Elvis Session 'Changed Music'

BBC ^ | 10-12-2003

[blam]

Elvis session 'changed music'

Presley's session was credited with inventing rock and roll

The studio session for Elvis Presley's debut single has been voted the most pivotal moment in rock history. Mojo magazine readers named Elvis' Sun Records session in July 1954, when he recorded That's All Right, as the key world-changing moment in music.

Bob Dylan's switch from acoustic to electric guitars in 1965 came second, ahead of the release of The Clash's debut single White Riot in 1977.

Nirvana's 1990 tour was the most recent event in the top 10, at number 9.

MOJO'S TOP 10 ROCK MOMENTS

1. Elvis Presley records That's All Right, 1954
2. Bob Dylan goes electric, 1965
3. The Clash release White Riot, 1977
4. The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show, 1964 5. The Rolling Stones release Jumpin' Jack Flash, 1968

Presley recorded That's All Right at the age of 19 after going into the studio the previous year to record a track for his mother's birthday.

His name was kept on file because producers liked his voice.

When he was called back, he sang several unspectacular ballads but then broke into a version of That's All Right, which had been a hit for blues singer Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup.

Presley added a country edge to it and, together with bassist Bill Black and guitarist Scotty Moore, was credited with inventing rock and roll at that moment.

Moore told Mojo: "It was still too early to tell what was gonna happen but soon enough we realised that was had a real product on our hands."

The Beatles do not appear on the list until number four, for their 1964 appearance on the Ed Sullivan show in the US, which made them global stars.

The release of The Rolling Stones' 14th single, Jumpin' Jack Flash, in 1968, is next in fifth place.

Releases and performances by Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, John Lennon and Led Zeppelin are also included in the top 10.

[blam]

I've read many explanations for the origin of the term 'rock and roll.'

I was watching a WW2 documentary not to long ago and in the back ground was a woman singing, "one, two and then rock, one two and then roll..." (the song was from the WW2 period.

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[Rocko]

The choice for the number 3 moment is insane.

[EggsAckley]

I remember that song. Not from the 40s, but from the middle 50s. Can't think of the name of it. A woman recorded it.

Having been a career musician, I'm not so sure I agree with this list. It has overlooked the fact that rock and roll was around long before Elvis, it just didn't have the noteriety that Elvis gave it.

[per loin]

That sounds like "The Rock and Roll Waltz" from the mid fifties. Kay Starr, as memory has it.

[Chi-townChief]

You got that straight - I like the Clash but that one's pure BBC BS!

[jammer]

Agreed. There are a lot of others that supercede that one. Just from the folks already listed, we could choose the release of Sergeant Pepper or even the release of John Wesley Hardin.

[tet68]

#3......who they?

[per loin]

How did they leave out Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock", which was recorded three months before that Elvis session, and which appeared in the movie "Blackboard Jungle"?

[blam]

"How did they leave out Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock", which was recorded three months before that Elvis session, and which appeared in the movie "Blackboard Jungle"?"

I agree, Bill Haley and The Comets should get some credit.

[SamAdams76]

I agree. In 1977, nobody in America knew who The Clash were except a few radio DJs and some college nerds. And most people who today know who The Clash were know them for that idiotic "Rock The Casbah" song and never heard "White Riot" in their lives.

The people who named the recording of that song the #3 biggest moment in rock history are trying to be insufferably trendy.

[litany_of_lies]

I've always thought that "Rock Around the Clock" was the first official rock 'n roll tune, especially now that I know Elvis' first session was three months later (on the day I was born, I think, though the article doesn't say).

[per loin]

I believe that was the first rock and roll song to top the charts. July of 1955 as memory has it.

[vetvetdoug]

Ironic that Elvis' song was recorded right across the street from where Nathan Bedford Forrest died and within sight of where he is buried. The two had nothing in common except for notoriety.

[Chi-townChief]

The Doles Dickens Quintet did a tune called "Rock and Roll" in the late 40s. At one point I had a real player link to it but I lost it.

[blam]

Best Concerts I attended:

Led Zepplin, early 70's, San Francisco, Filmore West
Heart, mid-70's, Houston
Peter & Gordon, mid-60's, Manila

Worst Concerts:

Eric Clapton, Mobile, mid-70'
Bob Dillon, mid-70's, 'Hurricane Tour', Astrodome, Houston

Last Concert:

Eagles, 'Hell Freezes Over' tour, Houston, Summit, mid-90's

[blam]

[sushiman]

Can't argue much with the choice for # 1 . The Beatles on Ed Sullivan should be # 2 .

[Common Tator]

Rock and Roll started with a group called Bill Halley and the Comets in late 53/1954. Halley had two hits in 1954. The first was Rock Around the Clock and the second was Shake Rattle and Roll.

The two hits caused the term Rock and Roll to be coined to describe his music. Since his first hit Rocked and the second one rolled that became the name for his music. Halley featured an electric guitar and single Sax to a hard driving boogie beat. Most of the rock guitar licks that apeared on all the early rock records were invented by Carl Perkins.

Bill Halley and the Commets were the origin of Rock and Roll. The song you refer to came later in the 50's it was called the Rock and Roll Waltz. The song was a novelty about parents trying to waltz to a rock and roll beat. It was done my Kay Starr.

The first Rock hit was called Rock around the clock. It had a beat just like the beat that Prestly used.

Carl Perkins was expected to be the big Rock Star. He too recorded on Sun records but was severely injured in a car accident and so they promoted Elvis instead. Carl only had Blue Suede Shoes which they had Evis cover.

[blam]

Good overview, thanks.

See post #17, that song, "Rock And Roll" came out in 1949.