Carl Perkins: Matchbox (1957)

"Matchbox" was first recorded in 1924 by Ma Rainey. Carl Perkins reworked it 30 years later and turned it into song about a poor boy with no prospects. On the day he recorded this, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash wandered in and formed the Million Dollar Quartet with Perkins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzshXgrqeK0

Buddy Holly: Rave On (1958)

Buddy Holly uses his trademark hiccup style in "Rave On." The song was inspired by the Carl Perkins song "Dixie Fried" from 1956. It was one of six hit singles for Holly in 1958. He would die in February 1959.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04E24MKU3yU

Elvis Presley: Blue Suede Shows (1956)

This is one of the greatest rock songs ever. Carl Perkins recorded the defining version. It had been covered several times most notably by Elvis. Scotty Moore claimed the band just went along with what Elvis felt as they recorded.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm5HKlQ6nGM

1956 in music

The first rock era began in earnest in 1955. The genre exploded dramatically the following year as Elvis Presley became the biggest artist since Frank Sinatra. Elvis was omnipresent in 1956. His talent, youth, and good looks helped expand rock’s appeal to America’s teens. Presley had four #1 singles that year and three of 1956’s top 5 hits. His appearance on Ed Sullivan was a key milestone for that generation.

#1 song of the year:

Que Sera Sera by Doris Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZbKHDPPrrc

 

Elvis on Ed Sullivan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGZm7EOamWk

 

Other hits of 1956:

Blueberry Hill by Fats Domino: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mix3gmzPa0

Hound Dog by Elvis Presley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzQ8GDBA8Is

Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71fuhzYDeT4

Don’t Be Cruel by Elvis Presley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUWMSVDPdGQ

Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76We6yBnIKE

I Want You, I Need You, I Love You by Elvis Presley:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1Obxq3kvnc

Be-Bop-A-Lula by Gene Vincent: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDU9FP5_B2M

I’ve Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yqGujr2-Jw

Blue Suede Shoes by Carl Perkins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAa8BW_sR_c

I Walk the Line by Johnny Cash: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEV58ztuihs

Roll Over Beethoven by Chuck Berry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT3kCVFFLNg

Johnny Cash: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1992

Official Site:

http://www.johnnycash.com/

Rock Hall Bio:

http://rockhall.com/inductees/johnny-cash/bio/

1935: Family settled in Arkansas where Cash worked the cotton fields.
1944: His brother Jack died.
1950: He enlisted in the Air Force.

Hey Porter (1955):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bksZ4Qu18kc

Cry! Cry! Cry! (1955):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGTh-m21jKo&feature=related

Folsom Prison Blues (1955):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7gV5C5mB7A

Million Dollar Quartet (1956):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFpxQOd5tHA

I Walk the Line (1956):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEV58ztuihs

Ballad of a Teenage Queen (1958):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wT5BL7UJ9s&feature=fvst

Big River (1958):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_21p14TAXM

Don’t Take Your Guns to Town (1959):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMMp_llzBT4

In the Jailhouse Now (1962):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLfYVFamso8

Busted (1963):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8kRsoAZjpM

Ring of Fire (1963):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It7107ELQvY

The Ballad of Ira Hayes (1964):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKDLQWEvubc

In 1965, he accidentally started a forest fire in Los Padres National Forest. He told a judge "I didn't do it, my truck did, and it's dead, so you can't question it."

Orange Blossom Special (1965):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAmrKeyeHKA

Jackson w/June Carter Cash (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzhzCF77GDo

Daddy Sang Bass (1968):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGUP8oc9Bgs

In 1968 and 1969, he released the seminal live albums At Folsom Prison and At San Quentin.

A Boy Named Sue (1969):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n--1wR4L7zg&ob=av3n

The Johnny Cash Show ran from 1969-1971.

The Johnny Cash Show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzhKhTP4b_U

Sunday Morning Coming Down (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g2ELFGUbkg&feature=fvst

Man in Black (1971):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXRmJyIyJbM

Any Old Wind that Blows (1972):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4F74wWP7sY

The hits began to dry up and he took up occasional acting roles.

One Piece at a Time (1976):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWHniL8MyMM

There Ain’t No Good Chain Gang w/Waylon Jennings (1978):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woEYm8cPbWw

Ghost Riders in the Sky (1979):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mynzbmrtp9I

He grew tired of his label and tried to get out of his deal, so he wrote…

Chicken in Black (1984):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_uM87NTFW4

The Highwaymen (1985):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsUM7V6Ku_8

The Wanderer w/U2 (1993):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov0BsOYoRrc

He continued to struggle until the early 1990s when he teamed up with Rick Rubin.

