It's a real shame everybody outside the US missed out on seeing him live in concert. He could've bigger than he already was if that's even possible
For those that don't want to click the link here is a copy paste of the first section up to about where we are now in the thread Elvis Presley - The King of Rock 'n' Roll - Elvis Presley 1956 - Every concert, studio recording and important event in Elvis Presley's Life from January to December 1956. For Elvis Presley, 1956 was a year like no other. In January, he was a regional sensation, but by year's end he had become a national and international phenomenon. He made his first two albums for RCA (both million sellers), appeared on national television 11 times, signed a seven- year contract with Paramount Pictures, and stared in his first movie, Love Me Tender. Elvis' appearances on national television were pivotal events for America because his unconventional appearance and performing style caused nationwide controversy. Elvis Presley outraged adults, mesmerized the teenagers of the new youth generation, and soon became the leader of the cultural revolution sweeping across the country. Elvis Presley Week of shows. Jan. 1 - Jan. 4 1 January. St. Louis, MO. Kiel Auditorium 3 January. Boonesville, MS. Von Theatre 4 January. Jonesboro, AR. Community Center 7 January. The Louisiana Hayride. Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport. January 10, Two days after his twenty-first birthday, Elvis has his first recording session for RCA, held at their studio in Nashville. Among the songs laid to tape during this session is 'Heartbreak Hotel'.
January 10, 1956 RCA Studio's - Nashville, Tennessee I Got A Woman G2WB 0208-08 Heartbreak HotelG2WB 0209-07 Money Honey G2WB 0210-SP January 11, 1956 RCA Studio's - Nashville, Tennessee I'm Counting On You G2WB 0211-17 I Was The One G2WB 0218-07 14 January. The Louisiana Hayride. Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, Louisiana (8pm)
Hank Snow Package tour of Texas. Jan. 15 - Jan. 20 15 January. San Antonio, TX. Municipal Auditorium 16 January. Galveston, TX. 17 January. Beaumont, TX. City Auditorium 18 January. Austin, TX. Austin Coliseum 19 January. Wichita Falls, TX. Memorial Auditorium 20 January. Fort Worth, TX. North Side Coliseum January 21, Bob Neal informs the Colonel that because of his new job he will have to 'bow out' of participation in the upcoming February tour.This marks the end of his official association with Elvis Presley. The Colonel is now in full control of all aspects of Elvis' career. 21 January. The Louisiana Hayride. Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, Louisiana. 1956 business contract signed by Colonel Parker and Elvis for The Elvis Presley Show January 27', Heartbreak Hotel' b/w 'I Was the One' is released by RCA and sells over 300,000 copies in its first three weeks on the market. It is soon to go to number one on Billboard's pop singles chart for eight weeks and hit number one on the country chart and number five on the R&B chart. It becomes the first Elvis single to sell over one million copies, thus earning Elvis his very first gold record award. January 28, Elvis appears with Scotty, Bill, and D.J. on the Jackie Gleason-produced Stage Show, starring Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey on CBS. This is Elvis' first network television appearance. He appears five more nights on Stage Show over the weeks ahead and makes minor waves nationally. The last of these six appearances is March 24. Traveling and personal appearances continue during this time, including the Louisiana Hayride appearances for which he is still under contract. Fame and 'infamy' build. The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show CBS Studio New York - 28.01.1956 Shake Rattle & Roll / Flip Flop & Fly I Got A Woman After making his first appearance on National TV on the Dorsey Brothers Stage Show, Elvis stayed in town. Around 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 30, he and the band headed for the RCA Studio, 155 E. 24th St. They recorded for seven hours that day, then three hours on Jan. 31 and another several hours on Feb. 3. These New York Sessions yielded 'Blue Suede Shoes' and seven other tunes: 'My Baby Left Me', One-Sided Love Affair', So Glad You're Mine', I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry Over You', Tutti Fruitti', Lawdy Miss Clawdy' and 'Shake, Rattle and Roll'. 'Blue Suede Shoes' was the only hit single in the bunch, but the sessions were crucial in Elvis history because they marked the point at which he started moving away from his raw, pure Sun sound to the more commercial and mainstream sound RCA envisioned for him. Read more about the New York Sessions .
January 30, 1956 RCA Studio's - New York Blue Suede Shoes G2WB 1230-10 My Baby Left Me G2WB 1231-09 One Sided Love Affair G2WB 1232-08 So Glad You're Mine G2WB 1233-10
January 31, 1956 RCA Studio's - New York I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You) G2WB 1254-18 Tutti Frutti G2WB 1255-10 February 1956, As 'Heartbreak Hotel' makes its climb up the charts on its way to number one', I Forgot to Remember to Forget' b/w 'Mystery Train', Elvis' fifth and last single to be released on the Sun label, hits number one on Billboard's national country singles chart. His first number one hit on a national chart. February 2, Letter from Carolyn Asmus, Colonel Parker's secretary, to Gladys and Vernon February 3, Elvis returns to New York for a second recording session at RCA's New York Studio, prior to his second appearance on the 'Dorsey Brothers Stage Show', the following day. These New York Sessions yielded 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy' and 'Shake, Rattle and Roll'.
