Elvis Presley's Sun recordings are a number of recordings he made at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.A. between 1953 and 1956. The recordings were produced by Sam Phillips. Memphis is a melting pot of many types of music: both black music (blues, rhythm & blues, gospel) and white music (country & western, hillbilly), the recordings reflect these influences. In 2002, Elvis Presley's SUN recordings were inducted into the US Congress's National Recording Registry. [1] Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Sun Studio opened by rock pioneer Sam Phillips at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 3, 1950. ... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... For other persons named Sam Phillips, see Sam Phillips (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of music based on the use of the blue notes and a repetitive pattern that most often follows a twelve-bar structure. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... For other uses, see Gospel (disambiguation). ... Country music, once known as Country and Western music, is a popular musical form developed in the southern United States, with roots in traditional folk music, spirituals, and the blues. ... Hillbilly is a term referring to people who dwell in remote, rural, mountainous areas. ...

History

Recordings

Elvis made his first recording by cutting a one-off single at Sun as a gift to his mother in the summer of 1953. Starting a year later, from July 5, 1954, he recorded 20 songs, 18 of them have survived and two tapes are lost. Ten were released by Sun as Elvis' first five singles between 1954 and 1955. And a year after he left for RCA, he revisited the same studio to have a spontaneous informal session with Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis to sing whatever they'd like. This meeting has been recorded, and is dubbed The Million Dollar Quartet. is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998) was an American pioneer of rockabilly music, a mix of rhythm and blues and country music that was recorded most notably at Sun Records in Memphis beginning in 1954. ... It has been suggested that Johnny Cash family be merged into this article or section. ... Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935), also known by the nickname The Killer, is an American rock and roll and country music singer, songwriter, and pianist. ... Million Dollar Quartet is the name given to recordings made on Tuesday December 4, 1956 in the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. ...

RCA

After Elvis signed with RCA, in November, 1955, his musical environment changed drastically. He started recording in Nashville, in a completely different musical atmosphere. From January of 1956, until he was drafted, in March of 1958, a series of different producers were at hand, but he was actually conducting those sessions himself. He also had a new manager (Colonel Tom Parker) and, with the exception of songs he had to sing in his first four movies (songs constructed, not written, for him), he continued to definitively be on top of every session, choosing himself every song he recorded. The existing Sun-tapes moved contractually with him to RCA. Colonel Tom Parker (born Andreas Cornelius van Kuijk on June 26, 1909 – January 21, 1997), was an American/Dutch entertainment impresario known best as the manager of Elvis Presley. ...

Many of Elvis' 1956 RCA recordings stand the test of time, and remain as revolutionary, sound wise, as anything he recorded at SUN. In that year alone, his renditions of wild rockers like "My Baby Left Me", "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", "Shake Rattle and Roll", "Blue Suede Shoes", "Reddy Teddy", "Rip It Up", "So Glad You're Mine", "Long Tall Sally", "Tutti Frutti" and "Hound Dog", as well as "One-Sided Love Affair", "I Got a Woman" and "Money Honey", showed exactly the same vigour, and inventiveness, as well as his penchant for mixing up R&B, C&W to produce rockabilly, as had been the case during his time at SUN. The main titles he recorded with Sun Records stayed a staple of his live repertoire throughout 1956 and well into 1957.

The 25 titles

Listed are the 25 titles, in order of their recording date. A take means a second (or higher) version; the best take would be used to create a master tape to be published. This article needs cleanup. ... A master recording is an original recording, from which copies may be made. ...

My Happiness (private)

Peterson - Bergantine
Recorded: July 18, 1953 (private) My Happiness is a popular and country music song. ...

That's When Your Heartaches Begin (private)

Raskin - Brown - Fisher
Recorded: July 18, 1953 (private)

I'll Never Stand In Your Way (Demo)

Hy Heath
Recorded: January 4, 1954

It Wouldn't Be The Same Without You (Demo)

Fred Rose
Recorded: January 4, 1954

I Love You Because

L. Payne. Original probably: Leon Payne (1949, Capitol); Eddie Fisher (1950, RCA Victor)
Recorded: July 5-6, 1954 (session 1) Leon Payne was a country music singer and songwriter. ... Eddie Fisher (born August 10, 1928) is an American singer and entertainer. ...

That's All Right

A. Crudup. Original Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup (1947, RCA Victor). Crudup's original title is: "That's All Right (Mama)"; on the Sun label, and many later releases, '(Mama)' is omitted: "That's All Right".
Recorded: July 5-6, 1954 (session 1) Thats All Right (Mama) is the name of the first song released by Elvis Presley. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Elvis's recording of "That's All Right (Mama)" can be considered to be the beginning of rock and roll, but there are more first rock and roll records. Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... There are many candidates for the title of the first rock and roll record. ...

