DISC 1
MEMPHIS RECORDING SERVICE ACETATES
01 My Happiness 2:33
02 That’s When Your Heartaches Begin 2:52
Tracks 1-2: Self-financed demo recorded July, 1953 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 1-2: Digital transfer of acetate.
03 I’ll Never Stand in Your Way 2:04
04 It Wouldn’t Be the Same (Without You) 2:09
Tracks 3-4: Self-financed demo recorded January 4, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 3-4: Digital transfer of acetate in very poor condition.
SUN MASTERS
05 Harbor Lights 2:38
06 I Love You Because 2:43
07 That’s All Right (45 rpm master) 2:00
Track 5 possibly recorded July 5, 1954.
Tracks 6-7 recorded July 5, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Sources for tracks 5-6: Original SUN tapes.
Source for track 7: 45 rpm SUN single (plastic).
08 Blue Moon of Kentucky (45 rpm master) 2:07
Recorded July 7, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for track 8: 45 rpm SUN single (plastic).
09 Blue Moon 2:44
Likely recorded between August 15 and 19, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for track 9: Original SUN tape.
10 Tomorrow Night 3:01
11 I'll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’)2:27
12 I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine 2:32
13 Just Because 2:34
14 Good Rockin' Tonight 2:15
Tracks 10-14 likely recorded between September 12-16, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Sources for tracks 10, 11, 13 and 14: RCA reference tapes (30 ips)
Source for track 12: Digital transfer of SUN tape, with repairs from a digital transfer of a tape copy.
15 Milkcow Blues Boogie 2:39
16 You’re a Heartbreaker 2:13
Tracks 15-16 recorded either mid-November or mid-December 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Sources for tracks 15-16: 78 rpm SUN single (shellac).
17 I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (slow version) 2:43
Recorded between mid-November 1954 and mid-April 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
The reel has March 5 written on it, but Elvis was at the Louisiana Hayride that day.
Source for track 17: Original SUN tape.
18 Baby Let's Play House 2:19
Likely recorded between January 30 and February 4, 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
“I Got a Woman” and “Tryin' to Get to You” were also recorded, but have been lost.
Source for track 18: RCA reference tape (30 ips).
19 I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone 2:38
Likely recorded mid-April 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for track 19: RCA reference tape (30 ips), with first part of ending from RCA tape copy (15 ips) and last part of ending from digital transfer of the RCA EPA-965 production master tape.
20 I Forgot to Remember to Forget 2:31
21 Mystery Train 2:30
22 Tryin’ to Get to You 2:36
Tracks 20-22 recorded mid-July, 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for track 20: SUN tape copy.
Source for track 21: SUN tape copy, with ending from digital transfer of 78 rpm RCA single.
Source for track 22: RCA reference tape (30 ips).
23 When It Rains It Pours 2:06
Recorded November 1-4, 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for track 23: Original SUN (vocal channel) slapback tape.
Elvis’ 1957 re-recording of the song was released under the title “When It Rains, It Really Pours”
RCA MASTERS
24 That’s All Right 1:59
RCA single version
Source for track 24: RCA reference tape (30 ips).
25 Blue Moon of Kentucky 2:05
RCA single version (78 rpm master)
Source for track 24: 'Elvis at Sun' master, derived from digital transfer of 78 RPM SUN single (shellac).
26 I Love You Because 2:45
RCA LP version – spliced from takes 3 & 5
Steve Sholes’ original notes have these takes as 2 & 4
Source for track 26: RCA master tape.
27 Tomorrow Night 2:56
RCA LP version – overdubbed and slowed down
Source for track 27: 1965 RCA work part tape for the “Elvis for Everyone” LPM-3450 production master tape.
DISC 2
SUN STUDIO SESSIONS
01 Harbor Lights (takes 1-2, level adjustments) 0:33
02 Harbor Lights (take 3/M) 2:53
03 Harbor Lights (take 4) 2:38
04 Harbor Lights (takes 5-6) 1:23
05 Harbor Lights (take 7) 2:25
06 Harbor Lights (take 8) 0:26
Tracks 1-6 possibly recorded July 5, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 1-6: Original SUN tape.
07 I Love You Because (take 1) 0:23
08 I Love You Because (take 2) 3:28
09 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
Tracks 7-13 recorded July 5, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 7-13: Original SUN tape.
14 Dialogue 0:20
15 Blue Moon of Kentucky (slow tempo outtake) 1:08
Tracks 14-15 likely recorded July 7, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 14-15: Digital transfer of SUN tape.
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
Tracks 16-21 likely recorded between August 15 and 19, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 16-21: Original SUN tape.
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
Tracks 22-26 likely recorded between September 12 and 16, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for track 22: RCA reference tape (30 ips) for “Tomorrow Night”.
Sources for tracks 23-26: Digital transfers of SUN tapes (also see source note for Disc 1, track 12).
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
Recorded between mid-November 1954 and mid-April 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
The reel has March 5 written on it, but Elvis was at the Louisiana Hayride that day.
Source for tracks 27-33: Original SUN tape.
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
Recorded between mid-November 1954 and mid-April 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 34-35: Digital transfer of SUN (guitar channel) slapback tape.
