The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters

The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50s Masters
Box set by Elvis Presley
Released June 23, 1992
Recorded July 1953-September 1958
Genre Rock
Length 5:39:26
Label RCA
Producer Ernst Mikael Jorgensen
Roger Semon
Elvis Presley chronology
The Lost Album
(1990)		 The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50s Masters
(1992)		 From Nashville to Memphis: The Essential 60s Masters
(1993)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50s Masters is a box set five-disc compilation of the complete known studio master recordings by Elvis Presley during the decade of the 1950s, released in 1992, RCA 66050-2. It peaked at #159 on the album chart. In its initial format as a long box issue, it included a set of collectible stamps duplicating the record jackets from every LP, every single that had a picture sleeve, and most of the EP releases, on RCA Records. It also includes a booklet with an extensive sessionography, discography, and lengthy essay by Peter Guralnick. It was certified Gold on 8/7/1992, Platinum on 11/20/1992 and 2x Platinum on 7/30/2002 by the R.I.A.A.

Contents

Contents

The first four discs present the Elvis masters in chronological session order. Disc one commences with "My Happiness," a private test demo from the summer of 1953 at Sun Studio and the first recording ever made by Presley, and continues with the complete Sun Records masters through track 19. The remainder of disc one, and discs two through four, comprise the entirety of his output for RCA Records during the decade. Disc four ends with an interview by Presley prior to his departure overseas to serve in the army in 1958, released on the EP Elvis Sails. Included as well are the officially released recordings on RCA for each one of Elvis' four feature films of the 1950s: Love Me Tender, Loving You, Jailhouse Rock, and King Creole.

The fifth disc compiles rare outtakes and unreleased recordings, starting off with the companion acetate to "My Happiness" in an early version of "That's When Your Heartaches Begin." Tracks two and five are more acetates recorded by the standard Presley trio of Elvis, Scotty Moore on guitar, and Bill Black on bass, at an unknown location in Lubbock, Texas, during January 1955, presumably around the time when Buddy Holly converted to rock and roll after seeing Presley in concert. Tracks three and four present live recordings from the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1955, again with the trio. Tracks thirteen through sixteen present live recordings from the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1956, with the trio plus drummer D.J. Fontana. An outtake from the Million Dollar Quartet sessions appears on track nine, with the following personnel: Presley, Carl Perkins on guitar, his brother Clayton on bass, Jerry Lee Lewis on piano, and W.S. Holland on drums. Although Johnny Cash is billed as the fourth of the headlining quartet and his presence is corroborated by anecdotal evidence, aural evidence of his participation on record is difficult to discern. The remainder of disc five contains alternate takes of released masters.

Collecting every master recording made in the 1950s, The King of Rock 'n' Roll encapsulates the era for which Presley remains most revered, that of the young international phenomenon at the forefront of the rock and roll explosion. RCA issued two similarly configured box set companions, one for the 1970s, and another for the 1960s, bypassing his film soundtrack work for his secular recordings made to be issued commercially.

Professional recordings made at Sun Studio, RCA Studios in New York and Nashville, Radio Recorders in Hollywood, and at the studio soundstages of 20th Century Fox, Paramount, and MGM in Hollywood. The furlough recording session of June 10, 1958, took place in RCA's newly constructed studio in Nashville, where Presley would continue to record through 1971. Original recordings produced by Sam Phillips or Steve Sholes.

This compilation received a 1992 Grammy nomination for Best Historical Album, only to lose that award to the boxed set "The Complete Capitol Recordings Of The Nat 'King' Cole Trio".

Collective personnel

Track listing

Chart positions for LPs and EPs from Billboard Top Pop Albums chart; peak positions for EPA 4114 and EPA 4325 from EP chart commenced October 1957; positions for singles from Billboard Pop Singles chart. Certain recordings derive from acetates or from primitive recording equipment, and are not of professional sound quality; these are marked with an asterisk.