Delia’s Gone (1994):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1iKEPzF1Js

Rusty Cage (1995):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtbuUlSGXzc

Hurt (2003):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho

Cash died in 2003:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4E5G8IzRzo

Walk the Line (2004):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydrr5zDJGzA

God’s Gonna Cut You Down (2006):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJlN9jdQFSc&ob=av3n

Redemption Day (2010):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_uI1BUnzws

Greatest Songs of the Fifties Part 2

This is the second (of 2) posts containing my favorite songs from the 1950s.

Johnny B. Goode- Chuck Berry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ofD9t_sULM

Rock Around the Clock-Bill Haley and the Comets

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjBDK35FRjo&ob=av2n

Folsom Prison Blues- Johnny Cash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7gV5C5mB7A

Honey Don’t- Carl Perkins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TMF3eK2ojY&feature=related

Jailhouse Rock-Elvis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxA2oIQtYWU

Carl Perkins: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1987

His life and career in links.

Rock Hall Bio:http://rockhall.com/inductees/carl-perkins/bio/

History of Rock:http://www.history-of-rock.com/perkins.htm

Movie Magg (one of his first Sun Records singles): 1954http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc1O29mBYl8

1955:

Gone, Gone, Gone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrhZKavICNU

Blue Suede Shoes (1956): Perkins hits it big! His signature hit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79CJON8fv6c

Honey Don’t:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBx_D42opkI

In 1956, Perkins was in a terrible car wreck which broke his neck. His drummer found him face down in a ditch of water and pulled him out to save him from drowning. Perkins returned to recording later that year.

The Million Dollar Quartet (1956):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFpxQOd5tHA



Glad All Over (1957):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0ZsN9AlxN4

　

Matchbox (1957):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPARnAjxd2Q&feature=related

Your True Love (1957):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hBnszf1zMY

Perkins moved to Columbia in 1958 and continued recording. In the sixties, he played Vegas, toured with Chuck Berry, and continued to write and record.

Restless (1969):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2SLUMFn3ps

He fought a protracted legal battle with Sam Phillips over the royalties to his own songs.

Get It w/Paul McCartney (1982):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3fle7MKfJM

Class of ‘55 (1987):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pG6jeC2ptgE

Perkins continued to record and perform. His last album featured John Fogerty, Paul Simon, Tom Petty, and Bono.

He died in 1998.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4tAn88vRZk

Sam Phillips: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1986

His life and career thru links:

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/sam-phillips/bio/


Sun Records Official Site: http://www.sunrecords.com/

The First Rock Record recorded at Sun Records: Ike Turner and Jackie Brenston:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbfnh1oVTk0

He discovered Elvis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWgprZu4Hk4

Sun was “an early home” to:

Jerry Lee Lewis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xraIf_cYRQE

Johnny Cash: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEV58ztuihs

Roy Orbison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMdWzIITwoM

Carl Perkins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79CJON8fv6c

Sam Phillips died in 2003:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyOmzxPxND4

Jerry Lee Lewis: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1986

Jerry Lee Lewis' life and career through links:

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/jerry-lee-lewis/bio/

Official Site: http://www.jerryleelewis.com/

Million Dollar Quartet (with Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFpxQOd5tHA

His two signature hits:

Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yRdDnrB5kM

Great Balls of Fire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IjgZGhHrYY&feature=related

Other hits of the 50s:

Breathless: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvAgbyI8ris

High School Confidential: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykTFBFkbk84

Marries his 13 year old second cousin which cripples his career: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5sV8UEIH9g

With his rock career dead because of scandal, Lewis goes country in the 60s:

Another Place, Another Time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEXEhUO7npo

1972: Triumphant Return to rock:

Chantily Lace: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLpHocRHwYk

1976: Arrested at Graceland with a pistol demanding to see Elvis:

http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/jerry_lee_lewis_arested_at_the_gates_of_gaceland.shtml

1989 Biopic: Great Balls of Fire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCehyiNYzAs

In the current century:

Mean Old Man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vsM-XbXyhs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3z1q-BCmBY

Rock Hall Concert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvg9jxNHd68&feature=related

Rolling Stone Mag's Top 500 Songs #91-100

91. Suspicious Minds: Elvis Presley- The king makes a comeback.

92. Blitzkrieg Bop: The Ramones- Established the blueprint for punk.

93. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For: U2- A reaction to materialism.

94. Good Golly Miss Molly: Little Richard- Another song that slipped by the censors back in the 50s.

95. Blue Suede Shoes: Carl Perkins- The title came from Johnny Cash, the song is so good that is made the top 500 twice (Elvis at #430).

96. Great Balls of Fire: Jerry Lee Lewis- blasphemy to his relatives…song about lust.

97. Roll Over Beethoven: Chuck Berry- Covered by the Beach Boys and Beatles…

98. Love and Happiness: Al Green- Green geared this tune for his audience which was mostly female.

99. Fortunate Son: Creedence Clearwater Revival- Song is about rich people that plan wars and send the poor to fight them.

100. Crazy: Gnarls Barkley- I have no idea why this is here…