LISTEN/MUSIC: The True King Of Rock & Roll, Carl Perkins

In recent weeks the rockabilly flame that burns in my heart has been set aflame once again. Two things have contributed to this - the new Wanda Jackson album and my Spanish friend Martin Calvino's recent feverish enthusiasm for all things rockabilly. It's inspired me to dig out my rockabilly records and fire up the old turntable. For me, when it comes to rockabilly Carl Perkins is hands down the greatest performer of all time. While Elvis Presley may go down in history as The King Of Rock & Roll, it's Carl Perkins that built the kingdom.

Carl Perkins was the total package. A fantastic lyricist with a brilliant knack for arrangements, Perkins packaged it all together with his virtuoso guitar playing. It was these talents that led him to sign with Sam Phillip's up and coming record label Sun Records in 1954. The successful single, "Movie Magg" backed with "Turn Around" was released on Philip's sister label Flip Records in 1955 to be followed by "Gone, Gone, Gone" backed with "Let The Jukebox Keep On Playing" on Sun Records proper the same year. But in 1956, Perkins wrote the song that would launch his career. Inspired by Perkins observation of a dancer scolding his girlfriend for stepping on his shoes, "Blue Suede Shoes" was released on January 1st, 1956 and would soon top the country western, r&b, and popular music charts simultaneously.

At the behest of Sam Phillips, Perkins agreed to allow Elvis Presley to record and release "Blue Suede Shoes." Following a March 21st, 1956 performance in Norfolk, VA Perkins was involved in a devastating accident when the band's car ran off the road, flipped, and settled upside down in about a foot of water. Perkins nearly drowned but was saved by his drummer. Perkins would remain unconscious for a day and suffered numerous internal injuries. It was from a hospital recovery ward that Perkins would watch Presley perform "Blue Suede Shoes" on Milton Berle's April 3, 1956 performance. Presley's version of the song would skyrocket.

Peter Van't Zelfden. Circa 1959.

The deal to give Presley the song would be a point of contention between Perkins and Phillips for many years. The car accident would keep Perkins from performing during the height of "Blue Suede Shoes" popularity. While Perkins enjoyed the financial rewards of the song, he felt at least some of the fame that Presley was enjoying would have belonged to him had Philips not argued to give the song away. Though Perkins would release albums worth of great songs over the years, many of them chart hits, he would always be one step behind Elvis.

If Perkins was indeed shorted the fame he rightfully deserved, there is one thing that history rightfully granted him - influence. Many consider Perkins to be the original rock & roll guitar god. The most prominent voices in the chorus praise of Carl Perkins are in fact guitar gods themselves. Eric Clapton, George Harrison, and Keith Richards all sight Perkins as inciting their passion for the instrument. But Perkins influence was limited to musicians. The photo to the right is not of Carl Perkins, but an 18 yr old version of my dad circa 1959. Notice his shirt and then look at Carl's in the photo above.

In 1985, many of Perkins greatest musical admirers got the chance to play tribute to their hero on Showtime's Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session. Filmed in London during the second wave of British rockabilly revivalism, the special included guests Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ringo Star, Dave Edmunds, Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats and Roseanne Cash, the daughter of Perkin's lifelong friend Johnny Cash. Each artist joined Perkins for a performance of one of his songs. But the absolute highlight of the show is George Harrison.

George Harrison idolized Carl Perkins. The Beatles had been playing a version of Perkin's "Matchbox" since their formative days and would eventually release a studio version on their Long Tall Sally EP and Something New album. There were even rumors that in his teenage years, Harrison asked his friends to call him "Carl." So the schoolboy look of adoration that Harrison beams towards Perkins in the Showtime special is really no surprise. It's a boy meeting his hero.

One of the great moments in the show comes when all the performers commune for a guitar circle. Perkin's asks what to play and Harrison suggests the song "Glad All Over" by playing it's opening notes. Perkins claims to not recognize it, so Harrison sings the first verse before Perkins in recognition jumps into the song he wrote so many years ago.



By the end of the show, the audience can no longer contain themselves. Rockabilly is music to move to, it's not music you sit and observe. One fellow is so overcome he ventures out in front of the television cameras and breaks out dancing soon to be followed by the rest of the audience. Cynics would call the moment choreographed for television but it's obviously genuine. The guests are just as caught up in the moment as the audience is, you've never seen Eric Clapton smile so much.



Not included in the YouTube clip is one moment that caps the entire evening. After the performance of "Blue Suede Shoes" Perkins comes to the mic and with a lump in his throat expresses appreciation for the evening to the audience and fellow musicians. Harrison knows the show cannot end on this note and breaks into one more verse of "Blue Suede Shows" to bring the night to a jubilant ending.

Carl Perkins & Friends - Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session is available on DVD through Amazon for $14. It is one hour of Rockabilly bliss and should be part of true rock & roll fans collection.

In 1998 German record label Bear Family Records released Carl Perkins: Up Through The Years 1954-1957. This remastered release is sourced from the original Sun Records master tapes and features all of Perkins hits but more importantly lesser known gems like "All Mama's Children," "Glad All Over," and "Your True Love." It is available on Amazon from time to time for $20-$25.

It does not however include the fantastic "Perkins' Wiggle." That track can be in it's best quality on Rhino's 1990 release Carl Perkins: The Original Sun Records Greatest Hits. It is worth the price of the CD alone.

And for the nerdiest of record nerds like myself, Bear Family Records offers two box sets chronicling pretty much everything Carl Perkins ever recorded. The Classic Carl Perkins box set covers the Sun Records years and Carl Perkins: Back On Top covers Perkins output during his Columbia and Mercury Records years. If you've got a few hundred bucks laying around pick these great collections up.