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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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