Harbor Lights

H. Williams - J. Kennedy. Original: possibly Harry Owens and His Royal Hawaiians
Recorded: July 5-6, 1954 (session 1) Harbor Lights is a popular song. ... Harry Owens (18 April 1902 – 12 December 1986) was an American composer, bandleader and songwriter. ...

The 4-CD boxed set "Today, Tomorrow And Forever" contains an alternate version (take three) that is unavailable elsewhere.

Blue Moon of Kentucky

Bill Monroe
Original: Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys (1947, Columbia)
Recorded: July, 5-6, 1954 (session 1) Blue Moon of Kentucky is a bluegrass song, written by Bill Monroe in 1947 and recorded by his band, The Blue Grass Boys. ... For the retired NBC News correspondent of the same name, see Bill Monroe (journalist). ...

Blue Moon

R. Rodgers - L. Hart.
Original: Connee Boswell (Capital, 1934)
Recorded: August 19, 1954 (session 2) Cover of sheet music for Blue Moon arranged by Jeff Funk, scored by SATB choir, and published by Alfred Publishing Co. ... An autographed photo of Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was one of the great composers of musical theater, best known for his song writing partnerships with Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II. He wrote more than 900 published songs, and forty Broadway musicals. ... Lorenz (Larry) Hart (May 2, 1895 - November 22, 1943) was the lyricist half of the famed Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart. ... The Boswell Sisters on the cover of the reissue album collection Thats How Rhythm Was Born The Boswell Sisters were a close harmony singing group that attained national prominence in the USA in the 1930s. ...

Tomorrow Night

S. Coslow - W. Grosz. Original: Lonnie Johnson (1948, King)
Recorded: September 1954 (session 3) Alfonzo Lonnie Johnson (February 8, 1894 – June 6, 1970) was a pioneering blues and jazz singer/guitarist born in New Orleans, Louisiana. ...

I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin')

J. Wakely. Original: Jimmy Wakely (1943, Decca)
Recorded: September 10, 1954 (session 3)

Satisfied

Recorded: September 1954 (session 3) (tape lost)

I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine

M. David. Original probably Patti Page (1950, Mercury)
Recorded: September 10, 1954 (session 3) I Dont Care if the Sun Dont Shine is a popular song, popularized by Patti Page in 1950. ... Mack David (born July 5, 1912) was an American lyricist and songwriter, best known for his work with movies and television in the 1960s, particularly his work on the Disney films Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland. ... Patti Page (born Clara Ann Fowler on November 8, 1927 in Claremore, Oklahoma) is one of the best-known female singers in traditional pop music. ...

Just Because

B. Shelton - J. Shelton - S. Robin. Original: The Shelton Brothers (1942, Decca)
Recorded: September 10, 1954 (session 3)

Good Rockin' Tonight

R. Brown. Original Roy Brown (1947, DeLuxe); also Wynonie "Mr. Blues" Harris (1948, King)
Recorded: September 11, 1954 (session 3) There have been a number of notable people named Roy Brown: Roy Brown, the Canadian pilot who is credited with shooting down the Red Baron Roy Brown, a Blues musician who was a pioneer of Rock and Roll Roy Brown, a Puerto Rican musician Roy Brown, a famous clown most... Wynonie Mr. ...

Milkcow Blues Boogie

K. Arnold. Original probably Kokomo Arnold (1935, Decca)
Other releases: Johnny Lee Wills (1941, Decca); Moon Mullican (1946, King); Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys als "Brain Cloudy Blues", (1946, Columbia)
Recorded: December 8, 1954 (session 4) Kokomo Arnold (15 February 1901–8 November 1968) was an American blues musician. ... James Robert (Bob) Wills (March 6, 1905 – May 13, 1975) was an American country musician, songwriter, and big band leader. ...

You're a Heartbreaker

J. Sallee
Recorded: December 8, 1954 (session 4)

Baby Let's Play House

A. Gunter. Original: Arthur Gunter (1954, Excello)
Recorded: February 11, 1955 (session 5) Arthur Gunter (born May 23, 1926 in Nashville, Tennessee; died March 16, 1976 in Port Huron, Michigan) was an American blues guitar musician. ...

In 1951 Eddy Arnold recorded a song titled “I Want to Play House with You” [2][3] by Cy Coben. [4] This song has been misidentified as the same song. It is not. ^[1] Eddy Arnold (May 15, 1918) is an American country music singer. ...

I Got a Woman

Ray Charles
Recorded: February 5, 1955 (session 5) (tape lost) This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Ray Charles was the stage name of Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004), a pioneering American pianist and soul musician who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues. ...