February 3, 1956 RCA Studio's - New York Lawdy Miss Clawdy G2WB 1293-10 Shake Rattle & Roll G2WB 1294-12 Shake Rattle & Roll (Backup Vocal Overdub) G2WB 1294 February 4, Elvis makes his second Stage Show appearance performing 'Baby Let's Play House' and 'Tutti Frutti'. After the show at the Dorsey brothers invitation, Elvis goes to Roseland, a popular dance club in midtown Manhattan.
The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show CBS Studio New York - 04.02.1956 Baby Let's Play House Tutti Frutti Tour of Virginias and Carolinas. Feb. 5 - Feb. 10 5 February. Richmond, VA. Mosque Theater 6 February. Greensboro, NC. National Theater 7 February. High Point NC. Center Theater 8 February. Raleigh, NC. Ambassador Theater 9 February. Spartanburg, SC. Carolina Theater 10 February. Charlotte, NC. Carolina Theater (4 shows)
The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show CBS Studio New York - 11.02.1956 Blue Suede Shoes Heartbreak Hotel East Coast Tour. Feb. 12 - Feb 16 12 February. Norfolk, VA. Montecello Auditorium 13 February. Newport News. VA. Paramount Theater 14 February. Wilson, NC. Charles L. Coon High School Auditorium 15 February. Burlington, NC. Walt Williams High School 16 February. Winston-Salem NC. Carolina Theater The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show CBS Studio New York - 18.02.1956 Tutti Frutti I Was The One Tour of Florida and Georgia. Feb. 19 - Feb. 26 19 February. Tampa, FL. Ft. Homer Hesterly Armony (3 shows) 20 February. West Palm Beach, FL. Palms Theater (4 shows) 21 February. Sarasota, FL. Florida Theater (4 shows) 22 February. Waycross, GA. City Auditorium (3 shows) 23 February. Jacksonville, FL. Gator Bowl Elvis collapses in the parking lot after the first show on February 23 and is taken to hospital, where the doctor diagnoses exhaustion and tells him to slow down. 24 February. Jacksonville, FL. Gator Bowl 25 February. The Louisiana Hayride. Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, Louisiana (8pm) Elvis performs 'Heartbreak Hotel' for the first time on the Hayride. 26 February. Pensacola, FL. Municipal Auditorium (3 shows - 2,5 and 8 pm)
March 3, Before flying to Shreveport with cousin, Gene Smith, Elvis writes a check for $500 toward the purchase of a house for himself and his parents at 1034 Audubon Drive, a well-to-do suburban neighborhood east of downtown Memphis. 3 March. The Louisiana Hayride. Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, Louisiana March 10, Elvis performs with Johnny Cash and other on the Louisiana Hayride. Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, Louisiana March 13, RCA releases Elvis Presley, Elvis' first album. The album soon goes to number one on Billboard's pop album chart for ten weeks. It is the first Elvis album to reach over $1 million in sales, thus earning Elvis his first gold album award. East Coast Tour . Mar. 14 - Mar. 23 14 March. Atlanta, GA. Fox Theatre (3 shows) 15 March. Atlanta, GA. Fox Theatre (3 shows) 17 March. CBS Studio New York - The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show CBS Studio New York - 17.03.1956 Heartbreak Hotel Blue Suede Shoes
sorry about that being so many posts. The weird no more than five pictures restriction wouldn't let me make it any other way, and it is quite interesting.
While it is true that Elvis was never part of the "rock era" counter-culture (thankfully, if you ask me) that does NOT take away from his ability to interpret music and convey emotion through his singing. When Elvis sings I BELIEVE him. He had technique almost totally lacking in artifice. Yes, for the most part, his movie years were a bit of a hiatus from artistic creativity, but he did not abandon music. And there are quite a few gems sprinkled throughout the "movie years" soundtrack LP, not even counting the generally superior bonus songs (non-movie, studio recordings). And as Elvis matured, rock n roll was not his main passion. In fact I doubt if it EVER was. His post Army recordings and artistry may not be as culturally significant, but it is no less of an expression of the mastery of his interpretive abilities and style. There are plenty of singers that are highly respected that did (do) not write, but for some reason the fans of "the rock era" are a bit dismissive of Elvis' having not been a writer. They may not know what a large if not sometimes exclusive role Elvis played in the studio production, arrangement and yes INTERPRETATION of the songs presented to him. When given the often inferior songs through his publishing companies, he often resorted to songs he knew from his youth that so many times produced his best performances. I do not think Caruso, Sinatra, Streisand, or even the great Aretha Franklin could have pulled of the credible performance Elvis achieved with the mundane Song Of The Shrimp from the Girls! Girls! Girls! LP. (Maybe Belafonte could have done as well with this tune).
