Elvis Presley's Australian Golden Records
For Many years I have often wondered how many Elvis Presley records were accredited Gold record status in Australia. From 1967 to 1987 I was a member of the Air Force and put this project on hold. In 1988 I decided it was time to put the known facts on paper before they got lost. During the past ten years I have met many Elvis fans, but only a few real die-hard research collectors. They have been most helpful in this research. But to find out exactly how a record became a Gold record in this country, I contacted Mr. Ron Wills who was in the music business all his working life. I have included the story below, that Ron told me some years ago.
'Bob, you ask how we set the figure for a Gold record Award. I must admit that I was the one who decided on the method of calculation. Slim Dusty's record 'A Pub With No Beer' went to the top of the Australian hit parade in June 1958 and by June 1964 it had sold 80,000 copies. We [EMI] decided that it merited an award which would be the equivalent of One Million sales in the U.S. So we figured that 60,000 units was a fair relationship when the population difference was considered. Slim's record at that stage had reached 80,000 and so we presented him with the first ever Gold record in Australia. From then on 60,000 was regarded as being The Gold Standard Record. It was decided that the figure for Long Play Albums would be 10,000.
Ron was working with EMI in those days, but not long after this he joined the RCA Australia stable, where he stayed until his retirement. In 1968 RCA Australia had reckonised the 'Elvis factor' in this country, and going through their sale figures, came up with some amazing statistics. Elvis had a total of thirty seven (37) records that had passed the Gold record requirments. These figures would eventually get lost in the 1980's, when BMG took over RCA. Ron also believes that it would be a miracle if anyone found anything in the current building.
So going on Ron's figures and calculations, Elvis sold in excess of 540,000 units for his nine (9) Gold singles up to 1968. Some of these singles were still available in the 70's. 'Return To Sender' was still available and re-issued in late 1979. 'Are You Lonesome Tonight' was re-issued twice in the 80's with new catelogue numbers and was still available in 1984/85. Overall Elvis had one hundred and four (104) singles released in Australia.
Elvis also sold in excess of 720,000 copies of his twelve (12) extended plays that passed the Gold record mark. In 1970 A Touch Of Gold - Vol. 2 was to become his next Gold record. These EP's were on sale right up to the mid eighties (Over 20 titles were available), when RCA were advised that no more would be pressed. Additional sales figures were not given, but I'm sure that there would have been about 20 Gold EP's in the end.
The Elvis Album statistics really get me wondering who was in charge of this department from 1969 thru to 1978. In 1968 Elvis was awarded fifteen (15) Gold Albums for sales in excess of 150,000 Albums. There were eight (8) additions to the list in 1970, bringing the total to twenty three (23) Albums that went Gold. That's 230,000 Album sales. But oddly enough, four Albums were not re-accredited, missing out were - For LP Fans Only, Kissin' Cousins, Girls, Girls, Girls and Girl Happy. Up to 1970 Elvis had thirty nine (39) Albums released and RCA Australia had credited twenty three (23) as reaching Gold status.
In 1978 RCA decided to present the Elvis Presley Estate with a supurb plaque highlighting his most recent Gold & Platinum awards. (I cannot remember how the fiqures came about because sometime in the mid 70's the method of calculating Gold & Platinum awards was changed from units sold to dollars.) The inscription on the plaque reads in part '22 Gold and 7 Platinum awards' From that list of 29 Albums only seven (7) had been previously awarded Gold status, so I assume that would be the seven (7) platinum mentioned.
This is an incomplete list, it is not possible to prove all certifications. Due to RCA no longer being in Business.
Title - Australian Gold Singles | Cat # | Release | Award | Source |
Hound Dog / Don't Be Cruel |
10186 |
1956 | AARM | |
Jailhouse Rock / Treat Me Nice |
10331 |
1957 | AARM | |
A Fool Such As I / I Need Your Love Tonight |
10677 |
1959 | AARM | |
It's Now Or Never / Make Me Know It |
10940 |
1960 | AARM | |
Are You Lonesome Tonight / I Gotta Know |
10982 |
1960 | AARM | |
Tonight Is So Right For Love / Wooden Heart |
101022 |
1961 | AARM | |
Rock A Hula Baby / Can't Help Falling In Love |
101190 |
1961 | AARM | |
Return To Sender / Where Do You Come From |
101394 |
1962 | AARM | |
Crying In The Chapel / I Believe In The Man In The Sky |
47-0643 |
1965 | AARM | |
Edge Of Reality / If I Can Dream |
47-9670 |
1968 | #1 MELB | |
In The Ghetto / Any Day Now |
47-9741 |
1969 | GO-SET | |
Suspicious Minds / You'll Think Of Me |
47-9764 |
1969 | GO-SET | |
