Elvis Presley: Elvis At Sun

Elly Roberts reviews

Elvis Presley:
Elvis At SunDistributed by
BMG UK & Ireland

CD:
LP:
• Year: 2004
• Rating: 9/10
• Cat. No: 82876613082

Track listing:

1. Harbour Lights
2. I Love You Because (alternate take 2)
3. That’s Alright
4. Blue Moon Of Kentucky
5. Blue Moon
6. Tomorrow Night
7. I’ll Never Let You Go ( Little Darling )
8. Just Because
9. Good Rockin’ Tonight
10. I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine
11. Milkcow Blues Boogie
12. You’re A Heartbreaker
13. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone ( slow version )
14. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone
15. Baby Let’s Play House
16. I Forgot To Remember To Forget
17. Mystery Train
18. Trying To Get To You
19. When It Rains It Really Pours

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Before Elvis Presley was whisked off to RCA, he began hisrecording career at Memphis Recording Service, 706, Union Avenue.

It’s motto was – ‘ We Record Anything – Anywhere – Anytime ‘. For just $3.98anyone could walk in off the street and walk out again with an acetate bearingthe sound of their voice. And that’s exactly what Elvis did in the summer of1953 .He laid down two songs – My Happiness and That’s When YourHeartaches Begin. But it wasn’t without a struggle.

Early rehearsals didn’t impress his backing musicians Moore and Black.Eventually Sam Phillips believed he’d found what he’d been looking for -“a white man with the Negro sound and the Negro feel”. Unfortunately, the kidwith the sideburns’ recording debuts don’t appear here.

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What you do get is a 19 track indication of his future world domination. Underthe scrutiny of this legendary producer Sam Phillips, this definitive 19-trackcollection sees him at his best – the stripped down sound allowing hisfledgling beautiful voice to shine. It includes all 5 of Elvis’s original Sunsingles (A & B sides), plus rare alternate takes. It also includes what isregarded as the first rock’ n ‘roll record – Arthur ‘ Big Boy ‘ Cudup’s “ That’s Alright .“

A subtle blend of rhythm and blues, blues, blue – grass, country, rockabilly –all performed by Elvis, guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black. Nothingwas fun for Elvis unless he could share it – and that’s what he does here.

“Before Elvis there was nothing”, said John Lennon – and he was right.

The accompanying booklet, includes recollections by Phillips’ son Knox, rareElvis photos. Elvis expert Ernst Mikael Jorgenson gives a track – by – trackcommentary. A limited edition vinyl LP is also available.

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