Disc one

Track Recorded Original LP Issue Catalogue Release Date Chart Peak Song Title Writer(s) Time
1. 7/18/53 Elvis: The Great Performances 2227-2 1990 My Happiness* Betty Peterson Blasco and Borney Bergantine 2:31
2. 7/5/54 For LP Fans Only Sun 209 7/19/54 That's All Right Arthur Crudup 1:55
3. 7/5/54 Elvis Presley LPM 1254 3/23/56 #1 I Love You Because Leon Payne 2:42
4. 7/5/54 Elvis: A Legendary Performer
Vol. 2		 CPL1 1349 1/8/76 #46 Harbor Lights Jimmy Kennedy and Hugh Williams 2:35
5. 7/5/54 A Date with Elvis Sun 209b 7/19/54 Blue Moon of Kentucky Bill Monroe 2:02
6. 8/19/54 Elvis Presley LPM 1254 3/23/56 #1 Blue Moon Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart 2:31
7. 9/10/54 Elvis for Everyone LSP 3450 8/10/65 #10 Tomorrow Night+ Sam Coslow and Will Grocz 2:58
8. 9/10/54 Elvis Presley LPM 1254 3/23/56 #1 I'll Never Let You Go (Lil' Darlin') Jimmy Wakely 2:24
9. 9/10/54 Sun 210b 3/5/55 I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine Mack David 2:27
10. 9/10/54 Elvis Presley LPM 1254 3/23/56 #1 Just Because Sydney Robin, Bob Shelton, Joe Shelton 2:32
11. 9/10/54 Sun 210 9/25/54 Good Rockin' Tonight Roy Brown 2:12
12. 11/12/54 Sun 215 12/28/54 Milkcow Blues Boogie Kokomo Arnold 2:38
13. 11/12/54 Sun 215b 12/28/54 #74 You're a Heartbreaker Jack Sallee 2:12
14. 2/5/55 Sun 217 4/10/55 C&W #5 Baby Let's Play House Arthur Gunter 2:15
15. 3/5/55 Sun 217b 4/10/55 I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone Stan Kesler and William Taylor 2:36
16. 7/11/55 Sun 223b 8/6/55 Mystery Train Herman Parker Jr. and Sam Phillips 2:24
17. 7/11/55 Sun 223b 8/6/55 C&W #1 I Forgot to Remember to Forget Stan Kesler and Charlie Feathers 2:28
18. 7/11/55 Elvis Presley LPM 1254 3/23/56 #1 Trying to Get to You Rose Marie McCoy and Charles Singleton 2:31
19. 11/20/55 The Complete Sun Sessions 6414-2 1987 When It Rains It Really Pours William Emerson 2:01
20. 1/10/56 Elvis Presley LPM 1254 3/23/56 #1 I Got A Woman Ray Charles and Renald Richard 2:23
21. 1/10/56 47-6420 1/27/56 #1 Heartbreak Hotel Mae Axton, Tommy Durden, Elvis Presley 2:08
22. 1/10/56 Elvis Presley LPM 1254 3/23/56 #1 Money Honey Jesse Stone 2:34
23. 1/11/56 Elvis Presley LPM 1254 3/23/56 #1 I'm Counting on You Don Robertson 2:24
24. 1/11/56 47-6420b 1/27/56 #19 I Was The One Aaron Schroeder, Claude DeMetrius, Hal Blair, Bill Peppers 2:33
25. 1/30/56 Elvis Presley LPM 1254 3/23/56 #1 Blue Suede Shoes Carl Perkins 1:58
26. 1/30/56 47-6540b 5/4/56 #31 My Baby Left Me Arthur Crudup 2:11
27. 1/30/56 Elvis Presley LPM 1254 3/23/56 #1 One-Sided Love Affair Bill Campbell 2:09
28. 1/30/56 Elvis LPM 1382 10/19/56 #1 So Glad You're Mine Arthur Crudup 2:20
29. 1/31/56 Elvis Presley LPM 1254 3/23/56 #1 I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You) Howard Biggs and Joe Thomas 2:01
30. 1/31/56 Elvis Presley LPM 1254 3/23/56 #1 Tutti Frutti Dorothy LaBostrie and Richard Penniman 1:58