Trying To Get To You

McCoy - Singleton. Original: The Eagles (1954, Mercury)
Recorded: February 11, 1955 (session 5, not published) and July 11, 1955 (session 7, published)

I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone

S. Kesler - W. Taylor. Original: Stan Kesler & Bill Taylor
Recorded: March 10, 1955 (session 6)

I Forgot To Remember To Forget

S. Kesler - C. Feathers. Original: Stan Kesler & Charlie Feathers
Recorded: July 11, 1955 (session 7) I Forgot to Remember to Forget is a country song written by Stan Kesler and Charlie Feathers. ... Charlie Feathers, (June 12, 1932 - August 29, 1998), was an influential rockabilly and country music performer. ...

Mystery Train

H. Parker - S. Phillips. Original: Little Junior's Blue Flames (1953, Sun)
Recorded: July 11, 1955 (session 7) For other persons named Sam Phillips, see Sam Phillips (disambiguation). ...

When It Rains It Really Pours

W. Emerson. Original: Billy "the Kid" Emerson (1955, Sun)
Recorded: August or October 1955 (session 8)

The Million Dollar Quartet (session recordings)

On December 4, 1956, a year after Elvis had left Sun for RCA, he revisited Sun Studio. The afternoon became a jam session with Carl Perkins (then already famous for his Blue Suede Shoes), Jerry Lee Lewis (relatively unknown at the time), and Johnny Cash (reportedly not heard on the tapes, while later he claimed to be included). The taping was largely unintended by the quartet; they were just singing the songs they had in mind. About 40 titles are recorded, most of them incomplete. Elvis is caught telling about a singer he saw in Las Vegas (Billy Ward), doing his version of Don't Be Cruel, and they're enjoying Brown Eyed Handsome Man from Chuck Berry.
Recorded: December 4, 1956. Million Dollar Quartet is the name given to recordings made on Tuesday December 4, 1956 in the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. ... RCA, formerly an acronym for the Radio Corporation of America, is now a trademark owned by Thomson SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Thomson. ... Sun Studio Sun Studio opened by rock pioneer Sam Phillips at 710 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 3, 1950. ... Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998) was an American pioneer of rockabilly music, a mix of rhythm and blues and country music that was recorded most notably at Sun Records in Memphis beginning in 1954. ... For other uses of Blue Suede Shoes, see Blue Suede Shoes (disambiguation). ... Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935), also known by the nickname The Killer, is an American rock and roll and country music singer, songwriter, and pianist. ... It has been suggested that Johnny Cash family be merged into this article or section. ... Compilation album cover Billy Ward and the Dominoes were one of the top American R&B groups of the 1950s, and launched the careers of both Clyde McPhatter and Jackie Wilson. ... Dont be Cruel is a song by Otis Blackwell, which was recorded by Elvis Presley in 1956. ... Charles Edward Anderson Chuck Berry (born October 18, 1926 in St. ...

Releases

Most of the tapes, including the private single, the Million Dollar Quartet and alternate takes have been released. Further alternate takesunreleased songs from SUN are to be released in midlate '07. Details not announced as yet but it may be a box set by Follow That Dream - RCA/BMG collectors label.

Sun Singles

Ten songs, making five singles, were originally released on the Sun-label:

• Sun 209 July 19, 1954: That's All Right / Blue Moon of Kentucky
• Sun 210 September 25, 1954: Good Rockin' Tonight / I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine
• Sun 215 December 28, 1954: Milkcow Blues Boogie / You're A Heartbreaker
• Sun 217 April 10, 1955: Baby Let's Play House / I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone
• Sun 223 August 6, 1955: I Forgot To Remember To Forget / Mystery Train

After signing with RCA, the same songs, in the same combination, were re-released by RCA. (December 1955). The songs were available on 78 and 45 rpm, which explains the two ordering-numbers 20/47:

• RCA 20/47-6375: Sun 223
• RCA 20/47-6380: Sun 209
• RCA 20/47-6381: Sun 210
• RCA 20/47-6382: Sun 215
• RCA 20/47-6383: Sun 217

Album Elvis Presley (1956)

On January 27, 1956, the first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel" b/w "I Was the One" was released, giving Elvis a nationwide breakthrough. His reputation as a performer on stage was already growing in the same dimensions. Elvis Presley is the self-titled debut album from Elvis Presley. ... is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Whitney Houston song, see Heartbreak Hotel (Whitney Houston song). ...

