FTD 205 – A Boy From Tupelo | The Complete 1953-55 Recordings

Disc 1: MRS Acetates, The Sun Masters & The RCA Masters

1. My Happiness 2:33
2. That’s When Your Heartaches Begin 2:52
   Source for tracks 1-2: Digital transfer of acetate.
   Self-financed demo recorded July, 1953 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
3. I’ll Never Stand in Your Way 2:04
4. It Wouldn’t Be the Same (Without You) 2:09
   Source for tracks 3-4: Digital transfer of acetate in very poor condition.
   Self-financed demo recorded January 4, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
5. Harbor Lights 2:38
6. I Love You Because 2:43
7. That’s All Right [45 SUN RPM Master] 2:00 [Original SUN sound as released in 1954]
   Sources for tracks 5-6: Original SUN tapes.
   Track 5 possibly recorded July 5, 1954.
   Tracks 6-7 recorded July 5, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
   Source for track 7: 45 rpm SUN single (plastic).
8. Blue Moon of Kentucky (45 SUN RPM Master] 2:07 [Original SUN sound as released in 1954]
   Source: 45 rpm SUN single (plastic). Recorded July 7, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
9. Blue Moon 2:44
   Source: Original SUN tape. Likely recorded between August 15 and 19, 1954 at Sun Studio.
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
    Sources for tracks 10, 11, 13 and 14: RCA reference tapes (30 ips).
    Tracks 10-14 likely recorded between September 12-16, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
    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
    Sources for tracks 15-16: 78 rpm SUN single (shellac).
    Recorded either mid-November or mid-December 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
17. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone [Slow Version] 2:43
    Source: Original SUN tape. Recorded between mid-November 1954 and mid-April 1955 at Sun Studio. The reel has March 5 written on it, but Elvis was at the Louisiana Hayride that day.
18. Baby Let’s Play House 2:19
    Source: RCA reference tape (30 ips). Likely recorded between January 30 and February 4, 1955 at Sun Studio. ‘I Got a Woman’ and ‘Tryin’ to Get to You’ were also recorded, but have been lost.
19. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone 2:38
    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.
    Likely recorded mid-April 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
20. I Forgot to Remember to Forget 2:31
    Source: SUN tape copy. Recorded mid-July, 1955 at Sun Studio.
21. Mystery Train 2:30
    Source: SUN tape copy, with ending from digital transfer of 78 rpm RCA single.
    Recorded mid-July, 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
22. Tryin’ to Get to You 2:36
    Source: RCA reference tape (30 ips). Recorded mid-July, 1955 at Sun Studio.
23. When It Rains It Pours 2:06
    Source: Original SUN (vocal channel) slapback tape. Recorded November 1-4, 1955 at Sun Studio. Elvis’ 1957 re-recording of the song was released under the title ‘When It Rains, It Really Pours’.
24. That’s All Right 1:59 [RCA single version] RCA reference tape (30 ips). [With RCA added echo]
    Source: RCA reference tape (30 ips). [With RCA added echo]
25. Blue Moon of Kentucky 2:05 [RCA single version 78 RPM Master]
    Source: ‘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]
    Source: RCA master tape. Steve Sholes’ original notes have these takes as 2 & 4.
27. Tomorrow Night 2:56 [RCA LP version : overdubbed and slowed down]
    Source: 1965 RCA work part tape for the ‘Elvis for Everyone’ LPM-3450 production master tape.

Disc 2: The Sun Studio Sessions

1. Harbor Lights (takes 1-2, level adjustments) 0:33
2. Harbor Lights (take 3/M) 2:53
3. Harbor Lights (take 4) 2:38
4. Harbor Lights (takes 5-6) 1:23
5. Harbor Lights (take 7) 2:25
6. Harbor Lights [take 8] 0:26
   Source for tracks 1-6: Original SUN tape. Possibly recorded July 5, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
7. I Love You Because (take 1) 0:23
8. I Love You Because (take 2) 3:28
9. 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
    Source for tracks 7-13: Original SUN tape. Recorded July 5, 1954 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
14. Dialogue 0:20
15. Blue Moon of Kentucky (slow tempo outtake) 1:08
    Source for tracks 14-15: Digital transfer of SUN tape. Likely recorded July 7, 1954 at Sun Studio.
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
    Source for tracks 16-21: Original SUN tape. Likely recorded between August 15 and 19, 1954.
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.
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
    Source for tracks 27-33: Original SUN tape. Recorded between mid-November 1954 and mid-April 1955 at Sun. The reel has March 5 written on it, but Elvis was at the Louisiana Hayride that day.
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
    Source for tracks 34-35: Digital transfer of SUN (guitar channel) slapback tape.
    Recorded between mid-November 1954 and mid-April 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.
36. When It Rains It Pours (vocal slapback tape, take 1) 1:37
37. When It Rains It Pours (vocal slapback tape, take 2 – rehearsal) 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
    Source for tracks 36-41: Original SUN (vocal channel) slapback tape.
    Recorded between November 1-4, 1955 at Sun Studio, Memphis.

Disc 3: Live And Radio Performances

1. That’s All Right 2:52
2. Blue Moon of Kentucky 2:23
   Source for tracks 1-2: RCA reference tape copy.
   Recorded at Louisiana Hayride debut, Shreveport, Louisiana, October 16, 1954.
3. Shake, Rattle and Roll 2:24
4. Fool, Fool, Fool 1:59
5. Hearts of Stone 2:02
6. That’s All Right 1:52
7. Tweedlee Dee 2:51
8. Shake, Rattle and Roll 2:23
9. KSIJ Radio commercial with DJ Tom Perryman 0:16
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
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
    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. Likely recorded at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, Louisiana, March 5, 1955.
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
    Source for tracks 20-24: RCA reference tape copy. Likely recorded at the Eagles’ Hall, Houston, Texas, March 19, 1955. Track 21 could be from a different performance the same week.
25. Tweedlee Dee 2:47
    Source for tracks 25: RCA reference tape copy.
    Recorded at Gladewater High School, Gladewater, Texas, April 30, 1955.
26. Interview with Mae Boren Axton 3:19
    Source for track 26: Digital transfer of 1981 BBC broadcast tape copy.
    Recorded at motel in Jacksonville, Florida on either May 12 or July 28, 1955.
27. That’s All Right 2:37
    Source for track 27: Broadcast tape.
    Recorded at the Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival, Meridian, Mississippi, May 26, 1955.
    Source for track 26: Digital transfer of 1981 BBC broadcast tape copy.
    Recorded at motel in Jacksonville, Florida on either May 12 or July 28, 1955.
28. I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone 3:16
    Source for track 28: Digital transfer of acetate in very poor condition.
    Some parts duplicated and edited to create near-complete performance. Recorded at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, Louisiana, July 2, 1955.
29. Baby Let’s Play House 3:19
30. Maybellene 3:09
31. That’s All Right 2:49
    Source for tracks 29-31: RCA reference tape copies.
    Recorded at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, Louisiana, August 20, 1955.
32. Interview with Bob Neal 5:31
    Source for track 32: Digital transfer.
    Recorded at WMPS Radio, Memphis Tennessee, between August 29-31, 1955.