+ overdubs added prior to release on LSP 3450

Disc two

Track Recorded Original LP/EP Issue Catalogue Release Date Chart Peak Song Title Writer(s) Time
1. 2/3/56 47-6642b 8/31/56 Lawdy Miss Clawdy Lloyd Price 2:08
2. 2/3/56 47-6642 8/31/56 Shake, Rattle & Roll Charles E. Calhoun 2:37
3. 4/14/56 47-6540 5/4/56 #1 I Want You, I Need You, I Love You Lou Kosloff and George Mysels 2:40
4. 7/2/56 The Real Elvis 47-6604b 7/13/56 #1 Hound Dog Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 2:16
5. 7/2/56 The Real Elvis 47-6604 7/13/56 #1 Don't Be Cruel Otis Blackwell and Elvis Presley 2:02
6. 7/2/56 47-6643b 9/28/56 #20 Anyway You Want Me (That's How I Will Be) Cliff Owens and Aaron Schroeder 2:13
7. 8/24/56 Love Me Tender EPA 4006 11/56 #22 We're Gonna Move Vera Matson and Elvis Presley 2:30
8. 8/24/56 47-6643 9/28/56 #1 Love Me Tender Vera Matson and Elvis Presley 2:41
9. 8/24/56 Love Me Tender EPA 4006 11/56 #22 Poor Boy Vera Matson and Elvis Presley 2:13
10. 8/24/56 Love Me Tender EPA 4006 11/56 #22 Let Me Vera Matson and Elvis Presley 2:08
11. 9/1/56 47-6800b 1/4/57 #21 Playing for Keeps Stan Kesler 2:50
12. 9/1/56 Elvis LPM 1382 10/19/56 #1 Love Me Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 2:43
13. 9/2/56 Elvis LPM 1382 10/19/56 #1 Paralyzed Otis Blackwell and Elvis Presley 2:23
14. 9/1/56 Elvis LPM 1382 10/19/56 #1 How Do You Think I Feel Webb Pierce and Wiley Walker 2:10
15. 9/1/56 Elvis LPM 1382 10/19/56 #1 How's the World Treating You? Chet Atkins and Boudleaux Bryant 2:23
16. 9/2/56 Elvis LPM 1382 10/19/56 #1 When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold Again Gene Sullivan and Wiley Walker 2:20
17. 9/2/56 Elvis LPM 1382 10/19/56 #1 Long Tall Sally Robert Blackwell, Enotris Johnson, Richard Penniman 1:51
18. 9/2/56 Elvis LPM 1382 10/19/56 #1 Old Shep Red Foley 4:10
19. 9/2/56 47-6800b 1/4/57 #1 Too Much Lee Rosenberg and Bernard Weinman 2:31
20. 9/2/56 Elvis LPM 1382 10/19/56 #1 Anyplace Is Paradise Joe Thomas 2:26
21. 9/3/56 Elvis LPM 1382 10/19/56 #1 Ready Teddy Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco 1:56
22. 9/3/56 Elvis LPM 1382 10/19/56 #1 First in Line Aaron Schroeder and Ben Weisman 3:22
23. 9/3/56 Elvis LPM 1382 10/19/56 #1 Rip It Up Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco 1:53
24. 1/12/57 Peace in the Valley EPA 4054 4/57 #3 I Believe Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl, Al Stillman 2:05
25. 1/12/57 47-8740 12/3/65 #33 Tell Me Why Titus Turner 2:05
26. 1/12/57 Loving You LPM 1515 7/1/57 #1 Got A Lot O' Livin' to Do Aaron Schroeder and Ben Weisman 2:31
27. 1/12/57 47-6870 3/22/57 #1 All Shook Up Otis Blackwell and Elvis Presley 1:56
28. 1/13/57 Loving You LPM 1515 7/1/57 #1 Mean Woman Blues Claude DeMetruis 2:15
29. 1/13/57 Peace in the Valley EPA 4054 4/57 #3 (There'll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me) Thomas A. Dorsey 3:22

