July 2, 1956 --> Greatest Recording Session of All?

[cartoonland]

All alternate suggestions are great, but remember this:

July 2, 1956 changed the world.

Say, Doc, belated congratulations on your outstanding posting record---you are the main reason I come here. We are lucky to have someone with your knowledge give so freely.
It's like the beautiful roses outside my window that people stop and admire and enjoy---careful when handling, lest one is pricked by sharp thorns, but somehow the risk just adds to the enjoyment.
You truly love, and know, Rock and Roll.
And you freely share.
I heard, somewhere, of Sam Phillips' first reaction to "Don't Be Cruel"---he was driving a car, and had to pull over and listen when he first heard it.
Not a fan of "Heartbreak Hotel", Phillips realized that Elvis had finally done it---the perfect song for the perfect man at the perfect time.

AS far as shear importance in Elvis' career, post Sun, I guess the nod has to go here.
I'm not sure I've ever heard these complete sessions, or all the out takes.
As far as shear hard rockin' pleasure I have to go with 1/10,2-5 pm, and 2/3, 10:30 am-1:30pm, 1956.

With a real, real strong nod towards the 4/30, 10am-1:45pm ---2:45- 6:10pm. 1957 sessions, when Jailhouse Rock was recorded.

[TkoTzer]

Listen to Anyway you Want Me. I think this may be one of the most underrated Elvis songs of all-time. Vocals are just beautiful all around. God Iove that song.

[Elton]

thaks for the reminder there Doc,
I did not know Jerry lee's had said that,but i agree Don't Be Cruel
is the greatest Rock n Roll song EVER( the flip side wasn't too shabby either)!!
I had to trade Two Buddy Holly EP's plus an single Charlie Brown by the Coasters,for one 78 of Presley's double sided '56 hit!
(still got it too)
Hope everyone has a good 4th of July!

[Deleted User 930]

All alternate suggestions are great, but remember this:

July 2, 1956 changed the world.

No way!!
August 6, 1945 changed the world.

[intelwild]

... Without love
... I´ll hold you in my arms
... I´ll be There
... Suspicious Minds

these don't compare to July 2nd, 1956.

[midnightx]

All alternate suggestions are great, but remember this:

July 2, 1956 changed the world.

No way!!
August 6, 1945 changed the world.

In terms of popular culture and innovation in pop and rock n roll music, yes, July 2, 1956 did change the world.

[Joe Car]

Phenomenal post as well as pics! What a frickin session, thanks for the reminder Doc!

[drjohncarpenter]

Almost without exception, this has sure turned out to be a successful and well-received topic.

Thanks to everyone so far who offered something positive to read.

A couple of asides:

(1) John Lennon's auntie recalled being driven crazy in the fall of 1956 by her15 year-old nephew's incessant playing of "Hound Dog," among others

(2) About ten years ago I was retrieving furntiure from the basement of a business contact when I spotted a small pile of 45s in a dark corner. I quickly saw a handful of 1950s Elvis singles and "The Chipmunk Song," a 1958 novelty release by David Seville and the Chipmunks. I placed that one on top and asked if I could "take these away" too. I offered a buck. He said "Sure." When I got home I found I had gotten mint sleeves and 45s of "Love Me Tender," "All Shook Up" and ... "Hound Dog" / "Don't Be Cruel." I almost burst into tears!

[midnightx]

In terms of popular culture and innovation in pop and rock n roll music, yes, July 2, 1956 did change the world.

<snip>

Yes, July 2, 1956 changed the world - end of discussion.

[londonflash]

Almost without exception, this has sure turned out to be a successful and well-received topic.

Thanks to everyone so far who offered something positive to read.

A couple of asides:

(1) John Lennon's auntie recalled being driven crazy in the fall of 1956 by her15 year-old nephew's incessant playing of "Hound Dog," among others

(2) About ten years ago I was retrieving furntiure from the basement of a business contact when I spotted a small pile of 45s in a dark corner. I quickly saw a handful of 1950s Elvis singles and "The Chipmunk Song," a 1958 novelty release by David Seville and the Chipmunks. I placed that one on top and asked if I could "take these away" too. I offered a buck. He said "Sure." When I got home I found I had gotten mint sleeves and 45s of "Love Me Tender," "All Shook Up" and ... "Hound Dog" / "Don't Be Cruel." I almost burst into tears!

Great topic and a cool story there, Doc.

Some of the alternative suggestions come close (10/01/56, 10/06/58 and 04/04/60) but none had the impact of the fruits from 02/07/56.

