Bruce Springsteen’s Top 12 Elvis Presley covers

By Jay Lustig
Source: NJ Arts
January 9, 2018

After I watched Dennis P. Laverty's new documentary 'If I Can Dream: The Influence of Elvis on Bruce' - which makes the case that Elvis Presley is the primal, No. 1 influence on Bruce - I started thinking, is Elvis also the artist Springsteen has covered the most? He may be, though it's a hard thing to quantify.

Bruce Springsteen proudly displays an Elvis Presley fan club badge in a photo taken by Eric Meola
This outtake from the photo session for the 'Born to Run' album cover
is seen in Dennis P. Laverty's new documentary, 'If I Can Dream: The Influence of Elvis on Bruce'.

According to the Brucebase web site, the song Springsteen has covered the most is 'Twist and Shout' (414 times), followed by 'The Detroit Medley' (406 times). And he's certainly covered a lot of songs by Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Smokey Robinson and John Fogerty. But he's sung a lot of Elvis Presley, too.

I count 15 different Elvis Presley songs covered and 14 different Dylan songs (and Springsteen hasn't performed any Dylan songs as much as he's done 'Can't Help Falling in Love' and 'Follow That Dream'). So if you came up with a formula that took into account both the number of different songs covered, and the frequency with which they have been performed, Elvis Presley very well might be the winner.

So, in honor of The King here are videos for the 12 Elvis Presley songs Springsteen has performed the most, followed by the number of times he has done them (according to Brucebase).

Note: By an 'Elvis Presley song', I obviously mean a song strongly associated with him.

(All stats as of January 2018).

I believe 'Viva Las Vegas' is the only Elvis Presley song that Springsteen has recorded in the studio (it appears on the the Last Temptation of Elvis tribute album, as well as Honeymoon in Vegas soundtrack album and The Essential Bruce Springsteen). Here is that version:

Latest Audio (and video) updates : Video courtesy of Elvis Presley Video Central.

10. 'Jailhouse Rock' (4)

Latest Audio (and video) updates : Video courtesy of Elvis Presley Video Central.

11. 'Blue Suede Shoes' (3) (shown after 'All Shook Up')

Latest Audio (and video) updates : Video courtesy of Elvis Presley Video Central.

11 (tie): 'Blue Christmas' (3)

Latest Audio (and video) updates : Video courtesy of Elvis Presley Video Central.

Other Elvis Presley songs Springsteen has performed include 'Suspicious Minds' (2), 'Hound Dog' (2), 'All Shook Up' (1), 'It's Now or Never' (1) and 'Don't Be Cruel' (1).

Elvis Presley’s influence on Bruce Springsteen

The Night Bruce Springsteen Jumped the Wall at Graceland
Behind the Button: Elvis Presley's 'Cameo' on Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run
Kings Court Fan Club Members meeting Elvis & Colonel Parker 1973
Bruce Springsteen Talks and Sings about Elvis
Didn't Have To Die : Speculative fiction article : What if Bruce did meet Elvis?
Bruce Springsteen Praises Elvis in Keynote Address
Elvis and Bruce : Special Feature in Bac kstreets : The Boss Magazine

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Bruce Springsteen’s Top 12 Elvis Presley covers

1. 'Can't Help Falling in Love' (65 times)

2. 'Follow That Dream' (50)

3. 'Good Rockin' Tonight' (24)

3 (tie). 'Heartbreak Hotel' (24)

5. 'Mystery Train' (22)

6. 'Love Me Tender' (18)

7. 'Wear My Ring Around Your Neck' (14)

8. 'Burning Love' (7)

9. 'Viva Las Vegas' (6)

10. 'Jailhouse Rock' (4)

11. 'Blue Suede Shoes' (3) (shown after 'All Shook Up')

11 (tie): 'Blue Christmas' (3)