Artist:   Elvis Presley
Song:   "Hound Dog"
Album: Elvis
Label:   RCA Victor
Year:    1956

Who knows what Presley would be doing now if he’d made it through that 1977 episode in his bathroom? Maybe sponsoring a string of child care centers in Memphis, helping keep kids living in poverty off the streets? Or preaching with Al Green at his Full Tabernacle church there, passing the plate every ten minutes to keep those non-profit coffers well-stocked. Perhaps E. might have moved in with Jerry Lee Lewis at his home down in Nesbitt, Mississippi, finally giving in to urges no one recognized way back when. Likely the King would still be hanging out at Graceland with a cupboard full of peanut butter and plenty of old friends around to watch home movies and tell the boss his voice was still there. One thing which remains the same is the gargantuan greatness of “Hound Dog,” which sprang fully ablaze through the radio airwaves in 1956 and changed everything forever. Sure, those Sun Records singles were trailblazing, but none grabbed America by the throat in a chokehold like “Hound Dog” did, not letting go until every last man, woman and child knew what the Big E. was capable of. His voice had the menace of a shiny switchblade, one used for taunts rather than actual damage, and Scotty Moore’s fingers sounded like he’d taped firecrackers to his guitar fret board and every note he played would set one off. Bill Black’s doghouse bass thumped the thump with plenty of bravado while D.J. Fontana’s single stroke snare drum rolls felt like he was using a full-size trash can to beat on. Even if Elvis Presley sang basically the same lyrics over and over, it didn’t matter. A revolution was being born right inside our ears, and there was no way to miss it. After this all-time mind-blowing song got done doing its dirty work, there was nothing but smooth sailing ahead for sex, drugs and rock & roll.