45 RPMs 100: Elvis Presley ~ Blue Suede Shoes

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Elvis Presley ~ Blue Suede Shoes 

45 RPM, side 1 

    

I missed buying the Elvis Presley 45 RPM version of Hound Dog (link below) because of prejudice favoring the Big Mama Thornton version (I still like it better). On January 30,1956, Elvis Presley recorded Blue Suede Shoes. I had been familiar with the version recorded and written a year earlier by Carl Perkins (link below), so, I was curious and intrigued to hear what Presley would do with it. I threw prejudices aside. I'm glad I did.     

 

Blue Suede Shoes is considered one of the first rockabilly records, incorporating elements of blues, country and pop music of the time. Perkins' original version of the song appeared on the Cashbox Best Selling Singles list for 16 weeks and spent two weeks at the number two position. it appears as the opening track of Presley's debut album. It was also recorded by Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Of the four versions I like the Perkins one the best (links below).          

 

According to Perkins, he wrote Blue Suede Shoes on December 17, 1955 and recorded it two days later for Sun Records. In Cleveland, Ohio, disc jockey Bill Randle played Blue Suede Shoes often on his nightly show, and before the end of the month, Phillips shipped an additional 25,000 copies to Cleveland.   

 

Perkins never attained the stardom of Presley, who, according to Perkins, "had everything. He had the looks, the moves, the manager (Colonel Tom Parker), and the talent.         

 

In September 1941, Presley entered first grade at East Tupelo Consolidated, where he was regarded as "average". His first public performance was a singing contest at the Mississippi–Alabama Fair and Dairy Show on October 3, 1945, when he was 10; he sang Old Shep, composed by Red Foley, and placed fifth.         

        

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - Blue Suede Shoes, written by Carl Perkins - 1:58

Side 2:

B - Tutti Frutti, written by Dorothy LaBostrie*, Richard Penniman - 1:57

Companies, etc.

    Record Company – Radio Corporation Of America
    Published By – Hi-Lo Music
    Published By – Venice Music, Inc.

 

Notes:

1st pressing, black RCA Victor label with dog on top and horizontal silver line.
Very early 1st pressing (August 31 ,1956) with dog on top and no silver line (-1S on matrices) - see release Elvis Presley - Blue Suede Shoes / Tutti Frutti

Barcode and Other Identifiers         

    Rights Society: BMI
    Matrix / Runout (Label A): G2WW-1230
    Matrix / Runout (Label B): G2WW-1255
    Matrix / Runout (Runout A, variant 1): G2 WW1230-3S
    Matrix / Runout (Runout B, variant 1): G2 WW1255-3S
    Matrix / Runout (Runout A, variant 2): G2 WW1230-5S RCA F
    Matrix / Runout (Runout B, variant 2): G2 WW1255-5S RCA I A

        

Elvis Presley – Blue Suede Shoes / Tutti Frutti
Label: RCA Victor – 47-6636
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1956
Genre: Rock
Style: Rock & Roll

        

        

        

        

Viewfinder links:       

         
Eddie Cochran      

Red Foley          

Buddy Holly

Carl Perkins  

Elvis Presley 

         
     
Net links:       

         

         

         

        
     
YouTube links:      
         

Eddie Cochran ~ Blue Suede Shoes    

Buddy Holly ~ Blue Suede Shoes
Carl Perkins ~ Blue Suede Shoes         

Elvis Presley ~  

                        Blue Suede Shoes                 

                        Old Shep    

                        Tutti Frutti       
                        Tutti Frutti (live)   

Big Mama Thornton ~ Hound Dog                             
         

 

 

        

        

Styrous® ~ Friday, January 30, 2026 

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