Elvis at Sun
Encyclopedia
Elvis at Sun is a compact disc
compilation of Elvis Presley's
studio recordings at Sun Studio
from 1954 to 1955, released in June 2004, BMG Heritage 61205. This set features master recording
s made by Presley and his accompanists, Scotty Moore
and Bill Black
, occasionally augmented by other musicians, prior to his arrival on RCA Records
in 1956.
" and "Satisfied;" the former would be recorded for Presley during his first RCA session. All of the studio commercial recordings were produced by Sam Phillips
, the owner of Sun Studio
in Memphis
, Tennessee
. Phillips released Presley's recording contract to RCA for the substantial sum, in 1955 dollars
, of $35,000. This gave RCA the rights to all of Presley's masters recorded at Sun.
The disc contains a slightly different track list and running order than previous issues of the Sun material, such as the Sunrise double-disc, with the shorter version of "When It Rains It Really Pours" from the fifites box
, and an alternate
of "I Love You Because
." It still presents all eighteen Sun titles from the singer's stay at the label.
"Elvis At Sun" also was released in the vinyl LP configuration.
," one of candidates for being "the first rock and roll record." Elvis' entire period at Sun is one of the seminal events in the birth of rock and roll
, specifically also the beginning of the sub-genre known as rockabilly
. In 2001, VH1
named its parent album the 21st greatest album of all time. In 2003, the album was ranked number 11 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
. Two tracks from the Presley's Sun sessions were included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll: "Mystery Train
," and "That's All Right."
In 2002, given their importance in the development of American popular music, The Sun Sessions were chosen, by the National Recording Registry
of the Library of Congress
, to be kept as a bequeathal to posterity.
For more detailed information on the recording sessions, see Elvis Presley's Sun recordings
.
chart; positions for singles from Billboard Pop Singles
chart except as indicated
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
compilation of Elvis Presley's
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
studio recordings at Sun Studio
Sun Records
Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...
from 1954 to 1955, released in June 2004, BMG Heritage 61205. This set features master recording
Master recording
A multitrack recording master tape, disk or computer files on which productions are developed for later mixing, is known as the multi-track master, while the tape, disk or computer files holding a mix is called a mixed master.It is standard practice to make a copy of a master recording, known as...
s made by Presley and his accompanists, Scotty Moore
Scotty Moore
Winfield Scott "Scotty" Moore III is an American guitarist. He is best known for his backing of Elvis Presley in the first part of his career, between 1954 and the beginning of Elvis' Hollywood years...
and Bill Black
Bill Black
William Patton "Bill" Black, Jr. was an American musician who is noted as one of the pioneers of rockabilly music. Black was the bassist in Elvis Presley's early trio and the leader of Bill Black's Combo....
, occasionally augmented by other musicians, prior to his arrival on RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
in 1956.
Contents
Tapes for at least two songs have been lost, Sun versions of "I Got A WomanI Got a Woman
"I Got a Woman" is a song co-written and recorded by American R&B/soul musician Ray Charles and released as a single in December 1954 on the Atlantic label as Atlantic 45-1050 b/w "Come Back Baby." Both sides later appeared on his 1957 album Ray Charles .-Origin:The song builds on...
" and "Satisfied;" the former would be recorded for Presley during his first RCA session. All of the studio commercial recordings were produced by Sam Phillips
Sam Phillips
Samuel Cornelius Phillips , better known as Sam Phillips, was an American businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s...
, the owner of Sun Studio
Sun Studio
Sun Studio is a recording studio opened by rock pioneer Sam Phillips at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 3, 1950. It was originally called Memphis Recording Service, sharing the same building with the Sun Records label business...
in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. Phillips released Presley's recording contract to RCA for the substantial sum, in 1955 dollars
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
, of $35,000. This gave RCA the rights to all of Presley's masters recorded at Sun.
The disc contains a slightly different track list and running order than previous issues of the Sun material, such as the Sunrise double-disc, with the shorter version of "When It Rains It Really Pours" from the fifites box
The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50s Masters
The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50s Masters is a box set five-disc compilation of the complete known studio master recordings by Elvis Presley during the decade of the 1950s, released in 1992, RCA 66050-2. It peaked at #159 on the album chart...
, and an alternate
Take
A take is a single continuous recorded performance. The term is used in film and music to denote and track the stages of production.-Film:In cinematography, a take refers to each filmed "version" of a particular shot or "setup"...
of "I Love You Because
I Love You Because
I Love You Because is a musical set in modern day New York, inspired by the Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice. It features lyrics by Ryan Cunningham, set to music by Joshua Salzman.-Production history:...
