The Smiley Smile Message Board

The thread about Carl and the Beach Boys in the main section made me think that a thread about Carl would be nice, maybe talking about different releases and aspects of his career. Although there are many good releases, I think it is not always easy to find those CDs.


So my first post is this fabulous live CD:


Silver Eagle Cross Country Presents Live: Carl Perkins (https://www.discogs.com/de/Carl-Perkins-Carl-Perkins-Live-Silver-Eagle-Cross-Country/release/10309449)

(https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0001/549/MI0001549144.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)


1 Intro

2 Matchbox

3 Got My Mojo Working

4 Gone, Gone, Gone
   
5 Hi-Heel Sneakers
   
6 Honey Don't

7 Tennessee Waltz

8 Dixie Fried

9 I Got a Woman (actually this is "Mean woman blues")

10 That's All Right
   
11 Blue Suede Shoes


This is an edited show from 1983 that was broadcasted on radio. Carl actually played two (or maybe three?) shows and they are available on bootleg and during one show he even performed an impromptu "Get it" which he recorded with Paul McCartney for the latter's "Tug of war" album.
Carl and his band (including his sons Stan on drums and Greg on bass) are in excellent form. From the very first note of "Matchbox" the wholw house is rocking and doesn't stop until the end. "Hi-heel sneakers" was performed often by Carl during these times, but with "Tennesse waltz" and "Got my mojo working" we even have a couple of somewhat rare cuts I believe (although he cut a studio recording of "Got my mojo" in the 80s and there is a live version from the early 90s on youtube). I think "Dixie fried" wasn't performed all that often either.
In comparison to his shows at Gilley's (that's for another time) this one has less of a honky tonk feel but that of a New York night club (as I would imagine it) which is probably to be expected as that's what it was.
So, if you'd like to have a great introduction to Carl's live shows and an album you can rock out to you should definitely own this.

Danke schön, Rocker. You da man! :-D

I remember getting Tug of War, and really enjoying "Get it", but I kept reading about another song Carl recorded with McCartney called "My Old Friend". Everytime i'd see a new Carl Perkins album, i'd look for that song, but no luck....until, finally, it appeared on Go Cat Go in 1996. I'd also seen some pics of Carl in the studio with Paul and Denny Laine, jamming on some of the classics. Somewhere i'll bet there is a reel of tape of these 3 guys having fun with some of those great old songs. Probably not likely to be released any time soon, though. Tug of War already got the deluxe treatment, and there was very little in terms of outtakes and rare tracks.

I'm only trying   :-D





These pictures are the only ones I could find right now. I guess they come frome those session, don't they?


(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9koNmOjU77A/hqdefault.jpg)

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pWodfTLHwBA/hqdefault.jpg)



I heard about rumours that "Get it" was actually co-written by Carl. I am not sure right now if Carl mentions that even on the unedited show at Lone Star Café, I'd have to listen to that again. There are certainly parts that sound like they could come from him in that song, but otherwise there is no need to think McCartney couldn't have written them himself. Also I'd think that Carl would've gotten a credit if he really did substantially write a part of that song.

"My old friend" was indeed often talked about by Carl as it seems. He even performed it solo in an interview with Bobby Bare in the 80s:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHH-4q8kA00

7:28 mins.

Those 2 pics look familiar; there were a few others in the deluxe reissue of Tug of War.

Here are two video I only saw a couple of days ago for the first time. Speaking of Carl's outfits, I think he definitely should've gone with the ones seen in the videos rather than the jumpsuits he wore around that time as well.


"Gone, Gone, Gone" - That Nashville Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm37tXgZpd4


"Blue suede shoes"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwtxS2NtnR0

I‘d like to talk about Carl´s 1992 album „Friends, family & legends“. The band features Paul Shaffer. I‘m not sure how and where they met the first time but Paul was the bandleader for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame‘s house band and therefore at Carl‘s induction in 1987 (https://youtube.com/watch?v=_ij18hFlEgI). Also, Carl appeared on Letterman in 1986 (https://youtube.com/watch?v=qbVV0wO3Dj8) and 1990 (https://youtube.com/watch?v=bD8JlHBdyg0)

Friends Family & Legends (https://www.discogs.com/de/Carl-Perkins-Friends-Family-Legends/release/8314539)

(https://img.discogs.com/3ShofmImra51ScD48b04Xc6c0Qo=/fit-in/600x627/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-8314539-1459182566-5355.jpeg.jpg)