Disc three

Track Recorded Original LP/EP Issue Catalogue Release Date Chart Peak Song Title Writer(s) Time
1. 1/13/57 47-6870b 3/22/57 #58 That's When Your Heartaches Begin Fred Fisher, Billy Hill, William Raskin 3:20
2. 1/13/57 Peace in the Valley EPA 4054 4/57 #3 Take My Hand, Precious Lord Thomas A. Dorsey 3:16
3. 1/19/57 Peace in the Valley EPA 4054 4/57 #3 It Is No Secret (What God Can Do) Stuart Hamblen 3:53
4. 1/19/57 Just For You EPA 4041 4/57 #16 Blueberry Hill Vincent Rose, Al Lewis, Larry Stock 2:39
5. 1/19/57 Just For You EPA 4041 4/57 #16 Have I Told You Lately That I Love You Scott Weisman 2:31
6. 1/19/57 Just For You EPA 4041 4/57 #16 Is It So Strange Faron Young 2:28
7. 1/57 Loving You LPM 1515 7/1/57 #1 Party Jessie Mae Robinson 1:26
8. 1/15/57 Loving You LPM 1515 7/1/57 #1 Lonesome Cowboy Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett 3:07
9. 1/18/57 Loving You LPM 1515 7/1/57 #1 Hot Dog Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 1:17
10. 1/24/57 Elvis: A Legendary Performer Vol. 4 CPL1 4848 1983 One Night of Sin Dave Bartholomew, Pearl King, Anita Steiman 2:35
11. 1/24/57 47-7000 6/11/57 #1 (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe 1:45
12. 2/23/57 Loving You LPM 1515 7/1/57 #1 "Don't Leave Me Now" Aaron Schroeder and Ben Weisman 1:58
13. 2/23/57 47-7150b 1/7/58 #8 I Beg of You Rose Marie McCoy and Cliff Owens 1:50
14. 2/23/57 47-7410 10/21/58 #4 One Night Dave Bartholomew, Pearl King, Anita Steiman 2:29
15. 2/23/57 Loving You LPM 1515 7/1/57 #1 True Love Cole Porter 2:05
16. 2/23/57 Just For You EPA 4041 4/57 #16 I Need You So Ivory Joe Hunter 2:37
17. 2/24/57 47-7000b 6/11/57 #20 Loving You Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 2:12
18. 2/24/57 Elvis for Everyone LSP 3450 8/10/65 #10 When It Rains It Really Pours William Emerson 1:47
19. 4/30/57 47-7035 9/24/57 #1 Jailhouse Rock Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 2:26
20. 4/30/57 Jailhouse Rock EPA 4114 10/57 #1 Young And Beautiful Aaron Schroeder and Abner Silver 2:02
21. 4/30/57 Jailhouse Rock EPA 4114 10/57 #1 I Want To Be Free Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 2:12
22. 4/30/57 Jailhouse Rock EPA 4114 10/57 #1 (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 1:51
23. 4/30/57 Jailhouse Rock EPA 4114 10/57 #1 "Don't Leave Me Now" Aaron Schroeder and Ben Weisman 2:05
24. 9/5/57 Elvis' Christmas Album LOC 1035 10/15/57 #1 Blue Christmas Bill Hayes and Jay Johnson 2:07
25. 9/6/57 Elvis' Christmas Album LOC 1035 10/15/57 #1 White Christmas Irving Berlin 2:23
26. 9/6/57 Elvis' Christmas Album LOC 1035 10/15/57 #1 Here Comes Santa Claus Gene Autry and Oakley Haldeman 1:54
27. 9/6/57 Elvis' Christmas Album LOC 1035 10/15/57 #1 Silent Night Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber 2:23
28. 9/7/57 Elvis' Christmas Album LOC 1035 10/15/57 #1 O Little Town of Bethlehem Phillips Brooks and Lewis H. Redner 2:35
29. 9/7/57 Elvis' Christmas Album LOC 1035 10/15/57 #1 Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me) Aaron Schroeder and Claude DeMetruis 1:54
30. 9/7/57 Elvis' Christmas Album LOC 1035 10/15/57 #1 Santa Claus Is Back In Town Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 2:22
31. 9/7/57 Elvis' Christmas Album LOC 1035 10/15/57 #1 I'll Be Home for Christmas Buck Ram, Kim Gannon, Walter Kent 1:53

