Elvis Presley was on the Israeli music chart before it had even found its stride. From the very earliest editions of the מצעד הלועזי in 1961, Elvis was a fixture — his American rock 'n' roll sound landing powerfully with Israeli audiences who were experiencing international pop music through the new medium of Reshet Gimel radio.
By the time of his death in August 1977, Elvis had accumulated 40 chart entries and 14 #1 singles — the joint all-time record in the Israeli chart archive, shared with The Beatles. No artist in the history of the chart ever achieved more chart-toppers.
The Early Years: 1961–1965
Elvis arrived on the Israeli chart as a fully-formed superstar. Unlike The Beatles, who debuted in 1963 and built their dominance across the decade, Elvis was already the biggest name in popular music when the chart launched. His early 1960s singles — uptempo rockers, ballads from his Hollywood films, gospel-inflected pop — charted consistently through 1961–1965.
During this period, he faced his greatest competition from Cliff Richard (another early Israeli chart favourite) and, from 1963, The Beatles. But Elvis held his ground — his back catalogue continued charting even as new competition emerged.
The Middle Period: 1966–1973
The mid-to-late 1960s were a relatively quieter period for Elvis on the Israeli chart as the British Invasion redefined pop. But his 1969–1970 comeback — powered by "Suspicious Minds," his return to live performance, and a string of strong singles — re-established him as a top-tier chart presence.
"Suspicious Minds" became one of his most celebrated Israeli chart entries of this period, reflecting his renewed commercial and artistic momentum globally.
Top #1 Hits on the Israeli Chart
| # | Song | Year | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspicious Minds | 1969 | #1 |
| 2 | The Wonder of You | 1970 | #1 |
| 3 | Way Down | 1977 | #1 |
| 4–14 | 11 additional #1 singles | 1961–1976 | #1 |
The Final Chapter: 1977
Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977. In the weeks that followed, Israeli radio — like radio stations worldwide — flooded the airwaves with his music. "Way Down," released just before his death, climbed to #1 on the Israeli chart as the nation mourned.
His death marked the end of a chart career that had begun 16 years earlier, in the chart's very first weeks. No other artist in the Israeli chart archive had a presence so deeply woven through its entire history — from the beginning to near the end.