." It still presents all eighteen Sun titles from the singer's stay at the label.
"Elvis At Sun" also was released in the vinyl LP configuration.
Importance
The set includes "That's All Right (Mama)That's All Right (Mama)
"That's All Right" is the name of the first single released by Elvis Presley, written and originally performed by blues singer Arthur Crudup. Elvis' version was recorded on 5 July 1954, and released on 19 July 1954 with "Blue Moon of Kentucky" as the B-side...
," one of candidates for being "the first rock and roll record." Elvis' entire period at Sun is one of the seminal events in the birth of rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
, specifically also the beginning of the sub-genre known as rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
. In 2001, VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
named its parent album the 21st greatest album of all time. In 2003, the album was ranked number 11 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
. Two tracks from the Presley's Sun sessions were included in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll: "Mystery Train
Mystery Train
"Mystery Train" is a song written by Junior Parker and Sam Phillips. It was first recorded in Phillip's Memphis Recording Service and Sun Records at 706 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee in 1953. Raymond Hill plays tenor sax and Matt Murphy plays lead guitar with Bill Johnson on piano, Pat Hare on...
," and "That's All Right."
In 2002, given their importance in the development of American popular music, The Sun Sessions were chosen, by the National Recording Registry
National Recording Registry
The National Recording Registry is a list of sound recordings that "are culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States." The registry was established by the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, which created the National Recording...
of the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, to be kept as a bequeathal to posterity.
For more detailed information on the recording sessions, see Elvis Presley's Sun recordings
Elvis Presley's Sun recordings
Elvis Presley's Sun recordings were made by Elvis Presley at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A. between 1953 and 1955. The recordings were produced by Sam Phillips. Memphis is a melting pot of many types of music: both black music and white music , the recordings reflect these influences...
.
Personnel
- Elvis PresleyElvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
– vocal, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Scotty MooreScotty MooreWinfield Scott "Scotty" Moore III is an American guitarist. He is best known for his backing of Elvis Presley in the first part of his career, between 1954 and the beginning of Elvis' Hollywood years...
– guitar - Bill BlackBill BlackWilliam Patton "Bill" Black, Jr. was an American musician who is noted as one of the pioneers of rockabilly music. Black was the bassist in Elvis Presley's early trio and the leader of Bill Black's Combo....
– bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2... - Jimmie Lott – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
on track 8 - Johnny Bernero – drums on tracks 9, 18, 19
Track listing
Chart positions for LPs and EPs from Billboard Top Pop AlbumsBillboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart; positions for singles from Billboard Pop Singles
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart except as indicated
| Track | Recorded | Original LP Issue | Catalogue | Release Date | Chart Peak | Song Title | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 7/5/54 | Elvis: A Legendary Performer Vol. 2 Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 2 Elvis: A Legendary Performer Volume 2 is a compilation album featuring recordings by American singer Elvis Presley. As with the first volume of the series, issued in 1974, the collection was a mixture of previously released and never-before-released recordings... |
CPL1 1349 | 1/8/76 | #46 | Harbor Lights Harbor Lights "Harbor Lights" is a popular song by Hugh Williams with lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy. This song was originally sung by Frances Langford in 1937 and was published again in 1950.... |
Jimmy Kennedy Jimmy Kennedy Jimmy Kennedy OBE was an Irish songwriter, predominantly a lyricist, putting words to existing music such as "Teddy Bears' Picnic" and "My Prayer", or co-writing with the composers Michael Carr, Wilhelm Grosz and Nat Simon amongst others.-Biography:Kennedy was born near Omagh... and Hugh Williams |
2:37 |
| 2. | 7/5/54 | The Complete Sun Sessions | RCA 6414-2 | 1987 | I Love You Because I Love You Because I Love You Because is a musical set in modern day New York, inspired by the Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice. It features lyrics by Ryan Cunningham, set to music by Joshua Salzman.-Production history:... alternate |