1 Pink Cadillac

2 Birth Of Rock & Roll

3 Book Faded Brown

4 Don't Stop The Music

5 Wild Texas Wind

6 Half The Time

7 Make It Right

8 Godfather Of Rock & Roll

9 Of Love

10 Don't Let Go



As seems to have been one of the problems of Carl not being a commercially top artist, the album features a lot of guest artists, including Chet Atkins, Joan Jett and Charlie Daniels. Thankfully their contributions are not vocally but by adding instruments.
The production is very early 90s when it comes to synth. horns and the overall way the record sounds. The lead vocals seem to have been mastered with the same heavy reverb throughout every song.
During the recording of this album Carl was diagnosed with lung cancer and his vocals seem a little thin on some tracks.

The album opener is a strong version of Springsteen‘s Pink Cadillac  (https://youtube.com/watch?v=bnAHlWZw2p0). Carl‘s vocals are great and I love the „dreck“ he puts into the performance.
A couple of songs where written or co-written by his kids and some come from outside sources. Except for „Godfather of Rock&Roll“, which is exactly that kind of nostalgia song that for the most part where a mis-use of his writing skills imo, the strongest contributions come from Carl himself. We get a re-recording of „Birth of Rock&Roll“ which was the lead single for the Class of ´55 album in 1985 and back then even got it´s own music video. Unfortunately I can‘t find it on YouTube so here is a contemporary live performance (https://youtube.com/watch?v=OwWTk5-cE54). This song actually works in contrast to „Godfather...“ but I like the 1985 recording better. The new version features more prominent horns, a somewhat grittier vocal and Chet Atkins.

A highlight for me is Carl‘s „Wild Texas wind“ which he re-recorded with Willie Nelson for Perkins‘ last album „Go Cat Go!“ but which also is the title song to a Dolly Parton made-for-TV movie (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Texas_Wind) from 1991. She sings a beautiful version (https://youtube.com/watch?v=poOvEG2yKJg) in that movie, unfortunately it never was released on record. I updated the wikipedia topic with the info about Carl. The whole movie is on YouTube. Dolly recorded a couple of songs written by Carl like „Silver and gold“ but that‘s for another time.

I just looked at the "Back on top" boxset on Bear Family's site and you can see that in the booklet there are a couple more pictures from those sessions:

https://www.bear-family.de/perkins-carl-back-on-top-4-cd-box-set.html







EDIT:

BTW, I came across this review of a british show in '64 (probably the tour when Carl got to know the Beatles).




In my opinion, Carl Perkins is the best in the show. No one had really heard of him before he arrived for this tour - which is his first in Britain, but he's winning them over - it's been like that since the show started.

The most touching memory I have of this tour took place in Bournemouth. A number of art students who must have spent all their time designing placards threw them on stage for Carl to sign. There were 20 or 30 of them with different placards for his various numbers. The sketches of Carl's face were fantastically lifelike and he was really moved by the tribute. In fact, he was able to keep one of them and is taking it back to America with him, together with a banner which reads 'Welcome Carl (Beatle-basher) Perkins.' He's really proud of that one.

Carl showed me one of his inventions - a tremelo arm on the head of his guitar, instead of at the bottom. This enables the player to operate the tremelo with his thumb instead of using the whole hand. Fender are very interested in the idea.

When we were at Hammersmith the safety curtain was dropped on Chuck Berry - the audience were crowding onstage, bowing down to him and throwing garlands of flowers.

Liverpool Odeon handbill for Chuck Berry, Swinging Blue Jeans, Carl Perkins, Kingsize Taylor and The AnimalsAt one of the parties on the tour we met Jimmy Tarbuck. He's got a fantastic sense of humour. A man was commenting on the green and yellow dress a girl wore. "That's a nice shade," he said. "Let's see your teeth again, love" Jimmy quipped.

The Animals have always gone down very well. At some places they've had to work very hard to get an audience - but when they have to, the lead singer Eric, will rip off his shirt, bounce about the stage - and do anything to win them over.

Although the lads back Chuck Berry on stage they've never had a rehearsal with him. He came in one day, played half an hour of twelve-bar blues - and that was that.

We will all be remaining in Britain, and following this tour we have six weeks of ballroom dates.

Two days prior to arriving in England we recorded ten tracks with Franklyn Boyd of Aberbach Music - and a new single is due for release from Decca early next month.


