts aflame. PRESLEY GOLD – 16 NUMBER ONE’S was issued in the UK prior to Elvis’ death in 1977. It collected the sixteen singles that had topped some UK pop charts into a box that also served as a carrying case (how ’50s!).
Neither Presley Gold, 15 Golden Records, nor 20 Golden Hits are particularly collectible or valuable.
Following The Death, RCA in the US issued a somewhat similar set. 15 GOLDEN RECORDS – 30 GOLDEN HITS collected fourteen singles that had sold a million and one (Blues Suede Shoes / Tutti Frutti) that RCA had not previously claimed as a million-seller.
Each record in each box came in a full-color picture sleeve but, whereas the sleeves used in the UK set made sense and were very attractive, the US sleeves did not make sense and looked like they used photocopies of the original sleeves as their artwork.
Shortly after RCA released the 15 GOLDEN RECORDS set, they issued a condensed version titled 20 GOLDEN HITS IN FULL COLOR SLEEVES. This box contained ten of the fifteen singles in the earlier set.
In the article below, I look at all three sets.
16 Number Ones
Released: May 1977
The front cover for the box for PRESLEY GOLD – 16 NUMBER ONE’S is shown above. It is a sturdy box with a handle on top to hold the sixteen singles, listed below as 2694–2709. The box itself did not have a catalog number. This set was issued in the UK shortly after Elvis’ previous hit, Moody Blue, fell off the UK pop charts.
The records and apparently picture sleeves remained in print for several years, undergoing a few changes in labels along the way. A check mark (√) follows each known variation that exists for each record.
In the wake of Elvis’ death in August 1977, RCA released seven singles from PRESLEY GOLD as individual records for the marketplace. All seven made a modest showing on the UK charts although only It’s Now Or Never reached the Top 40, spending one week at #39.
For more information about this box and the records associated with it, refer to “Presley Gold – 16 Number One’s” on the Elvis UK Vinyl website.
The records
All Shook Up / Heartbreak Hotel
RCA Victor 2694
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left. √
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top. √
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top.
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top. √
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top.
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 47–6870, All Shook Up / That’s When Your Heartaches Begin, from 1957. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
Jailhouse Rock / Treat Me Nice
RCA Victor 2695
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left. √
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top. √
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top.
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top. √
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top.
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 47–7035, Jailhouse Rock / Treat Me Nice, from 1957. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
I Got Stung / One Night
RCA Victor 2696
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left.
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top.
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top.
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top.
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 47–7035, Jailhouse Rock / Treat Me Nice, from 1957. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
(Now And Then There’s) A Fool Such As I / I Need Your Love Tonight
RCA Victor 2697
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left.
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top.
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top.
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top.
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 47–7506, I Need Your Love Tonight / (Now And Then There’s) A Fool Such As I, from 1959. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
It’s Now Or Never / Make Me Know It
RCA Victor 2698
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left. √
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top.
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top.
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top. √
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top.
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 47–7777, It’s Now Or Never / A Mess Of Blues, from 1960. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
Are You Lonesome Tonight / I Gotta Know
RCA Victor 2699
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left. √
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top.
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top.
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top. √
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top. √
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top.
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 47–7810, Are You Lonesome Tonight / I Gotta Know, from 1960. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
Wooden Heart / Tonight Is So Right For Love
RCA Victor 2700
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left. √
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top. √
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top. √
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top. √
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top.
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 447‑0650, Puppet On a String / Wooden Heart, from 1965. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
Surrender / Lonely Man
RCA Victor 2701
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left. √
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top.
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top.
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top.
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 47–7850, Surrender / Lonely Man, from 1961. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
(Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame / Little Sister
RCA Victor 2702
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left. √
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top.
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top.
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top.
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 47–7908, (Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame / Little Sister, from 1961. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
Rock-A-Hula Baby / Can’t Help Falling In Love
RCA Victor 2703
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left. √
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top. √
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top.
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top.
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 47–7968, Can’t Help Falling In Love / Rock-a-Hula Baby, from 1961. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
Good Luck Charm / Anything That’s Part Of You
RCA Victor 2704
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left. √
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top.
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top.
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top.
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 47–7992, Good Luck Charm / Anything That’s Part of You, from 1962. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
She’s Not You / Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello
RCA Victor 2705
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left.
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top.
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top.
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top.
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 47–8041, She’s Not You / Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello, from 1962. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
Return To Sender / Where Do You Come From?