[jeanno]

[OTHER] SONGS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

Paul McCartney picked Heartbreak Hotel as his number one choice. "It's the way [Presley] sings it as if he is singing from the depths of hell. His phrasing, use of echo, it's all so beautiful. Musically, it's perfect."
(Uncut Magazine)

"Heartbreak Hotel was not Elvis Presley's first single but it was destined in many ways to define the Elvis persona and arguably become the first rock 'n' roll record. It was a song of teenage angst. It established rock 'n' roll as an attitude -- brash, rebellious and sexually-charged -- as much as a musical style and gave it life as the soundtrack for alienated youth even during American boom times in the '50s."
(G. Forman)

"Heartbreak Hotel" became the first No.1 pop record by Elvis and was the best selling single of 1956.
(Wikipedia)

[Elton]

(2) About ten years ago I was retrieving furntiure from the basement of a business contact when I spotted a small pile of 45s in a dark corner. I quickly saw a handful of 1950s Elvis singles and "The Chipmunk Song," a 1958 novelty release by David Seville and the Chipmunks. I placed that one on top and asked if I could "take these away" too. I offered a buck. He said "Sure." When I got home I found I had gotten mint sleeves and 45s of "Love Me Tender," "All Shook Up" and ... "Hound Dog" / "Don't Be Cruel." I almost burst into tears!


Wow,donach you just love it when you FIND jewels like this!!
Helps make your day huh?
again......cool topic Doc,thanks!

[Denman]

Nice story Doc!

[Juan Luis]

Thanks Doc!

[KiwiAlan]

Nothing but nothing can hold a candle to that July summer session.

I would suggest that the second most significant recording day was 11 February 1963


April 12 1954 should be remembered also.

[drjohncarpenter]

Nothing but nothing can hold a candle to that July summer session.

I would suggest that the second most significant recording day was 11 February 1963

April 12 1954 should be remembered also.

Those are indeed also significant dates for any serious student of rock 'n' roll.

[Rich_TCB]

(2) About ten years ago I was retrieving furntiure from the basement of a business contact when I spotted a small pile of 45s in a dark corner. I quickly saw a handful of 1950s Elvis singles and "The Chipmunk Song," a 1958 novelty release by David Seville and the Chipmunks. I placed that one on top and asked if I could "take these away" too. I offered a buck. He said "Sure." When I got home I found I had gotten mint sleeves and 45s of "Love Me Tender," "All Shook Up" and ... "Hound Dog" / "Don't Be Cruel." I almost burst into tears!

That's awesome, Doc. One of the last times I went to a record show, I was able to get a mint copy of "Hound Dog" with pic sleeve. It sounds AWESOME on the turntable. This dealer got an Elvis collection from an ex RCA employee, who had one copy of everything ever released by Elvis in his lifetime. He split the collection with another dealer to sell off everything. One of the other 45's I got was a mint EP of "Jailhouse Rock".

Rich

[drjohncarpenter]

That's awesome, Doc. One of the last times I went to a record show, I was able to get a mint copy of "Hound Dog" with pic sleeve. It sounds AWESOME on the turntable.

Indeed -- the 2002 BMG hits set should have done a needle drop of a mint 1956 single.

That song is 100% punk rock, no wonder it blasted the charts.

[monkboughtlunch]

!	monkboughtlunch: Please stay on-topic.

.

[drjohncarpenter]

Thanks Doc!

My pleasure!

[Mitch]

Great topic!

Those three songs are still my favorite ones by Elvis.

I hope sometime before I go that someone releases all the outtakes of these gems.

Thanks Doc,

Mitch

[drjohncarpenter]

Mitch, I sure hope so too. We're now 56 years since 1956!

[mysterytrainrideson]

Tomorrow is a long time.





One of the greatest, single-day recording sessions in the history of rock and roll!

Monday, July 2, 1956
RCA Studios, New York, NY
---
Hound Dog
Don't Be Cruel
Any Way You Want Me (That's How I Will Be)

Happy Anniversary!




Listening to playbacks of "Hound Dog"




Rehearsing "Don't Be Cruel"
Bill Black, DJ Fontana, Hugh Jarrett, Neal Matthews, Elvis, Gordon Stoker, Hoyt Hawkins and Scotty Moore




Recording "Don't Be Cruel"




Rehearsing "Any Way You Want Me"
Hoyt Hawkins, Elvis, Scotty Moore, Shorty Long, Junior Smith and Gordon Stoker

-----

Photographs courtesy of Alfred Wertheimer and William "PoPsie" Randolph.

Yes, this is the day that changed the world...history in the making! Something that is little understood by certain researchers, particularly in britain, where certain writers seem to think that everything started with The Beatles. This single was the first to reach No.1 as a double A-side. The sheer magic of "Hound Dog" blasting out of your speakers in 1956, was all new and exciting.Teenage America was mesmerized, then the world...music was never the same again. Moments like this rarely happen!!

Ger Rijff's book "Songs Of Innocence" captures the atmosphere of these sessions perfectly.

Doc, thanks for reminding us that important day in history. Good work.

[jurasic1968]

A moment that changed for ever the popular music. Very beautiful pictures, also. How cool and relaxed Elvis looks here!

[jon_burrows]

Missed this one first time round. Great post, thanks, Doc.