Sam C. Phillips/Sun Records

'The Birth of Rock 'n' Roll: 70 Years of Sun Records' New Book:
More info on this new books from authors Peter Guralnick and Colin Escott, 'The Birth of Rock 'n' Roll: 70 Years of Sun Records'
With a foreword by Jerry Lee Lewis! - Out October 18, 2022.

A fascinating look at the history of Sun Records, the label that started Rock n’ Roll, told through 70 of its iconic recordings.
In Memphis, Tennessee, in the 1950s, there was hard-edged blues playing on Beale Street, and hillbilly boogie on the outskirts of town. But at Sam Phillips’ Sun Records studio on Union Avenue, there was something different going on – a whole lotta shakin’, rockin’, and rollin’.
This is where rock ’n’ roll was born.

Sun Records: the company that launched Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and Carl Perkins.
The label that brought the world, “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Breathless,” “I Walk the Line,” “Mystery Train,” “Good Rockin’ Tonight.”
The Birth of Rock ’n’ Roll: 70 Years of Sun Records is the official history of this legendary label, and looks at its story in a unique way: through the lens of 70 of its most iconic recordings. From the early days with primal blues artists like Howlin’ Wolf and B.B. King to long nights in the studio with Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis, you will see how the label was shaped and how it redefined American music. Accompanying the recordings is the label’s origin story and a look at the mission of the label today, as well as “Sun Spot” sidebars - a fascinating dive into subjects such as how the iconic logo was created, the legendary Million Dollar Quartet sessions, and how the song “Harper Valley, PTA” funded the purchase of the label.

The foreword by Jerry Lee Lewis includes...

... When I first heard about Sam Phillips and SUN Records I knew if I could play for Sam, he could make me a star; he was the man I needed to see to really get things going. He already made Elvis a hit and if he could do it for Elvis, he could certainly do it for Jerry Lee Lewis.
- Recording at Sun were some of the best days of my life. It was much different back then than it is today. To cut a record today you need thirty people but back in those days we would just show up and let 'er rip. When I recorded "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On" Sam didn't want to record it at first. He wanted me to record "It'll Be Me," which I did, but that wasn't what people wanted to hear. They wanted to hear real Rock and Roll. I kept after Sam until he agreed to do it. We cut that song just like we'd done it on stage; something that would never happen today. When it came out I was right, it was what the people wanted to hear. It was real rock and roll and that's what we did at Sun, we cut real rock and roll records. That was the beginning of it all. Rock and roll started at Sun Records and without Sun there would be no rock and roll.
- Elvis asked me how I was possibly going to follow up "Whole Lotta Shakin'Goin On." Well, I wasn't too worried about that so just turned to him and said "Oh, I'll think of something" and walked away. Of course, we followed-up with "Great Balls of Fire" which we originally recorded for a movie called "Jamboree." ... I didn't feel like that original take was quite right. It was good but I knew it could be better. We took that song back to the studio at Sun, re-cut it, and the rest is history.

- A lot of people have asked me over the years what I think of Sam Phillips and it's sure that we didn't always see eye to eye but, you know, he was like a brother to me. He helped me get my start, and for that I will forever be grateful. There will never be another like him and there will never be another Sun Records. That's where it all started; with Sam, and Carl, and Roy, Johnny, and, of course, ole Jerry Lee. Sam Phillips and Sun records changed the whole world.
- I can't believe it's been 70 years since Sam founded Sun records and I'm blessed to be here to celebrate it with my fans, Sam's fans, Sun Records' fans. God Bless you all. --- - Jerry Lee Lewis

Written by two of the most acclaimed music writers of our time, Peter Guralnick and Colin Escott, and featuring hundreds of rare images from the Sun archives as well as a foreword by music legend Jerry Lee Lewis, this is a one-of-a-kind book for anyone who wants to know where it all started.
Publisher: Weldon Owen OUT October 18, 2022 256 pages.

EIN reckons this will be a sensational book.

(News, Source; Amazon/ ElvisInfoNet)

Source: http://www.elvisinfonet.com/

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