7" 45 RPM record sleeve
cover photographer unknown
photo of record sleeve by Styrous®
On January 12, 1957 Elvis Presley recorded All Shook Up and shook almost everybody up, including ME! The bouncy, happy-to-be-in-love song was composed by Otis Blackwell.
Otis Blackwell, born on February 16, 1931, was an African-American songwriter, singer, and pianist, whose work influenced rock and roll. His compositions include Fever; Great Balls of Fire and Breathless, recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis (link below); Don't Be Cruel, All Shook Up and Return to Sender (with Winfield Scott), recorded by Elvis Presley; and Handy Man, recorded by Jimmy Jones.
Otis Blackwell, born on February 16, 1931, was an African-American songwriter, singer, and pianist, whose work influenced rock and roll. His compositions include Fever; Great Balls of Fire and Breathless, recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis (link below); Don't Be Cruel, All Shook Up and Return to Sender (with Winfield Scott), recorded by Elvis Presley; and Handy Man, recorded by Jimmy Jones.
7" 45 RPM record sleeve back
photo by Styrous®
Blackwell was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 16, 1931. His first success was winning a local talent contest ("Amateur Night") at the Apollo Theater, in Harlem, in 1952. This led to a recording contract with RCA and then with Jay-Dee. His first release was his own composition Daddy Rolling Stone, which became a favorite in Jamaica, where it was recorded by Derek Martin.
His first successes as a songwriter came in 1956, with the Little Willie John sultry R&B hit, Fever, which was an even bigger pop success for Peggy Lee (link below). Then Don't Be Cruel began a highly profitable association with Elvis Presley (link below).
date & photographer unknown
According to legend, “Goldie" Goldhawk, one of the owners of a
songwriting firm called Shalimar Music, vigorously shook a bottle of
Pepsi and dared Blackwell to write a song about it.
Blackwell polished off the now famous track in nothing flat.
All Shook Up has been covered by The Beatles (link below), Jim Dale in 1957, Suzi Quatro in 1973 (link below), Billy Joel (link below) and in 1991 as a derivative piece, entitled, All Choked Up, in the original 1971 musical Grease at the Kingston Mines nightclub in Chicago.
Blackwell was also a record producer, having helped turn out hits for artists as diverse as Connie Francis, Mahalia Jackson and Sal Mineo.
Blackwell was also a record producer, having helped turn out hits for artists as diverse as Connie Francis, Mahalia Jackson and Sal Mineo.
Sal Mineo & Otis Blackwell - 1957
photographer unknown
7" 45 RPM record, side 1
photo by Styrous®
The "B" side of the record has the slow ballad, That's When Your Heartaches Begin, a 1937 song written by Fred Fisher, William Raskin and Billy Hill. The song first became popular following a 1941 recording by The Ink Spots (link below).
This song has been covered by British tenor David Whitfield, Italy's Mina (link below), and even Andy Kaufman.
This song has been covered by British tenor David Whitfield, Italy's Mina (link below), and even Andy Kaufman.
7" 45 RPM record, side 2
photo by Styrous®
Personnel:
- The Blue Moon Boys
- Elvis Presley – lead vocals, percussion
- Scotty Moore – lead guitar
- Bill Black – double bass
- D. J. Fontana – drums
- Gordon Stoker – harmony and backing vocals
- Hoyt Hawkins – backing vocals, piano
- Neal Matthews, Hugh Jarrett – backing vocals[9]
Viewfinder links:
The Beatles
Connie Francis
The Ink Spots
Billy Joel
Peggy Lee
Jerry Lee Lewis
Mina
Elvis Presley
Suzy Quatro
Net links:
Elvis History blog ~ Otis Blackwell Fueled the Elvis Machine in the Fifties
Live Mint ~ Songs for a king
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