Sun Records: An Oral History

by John Floyd

The tiny Sun studio at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee may not have looked like much from the outside, but inside musical miracles were being performed daily by its enigmatic owner, Sam Phillips. Phillips began more or less as a talent scout for other record labels, such as the legendary Chess Records of Chicago. However, after discovering a wealth of talent in his own backyard in the Mid-South area, Phillips began his own record label – Sun – with an emblematic rising sun and rooster logo.
A white man who loved and understood African-American music, Phillips recorded soon-to-be blues icons such as Howlin’ Wolf, Rufus Thomas, and B.B. King. A seismic shift occurred during one session in 1951 when Phillips recorded “Rocket 88” with Jackie Brenston and Ike Turner. That shift was to become known as rock and roll.
A shy white boy named Elvis Presley came in the studio to record a song for his mother’s birthday. Phillips recognized something in the young man, and a moment of silliness in the studio ruptured into the first record of the future King of Rock & Roll, “That’s All Right.” Elvis shot to stardom; Sun Records didn’t stop there. Hot on his heels came Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash. However, there wasn’t a day that the studio wasn’t searching for other artists, other hits.
Sun Records: An Oral History (Second Edition) brings to readers the voices of the pillars of Sun Records, the artists, producers, and engineers who made the place tick. Rufus Thomas (the first hit-maker for Sun), Scotty Moore, Rosco Gordon, Little Milton Campbell, Billy Lee Riley, producer and musician Roland Janes, producer Cowboy Jack Clement, and others all tell their inimitable stories about the making of a music empire, the label that put rock and roll on the world map.
Music journalist and critic John Floyd has woven together dozens of priceless stories and anecdotes with his own insightful and artful narrative to make this book definitive for anyone interested in Sun Records or the birth and rise of rock and roll. For example, there are firsthand accounts of the early Elvis sessions by Scotty Moore, Billy Lee Riley’s own account of his legendary drunken rampage in the Sun studio, and a transcript of the back-and-forth hell and damnation conversation between a reluctant Jerry Lee Lewis and Sam Phillips just prior to the recording of “Great Balls of Fire.” This Second Edition updates the masterful original book which was critically acclaimed and considered one of the canon of must-have music books.

Genres: Music, History, Nonfiction

148 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 14, 1998

Reviews

[Heath Lowrance · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Memphis, Tennessee, in the 1950's, magic happened, a music and culture that, quite literally, changed the world. It was lightning in a bottle, all in a ragged little building called the Memphis Recording Service, and a man named Sam Phillips captured it.

Back in the late '90's, I worked for a while as a tour guide at Sun Studio. This book by John Floyd was one of the volumes we used to recommend to people who wanted to gain more insight into the history of that amazing place, often as supplement to Colin Escott's "Good Rockin' Tonight". There are myriad stories of the musicians and staff at Memphis Recording Services (note that it wasn't called Sun Studio; Sun Records was the name of the record label that operated out of Memphis Recording), not all of them flattering and some of them downright crazy. It had been many years since I read this oral history, and was surprised about how much I'd forgotten, all the odd little tales we used to regale visitors with, little bits of story that occupied the nooks and crannies of Sun's history. I'd personally consider it essential reading for a better understanding of the world-changing events that happened at Sun, along with Escott's book. I'm thrilled that Devault-Graves has seen fit to re-release it for Kindle.

[Byron 'Giggsy' Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

not a complete history into Sun Records (many of those already exist) but rather insight from musicians, producers, and engineers to the magical sessions as well as failure of Sam Phillips and Sun Records.

Many mentions of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins, but this oral history features participants ranting and raving about anything and often covers Billy Lee Riley, Jim Dickinson, Roland Janes, Rufus Thomas, Roscoe Gordon, and Jack Clement in even more detail

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

More of tidbits by session players rather than an actual history of Sun Records. If you're looking for stories about Elvis or Perkins or Cash look elsewhere. This is more about the minor people who recorded at Sun. For me the biggest benefit of reading this introducing me to a whole of of musicians I'd never header before like Sister Rosetta Tharpe or the Memphis Jug Band. If you're looking for the history of Sun Records look elsewhere. If you already know and are really into that period of music then you may want to check this out.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many of the entries were interesting but collectively it fell short. It was like reading an oral history of a Superbowl where they only spoke to offensive linemen. Surely their contribution to the game was crucial but ultimately it would end up as a limited view of the game. This ended up a limited view.

[Brian Brantley · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok book about Sun Records and how it started and finished. There are better books out there about Sun Records and Sam Phillips. Told in an interview style with various people who recorded and produced at Sun Records.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good if only a gloss on the inspiring story of Sun Records.