Classic Pop Icons

We look back at Elvis Presley’s first album, simply titled “Elvis Presley,” which hit number one on the Billboard album chart on this day in 1956. “Elvis Presley” went on to become RCA’s first million selling pop LP and one of many number one albums for Elvis.

“Elvis Presley” was released in March 1956, but Elvis had been releasing singles since July 1954 on Sun Records, then from January 1956 with RCA. The first singles to receive national attention were “Baby, Let’s Play House” and “I Forgot to Remember to Forget,” which hit number five and number one, respectively, on Billboard’s country and western chart. It was these singles, along with the impact of Elvis’ live appearances, that helped secure the deal that took Elvis from Sun Records to RCA in November 1955.

By the time the first album was released in March, Elvis had made several appearances on national television (Stage Show) and his debut RCA single “Heartbreak Hotel” was on its way to number one on the singles chart.

The contents of “Elvis Presley” were drawn from Sun and RCA sessions spanning an 18-month period, including “I Love You Because” from the very first Sun session (July 5, 1954), which had also produced Elvis’ breakthrough song “That’s All Right.”

“Elvis Presley” Tracklist

Side One

Song title	Recording Date	Recording venue
Blue Suede Shoes	Jan 30, 1956	RCA Studios, New York NY
I’m Counting on You	Jan 10, 1956	RCA Studios, Nashville TN
I Got a Woman	Jan 10, 1956	RCA Studios, Nashville TN
One-Sided Love Affair	Jan 30, 1956	RCA Studios, New York NY
I Love You Because	Jul 5, 1954	Sun Studio, Memphis TN
Just Because	Sep 10, 1954*	Sun Studio, Memphis TN

Side Two

Song title	Recording Date	Recording venue
Tutti Frutti	Jan 31, 1956	RCA Studios, New York NY
Trying to Get To You	Jul 11, 1955	Sun Studio, Memphis TN
I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry	Jan 31, 1956	RCA Studios, New York NY
I’ll Never Let You Go	Sep 10, 1954*	Sun Studio, Memphis TN
Blue Moon	Aug 19, 1954*	Sun Studio, Memphis TN
Money Honey	Jan 10, 1956	RCA Studios, Nashville TN

* – these dates are best guesses as accurate records were not kept

Let’s take a closer look at the tracks.

Blue Suede Shoes

“Blue Suede Shoes” was of course written and first recorded by Carl Perkins. His Sun single came out on January 1, 1956.

It was normal practice for singers to cover popular songs in the 1950s and the RCA studio executives were keen for Elvis to record “Blue Suede Shoes.” Elvis agreed but, out of respect for Carl Perkins and Sam Phillips, asked that his version be held back so he didn’t steal a hit from Perkins.

Although this went on to be Carl’s signature tune and his is a fine rendition, Elvis’ recording is superior in every way. Elvis’ vocal is electrifying and the arrangement more explosive. Scotty Moore also delivers two perfect solos. Carl’s later live versions were often more hard hitting than his original single.

I’m Counting on You

This was the first Don Robertson song that Elvis recorded. It’s a fairly solid performance, but not one of Elvis’ finest ballads from the 50s and not as pleasing as later Don Robertson penned performances, such as “Anything That’s Part of You” and “There’s Always Me.”

I Got a Woman

Elvis rocks up the Ray Charles R&B number and it’s a classic recording, right up to the superbly executed blues ending. Elvis clearly loved this song, as he had tried to record it at Sun, had featured it in his stage show in 1955 and would continue to sing it live for the rest of his career.

One Sided Love Affair

“One Sided Love Affair” is a great example of how out of the ordinary Elvis was in 1956. I don’t think there was any other singer on the planet who would have made the vocal choices Elvis made during this performance. The power, versatility and good humour present in his vocal reveal a man who was confident and in control in the studio. That’s not suprising considering that he had just got through laying down dynamic versions of “Blue Suede Shoes” and “My Baby Left Me.”

I Love You Because

RCA took this ballad from their Sun tapes and spliced takes three and five for the master. It’s an endearing recording from Elvis’ first session in July, 1954. Elvis was already a competent ballad singer, if a little raw, but this wasn’t the style of music that Sun boss Sam Phillips was interested in releasing. None of Elvis’ Sun ballads were released until the tapes were obtained by RCA and the last song from this initial session, “Harbour Lights,” didn’t get an official release until 1976.

“I Love You Because” was written and first recorded by Leon Payne in 1949. Jim Reeves would record what is probably the most popular version of the song in the early 1960s.

Just Because

Side one closes with another Sun cut. “Just Because” was already at least a couple of decades old when Elvis recorded it in 1954, but Elvis, Scotty and Bill put a memorable rockabilly spin on the song and the performance still sounds fresh today.

