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BLACKWELL'S RECORD OF THE WEEK

BLACKWELL'S RECORD OF THE WEEK

Elvis Presley

That's All Right b/w Blue Moon Of Kentucky

scum stats: there's a handful of variants...I recently read correspondence from Sam Phillips where he says that it took 8 days to sell the first 4000 copies. I'd bet that was the initial pressing quantity. Speaking with experts, I'm led to believe that the Sun 209 sold more than 100,000 copies before Elvis' contract transferred to RCA

I mean, what more can be said about this atomic bomb? Getting to tackle the write up for the Vault package had me excitedly delving back into all the history and lore that I immersed myself in when we released the "My Happiness" / "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" single however many years ago that was.

I personally own copies of the first three Presley singles on Sun. I managed to track down an affordable tranche of all five of the singles which are now slated for giveaway to one random Vault 59 subscriber. In the process, an extra copy of "That's All Right" ended up on my desk.

So nevermind that all these 7-inches (save for "Mystery Train") have the inescapable "Sun hiss" as they were mastered to the 78rpm specifications. Nevermind that I've heard these songs a billion times. The pure joy of just SEEING an original Sun 45 of any artist is enough to make my day. 

So do yourself a favor and listen to this bastard for one minute and fifty-five seconds. It will put a smile on MY face knowing folks take direction and it'll put one on YOURS if you have any sort of discernible heartbeat or humanity left inside your slowly dying bag of flesh.


Comments

Tommy S.

…a totally different listen knowing that now, thanks Edward N.

Edward N.

Hey Tommy S., no sticks hitting the rim because there was no drummer on that recording! The sound you are hearing is the strings of the upright bass hitting the fingerboard. It is done intentionally when the “slapping” technique is used. I couldn’t believe it either, the first time I heard it !!! It’s dang near magic!

Sarah G.

I can’t imagine how beautiful it is to put the needle down on those original singles. Long live The King. Thanks for sharing, Ben.

Davinia A.

I can hardly wait to open this vault. I might even have a ‘Fool’s Gold’ sandwich when it does get home in honor of the king.

Jay B.

The king! I hope I get lucky when the Vault package ships.

David S.

What more can you say! ELVIS!

Michael C.

Thank you, Sam, for being patient with Elvis that first night in the studio with Scotty and Bill. Always loved Scotty’s simple and tasteful guitar lines throughout the tune.

Ivan A.

Great video , love it

Craig T.

That is what I want to hear

Robert M.

That’s a great story Marshall R. I also have a restored EY-2 and quite a few singles I’ve picked up (some at Third Man in Nashville and Detroit). I used to buy the UK imports and take ‘em to have big holes punched at Bleecker Bob’s in NYC so I could one day have a jukebox. The jukebox is long gone but the EY-2 serves nicely. If I don’t win I’m rooting for you in honor of your dad Marshall

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