That's All Right (Mama)

Infobox Single
Name = That's All Right (Mama)


Artist = Elvis Presley
from Album =
B-side = "Blue Moon of Kentucky"
Released = September 4 1954
Format = 7" single
Recorded = July 1954
Genre = Rock and roll
Length = 1:57
Label = Sun Records
Writer = Arthur Crudup
Producer = Sam Phillips
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single =
This single = That's All Right"
(1954)
Next single = "Good Rockin' Tonight"
(1955)
Misc =

"That's All Right (Mama)" is the name of the first single released by Elvis Presley, written and originally performed by blues singer Arthur Crudup. Elvis' version was recorded in July 1954, and released on September 4, 1954.

Song information

"That's All Right Mama" was written and originally recorded by Arthur Crudup in 1946 and is best known by Elvis Presley's version recorded in 1954. Elvis' version of the song, was combined 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 & Bill. Arthur Crudup is also listed on this label, giving him credit for authorship. [http://rcs.law.emory.edu/rcs/pics/d03/3318.htm] It was recorded at [Sun Studio] [http://www.elvispresleynews.com/SamPhillips.html] in 1954 with Elvis Presley providing vocals and rhythm guitar, Scotty Moore on lead guitar, and Bill Black on upright "slapped" bass. It was produced by Sam Phillips at Sun Studio [http://www.elvispresleynews.com/SamPhillips.html] in the style of a "live" recording (all parts performed at once and recorded on a single track). The recording contains no drums or additional instruments.

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."

Trivia

In 2001, producer Ahmet Ertegün assembled an album titled "" (a companion to the American Masters documentary of the same name). Included is Paul McCartney's rendition of "That's All Right". McCartney recorded his version of the song in New York City using former Presley backup musicians Scotty Moore on guitar and D. J. Fontana on drums.

The song received a Grammy award and, in 2005, was named by "Rolling Stone" magazine as the record that started the rock revolution. It was also ranked #112 on the magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

In July 2004, more than 1000 radio stations celebrated rock music's 50th birthday by playing "That's All Right (Mama)."

Cover versions include

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". [http://www.elvispresleynews.com/ElvisPresleyLyrics.html]

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".

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.

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.