Disc four

Track Recorded Original LP/EP Issue Catalogue Release Date Chart Peak Song Title Writer(s) Time
1. 9/5/57 47-7035b 9/24/57 #18 Treat Me Nice Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 2:10
2. 9/6/57 47-7600b 6/23/59 #12 My Wish Came True Ivory Joe Hunter 2:33
3. 9/6/57 47-7150 1/7/58 #1 Don't Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 2:48
4. 2/11/58 Elvis: A Legendary Performer Vol. 3 CP1 3082 12/78 #113 Danny Fred Wise and Ben Weisman 1:51
5. 1/15/58 47-7280 6/10/58 #1 Hard Headed Woman Claude DeMetrius 1:53
6. 1/15/58 King Creole LPM 1884 9/19/58 #2 Trouble Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 2:16
7. 1/15/58 King Creole LPM 1884 9/19/58 #2 New Orleans Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett 1:58
8. 1/15/58 King Creole LPM 1884 9/19/58 #2 Crawfish Fred Wise and Ben Weisman 1:38
9. 1/16/58 King Creole LPM 1884 9/19/58 #2 Dixieland Rock Claude Demetrius and Fred Wise 1:46
10. 1/16/58 King Creole LPM 1884 9/19/58 #2 Lover Doll Wayne Silver and Abner Silver 2:09
11. 1/16/58 47-7280b 6/10/58 #25 Don't Ask Me Why Fred Wise and Ben Weisman 2:06
12. 1/16/58 King Creole LPM 1884 9/19/58 #2 As Long As I Have You Fred Wise and Ben Weisman 1:50
13. 1/23/58 King Creole LPM 1884 9/19/58 #2 King Creole Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 2:08
14. 1/23/58 King Creole LPM 1884 9/19/58 #2 Young Dreams Aaron Schroeder and Martin Kalmanoff 2:23
15. 2/11/58 King Creole LPM 1884 9/19/58 #2 Steadfast, Loyal And True Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 1:15
16. 2/1/58 47-7280b 4/1/58 #15 Doncha' Think It's Time Luther Dixon and Clyde Otis 1:54
17. 2/1/58 Elvis for Everyone LSP 3450 8/10/65 #10 Your Cheatin' Heart Hank Williams 2:24
18. 2/1/58 47-7280 4/1/58 #2 Wear My Ring Around Your Neck Bert Carroll and Moody Russell 2:13
19. 6/10/58 47-7506b 3/10/59 #4 I Need Your Love Tonight Bix Reichner and Sid Wayne 2:04
20. 6/10/58 47-7600 6/23/59 #1 A Big Hunk O' Love Aaron Schroeder and Sidney Wyche 2:12
21. 6/10/58 47-8440 9/22/64 #16 Ain't That Loving You Baby Ivory Joe Hunter and Clyde Otis 2:22
22. 6/10/58 47-7506 3/10/59 #2 (Now and Then There's) A Fool Such as I Bill Trader 2:36
23. 6/11/58 47-7410 10/21/58 #8 I Got Stung David Hill and Aaron Schroeder 1:49
24. 9/22/58 Elvis Sails EPA 4325 12/58 #2 expanded interview segment 12:34

