December 4 is the anniversary of the 1956 jam session known as the Million Dollar Quartet.
I should be practicing guitar, but blogging about guitar is the next best thing.
A Walk in Chicago’s Cold with the Million Dollar Quartet
When I found a one hour YouTube video on the Million Dollar Quartet I knew I had to take a Chicago walk. It’s one hour and six minutes long. Walking a mile in 15 degree Fahrenheit Chicago weather flew by with 4 great musicians.
The Big Four in the Quartet
Here’s the four great ones:
- Elvis Presley
- Jerry Lee Lewis
- Carl Perkins
- Johnny Cash
Gospel Rockabilly Jam Session
I was shocked to discover that 80% of the recording is Gospel.
And of course it’s rockabilly style, with a dash of blues here and there.j
What was the Common Musical Language for the Million Dollar Quartet?
Gospel. This was 1956. It makes sense, these were Southern men born and bred.
- Elvis Presley – Tupelo, Mississippi
- Jerry Lee Lewis – Ferriday, Louisiana
- Carl Perkins – Tiptonville, Tennessee
- Johnny Cash – Kingsland, Arkansas
Read the list below to understand this better.
Read the 20 Songs; its Mainly Gospel Music
Just remember, they are jamming. Just picking songs, singing, without any sheet music. Some songs last 30 seconds, some last several minutes.
Wow.
Here are the songs. I think it’s a good practice list for me in the future.
- You Belong to My Heart
- When God Dips His Love In My Heart
- Just a Little Talk with Jesus
- Jesus Walked That Lonesome Valley
- I shall not be Moved
- Peace in the Valley
- Down by the Riverside
- I’m with a Crowd but So Alone
- Farther Along
- Blessed Jesus (Hold My Hand)
- As We Travel Along on the Jericho Road
- I Just Can’t Make It By Myself
- Little Cabin Home On The Hill
- Summertime is Past and Gone
- I Hear a Sweet Voice Calling
- Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong
- Keeper of the Key
- Crazy Arms
- Don’t Forbid Me
- Too Much Monkey Business
- Brown Eyed Handsome Man
- Out of Sight, Out of Mind
- Don’t be Cruel (1)
- Don’t be Cruel (2)
- Paralyzed
- Don’t be Cruel (3)
- There’s No Place Like Home
- When the Saints Go Marching In
- That’s When Your Heartaches Begin
- Softly and Tenderly
- Is It So Strange
- That’s When Your Heartaches Begin
- Brown Eyed Handsome Man (for a 2nd time)
- Rip It Up
- I’m Gonna Bid My Blues Goodbye
- Crazy Arms
- That’s My Desire
- End of The Road
- Black Bottom Stomp
- You’re The Only Star In My Blue Heaven
- Elvis
In the last minute, they say goodbye. I think I heard Elvis say, “G’night y’all.”
What Can we Learn from the Million Dollar Quartet?
- How to jam without an ego.
- If there’s another jam out there with 4 musicians as great as these, leave a comment.
- Gospel music mix tape.
- I think I will spend time learning some of these old-timey songs.
- Get some Rhythm.
- How can you not get more rhythm listening to this one hour recording.
The Next Supergroup: 32 Years Later the Traveling Wilburys Formed
The members were as follows, quite a super group.
- Bob Dylan
- George Harrison
- Jeff Lynne
- Roy Orbison
- Tom Petty
This is perhaps the song that started the group: Handle With Care
From 1988 until 1990 they hung together and produced two albums. The second album (oddly named Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3) was released after Orbison’s death.
Visit Wikipedia to Learn More about That Special Day
Visit Wikipedia for its great write-up about the Million Dollar Quartet.
Celebrate and Play “The Million Dollar Quartet Album” Today
You can also purchase your own copy of the album. The Internet will help you 🙂