http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=srv1qVbJKSo
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RAonlWEWYF8&NR=1
Given the general album-centrism of most of the 'Essentials' threads, I thought I'd start a series dedicated to classic singles.
A song that, upon recording it inspired Elvis' band to worry that they'd be 'run out of town' were it played on the radio and one which remains iconic as arguably the first 'Rock n Roll' record (Rolling Stone 2004). Whether it was or not there's definitely a sense of 'something' new taking place here.
According to Greil Marcus, if the Blues and (to a lesser extent Country) was all about fear and sin, 'It's All Right (Mama)' is a leap into unbridled hedonism - a white trash demand to live life as though every day were a Saturday night. "A world without limits or consequences." (And it doesn't even have any
drums on it!)
And anyway, regardless of the single's actual historical significance there are few things more utterly exciting (to my ears at least) than Scotty Moore's guitar solo midway through. A real 'fuck you, I'm here' moment that seems never to get old.