The Memphis avengers?

Courtesy raucousrecords.com

Last week saw Chicago's Chess Records assume the number one position in the search for the pre-eminent record label, taking the mantle from Stax Records of Memphis. But before Chess can get too comfortable in its position, lets put it to the test against another outfit from the musical melting pot that is Memphis, Tennessee. Today's challenger is one of America's rock and roll pioneers: Sun Records.

Distance from Stax (A)
 to Sun Studios (B)

Founded in 1952 by record producer Sam Phillips with the initial aim of popularising black music for a white audience, the emergence of other R'n'B labels (notably Stax, just a 10 minute drive away) led to Sun focusing on other musical genres. Sun then became a launching pad for the careers of many prominent country and rock and roll artists including Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. Phillips though, famously had to sell Presley's recording contract to a rival for $35,000 to alleviate Sun Records financial difficulties.

From elvispresleypedia.com

Sun's monetary problems were to be a recurring theme throughout it's history, with Sun being unable to hold on to many of the stars it created as a result of its modest financial resources. Along with Presley, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and Cash all left the label to sign more lucrative record deals. Perkins also had a long running dispute with Sam Phillips over unpaid song royalties. In 1969 Phillips sold Sun Records to Mercury Records producer Shelby Singleton.

So to the line-up then. What must be noted is that the only tracks recorded by the artists at Sun Records can be included.

Image courtesy of Sun Records

Team Sun:
Elvis Presley: Mystery Train, That's All Right
Jerry Lee Lewis: Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On, Great Balls of Fire
Carl Perkins: Blue Suede Shoes, Honey Don't
Johnny Cash: I Walk the Line, Jackson
Roy Orbison: Ooby Dooby, Claudette
Billy Lee Riley: Red Hot, Flying Saucers Rock 'N' Roll
Warren Smith: Rock 'N' Roll Ruby, Got Love If You Want It
Conway Twitty: It's Only Make Believe, Hey Little Lucy


Verdict: Sun Records ability to identify and nurture talent was almost unmatched, and for that reason it is a great record label. But despite the massive influence it had on rock and roll music, Sun's problems, partly financial and partly due to Sam Phillips abrasive nature, meant that it was unable to make the most of the talented artists that it had.

Coverage of the first two showdowns can be found here and here