Rock ‘n’ roll represents the significant artistic development of our era. During the Italian Renaissance, it was artworks and statues; in the French Revolution, it was elevated literature, but during the counterculture era, it was classic rock ‘n’ roll. The genre resonated deeply with the public while profoundly influencing a generation. It was fresh, essential, and lively.
Likewise, its narrative is a crucial aspect of our history. Throughout the slave trade, around 12 million individuals were transported mainly from West Africa over the Atlantic. In that process, their voodoo heritage was erased, and Western faiths were imposed. Nevertheless, it reflects the spiritual strength of those who endured that their legacy was preserved in its unique manner, and today there are reflections of it in what can be considered the most revered religion of all—the captivating nature of contemporary music in all its magnificent forms.
Catholicism was imposed on them, but instead of suppressing the Vodou melodies, it just created a blend. The drums and beats might have been left behind, yet gospel songs emerged as a blend of Vodou and hymns. The same feeling of deep joy was evident, and the drums echoed in the refrains and invocations of sing-along tunes for soul redemption. These chants were crucial—they encapsulated messages of defiance.
However, for a period, this fresh variant of folk was confined to the modest lamentations of the blues. Rock ‘n’ roll was formed only with the emergence of pop culture, creating not only a complete band sound but also an aesthetic that remains easily recognizable to this day. Although it may have dispersed globally since that time, the roots of the genre are distinctly American, emerging from Congo Square in New Orleans through the blending of immigrant cultures that gathered there.
Therefore, it is logical that it holds a solid place in the US Library of Congress.
Which songs are included in the US Library of Congress?
The Library of Congress in the US features a multitude of significant recordings. It aims to contain pieces that are considered “culturally, historically or aesthetically important.” This encompasses all types of content, ranging from Martin Luther King Jr. speeches to Abbott and Costello routines and Bob Dylan’s music. But what stands as the initial instance of America’s top export within its ranks? Which artists can truly be classified as classic rock?
Although you may discover its blues foundations in Bessie Smith’s nearly howled hit, ‘Downhearted Blues’ from 1923, the initial instance of rock ‘n’ roll as we recognize it emerged in 1954 through Elvis Presley’s renowned Sun Records Sessions.
As essentially the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll as we recognize it, and undoubtedly the moment that ignited the movement, every one of these recordings was considered deserving of its spot on the revered shelves of the Capital Hill structures.
What were the Sun Records Sessions of Elvis Presley?
Sun Records was the initial record label that Elvis joined, thus the sessions recorded him at his most youthful and unrefined. They signed him in a spontaneous manner, as well. On June 26, 1954, an 18-year-old Elvis got a call from Sun Records. His earlier experience with Sun Records occurred when he spent $4 to record the song ‘My Happiness’ as a present for his mother, Gladys. This was a typical method for a studio to make some additional money in the past, but when Elvis arrived, he raised several eyebrows.
Therefore, producer Sam Phillips believed he could be a suitable match for a song called ‘Without You’, which he acquired in May of 1954. Thus, he summoned back the odd child who had just poured his pocket money into an absurdly large present. Nonetheless, the strange aspect of the ‘Without You’ demo is that no one was aware of the original vocalist. Compounding the intrigue is that he was so talented that a young Elvis reportedly declared, “I can’t stand him.” “Why am I unable to sing like that?” He put forth his greatest effort to achieve this throughout his career, and his unique style emerged, even though ‘Without You’ was set aside for tracks that matched his vocal abilities more effectively.
However, it was a pivotal moment for the singer, and Phillips observed his talent emerge despite his difficulty in replicating the enchanting voice, which was later identified as the tragically overlooked Jimmy Sweeney. Thus, they chose to record one demo after another, and these sessions are currently preserved in the Library of Congress—the beginning of their path through rock ‘n’ roll.
Which songs were recorded by Elvis Presley during his sessions at Sun Records?
My Joy
‘That’s When Your Heartbreaks Start’
“I’ll Always Support Your Path”
‘It Wouldn’t Be the Same If You Weren’t Here’
‘I Adore You For’
“That’s Okay”
“Port Illumination”
‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’
‘Azurite Moon’
‘Nights Ahead’
‘I Will Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’)’
‘Content’
“I’m Unbothered Even If the Sun Doesn’t Shine”
“Simply Due to”
‘Great Jamming This Evening’
‘Milkcow Blues Boogie’
‘You’re a Heart Throb’
‘Infant Let’s Engage in House Play’
‘I’ve Got a Woman’
‘Attempting to Reach You’
‘I’m Left, You’re Right, She Has Departed’
‘I Neglected to Recall to Let Go’
‘Enigmatic Locomotive’
‘When It Rains, It Truly Deluges’
Not long after these sessions, as it became evident that a king could be emerging, Sun Records opted to sell their prime asset to RCA for $35,000. But don’t worry; it wasn’t as catastrophic as it may seem since Phillips had a strategy. Expecting that major labels would start seeking him out, Phillips had already begun considering how he might utilize the money. He didn’t gaze much further than Memphis, just so you know. Remaining near his residence, the music tycoon chose to put his funds into a nearby hotel franchise.
As the world evolves and Memphis gains recognition as a cultural hub, Phillips believed that many more individuals would be traveling for vacations in the future, with a significant number drawn to Tennessee. The name of the small hotel chain, you see, was the Holiday Inn. Prior to the onset of the pandemic, the hotel empire was generating an annual revenue of $6.5 billion. And that essentially concludes the story of the initial rock ‘n’ roll moment considered deserving of national acknowledgment and historical significance—a distinctly American commercial triumph.
