Elvis Presley Unravelled #35
Little Sister and answer song Hey Memphis podcast
Little Sister inspired the Phil Spector produced answer song Hey Memphis from LaVern Baker – The Little Sister story. As a result, Hey Memphis takes a look at the story from the little sister’s point of view…
9 to 15 September: Little Sister Story
guest feature on the Mop Tops and The King show
To Listen to the show
The MTK Network broadcasts the show, with 100 radio stations around the world.
The Show Schedule provides show times and radio stations. After that, the show can be heard in Podcasts.
(Times on the Show Schedule are Eastern Time. Consequently, the UK is five hours ahead.)
Listen Again – PODCAST
Little Sister Story
Little Sister Story
In 1961 Elvis had a double-sided hit with (Marie’s the Name) His Latest Flame c/w Little Sister. It’s certainly an interesting single, the A-side was a Del Shannon cover and the B-side generated an answer song from LaVern Baker. Better than that, the coupling gave Elvis his 44th and 45th appearance on the Billboard Top-40 chart.
Both sides were written by Brill Building stalwarts, Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman.
Elvis Little Sister Story
28 August 1961
B-side Little Sister entered the Billboard-Top 40 chart. It peaked at #5.
Shortly after Elvis delivered his hit version of Little Sister, writers Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman reworked the song as Hey Memphis. As a result the song looked at the story from the little sister’s point of view. The label credit for the publisher went to, “Elvis Presley Music, BMI”.
For the rest of the background story for Little Sister Story…
check out the companion blog with the rest of the story…
Derek Shelmerdine
Guest presenter of Elvis Presley Unravelled
Derek Shelmerdine is the author of the book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled.
Extracts from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
In addition, many of the Elvis Presley Unravelled and The Beatles Unravelled podcasts are based on extracts from Derek Shelmerdine‘s book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled.
The Beatles – Extracts taken from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
Elvis Presley – Extracts taken from Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
Although, these extracts are only a small fraction of the Beatles and Elvis stories to be found in the book.
About the book – Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
In short, Rock’n’Roll Unravelled tells the story of rock’n’roll from its roots to mid-1970s punk.
In addition to the music, the book looks at the social factors influencing the music. The Vietnam War, fear of communism and Civil rights struggle certainly helped to shape the sounds of the time.
For more information about Rock’n’Roll Unravelled‘s unique three-part structure
Consequently, as the review in Record Collector magazine puts it in its review of the book, “Shelmerdine has made a painstaking effort to documented pretty much every event that will prove significant in shaping popular music”. In addition, the review went on to describe the book as, “comprehensive… invaluable”.
TO BUY – a signed copy of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled
The Mop Tops and The King Show
Steve Chelmsford presents the Mop Tops and the King radio show. Certainly, a great name for a show all about The Beatles and Elvis Presley. In addition, every other week, author of Rock’n’Roll Unravelled Derek Shelmerdine presents The Beatles Unravelled, alternating with Elvis Presley Unravelled.
Moreover, the Unravelled stories take a look at some of the more obscure events, the podcasts provide a one-minute segment of a little bit of Beatles and Elvis Presley history.
For all previous editions of…
The Beatles Unravelled and Elvis Presley Unravelled
First Broadcast: Little Sister Story
First broadcast to 100 radio stations around the world, during the period 9 to 15 September 2022, on the MTK network.
