The self titled album, named Elvis Presley Rock n’ Roll in the UK release, is the debut of The King of Rock N’ Roll was released on March 23 of 1956 by Sun Records own Sam Phillips. The recording of the album took place in early January at the RCA Viktor recording studios in Music City, Nashville, Tennessee with finishing the album in New York on January 30th and 31st. Although Elvis recorded most tracks from the two locations of RCA Viktor recording studio there were additional material that originated from sessions at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee two years before the release.
A few years before the release of the album, Steve Sholes bought Presley’s contract from Sun Records and Studios Sam Phillips for a sum of $35,000 (approximatley $329,000 in 2019 dollars).
After the release, the album spent ten weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Top Album chart in 1956 being the first rock and roll album ever to make it to the top of the charts while also being the first million-selling album of that genre. With an album release of 12-tracks, Elvis released 6 singles on August of 1956 including; “Blue Suede Shoe”, “I Got a Woman” and “Money Honey”
The album cover for the debut of the artist was ranked number 40 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest album covers. At first no one knew who took the photograph and it wasn’t until 2002, 46 years after, that the actual photographer was William V. “Red” Robertson.
Track Listing;
Side One:
1. Blue Suede Shoes
2. I’m Counting on You
3. I Got a Woman
4. One Sided Love Affair
5. I Love You Because
6. Just Because
Side Two:
1. Tutti Frutti
2. Tryin’ to Get to You
3. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Cry (Over You)
4. I’ll Never Let You Go (Little Darlin’)
5. Blue Moon
6. Money Honey
