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In the summer of 1953, Presley paid $4 to record the first of two double-sided demo acetates at Sun Studios, "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" which were popular ballads at the time. According to the official Presley website, Elvis reportedly gave it to his mother as a much-belated birthday present.

Sun Records founder Sam Phillips and assistant Marion Keisker heard the discs and called him in June 1954 to fill in for a missing ballad singer. Although that session was not productive, Sam Phillips put Elvis together with local musicians Scotty Moore and Bill Black to see what might develop. During a rehearsal break on July 5, 1954, Elvis began singing a blues song written by Arthur Crudup called "That's All Right".

Phillips liked the resulting record and released it as a 78RPM single backed with Elvis' hopped-up version of Bill Monroe's bluegrass song "Blue Moon Of Kentucky." Memphis radio station WHBQ began airing it two days later, the record became a local hit and Elvis began a regular touring schedule which expanded his fame beyond Tennessee.

Country music star Hank Snow arranged to have Presley perform at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry and his performance was received well by the audience. Nonetheless, one of the show's executives was far from impressed and hinted that Presley should give up his music.

However, since that time many singers (Garth Brooks among them) have commented that one of the greatest thrills of playing the Opry is that they played on the same stage as Presley.

He continued to tour the U.S. South. On October 16, 1954, he made his first appearance on Louisiana Hayride, a radio broadcast of live country music in Shreveport, Louisiana and was a hit with the large audience.

Following this, Presley was signed to a one-year contract for a weekly performance during which time he was introduced to Colonel Tom Parker. This helped sales of his records as his releases began to reach the top of the country charts.

Elvis and Sun Records

The location is Memphis, a true melting pot of all sorts of music: both black music (blues, rhythm & blues, gospel) and white music (country & western, hillbilly). The recordings do clearly reflect these influences.

Recordings

Elvis started singing a single just for the fun in the summer of 1953. Starting a year later, from July 5, 1954, he recorded 20 titles to be published, 19 of them have survived.

And a year after he left for RCA, he revisited the same studio to have a spontaneous 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.

Going to RCA

After Elvis signed with RCA, in November, 1955, his musical environment changed drastically. He started recording in Nashville or New York, 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.

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 23 titles

These are the 23 titles, in order of their recording date. A take means a second (or higher) version; the best take would be used to create a mastertape to be published.

My Happiness (private)

Peterson — Bergantine Recorded: summer 1953 (private)

That's When Your Heartaches Begin (private)

Raskin — Brown — Fisher Recorded: summer 1953 (private)

I Love You Because

L. Payne. Original probably: Leon Payne (1949, Capitol); Eddie Fisher (1950, RCA Victor) Recorded: July 5-6, 1954 (session 1)

Lyrics for I Love You Because performed by Elvis Presley

I love you because you understand dear Every single thing I try to do. You're always there to lend a helping hand, dear. I love you most of all because you're you.

No matter what the world may say about me, I know your love will always see me through. I love you for the way you never doubt me. But most of all I love you 'cause you're you.

I love you because, because my heart is ligther honey everytime, everytime I'm walking by your side and I love you, yes I love you because the future is a little bit brighter and the door, the door of my happiness, you open wide

No matter what may be the style or season, I know your heart will always be true. I love you for a hundred thousand reasons, But most of all I love you 'cause you're you.

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 Sunlabel, and many later releases, '(Mama)' is omitted: "That's All Right". Recorded: July 5-6, 1954 (session 1)

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.

Lyrics for That’s All Right, Mama performed by Elvis Presley

Well, that's all right, mama That's all right for you That's all right mama, just anyway you do Well, that's all right, that's all right. That's all right now mama, anyway you do

Mama she done told me, Papa done told me too 'Son, that gal your foolin' with, She ain't no good for you' But, that's all right, that's all right. That's all right now mama, anyway you do

I'm leaving town, baby I'm leaving town for sure Well, then you won't be bothered with Me hanging 'round your door Well, that's all right, that's all right. That's all right now mama, anyway you do

Harbor Lights

H. Williams — J. Kennedy. Original: possibly Harry Owens and His Royal Hawaiians Recorded: July 5-6, 1954 (session 1)

Lyrics for Harbor Lights performed by Elvis Presley

I saw the harbor lights

They only told me we were parting Those same old harbor lights That once brought you to me.

I watched the harbor lights How could I help it? Tears were starting. Good-bye to golden nights Beside the silvery seas.

I long to hold you dear, And kiss you just once more. But you were on the ship, And I was on the shore.

Now I know lonely nights For all the while my heart keeps praying That someday harbor lights Will bring you back to me.

Blue Moon of Kentucky

Bill Monroe Recorded: July, 5-6, 1954 (session 1)

Lyrics for Blue Moon Of Kentucky performed by Elvis Presley

Blue moon, blue moon, blue moon, keep shining bright. Blue moon, keep on shining bright, You're gonna bring me back my baby tonight, Blue moon, keep shining bright.

I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining, Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue. I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining, Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue.

Well, it was on one moonlight night, Stars shining bright, Wish blown high Love said good-bye.

Blue moon of Kentucky Keep on shining. Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue.