Source: http://www.triumphpc.com/mersey-beat/archives/carlperkins-show.shtml



There seems to be a bootleg recording of a show from this time. I have never heard it, did any of you?  The title seems to be "Carl Lee Perkins -- British Tour 1964 (Doctor Kollector, 1984)"

Here's an amazing song by Carl from 1972, "The Trip". I totally forgot about it, but what a gem! And imo more prove that with the right management he could've made it big in the country and later country rock field. "Cotton top" and "Me without you" were small hits, "Restless" a bigger one. With more promotion I think there was definitely an audience for his new songs.
Anyway, enjoy this. It's perfect for such a late-summer day as we have it today in Germany.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8krkjtDPfN8

Unfortunately only a neelde-drop- It's available in great sound on the "Back on top"-boxset.

There's an ad on spotify now that uses Restless. I don't know who's doing it, but glad one of Carl's best songs is getting exposure.

Oh really? That's cool! I didn't know that? Is it available to watch without having spotify?

I have no idea. I don't have spotify on all that often; may try to find it on youtube.

Can't find it. But it's cool to know that Carl's music gets recognition.



Ok, I have a question for you guys, maybe someone can help me. I need this for a new section on Carl's wikipedia page that I want to make - more of this later. Johnny Cash and June Carter recorded an album called "Carryin' on" in the late 60s. On that album is the song "Long legged guitar pickin' man", that sounds like a Perkins tune, was introduced by Cash on stage more than once as a song written by Carl. But.... on the record it's credited to Marshall Grant. Does anyone know the story behind this? Without wanting to take anything away from Grant, I'm pretty sure it is a Perkins song, it just sounds too much like that.

Here are two live versions with Cash (and June) introducing it by mentiong Carl writing the song for the two of them:

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_59br5LAU0

I never knew Marshall Grant to be a songwriter. So I would bet it's a Perkins song.

I'd say the same. I also don't believe that if it was written by M. Grant (probably the only time he'd have written something for Johnny), Cash would take that moment in the spotlight away from him and introduce it as a Perkins song.
I hope that maybe Carl's autobiography (or both of them, as I think there was also one released in the 70s) has more info on why the credit lists Marshall Grant.

The reason I ask is that I plan to add a chart to Wikipedia that lists Carl's hits as a songwriter. That side gets overlooked too many times imo and people mostly focus on him being something like a one-hit-wonder. Here are songs that were (co-)written by Carl and that became hits. It includes covers but also songs Carl himself didn't record.

Tommy Cash   Rise and shine   1970   #9 US Billboard Hot Country, #8 Can Country
Dolly Parton   Silver and gold   1991   #15 US Billboard Hot Country, #7 Can Country
Johnny Cash   Daddy sang bass   1968   #1 US Billboard Hot Country, #1 Can Country
The Judds   Let me tell you about love   1989   #1 US Billboard Hot Country, #1 Can Country
Al Martino   True love is greater than friendship   1970   #33 US Adult Contemporary
Arlene Harden   True love is greater than friendship   1971   #22 US Billboard Hot Country
The Beatles   Matchbox   1964   #17 US Billboard Hot 100
Mark O'Connor   Restless   1991   #25 US Billboard Hot Country, #19 Can Country
Patsy Cline   So wrong   1962   #14 US Billboard Hot Country
Bob Luman   Poor boy blues   1966   #39 US Billboard Hot Country
Johnny Rivers   Blue suede shoes   1973   #38 US Billboard Hot 100
Johnny Cash & June Carter   Long legged guitar pickin' man   1967   #6 US Billboard Hot Country Singles

(Not yet in chronological order obviously)


If you got some other records to add, feel free to do so. I didn't include Elvis' "Blue suede shoes" as that was only released on EP back in the 50s IIRC.


EDIT:

I added the list to Wikipedia. Take a look here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Perkins#Hits_by_other_artists

Hey, does anybody know why my Wikipedia entry is gone?  ??? ???

This is for Rocker (and anyone else interested in Carl Perkins, George Harrison, Beatles guitar stuff too, etc.) :

Bernie Hamburger was a musician who built custom guitars, and Carl Perkins was one of his clients. This is an informal public Q&A session with Bernie where he talks about Carl Perkins and George Harrison, and sheds a little more light on George's relationship with Carl...plus, the backstory of how Bernie's guitars ended up on the Beatles' "Anthology" reunion tracks and how they occupied a special place in George's home even after he passed away. It was Carl Perkins responsible for those guitars getting to George.

Also, some rather sad info I had not remembered about George planning a world tour...but by the time preparations were made he became too ill to do it.