RCA Victor 2706
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left. √
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top. √
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top.
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top. √
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top. √
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 47–8100, Return To Sender / Where Do You Come From, from 1962. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
(You’re The) Devil In Disguise / Please Don’t Drag That String Around
RCA Victor 2707
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left.
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top.
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top.
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top.
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 47–8188, (You’re the) Devil In Disguise / Please Don’t Drag That String Around, from 1963. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
Crying In The Chapel / I Believe In The Man In The Sky
RCA Victor 2708
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left. √
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top. √
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top.
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top. √
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top.
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 447‑0643, Crying In The Chapel / I Believe In The Man In The Sky, from 1965. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
The Wonder Of You / Mama Liked The Roses
RCA Victor 2709
Orange labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on the left. √
Orange labels with a solid center and “RCA” on the left. √
Blue labels with a knockout center and “Elvis” op top. √
Blue labels with a solid center and “Elvis” op top.
Black labels with a knockout center and “RCA” on top. √
Black labels with a solid center and “RCA” on top.
Black labels with a spider center and “RCA” on top.
RCA 2694 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the US picture sleeve for 47–9835, The Wonder Of You / Mama Liked the Roses, from 1970. This sleeve was apparently included with each of the label variations from 1977 into the ’80s listed above.
Avid Record Collector Price Guide
Most of the records and picture sleeves listed above are easily found for sale on the internet in the comfortably-under-$10 range for both the record and the sleeve in near mint conditon (NM). There may be a few of the later pressings—for which there were probably smaller press runs—that are harder to find, but they still won’t command much more than the more common records.
15 Golden Records – 30 Golden Hits
Released: October 1977
The front cover for the box for 15 GOLDEN RECORDS – 30 GOLDEN HITS is shown above. The boxed set was issued in the US shortly after Elvis’ death and has a catalog number (PP-11301) independent of the catalog numbers for each record. It is a flimsy box that contains fifteen singles, listed below as 11099–11113. None of the records were issued outside of the box.
RCA in the US did not release any of the records individually nor do I recall them promoting this rather ugly set of records.
For more information about this box and the records associated with it, refer to “15 Golden Records – 30 Golden Hits” on the Elvis Records website.
The records
Hound Dog / Don’t Be Cruel
RCA PB-11099
Black labels with “Collectors’ Series/Limited Edition” on the left.
RCA PB-11099 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the picture sleeve for 47–67777, It’s Now Or Never / A Mess Of Blues, from 1960. Only one pressing of this record is known to exist.
In The Ghetto / Any Day Now
RCA PB-11100
Black labels with “Collectors’ Series/Limited Edition” on the left.
RCA PB-11110 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the picture sleeve for 47–8188, (You’re The) Devil In Disguise / Please Don’t Drag That String Around, from 1963. Only one pressing of this record is known to exist.
Jailhouse Rock / Treat Me Nice
RCA PB-11101
Black labels with “Collectors’ Series/Limited Edition” on the left.
RCA PB-11101 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the picture sleeve for 47–7035, Jailhouse Rock / Treat Me Nice, from 1957. Only one pressing of this record is known to exist.
Can’t Help Falling In Love / Rock-A-Hula Baby
RCA PB-11102
Black labels with “Collectors’ Series/Limited Edition” on the left.
RCA PB-11102 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the picture sleeve for 47–7968, Can’t Help Falling In Love / Rock-A-Hula Baby, from 1961. Only one pressing of this record is known to exist.
Suspicious Minds / You’ll Think Of Me
RCA PB-11103
Black labels with “Collectors’ Series/Limited Edition” on the left.
RCA PB-11103 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the picture sleeve for 47–7508, (Now and Then There’s) A Fool Such As I / I Need Your Love Tonight, from 1959. Only one pressing of this record is known to exist.
Are You Lonesome Tonight / I Gotta Know
RCA PB-11104
Black labels with “Collectors’ Series/Limited Edition” on the left.
RCA PB-11104 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the picture sleeve for 47–9830, The Wonder of You / Mama Liked the Roses, from 1970. Only one pressing of this record is known to exist.
Heartbreak Hotel / I Was The One
RCA PB-11105
Black labels with “Collectors’ Series/Limited Edition” on the left.
RCA PB-11105 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the picture sleeve for 47–6870, All Shook Up / That’s When Your Heartaches Begin, from 1957. Only one pressing of this record is known to exist.
