Blue Suede Shoes
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- For other uses of Blue Suede Shoes, see Blue Suede Shoes (disambiguation).
| "Blue Suede Shoes" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image:Carl perkins blue suede shoes.jpg | ||
| Single by Carl Perkins | ||
| B-side(s) | Honey, Don't! | |
| Released | January 21 1956 | |
| Format | 7" single | |
| Recorded | November 1955 | |
| Genre | Rock and roll | |
| Length | 2:14 | |
| Label | Sun Records | |
| Writer(s) | Carl Perkins | |
| Producer(s) | Sam Phillips | |
| Chart positions | ||
| ||
| Carl Perkins singles chronology | ||
| "Gone, Gone, Gone" 1955 | "Blue Suede Shoes" (1956) | "Tennessee" (1956) |
"Blue Suede Shoes" is a rock and roll standard written and first recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955. It is considered one of the first rock and roll records and incorporated elements of blues, country and pop music of the time. It was the first song to top the U.S. country, rhythm and blues and pop music charts.
Contents |
[edit] Origins
Johnny Cash suggested the idea to Perkins based on an experience in the United States Air Force. In his autobiography, Cash explains how he came to meet airman C.V. White, who after getting dressed up to go out told him "just don't step on my blue suede shoes!" (despite wearing standard black shoes).
The first few lines of the song are based on a classic children's rhyme: "One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready". Producer Sam Phillips suggested that Perkins's line "go boy go" be changed to "go cat go". Elvis Presley recorded his version of this song in 1956, waiting until his friend Perkins' version had left the charts.
In 1953, Bill Haley wrote and recorded a song called "Watcha Gonna Do" that is a probable influence on "Blue Suede Shoes". The Haley song begins with the catch phrase "One for the money/Two for the show/Three to get ready/Here I go" and also is very similar in melody and arrangement to the later "Blue Suede Shoes". The phrase "One for the money..." had been used in previous rhythm and blues recordings as well, including 1950's "Rock Around the Clock" by Hal Singer (which is not to be confused with Haley's song of the same name).
[edit] Legacy
"Blue Suede Shoes" was chosen as one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. The song has often been called "Rock 'n Roll's National Anthem."
Perkins' version is his only song to be included on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (ranked #95)
| "Blue Suede Shoes" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image:Elvis presley blue suede shoes.jpg | ||
| Single by Elvis Presley | ||
| from the album Elvis Presley | ||
| B-side(s) | "Tutti Frutti" | |
| Released | September 8 1956 | |
| Format | 7" single | |
| Recorded | January 30 1956 | |
| Genre | Rock and roll | |
| Length | 1:58 | |
| Label | RCA Records | |
| Writer(s) | Carl Perkins | |
| Chart positions | ||
| ||
| Elvis Presley singles chronology | ||
| "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" (1955) | "Blue Suede Shoes" (1956) | "I'm Counting on You" (1956) |
[edit] Selected list of recorded versions
As a rock and roll standard the song continues to be performed and recorded by many artists, including:
- 1955 Carl Perkins, US #1
- 1956 Elvis Presley
- 1958 Cliff Richard
- The Beatles
- 1969 Cat Mother & the All Night Newsboys in the rock and roll medley Good Old Rock & Roll
- Count von Count on Sesame Street
- Jimi Hendrix
- Johnny Rivers
- Bill Haley & His Comets
- Lemmy Kilmister with Mick Green and The Upsetters.
- Black Sabbath
- Brian Setzer
- Jerry Lee Lewis
[edit] Trivia
- Marc Cohn makes a reference to the "Blue Suede Shoes" in his song "Walking in Memphis".
- "Blue Suede Shoes" is referenced in the song "Roll Over Beethoven" by Chuck Berry (and later covered by The Beatles) in the lines: "Early in the mornin'/I'm a'givin you the warnin'/Don't you step on my blue suede shoes."
- Blue Suede Shoes is also the title of a 1980 documentary film about the British rockabilly scene.
- The Nintendo DS game Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney makes a reference to the song, in a sequence where the character mistakenly refers to Detective Gumshoe as "Detective Suedeshoes".