Check this out, especially the first 10 minutes or so. Really, really neat info:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27AOre0FcuY (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27AOre0FcuY)

That's interesting info! Thanks guitarfool, I didn't know that before. I first thought that the two of them might have been playing those guitars on this appearance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J3wloZ9-aU) but that's wrong. Carl's looks like a regular Strat while George has a Telecaster. But maybe they used it for "Distance makes no difference". George's sound on there is very similar to "Free as a bird":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWU6GWLWeME


Still, the video is a little sad, because it reminds me of how little Carl is known today.


On another note: Why did they take my Wikipedia-updates down?

Jet Propelled - The 1978 Comeback (https://www.bear-family.com/perkins-carl-jet-propelled-the-1978-comeback-2-cd.html)

(https://www.bear-family.com/media/image/thumbnail/CMDD510_285x255.jpg)




Ok, here's my review of what certainly is one of the very best "archive"-releases by Carl Perkins. Make sure to check out the sound samples on the above link.
After Carl toured years as part of the Johnny Cash show and along the way wrote the hits "Long legged guitar pickin' man" and "Daddy sang bass" for Johnny, Carl went back on his own touring with his sons Greg and Stan. In 1978 he signed with Jet Records and recorded an album called "Ol' Blue Suede's back" that features his interpretations of classic Rock'n'Roll songs from the 50s (plus one new composition, "Rock on around the world", which would later be rewritten as "Birth of Rock'n'Roll"), matching the nostalgia craze at that time. Jet Records put a lot of promotion behind the album and it turned out to be Carl's best (and only) charting album in the UK. A follow up album with original material was not released in it's original form.

Producer was Felton Jarvis who of course was Elvis Presley's personal producer until the King's death the year before. Musicians included David Briggs and Mike Leech, while Carl's guitar was of course everywhere to be found. To get an idea of the sound, just imagine something like Elvis' Jungle Room recordings but without the orchestra overdubs and more rocking and in your face. Don't let the oldie-concept shadow your opinion, these are real performances of those songs not just covers. Some work better ("That's allright", "Rock around the clock" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5kFdQq69kw)) some not ("Whole lotta shakin' goin' on") but it's a fun listen through and through.


Here's an article from that time (https://ratw.com/newspaper/James_Taylor/Carl_Perkins-Article/). Check out that young Tom Petty.


A lot of promotion was done for the album and Carl did a lot of appearances in the UK. One was on BBC Radion. The second disc of this set features a detailed 45 mins.-interview with Charlie Gillett, followed by an on-fire-performance by Carl with a band that featured Dave Edmunds. These couple of recordings are some of the best stuff of Perkins you will find, and that is saying a lot. If you know the '86 TV special, again featuring Edmunds but also Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Rosanne Cash, this one is even better. The highlight is "That's allright" which rips the whole place apart. As Carl noted at the end "That's Rock'n'Roll, right there".

Now, as mentioned, there was a second album recorded with the same musicians and Jarvis as producer. That probably led to the song "Let me on" being included which was supposed by Elvis to record in his planned early '77 Nashville sessions which didn't happen to take place. The song sounds like a bona fide hit of the times. It was later recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis in a imo nice but subpar version (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVkyVlVn6Gc).
A single was released of the song "Miss Misunderstood" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDQwr9wczMA), written by David Bellamy and Carl played it in his live shows in the coming years.

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81NgznzZiyL._SX522_.jpg)


Other songs included "Why you been gone so long?" by Mickey Newbury and "Mustang wine" by Steve Earle as well as one of my favorite Perkins compositions, "The hurt put on by you" which he released later in a different version which you can hear if you click on this link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avvNpdgTdCs). Carl's Elvis-tribute "The whole world misses you" was also featured as it was a favorite among his audiences around that time.


(http://images.45cat.com/carl-perkins-the-whole-world-misses-you-jet.jpg)

The album was never released in it's intended form but the songs were scattered on different releases. This release now collects all on two CDs and what a great release it is. The liner notes are very detailled and give you more info than I did with my review.

Make no mistake, Carl was back and rocking! Please give it a thought if you might wanna get this. It's not a hidden masterpiece, but a very good and solid effort in Perkins style- The BBC session on the other hand is a masterpiece.

