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Sun Recordings
Elvis's world was changing rapidly. His first single "That's All
Right"/"Blue Moon Of Kentucky" was beginning to take off and by the
middle of August 1954, both sides would be on the Billboard Chart for
the Memphis area. He returned to Sun Studio on August 19, 1954 wanting
to record again.
AUGUST 19, 1954:
BLUE MOON
"Blue Moon" was the song Elvis chose to lay down that night. The
song was written in 1933 by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart. It was
originally written under a different title for a project with actress
Jean Harlow. Mr. Hart later changed the lyrics and changed the title to
"The Bad In Every Man" for the 1934 Clark Gable film "Manhattan
Melodrama". The lyrics and title changed again to "Blue Moon." It was
recorded by Frankie Trumbauer & Band in 1934 and Glen Gray and the Casa
Loma Band in 1935. The Benny Goodman Orchestra with Helen Ward also
released it that year. Many other artists over the years have recorded
this song, Elvis's version for Sun was not be released until 1956 when
it appeared on his first album for RCA, "Elvis Presley."
SEPTEMBER 10 - ?, 1954:
TOMORROW NIGHT
This song was written in 1939 by Sam Caslow and Will Grosz, and
recorded that same year by Horace Heidt and his orchestra The Heidt-Lights.
It was released again in 1948 by Lonnie Johnson and in late 1954 by
LaVern Baker. In 1965 RCA recorded new backing tracks and overdubbed
Elvis's original vocal track to release it on the album "Elvis For
Everyone." An edited version was released on "The Complete Sun Sessions"
and this original version was released in 1992 on "The King of Rock 'n'
Roll."
SATISFIED
This song was written and recorded by Martha Cardson in 1952. In 1953
Johnnie Ray recorded it and it has since been released by a number of
artists including Barbara Mandrell and Bill Gaither and The Gaither
Vocal Band. Records indicate that Elvis definitely recorded one take of
this song but the tape has yet to surface.
I'LL NEVER LET YOU GO (LITTLE DARLIN')
Cowboy crooner Jimmy Wakely wrote and recorded this song in 1943. Other
versions were released by Jimmy Liggins and Hank Snow. Elvis' version
was released by RCA on his first album "Elvis Presley" in 1956.
I DON'T CARE IF THE SUN DON'T SHINE
This song was written by Mack David in 1949 for the Disney film
"Cinderella," but it was not used. In 1950 Patti Page released a
version, as did LeRoy Homes and Dean Martin, who was one of Elvis's
favorite singers. Martin's version was used in the Dean Martin/Jerry
Lewis movie "Scared Stiff". The story goes that Marion Keisker , who
worked for producer Sam Phillips and had brought Elvis to his attention,
actually helped write additional lyrics for the song for Elvis, but
signed away any rights at the insistence of the song's publisher. It was
released as the B side of Elvis's second single "Good Rockin' Tonight."
JUST BECAUSE
Bob and Joe Shelton along with Sid Robin are credited with the writing
and recording of this song in 1937 - a hit for them. There is some
controversy that it comes from a much earlier song by a group called
Nelstone's Hawaiians. Others who have recorded it include Brenda Lee,
the Flying Burrito Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Conway Twitty, Bobby
Vinton, Lawrence Welk, Rosemary Clooney, Duane Eddy, Rick Nelson and
Paul McCartney. Frankie Yankovic's 1948 polka version was very popular.
GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT
This song, written and recorded in 1947 by Roy Brown, reached the top 20
on the R&B Chart. It was recorded by Wynonie Harris in 1948 and it
reached #1 on the R&B chart. It was Elvis's second single. Later, in
1959, Pat Boone's version peaked on the Hot 100 Chart at #49. In 1956
Jean Chapel recorded an "answer song" called "I Won't Be Rockin'
Tonight."
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 1954:
The exact date and the details surrounding this session are not
known at this time. RCA never received master tapes of this session.
MILKCOW BLUES BOOGIE
Written and recorded by James "Kokomo" Arnold in 1935, this song was
recorded in 1938 by Bob Crosby and in 1941 by Johnny Lee Wills. Moon
Mullican recorded it in 1946 under the title "New MilkCow Blues." Also
in 1946, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys recorded it under the title
"Brain Cloudy Blues." In 1961 Ricky Nelson's version hit #79 on the Hot
100 Chart. Elvis's version was released in January 1955 as a single with
"You're A Heartbreaker" as the other side.
YOU'RE A HEARTBREAKER
This song was written in 1953 by Charles "Jack" Sallee, who was a friend
of Sam Phillips. Jimmy Heap recorded it in 1953 as did the Ray Anthony
Orchestra with Jo Ann Greer. In January 1955, this song, along with "Milkcow
Blues Boogie" as the other side, became Elvis's third single released on
the Sun label in January 1955. In the January 29, 1955 issue of "The
Billboard" magazine, this single was reviewed: "Presley" continues to
impress with each release as one of the slickest talents to come up in
the country field in a long, long time. Item here is based on some of
the best folk blues. The guy sells all the way."
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