On March 23, 1956. the first album, Elvis Presley was released (RCA 1254). At that moment "Heartbreak Hotel" was climbing the lists, but albums were seen as less important than singles. "Heartbreak Hotel" is not on this album. RCA, however, put five unreleased Sun recordings on this album: is the 82nd day of the year (83rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Elvis Presley is the self-titled debut album from Elvis Presley. ...

• "I Love You Because"
• "Just Because"
• "Trying to Get to You"
• "I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin')"
• "Blue Moon"

The Sun Sessions (1976)

On March 22, 1976, the album The Sun Sessions was released, with fifteen out of the nineteen available Sun titles: The Sun Sessions is a compilation of Elvis Presley recordings at Sun Studios in 1954 and 1955. ... is the 81st day of the year (82nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

• "That's All Right"
• "Blue Moon of Kentucky"
• "I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine"
• "Good Rockin Tonight"
• "Milkcow Blues Boogie"
• "You're a Heartbreaker"
• "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone"
• "Baby Let's Play House"
• "Mystery Train"
• "I Forgot to Remember to Forget"
• "I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin')"
• "Trying to Get to You"
• "I Love You Because"
• "Just Because"
• "I Love You Because" (second version)

Missing:

• "Harbor Lights"
• "Tomorrow Night"
• "When It Rains It Really Pours"
• "Satisfied"
• "I Got a Woman"
• "It Wouldn't Be the Same Without You"
• "I'll Never Stand in Your Way"
• "My Happiness"

The Complete Sun Sessions [sic] (1987)

Although the title suggests more, only 17 out of the 20 songs are here. The album does contain several takes from "I Love You Because", and "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone".
Missing:

• The private recordings
• "Satisfied"
• "It Wouldn't Be the Same Without You"
• "I'll Never Stand in Your Way"
• "My Happiness"

The Million Dollar Quartet (1989)

The recordings have been released in 1989 as a CD, titled, Elvis Presley - The Million Dollar Quartet (RCA CD # 2023-2-R), CD may stand for: Compact Disc Canadian Forces Decoration Cash Dispenser (at least used in Japan) CD LPMud Driver Centrum-Demokraterne (Centre Democrats of Denmark) Certificate of Deposit České Dráhy (Czech Railways) Chad (NATO country code) Chalmers Datorförening (computer club of the Chalmers University of Technology) a 1960s... Million Dollar Quartet is the name given to recordings made on Tuesday December 4, 1956 in the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. ...

The King of Rock & Roll, The Complete '50s Masters (1992)

Nearly every song Elvis recorded at Sun is present here (although "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" is hidden on CD number 5; the rest is on CD 1).
Missing: "Satisfied" (apparently lost forever), all but one track from the Million Dollar Quartet session, as well as "It Wouldn't be the Same Without You" and "I'll Never Stand in Your Way." The latter two songs appear on yet another (and as complete as possible) Sun sessions CD titled "Sunrise."

Sunrise (1999)

Another delving in the Sun Records vaults is the most complete collection of Elvis' recordings from that time. All the masters, some demos and alternate recordings, and a few early live-recorded tracks. Sunrise is a two-disc compilation of Elvis Presleys complete officially issued studio recordings at Sun Studios from 1953 to 1955, released in 1999, RCA 67675-2. ...

Elvis at Sun (2004)

The current (as of mid-2006) version the Sun recordings. Contains the five singles ("That's All Right"/"Blue Moon of Kentucky";"Good Rockin' Tonight"/"I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine";"Milkcow Blues Boogie"/"You're a Heartbreaker;"Baby Let's Play House"/"I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone";"I Forgot to Remember to Forget"/"Mystery Train") plus "Harbor Lights," "I Love You Because" (alternate take 2), "Tomorrow Night," "I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin')," "Just Because," "I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone" (slow version), "Trying to Get to You" and "When It Rains It Really Pours."
Missing: Elvis at Sun is a compact disc compilation of Elvis Presleys studio recordings at Sun Studio from 1953 to 1955, released in June 2004, BMG Heritage 61205. ...

• Private recordings and demos:
  • "My Happiness"
  • "That's When Your Heartaches Begin"
  • "I'll Never Stand in Your Way"
  • "It Wouldn't Be the Same Without You"
• "I Love You Because" (first version) (available on Elvis Presley)
• The lost "Satisfied"
• "I Got a Woman" (Re-recording available on Elvis Presley)

Elvis Presley is the self-titled debut album from Elvis Presley. ...

See also

• Million Dollar Quartet

Million Dollar Quartet is the name given to recordings made on Tuesday December 4, 1956 in the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. ...

External link

• As of 2002, Elvis Presley's SUN recordings are inducted in the US Congress's National Recording Registry: http://www.loc.gov/rr/record/nrpb/nrpb-masterlist.html (no. 102)