36 When It Rains It Pours (vocal slapback tape, take 1) 1:37
37 When It Rains It Pours (vocal slapback tape, take 2 - rehearsa1) 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
Recorded between November 1-4, 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
Source for tracks 36-41: Original SUN (vocal channel) slapback tape.
DISC 3
LIVE AND RADIO PERFORMANCES
01 That’s All Right 2:52
02 Blue Moon of Kentucky 2:23
Tracks 1-2 recorded at Louisiana Hayride debut, Shreveport, Louisiana, October 16, 1954.
Source for tracks 1-2: RCA reference tape copy.
03 Shake, Rattle and Roll 2:24
04 Fool, Fool, Fool 1:59
Tracks 3-4 recorded at KDAV Radio, Lubbock, Texas, January 6, 1955.
Source for tracks 3-4: Digital transfer of acetate.
05 Hearts of Stone 2:02
06 That’s All Right 1:52
07 Tweedlee Dee 2:51
Tracks 5-7 likely recorded at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, Louisiana, January 15, 1955.
Source for tracks 5-7: Digital transfer of acetate in very poor condition.
Some parts duplicated and edited to create near-complete performances.
08 Shake, Rattle and Roll 2:23
Recorded at WJOI Radio, Florence, Alabama January 19, 1955.
Source for track 8: Digital transfer of acetate in poor condition.
09 KSIJ Radio commercial with DJ Tom Perryman 0:16
Recorded at KSIJ Radio, Gladewater, Texas, 1955.
Source for track 9: Digital transfer.
10 Money Honey 2:43
11 Blue Moon of Kentucky 2:04
12 I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine 2:33
13 That’s All Right 1:54
Tracks 10-13 likely recorded at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, Louisiana, January 22, 1955.
Source for tracks 10-13: Digital transfer of acetate in very poor condition. Some parts duplicated and edited to create near-complete performances.
14 Tweedlee Dee 2:15
15 Money Honey 2:17
16 Hearts of Stone 1:37
17 Shake, Rattle and Roll 1:39
18 Little Mama 2:03
19 You’re a Heartbreaker 2:06
Tracks 14-19 likely recorded at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, Louisiana, March 5, 1955.
Source for tracks 14-19: Digital transfer of fragments of acetate in very poor condition (which was destroyed in the process). Some parts duplicated and edited to create near-complete performances.
20 Good Rockin’ Tonight 2:36
21 Baby Let’s Play House 2:22
22 Blue Moon of Kentucky 1:47
23 I Got a Woman 3:03
24 That’s All Right 2:17
Tracks 20-24 likely recorded at the Eagles’ Hall, Houston, Texas, March 19, 1955. Track 21 could be from a different performance the same week.
Source for tracks 20-24: RCA reference tape copy.
25 Tweedlee Dee 2:47
Recorded at Gladewater High School, Gladewater, Texas, April 30, 1955.
Source for tracks 25: RCA reference tape copy.
26 Interview with Mae Boren Axton 3:19
Recorded at motel in Jacksonville, Florida on either May 12 or July 28, 1955.
Source for track 26: Digital transfer of 1981 BBC broadcast tape copy.
27 That’s All Right 2:37
Recorded at the Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival, Meridian, Mississippi, May 26, 1955.
Source for track 27: Broadcast tape.
28 I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone 3:16
Recorded at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, Louisiana, July 2, 1955.
Source for track 28: Digital transfer of acetate in very poor condition. Some parts duplicated and edited to create near-complete performance.
29 Baby Let’s Play House 3:19
30 Maybellene 3:09
31 That’s All Right 2:49
Tracks 29-31 recorded at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, Louisiana, August 20, 1955.
Source for tracks 29-31: RCA reference tape copies.
32 Interview with Bob Neal 5:31
Recorded at WMPS Radio, Memphis Tennessee, between August 29-31, 1955.
Source for track 32: Digital transfer
MUSICIANS
Disc 1 tracks 1-4: Elvis Presley: guitar, vocals
All other recordings (except when noted):
Elvis Presley: guitar, vocals; Scotty Moore: electric guitar; Bill Black: bass
Disc 1 track 13: possibly Buddy Cunningham: brushes on snare drum
Disc 1 track 19 and disc 2 tracks 34-35: Jimmie Lott: drums
Disc 1 tracks 20, 22-23 and Disc 2 tracks 36-41: Johnny Bernero: drums
Disc 1 track 27: Chet Atkins: guitar; Grady Martin: guitar; Henry Strzelecki: bass; Buddy Harman: drums; Charlie McCoy: harmonica; Anita Kerr Singers: backing vocals
Disc 3 tracks 5-7 & 10-13: Sonny Trammel: steel guitar; Leon Post: piano
Disc 3 tracks 14-19 & 25: Jimmy Day: steel guitar; Floyd Cramer: piano
The surprise on the set is the acetate version of LITTLE MAMA, a song recorded in 1954 and owned by collector Sherif Hanna. The quality is inferior to any Sun release, but it's history nonetheless. Elvis probably picked the tune up from the Clovers who had a hit with their version.
