*(1954) Sun 197 A ’’Boogie Blues’’ Earl Peterson (Michigan’s Singing Cowboy)

STUDIO SESSION FOR EARL PETERSON (MICHIGAN’S SINGING COWBOY) AT THE MEMPHIS RECORDING SERVICE FOR SUN RECORDS 1954 SUN RECORDING STUDIO 706 UNION AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE SUN SESSION: MONDAY JANUARY 4, 1954 SESSION HOURS: UNKNOWN PRODUCER AND RECORDING ENGINEER - SAM C. PHILLIPS “BOOGIE BLUES“ Composer: - Earl Peterson Publisher: - . - Hi-Lo Music Incorporated Matrix number: - U 102 - Master (2:34) Recorded: - January 4, 1954 Released: - February 20, 1954 First appearance: - Sun Records (S) 78/45rpm standard single Sun 197-A mono BOOGIE BLUES / IN THE DARK Reissued: - 1994 Bear Family Records (CD) 500/200rpm BCD 15801 DI-2-15 mono digital THE SUN SINGLES COLLECTION - VOLUME 1 Earl Peterson and his mother parked their 1953 Buick in front of 706 Union and went inside to audition “Boogie Blues“. Whether Sam Phillips knew or remembered ’Michigan’s Singing Cowboy’ from his disc jockey days, or whether it was mother Pearle’s stony insistence, the result was a recording session. “Boogie Blues“ is not a great record, but it is Sun’s first foray into modern country music and market, some three months before Elvis Presley’s debut. Peterson apparently despised this recording of ’’Boogie Blues’’ but his vocal performance is strong and personable, and the innate drive of the song lends an astringent edge to Peterson’s creamy style. The song derives from a number of pre-War songs in the Jimmie Rodgers-Gene Autry style. However, Columbia seemed to think that it had a place in the post-War market. They signed Peterson just a few months after his Sun debut and re-recorded two sessions in October 1954 of ’’Boogie Blues’’ that were apparently much closer to Peterson’s heart. However, they lacked much of the sparkle of the Sun version. Columbia released the new version in February 1955. (HD) Name (Or. No. Of Instruments) Earl Peterson - Vocal and Guitar Unknown Guitar, Steel Guitar, Fiddle © - 706 UNION AVENUE SESSIONS - ©