Good Rockin' Tonight /I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine (Compact - SUN, 1954)

Title:
Good Rockin' Tonight

Label:

Sun Studio [SUN 210]
Format:
Single
Number of tracks:
2
Running time:
4:30
Type of album:
Studio
Linked to:
Official discography

Year:

1954

Recorded:

September 12-16, 1954

Released:

September 25, 1954

Singles:

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Good Rockin' Tonight is Elvis' second work. It contains two tracks recorded from the iconic 1954 sessions at Memphis' Sun Studio. It was re-released by RCA under catalog number 47-6381 on January 23, 1956.

With his name already known in the Memphis area, Elvis was excited about the sales of his first record and ready to try to create more of what had brought him to the level where he now found himself. His voice was becoming more and more familiar outside of Tennessee and the southern states were beginning to hear his name more often. His popularity landed him concerts around town and even in Nashville, where he performed at the famous Grand Ole Opry.

Thinking of selling his new talent as quickly as possible, Sam Phillips made Sun studio available to Elvis, Scotty and Bill for sessions that ran from September 12 to 16, 1954. In these, the trio focused more on romantic Rockabilly themes, such as "Just Because" and "I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine". There was also the recording of romantic songs like "Tomorrow Night", "I'll Never Let You Go (Lil' Darlin')" and the sadly lost "Satisfied" (there is a version attributed to Elvis that has been circulating for years, but it is actually by singer Paul Ansell).

Initially, Elvis' version of the Jump Blues "Good Rockin' Tonight" was anyone's guess. Phillips and his trio thought it would be a hit, but they were afraid that fans of Roy Brown's original version, released in 1947, wouldn't like what they would hear. After much deliberation, the song was chosen for release, with "I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine" on the B-side of the single.

There really was a bad reaction at first, as was expected by the record company, but the new and exciting style of Elvis was little by little conquering its space.

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THE RECORDING SESSIONS

Date:

September 12-16, 1954

Studio:

Sun Studio

Location:
Memphis, Tennessee

Musicians:
Voice: Elvis Presley
Guitar: Elvis presley
Electric guitar: Scotty Moore
Bass: Bill Balck

Producer/ Sound engineer:

Sam Phillips


SEPTEMBER 12-16, 1954
                                Tomorrow Night F2WB 8115-07
                                I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin') F2WB 8116-NA
                                Satisfied
                                I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine F2WB 8042-03
                                Just Because F2WB 8118-NA
                                Good Rockin' Tonight F2WB 8043-02

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SESSION LOGS

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ORIGINAL COMPACT TRACKS (SUN, 1954)

GOOD ROCKIN' TONIGHT (SINGLE)

September 25, 1954

1. Good Rockin' Tonight

2. I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine

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