Leon Payne Leon Payne Leon Payne , "the Blind Balladeer", was a country music singer and songwriter.-Life:Leon Roger Payne was born in Alba, Texas on June 15, 1917. He was blind in one eye at birth, and lost the sight of the other eye in early childhood. He attended the Texas School for the Blind from 1924 to 1935,... |
3:29 | |
| 3. | 7/5/54 | Sun 209 | 7/19/54 | That's All Right That's All Right (Mama) "That's All Right" is the name of the first single released by Elvis Presley, written and originally performed by blues singer Arthur Crudup. Elvis' version was recorded on 5 July 1954, and released on 19 July 1954 with "Blue Moon of Kentucky" as the B-side... |
Arthur Crudup Arthur Crudup Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup was an American Delta blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known outside blues circles for writing songs such as "That's All Right" , "My Baby Left Me" and "So Glad You're Mine", later covered by Elvis Presley and dozens of other artists.-Career:Arthur Crudup... |
1:57 | ||
| 4. | 7/5/54 | Sun 209b | 7/19/54 | Blue Moon of Kentucky Blue Moon of Kentucky "Blue Moon of Kentucky" is a waltz written in 1946 by bluegrass musician Bill Monroe and recorded by his band, The Blue Grass Boys. The song has since been recorded by many artists, including Elvis Presley.... |
Bill Monroe Bill Monroe William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader... |
2:04 | ||
| 5. | 8/19/54 | Elvis Presley Elvis Presley (album) -1999 Reissue with Bonus Tracks:Catalogue data reflects simultaneous release of all tracks from LPM 1254 as singles in August, 1956; chart positions from Billboard Pop Singles chart.-2006 FTD Reissue:Disc OneDisc Two-Personnel:... |
LPM 1254 | 3/23/56 | #1 | Blue Moon Blue Moon (song) "Blue Moon"'s first crossover recording to rock and roll came from Elvis Presley in 1956. His cover version of the song was included on his self-titled debut album Elvis Presley.... |
Richard Rodgers Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II... and Lorenz Hart Lorenz Hart Lorenz "Larry" Milton Hart was the lyricist half of the famed Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart... |
2:44 |
| 6. | 9/10/54 | Elvis for Everyone Elvis for Everyone Elvis for Everyone! is the twenty-third album by Elvis Presley, issued on RCA Victor in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 3450, in August 1965. Recording sessions took place over a ten-year span at Sun Studio in Memphis, RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee, and Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California... |
LSP 3450 | 8/10/65 | #10 | Tomorrow Night Tomorrow Night "Tomorrow Night" is a 1939 song written by Sam Coslow and Will Grosz. The same year Horace Heidt peaked at number sixteen with his version of the song. In 1948, Lonnie Johnson had a crossover hit with the song, which had Simeon Hatch on piano... |
Sam Coslow Sam Coslow Sam Coslow was an American songwriter, singer, film producer, publisher, and market analyst. Coslow was born in New York City. He began writing songs as a teenager... and Will Grocz |
3:00 |
| 7. | 9/10/54 | Elvis Presley Elvis Presley (album) -1999 Reissue with Bonus Tracks:Catalogue data reflects simultaneous release of all tracks from LPM 1254 as singles in August, 1956; chart positions from Billboard Pop Singles chart.-2006 FTD Reissue:Disc OneDisc Two-Personnel:... |
LPM 1254 | 3/23/56 | #1 | I'll Never Let You Go (Lil' Darlin') | Jimmy Wakely Jimmy Wakely James Clarence Wakeley , better known as Jimmy Wakely, was an American country-Western singer and actor, one of the last crooning cowpokes following World War II... |
2:25 |
| 8. | 9/10/54 | Elvis Presley Elvis Presley (album) -1999 Reissue with Bonus Tracks:Catalogue data reflects simultaneous release of all tracks from LPM 1254 as singles in August, 1956; chart positions from Billboard Pop Singles chart.-2006 FTD Reissue:Disc OneDisc Two-Personnel:... |
LPM 1254 | 3/23/56 | #1 | Just Because Just Because "Just Because" is a song by the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction, which was released as the first single from their third album, Strays in 2003.... |
Sydney Robin, Bob Shelton, Joe Shelton | 2:33 |
| 9. | 9/10/54 | Sun 210 | 9/25/54 | Good Rockin' Tonight | Roy Brown Roy Brown (blues musician) Roy James Brown was an American R&B singer, songwriter and musician, who had an influence on the early development of rock and roll music. His "Good Rocking Tonight" was covered by Wynonie Harris, Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Pat Boone, and the rock group Montrose. In addition,... |
2:13 | ||
| 10. | 9/10/54 | Sun 210b | 9/25/54 | I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine "I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine" is a popular song, written by Mack David.The most popular version was done by Patti Page in 1950. The Page recording was issued by Mercury Records as catalog number 5396, and first reached the Billboard chart on May 20, 1950, lasting 9 weeks and peaking at #8... |
