benefit of hindsight , it might perhaps be seen as Elvis feeling his way toward a new musical identity , or at least an identity distinguishable from the one so carefully manicured and forged at Sun . But I ’ m not sure that ’ s it . This was the first time since his discovery by Sam Phillips some eighteen months earlier that Elvis was operating in the studio on his own , the first time in fact that he would be identified as a “ rock ‘ n ’ roll ” singer ( the classic Sun sides were all marketed in the “ folk and country ” field ), and what he was seeking to create here was no less a proclamation of freedom , as full of the boisterous high spirits that his Sun sides represent – but different , too , in a way that he was not yet able to define . It was intended as a tribute to Ray Charles , certainly , an hommage , but in a manner that could have benefitted from a further search for his own voice .
As for Ray Charles , who would go on to be recognized , like Elvis , as one of the true protean talents of his generation , he couldn ’ t have cared less . Many people sought to emulate him , many followed in his trailblazing path , but he was interested in neither tribute nor imitation . As he said many years later , “ I don ’ t want you to think I ’ m selfish , but I ’ m telling you the truth — I ’ m just always thinking about what I ’ m doing .” And in the end Elvis could very well have said the same .
Heartbreak Hotel
This was the song Elvis brought to the studio to record . It was given to him by a Florida publicist , sometime songwriter , and high school English teacher from Jacksonville named Mae Axton , who had worked with Elvis ’ manager , Colonel Tom Parker , for a number of years and did extensive promotion on Elvis ’ first
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