Re: I Got A Woman, I confess that I often have difficulty enjoying it in any incarnation, thanks to that "She knows a woman's place is right there now in her home" line. Which is a shame, because it's one of the relatively few 50s RCA sides that we have of Elvis singing without the Jords, who often got in the way of things (more on that when we get to Hound Dog!). Still, it's a fine vocal from Elvis, so I can sometimes overlook that lyrical slip and enjoy it for what it is.
As for the Early RCA sessions, the first in Nashville, the second in New York from which a lot of the material for his first LP came from. These two sessions, especially the New York session, is the last of his original style. His recordings became increasingly commercial and stylized after. I say the New York session produced at least one recording (My Baby Left Me) which could have EASILY been a Sun side in style and vibe. The same goes for Lawdy Miss Clawdy and Shake Rattle And Roll.
It was the fifties, long before society made it necessary for both husband and wife to work (and before anyone says anything, that is not to suggest I think that women shouldn't be allowed to work). Political correctness thankfully didn't exist or most music from the last sixty years wouldn't have existed. In context with the times, the line really means that she isn't off having sex in bars with any guy she can find.
If we are going to apply modern sensibilities to early R n B, R n R or The Blues then there wouldn't be a "rock era" at all. How about "I'd rather see you dead little girl than in the arms of another man"? Or "get in that kitchen and makes some noise with those pots and pans"? "one eyed cat peeping in a seafood store" the list goes on by the tens of thousands! And certainly they do not even touch the misogyny of much of rap music.
Yeah, there are a lot of lyrics from that era that wouldn't fly in today's society. Heck, not just the 50s.
Many would disagree, but Elvis' Blue Suede Shoes walks (heh heh) all over Perkins' original. Elvis' version became best known from its appearance on two different 45 EPs, as his single version came out months later. What is amazing is the EP chart was not invented until about 2 years AFTER these 1956 EP came out and yet the single disc version EPA-747 reached #6 on the 1958 EP charts and the double disc version EPB-1254 reached #9. While the lead song "Blue Suede Shoes" as the lead song off EPA-747 did appear on the contemporaneous 1956 singles chart peaking at #20. The Blue Suede Shoes single was not released until August and even after such availability on one LP and two EPs (but there was also a TRIPLE disc EP that came "free" with the purchase of an RCA record player that also contained the song) it still went gold as a single. 45 EPs were first put on the albums chart and a song from an EP could also chart on the singles chart. EPs had their own separate chart from late 1957 through most of 1960. Afterwards only individual songs from EPs could chart along with singles, they no longer appeared on album charts and the EP chart became defunct.
To me, the Elvis version of "Blue Suede Shoes" is the only version. Nothing against Perkins. It just happens I heard Elvis' version first. Same with "Blue Christmas" (I know, we'll get to it). There's a version of it that my old workplace would play during the holidays, and if you weren't depressed before, you certainly were after.
Easy song and album guide Good resources for information elvisrecords.com | The Elvis Presley Record Research Database Thanks @Shawn Elvis Presley U.K. Discography Thanks @Purple Jim Elvis Presley 1956 | The King of Rock 'n' Roll The roots, for those unaware - Elvis Presley - The Album Thread The Crudup Connection - Elvis Presley - The Album Thread Elvis and Sun Studios - Elvis Presley - The Album Thread The Sun Recordings (some, not all) - My Happiness Elvis Presley - The Album Thread The My happiness transfer to digital - Elvis Presley - The Album Thread That's All Right Elvis Presley - The Album Thread Good Rockin' Tonight Elvis Presley - The Album Thread I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine Elvis Presley - The Album Thread You're A Heartbreaker Elvis Presley - The Album Thread Milk Cow Blues Boogie Elvis Presley - The Album Thread Baby Let's Play House Elvis Presley - The Album Thread I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone Elvis Presley - The Album Thread Mystery Train Elvis Presley - The Album Thread I Forgot To Remember To Forget Elvis Presley - The Album Thread Elvis Presley 1956 - Elvis Presley - The Album Thread track 1 Blue Suede Shoes Elvis Presley - The Album Thread track 2 I'm Counting On You Elvis Presley - The Album Thread track 3 I Got A Woman Elvis Presley - The Album Thread track 4 One Sided Love Affair Elvis Presley - The Album Thread Tryin' to get to you Elvis Presley - The Album Thread The Complete Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show on 29. Sept 1956 - Elvis Presley - The Album Thread another edit - Elvis Presley - The Album Thread Newspaper Articles Clean it up - Elvis Presley - The Album Thread That's All Right and the Hayride - Elvis Presley - The Album Thread Concert Review 1957? - Elvis Presley - The Album Thread
Elvis played Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver, Canada in 1957... Elvis Presley in Canada | Official Graceland Blog