Rock 'n' Roll Summer School: Sun Records

Every Wednesday this summer, we're offering a quick course in early rock 'n' roll. Your professor will be Tom Moon, NPR contributor and author of the book 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die. These overviews, mostly from the 1950s, are not intended to be comprehensive, but to help curious listeners dive in and explore some of the genre's often-overlooked building blocks. Whether you're a novice or a rock snob, join the conversation below...

THIS WEEK: Sun Records

That Elvis Presley guy? Okay, sure, he's plenty important to the history of rock 'n' roll. Even if his first great contribution -- bringing the blues, hillbilly music and boogie together -- happened by accident, while he was goofing around on Arthur Crudup's "That's Alright Mama" during an otherwise-unsuccessful 1954 recording session. But he's not the only reason we give thanks for Sun Studios and Sun Records, and founder Sam Phillips.

Not long after Presley's incendiary blast hit local airwaves in Memphis, Sun became the center of the rockabilly universe, the source for that hard-charging and addictively irreverent sound. Among the young talents drawn to the studio were Carl Perkins, whose single "Blue Suede Shoes" (released Jan. 1, 1956) was already a hit when Presley covered it.

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Then there's Johnny Cash, who brought a deep appreciation for American song to Sun in 1956. Here's a 1964 video of "I Walk the Line," one of the first songs Cash recorded for the label.

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Other talents -- including Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and Charlie Rich -- made huge contributions to rock 'n' roll either during or after their time at Sun. Though the label never replaced its early stars, its basic sound and approach (crisply recorded guitars and assertive, businesslike rhythms) are everywhere, embedded in the DNA of rock 'n' roll.

ESSENTIAL LISTENING
Elvis Presley: "That's Alright Mama," "Mystery Train" from Elvis At Sun
Carl Perkins: "Blue Suede Shoes" from Dance Album
Johnny Cash: "I Walk the Line" from With His Hot and Blue Guitar

EXTRA CREDIT
Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats: "Rocket 88" (written by and featuring Ike Turner on keys)
The Million Dollar Quartet: "You're the Only Star in My Blue Heaven" (from The Million Dollar Quartet)

DISCUSSION
What are the common musical threads that link the work of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash?

Compare the Perkins and Presley versions of "Blue Suede Shoes." Which rocks more?

Everybody talks about Johnny Cash's voice. Listening to "I Walk the Line" and "Folsom Prison Blues" (or, really, any of his early efforts), what comes across as his "secret weapon"? His timing? His rhythm-guitar style?

1:30 PM ET | 07-22-2009 | permalink

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