Sun Sounds-“Mystery Train”- Junior Parker. The most famous version of “Mystery Train” is Elvis Presley’s- also recorded at Sun Studio a couple years after Junior Parker’s- we will get to that recording tomorrow. Today- the original version by Junior Parker- which was written by Junior Parker and produced by Sam Phillips- at Sun in 1953. Parker’s original and Presley’s cover are very different. Parker’s is an R&B song- whereas Presley’s a rockabilly one. Both are outstanding. The title of the song “Mystery Train” is mentioned nowhere in the lyrics.
Ooh yeah, this sounds so danged good.
One of the things that Sam Phillips was very keen to do was get a percentage of publishing. So, his artists’ compositions were always published by Hill and Range, Phillips’ company. That way, when another Sun artist covered a Hill and Range piece, Phillips got paid twice.
Such a familiar song, but entirely different enjoyable version. I already said it once before, but I’m going to like this Sun series.
Thanks.
Yup!