Elvis Perkins

Live 1969 is a brand new Elvis Presley 11CD box set that marks the 50th anniversary of his performances at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. Returning to the stage for the first time in eight years, the 1969 Vegas run saw Presley perform 57 sold-out shows and the live debut of ‘Suspicious Minds’. During this residency he was backed by two vocal groups (The Imperials and The Sweet Inspirations), a full orchestra and a band later known as the TCB band.

The argument will forever rage, but Memphis, Tennessee, is as much the fountainhead of rock ’n’ roll as is Cleveland, Ohio. Whilst the north had Alan Freed as its turntable champion, the south was blessed with the madcap deejay, Dewey Phillips. Chances are, ole Dewey would have played most of the 75 titles that go to make up Raunchy Sugar on his Red Hot and Blue show that aired over WHBQ in Memphis. During the 1950s the city was alive with labels, record hops, musicians and the general chaos that goes hand in hand with the big beat. The geographical lie of the land helped a great deal, because the city was central to so many rural areas that harboured musical talent and style. Carl Perkins and Carl Mann gravitated to the area from Jackson, Tennessee, Billy Riley and Conway Twitty did the same from Arkansas, and Elvis Presley hit the trail from Mississippi in order to soak up some of that unique Shelby County action. Outside of Sam Phillips’ legendary Sun Records, the labels included such names as Hi, Cover, Fernwood, Meteor, Vaden Moon and Satellite.

It’s that phenomenon that is thoroughly explored on All About Elvis: A Tribute To The King, a 3CD set compiled and annotated by rock & roll authority Dave Penny. Its 97 tracks, dating from 1954 to 1962, were recorded by Elvis’s contemporaries. CD1 Elvis Style rounds up recordings sung in the style of Elvis, including contributions by Conway Twitty, Ral Donner, Roy Orbison and Sleepy LaBeef. CD2 Elvis Songs comprises songs associated with Elvis, featuring the likes of Carl Perkins, Ricky Nelson, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, Wanda Jackson and Eddie Cochran. Bobby Bare aside, CD3 Elvis Adored has the least familiar names, as all manner of artists rushed to sing the praises of The King. Manager “Colonel” Tom Parker was a prolific licensor of lucrative Elvis merchandise, including badges, combs, dolls and key chains, and he was also a ruthless protector of copyright, so many recordings that traded on brand Presley were quashed or pulled from release at his instigation.

If you are a fan of rockabilly or if you're simply interested in the roots of rock and roll, then this album is a must have……

Elvis Presley was undoubtedly Sun Records’ biggest star, burning brightly during his tenure at the label from 1953 to 1955. 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the release of Elvis’ first single, “That’s All Right,” on Sun Records.

Elvis Presley was undoubtedly Sun Records’ biggest star, burning brightly during his tenure at the label from 1953 to 1955. 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the release of Elvis’ first single, “That’s All Right,” on Sun Records.

Legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen died on November 7, 2016, one day before the 2016 Presidential Election, but the world didn’t find out for several days after. On January 24, 2017 (shortly after the inauguration of Donald Trump and the succeeding Women’s March), New York City finally paid tribute to the Poet Prince of Montréal with a concert featuring dozens of singers, songwriters and musicians, including Richard Thompson, Josh Ritter, Will Sheff (Okkervil River), Amy Helm, Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group), Elvis Perkins, Holly Miranda, Joan As Police Woman, Delicate Steve, and many more.

Rockin' Bones: 1950's Punk & Rockabilly is a 2006 4CD box set focusing on the roots of rock & roll through rockabilly and the attitude involved that helped to form what became punk rock. This was released by Rhino.