(1958) Sun ''Matchbox'' (Chatter, Undubbed LP Master) Jerry Lee Lewis

STUDIO SESSION FOR JERRY LEE LEWIS AT THE MEMPHIS RECORDING SERVICE FOR SUN RECORDS 1958 SUN RECORDING STUDIO 706 UNION AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE SUN SESSION: PROBABLY FEBRUARY/MARCH 1958 SESSION HOURS: UNKNOWN PRODUCER AND RECORDING ENGINEER - SAM C. PHILLIPS AND/OR JACK CLEMENT "MATCHBOX" Composer: - Carl Perkins Publisher: - B.M.I. - Knox Music Incorporated Matrix number: - None - Chatter - Undubbed LP Master (1:50) Recorded: - February/March 1958 - Not Originally Issued Released: - January 1983 First appearance: - Charly Records (LP) 33rpm Sunbox 102-3-B5 mono JERRY LEE LEWIS - THE SUN YEARS Reissued: - September 1989 Bear Family Records (CD) 500/200rpm BCD 15420-2-20 mono CLASSIC JERRY LEE LEWIS - THE DEFINITIVE SUN RECORDINGS 1956 - 1963 "Matchbox" is a rockabilly song written and recorded by Carl Perkins in December 1956. It shares some lyrics with 1920s blues songs by Ma Rainey and Blind Lemon Jefferson. Sam Phillips and Sun Records released the song as the B-side to "Your True Love". Although only the A-side became a record chart hit in 1957, "Matchbox" is one of Perkins' best-known recordings. A variety of musicians have recorded the song, including the Beatles. Ma Rainey recorded "Lost Wandering Blues" in Chicago in March 1924. Paramount Records issued it on the standard ten-inch 78rpm single (12098). Her lyrics include the matchbox as a suitcase reference. Subsequently, the song was recorded by several blues and country swing musicians, such as Leadbelly, Big Bill Broonzy, the Shelton Brothers, and Roy Newman and His Boys. After recording "Your True Love" at Sun Records studio, Carl Perkins's father Buck suggested that he write a song based on snatches of lyrics that he remembered. Buck knew only a few lines from the song from the recordings by Blind Lemon Jefferson or the Shelton Brothers. As Perkins sang the few words his father had suggested, Jerry Lee Lewis, who was at that time the session piano player at Sun Studios, began a restrained boogie-woogie riff. Carl began picking out a melody on the guitar and improvised lyrics. Perkins maintained that he had never heard Jefferson's song when he recorded "Matchbox". The songs are musically, thematically, and lyrically totally different. Jefferson's song is about a mean spirited woman; Perkins' is about a lovelorn "poor boy" with limited prospects. The "Matchbox" recording session is historically significant as a milestone in rock and roll history because later that day, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Lewis were all in the Sun Studio with Sam Phillips with Carl Perkins and his band. The impromptu group formed at this jam session became known as the Million Dollar Quartet. Carl Perkins performed the song on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee on February 2, 1957. Perkins and his band also performed the song on the syndicated TV show Ranch Party hosted by Tex Ritter in 1957. There was also a promo ad for the release of the Sun single in Billboard magazine. "Matchbox" is covered by Robert Britton Lyons portraying Carl Perkins in the Broadway production Million Dollar Quartet and on the original Broadway cast recording. Lee Ferris also covers the song and portrays Carl Perkins in the First National Touring Production of Million Dollar Quartet. The song is also included in the Paul McCartney live album ''Tripping The Live Fantastic'' as a soundcheck tune between concert songs; it has been performed by McCartney in every tour as a soundcheck song. McCartney also released a live soundcheck recording of the song as a bonus Back in the U.S. DVD release in 2002. Jerry Lee Lewis released his version of the song on his 1958 eponymous Sun LP, SLP 1230, and as a Sun EP, EPA-110. The recording also appears on the 1984 Rhino Records greatest hits compilation ''Jerry Lee Lewis: 18 Original Sun Greatest Hits''. Jerry Lee Lewis also recorded a live version in 1964 on the landmark ''Live At The Star Club, Hamburg'' album, regarded critically as one of the greatest live albums ever released. Name (Or. No. Of Instruments) Jerry Lee Lewis - Vocal and Piano Roland Janes and/or Billy Riley - Guitar Jay W. Brown - Bass Jimmy M. Van Eaton - Drums © - 706 UNION AVENUE SESSIONS - ©

Added 1 Jul 2026