Elvis' early success was in part due to the music he introduced to the white America. The music of Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, Little Junior, Wynonie Harris, Big Mama Thornton and the other black artists covered by Presley was unknown to the majority of Americans. Elvis was introduced to this music listening to America's oldest black radio station WDIA and deejay Dewey Phillips, who broadcast on WHBQ (both based in Memphis).
Tonight's show starts with an apology. I don't have the original version of Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup's "That's All Right, Mama" which was recorded as "I Don't Know It" in 1946 and released as a single on RCA Victor. In 1949 they rereleased the single as "That's All Right, Mama". The version I'm playing comes from a 1962 session for Fire Records. |
That's All Right, Mama ARTHUR "BIG BOY" CRUDUP - Mean Ol’ Frisco – Charly Blues Masterworks, Vo. 50 - ’62 Fire Records/’93 Charly Records |
That's All Right ELVIS PRESLEY, SCOTTY & BILL - The Sun Sessions: Elvis Presley - ’54 Sun Records/’87 RCA/BMG Music |
Blue Moon Of Kentucky BILL MONROE & HIS BLUE GRASS BOYS - Bluegrass Bonanza: Classic Bluegrass 1946-50 - ’46 Columbia Records/’01 Proper Records |
Blue Moon Of Kentucky ELVIS PRESLEY, SCOTTY & BILL - The Sun Sessions: Elvis Presley - ’54 Sun Records/’87 RCA/BMG Music |
Good Rockin' Tonight WYNONIE HARRIS - Rockin' The Blues - ’48 King Records/’01 Proper Records |
Good Rockin' Tonight ELVIS PRESLEY - The Sun Sessions: Elvis Presley - ’54 Sun Records/’87 RCA/BMG Music |
Mystery Train LITTLE JUNIOR'S BLUE FLAMES - Red Hot - The Best Of Sun Blues - ’53 Sun Records/’98 Hallmark |
Mystery Train ELVIS PRESLEY - The Sun Sessions: Elvis Presley - ’55 Sun Records/’87 RCA/BMG Music |
Tryin' To Get To You THE EAGLES - Mercury R&B ’46 – ’62 - ’54 Mercury Records/’89 Polygram Records |
Trying To To Get To You ELVIS PRESLEY - The Sun Sessions: Elvis Presley - ’56 Sun Records/’87 RCA/BMG Music |
Hound Dog WILLIE MAE "BIG MAMA" THORNTON with KANSAS CITY BILL & HIS ORCHESTRA - Hound Dog - The Peacock Recordings - ’53 Peacock Records/’92 MCA Records |
Hound Dog ELVIS PRESLEY - Rocker - ’56 RCA Records/’90 RCA |
Blue Suede Shoes CARL PERKINS - The Classic Carl Perkins - ’56 Sun Records/’90 Bear Family Records |
Blue Suede Shoes ELVIS PRESLEY - Rocker - ’56 RCA Records/’90 RCA |
Ready Teddy LITTLE RICHARD - Little Richard: The Georgia Peach - \ ’56 Specialty Records/’91 Specialty Records/Fantasy Inc. |
Ready Teddy ELVIS PRESLEY - Rocker - ’56 RCA Records/’90 RCA |
Shake, Rattle And Roll BIG JOE TURNER - Rocks In My Bed - ’54 Atlantic Records/’05 Membran Music |
Shake, Rattle And Roll ELVIS PRESLEY - Rocker - ’56 RCA Records/’90 RCA |
Money Honey CLYDE McPHATTER & THE DRIFTERS - Atlantic Rhythm & Blues: 1947-74 - ’53/’85 Atlantic Records |
Money Honey ELVIS PRESLEY - Rocker - ’56 RCA Records/’90 RCA |
(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care ELVIS PRESLEY - I Was The One - '57 RCA Records/'90 RCA |
Howdy out there in the ether.
8:04 PM, August 16th, 2017