Tutti Frutti

This was the last track Elvis recorded at his productive January 30/31, 1956 session. Little Richard had released the song in 1955 and his version is one of the most popular songs of the rock ‘n’ roll era. From the opening cry of “A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop-a-lop-bam-boom,” Elvis sings with authority and energy, but it’s Little Richard’s signature tune and Elvis doesn’t eclipse the original.

Trying to Get to You

Elvis recorded this in July 1955 and it is one of his most compelling vocals of the Sun era. It’s another song that Elvis would return to throughout his career, including blistering versions from the famed “sit-down” shows filmed for his 1968 comeback special.

“Trying to Get to You” was also attempted in February 1955, but the tape is lost.

I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You)

This is one of the weaker tracks on the album, but still well performed by all concerned. Elvis was a big admirer of Roy Hamilton and was likely inspired to record this song after hearing Hamilton’s version, which was on the B-side of his single “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in 1954.

I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’)

Cowboy singer Jimmy Wakely wrote and recorded this song in 1941. Elvis’ version from September 1954 starts off in slow and appealing fashion, aided by some great guitar work from Scotty Moore, and concludes with an unexpected and very effective rockabilly finale.

Elvis recorded a soulful version of Wakely’s “I’ll Hold You in My Heart” in 1969.

Blue Moon

This performance must have sounded like something from another planet in 1956. “Blue Moon” was written by Rodgers and Hart in 1934 and already a standard by the time Elvis recorded it in 1954. Scotty Moore’s guitar work and Elvis’ fascinating vocal delivery, complete with perfectly executed falsetto, make this one of Elvis’ most unusual, but brilliant recordings.

Money Honey

The album closes with the fabulous “Money Honey.” Elvis rocks the house with a fine arrangement of this Jesse Stone song.

As noted by Dr John Carpenter over at the FECC forum, this was such a popular album track that many DJs spun it off the album as if it were a 45 release. The popularity of Elvis’ “Money Honey” on radio also prompted Atlantic Records to re-release the Drifters recording, which had been a number one on the R&B chart in 1953.

The airplay received by “Money Honey” also meant it didn’t go unnoticed by Gene Vincent, who was clearly inspired by the Elvis recording when writing and recording his own classic “Be-Bop-A-Lula.” Gene cut “Be-Bop-A-Lula” the day before “Elvis Presley” hit number one.

The Musicians

Elvis took his Blue Moon Boys, Scotty Moore and Bill Black, to RCA with him, so they feature on the Sun and RCA cuts. At RCA, they were joined by other musicians to provide a fuller sound, including pianists and a drummer. Here’s the breakdown of who played on which tracks on “Elvis Presley.”

Musicians	Instrument	Songs played on
Elvis Presley	Vocals/Guitar	All songs
Scotty Moore	Guitar	All songs
Bill Black	Bass	All songs
D.J. Fontana	Drums	"Blue Suede Shoes," "I Got a Woman," "I’m Counting on You," "Money Honey," "One-Sided Love Affair," "Tutti Frutti," "I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry"
Floyd Cramer	Piano	"I Got a Woman," "Money Honey," "I’m Counting on You"
Shorty Long	Piano	"One-Sided Love Affair," "Tutti Frutti," "I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry"
Chet Atkins	Guitar	"Money Honey," "I’m Counting on You"
Doug Poindexter?	Guitar	"Just Because" – unconfirmed

Classic Cover Art

The cover of “Elvis Presley” is one of the most iconic in rock ‘n’ roll history. The superb shot of Elvis on stage was already more than a year old when the album was released. It was taken at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory in Tampa, Florida on January 31, 1955.

Many bands have paid homage to the “Elvis Presley” album cover, including The Clash for their 1979 album “London Calling.”

Cover parodies from The Clash, New York Dolls, Big Audio Dynamite & KD Lang

“Elvis Presley” reissue

“Elvis Presley” was reissued with additional tracks and remastered sound in 2005. The six extra tracks are the A and B sides of Elvis’ first three RCA singles from 1956, namely:

• Heartbreak Hotel
• I Was The One
• Lawdy Miss Clawdy
• Shake, Rattle And Roll
• My Baby Left Me
• I Want You, I Need You, I Love You.

What a perfect excuse to play “My Baby Left Me.”

A detailed overview of how this classic album was put together is provided by the excellent 2002 documentary “Classic Albums – Elvis Presley”

Summing up

“Elvis Presley” is one of the most significant albums in rock ‘n’ roll history and helped solidify Elvis’ position as the most important early rocker.

This was before the era of the concept album. Albums were not designed to make a definitive, coherent artistic statement. However, even though this first of Elvis’ many albums was put together from a number of unrelated sessions, with no grand design in mind, it does indeed make a very strong artistic statement. The theme that runs through it is that Elvis is different, new, unique and exciting. The album says to the listener that it’s time to tear up the rulebook, because there’s a new guy in town who will do things his way, without regard for musical or social conventions.

Those who collect the great and groundbreaking rock ‘n’ roll albums shouldn’t be without “Elvis Presley.”