Elvis was initially labelled as a County & Western singer by local media in the South; indeed he was a huge fan of Roy Acuff, Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Snow et al - credible country names popular throughout the US in the early 1950s.
His main point of reference musically, however, was The Blues.
Spending his teenage years in Memphis; Elvis was further informed and inspired by the sounds and sights he witnessed in the notorious blues hangouts, ‘juke-joints’ and nightclubs of Tennessee's biggest city.
When Presley wandered into Sun Studios in 1954 and finally persuaded the owner, Sam Phillips, to let him audition for the label, the session was initially deemed uninspiring and unfruitful until - late into the night - Elvis began ‘goofing around’ on his acoustic 6 string to Arthur Crudup’s 1946 blues ‘That’s All Right’.
When local musicians Scotty Moore and Bill Black began playing along, Phillips declared he had finally found the sound he had been looking for, for so long – a white man who could really sing the blues. The rest - as they say - is history.
This 2 CD set brings together over 50 of the original blues recordings that Elvis had been influenced by in his pre-fame days and which helped form the blueprint for the most dazzling and popular musical career of all time. Complete with extensive liner notes detailing the reference points of each cut, this collection is the ultimate compilation of The Songs That Drove Him Wild – just as it says on the tin.
DISC ONE.
1. That’s All Right – Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup
2. Pledging My Love – Johnny Ace
3. Down The Dirt Road Blues – Charley Patton
4. Mr. Crump Don’t Like It – Beale Street Sheiks
5. South Memphis Blues – Frank Stokes
6. Highway No. 61 Blues – Jack Kelly and His South Memphis Jug Band
7. Walk Right In – Cannon’s Jug Stompers
8. Sun Brimmer’s Blues - The Memphis Jug Band
9. Take A Little Chance – Jimmy De Berry
10. Memphis Shake – Dixieland Jug Blowers
11. We All Gotta Go Sometime – Joe Hill Louis
12. Little Soldier Boy – Doctor Ross
13. Coldest Stuff In Town – Hattie Hart (with Allen Shaw)
14. Moanin’ The Blues – Allen Shaw
15. Death Bell Blues – Tom Dickson
16. Shelby County Workhouse Blues – Hambone Willie Newbern
17. The Girl I Love, She Got Long Curly Hair – Sleepy John Estes
18. Little Rock Blues – Pearl Dickson
19. K.C. Moan – The Memphis Jug Band
20. Before Long – Jimmy De Berry
21. Bumble Bee – Memphis Minnie
22. Third Street Woman – Blind Willie Reynolds
23. Last Time Blues – Charlie McCoy
24. West Winds Are Blowing – Walter ‘Shakey’ Horton
25. Hard Scuffin’ Blues – Little Buddy Doyle
26. Fixin’ To Die Blues – Bukka White
27. Weed Smoking Mama – Charlie Burse
28. That’s No Way To Get Along – Robert Wilkins
DISC TWO
1. Easy – Jimmy and Walter
2. Bear Cat – Rufus Thomas
3. Booted – Rosco Gordon
4. So Glad You’re Mine - Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup
5. Rocket 88 – Jackie Brenston
6. Rockin’ the House – Memphis Slim
7. If You Love Me – Little Milton
8. Moanin’ At Midnight – Howlin’ Wolf
9. Greyhound Blues – D.A. Hunt
10. Seems Like A Million Years – Willie Nix
11. You’re Gonna Cry – Billy Love
12. Schoolboy – Lost John Hunter & The Blind Bats
13. Cotton Crop Blues – James Cotton
14. Mystery Train – Little Junior’s Blue Flames
15. Feel So Worried – Sammie Lewis & Willie Johnson
16. B.B. Boogie – B.B. King
17. Ain’t That Right – Eddie Snow
18. Army Blues – Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland
19. Ace’s Wild – Johnny Ace
20. Registration Day Blues – Sleepy John Estes
21. Wild About My Lovin’ – Jim Jackson
22. Feelin’ Good – Little Junior’s Blue Flames
23. Frankie and Albert – Joe Callicott
24. Love My Baby – Little Junior Parker
25. How Many More Years? – Howlin’ Wolf
26. My Baby Left Me - Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup
27. Three O’Clock Blues – B.B. King
28. Fare Thee Well Blues – Joe Callicott