The brief history of the legendary record label lj 21581 as their most detailed and critically astute evaluation of the seminal sun records and its founder and creative genius sam phillips. Guralnicks new book about sun records founder sam phillips has just been published. Set in memphis during the tumultuous early days of the civil rights movement, sun records tells the untold story of nothing less than the birth of rock n roll. The sun entertainment catalog contains masters from the following labels. Peter guralnick, the music biographer and author of sam phillips. Sam phillips, the founder of sun records in memphis, is frequently. We use a blend of sams analog techniques and todays. He first wrote the companys history in 1975 and has revised and expanded it several times since. At sam phillips sun records studio on union avenue, theres something.
History the sun sound began when sam phillips launched his record company in february of 1952. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. On sam phillipss bright yellow sun records label spun a mindbendingly eclectic. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Home of elvis presley, johnny cash, jerry lee lewis, roy orbison, sam phillips and more. Sam finds another hit with johnny bragg and the prisonaires. Sun 199 james cotton my baby straighten up baby april 1954 recorded december 7, 1953, sun studio, 706 union, memphis tennessee. We would like to thank pete howard who has contributed to writing a number of parts of these pages pertaining to the sun letters on and. This culmination of a work in progress since 1971 follows the authors earlier catalyst. For all other inquiries, please contact us using this form. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Sam phillips is not just one of the most important producers in rock history. Good rockin tonight, which takes its name from one of the most seminal rocknroll records, is an intimate look at the ups and downs of sun records and founder sam phillips.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The man and the mistakes that invented rock n roll. In 2012, the album was ranked number 311 on rolling stone magazines list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The birthplace of rock n roll and home to the million dollar quartet elvis presley, johnny cash, jerry lee lewis, b. Good coverage of what the studio and label achieved during the 50s, supported by a host of photographs designed to illustrate the story.
Sun records an oral history new book by author john floyd. Sam rented a small space at 706 union avenue for his own allpurpose studio. Sun was the first label to record elvis presley, charlie rich, roy orbison, jerry lee lewis, carl perkins, and johnny cash. To visit the studio there is no need for reservations or vouchers. Sun records is the iconic 50s label in the top 10, according to variety which launched the careers of the million dollar quartet artists elvis, johnny cash, jerry. Sun records sun records libguides at rock and roll. Theres a good argument to be made that he is also one of the most important figures in 20thcentury american culture. The same company would later produce records under the name imperial records. Colin escott is the foremost authority on sun records. Sam phillips sun records the history of rock and roll. Sun records is an american independent record label founded by producer sam phillips in.
Guralnick first met phillips in 1979, and interviewed him extensively for this book. While its true that rocknroll found its beginnings in the memphis studio, the same risktaking that made phillips pay attention to elvis presley and johnny cash whose contracts were sold to keep the studio afloat. We use a blend of sams analog techniques and todays modern technology to create a sound unlike any other. The book covers the entire history of sun records, from sam phillips first hit with rufus thomas, to the bigtime with a young, fresh talent. It was originally called memphis recording service, sharing the same building with the sun records label business. Tv schedule for sun records cmt tv series schedule. The brief history of the legendary recording label by escott, colin and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The sun sound began when sam phillips launched his record company in february of 1952. Prior to that, sun had concentrated mainly on africanamerican musicians because phillips loved rhythm and blues and wanted to bring it to a white audience. Other books include an acclaimed trilogy on american roots music, sweet soul music, lost highway, and feel like going home. He produced, engineered, and marketed the sun label.
A curious history of sex covers aphrodisiacs, bicycles, graham. He named it sun records as a sign of his perpetual optimism. Sun record company, plantation records, sss international, red bird, blue cat, blue fox, and a few others click here to see a full list of the master recordings available. Sun records is an american drama television miniseries based on the musical million dollar quartet written by colin escott and floyd mutrux. Chess records was an american record company, founded in 1950 in chicago and specializing in blues and rhythm and blues. Sun records sun records libguides at rock and roll hall of. The sun records collection is a 1994 compilation album. Over time it expanded into soul music, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz and comedy recordings, released on the chess label and on its subsidiary labels checker, argocadet and cadet concept. An oral history 2nd edition brings to readers the voices of the pillars of sun records, the artists, producers and engineers who made the place tick.
An oral history second edition brings to readers the voices of the pillars of sun records, the artists, producers, and engineers who made the place tick. See the tv schedule for shows, episodes and music on cmt. Sun records, book names, great names, my collection, history books, my favorite. An oral history for the record john floyd, john marsh on. Elvis enlists sam to help him record a song for his mother. Thomas the first hitmaker for sun, scotty moore, rosco gordon, little milton campbell, billy lee riley, producer and musician roland janes, producer cowboy jack clement and. Sun studio is a recording studio opened by rockandroll pioneer sam phillips at 706 union avenue in memphis, tennessee, on january 3, 1950. He has published several other volumes on the early days of country music, including a biography of hank williams and the grand ole opry.
See more ideas about sun records, rock and roll and elvis presley. Related to marsh by many of the people who were actually there, sun rec. It was retail marketing, one record distributor, one record store, at a time. The man and the mistakes that invented rock n roll in his new book, sam phillips, music writer peter guralnick profiles the founder of the sun records. Pete howard who is extremely well respected in the music industry, he spent several years as a executive at cbs records and is a music historian and is.
Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. Elvis presley, his rising star, took all his attention. The series stars drake milligan, trevor donovan, kevin fonteyne, christian lees, dustin ingram, billy gardell, jonah lees, chad michael murray and jennifer holland. Good history and pretty comprehensive, but a lot of it reads like a text book and. Sun records is an american independent record label founded by producer sam phillips in memphis, tennessee in february 1952. In fact, sun 198 indeed has the words st francis etched into the trailoff grooves, indicating that it wasnt inteded for sun use. Tours begin at the bottom half of every hour from 10. The first sun records in europe were singlesided disc records put out by the crystalate gramophone record manufacturing company ltd. Related to marsh by many of the people who were actually there, sun records offers a compelling oral history of the legendary memphis record label where country, blues, and pop merged into rock and roll. In his introduction to the inaugural volume in a new series of rock oral histories, series editor dave marsh writes, for the record isnt concerned with the most obvious stars.
Sun studio memphis 2020 all you need to know before. During the 1950s1960s it defined the rockabilly genre with artists like johnny cash, carl perkins, jerry lee lewis, and of course elvis presley. Pages in category sun records artists the following 56 pages are in this category, out of 56 total. These are just some of the books related to sun records available at the. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. The brief history of the legendary recording label paperback october 1, 1980. How sun records boss sam phillips discovered a star in 1954 memphis, 1954, and sun recording studio boss sam phillips dreams of.
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