Classic Pop Icons

The tracklist for the highly-anticipated “Elvis Presley: A Boy From Tupelo” box set has now leaked, and looks very promising, including a total of 20 unreleased performances.

The project covers Elvis’ early career on the Sun Records label through a meticulously researched 512-page book and three CDs that include all available Sun recordings and an impressive collection of live performances from the period. The recent “I Forgot To Remember To Forget” discovery will not be on the set.

The previously ureleased studio recordings are:

• Harbour Lights – takes 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8
• Blue Moon – takes 1, 2, 3
• Good Rockin’ Tonight – take 1 fragment
• When It Rains It Really Pours – takes 1, 2.

There are also a number of unreleased live/radio performances:

• Shake, Rattle and Roll – Jan 19, 1955 at WJOI Radio, Florence, Alabama
• Tweedle Dee, Money Honey, Hearts of Stone, Shake, Rattle and Roll, Little Mama and You’re a Heartbreaker – probably March 5, 1955 on the Louisiana Hayride
• That’s All Right – May 25, 1955 in Meridian, Mississippi.

The only song we haven’t heard Elvis sing before is the live cover of the Clovers’ “Little Mama”.

“A Boy From Tupelo – The Complete 1953 – 1955 Recordings” tracklist

CD One – MRS Acetates, Sun/RCA masters

1. My Happiness [July 1953 acetate] 2:33
2. That’s When Your Heartaches Begin [July 1953 acetate] 2:52
3. I’ll Never Stand in Your Way [Jan 4, 1954 acetate] 2:04
4. It Wouldn’t Be the Same (Without You) [Jan 4, 1954 acetate] 2:09
5. Harbor Lights [probably July 5, 1954] 2:38
6. I Love You Because [probably July 5, 1954] 2:43
7. That’s All Right [45 RPM Master – July 5, 1954] 2:00
8. Blue Moon of Kentucky [45 RPM Master – July 7, 1954] 2:07
9. Blue Moon [probably between Aug 15 and 19, 1954] 2:44
10. Tomorrow Night [probably between Sep 12 and 16, 1954] 3:01
11. I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’) [probably between Sep 12 and 16, 1954] 2:27
12. I Don’t Care If the Sun Don’t Shine [probably between Sep 12 and 16, 1954] 2:32
13. Just Because [probably between Sep 12 and 16, 1954] 2:34
14. Good Rockin’ Tonight [prob between Sep 12 and 16, 1954] 2:15
15. Milkcow Blues Boogie [mid-Nov or mid-Dec, 1954] 2:39
16. You’re a Heartbreaker [mid-Nov or mid-Dec, 1954] 2:13
17. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow version) [between mid-Nov, 1954 and mid-Apr, 1955] 2:43
18. Baby Let’s Play House [between Jan 30 and Feb 4, 1955] 2:19
19. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone [mid-Apr, 1955] 2:38
20. I Forgot to Remember to Forget [mid-July, 1955] 2:31
21. Mystery Train [mid-July, 1955] 2:30
22. Tryin’ to Get to You [mid-July, 1955] 2:36
23. When It Rains It Pours [Nov 1-4, 1955] 2:06
24. That’s All Right [RCA single version] 1:59
25. Blue Moon of Kentucky [RCA single version 78 RPM Master] 2:05
26. I Love You Because [RCA LP version – spliced from takes 3 and 5] 2:45
27. Tomorrow Night [RCA LP version – overdubbed and slowed down] 2:56.

All recordings were made at Sun Studios, Memphis. The overdubs on track 27 were made 11 years later under the supervision of Chet Atkins.

