One-Hit Wonders: Carl Perkins And “Blue Suede Shoes”

Carl Perkins Sings "Blue Suede Shoes" (YouTube)

Considering his position among the constellation that is rock’s pioneering stars, it’s hard to believe Carl Perkins qualifies as a One-Hit Wonder. But with his one Top-40 hit, “Blue Suede Shoes,”  he was just that.

Recorded at Sun Studios in 1955, “Blue Suede Shoes” is considered the first rock-and-roll record. Bearing in mind the kind of music that inhabited the pop charts in the months preceding (the Teen Queens, the Blue Stars, the Four Voices), it’s a claim easily proven.

It was inspired by Johnny Cash (who told Perkins the story of a service man in “blue suede shoes”), written on December 17, 1955 and recorded two days later.

It was released on January 1, 1956 on Sun Records #234, one of the first records to be dropped on the “new” 45 RPM format. “Honey Don’t,” the song’s A-side was getting airplay until Cleveland, Ohio DJ Bill Randle flipped over to “Blue Suede Shoes.” It would go on to become a #2 record on May 19, 1956, Perkins’ one-and-only Top-40 hit.

Lyrics

Well, it's one for the money two for the show
Three to get ready now go, cat, go
But don't you step on my blue suede shoes
Well you can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes
Well, you can knock me down, step in my face

Get the rest on MetroLyrics »

 

 

Gone but not forgotten, at least not at WNEW, find more tales of One-Hit Wonders here …