Mack David Mack David Mack David was an American lyricist and songwriter, best known for his work in film and television, with a career spanning from the early 1940s through the early 1970s. Mack was credited with writing lyrics and/or music for over one thousand songs... |
2:20 | ||
| 11. | 11?12/54 | Sun 215 | 12/28/54 | Milkcow Blues Boogie Milkcow Blues Boogie Milkcow Blues Boogie is a song by Elvis Presley, released as the A-side of his third Sun Records single in 1954 . It is a cover of a blues song originally recorded by Kokomo Arnold, which, performed by Presley at a much faster tempo and including a number of variations, bears almost no resemblance... |
Kokomo Arnold Kokomo Arnold Kokomo Arnold was an American blues musician.Born as James Arnold in Lovejoy's Station, Georgia, he got his nickname in 1934 after releasing "Old Original Kokomo Blues" for the Decca label; it was a cover of the Scrapper Blackwell blues song about the city of Kokomo, Indiana... |
2:37 | ||
| 12. | 11?12/54 | Sun 215b | 12/28/54 | #74 | You're a Heartbreaker You're a Heartbreaker You're a Heartbreaker is a song by Elvis Presley. It was recorded in December 1954 during the fourth of Presley's now-legendary eight sessions at Memphis' Sun Studio and released as the B-side of his third Sun single , whose A-side was a cover of Kokomo Arnold's Milkcow Blues Boogie.... |
Jack Sallee | 2:12 | |
| 13. | 3/5/55 | The Complete Sun Sessions | RCA 6414-2 | 1987 | I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (slow version) | Stan Kesler and William Taylor | 2:41 | |
| 14. | 3/5/55 | Sun 217b | 4/10/55 | I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone | Stan Kesler and William Taylor | 2:37 | ||
| 15. | 2/5/55 | Sun 217 | 4/10/55 | C&W Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... #5 |
Baby Let's Play House Baby Let's Play House "Baby, Let's Play House", is a song written by Arthur Gunter and recorded by him in 1954 on the Excello Records label, and covered by Elvis Presley the following year on Sun Records... |
Arthur Gunter Arthur Gunter Arthur Gunter was an American blues guitarist and musician. He was best known for his song "Baby Let's Play House", which was later a hit single for Elvis Presley.-Biography:... |
2:17 | |
| 16. | 7/11/55 | Sun 223 | 8/6/55 | C&W Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... #1 |
I Forgot to Remember to Forget | Stan Kesler and Charlie Feathers Charlie Feathers Charles Arthur "Charlie" Feathers was an influential American rockabilly and country music performer.-Biography:... |
2:30 | |
| 17. | 7/11/55 | Sun 223b | 8/6/55 | Mystery Train Mystery Train "Mystery Train" is a song written by Junior Parker and Sam Phillips. It was first recorded in Phillip's Memphis Recording Service and Sun Records at 706 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee in 1953. Raymond Hill plays tenor sax and Matt Murphy plays lead guitar with Bill Johnson on piano, Pat Hare on... |
Herman Parker Jr. and Sam Phillips Sam Phillips Samuel Cornelius Phillips , better known as Sam Phillips, was an American businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s... |
2:29 | ||
| 18. | 7/11/55 | Elvis Presley Elvis Presley (album) -1999 Reissue with Bonus Tracks:Catalogue data reflects simultaneous release of all tracks from LPM 1254 as singles in August, 1956; chart positions from Billboard Pop Singles chart.-2006 FTD Reissue:Disc OneDisc Two-Personnel:... |
LPM 1254 | 3/23/56 | #1 | Trying to Get to You Trying to Get To You “Trying To Get To You” is a song performed by Elvis Presley in 1955 on his Sun recordings.It was written by Rose Marie McCoy and Charles Singleton, also known as Charlie Singleton. It was originally recorded by the rhythm and blues outfit The Eagles in 1954 and released in mid-1954 on Mercury... |
Rose Marie McCoy Rose Marie McCoy Rose Marie McCoy was one of the most influential and prolific songwriters of the 1950s and 1960s.McCoy moved to New York City in 1942, pursuing a singing career... and Charles Singleton |
2:33 |
| 19. | 11/20/55 | The Complete 50s Masters The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50s Masters The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50s Masters is a box set five-disc compilation of the complete known studio master recordings by Elvis Presley during the decade of the 1950s, released in 1992, RCA 66050-2. It peaked at #159 on the album chart... |
RCA 66050-2 | 6/23/1992 | #159 | When It Rains It Really Pours | William Emerson William Emerson William Emerson is the name of:* William Emerson * William Emerson , Unitarian minister, father of Ralph Waldo Emerson* William Emerson , British architect.... |
2:00 |
Chart performance
| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums | 37 |