"That's All Right" is the name of the first single released by Elvis Presley, written and originally performed by blues singer Arthur Crudup as "That's All Right, Mama". Elvis' version was recorded in July 1954, and released on 19 July 1954 with "Blue Moon of Kentucky" as the B-side.
History
The song was written and originally recorded by Arthur Crudup in 1946 as "That's All Right, Mama". Elvis Presley's version was recorded in 1954, and released with "Blue Moon of Kentucky" as the B-side. Its catalogue number was Sun 209. The label reads "That's All Right"(omitting "Mama" from the original title), and names the performers as Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore and Bill Black. Arthur Crudup is also listed on this label, giving him credit for authorship.[1]
Recording
It was recorded at Sun Studio in 1954 with Elvis Presley providing vocals and rhythm guitar, Scotty Moore on lead guitar, and Bill Black on upright "slap" bass. It was produced by Sam Phillips in the style of a "live" recording (all parts performed at once and recorded on a single track).[2] The recording contains no drums or additional instruments.
The recording session was Presley's fourth visit to the Sun Studio. His first two visits, the summer of 1953 and January 1954, had been private recordings for Presley's mother.
Upon finishing the recording session, according to Scotty Moore, Bill Black remarked, "Damn. Get that on the radio and they'll run us out of town."
Cover versions
Marty Robbins recorded a similar (but slightly more "country-fied") version of the song two days after Christmas that same year (1954), also labelled "That's All Right".[3]
Vince Gill covered the song on the movie soundtrack of Honeymoon in Vegas.
Jerry Garcia and the Legion of Mary covered it (see 6-22-1975 closing set one)
A young Elvis Presley, portrayed by Tyler Hilton, is shown singing a more up-tempo version of the song in the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line.
The song appears in the TV miniseries Elvis, Where young Elvis, portrayed by Jonathan Rhys Meyers does his first ever single and than listening to it on the recorder is the actual Elvis version.
Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield covered a bluesier version of this song during the Super Session tours of 1968.
Led Zeppelin sometimes worked the song into their Whole Lotta Love medley during live shows, as demonstrated on BBC Sessions.
The Beatles used to cover this song during their BBC Sessions; one version of this song appears in the album Live at the BBC.
Merle Haggard included "That's All Right (Mama)" on his 1977 album My Farewell To Elvis.
The International Submarine Band, featuring Gram Parsons, recorded a version as part of a medley with Folsom Prison Blues.
Snooks Eaglin recorded this song in 1961.
Wes Paul includes the song in his live shows.
Canned Heat recorded their version of this song on their 1970 album Future Blues.
Flogging Molly added a break in their song "Delilah" with a version of this song on the Alive Behind The Green Door album.
Sum 41 include a cover of this song many times in live shows, as well as part of a medley involving this song and a song of theirs called "Machine Gun".
Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan performed the song during Dylan's sessions for Nashville Skyline; it appears on bootlegs of this joint session.
Art Paul Schlosser recorded a parody to this song that got played Dr Demento called Let's Eat Cheese Mama it on his CD called Words of Cheese and Other Parrot Trees
Rod Stewart Recorded on his 1971 solo album "Every Picture Tells A Story"
Bavarian band Spider Murphy Gang routinely covers the song during live performances. The latest version can be found on their anniversary DVD "30 Years of Rock'n'Roll", recorded 2007 at the legendary Circus Krone in their native Munich.
Stray Cats performed the song on their famous live-album "Rumble in Brixton" with Lee Rocker on vocals.
The song is featured in the first act of the Broadway musical All Shook Up.
Paul McCartney recorded the song in 2002 for a tribute album called Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy Of Sun Records.
JET (Band) have recorded a live version of this song
Green Day recorded the song as a bonus track for their 2009 album, 21st Century Breakdown
Kansas lead vocalist Steve Walsh covered this song on his first solo album Dreamer-Scheamer as it was added at the end of the self titled song, most likely as a tribute to his roots.
References
The Grateful Dead also performed this song in their live concerts.
External links