All Shook Up / That’s When Your Heartaches Begin
RCA PB-11106
Black labels with “Collectors’ Series/Limited Edition” on the left.
RCA PB-11106 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the picture sleeve for 447‑0618, All Shook Up / That’s When Your Heartaches Begin, from 1964. Only one pressing of this record is known to exist.
Blue Suede Shoes / Tutti Frutti
RCA PB-11107
Black labels with “Collectors’ Series/Limited Edition” on the left.
RCA PB-11107 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the picture sleeve for 47–7908, Little Sister / (Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame, from 1961. Only one pressing of this record is known to exist.
Anyway You Want Me (That’s How I Will Be) / Love Me Tender
RCA PB-11108
Black labels with “Collectors’ Series/Limited Edition” on the left.
RCA PB-11108 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the picture sleeve for 447‑0650, Puppet on a String / Wooden Heart, from 1965. Only one pressing of this record is known to exist.
Loving You / (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear
RCA PB-11109
Black labels with “Collectors’ Series/Limited Edition” on the left.
RCA PB-11109 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the picture sleeve for 47–7850, Surrender / Lonely Man, from 1961. Only one pressing of this record is known to exist.
It’s Now Or Never / A Mess Of Blues
RCA PB-11110
Black labels with “Collectors’ Series/Limited Edition” on the left.
RCA PB-11110 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the picture sleeve for 47–8041, She’s Not You / Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello, from 1962. Only one pressing of this record is known to exist.
Return To Sender / Where Do You Come From
RCA PB-11111
Black labels with “Collectors’ Series/Limited Edition” on the left.
RCA PB-11111 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the picture sleeve for 47–8100, Return to Sender / Where Do You Come From, from 1962. Only one pressing of this record is known to exist.
I Got Stung / One Night
RCA PB-11112
Black labels with “Collectors’ Series/Limited Edition” on the left.
RCA PB-11112 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the picture sleeve for 47–7410, I Got Stung / One Night, from 1958. Only one pressing of this record is known to exist.
Crying In The Chapel / I Believe In The Man In The Sky
RCA PB-11113
Black labels with “Collectors’ Series/Limited Edition” on the left.
RCA PB-11113 was issued with a full-color sleeve. This sleeve featured the same photo used on the picture sleeve for 447‑0643, Crying In The Chapel / I Believe In The Man In The Sky, from 1965. Only one pressing of this record is known to exist.
Avid Record Collector Price Guide
Each of the records and picture sleeves listed above are easily found for sale on the internet in the comfortably-under-$10 range for both the record and the sleeve in near mint conditon (NM).
20 Golden Hits
About a year later, in the second half of 1978, RCA released a condensed version of this box. 20 GOLDEN HITS WITH FULL COLOR SLEEVES contained ten of the fifteen records from the 15 GOLDEN RECORDS box and, whereas the big box was black, the condensed version’s box was red.
The box has a catalog number (PP-11340) independent of the catalog numbers for each record. The titles of the ten records in this second box are printed on the box’s front cover and can be read in the image above.
For more information about this box and the records associated with it, refer to “20 Golden Hits In Full Color Sleeves” on the Elvis Records website.
FEATURED IMAGE: Since the image at the top of this page was obviously cropped from the PRESLEY GOLD box, I am substituting a caricature of Elvis—to avoid redundancy. I found this wonderfully bonkers drawing of Elvis based on the photo used on the picture sleeve for 47–9600, We Call On Him / You’ll Never Walk Alone, released in early 1968.
I found this image at “Caricature Of Elvis Presley 3D Model” on the 3D Export website. I recommend visiting this site as there are another eleven similar drawings of Presley there, showing how the drawing can be made “3D.”
Mystically liberal Virgo enjoys long walks alone in the city at night in the rain with an umbrella and a flask of 10-year-old Laphroaig who strives to live by the maxim, “It ain’t what you know that gets you into trouble; it’s what you know that just ain’t so.
I’ve been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn, and a college dropout (twice!). Occupationally, I have been a bartender, jewelry engraver, bouncer, landscape artist, and FEMA crew chief following the Great Flood of ’72 (and that was a job that I should never, ever have left).
I am also the final author of the original O’Sullivan Woodside price guides for record collectors and the original author of the Goldmine price guides for record collectors. As such, I was often referred to as the Price Guide Guru, and—as everyone should know—it behooves one to heed the words of a guru. (Unless, of course, you’re the Beatles.)