Well, I said blue moon of Kentucky Just keep on shining. Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue. I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining. Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue.

Well, it was on one moonlight night, Stars shining bright, Wish blown high Love said good-bye.

Blue moon of Kentucky Keep on shining. Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue.

Blue Moon

R. Rodgers — L. Hart. Original: Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys (1947, Columbia) Recorded: August 19, 1954 (session 2)

Lyrics for Blue Moon performed by Elvis Presley (R. Rodgers — L. Hart)

Blue moon, You saw me standing alone, Without a dream in my heart, Without a love of my own.

Blue moon, You knew just what I was there for. You heard me saying a pray for Someone I really could care for.

Blue moon, You saw me standing alone, Without a dream in my heart, Without a love of my own.

Blue moon... Without a love of my own.

Tomorrow Night

S. Coslow — W. Grosz. Original: Lonnie Johnson (1948, King) Recorded: September 1954 (session 3)

Lyrics for Tomorrow Night performed by Elvis Presley

Tomorrow night Will you remember what you said tonight? Tomorrow night Will all thrills be gone? Tomorrow night Will it be just another memory, Or just another lovely song That's in my full heart to linger on?

Your lips are so tender, Your heart is beating fast And you're willing to surrender. Tell me, darling, will it last?

Tomorrow night Will you be with me when the moon's bright? Tomorrow night Will you say those lovely things you said tonight?

Tomorrow night Will it be just another memory Or just another lovely song That's in my full heart to linger on?

Your lips are so tender, Your heart is beating fast And you're willing to surrender. Tell me, darling, will it last?

Tomorrow night Will you remember what you said tonight? Tomorrow night Will you say those lovely things you said tonight?

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

J. Warkley. Original: Jimmy Warkly (1943, Decca) Recorded: September 1954 (session 3)

Lyrics for I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’) performed by Elvis Presley

I'll never let you go, little darlin'. I'm so sorry 'cause I made you cry. I'll never let you go, 'cause I love you. So please don't ever say good-bye.

The stars would tumble down beside me, The moon would hang its head and cry. My arms would never hold another baby doll If we should ever say good-bye.

Well, I'll never let you go, Because I love you, pretty baby. I'm so sorry 'cause I made you cry. I made you cry. Yeah, I'll never let you go, 'Cause I love you, little baby. So please don't ever say good-bye.

Satisfied

This title has been administered as being recorded, but the tape has never been found. Recorded: September 1954 (session 3)

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

M. David. Original probably Patti Page (1950, Mercury) Recorded: September 1954 (session 3)

Lyrics for I Don’t Care If The Sun Don’t Shine performed by Elvis Presley

Well, I don't care if the sun don't shine. I get my lovin' in the evening time When I'm with my baby.

Well, it ain't no fun with the sun around. I get going when the sun goes down And I'm with my baby.

Well, that's when we're gonna kiss and kiss and kiss and kiss, And we're gonna kiss some more. Who cares how many times we kiss, 'Cause at a time like this, who keeps score?

Well, I don't care if the sun don't shine I get my loving in the evening time When I meet my baby.

And it don't matter if it's sleet or snow, The drive-in's cozy when the lights are low And I'm with my baby.

Makes no difference if the rain comes down I don't notice when she's around. Oh boy, what a baby.

Well, that's when we're gonna kiss and kiss and kiss and kiss and We're gonna kiss some more. Well, one kiss from my baby doll Makes me hot... More more more more.

Well, I don't care if the sun don't shine I get my loving in the evening time When I'm with my baby.

Well, that's when we're gonna kiss and kiss and kiss and kiss and We're gonna kiss some more. Well, one kiss from my baby doll Makes me hot... More more more more.

Well, I don't care if the sun don't shine I get my loving in the evening time When I'm with my baby.

Just Because

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

Lyrics for Just Because performed by Elvis Presley

Well, well, well, Just because you think you're so pretty, And just because your momma thinks you're hot, Well, just because you think you've got something That no other girl has got, You've caused me to spend all my money. You laughed and called me old Santa Claus. Well, I'm telling you, Baby, I'm through with you. Because, well well, just because.

Well, well, well, There'll come a time when you'll be lonesome And there'll come a time when you'll be blue. Well, there'll come a time when old Santa He won't pay your bills for you.

You've caused me to lose all my women And now, now you say we are through. Well, I'm telling you Baby, I was through with you A long long time ago.

Well, just because you think you're so pretty And just because your mama thinks you're the hottest thing in town Well, just because you think you've got something That nobody else has got, You've caused me to spend all of my money. Honey, you laughed and called me your old Santa Claus. Well, I'm telling you I'm through with you Because, well well, just because.

Good Rockin' Tonight

R. Brown. Original Roy Brown (1947, DeLuxe); also Wynonie "Mr. Blues" Harris (1948, King) Recorded: September 1954 (session 3)

Lyrics for Good Rockin’ Tonight performed by Elvis Presley

Well, I heard the news there's good rockin' tonight. Well, I heard the news There's good rockin' tonight.

I'm gonna hold my baby as tight as I can. Tonight she'll know I'm a mighty, mighty man. I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight.

