Million Dollar Quartet
by Johnny Roebuck on Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 6:27pm ·
Some
musicals are coming to local venues. There is Jersey Boys, a musical
about the Four Seasons, Frankie Valli's group and another is called the
Million Dollar Quartet. This, of course is about Elvis Presley, Jerry
Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl (Lee) Perkins who all got their start at
Sun Records, Memphis, Tennessee.
There was a motion picture about Cash "I Walk the Line" that had to minimize Elvis in order to keep the focus on Johnny, so the character who played EP was "cooled down." The same is true of "Great Balls of Fire" which was biographical about Jerry Lee Lewis. Standing next to ANYONE Elvis reigned supreme during his lifetime and ever since. The Beatles visited Elvis because they were fans. Elvis was invited to visit them, but declined...not so he's LOOK too cool, but because he was and IS too cool.
There have been a lot of biographical movies about Elvis...some accurate, some not, some flattering and some with a axe to grind against him. I have never felt the need to see an Elvis "tribute artist" as they are now called. There are some real good ones, granted, but I can still hear and see the real thing. I love SOME of the things they've done with the archive of his music, but I've already complained heavily about unworthy "duet" partners. When Elvis' legacy is left to the hands of those who brought us American Idol, you can expect what you get...using the Elvis name and image to boost some ho hum "artists." Not that Idol hasn't had a few decent ones.
They haven't yet done a
biographical piece on Carl Perkins. There are different versions about
how he came up with the idea of "Blue Suede Shoes" but the fact remains
that that was Carl's tribute to the style of his friend Elvis, and
designed especially for him. By the way, the very first album rock song,
was Elvis' version of "Blue Suede Shoes" because Elvis wouldn't let RCA
release it as a single for the longest time, but after singing it on
national TV, audiences demanded to hear it. So, it was played and
history was made. They really should do a film about Carl, me thinks.
Million Dollar Quartet is also an album, very rough. As Carl was recording the session with "Matchbox" at Sun, Elvis, who had signed with RCA popped in and the world's most famous jam session occurred. It was mostly gospel music. Johnny Cash, who reportedly was there, was not heard on what went on the album. All that was heard was Elvis and Jerry Lee's vocals, Elvis and Jerry Lee's piano playing and Carl's guitar playing. I'm not sure that there EVER was a time where all four lads played the same show. Perhaps so. But the musical is based on this concept and from what I've heard neither the Elvis or the Lewis character is really believable. So, unless someone gives me a free ticket, I don't plan to go to the show.
There is a good, unofficial biography of Johnny Cash on DVD I found at of all places, the Dollar Store. I enjoyed it. The perspective is from his brother Tommy and band members.
There was a motion picture about Cash "I Walk the Line" that had to minimize Elvis in order to keep the focus on Johnny, so the character who played EP was "cooled down." The same is true of "Great Balls of Fire" which was biographical about Jerry Lee Lewis. Standing next to ANYONE Elvis reigned supreme during his lifetime and ever since. The Beatles visited Elvis because they were fans. Elvis was invited to visit them, but declined...not so he's LOOK too cool, but because he was and IS too cool.
There have been a lot of biographical movies about Elvis...some accurate, some not, some flattering and some with a axe to grind against him. I have never felt the need to see an Elvis "tribute artist" as they are now called. There are some real good ones, granted, but I can still hear and see the real thing. I love SOME of the things they've done with the archive of his music, but I've already complained heavily about unworthy "duet" partners. When Elvis' legacy is left to the hands of those who brought us American Idol, you can expect what you get...using the Elvis name and image to boost some ho hum "artists." Not that Idol hasn't had a few decent ones.
Million Dollar Quartet is also an album, very rough. As Carl was recording the session with "Matchbox" at Sun, Elvis, who had signed with RCA popped in and the world's most famous jam session occurred. It was mostly gospel music. Johnny Cash, who reportedly was there, was not heard on what went on the album. All that was heard was Elvis and Jerry Lee's vocals, Elvis and Jerry Lee's piano playing and Carl's guitar playing. I'm not sure that there EVER was a time where all four lads played the same show. Perhaps so. But the musical is based on this concept and from what I've heard neither the Elvis or the Lewis character is really believable. So, unless someone gives me a free ticket, I don't plan to go to the show.
There is a good, unofficial biography of Johnny Cash on DVD I found at of all places, the Dollar Store. I enjoyed it. The perspective is from his brother Tommy and band members.
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