Don’t Be Cruel / Hound Dog 

Modified: May 20, 2018

Artist: Elvis Presley
Release: RCA Victor 20-6604 Don't Be Cruel / Hound Dog (78)
Release Date: 7/13/1956

20-6604-side1-v120-6604-side2-v1

Disc: (7/1956). Black label, dog on top. New Orthophonic on left side. Catalog number on right side.1
Matrix numbers: G2WB-5936-5S / G2WB-5935-?S

20-6604-side2-var20-6604-side1-var

Disc: (7/1956). Black label, dog on top. New Orthophonic on right side. Catalog number on left side. No “New Orthophonic” High Fidelity statement on the right.2
Matrix numbers: G2WB-5936-4S / G2WB-5935-1S (machine stamped) (unknown pressing)
Matrix numbers: G2WB-5936-?S / G2WB-5935-2S (machine stamped) (unknown pressing)3

20-6604-side2-v220-6604-side1-v220-6604-side1-i20-6604-side2-i

Disc: (7/1956). Black label, dog on top. New Orthophonic on right side. Catalog number on left side. With “New Orthophonic” High Fidelity statement on the right. Examples of spacing variations.[15
Matrix numbers: G2WB-5936-1S / G2WB-5935-?S (machine stamped) (Indianapolis pressing)
Matrix numbers: G2 WB 5936-3S / G2 WB5935-1S 5 (machine stamped) (Indianapolis pressing)6

Released in 1956 by RCA Records on 45 RPM as Don't Be Cruel / Hound Dog.
Re-released by RCA Records on 45 RPM as Hound Dog / Don't Be Cruel on the Gold Standard Series label.

  1. Images courtesy of Boija, John. “First pressings of US Elvis Presley 78 rpm singles.” John Boija’s Home Page. 3 February 2011. ↩
  2. Images from a collection of Internet images dating back to 1998. ↩
  3. eBay reference 230636205568 (June 21, 2011) and 120740753855 (June 21, 2011) ↩
  4. Images courtesy of Boija, John. “First pressings of US Elvis Presley 78 rpm singles.” John Boija’s Home Page. 3 February 2011. ↩
  5. Images from the collection of Christian (of France). ↩
  6. Matrix numbers from the collection of Christian (of France). ↩