706 ReUnion - A sentimental journey (http://www.scottymoore.net/706reunion.html)


(https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/770x0/89786160b5e64fbb576b433ba325fda0.jpg#89786160b5e64fbb576b433ba325fda0)


Now, this is a release that's very dear to me. First, find out more about the story of it's evolution and the recording on this link (http://www.scottymoore.net/recording706ru.html). You can listen to some samples if you click on the link above the album cover.

Carl and Scotty Moore - Elvis' lead guitar player from '54 to '68 - go way back. Just when Elvis and Carl toured together during 1954/1955 and parts of 1956, Scotty and Carl also became friends.

(https://www.bilder-upload.eu/thumb/0cf75d-1539809320.jpg) (https://www.bilder-upload.eu/bild-0cf75d-1539809320.jpg.html)
Source: https://www.royalbooks.com/

(https://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/pictures/img/elvis/50s/56/1956-june-1-608.jpg)
Source: https://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/pictures/1956-june-1.html

Carl and Elvis in Memphis on June 1st 1956


In 1975 Carl called Scotty, D. J. Fontana and the Jordanaires to back him up on his Elvis-tribute single E. P. Express (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-laB2Y9ve1k) (a re-recording is found on 706 ReUnion) backed with a re-recording of Carl's mid-60s song Big bad blues (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzzry6fSliY).


The album's concept and it's title might make one think that this is just another of those awful and cheaply produced albums of re-recordings with subpar performances. Well, in this case one would be very wrong.
The music tracks are interspersed with dialogues between Scotty and Carl and tell the story of how the album came to be in real time. That can get very corny, but not as creepy corny as us Beach Boys fans are treated with from time to time, but corny in a nice way; just two old guys having some fun.
The main focus of course lies on the music performances. Instead of tired note-for-note re-recordings, we actually get some great performances and a couple of new songs as well in a laid-back style. The musicians are some of the best for this kind of music and recording, including D. J. Fontana, Marcus van Storey, Johnny Black (son of Bill Black) and Carl's sons, Geg and Stan. Both, "Night train to Memphis" and "Milkcow blues boogie" are played in mid-tempo and giving Perkins and Scotty enough room to show their guitar skills without taking up too much space. Carl is in strong voice, although he was just declared throatcancer-free after getting treatment. Two instrumentals, "Black eyed Suzie Brown" and "Windy & warm", put the distinctive guitar styles of both center. For this album Carl wrote three new songs: "Damn Sam" (about Sam Phillips and the working atmosphere at Sun Records - co-written by Scotty), "The worst of her" (co-written by Stan and Greg Perkins as well as D. J. Fontana) and the funky "Pickup truck".
Recorded at the old Memphis Recording Service at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennesse (the Sun Studio), the sound is very much alive. Eventually released on Scotty Moore's Belle Meade label, this may not be a commercial blockbuster project (it's much too laid back for that, anyway), but it definitely is everything but a cheaply produced, lackluster run through some old favorites. Everyone involved cared about the project and music and you can clearly hear this.

It used to be available through Scotty's website but I don't know if that is still the case. If you can get a copy of this album, I'd advise you to get it. It's one of those albums that I can't help but grab my guitar and try to play along.

Earler this month:


Carl Perkins honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

https://eu.jacksonsun.com/story/news/local/2018/10/09/carl-perkins-honored-lifetime-achievement-award/1557851002/

In my review of the Silver Eagle release (see above) I mentioned a live version of "Got my moo working" from the early 90s. Since then it has re-appeared on youtube, so here it is:


Carl Perkins - On Stage 1991

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jlW-xO2ruM


Got my mojo working - Turn around - Honey don't - Rock & Roll medley - Blue suede shoes




Also, here's a double episode of Austic City Limits with Gerorge Jones and Carl Perkins:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb8gioM3k5c

Holy sh!t!!  :o This is big!!


   

    1-LP 10“ vinyl with extensive 16-page booklet (21x21 cms). 9 tracks.
    Limited edition of 2,000 copies - the first run of 1,000 copies numbered and pressed on colored vinyl!
    Historic, early recordings by rockabilly pioneer discovered after 70 years!
    Free CD ensclosed!

Carl Perkins, one of the founding fathers of rock & roll, began his legendary recording career for Sun Records in 1954. After two fairly undistinguished hillbilly outings, he created Blue Suede Shoes, which changed the face of American popular music. It was the first song to top all three charts at once: pop, hillbilly and R&B.
 