CD Two – Sun studio outtakes

1. Harbor Lights [takes 1-2] 0:33
2. Harbor Lights [take 3/M] 2:53
3. Harbor Lights [take 4] 2:38
4. Harbor Lights [takes 5-6] 1:23
5. Harbor Lights [take 7] 2:25
6. Harbor Lights [take 8] 0:26
7. I Love You Because [take 1] 0:23
8. I Love You Because [take 2] 3:28
9. I Love You Because [take 3] 3:36
10. I Love You Because [take 4] 0:40
11. I Love You Because [take 5] 3:28
12. That’s All Right [takes 1-2] 0:20
13. That’s All Right [take 3] 1:58
14. Dialogue 0:20
15. Blue Moon of Kentucky (slow tempo) 1:08
16. Blue Moon [takes 1-3] 0:38
17. Blue Moon [take 4] 2:59
18. Blue Moon [take 5] 3:25
19. Blue Moon [takes 6-7] 0:53
20. Blue Moon [take 8] 3:01
21. Blue Moon [take 9/M] 2:44
22. Dialogue fragment (before “Tomorrow Night”) 0:11
23. I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’) [incomplete take] 0:49
24. Good Rockin’ Tonight [fragment from vocal slapback tape] 0:10
25. I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine [takes 1-2] 1:13
26. I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine [take 3/M) 2:35
27. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow version) [take 1] 3:00
28. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow version) [take 2] 2:51
29. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow version) [take 3] 2:51
30. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow version) [take 4] 0:10
31. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow version) [take 5/M] 2:40
32. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow version) [take 6] 2:40
33. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone (slow version) [take 7] 1:35
34. How Do You Think I Feel [guitar slapback tape, rehearsal + take 1] 3:17
35. How Do You Think I Feel [guitar slapback tape, rehearsals] 1:14
36. When It Rains It Pours [vocal slapback tape, take 1) 1:37
37. When It Rains It Pours [vocal slapback tape, take 2 – rehearsal) 2:12
38. When It Rains It Pours [vocal slapback tape, takes 3-4) 2:14
39. When It Rains It Pours [vocal slapback tape, take 5/M) 2:02
40. When It Rains It Pours [vocal slapback tape, take 6-7) 1:40
41. When It Rains It Pours [vocal slapback tape, take 8] 1:40.

The dates for these tracks correspond with those specified for these titles under the CD 1 list.

CD Three – Live and radio performances

1. That’s All Right [Oct 16, 1954 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 2:52
2. Blue Moon of Kentucky [Oct 16, 1954 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 2:23
3. Shake, Rattle and Roll [Jan 6, 1955 at KDAV Radio, Lubbock, TX] 2:24
4. Fool, Fool, Fool [Jan 6, 1955 at KDAV Radio, Lubbock, TX] 1:59
5. Hearts of Stone [probably Jan 15, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 2:02
6. That’s All Right [probably Jan 15, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 1:52
7. Tweedlee Dee [probably Jan 15, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 2:51
8. Shake, Rattle and Roll [Jan 19, 1955 at WJOI Radio, Florence, Alabama] 2:23
9. KSIJ Radio commercial with DJ Tom Perryman 0:16
10. Money Honey [probably Jan 22, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 2:43
11. Blue Moon of Kentucky [probably Jan 22, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 2:04
12. I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine [probably Jan 22, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 2:33
13. That’s All Right [probably Jan 22, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 1:54
14. Tweedlee Dee [probably Mar 5, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 2:15
15. Money Honey [probably Mar 5, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 2:17
16. Hearts of Stone [probably Mar 5, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 1:37
17. Shake, Rattle and Roll [probably Mar 5, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 1:39
18. Little Mama [probably Mar 5, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 2:03
19. You’re a Heartbreaker [probably Mar 5, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 2:06
20. Good Rockin’ Tonight [probably Mar 19, 1955 at Eagles’ Hall, Houston, TX] 2:36
21. Baby Let’s Play House [probably Mar 19, 1955 at Eagles’ Hall, Houston, TX] 2:22
22. Blue Moon of Kentucky [probably Mar 19, 1955 at Eagles’ Hall, Houston, TX] 1:47
23. I Got a Woman [probably Mar 19, 1955 at Eagles’ Hall, Houston, TX] 3:03
24. That’s All Right [probably Mar 19, 1955 at Eagles’ Hall, Houston, TX] 2:17
25. Tweedlee Dee [probably Apr 30, 1955 at Gladewater High School, TX] 2:47
26. Interview with Mae Boren Axton [May 12 or July 28, 1955 in Jacksonville, FL] 3:19
27. That’s All Right [May 26, 1955 at Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival, Meridian, MS] 2:37
28. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone [July 2, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 3:16
29. Baby Let’s Play House [Aug 20, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 3:19
30. Maybellene [Aug 20, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 3:09
31. That’s All Right [Aug 20, 1955 at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, LA] 2:49
32. Interview with Bob Neal [between August 29-31, 1955 at WMPS Radio, Memphis, TN] 5:31.

“Elvis Presley: A Boy From Tupelo” is shaping up to be an all time great Elvis release. As it’s an FTD release, you will need to go to a specialist stockist to pick it up, such as The Elvis Shop London and Now Dig This. Both have it available for pre-order.