Although this was not thé turning point in music history, that was the release of 'That's All Right Mama' a year and a day later, it is a significant date (at least for Elvis fans). To mark it with a dedicated release is only appropriate.
Design
The design of the CD-single is both authentic as (too) modern. Authentic as it features the original torn label of Elvis’ first private recording which all fans recognize immediately. It is too modern as it was places on a multitrack vinyl disc to create an original effect. Inside short liner liner-notes on the two songs on this silver disc single.
The jewel-case holding the 24-track compilation CD features a very basic design with a colored promotional picture of Elvis. A good choice, looking at the content, where coloring the image is a matter of taste. But I wonder if it will appeal to a wide audience. The liner-notes - based on Wikipedia, illustrated with the cover photo of the CD - wrap up Elvis’ sessions at SUN studio nicely; from hist first private recording to his last impromptu “Million Dollar” jam-session
Content
The songs were recorded my Marion Keisker. Talking about that summer day in 1953 Marion said: "The office was full of people wanting to make personal records. He came in, said he wanted to make a record. I told him he'd have to wait and he said OK. He sat down. While he was waiting, we had a conversation. He said he was a singer. I said, 'What kind of singer are you?' He said, 'I sing all kinds.' I said, 'Who do you sound like?' He said, 'I don't sound like nobody.'"
Listening to this disc, Elvis was true to his words as it presents us with all kind of styles: blues, rhythm and blues, gospel, country and western, hillbilly, rockabilly and bluegrass.
This disc holds it all; 4 recordings self-financed by Elvis, the 18 surviving official SUN records recordings, as well as 2 tracks from the “Million Dollar Session” with Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash as a bonus. The latter two titles - ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ and ‘Paralyzed’ by the great Otis Blackwell - were hits Elvis had recorded for RCA Victor, and will appeal to the casual buyer, so a good choice by the label. Put together these songs make an entertaining compilation.
The booklet states that particular care has been taken to restore the audio on the first two recordings, I wish this had been done for all the audio as I do hear some errors; ‘Harbor Lights’ sounds like it is taken from vinyl and some songs appear to be cut short art the fade-out. So I assume the music has been sourced from various sources.
With this 70-year-old material better versions are available, and can be used under European copyright law.
Conclusion
It was fun to revisit the 1953 - 1956 era once again with these two discs. The CD-Single looks great, but I would have preferred a vinyl release, remaining closer the original and giving a more authentic feel when playing it as a novelty release.
Conclusion
The same goes for the CD, especially considering the content and the comeback vinyl has made. That said, the label serves a different marked, so a CD release fits their business-model. I only wished the label had used a better source for the music. But fortunately we have other 2023 releases offering these recordings in both mono and stereo on both CD and vinyl editions.
Although this release adds noting new - how would that be possible for any label - it is a nice novelty release for fans, remembering that it was already 70 years ago that Elvis stepped into the now famous studio … and for me a good reason to listen to the songs that contributed to pave the way for so much new music and artists.
Although this release adds noting new - how would that be possible for any label - it is a nice novelty release for fans, remembering that it was already 70 years ago that Elvis stepped into the now famous studio … and for me a good reason to listen to the songs that contributed to pave the way for so much new music and artists.
For more information on these CDs, visit the >>> RDM Edition website, or Amazon.
Sources used: >>> Classic Rock and Culture: 70 Years Ago: Elvis Presley Launches Recording Career for $4 by Bryan Rolli / Wikipedia / Elvis World Japan / Q magazine. Albums kindly provided by RDM Edition.