Producer and music historian, Shawn Pitts and Hank Davis just made a startling discovery that will rewrite rockabilly history. Carl Perkins recorded at least two years earlier in a small studio in rural Tennessee. Those records make it clear that he was far from the clueless hillbilly who had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the rockabilly revolution. In fact, one of the four songs he recorded was Good Rocking Tonight, perhaps two years earlier than Elvis Presley cut it at Sun!

In October 2019 Bear Family Records will release ’Discovering Carl Perkins’. It contains for the first time anywhere, these historic, unreleased recordings -- complete and remastered for the best possible sound -- along with several rare outtakes from Carl´s earliest Sun period (first time on vinyl). They will appear on a ten-inch LP that includes previously unseen vintage photographs and detailed liner notes about the music, and how the local culture gave rise to these historic, one-of-a-kind recordings. It´s quite a landmark event for those  interested in early rock & roll history, Sun Records, Carl Perkins and the birth of rockabilly.


https://www.bear-family.com/perkins-carl-discovering-carl-perkins-eastview-tennessee-1952-53-lp-10inch-and-cd-ltd..html?fbclid=IwAR27zvvXRZCMsSC3UH_HGn7KwqVPJ57ZKwN8a5IqZIA41oyz5JHR2nu81Ys

Wow, I never realized there was a hillbilly chart. I was always under the impression that hillbilly like redneck was vaguely derogatory! ;D
 

That is indeed amazing!

Oh, while I'm here, this is my favourite Carl P song and one of my all-time favourite r'n'r tracks:

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

Probably my favorite intro in Rock!

Wow yes! For someone who's hardly a household name, Mr P has produced so many classics!

Ooh, so cool. Can't wait!!

I was lucky to get a copy of this album when it came out - and personally signed by both Carl and Scotty.

It seems that the "new" private recordings were talked about in this article from 2017:


Discovering Carl

http://www.southerncultures.org/article/discovering-carl/  


BTW regarding the private recordings fom 1952, just for fun, here's Carl's later studio recording of "Good rockin' tonight":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=258nkJad4HQ

And although he never recorded it in the studio "Drinkin' wine ..." was always a possible choice for concert performances. And here's a peformance from very late, probably aroud the promotion for his latest album, "Go Cat Go!", and a documentary on Perkins from 1996/97,:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YAdeJHm5Hc

Look at these two beauties:


Carl Perkins Epiphone 1962 Emperor Live at Folsom San Quentin For Sale The Spa Guy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2wYRXPE9oA




Carl Perkins 1953 Les Paul Blue Suede Shoes For Sale The Spa Guy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrk_N5oKn1w

If you contribute to this public station, you get a remastered CD/DVD of the '86 Carl Perkins Special "A Rockabilly session" (feat. Clapton, Harrison, Starr, Edmunds, Rosanne Cash):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCrPOWNAn7M

Carl Perkins: Live In Paris (2-LP+Flexi Disc, Limited Edition)
(Culture Factory) 20 Tracks, Double Blue Vinyl plus Flexi with Unreleased Track, Limited Edition (1.000)

Carl Perkins' last European concert in one of Paris' legendary venues, the Elysée Montmartre.

The concert was recorded on 30.03.1996 and will be released twenty-four years later to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the song 'Blue Suede Shoes'.

• Double Blue Vinyl LP's
• Flexi Blue Vinyl With Never Released Bonus Track
• Die-Cut Gatefold Jacket With Printed Inner Sleeves
• 12 Page Booklet



(https://www.bear-family.com/media/image/8c/52/7a/Paris3096.jpg)



https://www.bear-family.com/perkins-carl-live-in-paris-2-lp-flexi-disc-limited-edition.html

Carl Perkins - Country Boy's Dream, 1968 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2Mn9btQyBk)

(https://img.discogs.com/OubElaPe_Y20iUE6AmTJwX1N_aI=/fit-in/600x625/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-6447358-1419447501-5821.jpeg.jpg)



01 Country Boy's Dream
02 If I Could Come Back
03 Sweet Misery
04 Stateside
06 Detroit City
07 Unmitigated Gall
08 Shine, Shine, Shine
09 Dream On Little Dreamer
10 You Can Take The Boy Out Of The Country
11 The Star Of The Show
12 Home (That's Where The Heart Is)
13 Poor Boy Blues



