Elvis, consolation in isolation (saluting the Hillbilly Cat)

I have always loved the pioneering rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll Sun and RCA recordings from the 1950’s, but my enthusiasm diminished significantly in the Hollywood and Las Vegas years. 

In these days of pandemic lockdown restrictions, it’s hard to imagine being able to visit a city like Memphis, or to go on a blues pilgrimage around Mississippi.

There is plenty of time to look at old photographs and to listen to old records.

I dug out some of the solo recordings I made at the Sun Studio in Memphis to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of Elvis Presley’s first commercial recording there – of “That’s All Right” (“That’s Alright, Mama”).

My tribute session was recorded on 7^th July, 2004. All the songs were done as rough demos, in one take (single takes, without breaks, because of limited studio time).

It was a personal celebration of Sun’s legacy, and I also recorded demo versions of songs of some other great artists who had recorded there: Howlin’ Wolf, BB King, Rosco Gordon, Little Junior Parker, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis (and of some other singers from the Delta region around Memphis, such as John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters and Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup, who’d first recorded his combination of  largely traditional blues lyrics as That’s All Right in Chicago on September 6, 1946).

So here are some of my modest tributes. Call me “Memphis Jim”, an old rocker, or a deluded lockdown ‘hillbilly cat”! Indulge me...play very loud!


SUN STUDIO DEMO, MYSTERY TRAIN and ROLLIN 'N' TUMBLIN'

'Elvis'- in the beginning:

SUN STUDIO MEMPHIS DEMO, 50 YEARS LATER

'Elvis'- at the end (recorded on Corfu):

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS (That's What Elvis Said)


Taking Care of Business,That's what Elvis Said - Sun Studio Soundcheck Demo Outtake

NO MORE DOGGIN', Sun Studio Demo (Rosco Gordon/John Lee Hooker tribute).

Keep well.

If you want to hear more, please explore my YouTube channel.