At Sun Records, There's a Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On!
Written: Dec 01 '01
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Music history is brought to life here in a very enjoyable way.
Cons: I didn't have my camera!
The Bottom Line: If you ever get here, don't leave without visiting the birthplace of rock and roll.. Sun Records!
|
|
|
| Teach2755's Full Review: Memphis |
I touched something today that Elvis Presley touched! The microphone that he used to record some of his very earliest recordings.. I touched it! Really, I did! (swoon)
Okay, so I'm not really a fanatic. In fact, I wasn't even born when Elvis was a musical phenomenon. And I was only three years old when he died, but I did have an absolutely wonderful time in Memphis today when I toured the historically acclaimed Sun Records, our country's 'birthplace of rock and roll'.
I live just an hour from Memphis, a city I believe to be one of the most beautifully diverse and culturally stimulating places in the country. There are so many things I have yet to experience there, though, since most of my jaunts across the river bring back nothing more than a few new Old Navy sweatshirts and some Chick-Fil-A chicken (neither of these delightful luxuries are found in my city).
Today, though, I added yet another check mark to my "Experience Memphis" list. My husband and I were visiting for the weekend and he decided to seek out the exact location of Sun Records, having never taken the time to do so before. Upon finding the small, quaint building neatly tucked away on Union Ave., we decided an actual visit inside was a must.
Upon entering, you will feel as if you were immediately transported back in time around 50 years. Surrounded by dozens of autographed pictures and framed magazine covers is a small cafe of sorts where one can sit, relax, and enjoy a nice bag of potato chips and a soda before venturing further into the vast expanse of music history.
Two young men were working the counter and asked us if we'd like to join the tour that was beginning in 5 minutes. Of course! Sure we're only from a few miles down the road, but something snapped in both our heads and we eagerly turned into the typical out-of-town tourists, minus a camera. (I'm still kicking myself over that.)
Joined by only three others (who were definitely from further out of town!), we were then treated to a fascinating 35-minute stroll down music lane.. and learned how 'rock and roll' was born.
The tour itself consisted of only two rooms. This is because Sun Studios was only housed in two rooms. What was so fantastic about the visit was the significance of what actually happened in those two small rooms.
Sam Phillips founded Sun Records in 1949, I believe. He was actually out of the office on the day 18-year old Elvis Presley first walked through the door! His secretary (who in fact was more like a business manager and a major player in signing stars) allowed Elvis to record a song and put it on Sam's desk.. labeling it "great ballads singer". She failed to remember that Mr. Phillips despised ballads and it then took her over a month to convince him to bring Elvis back in!
The rest, as they say, is history. Sam Phillips went on to sign the likes of Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. He ran a very successful recording business for many years and then 'retired' early due to, as we were told, a "bad case of burn out".
The building itself lay empty for almost 25 years after Phillips closed his business. It wasn't until recently that several artists worked together to reopen the building, and there it stands to this day.. looking just the way it did when it was converted into a recording studio. The electrical wiring is original, as are the pegboard-style walls and tiled ceiling. Sam Phillips returned that famous microphone (that I touched!) to it's original location upon the reopening of the building. I guess he thought it deserved to go 'home'. The studio does still actively record, after the museum's closing at 6:00 p.m.
I cannot do justice here to the great many things I experienced today at Sun Records. After every anecdote, our tour guide would play clips of songs recorded there. My favorite was a piece Phillips recorded one afternoon without the artists first knowing. He just happened to capture Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley standing around, shooting the breeze, and generally just goofing off and having a good time. And from what I could gather from one of the earlier clips, Perkins wouldn't stop making faces at Presley behind the studio glass.. he would get started on a verse of the song and then just crack up!
Many artists today will visit Memphis just to experience what recording at Sun Studios feels like. U2 recorded 4 songs there over a decade ago.. Def Leppard visited, as well as Paul Simon and Beck. And just a few months ago, Matchbox 20 stopped by and spent a little quality time in the studio with Jerry Lee Lewis.
After finishing the tour, we visited the upstairs gallery where all the typical souvenir fare awaited us, along with dozens of other original pictures and autographs on display. I did purchase a very nice lithograph portraying the outside of the studio and part of Union Ave. It will look fantastic when it's framed.. and it only cost $9.95.
Tours run from around 10-6 daily, with new tours beginning on the half hour. The cost is $8.50 per person and is definitely worth it.
So.. the next time you head for the Delta, make a pit stop in Memphis. Eat some barbecue, walk along the river, and without a doubt make time to visit Sun Records, located at 706 Union Ave.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Mar - May
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
Teach2755
|
|
Member: Lisa
Location: Jonesboro, AR
Reviews written: 95
Trusted by: 54 members
About Me:
I'm a half-crazed sixth grade teacher who's ready for summer. Enough said. :)
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.