So, it's been a while, but now I wanted to talk a little about this album and it's contents. I'm not gonna do a track-by-track analysis, though.
As you all know, probably thanks to his accident while "Blue Suede Shoes" was on the charts in '56, Carl never gained the popularity he deserved. Though he released strong material, he never got a big follow-up to that song. In 1966 it was eight years since his last charting record on the Country charts, the 1958 Rock'n'Roll song "Pink Pedal Pushers" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG0bz0uJpAU). It wasn't for lack of great material (that was never for a songwriter of Carl's talents), his records were just not selling. Back in the late 50s, due to his success with "Blue Suede Shoes", he was signed as a top star to Columbia. But after never hitting the big time again, in the mid-60s he signed with Dollie Records and in need of a hit. His first single for Dollie finally put him back on the charts. 1966's "Country Boy's Dream" went all the way to No. 22 on the Country charts. The song was written by Ernie Newton and Carl, though for some reason Carl was not credited. Carl mentioned his authorship on a live performance of that song on "Pop goes the Country" in 1977 (https://youtu.be/2fQXsLte-JM?t=224).

Once gain though, Carl had bad luck. He accidentally shot himself in the foot (literally), and couldn't promote the song. Yet a follow-up single "Shine, shine, shine" in '67 still reached No. 40. Who knows what could've been had he been able to promote the songs on television.
In 1968, Dollie released Carl's album "Country Boy's Dream". You probably heard about what Country music sounded in Nashville during this time. The "Nashville Sound" did take a lot of the edges out of the music in favor of a smooth, sugary sound. There were great recordings and songs, but after a while it became the norm and lost it's freshness. Carl actually had a hit during these years. In 1962 Patsy Cline recorded "So wrong" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyZ-ZOlRkdw) which Carl wrote with Danny Dill and Mel Tillis. The single reached No 14 on the Country charts for Cline. This recording is a great example for the beauty of the "Nashville Sound".

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d9/34/bc/d934bc319ce10e7fea9fedfba952269e.jpg)
Carl with Gordon Terry, Luther Perkins, Patsy Cline and George Jones in 1962

So, knowing that, you would think that "Country Boy's Dream" would be a record of that sound, so to heighten the commercial potential. Thankfull you would be wrong. The album's production and instrumentation is actually pretty simple. No orchestras, no choirs, only what sounds like a quartet of backing singers and guitars, pedal steel guitar, bass, drums, piano. This probably shouldn't be misunderstood. When he was on Columbia Carl did record some songs with that big sound. I guess it was due to Carl's commercial losses that his records weren't given the treatment of the top stars.

It's this more or less sparse sound though, that makes this album sound so fresh to my ears. It's straight forward Country music played and sung by one of it's best - forgotten - singers. Indeed Perkins was a great singer and his matured voice only gave more depth to the tunes.
Usually, in Carl's situation at that time you would put your new single on the album and record a pack of cover songs, since he was not in the place where the top songwriters of the day would write material for him. And you got your bunch of covers on here as well. But Carl was also a great songwriter as we all know and so he could strengthen his album with new and strong material. He contributed five songs all in all to this album. His own "Poor Boy Blues" was a Top 40 hit on the Country charts in 1966 in a recording by Bob Luman (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RBhuc30xmw).

That's not saying that the covers were throwaways. Oh no! Carl's version of "If I could come back" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8pHldaOTe4) is one of my favorite performances. The interplay between Carl's soulful singing and the pedal steel guitar is beautiful. Plus the stripped sound of the album gives this song just enough room to breathe.
Carl even got to perform his "Lake County Cotton Country" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-LlXtHLrl0) on TV, when he filled in for Johnny Cahs's recently deceased guitarist Luther Perkins (no relation).
The album could be seen as a blueprint for things like "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" a. o. for it's lack of big Nashville production. It is a great album through and through. My only criticism is that Carl's lead on "Shine, shine, shine" is a little weak.
The title song still was popular enough for Carl to perform it in the 70s every now and then. Here's one such example from "Nashville on the Road" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPIXBHIW9qo).

Bear Family's "Dollie Masters - Country Boy's Dream" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDvCtt0Ww5A) is a collection that includes the complete album plus other recordings from those sessions. Some released as singles, some unreleased. You can find more great stuff on there. Perkins' own "Dear Abby" has turned out to be a favorite of mine. Also his song "Valda" about his wife is touching.

Unfortunately Carl would never get the success he deserved. He had other hits like "Restless" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-NcRU4KCaA) which hit No. 20 in 1969, for which Mark O'Connor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVsrV4P-lL0) received a Grammy in the category "Best Country Collaboration with Vocals" in 1991.

All I can say is, check this album out (see the link in the title). If you like authentic Country music you will love it. If you're into Country Rock, you will as well.