I say, well, meet me in a hurry behind the barn, Don't you be afraid, darling, I'll do you no harm I want you to bring along my rockin' shoes, 'Cause tonight I'm gonna rock away all my blues. I heard the news, there's good rockin' tonight.

Well, we're gonna rock. We're gonna rock. Let's rock. Come on and rock. We're gonna rock all our blues away.

Have you heard the news? Everybody's rockin' tonight. Have you heard the news? Everybody's rockin' tonight.

I'm gonna hold my baby as tight as I can, Well, tonight she'll know I'm a mighty, mighty man. I heard the news, There's good rockin' tonight.

Well, we're gonna rock, rock, rock, Come on and rock, rock, rock, Well, rock, rock, rock, rock, Let's rock, rock, rock, rock, We're gonna rock all our blues away.

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: November or December 1954 (session 4)

Lyrics for Milkcow Blues Boogie performed by Elvis Presley

Well, I woke up this morning, And I looked out the door. I can tell that old milk cow By the way she lowed.

Hold it fellows, that don't move me. Let's get real, real gone for a change.

Well, I woke up this morning And I looked out the door I can tell that that old milk cow I can tell the way she lowed.

Well, if you've seen my milk cow, Please ride her on home. I ain't had no milk or butter Since that cow's been gone.

Well, I tried to treat you right, Day by day. Get out your little prayer book Get down on your knees and pray. For you're gonna need, You're gonna need your loving daddy's help someday. Well, then you're gonna be sorry For treating me this way. Well, believe me, don't that sun look good going down? Well, believe me, don't that sun look good going down? Well, don't that old moon look lonesome When your baby's not around.

Well, I tried everything to get along with you. I'm gonna tell you what I'm going do. I'm gonna quit my crying, I'm gonna leave you alone. If you don't believe I'm leaving, you can count the days I'm gone. I'm gonna leave. You're gonna need your loving daddy's help someday.

Well, you're gonna be sorry You treated me this way.

You're A Heartbreaker

J. Sallee Recorded: November or December 1954 (session 4)

Baby Let's Play House

A. Gunter. Original: Arthur Gunter (1954, Excello) Recorded: February 5, 1955 (session 5)

I Got A Woman

Ray Charles Recorded: February 5, 1955 (session 5)

Trying To Get To You

McCoy — Singleton. Original: The Eagles (1954, Mercury) Recorded: February 5, 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 5, 1955 (session 6)

I Forgot To Remember To Forget

S. Kesler — C. Feathers. Original: Stan Kesler & Charlie Feathers Recorded: July 11, 1955 (session 7)

Mystery Train

H. Parker — S. Phillips. Original: Little Junior's Blue Flames (1953, Sun) Recorded: July 11, 1955 (session 7)

Lyrics for Mystery Train performed by Elvis Presley (H. Parker — S. Philips)

Train I ride, sixteen coaches long Train I ride, sixteen coaches long Well that long black train got my baby and gone

Train train, comin' 'round, 'round the bend Train train, comin' 'round the bend Well it took my baby, but it never will again (no, not again)

Train train, comin' down, down the line Train train, comin' down the line Well it's bringin' my baby, 'cause she's mine all, all mine (She's mine, all, all mine)

When It Rains It Really Pours

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

The Million Dollar Quartet (session recordings)

In December 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 (probably Jackie Wilson), doing his version of Don't Be Cruel, and they're enjoying Brown Eyed Handsome Man from Chuck Berry.

Recorded: December 4, 1956.

Releases

Most of the tapes, including the private single, the Million Dollar Quartet and alternate takes have been released.

Sun-singles

∙ Sun 209 July 1954: That's All Right / Blue Moon of Kentucky

∙ Sun 210 September 1954: Good Rockin' Tonight / I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine

∙ Sun 215 January 8, 1955: Milkcow Blues Boogie / You're A Heartbreaker

∙ Sun 217 April 1955: Baby Let's Play House / I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone

∙ Sun 223 August 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:

Album 'Elvis Presley' (1956)

In January 1956 the first RCA-single Heartbreak Hotel was released, giving Elvis a nationwide breakthrough. His reputation as a performer on stage was already growing in the same dimensions.

In March 1956 the first album, 'Elvis Presley' was released (RCA 1254). At that moment Heartbreak Hotel was climbing the lists, but albums were seen as unimportant. Heartbreak Hotel is not even on this album. But RCA did put five unreleased Sun-titles on this album:

∙ 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)

In 1976 the album The Sun Sessions was released, with fourteen out of the nineteen available Sun-titles. The recording "I Love You Because" is represented with two versions.

Missing:

∙ "Harbor Lights"

∙ "Blue Moon"

∙ "Tomorrow Night"

∙ "When It Rains It Really Pours"

∙ "I Got A Woman"

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"

∙ "Blue Moon of Kentucky"

∙ "I Got A Woman"

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),

The Complete 50's Masters (1992)

Ultimately this is the most complete release so far. Both titles of Elvis's first single as present here (although "That's When Your Heartaches Begin", the flip side, is hidden on CD number 5; the rest is on CD 1).

Missing: Satisfied, The Million Dollar Quartet.

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