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Elvis's Sun Recordings
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By
February 1955, Elvis's regional popularity was growing by leaps and
bounds. He had released three singles for Sun Records, he was
a regular on the "Louisiana Hayride," and he was performing on
whirlwind tours through Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Sometime in the first week of February he squeezed in another
recording session at Sun.
FEBRUARY (5?), 1955:
I GOT A WOMAN
Written and recorded by Ray Charles in 1954, the song was derived
from the tune of a gospel song by Alex Brown called "I've Got A
Savior (Across Town). Mr. Charles's version was a hit and
reached #2 on the R&B Chart. Elvis's version for Sun was lost,
however, he can be heard to singing it live in concert recordings
from those early days. He would record it again at his first
session for RCA in 1956 and it would be a staple of his concerts
throughout his life. Others who have recorded this song
include Ricky Nelson.
TRYING TO GET TO YOU
Written by Rose Marie McCoy and Charles Singleton in 1954, this song
was a hit for the Washington, D.C. group The Eagles that same year.
Elvis tried one take of this song in February 1955 and created the
final master on July 11, 1955. This particular track was lost.
BABY, LET'S PLAY HOUSE
This
song was written and recorded by Arthur Gunter in 1954. It
would become Elvis's fourth single along with "I'm Left, You're
Right, She's Gone". In an interview, Elvis's mother Gladys
said this song was one of her favorites he'd recorded thus far.
It peaked at #5 on the national Billboard Country Chart.
MARCH (5?), 1955:
I'M LEFT, YOU'RE RIGHT, SHE'S GONE (YOU'RE
RIGHT, I'M LEFT, SHE'S GONE)
Producer Sam Phillips was looking to have Elvis record another song
that could back the "Baby, Let's Play House" single. Another
Sun hopeful, steel guitarist Stan Kesler, along with Bill Taylor,
had written this song. The session didn't go well at first.
Elvis and the band tried the song at a slow beat. Sam
then brought in a young drummer, Jimmie Lott, who was the first
percussionist to work an Elvis Presley recording session. The
song was then reworked and recorded again.
Note, Sam got the song
titel wrong it was mend to be YOU'RE RIGHT, I'M LEFT, SHE'S GONE
JULY 11, 1955:
I FORGOT TO REMEMBER TO FORGET
This
song was written by Sun artists Stan Kesler and Charlie Feathers.
This time Johnny Bernero was on drums. Elvis wasn't really
interested in the song, but it was Mr. Bernero's drumming that
helped him warm up to it. Released along with "Mystery Train"
as Elvis's last Sun single, this song would become Elvis's first
number one hit on a national chart. It spent a total of 39
weeks on the Billboard Country Chart, with five of the those weeks
at the #1 spot.
MYSTERY TRAIN
Written and recorded in 1953 by Sun artist Herman "Little Junior"
Parker. Elvis's version was released as the B-side of "I
Forgot To Remember To Forget". It peaked at #11 on the
national Billboard Country Chart.
TRYING TO GET TO YOU
On this date Elvis tried again and finally got a successful take of
this song. It would be released on his first album for RCA
"Elvis Presley" in 1956.
NOVEMBER, 1955:
WHEN IT RAINS, IT REALLY POURS
This
song, written by Sun artist, William "Billy the Kid" Emerson,
was the last one Elvis recorded for Sun Records. The session
was never completed. Negotiations had begun on the sale of
Elvis's contract to RCA. This song would eventually be
released in 1983 on the album "Elvis: A Legendary Performer, Volume
4."
By
the week ending June 29, 1955, Elvis's Sun singles were on
Billboard's Territorial Country Charts in Memphis ("I'm Left, You're
Right, She's Gone" - #5), New Orleans ("Baby, Let's Play House" -
#7), Richmond, VA ("Baby Let's Play House" - #6), and St.
Louis ("Baby Let's Play House" - #8).
In
the review section of the August 20, 1955 issue of Billboard
magazine, "I Forgot To Remember To Forget" was spotlighted:
"This sound is certain to get strong initial exposure. Presley
is currently on the best selling charts with "Baby, Let's Play
House" and the wide acceptance of this side should ease the way for
the new disk. Flip "Mystery Train" is a splendid coupling,
with the guitar outstanding."
By
September 3, 1955 Elvis had also hit the Territorial Charts in
Charlotte, NC and Dallas/Ft. Worth for the first time with "Baby
Let's Play House". By the end of the year, Elvis had his first
national #1 hit (country chart) with "I Forgot To Remember To
Forget" and RCA finalized the purchase of his Sun recording
contract. The sound of Elvis Presley's recorded voice first
captured at that tiny studio on Union Avenue in Memphis would soon
be heard throughout the world. It still is today, 50 years
after his career began.
On
July 5, 2004 things came full circle with an event billed as "A
Global Moment in Time." Scotty Moore, the only surviving
member of the original group, pushed a button at Sun Studio and
played the original recording of "That's All Right" for a global
satellite feed to radio stations in commemoration of the 50th
anniversary of Elvis's first single and the start of his career.
Elvis, Elvis Presley, Elvis Week, Graceland, and Heartbreak Hotel
are Registered Trademarks with the USPTO.
(C) 2000-2021 EPE, Inc.
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