Disc five: Rare and Rockin'

Track Recorded Original LP Issue Catalogue Release Date Chart Peak Song Title Writer(s) Time
1. 7/18/53 previously unreleased That's When Your Heartaches Begin* Fred Fisher, Billy Hill, William Raskin 3:20
2. 1/6/55 previously unreleased Fool Fool Fool* Nugetre 1:51
3. 4/30/55 Elvis: The First Live Recordings RCA 89387 3/84 #163 Tweedle Dee* (live) Winfield Scott 2:07
4. 8/20/55 Elvis: The First Live Recordings RCA 89387 3/84 #163 Maybellene* (live) Chuck Berry 1:58
5. 1/6/55 previously unreleased Shake, Rattle & Roll* Charles E. Calhoun 2:16
6. 7/5/54 The Complete Sun Sessions RCA 6414-2 1987 Blue Moon of Kentucky (alternate) Bill Monroe 1:03
7. 8/19/54 previously unreleased Blue Moon (alternate) Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart 2:55
8. 3/5/55 The Complete Sun Sessions RCA 6414-2 1987 I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone (slow version) Stan Kesler and William Taylor 2:40
9. 12/4/56 previously unreleased Reconsider Baby Lowell Fulsom 2:53
10. 2/3/56 previously unreleased Lawdy Miss Clawdy (alternate) Lloyd Price 2:07
11. 2/3/56 previously unreleased Shake, Rattle & Roll (alternate) Charles E. Calhoun 2:25
12. 4/14/56 previously unreleased I Want You, I Need You, I Love You (alternate) Lou Kosloff and George Mysels 2:40
13. 5/6/56 Elvis Aron Presley CP8 3699 8/80 #27 Heartbreak Hotel* (live) Mae Axton, Tommy Durden, Elvis Presley 2:54
14. 5/6/56 Elvis Aron Presley CP8 3699 8/80 #27 Long Tall Sally* (live) Robert Blackwell, Enotris Johnson, Richard Penniman 2:15
15. 5/6/56 Elvis Aron Presley CP8 3699 8/80 #27 Blue Suede Shoes* (live) Carl Perkins 4:59
16. 5/6/56 Elvis Aron Presley CP8 3699 8/80 #27 Money Honey* (live) Jesse Stone 2:34
17. 8/24/56 previously unreleased We're Gonna Move (alternate) Vera Matson and Elvis Presley 2:30
18. 9/2/56 previously unreleased Old Shep (alternate) Red Foley 3:53
19. 1/13/57 previously unreleased I Beg of You (alternate) Rosemarie McCoy and Kelly Owens 1:51
20. 2/14/57 previously unreleased Loving You (alternate) Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 1:48
21. 2/14/57 previously unreleased Loving You (alternate) Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 1:24
22. 4/30/57 previously unreleased Young And Beautiful (alternate) Aaron Schroeder and Abner Silver 1:09
23. 4/30/57 previously unreleased I Want To Be Free (alternate) Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 2:06
24. 1/15/58 Essential Elvis Vol. 3 2229-2-R 1/91 King Creole (alternate) Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller 2:04
25. 1/16/58 Essential Elvis Vol. 3 2229-2-R 1/91 As Long As I Have You (alternate) Fred Wise and Ben Weisman 1:24
26. 6/10/58 Essential Elvis Vol. 3 2229-2-R 1/91 Ain't That Loving You Baby (alternate) Ivory Joe Hunter and Clyde Otis 1:48

References

  1. ^ Thomas, Stephen. "The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters - Elvis Presley". AllMusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r171218. Retrieved 2011-11-07.