AWESOME!!


Another great Sun artist doing special live sessions for British radio in 1964, backed by The Dominoes. From  Top Gear 16th June and Saturday Club 9th May, 1964.


Fantastic singing and guitar playing from a giant of rockabilly in his prime. Songs include:


The Right String But The Wrong Yo-Yo
Matchbox
Mean Woman Blues
Help Me Find My Baby
Brian Mathew interviews Carl
I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9bX3QtrKw8

Completely new to me!! "Honey don't" on TV from the 50s


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDlFf_3cvC8


'tis the real deal....

I never even knew this audio existed!!

Carl Perkins - I'm Sorry, I'm Not Sorry (Live 1956 Grand Ole Opry)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWC36vEfais

Carl Perkins - This Country's Rockin' (live full concert)

Carl Perkins performs some of his greatest hits as part of a ten hour live country/blues/rock extravaganza, recorded in front of 70,000 people at the giant Pontiac Silverdome.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLw-rhLNtpc




Carl Perkins - TNN Monday Night Concert

Full live concert with Ricky Skaggs on TNN.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHt_KlJ0eis

This is from the "Ol' Blue Suede's back" time. It features a young Dave Edmunds on rhythm guitar, I believe.



Carl Perkins live 'Blue Suede Shoes' + interview + 'That's Alright Mama' 1978


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



EDIT:


It looks like Carl's peformance at London's "The Venue" was released as a digital album about two years ago and I missed it. The show was broadcast on radio and if you haven't listened to the Silver Eagle show (the very first post in this thread) or his performance at Gilley's, let me tell you that you're in for a treat. Carl had a red hot band (featuring two of his sons) and each show they gave was bringing the house down. This show in London is no exception. Chek it out. You can hear to some snippets here:


(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91D8k7Iau9L._SS500_.jpg)



One Night In London (Live 1982)


https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Night-London-Live-1982/dp/B084FH73QV



Great sound!
It featured - by request - a performance of "Put your Cat Clothes on", a song that Carl recorded while still on Sun. It was never relased until the 1970s when Shelby Singleton had bought the Sun catalogue and began releasing archive material. The original (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EBPvbO1tUM) always sounded to me like a hit. I don't know why Sam Phillips didn't release it. But it's possible that he concentrated too much on his new star, Jerry Lee Lewis, to push Carl's record. Coincidentally Jerry Lee plays piano on "Put your Cat Clothes on" which may also have been a reason.

Thanks for sharing these, Rocker. I had no idea Carl had performed at the Pontiac Silverdome.

Carl having a shot as guest host of "Nashville Now" featuring Ricky Scaggs, Steve Wariner, Mark O'Connor (who at that time had a hit with Carl's "Restless"), Chubby Checker and the great Bo Diddley!


Nashville Now 1991 Carl Perkins/Ricky Scaggs/Steve Wariner/Mark O'Connor/Bo Diddley


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owM2bIZaNYk

Here you can stream a show of Carl that was broadcasted on radio in 1978. This was shortly before the "Ol' Blue Suede's back" album was released (see earlier in this thread).



Recorded from a KFAT Fat Fry at the Keystone Palo Alto, CA September 25, 1978.

https://www.classicaudio.com/stream/CarlPerkins.html 

Many thanks for all those Carl Perkins recommendations, Rocker!

So, let me get this right: you're away for years and then all of a sudden you feel the need to post this?  :-D  Welcome back!

Finally got an answer for "Long legged guitar pickin' man":


Who wrote Long-Legged Guitar Pickin’ Man?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lihnX5jUov0&pp=ygUVY2FybCBwZXJraW5zIHJlc3RsZXNz

This is the best Carl Perkins clip...he literally smokes Clapton-unbelievable:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbQ283J_NkQ

Carl Perkins is SOOO underrated! When people discuss the pioneers of rock and roll, he is often left out, but he was right there in the beginning, just like Elvis, Chuck, Richard, Fats.

Don't know if you've heard this. It's a Perkins show (or part of it, the tape starts during the concert) in '89 while promoting his "Born to rock" album at the Bottom Line in New York. Clapton was there to watch the show and got called up on stage for a couple of songs.



Carl Perkins & Eric Clapton Live at the Bottom Line, New York City - 1989


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6BA_NIave4




Carl's son - and drummer - Stan said (https://youtu.be/mvHa3WbD5Zo?t=2656) that before the show Keith Richards was waiting for Carl in the dressing room, too.