The Wonder Of You / Mama Liked The Roses |
47-9835 |
1970 | GO-SET | |
Burning Love / It's A Matter Of Time |
? |
1972 | ? | #3 |
Title - Australian Gold Extended Plays | Cat # | Release | Award | Source |
Love Me Tender |
20016 |
1956 | AARM | |
Old Shep |
20044 |
1956 | AARM | |
Jailhouse Rock |
20053 |
1957 | AARM | |
Loving You : Volume 1 |
20101 |
1957 | AARM | |
Loving You : Volume 2 |
20129 |
1957 | AARM | |
King Creole : Volume 1 |
20146 |
1958 | AARM | |
King Creole : Volume 2 |
20163 |
1958 | AARM | |
Elvis By Request |
20258 |
1961 | AARM | |
Follow That Dream |
20271 |
1962 | AARM | |
Kid Galahad |
20274 |
1962 | AARM | |
Elvis Sings ... Kiss Me Quick |
20277 |
1963 | AARM | |
Love In Las Vegas |
EPA-481 |
1964 | AARM | |
A Touch Of Gold - Volume 2 |
EPA-5101 |
1967 | AARM | |
Both 'In The Ghetto' & 'Suspicious Minds' are widely remembered as having qualified GOLD. 'Edge of Reality' [Number 1 in Melbourne according to 'Top 40 Research] is also strongly believed to have qualified / been certified GOLD. 'The Wonder Of You' was the number 8 song of the year in Melbourne [Top 40 research] 'Burning Love [National Top 10] was a major single for Elvis in Australia. |
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Title - Australian Gold & Platinum Albums | Cat # | Release | Award | Source |
Elvis Presley |
L-10254/LSP-1254 |
1956 | AARM | |
Elvis |
L-10278/LSP-1382 |
1956 | AARM | |
Loving You |
L-10289/LSP-1515 |
1957 | AARM | |
King Creole |
L-10539/LSP-1804 |
1958 | AARM | |
For LP Fans Only |
L-10664 |
1959 | RCA | |
Elvis' Golden Records |
L-10545/LSP-1707 |
1958 | AARM | |
Elvis' Golden Records : Volume 2 |
L-10831/LSP-2075 |
1959 | AARM | |
Elvis Is Back |
L-10888/LSP-2231 |
1960 | AARM | |
G.I. Blues |
L/SL-1979/L-10979 |
1960 | AARM | |
His Hand In Mine |
L-10991/LSP-2328 |
1960 | AARM | |
Something For Everybody |
L-101102/SL101102 |
1961 | AARM | |
Blue Hawaii |
L-101174/SL-101174 |
1961 | AARM | |
Girls, Girls, Girls |
L-101400/SL-101400 |
1962 | AARM | |
Fun In Acapulco |
LPM-2756/LSP-2757 |
1963 | AARM | |
Kissin' Cousins |
LPM/LSP-2894 |
1963 | RCA | |
Elvis' Golden Records : Volume 3 |
LPM-2765/LPM/LSP |
1963 | AARM | |
Roustabout |
LPM-2999/LPM/LSP |
1964 | AARM | |
Girl Happy |
LPM/LSP-3338 |
1965 | RCA | |
Elvis For Everyone |
LPM/LSP-3405 |
1965 | AARM | |
Elvis : NBC TV Special |
LPM-4088 |
1969 | AARM | |
Elvis Sings 'Flaming Star' |
CAS-3204 |
1969 | AARM | |
Let's Be Friends |
CAS-2408 |
1970 | AARM | |
Worldwide 50 Gold Award Hits : Vol 1 |
LPM-6401 |
1971 | AARM | |
Aloha From Hawaii |
VPSX-6089 |
1973 | AARM | |
Rock 'N' On |
TSP-135 |
1974 | Graceland | |
Rock 'N' On 2 |
TSP-141 |
1974 | ? | ? |
Elvis In The 70's |
TSP-167 |
1975 | ? | ? |
Love Songs |
NA-531 |
1979 | ? | K-TEL |
Insperations |
NA-557 |
1980 | ? | K-TEL |
All The Best [From Elvis] |
TPR2-100 |
1982 | Graceland | |
Elvis Blue |
SPR-401 |
1984 | BMG | |
Words And Music |
SFL1-0159 |
1987 | BMG | |
Elvis Ballads |
JB-249 |
1987 | ? | J&B |
17 Number One Hits |
JB-328 |
1988 | ? | J&B |
The Romantic |
ENTCD9004 |
1990 | BMG | |
Presley : All Time Greatest Hits |
ND90100 |
1991 | x 2 | BMG / ARIA |
From The Heart |
PD90642 |
1992 | ? | BMG / ARIA |
The Essential Collection |
4321228712 |
1995 | BMG / ARIA |
(Platinum - Level 4, with sales exceeding 350,000) (Presley- All Time Greatest Hits: 9 x Gold; 4 x Platinum)
Compiled by Nigel Patterson, Wayne Hawthorne David Troedson and Bob Hayden. Text by Bob Hayden.
Elvis Presley Single and Album Charts
Elvis Presley: Australian Singles Chart
Elvis Presley: Australian Album Chart
Elvis Presley: USA Billboard Singles Chart
Elvis Presley: USA Billboard Album Chart
Elvis Presley's UK No. 1 Singles
Elvis Presley's UK No.1 Albums
Elvis Presley' Gold Records in the USA
Elvis Presleys Australian Gold Records
Elvis Presley Family History : 1669-1935
Elvis Presley Biography
Gladys and Vernon Presley : Elvis Presley's Mother and Father
Jessie D. McDowell (J.D.) Presley : Elvis Presleys Grandfather
For a more (very) detailed history of Elvis Presley see our pages; starting at Elvis Presley 1935-1953
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Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD
Never before have we seen an Elvis Presley concert from the 1950's with sound. Until Now! The DVD Contains recently discovered unreleased film of Elvis performing 6 songs, including Heartbreak Hotel and Don't Be Cruel, live in Tupelo Mississippi 1956. Included we see a live performance of the elusive Long Tall Sally seen here for the first time ever. + Plus Bonus DVD Audio.
This is an excellent release no fan should be without it.
The 'parade' footage is good to see as it puts you in the right context with color and b&w footage. The interviews of Elvis' Parents are well worth hearing too. The afternoon show footage is wonderful and electrifying : Here is Elvis in his prime rocking and rolling in front of 11.000 people. Highly recommended.
Tupelo's Own Elvis Presley DVD Video with Sound.